For those who have used the online classes….would you mind answering some questions: 1) Their posted class schedule only goes through the Fall? Do they typically add more classes for the remainder of the year? I searched and searched and couldn't find any information. 2) In the PreA 1 and 2 as well as Algebra 1 and 2 classes, which chapters of the Intro books are covered in each class? 3) I've read here many times that the Algebra 1 and 2 classes move "fast." Can somebody explain exactly what that means? I know the class meets weekly and the website says "including time in class, students should expect to spend 5-7 hours per week for the subject classes" but that doesn't seem crazy to me. We do about 1.5 hours of math here a day so that would be in keeping, no? I just want to make sure that I know what we're jumping into. It scares me when so many of you say this same thing. I feel like I'm missing something. 4) What was the biggest advantage you saw in your child taking the class vs. you teaching or child self teaching? We're planning for next year and DD loves the AoPS community so much, she's begging for the class too!! Love her enthusiasm but I want to make sure she can handle the pace.

These books look fun! I'll add these to the additional reading list. There were also some good suggestions for further reading in the Amazon review section. Thanks for this.

Maybe we can share ideas! Once I get the book and download the course, I'm going to start looking for the lab component and additional reading. If you come across any cool resources (i.e., books, lab kits, a schedule) would you share? She's excited and so am I. While I was a bit nervous about teaching algebra based physics, conceptual is much less daunting. Fun, fun!

We've done two levels here with two of the kiddies. Great results so far, but I'd love to know the answer to this too.

For all of you who have used the Great Courses....some advice please? I am doing American History next year with a 4th, 6th and 8th grader and was thinking about using this to beef things up for my DD13. Has anyone used it? http://www.amazon.com/Great-Courses-Early-American-History/dp/B000Q34N1S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399030534&sr=8-1&keywords=1565859731 She's pretty bright and I think she can handle early HS material. Was this one any good? Any other recommendations?

Ha! I just bought Swimmermom's Hewitt book on the Classified boards a couple of days ago and now, based on that terrific Great Courses thread, I'm going to pair it with Physics in Your Life. 8th grade Science done!!

Thanks Quark. I had forgotten that you can start DO at any time. She only has AoPS PreA under her belt. She's doing the first Algebra book now. She LOVES AoPS and is doing well but there have been several times where we've cross referenced with Foerster's to solidify a concept. If we go this route, think I'll let her get further along in Algebra and then start DO in the second semester. Truthfully, based on what I'm reading, I'm on the fence about doing a full blown Physics course right now, even though that's what she wants. She's a math/science kid but we've had to play catch up in math because of her abysmal public school experience. (We've homeschooled science all along so she has broad exposure.) I keep asking, why rush algebra based Physics? Won't she enjoy it so much more in HS when she can do a challenging lab course and her math will help her and not possibly hinder her? I was thinking maybe using 8th grade for a good challenging Physical Science course to perfect her science skills....i.e., lab reports, analyzing data, reading a solid textbook. Maybe the right text could help us bring all of the "pieces" she's learned and connect them a bit more?

That makes sense. I looked at the book and, being that it's a text intended for a class setting, a lot of the labs seem to be better in groups. I'm going to look into the group option in our new area and see if something exists or if there's any interest in creating it. Regarding the math, I thought I had Algebra down.....I went through AP Calc, after all...but AOPs seems to have a way of consistently bringing me to my knees....lol.

Yeah, I almost fell over. The price on the boxed sets are out of sight. She has a monthly subscription plan that gives you access to all her videos and text but then you're pulling it all together with schedules, labs and materials. It's a lot of work. She says to give it to your kids and let them go. That's fine for what I used it for the first year....interest lead exposure after leaving public school, but I wouldn't want my 13yr old to have the burden of pulling together a whole physics course on her own.

This might be worth a look. We just moved to FL so we don't have a homeschool group yet, per say. But the Homeschool community is huge here. I'll put some feelers out and see if a group setting with a hired teacher is a possibility. I have two behind her so the materials will definitely get used.

One other question, I saw CPO Physics in your sig. What did you think of that? Also, I don't think the DO Physical Science class would work. It would be a lot of repetition of things we've done already.

We had Supercharged here for the first year homeschooling about three years ago. We loved Aurora!! I think I'll take another look at her for Physics. I remember her website took a lot of getting used to. Thanks!

Derek Owens looks great. She won't be finished with the first AOPs Algebra book by the time she starts this class.....maybe halfway done. Will she be able to keep up? The course outline looks terrific but I worry that she won't have the math when she needs it. AOPs follows such a different track though so I don't know.

DD is a science fan and would like a good overview type Physics course next year. We did Biology, Earth, Anatomy and Chemistry over the last three years. She'll be in 8th grade next year and is taking AOPS intro algebra now. I'd love something with an online/DVD teaching component. I was a Chemistry geek so Physics is out of my area. She's bright and science is her passion so she needs something that is engaging and moves fast. Any recommendations?

I have family in Forks Twp. I think it was the total bill. It's a nice area but I don't think anyone is paying $7K+ just for schools. The housing prices don't support it, unless he lives in an area I don't know about, which is possible. Where I live yes, you can pay upwards of $13K, which is why we're probably moving.....a LOGICAL solution that is, thankfully, available to us.

What a terrible example for his young daughter to see while she's standing right beside him.....when you don't like what your government is doing, take it out on some completely random person who has nothing to do with it? Really??? Did he think donuts were going to make his argument more logical? His total tax bill is about $7K. Only a portion of that goes to the school district. The rest is for services his family probably does need. I didn't call an ambulance to my house last year, yet $132 went to our local EMT dept. Do I deduct that? Or what about my neighbor who has been in Europe on a sabbatical for the last year, does she get to deduct for services she didn't use? His argument makes absolutely no sense and his daughter had to sit there and watch him try to work logic into a pretzel and harass that poor woman while he did it. There could have been such a good teaching lesson here about how to affect change in the great democracy we live in. Instead, he chose to act like a dope. What a shame!

Oh, I know that feeling. I was hoping the Dolciani/AoPS idea would be successful for you. We've had our eye on that plan. I think we're now planning on AoPS as our spine....DD is that kid that you read about here that just gets AoPS. I think the PreA book is wordy and overly complicated but she LOVES it....videos, Alcumus, the whole shebang!! We'll use Dolciani to fill in holes if she doesn't understand something and use other supplements to break things up if AoPS gets too intense (i.e., Key to Algebra, Hands on Equations and Zacarro). We'll see. I thought I could fully integrate Dolciani but her reaction this past week changed things again: DD: "Mom, if AoPS is teaching me what I need to know and I love it and I get it, why do I have to use that boring book too?" Mom: :confused1: So, plans changed again. AoPS is the spine. We're through Chapters 1 and 2 so far and she's doing great. Good luck with your new job schedule. I hope that works out for you.

Texasmama.....just wanted to check in with you to see if you were able to flesh out your Dolciani/ AoPS PreA schedule. We are starting the same combo next week and I'd love to see how others are lining it up.

The video on the co-op site is very helpful. I get it now. I'm adding the water and earth modules to what I'm doing this year. I think my kids are going to love it. I wish I would have found this sooner.....sigh!

Thanks Plum Crazy. What exactly is on the digital portion of this curriculum? Is it instructional, background info, games? I tried to find samples of the videos but I only found samples of the print items.

Hi All....I was a given a few Science Fusion student texts and lab manuals. I don't have access to the digital component. I've never used Science Fusion before so I am wondering can a student text and lab manual be used as a supplement to another curriculum or do you have to have the digital part to use them? I am doing a one semester unit on Water and Weather for my younger two and I thought SF would be a great supplement with the labs and student workbook. Thanks.

A word to the wise for all of us with bright LITTLE ones. I am eating my slice of humble pie while being so grateful for the wisdom and experience on these boards. The vulnerability on this thread will help so many of us who still have to sail these waters. To the OP, thank you for your honesty and transparency. It is so obvious that you love your son very much and are willing to make changes so that he succeeds. Making a mistake doesn't make you a bad mother. In fact, recognizing you've made a mistake and having the humility and will to change makes you a great mother. Your son is blessed.

What age can you begin BW? Can you start as early as 3rd grade? I think the free writes would be a little tough for him. What parts could be started younger?

Thanks all. I feel much better about where we're going this year and next. What happens after that, we'll have to wait and see. Thank you for your insight.

Oooops, hit post by accident.... But then again, she would love a chronological "highlight" cycle where we go deeply into the major events of each period.....hmmmm.... thank goodness we have time to decide. I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't limiting her in high school by doing American in 8th.