My son did Shurley 4 last year, and is doing fine with Rod and Staff 5. It starts out very easy, but we are at the end of chapter 3 and it is getting a little more difficult. Not too difficult, but appropriately difficult, if that makes sense. Carolyn

I ordered some of their teaching materials, but never used them. They are probably helpful, but we just read the suggested books and my dd did great. hth, Carolyn

My daughter is taking this too, she just started reading the first play. She took World Lit 2 years ago and just finished Western Lit to Dante. Carolyn

thanks, everyone! Carolyn

Do I need a special homeschool code for the SAT II Biology this Saturday, or is the homeschool code just a PSAT thing? thanks Carolyn

We use the Prentice Hall Miller/Levine text with the Kolbe syllabus, but we are not signed up for credit with them. I am very happy with the text, the questions, the schedule and the tests. My dd is starting to work through prep books for the SAT II Biology, and the course seems to have prepared her well. The Virtual Lab CD is BORING. The early labs (we stopped using it) don't seem to have a lot of educational value - point and click. Unless you really don't want to mess with "real" labs, save your money. I got "Experiences in Biology" from Home Science Tools and picked some of the labs in there. There are also some doable labs in the text. Also - you can purchase the actual text (and Lab CD) from the publisher for much less than from Kolbe. Kolbe will let you just buy the syllabus and answer key/online access from them, without the text. hth Carolyn

My daughter did Elementary Greek by Christine Gaskell (Open Texture) years 1 and 2 in 6th and 7th grade, year 3 over the following summer "for fun" These were great texts - I wish there was a Latin text with the same set up. She took Greek I from Scholars Online in 8th grade and this year Greek II. They use Hansen and Quinn, a college level text. She loves Greek and spends a lot of time on it. I probably killed any love she might ever have for Latin by switching Latin curriculums any time something "new and better" turned up. hth Carolyn

My ninth grader got Highest Honors on the beginning Attic exam! Off to email Dr McM at Scholars Online - Carolyn

Veritas Press sells them as well. Carolyn

Why on earth does he need your social security number? Is this required in your state? A will is a public document when it gets probated and the SS# will be out there for all to see. It is not necessary to have it to identify the particular "Bob Smith" that may be named in a will. He would need the SS info to make people beneficiaries on his IRA or other accounts, but NOT his will. I would definitely ask this question. Carolyn

My 7, 11, and 15 year old play this. So does my husband - he's a little older:001_smile: It looks stupid to me, but not terribly offensive. My panel of experts say cartoon violence and some crude humor - one of the characters passes gas as a way to attack. It's no worse than other Super Smash Brothers games, if you are familiar with them. The point of the game is to fight the other characters. hth Carolyn

How to Read a Book, by Adler and Van Doren, would be helpful for all kinds of classes. Carolyn

I am familiar with both the Art of Argument and the Fallacy Detective. If you have a problem with the examples in Art of Argument, you probably won't like the Fallacy Detective. I think nearly every argument in that book was based on an abortion example. I am not trying to shelter my kids but this was not the topic I want to be constantly discussing with my children. Argument Builder is very similar in style to Art of Argument. I would wait. Maybe your son would like some of the logic workbooks - Logic Safari, Orbiting with Logic, Grid Perplexors, something like that? hth Carolyn

Thanks - I thought that was it. thanks again Carolyn

I'm working my way through the material so far I don't see any guidance on choosing topics for the essays. thanks Carolyn

The kids have Desk Apprentices - I almost forgot that's what they were called, we call them "spinners". AND Pentel Twist Erase .9mm mechanical pencils - the BEST mechanical pencils ever made. We had severe pencil angst years ago and found these. They are great. Carolyn

I just sold my MODG guide, but I remember it did have day by day assignment breakdowns. Carolyn

Nissi They cover the entire text and he does have them read all the background info on each reading as well. Each week there is an online quiz that must be taken before the class. The quiz is made up of objective, "did you actually do the reading" kind of questions, but they are fairly detailed. There were about 4 exams throughout the year, with both objective and essay questions. There are no other writing assignments, no papers, etc. The weekly routine is do the reading, take the quiz, discuss in class. Dr. McM taught far more than I could have, even with a teacher's edition. My daugher enjoyed the class as well. It was a good intro to online learning, and to learning from someone other than mom. Let me know if you have any other questions, Carolyn

I'm looking at World History I for my 9th grader. She took Greek I and World Lit with SO this past year. She will definitely do Greek II this year, and possibly Western Lit through Dante, so in my pre-freshman year panic I'm thinking why not add on World History too? Comments? thanks Carolyn

Yes it will play in a regular cd player. I burn the song to a different cd though, so we're not constantly fiddling with the cd that has the TM on it, and potentially scratching it. Carolyn

Spelling Workout A through H Carolyn

The old Melody Lane has a 100 page "guidebook". The pages are smaller than than the 'regular" sized Calvert teacher manuals. It lists lots of extra music pieces to listen to, but many of the activities are of the "make home-made string instruments with rubber bands and tissue boxes" variety. Carolyn

Does anyone know how much more is in the new set? I know there are a few instruments in the kit and the Melody Lane videos are in it. Is the manual vastly improved? Are there new activities? thanks Carolyn

FedEx just dropped it off. Carolyn

ok. thanks Carolyn