Just curious, but did he enjoy the reading? I have looked at the text on the website and it looks sort of dry?!? We did Joy Hakim's US History texts when oldest son was in 8th and they really loved the way it read. I just want something more structured with lesson plans, assignments that maybe combine geography, vocabulary and lit...I have sooo many suggest MFW but I just get the feeling that it is heavy on the religion and although Christian do not want that such a strong focal point.

I am trying to decide on US History for 9th and 10th graders. I found your message thru a search. Just curious but what did you end up going with? I am wanting something that is laid out and easy to teach and learn. I want something that reads fun for the kids as I have found some history texts to be very dry.

9th and 10th graders...we read the entire Hakim series year before last. Last year, we did World History and so I was thinking(maybe not thinking in the right direction...)that we would go back to US History this year. I would like something like how Hakim reads. Maybe something that uses a few texts together but has lesson plans, assignments etc. What would your best guess that this would be?

I have been browsing the forum searching for US History. We did Am Lit last year so I don't know what Lit I will use this year. We are out of synch as we did World History last year. My kids are going into 9th and 10th. Would you have any advice?

I am planning on using BJU Biology with DIVE this year with my 9th and 10th grade boys. I have a question maybe you can help with...I have been told to order just the textbook from BJU and use everything else from DIVE. Then I have read on the forum to order everything from BJU text, etc and use the DIVE as supplement. My problem is that currently on the DIVE site, they only offer the 3rd edition for Biology even though BJU offers 4th edition Biology. I spoke with DIVE yesterday and they said that after August 9th, I would be able to request a syllabus for 4th edition but they didn't give me a time to expect it. Apparently he is planning on it in the near future. After using these items, would you recommend I go with 3rd edition or order the 4th and wait for the syllabus to be prepared at some point? I don't know if it would really make a difference. I am just looking for a science curriculum that is easy to plan, execute and follow thru with and hoping these two meet those goals. thanks for you input.

Has anyone other suggestions for American History? I have been recommended to look at MFW but would like to see if there is something else out there to consider.

My kids hated it as well. What did you end up deciding to use? I'm still on the search for something!

Hi Tara, I can't go the route of "making my own" this year. We are looking at a potential move mid-term and I really need something laid out for me. I want to minimize the stress in the areas that I can control to some degree. I would like a US History that is laid out and easy for student to use as well as little prep on my part.

So let me get this straight...I only need to order the TEXT from Bob Jones and then order lab books and tests from DIVE? I can't seem to get this figured out. Also, I checked the DIVE site today and it seems he only has a syllabus for the 3rd edition. I received an email from his staff today who said his wife said he is unavailable until August 9th and at some point he will be doing a 4th edition syllabus. She told me that I could send him the table of contents and he will try to get one completed but I don't know how long that takes and when to expect it. Would you think I would be safe to order the BJ text and the DIVE CD-rom and wait for him to get the syllabus to me? Or should I just try to find a 3rd edition text and order the syllabus he has already for that text?

I am trying to find U.S. History for 9th and 10th graders. I have seen several of you mention Notgrass so I went to their website. It says there are 150 daily lessons which includes text, reading and writing assignments. The site also says depending on your student that they may require 2-3 hours for each daily lesson. HOW on earth are we suppose to allot that much time to history with all our other subjects?!?! I think that is a bit much. Any comments and advice for U.S. History? I have also heard good things about MFW but I after looking at their website I wonder if it is heavy on the religion. We are Christian and I am not opposed to a Christian approach but don't want it heavy in text. KWIM?

I noticed on the DIVE website that they offer it for Bob Jones 2nd or 3rd edition. When I was browsing on the Bob Jones site, I noticed they have a 4th edition Biology now so how do you align these two to work together? I am wanting to use the DIVE along with Bob Jones.

I am considering using Bob Jones Biology for my 9th and 10th graders this year. I would appreciate input and recommendation from someone who has used the program. We did online Physics with Greg Landry last fall but in the spring, we simply used varous science books and online sites...no formal text. I am not sciency at all and I want to make sure we use a curriculum this year that is user-friendly for us all. They love science but my oldest isn't the best at it. If we went with Bob Jones, would it be best to order the text/labs and also use the DVDs or online videos to help with lecture/lab? I don't know anything about DIVE but I see it mentioned on TWTM and wonder how it works and if we can use it. I seem to waiver between Abeka and Bob Jones. thanks for input.

Hi Brigid...as I mentioned in a previous post, we are potentially making a major move this fall...Raleigh, North Carolina! We are not sure when and that is part of my stress. We had always thought that when youngest reached high school age that we would enroll them in a nearby Christian school for a class or two. Yep, science was one of the classes I wanted to outsource! So, now this move which has just been thrown at us in the last couple of weeks has thrown a big monkey wrench into my plans. We currently live in a small town with no homeschool stores near by so all my resources come from online. I do most of my research thru TWTM and then search the web. I had thought about Apologia but I have read here that some say it is rather dry. So, that's why I thought about Bob Jones. It seems to be recommended often as well. thanks for the comments. I think you are right about biology. They both completed Algebra I with Ms Jann this year and Biology would hopefully get us going in the right direction.

Are these extra workbooks for additional students or just supplemental workbooks? I am going to go ahead and order the Level 1 from Amazon tomorrow and then I will call the company and see if I can order an additional workbook for my second son. My main concern was if I order this if it will provide everything we need text-wise and workbooks.

I have trying to read all afternoon various posts regarding science options for these grades. I think you are right and I should just pick one...at the moment I'm leaning towards Bob Jones. My next concern is whether I should try to combine the grades and do one science or each do what is generally recommended for that grade level.

I have one going into 9th and one going into 10th this fall. We unfortunately didn't have a great science year this last year. I am not good at science at all. Last fall, the boys took Physics with Greg Landry which I didn't feel was a good choice at all considering the investment. Then, this past spring we used various texts and online sites to study various science topics.... So, I feel like we are already behind on science from reading posts on this forum about science schedules. Would you kindly recommend a science program that will get us caught up and that I maintain with them? We can not afford an online class at this time and we are making a major move which has truly thrown me into a complete tailspin. I am not really sure if I should try to tackle one science for the 9th grader and then one for the 10th...seems like most do Biology in 10th. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also, I have noticed many of you mention DIVE...would this be helpful as labs and experiments are where we are hurting. I truly feel so out of my comfort zone with high school.

:iagree: I am feeling very overwhelmed with trying to figure out what to do with high school. I thought that we were going to incorporate some outside classes this fall and right now we are facing a potential move and so we are going to do just homeschool and I don't feel prepared. I'm reading as many hs posts as I can trying to find what to do wtih 9th and 10th graders. Too much pressure....

With Visual Link Level 1(on Amazon), is there anything additional that I need to order if I am using this with 2 students. Does this come complete with what we need for our first year of Spanish? Are there worksheets or supplements to order as well? thanks

I am considering using one of these for science this year as we make a major move sometime this fall. Can anyone share some input regarding these programs? I have a 9th grader and a 10th grader which may be a problem due to the expense of these programs. Nevertheless, I need something like this as I stink at science and I don't feel like last year that we had adequate lab work. I don't want to get the kids behind so not sure how to pick one or try to find a way to have each boy do the appropriate grade. Please share what you liked and disliked about these programs if you can. thanks

Cindy, what does RGA stand for? We have talked with a couple of people about the area. One mentioned Durham as a possibility. I don't want to live too far out so that we can be involved in activities easily but I would like to have so elbow room with 2 boys, 2 Labs etc. Another friend mentioned there were several private schools. We are still not sure what our plans are for school but right now we are going to continue to homeschool until we arrive in Raleigh as it will make the adjustment easier for the boys. Do you know any private or Christian schools that you recommend or heard good things about? Also, I tried to join the Yahoo group for the homeschool group that you sent me and I never received an invite. Is there another way I can view Raleigh homeschool activities? I am especially interested in classes or co-ops available. I realize that we will probably move in mid-semester which is unavoidable with the way gov't moves go but I hope to be able to transition the kids into activites asap to help with the change. Also, do you know any churches that have a great youth program? We are Baptist but we have attended non-denominational as well. I realize that this may be difficult since we don't have a clue where we are going to look for a house. thanks for any help.

thanks so much for the list...as I've said I am quite overwhelmed as I never thought that we would be homeschooling in highschool at this point and I haven't got a clue. I will try to go thru some of these sites tomorrow and see what there is. Thanks so much for the help.

I'm considering using this for 9th and 10th grade kids. Do I need to just purchase the Level 1 at $119 or do I need to purchase the online certificate program so they can each take the quizzes online? Also, do I need to order 2 supplement workbooks or does it come with one? The customer service is not there this weekend and they have a sale but it ends on July 17. If you can help me with what to purchase, I would appreciate it.

For those of you that use Visual Link, did you purchase the Level 1 course for $119 for your first year of foreign language? We haven't touched foreign language yet and I have 9th and 10th grader. My question is did you purchase the online certificate so they could take the online quiz and the additional supplemental workbook for each student? For those of you that are using it, how do you count credits using this program? I am clueless when it comes to the transcript/credits situation. thanks