I agree with the others on the suggestions of how to combine or prolong your schoolyear to get it done. I would add, that if he is "bombing" assignments, then it is in his interest to go back and take the time needed to learn those topics. If you are rushing just to finish then his understanding won't be as good. Algebra is the foundational math for everything to come - geometry, precalc, sciences, etc. If he is weak in algebra, he will struggle with all future math as well as chemistry and physics. I would take the time needed to teach the algebra without worrying about a schedule. If this means going into the summer or doing it next fall, that's okay. Also, it is okay to start geometry while finishing the last of algebra 1.

I use MM to reinforce specific concepts that my kids have had a hard time learning through other programs. I find it mostly to be excessive on the drill and takes a long time to get through each concept without taking it quite as deep as I'd rather go. It is great for me when I want more work on a specific concept like percentages.

It wasn't difficult in the class, but in real life I'm better through BW methods, but I'd still rather off and on pay them to coach my student through writing since they are so much better.

I would agree that Biology is a requirement, but when is negotiable. Does it make sense to you to make him do biology next year? If so, then do it. I let me oldest postpone biology until 11th grade and he's no worse off for doing so - actually I think he's better as he has a little more maturity to deal with the vocabulary. For my 9th grader, I have a selection of Teaching company physics and mechanical engineering videos that he watches everyday alongside doing biology with his older brother. It keeps the engineering side of him much happier this way.

BW started registration for their current quarter this week. They have four registrations per year - one for each quarter. Some of the classes fill very quickly, but if a class you want fills be sure to get on the wait list because you may still get a spot. Edited to say that you can continue to register for classes anytime after registration is open until the class fills. Some classes will never fill and you can register right up to when it starts.

I would work on things in baby steps. You can't change character overnight. Personally, I wouldn't jump to evaluations. Start with baby steps. Don't give him a long list of schoolwork. Give him one or two things. Go up from there. Some much older kids still can't manage their time well to get things done. Praise when he meets these small steps and help him make bigger steps. There's nothing wrong with being charming, but it shouldn't be used to get out of lying etc. IF caught in a lie, ask him if he did it - figure out how to make him actually confess (not just smile sweetly that yes, he's caught). I'd tell him that I already know the truth and he won't get punished for confessing, but will be punished if he doesn't. Make sure you KNOW the truth first. It is hard to confess, but will lay the groundwork for telling the truth. Don't set him up for failure. Make the computer unaccessible until he's done with his work and has permission. This might require password locking the computer or moving it to a different room. Supervise so that he succeeds.

No real suggestions, but I would keep asking questions and keep accommodating as needed.

It depends on my kid and on the day. :closedeyes: My most efficient kid, I give the choice of 1) me assigning more work, 2) he can pick anything to learn, could be computer programming, digital graphics, teaching company, reading, sports, etc. 3) help me with housework and yard work. He will either pick computer programming, watching TC, or helping in the yard (saying he figures he'll have to do it anyhow). My two that are slower - they keep going with mom-assigned work. My oldest will have to finish each subject for year (many will end with AP tests), start on one subject I want him to do over the spring/summer and then have free time.

I and my oldest are AoPS lovers. However, my second child is very smart and very good at math, but is not tolerant of AoPS. He just gets too frustrated too easily. He will be moving to Derek Owen's for further math with me overseeing it and adding anything needed along the way. I've only done Derek Owens for prealgebra and physics so far so I can't really speak to his other maths, but after looking at everything, this is the path I've chosen.

Depends on the copyright and the price.

Good luck. It is a hard emotional roller coaster aiming for the top.

My daughter just signed up for Passion for Fiction also. She just finished the Write your own Greek Myth with the same teacher and really enjoyed her.

My reluctant writer started basic freewriting in BW style and then took Kidswriter Basic (family class) in 9th grade. At that point in time his younger siblings (7th and 5th) could write better than him. We then did Just So Stories (family class when he was in 9th). In 10th he took Kidswriter Intermediate (very hard for him) and then Expository Essay in 10th. This year (11th) he took MLA Research Essay. He also worked on one personal essay privately with a BW teacher. He is 2E - very smart, but also with learning disabilities. I wouldn't necessarily say his progress is typical because he does assimilate the information well. He went from sounding like a 3rd grader to a bright high school student in a couple of years. He had the foundation of grammar, vocabulary, etc. and is a voracious reader, but the language output (and physical writing skills) were not there. He does minimal writing outside of the BW classes - mostly short answer paragraph writing. BW has been fantastic for all my kids of very different abilities.

I'd love an update on your new knowledge. I recently bought Corbett's Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student. I thought I should get it, but didn't expect to be so taken up with it. I think it will work for my oldest to read/study next year. He absorbs information and then applies it so I think it will work well for him. I'd love to hear if you've used this yet and about your new resources.

I was also going to suggest Sonlight D+E - doing the American history cores right now with 3rd and 7th. :closedeyes: Beautiful feet is much more providential. Alternatively, pick any spine you like and add in literature. You can get great ideas for literature from Sonlight, My Father's World, Winter Prominse, etc.

While I haven't used ELTL I have used a lot of CM methods. I certainly don't think one curriculum is "better" than the other generally as it really depends on your personality and how it fits your family and methods. Some curriculum that others can implement very well would never work at my home. It is certainly not unreasonable to use ELTL (or anything else) and a main program and then bring in elements of Brave Writer. On the other hand, I think it would be very difficult to go completely Bravewriter as a new homeschooler -- it just doesn't have the structure that many people need. ELTL would certainly give you more structure, you could use this and implement some of the Brave Writer lifestyle at the same time. You could sign up for Julie Bogarts free daily message to get ideas of how to start using BW ideas in your day to day activities. You could get the Writer's Jungle (or look at mine) for Brave Writer ideas. If you take online classes from BW, you can set aside other language arts during those weeks so you can concentrate on the class. If you are doing ELTL (or anything else), there is no rule that you have to complete the full year in one schoolyear especially if you are replacing it with other things. Keep your eye on your goals as you go along.

There are also all the past years tests available to download on the college board website.

You'll could be either inspired or overwhelmed looking at all the choices - what's your personality? There are lots and lots of choices and everyone thinks their choice is best. I think it is nice to put your hands on some material and get an iidea for the choices out there. Also, if you've started to look at choices before the convention then you might actually put you hands on what you are considering buying. The convention hall is also great for all those fun things to add to you main curriculum (or for Christmas presents). It's a BIG convention hall so it takes a chunk of time to go through. Other advice: I've not been there, done that, but there are lots of threads about people you have taken kids out of school and the amount of time it takes to "deschool" or transition to a homeschool routine. The longer your son has been in school the longer it takes to transition (on average). Give yourself permission to make mistakes and waste some money. Ideally, everything you pick will be a perfect fit for you and your family, but in reality it doesn't usually work that way. Don't feel like you MUST do a specific curriculum just because you bought it. If it isn't working, it might be worth it to ditch it and buy something new. Editted to add: Don't use the exhibit hall to make initial decisions - that would be completely overwhelming. Do your research first and then use it to narrow choices or to find extras if you go.

I'm an AoPS lover here. Generally NEM is considered harder than Dimensions. I've only looked at and used NEM. It is definately less wordy than AoPS. I don't like many of the explanations and I was very annoyed with all the calculator work. AoPS crafts great problems than don't use a calculator. NEM has lots of calculate this to three decimal places and always changes sq roots to decimals. I like the geometry portions of NEM much better than their algebra portions. We don't do the pages of explanation in AoPS at my home. I sit with my kids and work through the problems at the beginning of each section. We discuss and point any highlights in the section. I then assign the exercise. I am capable of doing the math so I can explain without the long explanations of AoPS. I do think the first several chapters of the prealegebra book are the hardest to get through.

Your child is still on the young side. I would back off and decide in an ideal world what would you like your child to learn. Then look at college admission requirements and see if this fits in. Lots and lots of kids get admitted to college with no APs and no dual enrollment. An AP class is supposed to be a college equivalent class - college level material and generally college level pace. While you can spread one AP class over three years of middle school, I'm not sure of the value of that. I'd teach to your child's current level. Don't worry about what everyone else is doing; do worry about jumping through a few hoops for college (like everyone needs 4 years of English, 3+ years of math, etc.) Your English or anything else does not have to be college level at a younger age, just needs to prepare them for college level work for the future, assuming you are college-bound. I think some kids are ready and need to take advanced classes in high school, others should focus on learning to prepare for college. I've got both.

As far as college goes, I don't know that it matters too much if it is an AP approved course or just self-studied. The student will have the AP score either way which validates the course. As far as actually taking a (homeschool) AP course, there is a lot to be learned other than the material - deadlines, tests, outside accountability, etc. I can't tell if you homeschool or not - are you "thinking" about homeschooling or just thinking about the future of high school. I'd recommend taking it one year at a time and deciding on AP courses one step at a time.

I agree with the others about cautioning on the number of online classes if you haven't done that before. Many online providers do excellent classes. Many of those classes are 10-12 hours per week (and sometimes all the homework is expected on M-F, not weekends). Six classes of that load would be very difficult. Some online teachers are very flexible with the schedule and when it is done, others are not. We've had teachers give a test to be done that day by midnight and say it is a 3 hour test. If every teacher expected you to have 3 hours for THEIR class that day then my student would explode. Within the same provider, you still might not have the same spring break. My son is taking two online classes through PA homescholers and one live class - all have different spring breaks.

Yes, I think a 7th grader that is not writing phobic can do KWI. You might also look at some of the fiction writing classes.

My "little guy" just turned nine. He's severely dyslexic and not a reader or writer (yet). He started hanging out with some of our family classes two years ago and does everything orally.

You can download a syllabus and watch some lectures on you-tube to find out exactly how long it all takes. There are usually multiple short lectures per topic - varies on the topic. We haven't done precalc (yet). My son is watching the physics videos at double speed - I have no idea how he can process the information that fast, but he does. My daughter has to go back and re-watch some of her videos as she is slower to pick everything up. In the courses we've done the only review is at the semester exam time.