Neosporin (aka Triple Antibiotic) works at our house.

I don't know if this will work for anyone else, but around that age, when my dd copped a bad attitude, I said something like, "The surly teen thing is getting old." And she thought about it, and knocked it off. I kind of feel like at these ages, they need us to help them regulate their emotions again, just like when they were toddlers. "Fake it till you make it," is another one I used sometimes. My general rule is that you can feel whatever you want to feel, but you can't take it out on other people. I don't insist on happy joy joy all the time, lest you misunderstand. Now, 8th grade was a whole new level of hell that mostly involved crying and anxiety, but at least the surliness was gone. Best wishes!

You might add in Vocab if it's not included in the English guides. And I have to say that I don't think it's too light of a schedule myself, but then I'm not shooting for Ivy Leagues, so YMMV. I do what I want, what is best for my kid, and am secure in the knowledge that she already has learned more than I ever did in school. So you have English 1, Math: PreAlgebra, World History: Ancient through Middle Ages, Physical Science (by the way, I do not consider Apologia Physical Science "lite"), Foreign Language: Spanish 1, and P.E. Sounds like a normal freshman year for millions of kids.

Everyone else is much cooler than I am, I guess. It would make me vaguely uncomfortable, too. 2 hours? Probably fine. 5 1/2? Discomfort. Could she have a friend over? I would feel better if there were two of them to help each other in an emergency. Or maybe Grandma could stop by?

My dd gets up at 8:30am. We start school at 9am. She goes to bed at 10pm and sometimes stays up and reads until 10:30pm. So... 10 hours of sleep. Yeah, that's about right. She gets cranky otherwise.

Mathusee Algebra?

Mathusee Algebra 2 looks great, although I have not yet tried it. Next year for us.

Hmm, a 4 year English plan. Okay, I'll give it a shot. We're only in 9th grade now, though. 9th grade: Composition: Writing with Skill 1 (although taking a break from that and doing Write with the Best to get past a wall in Descriptive passages) Grammar: Seton High School Grammar Lit: Gilgamesh, Greek Myths (plus Memoria Press guide), Trojan War (plus Memoria Press guide), Aristophanes The Birds Vocab/Spelling: Abeka Vocab Spelling Poetry III, plus vocab from Memoria Press lit guides on Greek Myths and Trojan War 10th grade: Composition: Writing with Skill 2 Grammar: Easy Grammar 10 Lit: Norse Myths, Beowulf (Memoria Press guide), King Arthur (MP guide), Romeo and Juliet (MP guide if it's out) Vocab/Spelling: Abeka 11th grade: Composition: Writing with Skill 3 Grammar: Easy Grammar 11 Lit: ?? to go along with SWB History of the Ancient World. Have to look at book lists for the time period. Vocab/Spelling: Abeka 12th grade: Composition: ?? Grammar: Easy Grammar 12 (if it exists) Lit: American Lit of some kind Vocab/Spelling: Abeka

I love the first one. I have something similar to the second one, and it's... anticlimactic. Not as impressive in person. Love the quotes and facial expressions on the first one.

Browsing Lakeshore Learning is happy fun time for me. I do find things online that I don't necessarily find in the store (love their math Activity Centers), but I always walk out with a bag of cool stuff. No, they are not cheap, but yes they do have stuff that other places do not. Totally awesome, wonderful stuff. It is very good for my budget that the closest Lakeshore is 2 hours away. I only get there once or twice a year.

I was thinking you might like the Learning Language Arts through Literature. Good pick! I think Starline is secular so hopefully your school will pay for it. Your plan looks great!

9th grade: History of the Ancient World and Teaching Guide by Susan Wise Bauer, plus readings from Usborne History of the Ancient World (for that visual aspect) and Nystrom Atlas of World History 10th grade: History of the Medieval World and Teaching Guide by SWB, plus readings from Usborne Viking World and Medieval World and Nystrom Atlas of World History 11th grade: History of the Renaissance World and hopefully Teaching Guide (if it's out yet) by SWB plus... 12th grade: Some kind of US History, probably.

We are using Horizons Algebra. I like that it has very short, straightforward explanations, which I can quickly teach on the white board. I also like that it is a workbook. It has problems for mastery of the day's topic, plus some review of past topics. It doesn't have too many problems, and it's easy to shorten if it feels like a lot, which is not often. Big fans here. Sad that they don't have upper levels, although Lifepac Geometry (same publisher) looks promising.

I have not used their Lit or Grammar. Every time I try, it doesn't go well. It's just not a good fit for us. Yes, the programs are designed to complement each other. My dd is a visual spatial, whole to parts learner, if that helps. I have NEVER been able to use Abeka Grammar, even though throughout the years, I have owned several of their grammar books. They are very well done and cover great stuff. It's just not a fit for my dd or my teaching style. We do usually use Abeka's spelling, and we are using it for 9th grade this year. I like the looks of their Lit book, and actually own an old version of the Themes in Literature. That seems like it might work well for you. I personally really like my Lit to match my history, so that's why I don't use it.

I don't know if your budget or religious views permit these, but here are my attempts at helping you plan: Earth Science: Starline Press, carried by Rainbow Resource. Several booklets. Looks independent. I have no actual experience with them, but I have eyed them before. http://www.rainbowresource.com/product/sku/051446 Health: I am actually using Abeka Health from a Christian Perspective with my 9th grader this year. She is doing it independently, reading a couple pages at a time. When she gets to a "Section Review," she completes it. When it's time for a Quiz, she takes it, open book. I am doing this as a get 'er done course for 0.5 credit. English: I know you said you want an all-in-one, but it also doesn't sound like that would fit your needs. Writing, you said, is taken care of. You could choose a get 'er done lit book, like BJU Fundamentals of Literature, or you could just have her read literature that goes with the time period of history she is studying. (Personally, we are studying SWB's History of the Ancient World, and so for Literature, I am using D'Aulaire's Greek Myths with Memoria Press student and teacher guide (love Memoria Press!), followed by Trojan War with Memoria Press guides. I know Memoria Press says it's for middle school. I don't agree and I don't care. It's good stuff and matches my goals of content knowledge.) I am thinking Easy Grammar 9 would work for you, if you need a grammar. I have no suggestions for spelling. We are using Abeka Vocabulary, Spelling, and Poetry III but my dd is a natural speller. Best of luck!

Isn't there a thing about potatoes and botulism? Like they already have it on them, so you have to make extra sure you're using good food practices? I would look it up, and then I'd probably throw them out anyway. Potatoes are cheap, so it wouldn't be that painful.

Well, when I was in ps, we had Senior Skip day. In your dc's case, it would fall on the 16th day of school. No school that day. (We also had a senior skip day from the end of school, so 16 days before the last day of school. We liked skipping.)

I love the Mead composition books from Office Depot that have quirky pictures on them. Like these: http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/595996/Mead-Loyal-Army-Composition-Book-7/ They cost a bit more but do last longer. My lefty loves them. I do also buy the cheapo 50 cent composition books from Walmart in a variety of colors. You have to dig for the cuter colors, like neon pink and lavender, but they're there. Wide ruled all the way. I have old eyes.

Our city government doesn't pay very well and likes to put freezes on pay raises for several years in a row. YMMV. They did have decent benefits and job security. Next to impossible to get fired. The people were mostly nice. I would choose federal government work over city government work, by far. I guess health department is city? Actually, I think it is county where I live, now that I think about it. No experience with them.

I know that book. Don't worry about finishing it. Move on.

Lands End. They have cute swimsuits. I just got one that looks like capri leggings under a skirt, in navy blue. And a rash guard in navy and white stripes, boat neck. Totally looks like a cute shirt but is a rash guard. Then I just got a regular one piece to wear under it. Love Lands End swim stuff. (We're pale and burn so we cover as much as we can with fabric.)

Ooh, the samples on their website look good. I love Usborne stuff.

Well, I don't have it. But, if it helps, christianbook.com does have samples of Of Places teacher edition, and it should be really similar to Of People. Plus, they have samples of the Homeschool English 7 Curriculum/Lesson Plans. All together, it might give you the info you are looking for.

I have no great suggestions as we muddled through with a variety until prealgebra, but I did want to encourage you. Often visual learners are big picture thinkers, and they might hate math until they hit algebra or prealgebra. Then they love it. The trick is getting them there and keeping your sanity.

Keen sandals?