The 6 modules aren't clearly divided. I agree with Grace is Sufficient -- you can move as quickly or as slowly as you want or need to with Videotext. I'd start from the beginning. We really like Videotext here. Ds completed the algebra series and is now nearing the end of Module C in their geometry program. Dd is almost finished with Module C in algebra. I like it for several reasons, not the least of which is that I've finally learned how to do word problems! Some have said that there's not enough review in Videotext, but I haven't found that to be true for us. There are tests at the end of every unit, and my children take Form A for practice and then Form B for the test. This helps them review. And so many of the concepts are used throughout the course as they build on each other. Their website also provides extra practice problems that have been helpful when my children are having difficulty with something. I like the frequency of quizzes, too. That helps me to see if they're really "getting" it.

:(

That pretty much sums up my thoughts. We read both of those books last year (with my 7th grade dd and 9th grade ds). They led to some interesting conversations, that's for sure! :) At Veritas teacher training, someone in one of the workshops said that if your child is not ready for certain subject matter by 7th grade, okay, but at some point she needs to be ready. And honestly, as you read Genesis and some other Old Testament books in Omnibus I, you'll come across some more pretty explicit material. But the beauty of homeschooling is that we parents get to make decisions about what is covered.

~ "What about socialization?" Smarty pants me wants to say, "Oh, no! I never thought of that! Guess it's back to the drawing board!" ~ "What curriculum do you use?" or "Where do you find your materials?" This question bugs me because most of the time the person asking couldn't tell me what curriculum their child's school uses, and they don't really care where I get my stuff -- just that it comes from some "approved" source. ~ "I could never do that!" I also say, "Yeah, that's what I used to think, too." ~ "I'm not that patient." And I try really hard not to wet my pants laughing at that one. :D

We will also keep up with Latin because I've found that they forget vocab over long breaks. I'll be busy trying to get ahead in reading for Omnibus III.

Someone on the Yahoo group recommended having the students make lapbooks for each module. The website is here (scroll down to General Science, and click on View Sample).

when we do, we make a big salad, slice up the lamb and put it on top. Yum!

(paraphrasing here, of course) that we think by asking questions. Someone who knows how to ask questions will be a thinker. I think some people just naturally ask questions, but those who don't can be trained. I agree with those who've said that discussion without providing all the answers is crucial. And reading, of course -- lots of good books.

I try to resist the temptation to do laundry or cleaning or hang out on the computer while my kids are doing their independent work, and this is a good time for me to do my own Latin study or reading. I never go anywhere without a book in my bag, so when we're in a waiting room or the kids are in their guitar lessons, I can read. I always read before bed. Still, it's not enough time! I always feel behind! This past summer, I got ahead on reading and Latin study, and that has saved me this year.

I've heard nothing but good things about it. I've signed ds up for physics and rhetoric next year and dd for biology.

Very poor quality printing. Looks like I made the copies myself.

This summer, though, I went back to the beginning of Henle and got a good handle on it and got well ahead of them. Now I try to stay at least a week ahead.

Here goes: My son set his alarm this morning to get up early and review something in Omnibus that he realized he forgot to do yesterday. I never had to say a word. On Monday he went toe-to-toe in debate club with a senior who is the best debater in the club. He lost, but he stood up there with courage and tried his best. My daughter who is quite organizationally challenged ;) has kept up with her work and schedule for the past two days without me having to stay on her. I think God knows I need these little glimpses of growth, maturity, and wisdom so that I can keep going! :)

I don't think there would be a problem with skipping it. He'll get much of what's in that course in later science courses, anyway.

It's required here in Hawaii, and it's about $300 for us, too. He has been driving some with his dad, though. They started slowly in our neighborhood (not a lot of traffic) and in parking lots, and they've worked up from there. I'm actually glad he's had a little experience before he starts the class. That said, he's only driven with his dad. I'm not brave enough! :D

Like Moira, we do Primary books 5 days a week, and Secondary ones 3 days a week. We do one session a day, and you can finish it in a year if you're doing them both. We had to skip 2 books, I think, in Omnibus I last year because of some family emergencies, but this year in Omnibus II, we're on track to finish them all. A helpful mp3 on Omnibus in the homeschool is available for purchase and download here.

That's what we did, too -- completed 7 and went into Algebra in 8th grade.

We used it for 5th through 7th grades, and it was a good fit here. Very thorough, with enough review. Prepared both of my children for algebra in 8th grade.

The link is here.

One of my all-time favorite books is Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss. It's fiction, but it feels like you're reading someone's actual journal. Marilynne Robinson's Gilead is a good one. The Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy (Sigrid Unset) is one I enjoyed, too. If she likes Jane Austen, she'd probably enjoy Pamela Aidan's Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman trilogy.

Yes, I think there's a correlation, but I also battle those doubts in late Feb/early March. I seem to hit a wall there every year, so I'm trying to be proactive and slow down a little during that time. Also knowing that the doubts come -- and go! -- helps me to not freak out. And if I'm in a period of insomnia, I definitely struggle with doubts. But just being aware of those triggers helps a lot.

We had mongooses (I really think it should be mongeese! :D) at our house on the Marine Corps base (Kaneohe). They were harmless and interesting to watch. Since we moved off base, we have centipedes -- the giant awful ones that look like pure evil. On my way to church each Sunday I regularly see chickens, mongooses, and wild boar. I did not have that picture in mind when I moved to Hawaii! :)

We're using the Annotated Mona Lisa and Jansen's book. We also are using free DVDs from the National Gallery of Art. I'm having my children practice note-taking while we watch these.

We used Omnibus I last year and are in II this year.

I agree! This is ds's first year in debate, and he did NOT want to participate. But now that we're entering the tournament phase, he told me he actually enjoys it. :) I think these thinking-on-his-feet skills are going to help him the rest of his life. Lisa's right -- it takes a LOT of time, but it's worth it. HISTORY/LIT/THEOLOGY Also, I wouldn't have wanted to have my children miss out on Omnibus. It's given us such rich discussion and exposure to many, many good books. And I love having our history, lit, and theology combined. LATIN: Latin (Henle) is what we start off our days with, and I love, love, love watching my children perform the mental gymnastics it takes to translate. MATH: Videotext is working well in our family. SCIENCE: Ditto the comments on Apologia. We're liking it here. FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Ds wanted to learn Italian, so he's doing it on his own with the help of a tutor once a week. I gave him the option of dropping it earlier in the year because it was really tough, and Latin will fill his language requirement, but he said NO! He didn't want to quit. ART: Free DVDs from the National Gallery of Art have been helpful here. LOGIC/RHETORIC: We've used Memoria Press's materials. Next year, though, ds is going to take online rhetoric through Veritas Press. HTH, Anne