I recently received a box containing 3 sets of SOS CDs; all are the 2009 version. Each set is in a cardboard "folder"/package containing a Quick Start Guide & 2 discs: 1) an installation disc and 2) a program disc in a paper CD sleeve. The installation disc + program disc for English II installation disc + program disc for High School Health installation disc + program disc for Spanish I I don't know if any of the CDs have ever been used. Both of the serial number stickers inside each folder are still intact. Two of the packages contain a handwritten note with a 16-character registration code. My questions: First, am I going to be able to actually use any of these programs??? Can they even be used more than once, or by a different user? If so, will I need to buy anything else to make them work? Will I need to use each of the 3 installation discs? Or would I use only one of them to install the basic 2009 program and then install the individual courses from the curriculum discs? Assuming any one installation disc will work to install the basic program, could I then install other 2009 SOS curriculum discs--for instance if I got, say, a 2009 math curriculum disc? And finally, I assume that I could not use newer (2010, 2011, etc.) SOS courses with the 2009 basic program, but would I be able to use older (2008, 2007) SOS courses? Thanks in advance for any help!

I ran across this post while researching Destinos, and I see that it got no answers, so I'm bumping because I want to know, too! Thanks!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Merry!! I kept all my old Sonlight catalogs until a couple of years ago, and then I tossed them. I have since regretted doing that. :( I have been researching for awhile now, and I've enjoyed your blog. I am interested in using Core 6/G with my high school girls. The main reason I'm wanting to buy an IG is for the study guides for literature. The girls don't enjoy reading, but those books seem very engaging, and we will likely do most of them as read-aloud/read-alongs anyway. I did look at the Sonlight updates page, and didn't see any changes in the readers or read-alouds from 2004 when Core 6 was apparently introduced to (I think) 2011, so can I assume that the same readers are used? I'm about to PM you!

I've never used Sonlight, but I've been researching, and there's something I don't understand. The IG has weekly lesson plans in grid format, right? And it has notes for the teacher for... which subjects? History, literature, and Bible? And aren't there study guides for the read-alouds and read-alones? Are these printable, or just questions for the teacher to discuss with the students? Are there suggested hands-on activities? Is map work assigned? Do you have to buy a separate student pack for maps, worksheets, etc.? And finally, what do you think is a reasonable price for a 2004 Core 6 IG? Thanks for your help!

I've never used Sonlight, but I've been researching, and there's something I don't understand. The IG has weekly lesson plans in grid format, right? And it has notes for the teacher for... which subjects? History, literature, and Bible? And aren't there study guides for the read-alouds and read-alones? Are these printable, or just questions for the teacher to discuss with the students? Are there suggested hands-on activities? Is map work assigned? Do you have to buy a separate student pack for maps, worksheets, etc.? And finally, what do you think is a reasonable price for a 2004 Core 6 IG? Thanks for your help!

The Secret Sign by Malvern and The Green Bronze Mirror by Ellison both sound perfect! Except that they're not available at my library and the copies I've found online are too pricey for my budget. :(

I absolutely LOVE this series (I'm just finishing it myself), but it would not be suitable for the girls I teach. They would be extremely intimidated just by the page count of these books, not to mention the content. I'm really hoping to find a book of about 100-150 pages, and I'm thinking that possibly a 4th-6th grade reading level would be best.

We would prefer Christian content. The only thing I have come up with so far is Tamar by Gladys Malvern, but the book is not available at our library, and it's $15 on Amazon, which is a bit pricey for me. Thanks! ETA: Reading level should be 4th-6th, or maybe the upper end of that range. Interest level would be a bit higher.

I love TruthQuest! I have all the books, but I use them only as a book list. I bought Illuminations because of the schedule and the literature guides.

I know I said I didn't want an all-inclusive program, but the more I looked at Illuminations, the more I liked what I saw. The biggest sellling point, for me, was that not only is literature scheduled, but literature guides are included. So... I downloaded Year 1 today. I'll let you know how it goes. :)

I still have not received a response to my email to the administrators, but I was able to upload a photo today with my post about ER's wedding.

I haven't yet. I actually have an SOS Spanish 1 CD-ROM program, but I don't know if I will actually use it. I am leaning towards either LifePacs or maybe going with Destinos.

I haven't been on the boards much lately--WAY too busy--but I just wanted to let all my WTM friends know that I am now a MIL! ER and his bride (her first & middle initials are also ER!) tied the knot last weekend. I will try to attach a photo (ER singing to his bride--a song he wrote just for her--while dh, the officiant, looks on).

:)

:)

bumping up :)

I bought a used copy of the Guidebook for Jr/Sr High before it was revised in 2010 and split into 4-8 and Sr High. I believe at least one page of my 2006 guidebook is missing. There's a page that lists the additional (optional) resources, but the page that lists the required resources is missing, and I can't find it anywhere online. If you have a copy of the guidebook from before the revision, would you mind sharing the list of required resources? Thank you so much!

I'm curious about why you prefer the original books over the newer ones. I have the complete set of the original ones (although some of mine are paperback), but I don't really know what was changed in the newer books. Thanks. :)

FWIW, I understand that CLE Math 800 has a lot of consumer math, but since I've never used CLE before, I'm unfamiliar with the format. She went to PS and used their AWFUL math texts before homeschooling with me this year. I gave her a placement test, and she started the year with TT Algebra 2 (1st edition) and she could.NOT.do.it, so I had her drop back to Algebra 1 and even had to throw in some pre-algebra and basic math because she had no idea how to add & subtract fractions! She struggled for quite awhile, but eventually did fairly well with TT. She has a hard time remembering without frequent review, so whatever I choose will need plenty of review options, whether built in or supplemental. I actually already own BJU Fundamentals and ABeka Basic Math, but I had heard a lot of good things about CLE math and also that the 800 level has a lot of consumer math, so I thought I should consider that option.

Thanks for responding. We did some of the Key To series, and it went okay, but I prefer to use it as a supplement. So, I've narrowed it down to the programs I mentioned. She does need a full year's credit. She doesn't plan to go to college (cosmetology school instead), but she needs a good, solid basic math program, heavy on consumer math.

One of my students has MAJOR trouble with basics like fractions and percents, and she also needs some consumer math as well as graphing linear equations and geometry. If you HAD to choose from ONLY these programs, which would you recommend: CLE 700 or 800, BJU Fundamentals of Math (7th), or ABeka Basic Mathematics (7th)?

Yep, I'm right there with you! We had difficulties too. However, our difficulties came when, rather than being jealous of those "relaxed" homeschoolers, my kids were actually indignant that their friends were "making homeschooling look bad". And when ER went to college, he saw the fruits of that kind of homeschooling. Oh, the stories he would tell!

Same experience here with both programs. I know everyone raves over Lial math, but I've been less than impressed. I think what I don't like about it is: 1) WAY too many problems in each problem set--I mean, when you have to have your kid do every 4th problem or so, that's TOO MUCH. Yes, I realize these are college texts, but I'd be willing to bet that college profs don't have students do every problem either. 2) The explanations are too complicated. We kept our BJU or TT math books nearby so that we could get better explanations. As for LLLOTR, we really liked the unit studies, but the rest was just fluff.

My girls range from 14-18 years old (8th-12th). It's great for ages 12 through adult.

The only MFW program we've done is ECC (last year for 7th grade) and I thought it was just so-so.