Thanks for the replies. For my older son, I'm not sure what the best route for him for high school will be. He's a math geek and I'm not saying that math geeks can't like languages (I do), I just don't see it in him - English is hard enough. My main goals for him are exposure and some conversational skills. For my other kids coming along behind him, I'm sure I will need more - more grammar, literacy, ... everything. I'd love ideas for both my little ones to learn spanish as well as effective high school level programs (on the starting level of spanish). If my kids take to learning languages, then I'll progress more.

After reading the thread about foreign language requirements for college, I'm now concerned. What's wrong with Rosetta Stone? I know it doesn't teach everything, but what it does teach does it do a reasonable job? For my oldest, non-language kid, I plan on using Rosetta Stone as something to essentially fulfill a requirement - he'll never be a foreign language buff - all math geek. My daughter who is seven is wanting to learn Spanish and I was thinking of starting her on Rosetta Stone. This seems like a good place to start since I know no Spanish. Will it mess her up later in life if we do some Rosetta Stone? I'm not starting Latin with her until she can read English which is going slowly since she is dyslexic. What are the strengths and weaknesses of Rosetta Stone? Can it be high school languge credit for a minimum?

I use Barton Reading and Spelling. It's expensive and very good. Take a look at the website to see if it even interests you. It teaches kids from step one and forces them to break down words and learn sight words and lots of practice of reading correctly (without mistakes).

My oldest loves me to sit down and read the student portion with him and work through the sample problems together. He then does the rest of the exercises on his own. I can't imagine my next son wanting me to read it with him - I'm sure he'll be on his own.

I think a lot of kids shock us and don't really want to admit that they can do something like reading - they might be expected to do more. Here are some thoughts - however random...: - Pay attention to his clues - if he's getting frustrated is it too easy, too hard, difficult to sit still, difficult to use a pencil...??? - Sometimes telling him your goals and asking if he has any ideas of how to proceed will give you some great ideas. - Proceeding with phonics is great, but maybe with something with shorter lessons or skip portions once he's got it. - My perfectionistic child doesn't want to try anything until he's sure he can do it. - I think children are radicallly different and what works for one (or for many) doesn't necessarily work for all. Be careful about trying to make your child fit the mold of "typical".

My kids are younger than yours, so I've not been there, done that, but here are some questions I ask: How much time is too much time to spend on subject x (if not a passion)? What can I cut to allow more time to spend on passions? Is my student UNDERSTANDING the material? Should I supplement with an alternative text, etc. if my student is not getting it with the text I'm using. Is it important to memorize or just know where to find the information? Is this something my student needs to know for real life? Is this subject best taught by me? Will my student learn best by video, reading a text, online, co-op, etc.? Am I frustrating my student and why? Do we still like each other? Should I tell my student that grades exist? If my student is curled up reading about their passion and learning way above grade level, when do I make them stop and do schoolwork that isn't as much fun? How do I balance writing in my math/science student? Is it just busy-work or does it actually have a point? How do I teach my loner social skills? How do I teach organization and time management skills? How do I make my science geek more well-rounded? How do I make my well-rounded child more passionate about something? How much time should be spent with each child? When do I stop teaching and say it is mom-time now?

It's written in Art of Problem Solving Algebra - not that this helps you. :)

The first one is negative because it is the same as -(3^2). The negative in front of the coefficient is only raised to the exponent if it is within the parentheses as in the third example.

I've done Singpapore and Miquon early on and then moved toward NEM and Art of Problem Solving.

After looking at lots of microscopes, I'd buy one from Sonlight or Home Science Tools. Some others sell cheaper, but too often you get what you pay for. HST does a good job of describing the differences and I think the SL one falls in line pricewise with similar ones from them.

1999 Suburban - lap belts and lack of head rests are not a problem for me. I can fit three full size carseat/boosters across the middle seat and three can fit in the third seat depending on the make. Love my Suburbans - my current one replaced my 1979 one and I'll probably get a new one again someday.

IEW does not teach plagerism. It does teach taking notes from a source. It encourages you to cite references if you are unsure and encourages the teacher to teach what plagerism is and isn't.

Singapore with Challenging Word Problems.

Does pursueing a dianosis on the autism spectrum cause a child to feel "differnt". I'm concerned that my child will know he's different, but not understand why; my husband is concerned that it might negatively affect his self-esteem.

The Grammar of Poetry by Logos (also sold by IEW).

I need to put together a drug and alcohol awareness program for my son for scouts. (He needs a program through school or scouts to advance, and the scout program just got cancelled.) Do you have any ideas of online resources that I can use to satisfy this requirement.

I'd "slow down" only if it is difficult and needs more time to process. I think it would be great to chase rabbit trails, do some "fun" math logic or just keep on going. Life of Fred is a fun way to learn some new things without being too bogged down. The beginning of AoPS Algebra has some tough pre-algebra topics in the first chapter. Be prepared to go slowly if they are new and then speed up as tolerated. We are currently doing AoPS Algebra and Counting alongside each other. When we get to the review problems of Algebra, my son works on them for awhile while moving ahead in the AoPS Counting book and then moves on in algebra when at the end of a Counting chapter.

I'm on my third child with Miquon math used alongside Singapore math. Love it (except the purple (last) book which we usually skip).

Agricola Tigris and Euphartes Dominion Pandemic Ticket to Ride Domaine Caylus Power Grid Quicksand - a quick and easy game Elhambra Elasund 10 days in USA Saint Petersburg Robo Rally Starship Catan ... we have 100's of games, but these are some good ones that might still be available.

I don't do tests, but I make sure I'm satisfied my kids know the material before moving on. I do the textbook with the reviews in the text. My oldest usually skips the workbook and moves straight to the challenging word problems. My other kids do the workbook and CWP.

I like Art of Problem Solving. ... in my opinion after Singapore 6, students need a little more practice in negative numbers, exponents, and order of operation before tackling AoPS.

Do you have any recommendations for a middle schooler to learn nuclear physics - it's his current passion.

I also love IEW. My son loves the dvd instruction, but other years we do mom-teaching in the style of IEW.

I'd say no, but I'm a math person and can figure out math stuff on my own.

Home Science Tools has several very nice sets. www.homesciencetools.com