I'm looking into Mr. D Math, and old posts have been SO very helpful. However, I have one question that I can't seem to find an answer to: What is the difference between the Curriculum + Online CLasses and Curriculum only? I think I figured out that both use the same videos, so what content does the online class include that just watching the videos doesn't?

This has helped me get ideas to look into, in the past: http://homeschool-curriculum-reviews.com/math-curriculum-selector/

I watch this youtuber, and she has reviewed it :

Last year we did an artist for 2 weeks, this year, I'm using this to do a classical music piece a week (or so, we'll see how it works out). https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/famous-classical-music-tunes/ I plan to watch/listen to what is posted on this list, then do a youtube search for a different version another day--we thrive on funny and unusual, so will be looking for that sort of thing. Not sure how we'll deal with the longer ones, but there are not too many.

I've tried: TinkerCrates: Great for the process of doing it-keeps them busy, but afterwards, it mostly just sits around. Raddish: Ok, a little expensive, but great recipes, and mostly great tools. Universal Yums: Great! We loved the different foods, but we ended up learning that we enjoyed European snacks, but Asian ones not so much. I think with any box, you either have to pause periodically, like some previous posters mentioned, or just plan to do it for a year or less before they get boring. I really want to try out Craftsman Crates for my tweens, but maybe in the future.

For space saving, I really like the idea of a Daily Calendar Notebook. There are so many free options, I'll let you google it and decide what all you want to include.

Couple thoughts: 1. RE: scared of algebra: Maybe watch https://mathantics.com/lesson/what-is-algebra to show her what algebra really is 2. Maybe hands on equations-a hands on approach to learning the basics of algebra in a fun problem solving sort of way. I've never used Jousting Armadillos, but have read through it a time or two considering it for my own. It does have a lot of reading and has the puzzle solving aspect of algebra, I think. So, maybe.

School in a box-Timberdoodle!

Keep 'em coming! Thanks! I'm delving into samples and reviews of these. Do you need the TM For Easy Grammar Plus? It looks like you do for Analytical Grammar?

I'm wondering if you have any ideas for me. I'm looking for a 1 year or, preferably 1 semester grammar & mechanics refresher (and maybe add a little new info now that he's older) course for my upcoming 8th grader. He did Winston in elementary, and that was great, but we don't want to do the advanced version. We also did Cozy Grammar where he watched the video and did the worksheet, in 6th grade. That worked well also. So, he's pretty good at grammar, but I"m thinking we need a "refresh your mind" course before we head into High School in a year. I know Easy Grammar is recommended here A LOT, but is it review, or just continuation--Can it stand alone for 1 year, or does it need all the previous and following years to make it work? I have thought about Aunt Ruth and a Workbook, but that doesn't include mechanics which he definitely could use, as Winston and Cozy Grammar didn't cover much. Thoughts? Thanks!

I can't get any good samples of just the student book to compare to what I have, but if it has the map and 2 pages of questions for each "week", that's all you need. Also, if needed, we always did it orally (i.e. not writing out the answers), and therefore I always did a weeks worth in a 5 minute stretch, rather than one question a day. (Actually, my sons both loved it enough that we'd do 2 or 3 weeks worth in a row. Just as some slightly alternate ways to use it--make it work for you.

7sistershomeschool has a middle school guide that I'm planning to use with my 8th grader this coming year.

I was thinking of Artistic Pursuits also. However, I can't remember if it was secular or not, so you might want to check that out.

YAY!!!

We've had good luck with Dynamic Literacy workbooks. They have fun activities, some can be done orally, which we like. Same activities for each prefix/suffix, so you kind of know what's coming. Samples are at their website (https://www.dynamicliteracy.com/products.html) at the bottom right. (But I always like the samples at christianbook.com best) I haven't tried the online version yet. We just have the yellow workbook, not the TM. We also like the card game rummy roots, which you can play a few different ways. This, however, is not necessarily usage of the prefixes and suffixes, but more the meaning of them. For instance, one card would say "uni" and another "one" and you'd match them together.

They get some candy to snack on while doing school that day, and fill out an all about me page, like with writing their name, favorite color, etc. In the past, they've gotten their school supply box/pencil box wrapped up, and then they could organize it how they wanted. But they don't have special school supplies these days. We've also done breakfast cupcakes (basically pancake batter in muffin tins with cream cheese mixed with jam for "frosting", Basically, our first day of school is a real day of school. Usually the day before, I take 10 minutes or so to go over each boys checklist and subjects and what's expected.

Here ya go....https://tolovehonorandvacuum.com/the-whole-story-puberty-course-boys/

Once, (I think my boys were 5th and 2nd grade), I had them write a report about a country. Heavily mom helped, but then after gathering a couple books, taking notes and putting them in order, instead of writing a bunch of pages, I had them put it into powerpoint (also heavily mom assisted at those ages), and add pictures and then present it to the grandparents. Excel was just introduced this year. I showed them how to do a couple things, then gave them an assignment and had them do their own. It was a chart, like you would find in math. So, if you're doing a charts and graphs section in math, it would be a great aside to have them recreate one or two of them in excel. They are 4th and 7th this year) The only reason my younger one did it, was he always wants to do what his brother is doing, so I give him an easier version. The thing is, if you know one, or two of these programs, you can easily figure out the others. I've been looking for something a little more complete to teach these, but haven't found anything, so I've just had to make a few things up. Typing, on the other hand, was started about 4th grade, however, even after a few years of typing instruction (dancemat typing, then typer island), my 7th grader still does more hunt and peck than proper hand placement. He's getting better, but.... So, I don't really know where to go with that, either.

If you're looking for Christian based, https://tolovehonorandvacuum.com/the-whole-story-puberty-course-girls/ has been highly recommended to me by many friends (though the boys version for me. 🙂 )

I have a 13 year old boy, so here's what he enjoys. snapcircuits paper folding tricks (search youtube for instructions for "paper transforming ninja star", "hexaflexagon", maybe "Paper folding infinity cube" he sometimes enjoys crafts like perler beads or watercolor painting via aquarellum LOVES to bake, especially cakes If you have scrap wood and nails around, he could create something solitaire games such as: marble circuit, laser maze, colorku, etc. if you have legos or other building toys, you could do lego challenges such as build the eiffel tower, or build something that you find in the ocean That's all I can think of for now.... Oh, and if you have any old/not working appliances (blender, toaster, etc), he could take it apart and see how it works-this is on my to do list-we haven't done this yet...

100 Facts series by Miles Kelly (topics include inventions, ancient Egypt, and others we don't have) The Story of Inventions by Anna Claybourne (Usborne) The New Way things Work by Macaulay These are some that have been read repeatedly for fun here.

My youngest will be in 5th Grade for the 20-21 year, so.... Bible: Apologia's Who is God?--We'll try this out together-it might be too young, but we got it from a friend. Math: Hands on Equations then Everyday Math workbooks (free online) and Zaccaro's Challenge Math Language Arts: Evan Moor's Grammar and Punctutation 5 & 6; Dynamic Literacy; Mosdos Coral; Read Alouds with mom and big brother History: History of Inventions Notebooking and research Geography: Seterra and Sheppard Software online quizes Science: NASA's Rocket Science-history and Experiments Extras: Gotta Think; Famous Classical Music pieces; typer island; scratch;

A Bed wetting alarm worked for us. My son was 9 when we tried that, he's now almost 10. It actually worked! We had tried various things throughout the last few years, and this was what finally worked. It was SO frustrating, and so I empathize with you.

Maybe start with some mathantics.com videos (free). My 4th grader loves them, and we re-watch whenever he has problems with is regular math work (sometimes he even watches for fun). It's just a different way to do things. It won't solve your problems, but maybe fill in the transition between now and when you do find something else that works.

I used math in middle elementary, and I didn't think it was enough. Also, the younger elementary idea of stories teaching the concepts kind of fell apart about grade 3 (I used grades 3 & 4). THere were still stories, but only a few of them mentioned the concept being taught or done in the workpage. That left just the pages of problems, and a few hands on activities, which was not enough. Though my son loved it because he got off easy, so we only continued until we had a natural stopping point (I think it was Christmas "vacation") and then changed to something else.