Thanks, everyone, for your input. I appreciate it. I think I'll just skip it. I don't really think my ds would be that interested in it. I will use something else to cover that time period. Btw, OhElizabeth, I am not offended at all. Your thoughts are always welcome. I hope I didn't come across wrong. You always have a fresh and thought provoking view of things that I really appreciate! Lori D, thank you so much for listing those resources! I will check into them. Blessings everyone!

True, OhElizabeth. I do not deny that he is probably feeling all kinds of things himself. We haven't rounded that corner in our discussions yet, though. But, I don't want him reading things that could cause him to stumble either. Fine line, in my opinion. When I was growing up, my dear, well meaning mother felt that so long as I was reading that was a good thing...without a lot of concern over what I was reading. I don't think it had good fruit in my life. So, I don't want to make that same mistake. Not having read Anne Frank, I'm just not sure about it. Even as an adult, I am careful what I read.

I wanted my 8th grade son to read it. (I think) I am careful about what they read...I don't want sensual stuff. I didn't know if she went through anything awful (um, rape...) that might be in that book? I would really appreciate your thoughts if you have read the book... Thanks so much!

May I ask what your planner looks like? Did you create it yourself or buy it somewhere? I would love a link if you bought it. Thanks so much!

Just spoke to Veritas. For 7th-12th grade classes, it is the $460 you mentioned. Thanks!

So, Silver Moon, you do a general schedule for the year during the summer and then use that to fill in each week's work as you go through the year? So, you use it as a reference tool? What a great idea! It's so simple and yet, I never thought of that! Now, how do you make sure they did all their work for the day? Do they check something off or you meet with them at the end of the day? I need to have a sure way of keeping them accountable. The obvious thing is to meet with them at the end of the day. But, at the end of the day, I am ready, well, for the day to end, kwim? I have a hard time getting to that. And even if I just spent 15 mins with them...there are 6...so that would be 1 1/2 hours!

He would only be doing one level of VP. He did Expl-1815 last year. He would be doing 1815-Present this year. I just realized that at times he was hitting enter over and over until it went through rather than *thinking*. He read lots of great lit. with it, so all was not lost. And of course, there are times in the program when you can't get away with pushing through the system. But, I wondered if Notgrass would force him to think through the concepts and prepare him a little more for high school. He's just not a super motivated type student, so it makes it hard to figure out what is best for him. I'm figuring out that he may have some health issues going on also. Getting that tested this week. So, there may be a very valid reason for his fatigue, but *not* for clicking the enter button until it goes through!!! I really wanted to do Omnibus self paced, but the reading looks so scholarly that it scared me away. I think he would hate that. He already feels in the not so smart category...I don't want to set him up for failure. I am considering doing Easy Classical's Geography with History and Writing with History along with the VP class. That would involve more thinking about the topic and may help. And he would be reading lots of great lit on his own also. OR I could do Notgrass alone OR I could do Notgrass & VP Online. I'll be adding Easy Classical for 3-4 others anyway. So, he could be a part of that or not. Any more thoughts?

Maybe by finishing on Saturday or something? I want to do a planner for each child for next year, but when I tried that one year, the dates always got messed up and it ended up being difficult to follow what they had done and for them to tell what was next. Do you guys have any ideas for planners that actually work??? I need a way of keeping my dc accountable. I just did a check off the list thing this year from Donna Young's site that was nice in a way, but it didn't show the details that I would like. Any thoughts? I was wondering if I had them make up the work on Saturdays, maybe we could actually stay on track. Thanks!

I like VP self paced a lot. But, he learned how to work the system and I'm not sure how much he retained from it. It may be getting a little young for him? Also, he may need to visually *see* the text. I'm noticing that he is very visual. (the audio spelling program did not work well for him, for example) So, I could either have him do Notgrass America the Beautiful by itself or combine the two. Would that be overkill? Thanks!

Thank you. That gives me an approximate cost, anyway. I saw that the online classes for next year are $595 for the level I would need. Is that how much they were this year or have they gone up?

This is a weakness for us. I'm wondering about a CD or something that teaches word problem strategy... Thanks!

Hey Ellie, I need open and go. How difficult is Spalding to implement?

I am teaching 6 dc. I need a spelling program that could work for any of them...I don't want 6 different ones. What have you used that you feel could work with about anyone? If you have the answer to this question, I will be your friend for LIFE!!!! :grouphug:

I would love to do some of their classes, but can't afford it. I know it is less to audit, but can't remember how much? If anyone knows, I would be grateful...I am trying to plan today and they don't have office hours on Saturday. Thanks!

I am interested in their courses, but can't afford the full price. Any idea? I know it is less to audit, but I can't remember how much. Thanks!

Thanks, everyone. I talked to VP today...I asked if they would describe the reading as scholarly...they said yes, so I say no. I've decided against Omnibus. I just don't think it will be a good fit.

Hi there, OhElizabeth. I hope you are doing well. I'm excited about the Omnibus self paced course, but I think you are right...I will need to find lower versions if possible. Any suggestions on that? Or where to find audios? Thanks so much! Planning is going well so far...hope yours is! :001_smile:

*Odyssey *Oresteia Trilogy *Landmark Herodotus *Gilgamesh *Plutarch Vol I *Codes of Hammurabi & Moses *Theban Trilogy *Last Days of Socrates *Early History of Rome *Aeneid *The Twelve Caesars *Julius Caesar I know the readings will be done in the context of great explanation through the self paced course. But I'm not familiar with some of these books. Are they very difficult reading? Both my 7th & 8th grader that will be using this course read a lot, but if there is a lot of *difficult* reading, they may do a lot of groaning....kwim? Thanks so much for your thoughts!

Mapping the World with Art is definitely on my list to do at some point. It looks so interesting. I have several artists in house so I know they would love it!

Thank you, SFM. It sounds like this could work for us. I hope so.

I am map challenged. An answer key would be helpful. Thanks!

SFM, do you know if the guide has an answer key for the maps they ask you to do? Thanks!

Do you know if the guide has a key for the maps? I am map challenged and that would be so helpful!

Thank you for the suggestions. I actually own all of the Holling C. Holling books, so that is a big help money wise. I would love to do MFW ECC, but I am looking for the least expensive thing right now. Any other thoughts?

I am thinking the school year, but I am not positive about that.