Urgggg. We are using Tapestry of Grace this year (Year 4, Modern). Both my older kids are doing a mix of rhetoric and dialectic and we've been very happy with it. I'm less happy with the upper grammar stage, as it's pretty simplified for my older ds (I probably should have him doing the dialectic level, now that I'm sitting here typing about it...). So, for next year - I am looking at MFW World Literature for the high schoolers (9th and 11th) and Rome to Reformation for the boys (elem and jr high). I love what I see for both packages - but can't bring myself to purchase it. I have no idea why?? Someone talk me into hitting the order button! It'd be about $550 for both packages (I'm only ordering what we don't already happen to have on our bookshelves). (I am pretty sure I don't want to use Tapestry of Grace, year 1 or 2 - because I feel like we would use 100% of the MFW assignments, whereas I am constantly making decisions about what to cut, what to include, what to assign with TOG. It feels like, perhaps, it's too many choices for the amount of time I have. We DO love the dialectice/rhetoric discussions and the discussion guides, though, and I don't think MFW really has that component? hmmmmmm, urrrrgggggg!)

Thank you for the input - sooooo helpful! I think we're going to order the Sonlight - she needs a subject that is non-internet based so it can be part of the "car-schooling" parts of our weeks! ha! I did register for the Education Portal site, and depending on the costs, she may use that as a supplement as described. Thank you again - it's nice when a "surprise" subject is so easily put together! :)

I've searched the topics here and the Sonlight course was mentioned a few times. Could anyone who has used this recently recommend it, or does someone have another idea for a psychology course? It looks as though the Sonlight course could be used to prep for the AP Psych exam. ? This is for a student (hs junior) going into an engineering field. Through research, I've seen it stated often that a high school psychology course is good for an engineering student. Differing reasons why... but... that it's a good idea nonetheless (I am wondering if it's because of the common complaint of engineers with poor communication & teamwork skills we're also seeing frequently while researching civil engineering?). This wasn't a class that was on either of our radars until we came across that information. Thanks for any pointers!!

We all loved it!

I like the name Mabel, but not sure I love Mabel and Ruth together. Both, to my ear, are strong-sounding names and I think they each benefit with something a little more "flowery" to be their companion. ^_^ I love the name Margaret and there are a plethora of nicknames to go with (Meg, Maisie, Margo), if you like nicknames... and Margaret Ruth is a lovely name.

It's always so exciting to see hard work pay off! What a wonderful opportunity for her - proud mama moment for sure!! :hurray:

Thank you Lori D.! That is exactly the information I needed! Off to order now... :)

Is this a full English credit of writing instruction? What about Literature? I own TTC, but haven't gone through it yet and haven't yet ordered WttW, so am unsure. Just curious if this would be enough for a high school freshman and junior or if I would want to add additional writing assignments through the year.

Anyone have any feedback for Skip Dieter (Advanced Chemistry)? I love the fact that they're using Adobe Connect - it's the only reason I am seriously considering signing dd up!

Murder Mystery parties are a ton of fun! It's nothing like a television drama - instead, they're usually silly and fun. Some are "reader's theatre" style, while others have no script, just character outlines to help guide the guests to stay in character...

11th grade is giving me such a headache! So many options, so little time left! :/ The "for sure" stuff... U.S. History (.5 credit) French II Pre-Calc (Saxon) IEW for writing literature (using various reading and discussion guides) The "oh, my head hurts" stuff... Science ------> definitely Environmental Science. Maybe AP through PAHomeschoolers, maybe AP on our own, maybe through the Community College... Chemistry II. Maybe through the Community College. Maybe on our own? She wants to do the CC option so she can be in a real lab... but I'm nervous about that being her first CC class... (I have to keep reminding myself that it sounds tough to ME... because SHE soaks up Chemistry information like a sponge, so maybe it won't be too difficult?) Electives ------> She only has 5.5 credits with the above subjects, but they're all going to be very time-consuming & she has a super-busy extra-curricular schedule, so picking these is tricky. maybe programming for 1 credit using online resources as classes maybe art maybe financial planning over the summer as a half-credit course? maybe archaeology maybe drama at the CC? maybe a digital art class (Illustrator or Photoshop) class at the CC? We have changed her plans probably ten times already. As soon as we think we have it planned, something else pops up that sounds like what she'd enjoy... so we are both kind of :willy_nilly: :willy_nilly: which is sort of how we roll anyway. We need to bring in the more level-headed daughter to help us make the final decisions, I think. The boys will be of no help... :p

He needs help ASAP and he doesn't/shouldn't get to say things like this to your 6yo - ever. Never ever ever ever. What that can do to a child? Hearing threats like that coming from their parent??!? Putting it on the CHILD ("wouldn't YOU be happier?")??? Whether he gets help or not - he has to shut up. An adult shouldn't get to screw with his child's mind in this way. sorry. extremely sensitive nerve on this topic. I wish him the best, sincerely. But, I'm worried about your kid(s). If *you* heard the comment, I can promise you it's not the first/only time it or something like it has been said in a moment of frustration. I hope he finds and accepts the help he needs. If he doesn't, please don't let your kids hear this for the rest of their growing up years (it will come and go... come and go...). Best wishes.

Following because I have the same questions! :)

Thank you for starting this thread! PT hasn't been on my radar to discuss with my older daughters as a career option, but I will after reading through this thread!

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Yes, writing three one-page papers in the format described above is much less intimidating than writing three one-page papers that are single-spaced and narrow-margined! It really puts so many things into perspective.

Excellent - that's exactly what I needed to know. Most of these lesson plans haven't given specifics, but this is probably why - they just assumed one would know that the "standard" MLA format should be used. I didn't look at it that way because it didn't SAY to use it (my brain is spectacular at building very large walls to block the obvious...). Yep. Yep. A thousand thanks! Of course it would be the MLA format if nothing else is mentioned! 'doh :blushing: (So happy to have a place where I can ask possible dull-witted questions! haha!))

In reading many various lesson plans written by other homeschooling (and regular-schooling) teachers and parents I often see assignments listed that say "Write a 1-2 page report," or something along those lines. When assigning that assignment to my child/student, I am wondering what precise requirements this involves. Is it just 12pt, Times New Roman, 1.5 spaced, "default" margins, single-sided paper? Or... what is the standard?

Here is a link to wonderful geography plans: http://harmonyfinearts.org/2009/08/world-geography-for-high-schoolers-free-download/

DD is interested in taking Physics next year and so we're looking at the Derek Owens course. She's in the middle of TT Algebra I and getting high scores, but I wouldn't say she really "gets" what/why she is doing. Which is why we're interested in a Physics course. She is a concrete learner and when she's used math in Physical Science this year, she does fine with it and *sees* the purpose for what she's doing. But when it's just a problem in a math textbook, she's sort of mystified by the whole process and just grasps at formulas and plugs things in and moves numbers around until she stumbles upon the correct one. Thus, I'm thinking the Algebra-based Physics may help make the Algebra make sense? Or would it just confuse her more? I'm also considering using a different Algebra textbook next year and doing Algebra I again for 9th grade (perhaps using Derek Owens or Jann in TX classes for this?) because I am afraid to move forward without her really understanding what she is doing. :/ If we did that - should she take the Physics along-side doing Algebra I? Another plus for doing Algebra I in 9th would be to slow down her math track. I could see Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calc being plenty. If we continue at the current pace, she would either have no math for senior year, or have to take Calculus. The college majors she will likely be interested in (business, management, marketing, entrepreneurship) require Business Pre-Calc and Business Calc, which should be less intense than regular Calc college courses (I think?!?).

She's reading Scarlet by Marissa Meyer, Emperor Mage by Tamora Pierce,The Poisonwood Bible, a book about Nelson Mandela (I can't remember which one we finally settled on), and The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Oooh, great ideas so far, thanks! We've used a ton of them in recent years (I'd forgotten til I saw them written down here, got excited for a minute, then remembered we already did that recently, lol) - but the meat idea is a new one! We definitely might do that this year. I also just spent an hour looking for sentimental things - my dad has been decorating his "man cave" with memorabilia from days gone by - but I'm coming up empty. Things from old places where he's worked (power plants, auto plants) - the place where they first met... but nothing yet. Going to google some more this evening. So - still looking, but inspired!

'Tis the season - I love my parents dearly, but they are impossible to shop for. Whatever they want - they have it already. They have no hobbies that need supplemented by our gifts. In the past, we've bought tickets to the movies, shows, concerts, dinner theaters, and murder mystery theater for them. This year, there are no good concerts or shows coming to town soon, and the dinner theater/murder mystery theater gifts were too recent to recycle them again. So - any suggestions for cool, generic gifts that you've seen? I keep browsing online, hoping I'll see "just" the right thing that grabs my attention, but I've spent hourrrrrs already and time is growing short! They're relatively easy to please, so they're not being demanding or anything - we just want to get them something they'll have not thought to buy for themselves already! :ph34r: (and to think... they think dh and I are tough to shop for! Hahahahahaaaa! They have no idea!!!! lol :willy_nilly: )

I did - back when we were making the decision what to use this year for Chem 1! Did not even think to look through it again for second-year Chemistry information! 'doh :blushing: Will do that tonight - thank you for the reminder!

Thank you for the suggestions - looking into everything!! I did look into this, but it's so expensive. :( Buying a micro chemistry set at this point would probably drive me to tears (just because of the sheer amount of chemistry supplies we have on-hand already... I can't imagine spending another $225+ just to buy smaller sizes of what we already have!) But I've read such wonderful things, it's very hard to not be tempted!!