I am by no means a Latin expert, but I will post my 2 cents :001_smile:. We have used Latina Christaina and Henle in the past. Last year my ds and I worked through part of Wheelock's. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but then I was really unable to keep up with all the assignments (and I really think it is helpful to know a language when you are trying to grade assignments..LOL!!) So this year I signed my ds up for Latin II online with Regina Coeli. Wheelock's is easy to follow and understand, and the translations are great fun boys!! I would say that a strong grammar background is essential. I am working through Latin for Children with my dd (11 yo). We are currently on book B and I am able to follow this pace more easily! Blessings, Michelle

You could also skip Saxon 8/7 and do Saxon Algebra 1/2. My ds did this and has done very well. I am having my dd complete 8/7 becuase I thought she might need to go a little slower, but we are on lesson 72 and dd is flying through it because there is so much review. The 8/7 book has 120 lessons with 12 investigations. The Alg 1/2 book has 123 lessons and no investigations, so this would save a little time. I often have my children do a math lesson on Saturday, as well as some work through the summer. I think it is doable to have her ready for the classical school by 9th grade if she is willing to do the work. Blessings! Michelle

I e-mailed Dr. Grote directly last year and he sent me the set for $50. I don't have time right now, but I will try to find the e-mail address and get it to you :).

You need the textbook. Saxon Teacher teaches all the lessons and works out every lesson problem and and test problem. It does not list the problems. The student gets those from the textbook. Blessings, Michelle

I just wanted to share that my kids have used Saxon from Saxon 1 through Advanced Math (DS is on lesson 18) and they have done very well with it. Saxon gets a "bad rap", but there are those of us who like it :). It has always taken my kids about 1 1/2 hours to complete the lessons, so keep that in mind. However, they really do understand math. I have never used MM, but 20 of the same problems would drive my kids bonkers :lol:. They like the mix of the problems they have every day with Saxon. Obviously, none of us can make the decision for you. Do you have anyone nearby that would let you borrow either TT or Saxon to let you try it? I have loaned out textbooks in the past for others to try. I hope you can find something that will work!! Blessings, Michelle

Hi there, My dd is 11 and is finishing module 4 of General Science as well (I decided to go ahead and start Apologa in 6th grade as I did the same with my ds and he did fine, plus dd loves science). Dd was also "reading along" with the MP3 version, but like your dd, she was not retaining a lot. So for this chapter I have been reading it to her, which allows her to ask questions as we go. I have also been helping her with the "on your own questions" by helping her to think through the problems (I am continuing to help her with the module summaries as well). Also, I have dd make falsh cards for all definaitions and formulas. My dd is requiring MUCH more involvement than my son did (I actually just gave the book to ds in 6th grade and he breezed through it). I know that we could get an easier text, but dd LOVES the experiments and I do like that it is challenging her brain. Honestly, with a three year old running around, I would rather she be a bit more independent. But I think that maybe she just needs a bit more "hand holding". My goal is that by the time she reaches Biology she will be more independent. I do not know if you have the time or inclination to do the same with your dd, but I thought I would share what we are doing since our daughters sound similar :001_smile:. Blessings!!!

I have not used Figuratively Speaking, so I can not comment on that. Last year my ds did Starting Points and WttW with the Jill Pike syllabus and I thought WttW gave him an great introduction to literary analysis. My ds was also able to use what he learned in each course and apply it to the books he was reading in the other.

I love this!!

My ds is in 9th and he is taking two online courses, Latin and computer science (totaling about $1200). Next year I will add AP chemistry online and I will eventually have him take calculus (either online or at cc), as well as AP physics (son is science/math oriented). I am using TOG for history/lit/bible and so far this is going very well. I think it just depends on what is best for you and your family :001_smile:. Blessings!

Thanks for sharing! Very interesting.

Your dd has seven years left after this year? Then the sequence would be: 7/6 8/7 (or Alg 1/2) Alg I Alg II Advanced Math (even if it takes two year that would be fine) Calculus Saxon integrates Algebra and Geometry (which I think is similar to what the rest of the WORLD does. It seems that only in the US do we separate the subjects). I really think she is just fine (even if she only has 6 years left after this year). And working year round will help make sure she at least completes the Advanced Mathematics book (my ds just started it today, so we'll see how long it takes him).

:iagree: My son took the ACT this past spring (end of 8th grade) and scored a 35 on the English section (he only missed 2 questions out of 70!!). He has used R&S since 4th grade and studies Latin, but that is it. I also love how really KNOWING how to put sentences together has helped his writing (he hates to write!!). I too like the analytical thought that R&S teaches, so I will be using it with all my kiddos :001_smile:.

Is your son planning on taking AP chem, or does he just want one year of chemistry in high school? I think that might make a difference on which book you would use :confused:. I took 2 years of high school chem and was very glad, as 60-70% of the material was review (I am a PT and have a BS in biology and biochemistry). I don't have a program to suggest as DS is doing Apologia Chemistry (both books this year) using the Redwagon tutorials (only for the first book). He will then take AP Chemistry next year with ChemAdvantage. Hopefully more people will chime in and give you some direction :).

:iagree:

First, does your dh have any siblings that could help out?? What about your MIL coming to stay with you for awhile?? We did this last spring with my MIL (she has metastatic breast cancer and had fallen and broken her ankle). We rearranged furniture and put a hospital bed in our living room. We have a 1/2 bath downstairs and it was difficult to get my MIL upstairs for a shower but we did it a couple times a week. While it was not easy, we made it work. It was much easier to care for her in our house, than trying to care for her in her home. Nursing homes in our area run about $200/day. That gets expensive quite quickly (and insurance does not pay for it unless the patient is "skilled" by receiving PT/OT/SLP or IVs OR through private nursing home insurance). I actually work as a PT in a nursing home on Saturdays, so I also know that sometimes placement in a facility is warranted. Just a suggestion :D. But I do agree that your kids will look at your actions as the standard. I would do what you need to do now so you do not have any regrets later. I helped to care for my grandmother when she was dying and basically did all the care for my father when he was dying (and NO school got done then!!) It was hard, but I have no regrets. And I am so thankful that I opened our home to my MIL when she needed us (even though not all the lessons got done every day!!). The kids did learn the lesson of compassion :D. Many prayers to you as you make this difficult decision.

My 11 year old dd (6th grade) is doing 8/7 (we have used Saxon all along). Although I have the D.I.V.E CDs, she prefers me to teach the lessons :tongue_smilie:.

I have used FLL (the "old book" with year 1&2 combined and year 3. We then switch to R&S for grade 4 and up). I have not used Shirley but I will answer R&S questions as best I can. I hope this helps you in your decision. I really do think it is just a matter of personal preference. Blessings!!

This article was in our local paper Sunday: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/business/2011/10/02/program-can-help-grads-pay-off-loans.html If more people knew about this program, there may be fewer defaults on government loans.

Thank you for this post. I knew before we even started school this year that 9th grade was going to be challenging. Ds is taking Alg II, chemistry, Latin II, history(TOG), english (TOG, Lively Art of Wrting, and R&S), computer science, and piano. Ds starts his work at 7:30, takes a 1/2 break for lunch, and then works until 3:30, when we have to leave for swim practice. Ds gets home a little after 7:00, eats dinner, and then works on more school work until 9:00 or 9:30. And, he has been spending a good part of his weekend doing schoolwork (usually TOG assignments). I really want him to have more free time, but he has chosen to continue with swim team which takes up a lot of time. I guess I am glad to know that other children work just as long. I did tell our son he could go to school (private), but he said he wanted a rigorous education. I am trying to watch for signs of too much stress. I also make sure he has a least 30 minutes of "down" time in the evening, where he can "play". We are almost done with week 5, and I am hoping he gets a little more efficient.

My son was like this with Apologia Biology last year, although we did add in the redwagon tutorials for more depth (and the alternate tests add more essay questions which I really like!). Ds aced all the tests and did all labs, as well as 4 formal lab reports (more like research papers). Ds finished Apologia Biology in March last year, so we went ahead and started Apologia Chemistry (again, using the redwagon tutorials). Chemistry is not quite as easy as biology, but ds is doing well (still acing all the tests). I plan to start the next chemistry book when he is finished (he should finish around the end of February). Some kids just retain the information better. Ds can memorize like crazy!! So because memorizing is so easy, he can spend more time synthesizing the information. So, yes, you can count it as a credit. And then you could move onto another science or the advanced biology book (which contains all of the anatomy). Ultimately, your ds will have more time for upper level sciences, which is a good thing :D.

This is my 10th year homeschooling, and just last I finally realized I needed to embrace the fact that "homeschooling is HARD WORK" :D!! Now I repeat this to myself all the time, and somehow it just makes me feel better!!

I was a biology major in college (and now a physiacl therapist). So not the same profession, but the requirements were the same. My ds used Apologia Biology with the redwagon tutorial last year, and requested to do the same with chemistry this year. I love it. The lecture adds more material, and I like the alternate tests provided on the CD (more essay type questions....and you are supplied with the answers :)). My son still talks about the things he learned in Apologia Biology. No matter which biology book you go with, I would HIGHLY suggest your dd having an anatomy course in high school. I don't know this for a fact, but I would suspect the Apologia Human Anatomy books covers more on anatomy and physiology than just a regular biology book (from any publisher). I really think that if you use both Apologia books your dd will have a very solid biology foundation. Because I want my son to have a strong foundation in science, we started Apologia Biology the summer before 8th grade, then moved to Apologia chemistry. We are doing math and science year round to allow for more advanced classes in those subjects. It might not be for everyone, but it is an option, especially for thise who want to major in science in college. I know we all stress overe these decisions :D. I hope you will find what works best for your dd! Blessings.

I justed wanted to give another "vote" for R&S. We have used it for grades 4-8 so far (ds will be starting 9 soon). It is very thorough. My ds did very well on the ACT English section (35) and I really think it was because of R&S (and Latin). There are many questions on how to improve sentences, and R&S covers this very well! Ds and dd know their grammar thanks to R&S. The teachers manual makes grading a breeze. I know nothing about their history, so I can't help with that :D.

Each of my children has a schedule with boxes to check off as they complete the work. This year I am scheduling their work one week at a time (and my son and I look over his schedule together). My oldest is using TOG, so I divide up the assignments for him each week. He works at his own pace with math, whcih is usually a lesson a day. I have made up a chemistry schedule which he refers to each week. He is also taking 2 online classes, so he is responsible for completing those assignments each week (although I put a reminder on his schedule saying "check Latin/computer programming syllabus") My goal is that he will eventually be doing his own scheduling. I check all of his work (math, chemistry, etc) and we meet at the end of the week to go over the TOG assignments.

I really don't understand why she is going so fast. There are only 16 modules in the book. At the pace she is going, the class will be done with the book in 16 weeks! Is she planning to spend more than one week on any of the modules? Or perhaps the advanced book will be covered as well. I think it would be insane to cover one module per week unless you were trying to get through both Aplogia Chemistry books. At any rate, what is most important is that your son is learning the material. I would talk with the teacher and see if others are struggling. If you can not come to a solution, then I would probably pull him out of the class. Perhaps she would still be willing to answer questions for your son via e-mail, especially if she understands how much he is struggling. Blessings :)!