For my oldest, AoPS geometry was the easiest book (and he has done all through precalc). He thinks visual spacially and sees the answers to geometry problems. He turns many algebra problems into geometry problems as well in ways that I'd never think to do. It all depends on the kid.

Yeah! Hope your dd does well. My son is excited and "preparing" for the AMC this year.

I also have used Cambridge Latin after GSWL.

I'll be at Cincy!

I think the first three chapters are the hardest to "get into" - though the concepts are very important. Chapters 4-9 are all important foundational topics. You may not be able to jump into later chapters if you haven't done the earlier ones, but I have been known to pick isolated chapters in tutoring. Chapters 10-15 are all great chapters that are the beginnings of geometry, statistics, counting, etc.

I would definitely teach it both ways, and I teach distributive property early so it can then be applied to problems like 15X24 = 15*(20+4)= 15*20 + 15*4 What is OOP?

The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum.

I am glad I did evaluations (and are still doing them in 9th grade). I am glad that we focused on both strong and weak areas - didn't ignore either. I am sorting out how his abilities/disabilities fit into college and how to best prepare him (not just academically). I still read aloud to all my kids.

I agree with this and was just about to write an identical post.

Lisa, My son started with the Intro to Algebra book and before long added both the Intro to Counting and Intro to Number Theory. The next year he layered in the Geometry book as he finished the others. He ripped through the geometry book as that was his favorite. He is currently finishing both the Intermediate Algebra and Precalculus books. When he wants a break, he finds the Intermediate Counting and Probablilty book a nice break (an easy subject for him). My son had taken several of the problem solving series classes (Mathcounts, AIME, etc.), but none of the core classes. He's itching to take Olympiad Geometry, but I'm making him wait until next year. He's likely to take any of the online classes that don't have a book, but in our household, doing the books independently has worked very well. I tend to do math alongside him as that is the pattern we've developed with his severe dysgraphia. He still does almost all the work orally. The intermediate algebra book has required some writing, but this is essentially the first time he's had to do any writing to solve problems. We are spending a lot of time sorting out exactly what the underlying problems are with his writing and have stumbled upon the fact that he needs vision therapy. (He's an avid reader so we had a harder time figuring out that there were any vision issues.) I find the descriptions of time required for the online class to be fairly accurate for us.

My son definitely prefers to work at his own pace rather than the pace of the AoPS classes. The solutions books definitely are very good and if he's an independent learner, he can learn from these. The way my son likes to do the AoPS books is multiple books at once so that he can slow down on tough parts of one book and keep moving in math. He works through the chapter of one book, and then takes his time on the review problems at the end of the chapter while meanwhile working through a chapter of a different book. He'll end up covering multiple books in one year, but not one book at super speed. If he does end up doing AoPS and needs occational help, the AoPS forum is a great place to ask questions and get answers.

I think you can transition to AoPS, but beware that some of the advanced books may be a hard transition. Having completed through Algebra 2 in school, he will have covered most or all of the Intro to Algebra book. The Intermediate Algebra book covers some topics covered in algebra 2, but goes farther and deeper. At the beginning of the book, the introduction tells which chapters are important for everyone and which are just important for competition math. "I" like the Precalculus book. Your son might be able to jump into the precalculus book, but the topics in the Intermediate algebra book are also important. I've not yet done the calculus book, but it is much smaller and I've been told it is very theoretical.

I generally make my kids finish a commitment, but I think you should let her quit at the end of the commitment. Some things a parent has to make the decision that the child is doing it no matter what, but I don't think ballet falls in that category.

My oldest went from SM 5B to AoPS Algebra (the prealgebra book was not out at that time). My second son went from SM 5B to AoPS Prealgebra. He is doing AoPS Algebra now, but will probably do the geometry sections of the Singapore New Elementary Math series.

I teach in co-op settings, but I am very resistant to too much structure or being told what to do. In co-op settings, I only teach supplemental classes - not core classes. I do best when you give me the freedom to teach what I want and in my own style. When I am given too much guidelines on how to teach or what to teach it is never as good. I teach a core class privately, but I have resisted offers to teach that class within co-op settings because I want to do it my way. I as a parent want to know what I am signing my kids up for - is this a core classes with a weeks work of homework? grading? expectations of attendance? In the setting I like to teach supplemental classes, the expectation is generally NO homework or outside work. In our local co-op that teaches all the core high school subjects, I do not think the teachers are given any formal expectations other than teach the subject to the standard of a high school credit and give appropriate home assignments. They are also given guidelines on what to charge for classes.

Since you love math, I'd take a look at the Art of Problem Solving curriculum. It is geared to mathy kids. If you do ths, you'd need to start with the Intro to Algebra book as algebra 2 is the last half of the book. You can can try Alcumus for free on the Art of Problem Solving website - this is their free online learning system. It will give you an idea of their style of teaching. Take whatever time you need to learn each subject and know there is lots more math out there such as counting and probability and number theory if you want to do more.

AoPS might be a good fit for what you are looking for. Either AoPS Prealgebra or Algebra. If she has a decent background she can probably start with Algebra.

My son is currently taking a free Python MIT course through edX. He's enjoying it and learning lots.

I would encourage him to follow his passion, but realistically warn him that engineering is a tough road with a lot of math. Tell him to look over the classes required for many different majors and see if any jump out at him as being really interesting majors. I'd also start down the road of engineering with a possible backup plan if he decides that he doesn't want to do all the math.

I'm also using this book.

I didn't see it listed above so here's a link to a bunch of physics labs by Paul Hewitt for Conceptual Physics. They are also on the Arbor Scientific website - free pdf downloads. Most can be done with minimal equipment, some are not realistic for home. http://www.arborsci.com/conceptual-physics-supplementary-labs

I sit down with two of my kids and we work through the textbook together. We do it mostly orally (especially since one is severely dysgraphic). I subscribe to the Cambridge Latin online activities: http://www.cambridgescp.com/Upage.php?p=clc^oa_intro^oa_unit1 I paid in pounds for the online subscription - it worked out to be about $12 or $14 dollars a year. This takes the place of workbook activities for us and both boys can use it. It also has the stories from the text online as well as an interactive dictionary. It also has lots of supplemental resources and history online, but we generally don't use these. We usually progress at one lesson every 1-2 weeks. We take it slow and steady and have a lot of things in life that have interfered with progressing very fast. We really enjoy learning Latin this way. I took Latin in high school and had a text more like Wheelocks. Cambridge Latin is working great for my family. However if your goal is to learn every nuance of the grammar and do AP testing, this might not be the route you want to take - or at least add something else as well.

I had trouble getting any recs in my area. I finally called the best place for dyslexic teating and turoring and asked where they referred their more complicated students (or the students that needed more than just dyslexic testing). I got a good referral this way.

My 12 yo is really enjoying Exploration Educations Physical Science - it's physics projects, in the advanced version, the math is algebra based, but is pretty easy. Lots of hands on projects. Not too much reading - it is computer based, so if he has to be read to, it might be hard. (My severely dyslexic/dyagraphic kid would not have liked this program since is has fill in the blanks and expects you to do the workbook associated with the program. He sees no point in putting pen to paper if he knows the answer without writing.)

Congratulations. He's got to be thrilled.