I find that I put more emphasis on the areas that my kids are less interested in (history and writing for DS, math and science for DD), but that we end up with a fairly even coverage of the main subjects.

I have a better idea of our plans for September than our plans for next week. :glare:

We'll have more outside activities starting up, so we'll start a little earlier and finish by mid-afternoon. Definitely: DS: dropping online math/science classes, starting AoPS Geometry DD: finished handwriting (finally!), adding MCT Sentence Island and Music of the Hemispheres Possibly: DS: making time to study some psychology and/or physics, tackling the research paper DD: switching to or adding WP Equine Science, dropping spelling, dropping geography

Last year in 2nd, DD did: Math: 5x/week (3-4 days of MUS, 1-2 days of extras) History/Literature: 5x/week (Sonlight) French: 5x/week (only 10-15 minutes) Spelling: 4x/week (5-10 minutes) Handwriting: 4x/week (5-10 minutes) Grammar: 4x/week Writing: 4x/week Science: 3x/week

This exactly. Both of my kids are reading books that are typically taught in high school, but only books that I know well and am confident that my kids can handle. My DS read To Kill a Mockingbird in 3rd grade (but DD won't read it until middle school), he'll read Huckleberry Finn in a few weeks and Of Mice and Men next year in 7th. He read The Diary of Anne Frank, along with everything else he could get his hands on about the Holocaust, at 9 or 10.

I get dressed before the kids wake up, but they usually hang out in their pajamas until around lunch time.

I would suggest you contact them as soon as possible to ask about registering in time for the spring classes (which language is he interested in?), but this might be helpful: Provisional Admission for New Students. It looks to me like you he will have to eventually take the SCAT (unless he's in 7th or 8th grade), but that whatever scores you have right now will be enough to get him into one class. HTH

My DD used OM K and 1, without any supplements (apart from lots of reading) and did very well. We're back using it again this year, and we are using a different math program (MUS) and supplementing with a few things, but this is mostly because we like them, not because they're really necessary. Oak Meadow doesn't have to be super expensive. If you decide to go with it, take a look around for used copies.

There was just a thread on the Accelerated Learner Board about math sequences for advanced kids. You might find some useful posts in there, or in some of the other math threads. There are quite a few! I'm not too familiar with Teaching Textbooks, but you might find that a different program will provide more of a challenge for him (in a good way) and slow him down a bit. You could also do some math "electives" in between or alongside the more traditional courses. Art of Problem Solving has several of these. If he does get to calculus early, is dual enrollment a possibility? Statistics would be one option, but he could also go on to study more calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, etc. while still technically a high school student.

Your son doesn't need anything other than phonics and handwriting at this point. For 2nd grade, Just Write is a good choice, although I would add some copywork in as well. Grammar and spelling are really optional at this point, but my kids have both enjoyed Spelling Workout. While we haven't used a "workbook" grammar at that level, Growing With Grammar would fit the bill. I wouldn't start vocabulary until she's finished with phonics and well into spelling.

We're going to try out a few things I've seen recommended on the forum - DS is going to start AoPS (his choice of either Number Theory or Geometry) and DD is going to start MCT. I'm not sure if AoPS is going to be a good fit, but I know DD will love MCT. I can't wait to start it. DS is also going to take a break from his online math/science classes and try to be a little more efficient with his time. He has a busy spring coming up and needs to get in the habit of finishing his school work by about 2:00.

I'd also suggest The Giver. My DS read it this year for Oak Meadow's 8th grade English course and my nephew studied it in high school (9th maybe?), so I wouldn't say it's too young.

DH and DD are asleep. DS has two friends sleeping over. They've been playing their guitars and goofing around for almost four hours, but apparently they can't go to bed because "Um, Mom. We're in the middle of rehearsal." :glare:

DH took DS and three of his friends. I'm a little jealous!

I find it hard to buy books for people I don't know very, very well, so it's just the immediate family this year. The kids each get one hardcover classic, plus a few extra books. DH is impossible to shop for. DD: Little Women Jake and Lily, by Jerry Spinelli The Mighty Miss Malone, by Christopher Paul Curtis The Candy Shop War, by Brandon Mull Messenger and Son, by Lois Lowry DS: Les Miserables The Black Count, by Tom Reiss New Boy, by Julian Houston The Kill Order, by James Dashner Don't Put Me In, Coach, by Mark Titus The Forbidden Experiment, by Roger Shattuck Savage Girls and Wild Boys, by Michael Newton DNephew 18: The Picture of Dorian Gray The Other Normals, by Ned Vizzini Dodger, by Terry Pratchett Every Day, by David Levithan DNephew 20: The Godfather (we can count that as a classic, right?) Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die: Musings from the Road, by Willie Nelson (a future classic, I'm sure) Guinness World Records 2013 DH: Who I Am: A Memoir, by Pete Townshend

With a kid who's more inclined toward math and foreign languages, there's no way that we could cover every part of language arts every day, every year. We had a very grammar-focused year last year, so this year our emphasis is on writing. DS is using Oak Meadow English, which has a bit of everything (light grammar and vocab, more writing and literature), and WWS. He usually spends a little over an hour on English, but I would consider anything under two hours to be reasonable. How long is your son spending?

We're cutting down too. I want to try to finish off our shopping next Monday and Tuesday mornings, so I'm sure most of our week will be shot. DS wrote a math exam today (DH is bringing home a celebratory pizza any minute), so he'll just be finishing off one online course, keeping up with the other and maybe doing a little writing. DD will do math and science, but I think next week's English and history will get pushed to January.

Yikes. We've been slacking on WWS lately, but I'm pretty sure DS is on week 18 or 19. Thanks for the heads-up!

My DD is in 3rd, but we've followed the same pattern since 1st. We use Math-U-See, which is basically one lesson per week. I divide each lesson into 3 or 4 days and work until that day's assignment is done. This can take anywhere from 20-40 minutes, but if it ever took more than 40, we would stop and pick up the next day. It 1st grade, this was more like 15-25 minutes. On the other days, we use a variety of things and work on them for about 30 minutes.

My DS was diagnosed at 7, and it was the extra push that got us started homeschooling. I'm not active there anymore, but the forums on childrenwithdiabetes.com were great when I needed them. Good luck! :grouphug:

My DS just finished it off last week. I don't think you'll be disappointed. :001_smile:

Thanks for posting that, ChandlerMom. I had searched earlier posts and found that some skipped GI, and was wondering how you could start PI without it, but having the review at the beginning of SI makes sense! I'm going to start MCT with DD after Christmas, and I think now that SI, PI and Music of the Hemispheres will be enought.

DS really enjoyed Foerster's at about that age. He used most of the Key to series alongside Singapore, then finished up Key to Algebra before starting Foerster. Another option I've seen recently on the board is to use MUS Algebra 1 as a pre-algebra before Foerster or another algebra course. If she likes MUS apart from it being too easy, that might be an option for you to check out.

:iagree: and I would not consider having to take Algebra 1 in 9th grade a problem. My nephews both took Algebra 1 in 9th and AP Calc AB in 12th, with no issues.