Yes--Chapter Five covers a LOT of material. Dh, a high school math and science teacher, had ds do Ch. 5 slowly and thoroughly. He said it's essential to have a good understanding of that material before going on. So, you're right that it's a challenging chapter. Ds is on 6.3 right now. The lessons in Chapter Six cover a lot of ground as well. For both chapters, most of the lectures are very long and the lessons include multiple concepts.

Rosetta Stone is an excellent language lab component. Very good practice.

Awesome! :thumbup:

We borrowed (from a teacher) a demo copy of Holt Biology on CD-rom. It had the text reader(I think that is Live Ink?). The reader was quite good. We ended up going with a traditional textbook, because I wanted my son to have practice reading the text himself. However, I think that it would be a really, really helpful product for a child with dyslexia. Reading along while listening would be great. Live Ink might be a wonderful option for your daughter. Is there a sample online for you to check out? If not, you may wish to just call the company. Perhaps they'll send you a demo. Good luck!

Another great video lecture series is The Mechanical Universe . . and Beyond, free at the Annenberg site: http://www.learner.org/resources/series42.html

Teaching the Essay (Robin Finley, Analytical Grammar) is a step-by-step program. It includes an audio intruction CD for the parent teacher: http://www.analyticalgrammar.com/teaching-the-essay

My oldest used Thinkwell Elementary Algebra (doing the workbook problems) for the last part of the year he studied algebra. The lectures were outstanding. He learned a great deal and it really helped to solidify the concepts. We're going to use it as a review for my youngest, too. However, it doesn't have enough review. You could use it alongside a traditional textbook, as it seems to cover topics in a standard order (see the website for table of contents and compare to your book). It would provide an absolutely excellent lecture part of the course and the textbook would provide practice using a textbook, additional explanations and overviews, and review.

I'm so glad that I stumbled on this thread--hopefully I can save you some time. I bought my 4th edition precalculs materials last year, pulling them together from Amazon sellers. I was able to put the set together after finding the publisher's site, which has just a wealth of information, including those all-important ISBNs! Here are the steps I took [a list of my set's ISBNs follows]: 1. First, to the Chalk Dust site, to see what Larson book it uses: http://www.chalkdust.com/precal.html 2. Then, to the publisher’s site, to find the book and all ISBNs. I had to search a bit, but hit the mother lode: On the publisher’s search page I entered “precalculus with limits†and got a whole list of editions (you’ll have to enter it; the link just keeps refreshing to the search page): http://www.cengage.com/cengage/search/totalresults.do Chose an edition and click on the Faculty “About this Product†(we’re using the 4th–see below). Here you’ll find the book ISBN, table of contents, information about the authors, etc. At the left side of the Faculty “About this Product†page, click on Supplements. Voila! The ISBNs for all supplements, including the Study and Solutions Guide AND the DVD program that goes with the book (Chalk Dust lectures). The textbook and Study and Solutions guide are obvious. The DVD just says “DVD.†Hmm. I found the two-part DVD set (8 DVDs in the first part, 3 DVDs in the second part) on Amazon (university library discard) for around $10 . . . I took a gamble and . . . they are the lectures, produced by Chalk Dust for Houghton Mifflin. The covers of the DVD set (2 parts) says: The Houghton Mifflin Mathematics Instructional DVD Series. MathSpace TM. 3. Chalk Dust was selling the 3rd edition (now also the 5th), so I took some time and, using the publisher ISBN’s looked on Amazon for 3rd edition and later materials. I chose the best grouping available, considering condition and price. Our ISBN’s: 1. Precalculus with Limits: A graphing Approach, Larson et al. (4th ed., Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005). ISBN 0-618-39478-8 2. Study and Solutions Guide for Precalculus Functions and Graphs: A Graphing Approach; and Precalculus with Limits: A Graphing Approach 4th ed. , Edwards (4th ed., Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005), ISBN 0-618-39481-8 3. Two part DVD program for use with Precalculus Functions and Graphs: A Graphing Approach; and Precalculus with Limits: A graphing Approach 4th ed. (Houghton Mifflin, 2005). ISBN 0-618-39487-7

Another resource: lectures on Annenberg Media (free streaming). We're now doing The Western Tradition as a nice supplement. http://www.learner.org/

I wanted to invite all the Grand Rapids (and environs) people to two get-togethers and let you know about a new resource for area homeschoolers. First, homeschool moms (and dads) are meeting for coffee and conversation at Barnes and Noble (28th Street) on Wednesday, May 20, at 7:30 p.m. And, I hope you and your kids can join us for a park day next Thursday. We’ll meet for some long-awaited spring outside time at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, at Mackay GR Jaycees Family Park, 2551 Kalamazoo Ave SE. Remember sunscreen and a water bottle (the drinking fountains may not be on). In case of bad weather, check on the blog on the website below for a rain date. Finally, there's a brand-new website for Grand Rapids Homeschoolers: Grand Rapids Learning Exchange. It’s an online hub for all things homeschooling in the area, from postings for mentors/tutors, to listings of camps and classes, to announcements about homeschool gatherings, to . . . too much to list. It’s a good resource not only for homeschoolers, but for anyone looking for learning opportunities in the area, so please pass it on. You can find it at http://www.grlearningexchange.com Feel free to PM me. :) Hilary

Hope these links help. Here's the author's website: http://www.conceptualphysics.com/pghewitt.shtml The publisher's website for Hewitt Conceptual Physics, with the newest edition (I believe): http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZ16f&filter_161=&filter_423=&filter_422=&filter_424=&filter_281=&filter_425=&programFilterTypeList=161%2C423%2C422%2C424%2C281%2C425&PMDbSiteid=2781&PMDbSolutionid=6724&PMDbSubSolutionid=&PMDbCategoryid=814&PMDbSubcategoryid=24830&&PMDbProgramID=52886 The publisher's website, with various books, including earlier editions (and its physical science books): http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZ16f&filter_161=&filter_422=&filter_423=&filter_424=&filter_281=&filter_425=&programFilterTypeList=161%2C422%2C423%2C424%2C281%2C425&PMDbSiteid=2781&PMDbSolutionid=6724&PMDbSubSolutionid=&PMDbCategoryid=814&PMDbSubcategoryID=24830&& Pearson Customer Support is really helpful (the number is on the left lower side of the page). Here's a link to an earlier discussion about Hewitt's Conceptual Physical Science, with my dh's comments on the book (he's a high school science teacher): http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81080&highlight=chemistry For eighth grade, I'd recommend Prentice Hall Science Explorer (middle school series) or Prentice Hall Physical Science (high school level).

We chose the ACT because there's (1) no essay (it's optional) and (2) no penalty for guessing, so we thought it would be a gentler introduction to standardized testing.

From what I have read, Brown is seems homeschool-friendly. Joyce Reed, a retired dean from Brown, homeschooled her own children: http://www.brownalumnimagazine.com/january/february-2002/homeschooling-comes-of-age.html

Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies (Jared Diamond).

Thanks for pointing that out. For some reason it worked on the k-8 board but not here, so maybe something happened when I copied the message. Anyway, here is the maps page: http://www.oup.com/uk/orc/bin/9780198781646/01student/maps/ Just in case, here's the main page (go to the left side and click on "maps of key regions discussed in the textbook": http://www.oup.com/uk/orc/bin/9780198781646/01student/documents/part1/

AAS has been worth every penny for us. Here's the companion site: http://www.thechatterbee.com/ BTW, AAS projects that Level 5 will be out in April.

Printable, blank (blackline) maps (world history since 1945): http://www.oup.com/uk/orc/bin/978019...1student/maps/ After you click on a map, go to "page set up" and choose landscape or portrait, then "print preview," where you can choose a custom size (generally I found that somewhere between 35-50% filled the page nicely).

We also use Rosetta Stone, with a microphone and headset, which the children love and which helps a great deal with pronounciation.

While it would be great to have a tutor, if that's not an option, you can self-study any language. Here are my thoughts and recommendations about Mandarin (scroll down): http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29268

Here's a link to a thread about the guides and other supplemental resources for A History of US: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15173

Marie Rippel, All About Spelling's author, has just started a companion resource website, the ChatterBee. It looks just great, with a general forum as well as specialized groups (each level, people using multiple levels, special needs, Sonlighters, etc.). http://www.thechatterbee.com Hilary

Algebra 1 (Second Edition; Special Edition for Chalk Dust Company): ISBN 0-618-10774-6 Complete Solutions Guide, Algebra 1 (Second Edition; Special Edition for Chalk Dust Company): ISBN 0-618-10777-0 Both books were custom printed for Chalk Dust, so they have different ISBN's than the same books printed for the general public/schools/colleges. However, my Student Solutions Guide has a *second* title page, which indicates it's the Student Solutions Guide for Elementary Algebra, Third Edition, by Larson/Hostetler (Carolyn F. Neptune, Johnson County Community College, is the solutions guide's author). The publisher is Houghton Mifflin Company. You may be able to call the publisher for the ISBN's for Elementary Algebra, 3rd edition, and its companion student solutions guide.

Terri, I have bought many used texts from Academic Book Services and Amazon (I carefully check the buyers' reviews on Amazon). The trick is to get the ISBN from the publisher site and search for that number. Here's the ABS link (I've always had great service from ABS, including a big return, and often find teachers' editions there when no one else has them): http://www.academicbookservices.com/ Hilary

Dh, high school teacher, has used Hewitt’s Conceptual Physical Science with honors freshmen for the past five years. Strengths of the book include good explanations overall, accurate science, and an excellent conceptual approach. Conceptual Physical Science was developed for college students, so the reading level is high and the print is dense. As it is conceptual, it does not include much problem solving. For middle school, we’ve used and been very happy with Prentice Hall Science Explorer books, which include many hands-on labs and activities. These books are easy to find used. Here’s the publisher site: http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZ16f&filter_161=&filter_423=6732&filter_422=&filter_424=&filter_281=&filter_425=&programFilterTypeList=161%2C423%2C422%2C424%2C281%2C425&PMDbSiteid=2781&PMDbSolutionid=6724&PMDbSubSolutionid=&PMDbCategoryid=814&&PMDbProgramID=52181 Prentice Hall also publishes a good high school physical science text, Physical Science: Concepts in Action (two versions are available, one with chemistry and physics, and one which also includes chapters on earth and space science at the end). We’re going to use this book next year when ds2 is in 8th grade. Here are my ISBN numbers, including instructor materials: Student Textbook: Prentice Hall Physical Science: Concepts in Action (with Earth and Space Science) ISBN 0-13-166308-9 Teacher Express (2 disc)-interactive teacher edition, test bank, resources ISBN 0-13-069981-0 Annotated Teacher’s Edition Laboratory Manual ISBN0-13-069985-3 (I googled Teacher Express and see there are used copies for around $7.00; texts, etc., probably are available used, too.) The publisher's page, with more materials, ISBN numbers, and the table of contents : http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZ16f&filter_161=&filter_423=6732&filter_422=&filter_424=&filter_281=&filter_425=&programFilterTypeList=161%2C423%2C422%2C424%2C281%2C425&PMDbSiteid=2781&PMDbSolutionid=6724&PMDbSubSolutionid=&PMDbCategoryid=814&&PMDbProgramID=52181

Jane, Thank you so much for posting this--what an excellent resource. I just watched part of Kagan's first lecture in Introduction to Greek History and am looking forward to exploring other lectures. I wanted to share that, at least for most of the courses, the "related resources" link (right side of the course's first page) provides the syllabus, reading list/textbook, etc. Hilary