I'm trying to map out the remaining middle school and upcoming high school science for my 13 year old. She won't be following my older daughters' paths who did dual enrollment and early graduation. Her math abilities have been slow to develop. It is improving but she won't be in highly advanced math while still in high school. She's kind of in the middle. She isn't a non-sciency kid. She wants to work with animals some day - she says as a large animal vet but she does have enough issues that it might be more reasonable for her to be a vet tech. However, she has proven time and time again that just when we are sure she's going to have big issues, she makes a huge jump in ability and maturity. So I don't want to close any doors. That said, I am very sure that she won't be ready for college level stuff, especially math and science, until she's of college age, not during high school. She may very well get to vet school but it will be of the path of full regular high school, maybe some community college, and then college and vet school. So I'm not trying to plan for the most rigorous and advanced science now. She needs each step. So I've mapped out a plan that I think takes this into account. I really like the looks of Oak Meadow science and how it walks kids through the thought process and the younger programs don't use a scary textbook which can overwhelm her. Then I thought I'd transition to Novare which is a bit more traditional. Of course if Oak Meadow really is wonderful we could stick with it but for now this is what I was thinking: 8th grade - Oak Meadow Physical Science 9th grade - Oak Meadow Biology or Guest Hollow Biology 10th grade - Novare Earth Science 11th grade - Novare Chemistry 12th grade - Novare Physics .... this would also be a time we could start looking at something dual enrollment or community college etc depending on how she's progressing. My thought was putting Earth Science in there would put Chemistry off a little longer to make sure her math is solid enough, would transition her to a more traditional textbook before using a traditional textbook AND a math-heavy science, and to make sure she's matured academically enough to do a science-minded Chemistry rather than a 'non-science person' Chemistry. But this only works if Novare Earth Science would be ok for high school. I read some of the samples and a lot of the info was new to me but I've never taken an Earth Science course. Thoughts?

There is a semester of Earth Science in the 11-13 science from Moving beyond the Page. You can buy the units individually.

My daughter wants to be a vet or work for a zoo. I've been trying to get her to be able to volunteer at an animal hospital, or honestly even a shelter, and no one around here allows it under the age of 18. There are a few programs through pet stores that allow kids 16 and older to stand next to pets during an adoption event, but nothing really useful. It's driving me crazy.

I am looking ahead to next semester and need to make a decision on science. We are currently doing a semester on Anatomy using Quarks Chronicles, her extra recommended books, and a Moving Beyond the Page guide. It's going very well. Next year, for 8th grade, we will do Physics/Chem/Physical Science. But I need something for next semester. We've done a lot of biology and life science so I'm thinking something else. I don't think there will be any new Quarks books available by the time we'd need them. Thoughts on tops and/or curriculum? Thanks

One thing I that would make me pause, since we can't see the W&R higher level books, is the appropriateness of the highest level books for an 8th grader. W&R may end up being different, but in other progymnamasta programs, the higher level books are definitely high school level. The type of analytical thinking required for those levels of the typical progymnamasta programs is definitely rhetoric level thinking. I realize that W&R says their books will all be for younger kids but that has always confused me. So I don't know without seeing the books if their grade estimate is off or if their program will not really be as deep as other progymnamasta programs. It's just something to keep in mind. It may not turn out to be an issue at all.

Excellent. I checked my email and I didn't see it but I originally messed up my registration and didn't have the right info about choosing the 1/2 price option so maybe it didn't get emailed. I emailed him to ask for it. I would love to have the answers. I can do the math but I'd rather not :-)

I hadn't but this compelled me to do it. For 16 weeks x 7 days a week I came up with $49/day for room and board. She's a freshman so she is required to be on the most expensive meal plan which allows for unlimited food.

Wait - did he send you the solutions for the homework and the tests too? I am doing the half-price option and I only have the solutions to the practice problems. I've been working out the other problems myself.

We've only been doing DO for 2 weeks but my daughter is doing very well with it. We did a couple of years of R&S and it was ok but she still struggled. This was more of a function of her needing more time to mature and having some processing issues than R&S. DO is the first program we've used that she hasn't cried almost every day. In fact she hasn't cried once. She stops short of saying she likes it but she did admit it was good and the videos were helpful. That's huge. I almost went with College of the Redwoods but I really needed to move some of the teaching to someone or something else (in this case the videos) to help relieve the tension surrounding math. I watch the videos with her and she takes notes in the workbook. She'll pause the video and ask me a question if she needs help. I went with the 'I grade everything' option because it's a lot cheaper ($29/month instead of $59) and I can do the math without problem so I don't need to pay someone else to do it. I know that we have only covered basic material so far so we may still have stress when we get to something that is more confusing to her, but so far DO is my hero. As an aside - I laughed at the comment from above that Tess in the Burbs left DO because they prefer videos with a face and a voice. My daughter commented on how glad she was that there wasn't a face because she hates that LOL.

I like Children's Homer

Thank you so much!!! This really helps a lot. I think Winston is what we want right now. She doesn't 'struggle' per se but we haven't been as focused on grammar and I really like the idea of the hands-on part.

If you had to choose between Winston Grammar or Growing with Grammar for a middle schooler, which would you choose? For lots of reasons, these are the two I need to choose between right now and I'm not sure which way to go. I am using Writing and Rhetoric for writing.

Well I meant she didn't need MOH in relation to Biblioplan. The Family Guide for Biblioplan schedules MOH as an option because a lot of people like it, but the Companion, which is the primary text for Biblioplan is plenty.

That sounds great! If you want someone to talk you out of MOH, I'd be happy to help. You really don't need more than the Companion, especially for 6th grade as your oldest.

I love the Biblioplan Companion. I don't think it's too 'non-living'. The guide also schedules Story of the World so you could stay on the same topic with all the kids.

Quarks Chronicles

We've been doing Biblioplan for several years. For older kids, it's definitely as independent as you want it to be. I did try Notgrass once because one of my kids wanted to do a pure American history. We lasted about 2 weeks and were back to Biblioplan.

Thanks everyone! I have the Land of the Jaguar book on my list so it definitely sounds like a good one. I'll look at the other recommendations to put something together. THANKS!!

Biblioplan has a spine called the Companion. It can be used for all ages (either in part or full) but in full it's best for middle school and up. For Year 2 they have a book called Remember the Days which is for elementary school. They are putting out one each year but Year 1 will be last for several reasons but partly because Ancients is the easiest to use with all ages. It has mapping, crafts, timeline, questions, essays, and tests (for the older kids). I've been using Biblioplan for 4 years now. It's excellent and easy to use.

I am looking for a middle school level unit study on South America. It don't really know where to look for something like that. I checked out Moving Beyond the Page but their unit on South America is a little young plus it includes both North and South America. I'd prefer just South America. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks

I know you asked for reviews from those who didn't like AG, but I wanted to chime here on this comment. I first used AG when my now college senior daughter was in 7th grade. She was using R&S and was learning from it but it was coma-inducingly boring. One day she finally came in and said she was on strike LOL. It wasn't done rudely but she was really begging me to find something else. So I looked and found AG. I liked the layout and the idea that you could do grammar for a certain number of weeks each year and then just occasional review. In addition to being boring, R&S is so time consuming for the higher books. Anyway, it was like a breathe of fresh air. It isn't thrilling, but compared to R&S it was like a party. As you say, diagramming and parsing isn't exciting but at least this was much improved. I used it with my middle daughter as well. The jury is still out for my currently 13 year old. She has some processing issues and I'm not sure if it will be as effective for her. If I do, I'll use it in high school rather than middle school as I did with my other two.

Is she ready for Pre-Algebra? If so and you are interested in something on the computer you could look at Derek Owens. You can do the full course where he grades for you or you can do what I'm going to do (recommended by someone here). You get access to all the materials and videos but you correct the homework and tests yourself. It's 1/2 the price.

Thanks! The child easel idea is a good one. I can probably get one cheap or free on our town's FB virtual yard sale. I have tried the chair too and slipping is definitely a problem. That was why this year I was thinking about an easel. Elizabeth - I have smaller boards for working at the table too. But sometimes I like to have multiple sentences or problems up on the board so she can look back at what we were doing as we proceed instead of having to erase every sentence or two. On a personal note - how are you? We haven't chatted in ages? R leaves for college in 2 weeks!!

I have a 2'x 3' white board that I'd like to put on an easel for writing. I have looked around and lots of reviews indicate that these easels are made for display and they are too light to use the white board while it's on it without tipping over. I don't have hundreds of dollars to buy a new board with the stand already built in. Any recommendations? Thanks

Thanks Julie. Your daughter sounds a lot like mine. Watching a whole bunch in one day wouldn't work well for her either. I like your approach. It seems doable without leaving her exhausted. If we do too much math, she can't function for the rest of her subjects. I really appreciate you taking the time to help me through this.