For completely secular, how about The History of US? Doesn't one of the Sonlight levels use it? I think Kolbe Academy also has a schedule you can buy. Maybe add some of the more advanced SL 3+4 and SL 100 books and the videos from the History of US TV series.

We're doing American History this year. My DD 6th will use A Beka's 8th grade America:Land I Love. It's colorful and fairly engaging and I know it will get done. I'm adding a book every week that is related to the topic in the text. We're keeping it very low key. From your previous post about science, it sounds like your DS is advanced? Have you considered using Omnibus? My DD 9th will be using Omnibus 3 this year. Omnibus 2 this past year was excellent. I'm not sure I'd have a 12 year old do Omni 3 as they read Mein Kampf, Communist Manifesto and 1984, but I suppose you could skip those or cover them superficially. Veritas Press uses BJU 11th grade US History to accompany Omni 3. BJU also has an 8th grade US History that I considered for DD 6th, but it looks a lot more in depth than I thought she could handle yet. It might be perfect for your DS. You can see a sample of the first chapter on BJU's website. We've also tried All American History in the past but found it too dry for us. I hope this helps give you some texts to consider. I'm sure other posters will have some additional suggestions.

At CBD you can see a few more sample pages of Critical Thinking: http://www.christianbook.com/critical-thinking-book-grades-7-12/anita-harnadek/9780894556418/pd/471201?item_code=WW&netp_id=221160&event=ESRCP&view=details#curr Look closely at the Table of Contents. Is that the material you're looking for? The sample pages show exactly how the the entire book is laid out. Art of Argument is more of a workbook with blank lines for the student to write their answers to questions in the text. It is written directly to the student and it appears it could be completed independently or with a class. Critical Thinking Book 1, in my opinion, needs to be discussed. You can't hand the book to a student and expect them to do it alone. My DD and I thoroughly enjoyed all of the discussion points and learned a lot from the book. I loaned out my copy of Fallacy Detective and DD used it in a co-op class so I can't comment on how to use it. I am aware that it's Christian and includes some touchy subjects like abortion. Critical Thinking is secular and includes no touchy subjects. Art of Argument is published by Classical Academic Press, a Christian company. In flipping through the text there are references to Christianity but it could be secularized if needed. If you use Critical Thinking Book 1, I recommend postponing chapter 2 until the end of the book. Chapter 2 will provide an excellent introduction to formal logic, but you don't want to get hung up on it right away. Get through the rest of the book first. (ETA: I'm commenting on the secularity for other people who may read the post.)

BJU Life Science is intended as a very rigorous middle school class. The Labs could be considered high school level. In fact, I'm going to offer BJU Life Science Labs at our co-op next year and call the class Life Science/Biology Labs for 7th-9th. But you wouldn't want to put "Life Science" on a High School transcript, and I'd be concerned about calling it "Biology" because of the possibility of a college asking what text was used. Since your DS is going into 7th, BJU Life Sci would be very appropriate. I found it very easy to teach at home, but my DD is EXTREMELY independent, self-directed and DRIVEN in academics. I've recommended it whole-heartedly to a number of people on this forum and I've later read posts that indicate their children have struggled. We completed 1 chapter per week, and completed about 1 hands on lab for each chapter. Then DD watched the Lab Investigations DVD (about $100) for the rest of the labs to complete the lab manual. I love the way BJU Life Science is laid out, the format is well organized and the text is clearly written. Another option for homeschool friendly High School Biology (and Life Science too) is Shepherd Science. I've read good reviews of it on WTM and Landry Academy (known for their homeschool bio & science classes) is using it this year, so that seems to say something, If your DS hated Physical Science, maybe he's more life science/biology oriented and will like it better? I'm a Life Sciences person myself, I prefer it over Physics and Chemistry. It just comes more naturally to me and I have a better foundation in Life Sciences.

I debated between Apologia Bio and BJU Life Science for my DD this past year for 8th. My DH and I reviewed both books and went with BJU Life Science. I co-taught Apologia Bio at a co-op while DD was doing BJU Life Sci at home. Both books cover most of the same material. BJU includes more labs (about 73) and many of them are more typical of labs completed in school with science equipment versus Apologia's very home friendly labs. Apologia includes more chemistry than BJU Life Sci. Both will provide an excellent foundation for AP Biology. IMO, BJU's explanations are more clear and the labs are superior where Apologia is more home friendly. DD is sitting behind me and says the choice is a no brainer! LOL! She loved BJU Life Science and is looking forward to doing BJU Biology. My 2 cents.

I'm reading a Tale of Two Cities and enjoying it much more than I did in high school. Dickens has a wonderful, dry sense of humor I never picked up on as a teen. I love this line from Chapter III: "His message perplexed his mind to that degree that he was fain, several times, to take off his hat to scratch his head. Except on the crown, which was raggedly bald, he had stiff, black hair, standing jaggedly all over it, and growing down hill almost to his broad, blunt nose. It was so like Smith's work, so much more like the top of a strongly spiked wall than a head of hair, that the best of players at leap-frog might have declined him, as the most dangerous man in the world to go over." Or how about Bleak House? The mini-series w/ Gillian Anderson is outstanding and the book is supposed to be one of Dickens' best. I recently watched Middlemarch and that made me want to read the book by George Eliot. It's supposed to be her best. If you're looking for another long, classic, "must read," how about Anna Karenina? It's an all time favorite. And some day I'd like to read the Brothers Karamazov - maybe when the kids are grown. :)

AngieW in Texas used Labpaq for Physics this past year and I'm getting ready to buy it for this upcoming year. I hope it's good.

:lol: Literally laughed out loud at that one! So what's the First Worst Sequel ever written? In defense of the sequel, I appreciated the author's careful research of Irish history. As for the original post.... I'm a very slow reader - I rarely skim, I take in every word. Gone with Wind was a quick read. It won't take you that long. The language is smooth and easy and flows naturally on the page. If you like reading Jane Austen, you'll probably like Gone with the Wind.

I was going to recommend the book also. Not so much the movie. The book is very descriptive about Southerner's feelings about the war, reconstruction, carpet baggers and the "killing them with kindness" attitude through Southern Hospitality. However, I'm not sure how excited a 6th grade boy would be to read it. It sounds like you have some other better recommendations for a boy.

If you want something like Art of Argument and Fallacy Detective minus the hot topics like abortion, then you should consider Critical Thinking Book 1 by Anita Harnadek. I own all 3 books and have used CT and they cover the same concepts. Critical Thinking Book 1 & 2 are recommended in the original WTM which is why I used them before I even knew about the other options. Personally, I think these concepts might be mature for a 5th grader unless unless s/he is well into the dialectic stage. I did CT with my older DD (highly gifted) in 6th and will do it again with younger DD in 7th. I'm sure a 5th grader could keep up, but s/he will get more out of it in 6th or 7th. As mentioned, Logic Liftoff books are excellent, but they cover mostly logic puzzles like mind benders. These don't really encourage discussion. If you're looking for discussion rather than a workbook, how about Philosophy for Kids? I haven't used it, but there are good reviews on this forum and it's rated for ages 10 & up. For Latin, I highly recommend Latin for Children. I used it with my older DD and I'm using it a 2nd time around teaching my younger DD in a class at co-op. It's clear and very well laid out. It's perfect for 5th/6th grade (that's the ages of my co-op class) as a first time introduction. If your children are advanced, you might consider Latin Alive by the same publisher. It's for middle schoolers and also looks excellent. We'll be using LfC A & B in 5th & 6th; then Latin Alive in 7th & 8th and Henle or Wheelock's for High School. My 2 cents.

We used the Pre-Algebra Demystified book over the summer and it was excellent. I wouldn't consider it a full curriculum, but it's a good supplement.

Something about customizing. I custom knit my children's education to fit each one of them and their very different needs. My older DD discusses everything to the Nth degree - my ears get tired. I put her in Veritas Press Scholars Academy and Classical Conversations. It hardly feels like outsourcing when I'm usually sitting with her (being the peanut gallery) and then we discuss the class discussion when it's over! LOL! For DD11, I felt guilty that I was terrible about doing science labs with her this year. She joined DD14 for a few of her labs, but doing science labs is just like cooking. I'm happy to teach science and do labs for a group of kids, but it's not as fun to do it for only 1. This fall I'm outsourcing her science to a paid class so she gets the labs and then the next year I'm planning to offer science at our mom-led co-op so I can teach it to a class of children. Another example I hear criticized is Teaching Textbooks (putting kids in front of a computer instead of mom teaching it). I love math and DD11 and I get along just great doing math together, but DD14 is not able to receive math instruction in the style that I teach it. It's like an accountant teaching math to an artist. Teaching Textbooks works for her. DD11 dislikes TT, and that's just fine with me. I try to meet each of my children where they are, and customize their curriculum accordingly. It's amazing to me that people would look down their nose at me for outsourcing some of my children's education. It allows me to focus on the areas that I want to prioritize at home each year (and this varies each year). For our family, I think it's good for my kids to get different perspectives - even if they're a little different (or very different) from mine. It leads to more discussion and I'm able to better prepare them to live in the world, not of the world. I guess this topic struck a nerve for me...

You might find this helpful for cross-referencing supplies for each lab: http://www.hometrainingtools.com/images/art/SFBJUP07.pdf The Home Training Tools order form has the lab number next to each item (ie: course sand for labs 1C and 19D - for chapter 1 and chapter 19). Also, if you're a member of HSLDA there's a coupon code for 10% off. I personally read through every single lab and then looked at the order form to determine which ones seemed worth doing depending on price. For instance, we did all of the dissections and microscope labs since the dissection tools, microscope and slides can be used again and again they were worth purchasing. We skipped the irradiated radish lab ($27.95 for radiated seeds) and bug collection (yuk!) and just watched those on the DVD. ETA: One lab we found especially fun was plant identification. DD drew a map of our yard and then went around to every tree and shrub and looked up the names in a gardening book. It looked kind of boring at first glance in the book, but I'm glad we didn't skip it.

Here's another vote for BJU science. However, I wouldn't skip BJU Life Science - it's excellent prep for high school Biology. Most BJU texts are about 25 chapters (give or take a few), so you can complete 3 texts in about 2 years if you do 1 chapter every week. 36 weeks x 2 = 72 weeks to cover about 75 chapters. That's if you want to squeeze in Life Science, Earth Science & Physical Science.

I believe the Dissection Labs DVD is to accompany their High School Biology? We used the Life Science Investigations DVDs and they are outstanding! Mrs. Vick is a very gifted teacher. Her explanation of the concepts tied the textbook reading DD already completed to the labs she was about to perform. Having the DVD also allowed us to pick and choose the labs we wanted to do at home while not skipping any since DD could watch the ones we didn't want to set-up or buy supplies for. I can hardly wait to do this course again with my younger DD in another year. My older DD learned so much and really enjoyed the material.

My DD14 (13 at the time) completed Challenge B and Omnibus 2 Secondary through VPSA. We also completed our own science (BJU Life Science). She was on a very tight schedule, but had no problem keeping up with the work. My younger DD probably couldn't do this - she's diligent & smart, but she doesn't enjoy academics - she'd rather be gardening or playing. You will be the best judge of what your child can handle. PM me with your email address if you'd like to see my DD's schedule.

BJU World History 10. DD14 has 5 more chapters to finish this summer. It's been great! Last week she read an excerpt from The Communist Manifesto and we had an excellent discussion about it. She completes 1 chapter per week: Days 1-2 Read text & answer section questions Days 3-4 Complete Student Activities Day 5 Chapter Test Student Activities include mapping, timelines, cause & effect charts, excerpts from original source documents, etc....

That's a good idea. DD14 just completed Challenge B and will be attending Challenge 1 this year. She will be doing Conceptual Physics at home instead of Physical Science. The Physical Science labs completed in class may suffice as labs for Conceptual Physics, depending on your student's goals. My DD wants to go into a science field so we'll be using LabPaq labs at home. But I think this might be overkill for a student not leaning towards a career in science. For Challenge B, I was very, very pleased with the skills acquired during the course of the year. The research skills my daughter learned are incredibly valuable. For History of Science, she researched a scientist each week and wrote an element of a research paper, then in Current Events she researched the topic being discussed and wrote a persuasive essay or prepared for a debate, for Defeating Darwinism she outlined the text (a la WTM) and defended her beliefs. On top of the Logic taught in class, the debate exercises are outstanding for preparing our children to defend any topic (including their faith in college). My DD can write an excellent 5 paragraph essay and we worked very hard on this skill before attending CC, but I was struggling to teach her research skills. CC's process was so natural and gradual - each week built on the skills learned during the previous week, and then students applied all these new skills in the spring semester during Mock Trial. It was great! I'm happy with the results and I'm happy knowing she will take these skills with her into high school and college. Since you were asking about Math, I'll comment that we don't use Saxon, but the class discussion about math concepts is beneficial. DD would occasionally get to a topic in her text and say she remembered covering it in class at CC. And since topics are covered in different order, sometimes things she had already covered at home would be reinforced in class. The latter will be the case for your DS, and it may give him the opportunity to practice leadership skills during math class. If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me.

I agree with Lori wholeheartedly on Science Labs, SAT Prep & Study Skills. You might correspond science labs with DIVE DVDs as there's already a schedule for texts from Apologia, BJU or A Beka. Then it won't matter what text they use at home - just follow the DIVE schedule and everyone's on the same topic. Study Skills is especially important for 9th-10th graders to learn early! We used How to Be a Superstar Student and enjoyed it, but i'm sure there are other programs out there too. I think there were 12 video sessions, so it could be completed in a semester. Literature (great opportunity to read Shakespeare or famous plays aloud) Graphic Design, Computer Programming PE - much more fun to do as a group & can be good for some credit on a transcript Latin - I teach this at a co-op and it's been fun & well received. If not full blown Latin, then maybe roots & derivatives for SAT Prep. Club-type classes that would be typical in high school like Yearbook, Journalism or Debate - these are nice extras on a high school transcript Mock Trial Someone posted here once about a C.S. Lewis class she was teaching at a co-op. I have that on my radar to teach at our co-op. I'd use Peter Kreeft's lectures, watch Shadowlands and read a variety of Lewis' books. Logic, Argument Builder, Critical Thinking, Philosophy - anything that gets them using those thinking skills Windows on the World &/or Teaching the Classics to supplement what they're doing at home Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace or MUS Stewardship (might be better for 11th-12th graders) A really popular high school class at our co-op for the upcoming year is Movie Making - each student needs to have their own computer to use. Forensic Science is also popular as well as the Art/Drawing Classes. The government class at co-op this year is going to include the assignments for TeenPact with the goal of attending in the spring. ETA: Sorry, I just noticed you're in Canada so this won't be useful to you, but it might help others who read the thread. Hope this helps, Ann

I expect a lot of self-sufficiency in our house - don't ask someone else to do something you can do for yourself (Thomas Jefferson). That's how I was raised and I liked it. They get their own breakfast, take their dishes to the sink, and DD14 always makes her own lunch. DD14 - Must be at desk working on math by 8:30am or gets dish duty for a day. DD11 - No set times for school, but absolutely no iPod or other electronics until school is completed. She is usually diligent and doesn't need a schedule. Both must do 1 hour of productive activities to earn 1 hour on the computer. Productive activities include extra reading, art, piano practice and exercise. Weekly chores are completed Saturday morning. There are no assigned chores during the week because I see "school" as the kids' job. Each has assigned chores involving laundry, cleaning their bathroom and bedrooms, bathing the dog, cleaning their hamsters' cages, etc... No electronics, friends or allowance until chores are completed.

We enjoyed Rainbow Science and there should be enough experiments, but many people find there isn't enough reading to cement the material. This is one science I'm keeping to use with my kinesthetic, younger DD. I think since she is more kinesthetic that the experiments will cement the material for her more so than a beefier text. The two best things about Rainbow Science is 1) the science is solid and 2) it's incredibly easy to implement! It can be completed semi-independently, but most of the experiments are fun so it was a pleasure to do them with my older DD. ETA: A history program I keep drooling over is "Tools for Young Historians" by Brimwood Press. It looks excellent for a kinesthetic learner: http://www.brimwoodpress.com/productover.html

Good info to know about the tests! One way to handle this is to have students answer all the questions they "know" in pencil and then use the book to answer the obscure questions in pen. Then you can see if they knew most of the test on their own (and grade accordingly), or if there's an area they should have known but didn't. I tell DD the goal is for her to understand and learn the material, not to trick her with obscure questions. And locating answers in a textbook and being resourceful is a useful skill too.

I don't necessarily think CLE Reading will be redundant to Teaching the Classics and Grammar of Poetry. TTC and GOP will encourage discussion and take your DD deeper in analysis and poetry while allowing her the opportunity to apply what she's learning in CLE. . And CLE Reading also covers Vocabulary and Critical Thinking. I wouldn't use CLE Reading on top of another vocabulary program - that would be redundant, IMO. If you use CLE 2-3 days per week all year, and use TTC 2-3 days per week for one semester and GOP 2-3 days per week for one semester, I think they would all complement each other nicely. Or use TTC one year and GOP the next year. I just wanted to make the suggestion since you like CLE Reading and it's a great program! We use it, and my DD still reads whole books and we discuss them - but I don't consider that redundant. CLE Reading is much more than just Lit Analysis. :) My 2 cents.

Yes - HOS is 67 lessons so you can complete 3-4 per week for 18 weeks. It might be a bit brisk for your 4th grader, but your 7th grader will have absolutely no problem. Maybe your 4th grader can do the reading with you and then narrate to you rather than answering the questions in the guide? Anyway, it's a great introduction to how science began and has changed over the centuries.

We LOVED BF HOS! It's one curriculum I'm hanging onto for my younger DD. DD actually completed it in a semester after completing A Beka General Science during the previous semester. We also added Great Scientists in Action for more experiments.