I think for non-daily items, I'd just let it be done. Not that we've ever been "done" with a year-long program early, though. :( For math, spelling, grammar, we just dive into the next book. DD11 finished Saxon 6/5 mid-February, so we moved on to Horizons 6. DD9 will be finishing Saxon 5/4 end of April (school here goes until June 17th), so I've already ordered her the test/worksheet book for Saxon 6/5 (which we have from DD11 - might have made a different choice if we didn't already have this book available). We finished our spelling books at the end of Feb. (we do a lesson in 3 days), so we started the next books the following week. We also finished R&S grammar books in Jan. (because I only did the grammar lessons), so we moved on to Easy Grammar. I want these items done daily, so I don't consider them ever "done". That being said, if we finished a book with only a couple of weeks left in the school year, I'd probably push them to find something else they'd like to study - maybe an online math program, maybe something that interests them, etc.

Last year was our first year homeschooling (kids in 3rd/4th). I joined CC because it gave me a starting point. I didn't feel like it controlled my curriculum at all. BUT, I chose to study the same things they were studying. So if the memory sentence was about the Pilgrims, that's what we studied that week. I enjoyed that it gave me a jumping-off point, but I controlled where we went with it (or even if we did anything with it). My older daughter was in Essentials, and I LOVED it. Great support for writing (not my strong suit - I'm a math person). And I LOVE grammar, and that was really in-depth. So we enjoyed it all, more or less. The hardest thing for me was being there all day once a week. I work from home, so being gone all day once every week was a huge drain on me, personally. But it was great for making friends. That being said, we decided not to join CC this year. (We moved across the country this summer, so it would have been a new group, not going back to the same one with all our friends.) And I'm glad about that, too. We miss the friendships, but I've enjoyed being more in control of our curriculum this year (and wasn't as scared about it, since it's our second year homeschooling). I do miss the memory work - I loved hearing the kids memorize so many facts last year! I do think that visiting a local group would help you a lot with making your decision. And you'd need to do that soon, since they end in April or May?

I grabbed K12 Human Odyssey because it was so recommended and was surprised to find that both my kids and I all prefer that book over the other reading we've been doing (mostly in the encyclopedia). It's very readable (although a bit repetitive at times - they like to drill concepts into your head). My kids are in 4th/5th now, but I'm reading it to them. I'd think that a 7th grader could happily get through it on their own, if you prefer. We're using it in conjunction with Pandia Press' History Odyssey Ancients (Level 2/Logic). I prefer the K12 book, but I'm happy to use them together since the program is laid out for me.

We did history once per week last year (with some additional reading here and there), mostly with SOTW. This year we're using History Odyssey and doing it twice per week, mostly. I'd say we could easily switch it to once per week if we were willing to do a longer block. I preferred the once-per-week schedule we used last year, honestly!

That seems reasonable, but I'd probably at least talk through the lesson content briefly first (even if she doesn't do the lessons) - just to be sure that there's not something new that she's not familiar with. We just switched math programs (after my 5th grader finished 6/5) and so my daughter is skipping a lot of lessons in the new program (stuff that's review for her). As long as they show mastery, I think it's fine to skip a bit here and there.

We did REAL Science Odyssey Chemistry last year when my kids were in 3rd/4th. I liked it pretty well (but we only did it for the second half of the year, so not all the way through). We're doing Elemental Science Biology this year (logic stage), and I like it better, but you'd want grammar stage for 3rd/4th. I'm not sure exactly what the difference is between the two, but I recommend the program in general. Well-put together. I think the grammar stage is more of a "notebooking" format, so that might work for you.

Thanks for all the advice. I'll look into those websites - good to have more resources! And I'll just try not to worry so much... :)

This is our second year homeschooling. My 5th grade, 11-yr-old daughter finished Saxon 6/5 in February and we started Horizons 6 (skipping the first 40 or so lessons) at her request, as she was tired of Saxon and hoping for something she liked better. She will be going into public school next year, so we don't anticipate finishing this math book, so I was fine with the switch. Or so I thought... I'm really disappointed with the lack of problem solving in Horizons. All problems are just laid out for them. As in, it just says: 456.75 - 12.23, not "Jack had xxx money and spent yyy, so how much does he have left", for instance. She doesn't ever have to figure out whether to multiply, subtract, etc. All problems are lined up properly for them with decimals, etc. I feel like Saxon just gave them so much more room - to figure out the problem, to make/solve mistakes, etc. And I'm worried that the lack of problem solving could adversely affect her going forward. Also, there are just so many of the same problem. Why does she need to do 10 of the same problem for review on every lesson?? BUT, it's just for 3 months (rest of this year). Would you: a) Spend the money to go back to Saxon (7/6) and just give up on Horizons? (We can afford it, if we must - not like I want to throw away the money, but I want what's best for my daughter.) b) Double-up on Horizons lessons, maybe, having her do less of each type of problem that she has already mastered? c) Maybe in conjunction with b) - add some problem solving in? I looked at Zeccaro's Challenge Math, but I'm not sure it was right for us. Or maybe I looked at too high a level? Not sure what else to use... I thought maybe even just open her old Saxon book and have her do a problem or two from that every day. Even if it's from old lessons, it might keep her problem solving skills fresh? Anyone have any thoughts/ideas???

Beige? Very light neutral.

I'm NOT an expert, but we just got this for the kids for Christmas, so I know a little. YES, you have to buy them each their own, if they're playing on their own laptop and/or at the same time. (My kids each have a laptop, so we had to buy it twice.) They don't need to play online, but they like to - joining other people's worlds. I don't especially care for that - who knows who they're joining with! - but apparently "we" have decided we're okay with it...

Thanks so much for the tips - especially on skipping a bit to get to the correct place! I ordered Horizons 6 yesterday (20% off with free shipping - woohoo!), so I can't wait to take a look at it. I'll take a look at that other book, too - sounds interesting...

My daughter is a few weeks from finishing her Saxon Math 6/5 book (just shy of 11 years old, 5th-ish grade). She has already decided to go back to school in the fall (which one is still being determined). So we need something to get us through the next few months. She is really weary of Saxon - the repitition, length of lessons, etc. (Although I feel that she has learned a lot more this year than when we did TT last year). So I was thinking of maybe Horizons for the last few months of the school year? I looked at the Placement Tests (she hasn't done them yet) - it looks like she'd score to place into Horizons 6. BUT, I also took a look at their pre-algebra placement test (just to be sure), and she'd also score high enough to place into that. (They seem VERY similar on topics!) I'm guessing Horizons 6 is the more reasonable progression from Saxon 6/5, though, right?? I'm also open to suggestions - if you'd do something different for the next few months - or how to transition into Horizons at the correct point? Thanks!

My daughter was in 2nd grade last year. She could read something MTH level, I'm sure. (We read "Classic Start" books - I think they're about that same level.) Here's what she did independently last year: Teaching Textbooks 3 Cursive (workbook) Spelling Workout (workbook) Easy Grammar 2 We did history/writing (IEW)/science together. I will say that she was an older 2nd grader (Feb. birthday) and I actually bumped her up a grade (at her request), so she's doing all 4th grade work this year. Which is to say that I'm not sure that she was really a "typical" second grader last year. She's motivated and wants to "work ahead".

For Saxon 54, my 8.5 year old spends probably 45-60 minutes total (including drills and the lesson). I'll admit I've never timed her - she seems to finish in a good amount of time. My 10.5 year-old, though - on Saxon 65 - UGH - she spends 2-3 hours straight some days. And it's not "working" - it's looking at the walls, doodling, picking her nose, I don't know. I find the timer ideas interesting, but then we'd never get through the material! She knows the math - I think she just finds it boring and makes it longer and longer (and hence more boring!). I'll think about the timer, though - see if it helps...

I ordered from Sonlight last year, using a discount coupon from a convention ($35 off $150 maybe?). Otherwise, I never found any discounts, either!

I think, like so many others said, it's really your choice. Last year was our first year homeschooling (2nd/3rd and 4th), and they both did Foundations and older did Essentials. Foundations was fine for me, but we're not doing it again next year. (I just want to try a year without it.) Since I was new to homeschooling, I let CC determine our week's studies for history and science. It gave me a jumping off point without actually using another full curriculum. It worked well for me, really. BUT that's because it was US history and not world history. World history has so much to cover that I don't think I could do it at that pace and feel that I was getting it "all" in there. I LOVED Essentials - the grammar, especially. And I was shocked that my daughter did so well at it. She has a fairly good grasp of everything covered all year - she can diagram compount-complex sentences mostly without me even walking her through the questions at this point. The writing was a bit of a stretch for me - we honestly didn't finish a couple of the assignments - I was just burned out on it. (I liked it and it was taught well - just a bit much sometimes.) I feel like we might go back to CC after one year off. OR at least I'll use the materials to walk my younger daughter through the Essentials grammar - I enjoyed it that much!

I know you weren't asking me (specifically), but I thought it was funny that we're on the same path. I've bought SOTW1, including the activity guide (I'd really like us to read through it, and my other daughter is younger), K12 Human Odyssey, and I'm almost certain I'm placing an order for History Odyssey Level 2 Ancients this weekend (during their 30% off sale)! Still trying to figure out if we'll use them all together or drop something...

I'll have my first 5th grader in the fall, too. And it's only our second year of homeschooling. I've been going back and forth on history and science, too! I finally bought a science curriculum and am close on history. Unless I change my mind again - and again!