I'm leaning heavily to using SOS Spanish for my high-schooler. However, we need 3 years of spanish, not just 2. Any thought on what we could use after completing SOS? Also have any of you had good success with using SOS spanish for high school?

Let me just say I have a 16 yo that was once a 14 yo and the child at 14 is now a man at 16. We outsourced and ended up doing summer school to try to cover ground that he led me to believe he had covered. But now at 16.5 he is very RESPONSIBLE. Thank goodness, because I now have another 14 yo to herd along. I scaled back last year with my 14 yo and focused on accomplishing things well! And I finally carved out time in my schedule to "teach" math to him. This year our goal is for him to continue to accomplish things well and to move forward in math and science. His load is not heavy, but it does cover what needs to be covered. The goal is a sense of accomplishment and good coverage of the subject areas.

Thank you. That is helpful. It doesn't soud like $140 more worth of material.

I need to pick up a book for this course by suchoki , but the price of the 5th edition has been slowing me down for months. Can we get by with an earlier edition or ...?

I need to pick up a book for this course, but the price of the 5th edition has been slowing me down for months. Can we get by with an earlier edition or ...?

Thank you for the reply! I have been eyeing the Spielvogel text. One of the text approved in our state is the Glencoe version. I like the idea of the Sonlight books. Perhaps, this could provide some balance to the perspective. What do you think? I'll give that a closer look. i actually think I may have several of those that I bought for him to read 2-years ago and it was too much for him and I didn't take the time to help him over that hurdle. Did you do ALL the Sonlight books each year? And any suggestions for primary sources or does the Spielvogel text include those? I'm not familiar with the K12 texts, but I'll give those a look, as well. In the event he does go to public school. There are practice and sample tests on-line, so we can go through and get ready. I think they even have a "summer class" for students who are transferring in to prep them. Thank you again for your time!

My ds will begin high school at home in 2-weeks. Long story short, he "may" transfer to public school for his Junior and Senior years. If so, he would need to verify that he took world history by passing the state's standardized tests in world history parts 1 and 2. I had originally planned to utilize something from Ambleside Online, Beautiful Feet, Biblioplan or Heart of Dakota with him but after recent conversations with the public school I realize we need to cover more ground in a shorter time span. Now back to my son - his interest is athletics, not academics. He would much rather be pumping iron, and running then reading. In fact, he would rather not read at all. But he will do what needs to be done. And early world history is DEFINITELY not on his list of interests at present. I ideally would like a plan for him that is engaging with a spine, original documents, some mapping, a video, a corresponding literature selection and easily done in 4 days a week. And he needs to master the material so he can pass the state standardized test. He is college bound and I imagine it might even be a private college initially for athletic reasons. He reads most comfortably at a 6th/7th grade level. His most recent history was reading Augustus Caesar's World. Any suggestions.....

Which dvd course?

Great question! And the answer is.... YES! Here's the blueprint.

Does anyone know where I could find a list of classical books by genre and accessibility? I'm pulling together a plan for literature for my 14 yo who is a reluctant reader and I wanted him to read classics in several different genres, but I need a master list from which to pick and choose.

It has taken a while, but I've finally heard from the local public school. Whatever course he does at home they will accept for credit, IF he can pass the standardized state test in that course area! This would be a piece of cake for my oldest, but not necessarily for this dc. So, I'm thinking about an Earth Science course that will be: 1.) engaging 2.) prepare him for standardized testing in that subject area 3.) high-school worthy 4.) something we could brush-up on in 2 years if he should enter as Junior Any suggestions?

Thank you both. I'll look into your recommendations.

I'm interested in reading more about the Eastern Band of Cherokee as part of our 19th Century US focus. Does anyone have a good book to recommend? Thank you.

Yes, thank you. It is my understanding that the HOD Rev To Rev guide with extensions is adequate for a high school freshman for history. I'm just looking at the history not the other components. What additional resources do you think it needs for adequate coverage of history?

Could anyone share with me how the history coverage compares in these 2 resources. They both indicate that they can be used for grades 7-9. Are they both adequate for a high school freshman?

I'm planning for my 9th grader to study the Medieval era in the fall and I just discovered Beautiful Feet's Medieval Program for Sr. High. I had been pondering using Biblioplan year 2. But I'm intrigued by the Beautiful Feet program. Can anyone offer more insights to how the 2 compare, etc? Thank you.

I am so glad you popped in with these suggestions. It helped me remember I have a non-Western resource on my shelf for this time period that I've been wanting to use.

Thank you again!

Why did I not think to ask this question when my older son was in 9th grade? You all have succeeded in ramping up my enthusiasm about the original sources from this time period exponentially. I thought I would put up some links for all of us. I'll go back and add dates later as time allows. If those of you who've suggested these find that I've posted the wrong source - just share an alternate link! IF there's something that you feel is a MUST for this list - speak up : ) Arkangel Shakespeare Recordings - You can purchase here individually. Amazon has a complete set available for $$$. Beowulf - Heaney's audio version - Amazon link Arthurian Romances - Penquin Edition or Audio version (have not found one, yet) Burton Raffel's Canterbury tales Audio Lancelot - Knight of the Cart - Audio Song of Roland - Blackstone Audio Dante's Divine Comedy - Blackstone Audio Spenser Fierce Wars and Faithful Loves book Sydney - Which work do you recommend? Marlowe - Which work do you recommend? Historical Readings: The Travels of Marco Polo (book) The Four Voyages, etc., Christopher Columbus (book)

Audio! Oh my word. I completely "forgot" about using audio. It's so good to post here and to have people help dig you out of a hole you've created ; ) And I love your list. He loves Shakespeare and we've got a great plan in place to work on that all year. I look forward to adding in all your suggestions. Yippee! I am so excited. These are fabulous ideas. I'm not familiar with the first suggestion, but I like the sound of it.( ETA: Would you recommend doing the complete work or just portions?) And yes, Lancelot, another great idea...on audio! You both rock! "Oh happy day!" Thank you for taking the time to share these thoughts.

Hi there, My 14 yo will be studying the Middle Ages through Renaissance for his Freshman year. He is not a strong reader - middle school level- and doesn't like to read for long period of time. I will probably read most of the primary sources to him and have him narrate what is happening to help him understand the material. As a result, we need a short list of key and engaging primary sources to cover long period in history. What would you recommend? I was thinking we would have one session a week on primary sources for a total of 30 sessions. I realize that some sources we may be able to cover in one session, while other sources will require weeks. Could you help me identify material and provide a ball park figure of how long we should allow? And thank you.

So, that makes me wonder - is it worth it to spend time on an IPC course, if the college(s) you are considering require 3 lab sciences with preference toward biology, chemistry and physics? On a similar note - I've been looking at the requirements for the state schools my son is interested in, along with a Division 2 and Division 3 school. The most rigorous requirement of the schools in consideration is 3 lab sciences with preference toward biology, chemistry and physics. This particular school (the only one which is this specific) also goes as far as to say that Earth Science and General Science are not considered lab courses. All the other colleges in question require 2 lab sciences or less, some not even specifying what. In fact as one admissions counselor said to me just get the math in order we can work out the science when you get here! Now to make matters a little more complex - our local high school does require Earth Science to graduate, but most students apparently take it in 8th grade. However, any students who arrive after 8th grade have to take Earth Science. A local homeschooler was accepted into the ps's Governor's program, but had to take Earth Science her Freshman year because it was not a course she had covered prior to her arrival.

Oh, my so many great posts and I didn't even know. Let me start with this.... I contacted the high school today to find out the answers to these questions. Our public school does permit students to enter as juniors or seniors and in recent years a few homeschooled students who entered the ps system as Jr/Sr went on to play at Division I schools. These are great insights you've posted. I'll see what I find out and share later.

Just an update - I've decided to go with Johnson and adding in the original documents material from Critical Thinking Press. This will go nicely alongside his American Lit studies and I'll use the movie ideas in the link shared earlier for the AP History. He'll do quite a bit of writing each week. I think it will be a great course. He's a thinker. Johnson will speak to him and I'll resist the urge to pile on more books. I've already ordered the rest of the materials. Another decision...done. Thanks again everyone.