My 14 year old is in need of some intensive work on his language skills this summer. Spelling, punctuation, grammar, and especially some reading comprehension. This is due in part to the fact that his older brother is gifted in these areas, so I assumed he'd come along eventually but he just hasn't. I want to focus on these areas this summer. Ideas? I'll take any and all feedback.

I've been dropping hints for months. So far no bites by dh!

As the mother of an extremely bright now high schooler, let me put a plug in for relaxing and waiting before formal academics. I wish I had waited. There are times that we've run out of meaty coursework in high school, but he's not old enough to send off to college really. Just a thought!

Ditto the above comments. The most memorable Nature Study Outings were times we just put ourselves in nature in an unhurried manner. A hike, a zoo, a trail, a pond. Whatever. Something would catch someone's attention and it would take on a life of its own. I have enjoyed nature journaling on my own but to make my sons do it would have squeezed joy out of some great moments.

Hi!

Highly recommend Hiroshima by Hersey for your older child. Outstanding!

I'm with you! It's been 12 years of homeschooling and I've never had a name!

Other: Amusing Ourselves to Death Eats Shoots Leaves Basic Ecomomics - Thomas Sowell Knowing God - JI Packer Evidence That Demands a Verdict

Histories: History of the American People - Paul Johnson Ecclesiastical History - Eusebius The World's Great Speeches Uliad/Odyssey Aeneid

Novels: Grapes of Wrath Moby Dick Don Quixote To Kill a Mockingbird Uncle Tom's Cabin

I had to get over that fast when on a trip I discovered I had not packed any underwear. Dilemma~ Wear same underwear for 1 week or buy new and wear unwashed.

Gulliver's Travels.....YUCK! Loved Moby Dick BTW. I loved Les Miserables but DS could not bear it. Go figure.

Who here really plans their year? Me Do you plan the whole year or in chunks? A loose overall plan - we debate so most of our spring is involved in travel and debate practice, research, tournaments, etc... Do you make all the copies of stuff you'll need at one time? Only tests for Math and science. Do you buy any supplies you'll need before your year? I re-stock basic items and purchase lab kits for science How do you decide what you will cover? I look at curriculums and accept or reject the goals they set and add my own if needed. Do you do a goal type thing? Loosely. We are in High School now so I do need to have goals - subject goals. Do you use a planner, paper, online? I've tried it all. Right now I am using a notebook.

Praying that you have peace.

Make sure you have a surge protector on the new front loader washing machines. They have a computer in them and the machine is running when there is a power surge, it will damage the computer. It happened to me to the tune of a $400 repair. Ouch!