If I could link, I would, but I just copied instead. This is a post I wrote for another topic. "I just got through with 2 short term classes for each of my 2 oldest through Write @ Home. If you are looking for a program where you do not have to do the editing or assigning, or explaining the writing. This might be what you want. My kids did improve their writing with the courses. It definitely matters which teacher you get, as ds #2, I think, had a pretty lenient teacher this time around. He is a lazy, but smart 7th grader and the last thing he needs is someone giving him all 5's (out of 5) on everything. I wish she had nit-picked a bit more. Ds #1's last teacher was great. She told it like it was and called him out on his lack of correcting. My biggest problem with WAH was the cost and what you get for it. I was looking into TPS for writing. For a little more you can have live classes, hand in papers and get them back before a week later, and have more actual teaching, not just editing. Here is how our classes went: Week 1 : read a small lesson on a writing technique, write first paper to check writing skills. Week 2: read lesson, write actual first paper first draft Week 3: read lesson, write second paper first draft Week 4: read lesson, get first paper back and correct using teacher's editing Week 5: read lesson, get second paper back and correct Week 6: read lesson, get first paper 2nd draft back and correct for final draft Week 7: read lesson, get second paper 2nd draft back and correct Week 8: read lesson, get score on first paper Week 9: get score on 2nd paper and final score for class So, really they only wrote 2 papers (and a third for assessment) in 9 weeks. Now, they were well edited and polished by the end draft, but I think my kids really could do more, especially for the price. I feel like my kids could just hand in papers to me online. I could edit them, and get them back 2 weeks later and do the same thing. Editing without conferencing. It would be a lot cheaper. It did fill the writing box for the semester, but I will try something different next year." Now, again, my kids did learn something, and we only did 2 nine week classes instead of a year. maybe for the year this would be a better class. I know there are plenty of people who really like W@H. I can' t say that I didn't like it, just I think IMHO there could be more. Hope this helps, K

Does anyone know of a list of US history literature selections to go with Joy Hakim's History of US? Or even a good list of 8th grade-ish literature listed by a historical timeline? I am going to have my ds do literature by choosing a book to read to go along with each of the 10 history books. I am looking for a list that he could choose from. I will be using the Hewit guide also, so maybe that has some suggestions? I haven't bought it yet. Thanks for suggestions K

I know this question has been asked before, but I didn't know if there are any new notable additions to the list. I currently have the Free Library of Philadelphia as our online library, but they recently changed their lending policy and you can only check out 6 books instead of 10 at a time. I have 4 kids and 6 books is a challenge sometimes. We are overseas, so this is the only way we can check out free books. (well, somewhat free--compared to buying them on amazon) I probably can use a friend's card from the States, but they only allow 3 at a time checked out. if I wanted an out of state card of my own, it would cost $90! I don't think so. I don't mind paying a fee for a library, but it had better be a good one, and allow for more than 3 books at a time. Any suggestions? Thanks K

My ds is in the middle of Al 1 MUS. He will finish AL1 probably in the beginning of next year. (8th grade) I would like him to go a little faster and use a more challenging program. I decided, when he finished pre Al in in the middle of the year, to just finish up Al 1 before we switched. Should he just move on to a more challenging geometry program? Or should he do another program's Al 1 first. Anyone BTDT? Any suggestions? Thanks, K

My ds very likely will have the opportunity to do a 3 class study group this coming year. The math teacher said they will be doing Glencoe Al 2 for 10th grade. DS has only done MUS as he is not a stellar math student, and the more slow approach was better, but I know most other programs are faster, and he will need some gaps filled. Has anyone gone from MUS to a more challenging program? and what did you use to play catch-up? Thanks for suggestions, K

My son is an average math student. He is not a genius, but he does OK. I have been looking into some other math programs --you know homeschool mom ADD :) I think he could use something a little more challenging, with good explanations. I am impressed by the explanations in Teaching Textbooks-lots of hand holding, also I like the online instant grading of Kinetic books. My question is --Are either of these math programs too much of a jump from MUS? or could a kid probably figure it out to catch up? Thanks, K

Rod and Staff Spelling Internet --you tube, Netflix, MUS (except for ds #3 has been great) SOTW -my second and last time through :( THESE BOARDS. seriously. I'm not sucking up. I have gotten soooo many great ideas from this board. I would say that all my curriculum was chosen because of recommendations here. -K

Thanks for all the responses! And sympathies!!! I am so glad I am not the only one with a homeschooled student who is not acing the ACT at 5th grade. I will look into CLE for next year. And I like the Dreambox program, that might be great for a summer thing. I really think he does understand the concepts when he is taught them, but they just don't stick. When he reviews, he acts like he has never seen it before. I also think he has a hard time with the concrete-ness of math. He just looks at a formula and thinks that will sink in. It most certainly, for him, does not. Drawing, and computer illustrations are going to be the way to go, I think Thanks again for all the suggestions, -K

Oooh, I like the idea of the math reference book. Written by him, so he can remind himself when he forgets. I am on it. Thanks for the suggestion. I am thinking I will like the Math Mammoth stuff, as well. thanks, K

Ok, I have just come to the end of the rope. There is no more rope. :banghead: My 5th grader just changed 1/5 to 1/10 in his fraction addition problem. And could not understand why this is not right. Also, he subtracted 135 from 200 and came up with 135, also could not understand why that was a problem. He does fine on a test then forgets everything the next day. Nothing sticks. He is doing MUS epsilon and is on lesson 24, but can't understand equivalent fractions. He just forgot everything. He doesn't seem to be able to add on to previously learned material. Maybe mastery isn't the way to go with him? I just stopped all MUS completely, and now we are going through the Math Mammoth fraction book. I think we will do summer school math and finish this Math Mammoth one, so he can complete the MUS lower series next year. As I dangle here on the end of my rope, does anyone have any suggestions for supplement for the poor guy? Math games? He obviously hates math, so I would hate to give him more boring math books to do at the same time. Maybe a math puzzle book recommendation, or fun general math supplement book? Suggestions, sympathy, anything? Thanks, K

I would also LOVE to find a IEW class like that. Let me know when you start it :thumbup1: I just got through with 2 short term classes for each of my 2 oldest through Write @ Home. If you are looking for a program where you do not have to do the editing or assigning, or explaining the writing. This might be what you want. My kids did improve their writing with the courses. It definitely matters which teacher you get, as ds #2, I think, had a pretty lenient teacher this time around. He is a lazy, but smart 7th grader and the last thing he needs is someone giving him all 5's (out of 5) on everything. I wish she had nit-picked a bit more. Ds #1's last teacher was great. She told it like it was and called him out on his lack of correcting. My biggest problem with WAH was the cost and what you get for it. I was looking into TPS for writing. For a little more you can have live classes, hand in papers and get them back before a week later, and have more actual teaching, not just editing. Here is how our classes went: Week 1 : read a small lesson on a writing technique, write first paper to check writing skills. Week 2: read lesson, write actual first paper first draft Week 3: read lesson, write second paper first draft Week 4: read lesson, get first paper back and correct using teacher's editing Week 5: read lesson, get second paper back and correct Week 6: read lesson, get first paper 2nd draft back and correct for final draft Week 7: read lesson, get second paper 2nd draft back and correct Week 8: read lesson, get score on first paper Week 9: get score on 2nd paper and final score for class So, really they only wrote 2 papers (and a third for assessment) in 9 weeks. Now, they were well edited and polished by the end draft, but I think my kids really could do more, especially for the price. I feel like my kids could just hand in papers to me online. I could edit them, and get them back 2 weeks later and do the same thing. Editing without conferencing. It would be a lot cheaper. It did fill the writing box for the semester, but I will try something different next year. K

OK, so maybe we should help with this problem. All posts from now on should include at least 3 "dress-ups" (for those IEW moms) per paragraph, intro's and conclusions. The more clauses the better!! :) Maybe instead of making those cute smileys, we should describe, in great detail, what the smiley should look like. I think this guy has a good point, anyway. I don't let my kids do a lot of searching online, so they maybe don't have this issue, yet. I probably do, though. I enjoy reading a book, but I can get impatient and start scanning. I thought it was just my adult ADD, but I do spend a lot of time scanning online. K

I just saw this mentioned in another post. It looks like it has been around for at least a year. Did anyone try any of their K-4 courses this year? The price is definitely nice, and I like that they are a full year of school Aug-July, so it can be flexible. I just wonder if the classes are OK. They seem to have only k-4 now, but will be adding higher grades this summer. I have an 8th grader that I am still trying to figure out curric for, so I may just keep checking to see what they have. Thanks for the input, K

I think my kids have a block in their brains against commas. It must be biological, since they all have it. It wasn't given to them by me. Maybe their dad. :glare: We use R&S grammar and I am just noticing that there is exactly ONE page on comma rules each year. This might explain things. Does anyone have any ideas for supplements to learn comma rules, or even just all punctuation rules? We are nearing the end of the grammar books, and I would like to finish the year with some extra punctuation and general proofreading practice. {Thank, you, for, help-ing,,,,, : ;""... K

I am happy to say that I think I might be able to respond to this!!!!!!!Yeah! after much research... Bible ---- MFW-WHL HIstory " Literature " Composition-- Potter's school English 2 Chemistry--Conceptual Chemistry Algebra 2--MUS Al2 Language--Chinese with tutors possibly Geography with Trail Guide Music with guitar lessons online This is the most current plan. It could change at any moment, especially when some well-meaning hive member brings up another "hey, did you hear about this new curric" post. :) K

I am looking for any ideas on a live online writing course for my future 10th grader. I have heard lots of good things about Potter's School, but I really just want a writing class, not literature and grammar, too. We are doing MFW and that will be plenty of literature, so I don't want to add more. I am just looking for writing. We have just finished a couple Write@Home classes, which were OK, but if I could find something live it would be better. Thanks for all recommendations, K

Hijack away. :) you only need one book. (at least my edition is this way, I haven't looked to see if anything has changed in the 5 years since I bought it) You can copy the student exercises and lab stuff. I like it. It is a gentle intro to science. There are enough experiments to keep the kids interested, and you can make it as hard as you want to. There are vocab words and little quizzes if you need that, or it works fine to not do them. My youngest likes the coloring pages that go with the chapters. It gives her something to do with her hands while I read. I do supplement with Bill Nye or Magic school bus videos now and again. -K

I don't know anything more than the rest of you, but I just played around on their site and it looks interesting. The site comes with a actual human chatting option. You can ask questions and get quick answers as you look around the site. They are very helpful. Yet another high school classes option to add to my ever-growing list. I wish I didn't have to click on every mention of a new class, it would make my decision so much easier. I'm addicted, can't help it :) Thanks for feeding my addiction, K

Well, I don't think I am the best person for this answer, but I hate to see a post with no responses :) I have done some recent searches on the subject of algebra, myself. I think that what I found is if you are planning to switch programs, Pre-Algebra seems a good time. I have heard the MUS is a bit lighter than your average Algebra program, and may be harder to switch programs and not have gaps later. My ds just finished PreA and is doing A in MUS, but I do wish I had switched him earlier. He is (not his opinion, but mine) more "mathy" than my others. I am currently doing DIVE science with my oldest. Honestly, I like the idea of the program, but the guy teaching is a bit monotone and boring. My ds thinks he is almost as boring as the Apologia text that goes with it. Maybe the math is better, but you should try listening to a sample first to see if it would work for you. Something you could look into is Life of Fred. It is Algebra in a story form. I enjoyed reading through a friend's copy. It seems a little less heavy math, and more cute characters introducing topics. My experience with Saxon is limited, but my friend who is a very serious, no-nonsense, homeschool mom uses it. I think it might be heavy mathy. Hopefully, someone else has another idea for you. K

Well, I am just finishing RS7 with ds#2. To be honest, if your kid gets it, I'd move on. If you think your kid understands basic grammar and punctuation, I would just do Fix-it. I think RS7 is just more of the same as RS6. I have used RS for all my kids up through grade 7. For us, it really isn't sticking well and transferring to daily writing assignments. I have now figured out that my goal for grammar is that the kids can effectively proof-read their own writing. I think my kids need the basic structural stuff from RS, but then we need straightforward practice using the information in real-life situations. Most standardized tests really just want proofreading, not identifying independent clauses. Just my opinion, right now, anyway. I have decided to do RS through 5th grade with ds#3 and then do more practicing and maybe Easy Grammar/Daily Grams. My oldest has done 2 years of Fix-it, and next year ds2 will start. I have really like it. It is great for real-life situations of using grammar. Any time there is something ds is consistently not getting, I can find some extra instruction ideas on the internet, or just go back to that subject in an old RS book and do a few oral lessons. Again, this is just my experience. I know a lot of people have great experience with all levels of RS. Good luck :) K

Seriously!!!!!!!!!!!! I J.U.S.T. bought 2 paperwhites two days ago for regular price!!!! STINK. Maybe I can return them and get the other ones. That is a good deal. K

My favorite is called Leprechauns Never Lie by Lorna Balian. I say it's my favorite maybe because it's the only St. Pats-ish book I have, but I really like it. The illustrations are pretty and the story is great. It is best when read with an Irish accent. :) -K

Thanks for the review. I am looking at many different options, right now. I really wish there were not so many to look at :) By the time I am done with ds1 high school, I will be an expert at homeschool researching :) Thanks, K

I was just reading a post in another thread that mentioned a curric called Friendly Chemistry. We are currently doing Apologia Biology, and my ds does not think it is very "friendly". He mostly hates it. I seriously doubt he is headed for a STEM field. I will be looking for something less boring for this next year of science. Has anyone used this curric before and can give me a little review? Thanks, K

Is there a list somewhere of online high school programs? Not just classes here and there, a whole online year of study program. Actually, I am specifically looking for asynchronous ones. My ds is doing MFW this year for 9th and is doing OK, but not great. I gave him a practice ACT test and, well, let's just say it was B.A.D. His highest score was in science, his least favorite subject. Granted, he is a terrible test taker, and we have done the tests over without time, and he did better. I think he needs to understand that he is doing school to learn, not to get it done. He is a very young freshman with no future plans, yet (except that he won't be in science; of this, he is sure) I am considering giving this next year to an online program, to see if that helps his motivation. Any ideas? Accreditation doesn't matter, as this year is already done and so it would only be for a max of 3 years. Thanks, K