Same problem here

We love it too. My sons are very independent about looking up things themselves and needed no extra parental help. They also enjoy things outside of math like the Art History class--just as enrichment.

Excuse my ignorance--what does CWP stand for?

How about Gary Paulsen? My boys love them, and they are highly regarded/honored books: THe Francis Tucket Series Hatchet Cookcamp The Rifle Dogsong Brian's Winter How Angel Petersen Got His Name (short autobiographical essays). There are more but it s a great fire-starter for a reader and they are all fabulous--lots historical western based fiction in Tucket Series and lots of frontier, survival stories in the others.

I would echo K12 Life Science for middle schoolers. It is complete but light in that it can be done working in60-90 minutes for two periods a week across a year. So it really could go a long way if she did it daily. It is mom easy . It is thorough and it's experiments can engage mom or be done independently. The kit brings everything a long. Walch Publishers produces a set called PowerBasics for Biology (includes tm, student text, text packet). It is thorough the honed into what someone really needs to understand. And it could be supplemented with Teaching Company biology videos from the library or something. Another idea--I am just looking into Classiquest Science Biology for the logic state. Looks promising, contained, thorough but easily student guided. I have also used lyrical Life Science 1 and 2 and the one on human body--with books, cds, workbooks and their tests it is pretty thorough. I few videos or experiements from Janice VanCleave Biology for every kids would really round it out. Hope some of that helps!

If you use WordSmith Apprentice (more elementary level that addresses sentence structure, sentence improvement and culminates in writing a "news story" of multi-paragraph length including writing from an interview), you can use Wordsmith itself which is more creative writing and then Wordsmith Craftsmen which becomes more advanced in writing good summaries, precis, theses and more advanced expository writing. I have seen an old WTM review suggests a way to alternate between Wordsmith and IEW to come out with a complete writing program. NOt a bad a idea if your kid gets worn out with something. Wordsmith has more in it than it might appear and it talks to the student directly. There was comparison/review porposed sequence on an old WTM review newsletter sometime ago.

I have the same age spread and have been working on science. I don't have a real answer yet, but this is what I am looking at. We are going to do life science/biology. I am looking at having my oldest do life science on K12 and my young doing the Classiquest Science Biology. I think there is topical cross-over and that experiments for both K12 and Classiquest look similar enough for them to both experience or sub one for the other. Since K12 science doesn't have a textbook (all computer and student worksheet pages), I think the texts from ClassiQuest will help supplement that. Haven't tried--just what I am thinking. A second option so to have both do Classiquest Biology-period and have my oldest go through Walch Power Basics Biology, too or Plato Life Science.

Does anyone have experience with Walch Power Basics Science? Specifically biology for a 7th grader to serve as the central organizing curriculum supplemented with experiments and more in-depth reading alongside? And how about Classiquest Science Biology? Has anyone used it yet? Any feedback on the true "level" or thoroughness of either?

Be confident! I took my oldest out of public school in fifth grade and knew nothing about homeschooling. Since I had to make a quit shift early in the year, with no planning, I chose Calvert, just to move quickly into it. It is the best thing we ever did. I also found that my son, though very strong in verbal and reading skills, had had very little direct grammar instruction. For that reason we switched to Rod and Staff Grammar for 6,7,8. It is not exciting but very thorough and complete and simple to teach. We used a variety of writing programs over the years--the very simple direct, composition in Calvert for 5th (thorough and adequate), IEW for two years and then Bravewriter for a breath of fresh air from the structure of IEW (which was great for a while but we needed balance). So all that to say--fifth grade is a fine place to leap. There are a variety of good options, so don't feel overwhelmed that you are looking for the "perfect" curriculum option. Don't be overwhelmed by WTM. Read it and take some suggestions. Don't try to do it all. School for a while and then pick it up again in three months. Then it will make more sense, and in reality, you will see how much you have already done. Then you will see how some of the many curriculum options out there have helped you accomplish it. Some things don't have to be WTM style. Everyone needs high standards, a big overview of what a smart education is (WTM provides in fabulous scope and detail), curriculum options and then the real world practicality of their child. And then it works. It really does. It will be fine!:)

I would love to hear about people's experience with online, individualized writing coaches for students. I am looking for an option for next year for my 6th grader that takes me out of the look of being the grader/feedback/editor. I know Bravewriter and WriteGuide. Please send me feedback or other suggestions of resources for this. Thanks!

I have a 4th and 6th grade boys, and we are planning to do American history this year. We followed the outline of significant dates using Veritas History Cards Explorers to 1820 before. We'll review the outline of those dates and then move forward. I liked the structure of the defined events to learn from the Veritas cards, but didn't like the activities/slant, in the TM. We will use Joy Hakim's History of US as a spine, but I would love to know book suggestion to read alongside, curriculum ideas for activities, etc. (BTW--I've looked at Escher's workbooks on American history and find them too oversimplified to be helpful). Would love your ideas.

Has anyone used Great Science Adventures? Specifically oceanograpy or earth. I'd love feedback if anyone has used them.

I just went through this agonizing process myself of choosing between TT and chalkdust for Alg. 1. I was concerned with the comments on the boards that TT didn't cover it all. Now--my very competent--but doesn't love math kid--feels defeated and disconnected with chalkdust. The text is packed with information, but it is not friendly. The lectures are good but are not as tightly connected to the sections in the book as my child needs. So after the spending more than I had on CD, I just ordered TT--had to bite the bullet. Finally realized--even if TT Alg. 1 doesn't cover as much as other programs, if they don't work, there is no benefit. Biting the bullet.