It looks like K12 now sells the readers as A, B, and C vs. grade level. Does anyone have any idea how these line up to the old edition? Also, it looks like the new editions are also available electronically. http://www.amazon.com/Classic-Stories-Young-Readers-Volume/dp/B00AZNFGXI/ref=pd_sim_mas_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=054G1QM8PEY5AHDYQR0R

Does anyone have experience with this program? http://www.creative-writing-solutions.com/ What was your experience? What do you think the sweet spot is age-wise? My son has finished WWE1 and is really interested in creative writing. Currently, he has been dictating fantasy stories to me (generally Pokeman or Minecraft related), but we are working on his typing skills. Do you think this would be a good fit for him? Thanks!

Did anyone else see this today? I thought I would share in light of the discussion re "passion." http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/04/08/our-push-for-passion-and-why-it-harms-kids/ A snip: When children can’t find their elusive passions, yet feel compelled to proclaim one, they grab onto an interest, label it a passion and buy the requisite instrument or equipment. This is not a harmless charade, because fake passions crowd out real ones. When you are busy playing on the lacrosse field six days a week because in seventh grade you liked going to practices with your friends and your coach once mentioned you might have some talent, you may never discover that computer graphic design is your calling. When you take every opportunity to play piano daily in a band, orchestra and private lessons, you could easily miss the once-in-a-lifetime joy of being a member of a field hockey team. Pseudo passions can eat up our days and lay waste to any chance of finding a real ones.

Fabulous news! http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/store/online

Another option would be the Junior Great Books series. The cheapest version is the iBooks version on iTunes.

My parents are thinking about buying at Miromar Lakes near Fort Meyers. What can you tell me about the area? Weather, bugs, activities for an active older couple relocating from the Pacific Northwest? Thanks!

Given that we aren't yet maxing out our retirement accounts, and that retirement accounts don't count (or count minimally) for purposes of determining financial aid, I am wondering whether it wouldn't be more prudent for us to stop putting money into the 529s in lieu of maxing retirement funds.

Online G3, WTMA, Blue Tent, and AIM Academy all have bio.

Seconding most of the above, plus adding Paw Patrol and Dinosaur Train.

No advice on curricula, but does he always write about violent topics?

My Y varies, but is usually some sort of natural consequence of not doing X. It can also involve taking away screen time (because that is my son's currency). We do not spank or do timeouts. And yes, X generally still gets done, usually after a discussion about how we treat other people, how we function as a family, how we help each other, etc. Some things would go straight to a 3. For example, hitting another person.

I can tell you how it works in our house: Me: Sacha, please do X. If Sacha ignores me... Me: 1 If Sacha still ignores me... Me: 2 If Sacha still ignores me... Me: If I get to 3, Y is going to happen. Sacha does X, or I count to 3 and Y happens. Thankfully, I seldom get to 3. Surprisingly, it still works 99% of the time with my 6 year old.

I hope I didn't give the impression that I believe parents or students should manufacture a hook. IMHO, these attempts are often pretty transparent. In reflecting on my classmates, their hooks are unmistakable. But, as you illustrate, these passions are also simply intrinsic to who they are as people. There is a qualitative difference.

Doesn't Ray @ Horrible Books sell all the Galore Park books? http://www.horriblebooks.com/galoreparkbooklist.htm

Adventures, If you are in San Diego County, feel free to PM me, and I can pass along some charters that are generally more accommodating. Parenthetically, I have never read or heard of any homeschooler that considered herself akin to a public school employee. I'm not sure what charter told you that, but that's a completely foreign concept to me. Perhaps others will chime in as well. As I said above (putting my lawyer hat on), I am not sure that what these charters are doing (vis a vis use of religious materials) is entirely on the up and on (saving that for another thread), but, if you are seeking a charter that will accommodate your worldview, I don't think that you will have too much difficulty in finding one. Also, I think you will find that it is generally easier to homeschool with a charter at the younger levels vs. at the high school level -- for a variety of reasons.

Mine is 6, and is about to start SM 3A next week. We only do the IP and CWP, and generally do math for 30-60 minutes, depending on his attention span. It takes us longer because my son is working with more difficult material. If your son grasps the concepts in the TB and WB easily, and you feel inclined to stretch him further, you might think about adding the IP and/or CWP/Process Skills books.

Do you think LL was worth doing after GSWL, or would you recommend going straight to Latin Prep?

Since this thread was resurrected, I wanted to comment on this part specifically for religiously-minded homeschoolers considering a CA charter. We use predominantly secular materials, but, as was described above, our charter has been fine with purchasing Rod & Staff Spelling, Behrman House Hebrew, and Memoria Press New American Cursive. I know homeschoolers who have turned in Apologia Science as work samples, and another local charter that actually had Sonlight materials in their resource center for check out. All of this depends wildly on the charter, and I am not sure how some of this is even legal TBH. But, at least in San Diego County, it seems to be less the exception than the rule. A new charter just opened up here last year that is offering $1800 for K-8 and $2400 for 9-12 per child. I looked at their vendor list, just out of curiosity, and they already included organizations like AOPS and the WTMA among their vendors. So yes, research thoroughly, as that money can make a substantial difference in the lives of many homeschoolers.

That's strange, because I can find several that say, "look inside." For example: http://www.perfectionlearning.com/browse.php?categoryID=2086 You can also find some of their selections on the Great Books Foundation website: http://store.greatbooks.org/grades-6-8/perfection-learning.html

This is a fantastic deal for anyone looking for an elementary-age French curriculum. Each level is normally $35/year. Currently, you can get levels 1-6 for $120 (approximately grades 4-8 in Ontario). http://nallenart.com/ ETA: That is $120 Canadian dollars, which PayPal tells me is $97 USD!

Since I haven't seen it mentioned, I will also throw out Vocabu-Lit: http://www.perfectionlearning.com/vocabu-lit-program

If anyone else uses the JGB series, the student books can now be found on iTunes at less than a third of the price of the hard copy books. I see that grades 2-5 have been posted. Not sure about other levels. https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-great-books-foundation/id953914626?mt=11

I will give you a bump. I am planning a similar progression, but cannot speak to the soundness of the plan. After we finish SSL 1 & 2, I am planning to do Minimus 1 and 2 with GSWL, then LL 1 and 2 or Latin Prep, followed by either Lukeion (Wheelock's) or the Harvey Center (Latin for the New Millennium) for upper level.