Hello, My two children, DD and DS, are homeschooled. My DS is in 8th grade and desperately wants to attend the PS. My husband and I are not thrilled by the idea, however. DS wants to attend the PS so he can be "normal" and "like everyone else" he knows. He is not socially isolated, however, as he participates in Boy Scouts, Crossfit, and mountain biking. He also takes three classes from WTMA, but there is no way to "meet" his classmates. There are no coops that I know of or am interested in joining in our town. My question is: Does anyone know of an online forum for homeschool kids to meet and share notes on the good and bad of homeschooling life? Any other online hangout? Any ideas? Thoughts? Thank you!

My son is very good at math, doesn't like the idea of having to sit for 3 hrs. a week listening to lectures but would like one class to go over assignments possibly one day a week. He took Algebra II this year with Foersters using Math without borders (we have done Derek Owens all prior to this but thought we'd try this since it was cheaper this year) he has done really well we are now on chapter 10 but that begins full on trig and I didn't realize and he is having some difficulty and I can't help him! Evidently Veritas Press uses the same book for PreCalculus and trig begins on chapter 9. 😛 So he is beginning the PreCal and evidently needs some assistance. So we were looking for a good math program that offers once a week meeting that is a well rounded program. He is not planning on going into stem even though he is good at math not an interest for him. He is planning on taking Statistics his senior year so we plan on doing that at the college. Another thing we have to consider is it being approved of NCAA since he is hoping to play sports in college.....So any ideas for this math would be greatly appreciated!

We use SWB's History History the World series as a spine for our high school history curriculum, then add Great Books and Great Courses. However, the series ends with the Renaissance book, requiring us to find a spine for modern history. What are you using?

So... :D I did the same thing for high school bio that I did for chem. Remember, though, that I'm not a high school specialist in Bio so my judgments on whether something is reg or honours could be off - please feel free to correct me if you disagree with something I've posted! :) I didn't include a category for "Math background needed" for most of the bio curricula (except for AP). I don't find that a certain level of math is required for most high school biology courses beyond just basic alg skills (working with simple equations, fractions, decimals, possibly scientific notation, etc.). A student may run across the concept of pH but is usually not required to calculate it. If a course is VERY rigorous, a student may have to do calculations regarding buffer systems but even that only requires knowledge of quadratic equations and the quadratic formula (and probably only shows up in AP Bio, if I remember correctly). They could also just memorize the Henderson-Hasselbach equation and just use that. :) Before taking honours bio, a first course in chem would probably be useful to the student Again, also, I know I've missed a ton of resources. Please chime in with anything that I've missed or post your reviews or thoughts on any of the curricula. I'll take up the first five posts of this thread - post #2 should be for Reg Bio, post #3 should be for Honours Bio, post #4 should be for AP Bio, and post #5 for other resources. (You may notice these lists look veeeeerrrrrrrrry similar to my chem lists. :) Most of the companies selling homeschool high school chem courses also sell bio courses. I used my chem lists to create the bio lists and then just tweaked, added, or removed info as necessary. Because chemists are lazy. Uh huh. :D)

I have a soon-to-be 14 year old ds who will be staring HS in the fall. I'm starting the planning process for what curriculum and materials we'll use and trying to also look at the big picture of all 4 years. I'm a bit confused on the History/Social Studies part. According to the ncdnpe site, it says there needs to be 4 credits for history/ss - 1 world, 2 us, and 1 civ & eco. I haven't found any publishers offering 2 US history courses. It says that these are the "minimum requirements for graduation from a North Carolina public high school" Do I have to adhere to this since I'm not a public hs or can I I sub in a geography or other social science like psychology, anthropology, etc.?

My son, 10th grade, is currently in Traditional Logic 1 w/MPA. Looking at Memoria Press Academy's schedule for next year, there is only one unattractive fall option for TLII (time-wise) and several good options for spring. But, Material Logic has a good time offer for the fall. It's not a big deal about taking ML in-between TLI and TLII, is there? Thanks, Rachel

I am trying to decide between these three different U.S. History online classes from: Memoria Press, The Potter's School, and Well Trained Mind Academy. I would really appreciate it if any who have experience with these gives me feedback. I'm interested in knowing: 1. amount of reading per week 2. amt. of writing per week 3. View of America: a. Traditional, but balanced (aka Larry Schweikart-Patriot's History) b. Progressive (aka Zinn). 4. Teaching style 5. Very discussion-oriented? My son would enjoy one that has an emphasis on discussion and philosophical/sociological movements in history 6. Not too much religiosity (even though we are a family of faith, he doesn't like it in everything, but where relevant) Please share any additional opinions you'd like to and don't be limited to my questions, only, regarding information. Thanks, Rachel

Does anyone have any good ideas on some really good science curriculum or living books or even, heaven forbid, a boring text book with which my 17 can peruse in order to prepare for the ACT? We have already done all of the Master Books and we have apologia books as well. Still, the practice ACT tests are throwing her off. We would really appreciate any and all suggestions as she is getting frustrated in the area of science. Thanks, momto12

Hello, I was wondering what types of internships some of you may be looking into for this coming Summer? Or if your kids have done them before, what was your experience? Was it worth it and would you do it again if the opportunity presented itself? Our son is 16 and has applied to his first internship. We sort of stumbled upon this through a friend. Its through the Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) which is sponsored by the Navy. The application process was pretty formal. Apparently its very competitive with many more applicants than there are openings. So while hopeful, we will continue to explore other opportunities until we hear back. Our son interviewed with the researchers today who met with all the applicants (~70) that made the first cut. This will be held at the Naval Post Graduate School (NPS) which isn't far from us. They ask that the students live within driving distance of their various facilities. Though it seemed some were applying from outside the area after speaking with some of the parents. We would prefer to find local opportunities since this will be our son's first real job. We've heard that some of the students who don't get a slot find volunteer opportunities to work on research or other projects at the university. If you are considering internships, would you also consider some outside your immediate area? I haven't really discovered any others locally yet. But I still have more research to do.

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Hello, Can anyone share information about homeschooling groups (mainly focused on academics) in the Silicon Valley area? I'm looking for a cooperative group where dedicated parents prepare and teach lessons to the group at weekly meetings. Does anything like this exist in that area? Also, any suggestions on housing areas to seek or avoid on a limited budget? Thanks!

Hey everyone! I need help. I've been perusing these forums since '13 & this is my first post. I've been homeschooling for 6 years, but have just recently read TWTM. Omg. I wish I had done that 6 yrs ago, it would've changed everything. I have been eclectic, using several of the curriculum mentioned across the forum & wanted terribly to tackle subjects like Latin & logic, not really realizing I was running parallel in my curriculum choices. Now that I've decided to jump all in, I'm not quite sure how to transition my upcoming 9th & 10th graders into TWTM method for history & lit when it's so different than what they know. I'm worried about transitioning into rhetoric (in general) without the foundation of grammar & logic, especially. This year we did Notgrass History, combining the history, lit & Bible. We love the primary documents, but there's no study of lit analysis. My gifted/ADHD 10th grader enjoys the reading & answering the questions, hates the projects. This doesn't bother me too much b/c he enjoys the writing, too. My 9th grader has worked through dysgraphia (still working), possibly dyslexia (at least the symptoms, but they're gone now) & hoooorid spelling. He is so bright, probably gifted as well. He did the lower level Notgrass this year, but pigs will fly before he will do all that writing in the upper level Notgrass. I've looked at SWB history books online, they don't seem like an option at all (tho they do love to read), but I looove the idea of the chronological history study. I have an upcoming 1st & 5th grader I intend to take through SOTW 1 & would love to have my 9th grader start with Ancients as well. My 10th grader could do Medieval. I've read about every history thread I could find, but really don't know where to start. Any advice on transitioning into classical/ WTM in general during rhetoric is coveted as well. TIA!!

I'm teaching a high school class for the first time. For those of you who have taught high school at a co-op, do you have a specific format for grade reports? OR if your students have just taken a class at co-op -- what information do you typically receive? I'm trying to come up with a format that would be helpful but not overly detailed. I do have a course syllabus with a detailed course description and grade breakdown (% for each component). However, I curved quite a bit in the course, and gave extra credit. So I'm wondering how to report grades now. Any help/suggestions would be much welcomed.

Hi! I'm looking for suggestions. My DD is a rising 4th grader, but asynchronous in language arts (not mathematics). She enjoys classical education Well-Trained Mind style for its language-centered focus. Looking forward to middle school and then high school, I'm wondering how I customize a middle/high school pathway that would showcase her language arts talents? If she was talented in mathematics, it would be easier, I think -- algebra earlier, and then follow some variation on the typical sequence. But I'm having trouble thinking about something similar for language arts. It's very clear that a student has completed Calculus, for example, but how does one show an equivalent level of accomplishment in the language arts? What goals am I aiming for here? I feel as though the destination is out of focus, and if I don't know at least what continent to paddle towards, we'll end up in the South Pacific Garbage Patch. :) MCT just doesn't speak to me, but I'll give it another look. Suggestions? (cross-posted)

I'm very thankful for WTMF community! I'm seeking wisdom from parents of any 2E kids who have experience with this scenario: 1) DS (or DD) homeschooling through high school to college; 2) highly gifted, loves learning, willing to work hard; 3) but is "low energy" (like many Aspie/ASD), needs plenty of down time alone; 4) considering pursuit of admission to top tier STEM colleges; 5) is very capable of the LEVEL of work that requires, but parents have doubts about ability to handle QUANTITY needed to be a competitive applicant; 6) Christian (student and parents). Ultimate goal is to most glorify God and benefit man, by best use of God's gifts. Specifics - DS finishing 10th grade. 11th grade is "make or break" year if he's going to load up on dual-enrollment, AP, etc. Given 3-4 subjects, he could handle all of them at a high level - math, science, writing, reading, foreign language - literally anything. His only time-consuming extracurriculars are Boy Scouts (starting Eagle project this summer), church service and youth group. He's not a kid with a spectacular "hook". Stellar academics and test scores, his ability to write quality essay answers on apps, and just being a good kid that adults really enjoy are his strengths. DS and I had a conversation about "big fish in small pond" at college, garnering more attention, opportunities, professor relationships, etc., vs. being around more resources and people as smart or smarter than himself at a top-flight place. He wants the latter. Dilemma: he will be happier the next 2 years if we don't press his curriculum too hard, meaning no more than 2 DE or AP classes at a time. I think he'll be happier long term (college and career) if we push him beyond his comfort zone for 2 years. He's not lazy, and doesn't have a traditional learning disability (he can read, write, type, etc. quite quickly); he's just inefficient and has a true neurological need for more down time than most. Our counselor believes DS is on the autism spectrum (though no formal diagnosis), but it's a close call. Any experience to share? Wish you had pushed a little more or less? Did he/she land in a college that is/was too easy or too challenging? If you did push, what effect did it have on your home? And one more thing - did you have DS/DD report to Student Services on campus for any "disability" assistance? We're starting to feel like we're obsessing/idolizing these issues. Once 11th grade starts, we won't have much room to course-correct.

Looking ahead to start planning for high school - We hope to follow the WTM plan for combining History and Literature. In TWTM (2009), it says to make a realistic assessment of how many books the student will be able to cover, and then choose 8, or 12, or 18. Of course this will vary depending on the student's reading skills and length/difficulty of the books read. But how to choose which will make up the book list? The shortest, so you can read more? Whatever looks interesting? A sampling from different time periods? Without being familiar with many of these books, we are not sure what to use as a deciding factor. Also, anyone who has followed this plan - any thoughts, suggestions, things you wish you'd done differently or that worked well? Thanks for your help!

It's been awhile since my last visit. I'm hoping that my past involvement in the boards earns me a bit of consideration for my crisis. I need practical advice and being an introvert who recently moved, real life input is limited. We have been homeschoolers for 8+ years. Two of our children (12) & (15) will be homeschooled next year. For the first time, I'm considering joining an academic co-op. The curriculum seems fine. It's not what we've used but it's solid, reputable curriculum. It's one day of class covering history, language arts, science and an elective. Following co-op day there are four days of assignments to prepare for the next class. Assignment are turned in and graded. My children are academically able to do the work. We've just recently moved so meeting people would help us all feel more anchored in our new area. That being said, I'm feeling hesitant about turning over my control and freedom to a co-op. I'm swinging back and forth like pendulum about this and need a dose of perspective from some who have btdt. What says the hive?

My plan for 9th grade is to do biology over the summer then a second science elective during the year. DS likes working with his hands. He does origami, grows plants, knits, build balsa wood towers and wind turbines. He is also the kid who doesn't get scared off by the physics events in Science Olympiad. What fun or interesting ideas so people have. Links to specific curriculum would be great. Eta: Even if you don't know a specific curriculum but have ideas of areas to study that would be great.

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Let me start this out by saying, please be kind in your comments. I want to hear your opinions, but this is a super sensitive topic for me right now. I am going to to be very vulnerable and share kind of the "whole big picture". We adopted our daughter when she was eight years old through the foster care system. She was born premature ( does that play into learning disabilities?), she was severely neglected the first 5 years of her life, also head trauma at the age of 3 (car accident with no seat belt), tossed around in foster care for 3 years, diagnosed with a speech disorder while in foster care ( went through 2 years of speech therapy), and failed Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade in the public school system. We adopted her at the end of her 2nd grade year. I urged for them to hold her back because she could not even add 2+2=4, but they refused because of her height. (Crazy, right?) That is where our homeschool journey began. She is now 16 years old and we have been homeschooling the past 7.5 years. We had further testing done over the years and she has diagnosis of Dyslexia, Auditory Processing Disorder, and a general Processing Disorder along with Anxiety and ADD. She also had a low IQ score when she was first placed in foster care and her report says she would never read above a 2nd grade level. Thankfully, I didn't have time to read that report when we first adopted her, because I had also just had a baby. So while those papers sat in a box in the closet, I embarked on a mission to homeschool her. Her vocabulary is not up to high school standards but her ability to read is, so she lacks in comprehension of some high school text even though she can pronounce the words. Teaching Textbooks Math has been the best math program for her, she is passing Algebra 1 with a B right now. She loves Guest Hollow Biology because it is very visual and the lady has a good sense of humor in her text. I am at a loss on what to expect from her for Language Arts and History. For language arts she is currently doing Fix It Grammar from IEW, SWB Writing with Skill ( I know this is considered logic level, but it is where she is at), Spelling Power, and reading from a book of her choice for 1 hour a day. For History she listens in on her younger brothers SOTW and we have been trying to match it as closely as possible with HOTW for her. She does NOT do well on the comprehension questions or essays that go along with HOTW. We also tried Notgrass History, which she didn't mind, but also scored poorly on the comprehension questions. She actually does do well if I ask her to just write a paper on what she read that week in History. Would you suggest switching curriculums, allowing her to just read HOTW and write a weekly paper, or beef us SOTW for her in some way? And back to language arts....what else should I be expecting out of her for high school level English? I am a literature lover and she is NOT! I still feel like there should be a high school level book assigned once a month and discussed. Is this expecting too much of her? Do I cut out the 1 hour of free reading to accommodate for the required high school level reading? Will that kill any love for reading she has? I will be the first to admit I have pushed her hard over the years. Not in a mean way, but wanting her to realize she is capable of more than what she thinks she is because of her learning disabilities. She has no desire to go to college at this point, even though she has briefly brought it up in the past. She also has no idea what she wants to do with her life after graduating. Is that normal? Like not a clue. My boys are 8 and 14 and are always dreaming of future careers of being an engineer, zoologist/marine biologist. She does have a natural talent for writing fiction. I have tried so many times to harness that and help her grow in that area. Despite her dyslexia causing spelling and grammar errors, her story telling is phenomenal. However, when I try to key in on that and offer one of her high school electives to be a Creative Writing class....she shuts down and all of the sudden hates writing. If I make it a part of school, she no longer finds joy in it. I am stumped by this, because the boys love for me to incorporate their passions in with their school assignments. Sorry for the long book, but I really need help in knowing how much I should be expecting of her and where I need to just let it go. Thank you ladies so much for your time and wisdom.

I am reading the whole Little House Series to my kids and we are now in the middle of Little Town on the Prairie. I am astounded at the work that Laura is doing as a 15 year old! "Everyone" has the Declaration of Independence entirely memorized. At the school exhibition, Laura and the others did incredible math sums in their heads (like 2689 divided by 16), they parsed and diagrammed sentences verbally, and Laura recited half the history of the United States from memory. Is there middle school/high school curriculum that channels that 19th century method? I would love for my kids (now 9 and under) to work toward that level of mental dexterity and understanding. Is the curriculum Laura's teacher followed written down anywhere or has someone compiled it? How did we lose this??

If anyone is using Crewton Ramone's House of Math website for high school could you please let me know if I need to purchase a textbook of some sort or are there plenty of practice problems online to practice the methodology with? I think that the website covers trig and pre calc. if not all the way through calc. please correct me if I am wrong. Oh, and does he tend to have a sale at any particular time of year? Thanks!!! Debbie

I am interested in using Runkle's World Geography then BJU's Cultural for high school; I have the RWG schedule provided at Core Foundations ( thank you!) My questions are: 1) Can I use my Knowledge Quest and/or Uncle Josh's instead of buying the mapping workbook? Seems superfluous considering I have these cds 2) Is it correct to assume that Rnkle's wold be 1/2 credit and then BJU's 1 full-credit under the category: World geography? That's all I can think of currently; I appreciate your input! Thanks, Rachel