*le sigh* After looking at further samples & reviews and now reading your replies, I'm headed back to the drawing board. :glare: Thank you for your replies though; better to know in advance than too late.

Thank you all! I looked up MissMoe's blog review but Quark seems to not have her blog linked to her WTM account anymore. I'll see if google can turn up anything.

I'm doing Elemental Science Biology for the Logic Stage this year with a 4th and a 6th grader. We've never covered chemistry or physics. Earth science was pretty light in 1st & 3rd grades, and we used Apologia Astronomy in 2nd & 4th grades, so Earth & Space science might have been mostly forgotten. I've been looking at all kinds of sequences, including where it will land my rising 7th grader by the beginning of 9th grade. If I choose the BJU sequence, then he would repeat all the same concepts from this year in greater depth. If I choose Apologia for the next few years, then too much repetition is not a problem, but I'm still drawn to the WTM sequence (using other materials) and he wants his science to include chemistry next year. I was thinking of combining chemistry & physics into 1 year, doing a semester of each, or a Physical Science course since that's mostly what they cover. I prefer that he study Earth & Space, Chemistry, and Physics before high school since he likely won't cover E&S in HS and I want good review before HS Chem & Physics. Would it make sense to go in this order? 6th - ES Logic Stage Bio. (current) 7th - Chem/Physics or Physical Science (b/c he wants some Chem next year & I want to follow that interest) 8th - Earth & Space 9th - Biology What if it looked like this - would it be nuts? 6th - ES Logic Stage Bio. (current) 7th - Apologia Physical (Will this be too hard to jump into? It's billed as an 8th gr. course.) 8th - BJU E&S (Again, will this be too hard not having done BJU 7?) 9th - ?? 9th with BJU is Physical Science... too much repetition from 7th (albeit deeper) Apologia 9th is Biology, but I'm not totally convinced on either one (Apologia or BJU) Or a more WTM-ish sequence: 6th - ES Logic Stage Bio. (current) 7th - Earth & Space (BJU E&S would probably be too much right here, huh? I might have to use something else for it.) 8th - Chem & Physics (but then his interest in Chem might have already died out... I want to follow his interests if possible, esp. since it's something I want to cover anyways) I'm afraid to commit to Apologia or BJU, each for different reasons. Apologia having its reputation for lengthy, chatty text doesn't sound like a great match for a student who reads somewhat slow. Then I wonder about BJU going much farther in each topic than Apologia, but I don't know how to gauge which, if either, would be better for *my* child. When I read all the BJU 7th & 8th grade samples I can find online, is it just me or is an encyclopedia more accessible and lively than that? It feels so technical and so much is crammed in; I don't want it all to go over his head as he's reading. I'm also drawn to Ellen McHenry's curriculum, RS4K (for getting Chem & Physics into 1 year, and SWB recommends it in WTM 3rd ed.), possibly Hakim's Story of Science as a supplement, and others. Those could fulfill a subject in a sequence in which I use only some or no BJU or Apologia before high school... but then what would I do for high schoool? Ack! I know this was a long post and I'm sorry for the rambling. If you can offer any suggestions based on my goals & his interests, I would be very grateful.

dp

I had the chance to flip through one of the Quest guides quickly the other day and was impressed & curious. I didn't know this was something geared to different age levels - or is it? I thought it was a set of books like her history books. Both of my homeschoolers will be logic stage next year. Am I too late? Do you have to start at the beginning with these? How helpful are the Quest guides? Is SoS (haha, I keep thinking of Switched on Schoolhouse when I type that) something meant to be used as the main science course or as a "history of science" component of another science course? The math I saw in the guide was pretty advanced for a regular 5th grader. What grades are the books & guides meant for? Lastly, could this be used by a YEC with paraphrasing & discussion? Does Hakim stick to the secular science content of the subject she's covering and leave it at that, or does she address religious beliefs? What is her tone like towards them?

Is RS4K a good choice for a 7th grader? I know they are shorter courses but I was planning to do at least 2 over the course of next year. Length of the program aside, does it challenge students during that time? Does it require them to stretch their thinking? Are there lab reports or activities to prepare students to do lab reports? Is the content of the course, however short, "rigorous and meaty" (to put it in Hive terms)? I read a FB discussion between a few moms about RS4K on a used homeschool curriculum facebook page that gave me pause. They have all used higher levels for younger kids than recommended (by RS4K) and agreed that it would need a lot of supplementation to be enough for the targeted grades. So, is it enough?

:iagree: This! I want it to be meaty & rigourous, too. I'd want WTM-style assignments (add major science events & scientists to timeline, writing assignments, sketches, etc.) woven into it, with each day and week telling me exactly what needs to be done without having to flip to an appendix or another book to find it. I'd like it for logic and high school levels, please. :) Oh, and when I recieve it in the mail, it should look professionally done, not just like things I print off my cheap-o home printer. While the writers are at it, they should write a history curriculum in the same manner, with coverage for all viewpoints.

I'm another whose life was touched by Kalanamak's posts here. She probably didn't even know it. Kay, you are a wise & strong soul, and you are missed. :crying: I'll pray for you & your family & friends. I can't muster anything else but if you are open to recieiving cards, please let us know.

:grouphug: That is great news!

I don't know why I feel the need to share this, but this has been happening to federal workers for years, too. There was a pay freeze for gov't civilian employees in a particular branch at the beginning of 2009, there have been no raises since. There have never been raises in benefits, if that is what you meant by "plus about the same in bennies". There has also been a hiring freeze on at dh's particular job for years, just as there has for his type of work on every other military installation in the U.S. They are severely understaffed, now doing a workload that used to be multiple jobs. They stopped paying overtime last year but still required him to work overtime. They pay in "comp. time", but there's never time to use it due to the staffing issue. So, he waits a full calendar year for the comp. time to convert to overtime pay, when it has depreciated some due to inflation. My family is kicked back financially to what we were making 10 yrs. ago. ETA: Wait a second, what kind of benefits are you all (other civilian gov't employees) getting? We don't even have vision and the dental is a joke (they pay $12 on a $400+ bill... practically nonexistant coverage), and the regular medical coverage is very limited. Where do people get these ideas that all federal employees have got it made?

I had forgotten that the new revised BP schedules Hakim. Which row/column is it listed in on the grid schedule? Usually things are divided by age group. If it's the suggested reading for everyone, I'd assume they intended it to be for everyone (prob. read-aloud for youngers). We can give our advice until the cows come home, but I think you know your kids best. Go to B&N or your library and read through some of the Hakim books to get a feel for them. See if the content matches their comprehension levels, if it is too graphic or not for your taste for those ages (I'm thinking of the wars here), and if you like it very well. That is my best recommendation. That, and contact BP to see what they say. Ask what ages they meant it to be scheduled for, and then describe your kids & your situation to find out if it would be a good fit. Rusty at BP has always been quick to respond when I email my questions. I can't say enough good about BP's customer service. Best of luck!

Momof3littles, to be certain, I just googled the name of my town & "endocrinologist" but came up with nothing. I'll look for the Taube's books at the library this weekend. I agree that it has to be something doable long-term, but that can take a major shift in thinking. Again. *sigh*

I'm doing something similar with my 4th & 6th graders, but I'm trying very hard to make myself choose a simpler plan. I tend towards perfectionism (NOT a good thing!) so I struggle with this. Unless the grammar & logic stage BP schedules differ, using BP means using SOTW since BP schedules it. Are you asking if doing the SOTW AG with BP is too much? If so, my answer is probably. SOTW AG contains narration & beginning outlining aids (in Vol. 4) that BP doesn't, so it could be useful. I would pick only 1 map, 1 coloring page, 1 of each type of thing each week from the two programs. The SOTW audiobooks are very helpful. At those ages, I wish I'd have just done SOTW and done it well. My kids would have had better retention. We skipped around outside the 4-yr. cycle for a couple years and I tried to push too much at once, but they can only remember so much at a time.

<edite for privacy> I'll begin reading the links & other resources in the morning. Thank you ALL for taking the time to read & share such personal info to help. :grouphug: P.S.: Crap. This probably means no more :cheers2: , eh? *sigh*

Well I'm finally dipping my toe in over here, due to the warm response to my other thread. :seeya: I'll join, but I can't promise any numbers. I didn't realize books we read to or with our kids for homeschool "count" if we want them to, so those & audiobooks will help a bit. I have the problem of starting a book and getting too busy with other things to get back to it, even if it's one I truly enjoy. During my kids' sports seasons, I have plenty of reading time while waiting for kids inbetween practices/lessons. I'm a bit of a budding Tolkein nerd, so you'll all have to live with that. I finished The Hobbit and am finishing up TFotR. His writing is pure brilliance. I also finished the first 3 Redwall books as read alouds. I started and have not finished: The History of the Ancient World (SWB) The Aeneid by Virgil The Optimistic Child The Power of a Positive Mom (with devotional journal) After reading the threads above, I had forgotten I wanted to read The Hunger Games to check them out for ds. DD is reading Night by Eli Wiesel and that sparked the strong emotions I remember having when I read it at her age, so I want to re-read that to discuss w/ her. It's short and gripping, so even though it's emotionally heavy, it will be a fast read. I suppose I need to pick just a few to focus on and get them done.

Jane & everyone else who responded, your encouragement to participate & expansion on the group's purpose is so inviting that I'm going to go ahead & join. Excelsior, getting "out of the duldrums of homeschool mom isolation" sounds lovely. :)

With all I have to read for homeschooling, I rarely find time to whittle away at even the most enjoyable or interesting books for myself. How do you do it? Do you read very fast? Do book-a-week members read the whole book, or just part, to count on your lists? I've always wanted to join, but it seems I can't even get through things I want to read in a month, no less a week.

This is way TMI, more personal than I like to post, but it's also serious and I'm at my wit's end looking for reliable alternatives. Please don't quote, as I will be deleting all or most of this later. Thanks! <edited for privacy>

:grouphug: Praying for you, Impish.

I'm in the same boat. Just this mornning, I discovered this common misconception about gov't employees not working much while making loads of money. I don't know where people get that idea - maybe they're friends with top level employees. All of the civilian gov't employees in Dh's branch that I know IRL, including the top boss at Dh's job, make only 5 figures. Dh got official word in Feb. that he'd lose 1 day of work per week indefinitely; a 20% pay cut. As it was, we couldn't afford any "extras" at all. We don't have any debt except the house, but I just don't know what else we can do. We don't go to the movies, don't eat out, own our old cars that have been waiting to be fixed, can't save for college for the kids, can't make needed repairs on the house, etc. Things were already tight. The pay freeze of the last 4 years coupled with inflation and increasing costs has already hurt. I think I'll be looking for a job. ETA: The way the sequestration is written, it gives them the green light for more cuts. Dh said they could cut people on an indefinite basis entirely - layoffs.

My budget agrees. The pay freeze of the past 4 yrs. has been hard, with inflation ("quantitative easing") and ever-increasing costs. This 20% pay cut has left me speechless. For a family of 5 living on $65,000 (for example), 20% is significant.

This brings up a good point. It's easier to conceal things when they're able to keep the public engaged in finger-pointing at the "other side".

I don't get around here often, but I just saw this and want to offer my deepest condolences. My heart is breaking for you & your family. You'll all be in my prayers. I think he would be proud of you for putting so much careful thought into those hard decisions. Do go easy on yourself.

I almost forgot: I wanted to ask about using Christian vs. secular science texts for college-bound students. I don't know what the future holds, but I don't want to be the cause of lost opportunities for my children. Either way you do it, how do you compensate for the other? IOW, if you use Christian texts in HS, what kinds of colleges or universities will accept them? If most of them do not, what, if anything, do you do to teach the other side of things? If you use secular science texts in HS, what do you do to balance them out? What would you suggest for me, still wrestling with the types of questions I posted above? (It might be easy for someone well-versed & studied in the Bible, apologetics, & theology to counter a ps textbook, but I might need some help. Then again, would adding in other resources make the workload unrealistic?)