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I find wordpress pretty simple and easy to use for blogging. Super easy to create cloud categories and tags as well.

Out of curiosity, are you using the HIG? It helps a lot to use it when introduces topics and how to approach it.

If you order IEW directly from them, it's a 100% guarantee. If you hate it, you can return for a full refund. It's a good program for a reluctant writer that needs scaffolding to learn to write. The DVDs basically do the instruction for you which you can watch together. I think it's a good program for parents who aren't natural writers as well and who need something laid out for them.

This is my second year teaching this at my homeschool co-op. I did Ancient World last year, and this year I did Scientific Revolution. I have also subbed out experiments or added in additional ones. Overall, my students love the series and are excited and engaged.

Song School Latin is published by Classical Academic Press. You can see a fairly good sized sample of the workbooks on CAP's website. SSL1 is pretty light for the workbook. You can make it work with just the workbook and song CD. I do personally like the DVD as it helped me with pronunciation. SSL2 is a step up in skill and workload from SSL1 which would be fine as it is targeted to 3rd grade. I am grateful for the DVD as I need to watch it more than once to really get it in my own head. The workbook for SSL2 is 3 times as thick as SSL1 and delves into grammar and verb tenses. My son really likes the program because it keeps it fun and enjoyable. I believe that other Australians mention Rainbow Resource as available to ship to Australia. It is cheapest from there.

I've used the new MPH (International Version)...It is much better designed than the old version. Very well laid out and organized for you to implement. However, if you don't get the Teacher's Guide, you will miss out on all the hands on activities and guided discussions and discover that the program wants you and your student to engage in. So, I would definitely plan to get the guides. I would have stayed on with this, but my kiddo prefers in-depth, extended on specific areas of study (i.e. biology, zoology, chemistry, etc.). A topical approach was not enough for him even though he did enjoy it.

Beast Academy is not designed for kids that need for review/practice or a spiral approach. I have a pretty mathy kiddo, but I don't use Beast as my spine. I use it behind Singapore Math to explore math in a different way and solely for problem solving. I actually also use it a year behind where I am in SM. I intentionally do this so the concept is taught and mastered first before he picks it up again in Beast later. If you have a student that needs review and reinforcement, you will have to supplement the program if you intend to use it as your spine.

Has anyone taken Margaret Weaver's online LFC classes with Schole Academy (Classical Academic Press)? I looked at Song's classes over at Wilson Hill but the schedule TuTh is impossible for me to ever make that work due to other commitments,

Another option if it wasn't mentioned already is Discovery K12. This is completely free and online. Pre-K through 12th grade. http://discoveryk12.com/dk12/

Mine started VP self-paced online courses when he was 6.5, but he was reading 5th grade level books at that point. He is really into history as well as other subjects, so I am feeding the beast when when I tossed this into the mix. It's one of his favorite programs to study. In the past year and a half, he has finished NT/Greek & Romans, Middle Ages/Reformation, and has started the the Explorers to 1815. This is while running other history programs. He is that into VP SP. Pretty sure, he is going to be upset when we loop back through to pick up Ancients after 1815 to Present and realizes there are no more courses.

If you have an iPad...it is a lot cheaper to subscribe using the app. $6.99 per month. You can turn the subscription on or off when you like. Like use it a lot for a few months, take a break for a few months. Back on for a few months...etc.

Don't give up...the strength in the mental math pays off tremendously down the line especially with multi-digit multiplication and long division as well as with working with expressions in order of operations. It goes so much smoother and quicker when these skills are reflexive and essentially done by memory. I really like how these concepts help lay the foundation for decomposing numbers which a skill that makes algebraic thinking so much easier to grasp. Plus being able to recognize the reasonableness of an answer is so valuable.

I am going to suggest an app called Magic Piano which is free. Others worth considering Rhythm Cat and RhythmTraining. This is more challenging, but really really well done...ReadRhythm.

If you haven't looked at Zacarro's Challenge Math series or Borac's Competition Math ....I use both of those as well.

Really depends on the kid. I use it on level, but one or two topics behind.

I read Fulbright's notes about sequence and using the series. She recommends Astronomy or Botany first. Then the Zoology series. Leaving Physics/Chem or Human Anatomy for last.

I am happy to share the one I created if you are looking for reading lists. It's here on my blog: https://lifeatwarpspeed.wordpress.com/2014/04/17/good-literature-is-what-everyone-needs-to-feed-their-childs-soul/

The LO just started the Copernicus Legacy by Tony Abbott. Sort of in the genre of Riordian and 39 Clues. I am reading Leonard Sax's The Collapse of Parenting. Just read Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Dr. Atul Gawande. Really a must read. For pleasure, The Third Gate by Lincoln Child. Have no idea why I picked this up. It was just sitting in the paperback section at the library.

If you are interesting in Singapore word problems but are not planning to use SM as your curricula, I would suggest Fan Math Process Skills in Problem Solving series instead of the Challenging Word Problems series. It has more explicit teaching which would be helpful to you. It still teaches SM style word problems. Zacarro's Primary Challenge Math (two other books Upper Elementary and Challenge Math follow) is a good supplement as well.

I had a friend who had previously taught and knew First Form Latin and was super upset to be assigned to teach LFC-A at her co-op. She grumbled about it for about the first month or two. When I checked back in with her in the spring, she just loved the program and thought it was a great program. It just took preserving through the beginning. It helps as I look towards starting it in the spring. My kiddo is on the younger side, so I am going to just got slower and just taking our time. It's a marathon, not a sprint is the mantra I am keeping in mind.

There's this actual store in SF that sells all thing lefty. They have an online presence as well. https://www.leftyslefthanded.com/

Okay...I was able to piece it together online for around $20. Thanks for the feedback.

Would anyone who has the three volume set be willing to scan a copy of the the table of contents for the three books to me? I have the full 11 volume set from Hakim. An American history course I am looking at uses the concise set as its spine, but I don't want to pay for it when I have the full set on my shelf...and my son enjoys reading history so length isn't an issue. Thanks in advance to anyone that can help.

Hmmm... continuing with SM would mean doing an integrated math path through higher math. That's why I took that off the table for us. I'm a bit behind you as we are just starting on SM5A. What has worked for us with BA was using it a level behind SM. That way, the challenge was depth and completely separate from learning a new concept, YKWIM? Have you considering not doing AOPs pre-algebra and doing Arbor Algebra JA, CC, RD series instead as a discovery-based approach that isn't nearly as difficult to transition into doing? Or maybe Jacobs Algebra?