Our state will not allow you to count high school credits in middle school for anything other than foriegn language and math. Obviously, if you have a stem kiddo, she is going to go on and do more science. More than likely do a few AP's in there too. We are getting passed the stipulation with AP tests. If he scores well enough, they cannot discount the courses. He still will have to take some science in high school, but it is far more open. Test scores can be your friend if they do not freak your student out.

We were going to do Lukeion history or lit run next year, but Ds was feeling like it might be too much. He is taking second year Latin and Writing and Composition next year for sure. He took grammar through them this year. We will see how he feels as time moves on for Greeks and Romans or for literature. The descriptions list a fairly significant time commitment (1.5 hours) for the classes. He has asked for lit to no longer be tied to history (though he is going to free read it, so I do not understand this). He wants to study various classic lit selections, but not necessarily all from one time period. He really likes fictional parodies of myth or classic stories. He really likes the freedom of Great Courses Plus for history. He can watch art, literature, travel, history, language, all about a part of the world or a time period. It is no pressure and dense content. He then writes up papers of various areas on interest. Languages are a big one over here. Currently it is Latin, Spanish, French. He dropped Greek and Japanese after spending a year on each. If I had infinite money, I would either travel around the world, pay for fancy language camps, or hire language tutors. Music is also very important to Ds. He is in performance piano now, and wants to begin violin in the next year or so. He takes a separate class with his instructor on musical history and theory. Honestly, if I could do it over again, I would have started these much earlier. Biblical study has helped Ds understand so much from his literature. Things like recognizing the story of Genesis and Cain and Abel references through out Mice and Men. Doing the Bible as literature or comparative religion has proven to be immensely beneficial. So many of the world faiths have extremely similar mythology. Geography has also done a lot more than I anticipated. Knowing both physical and cultural geography has really given Ds a lot more depth to his reading and analysis of literature. I really wish we could spend four months, every other year traveling to various historical places around the globe.

We skipped the Daulaire's and went directly to Bulfinch's Mythology. Nathaniel Hawthorne's Wonder Book and the Tangelwood Tales were also favorites. Around 7, my humanities kid became obsessed with Ancient mythology, culture, and languages. He has never moved on (12 now). He writes papers entited "Feminism in the Epic of Gilgamesh: Strong Females in a Patriarchical Society" or "Ancient History Repeats Itself: Climate Crisis and the Fall of the Assyrian Empire" or "Oligarchy As the Downfall of Egypts' New Kingdom." It all started with Percy. Let her obsess and just strew quality materials everywhere. You can only obsess for so long before you branch to keep the obsession going.

My 12 year old would find it HYSTERICAL to ask non French speakers to sleep with him. If they understood, he would me mortified with humiliation! But if they didn't, a mess of giggles.

Butting in is very appreciated! I know a bit at this point about language learning methodology, grammar for linguistics, an a lot of theory, but know virtually nothing about the specific languages themselves. Ds has agreed to doing one year himself to see if he actually wants to study the language or not. We have a friend who does translation for governments and travels internationally six months a year for missionary work. He is going to do the tutoring/pronunciation/question answering. After a year, we are going to re-evaluate. I am fairly sure he is going to want to continue. At that point he can see if he is going to want to enroll in an online class (if I can find one that is fairly rigorous) or if he will do another year at home before starting online classes. First Start was going to last very little time. It looks cute and simple (which I think he likes initially). I'll check out Galore Park and see if that will hold him longer. It definitely sounds like it. This child is weirdly good at translation, so the CLE books might be very helpful once his vocabulary picks up enough that he can get a good run at it. I have heard about French in Action. I'll see if he is interested in the CLE books or French in Action more. Having options is always preferable for this kid. Have either of you discovered an online class that is similar to the level of Lukeion only for French?

Honestly, if the charter looked at the problems at all they moght have increased the grade because the work is so far above and beyond what is normally done in most math classes. A C in super rigorous class is equivalent to an A in hum drum, low level class. Ask questions, but recognize that unless it is printed out as AoPS Class Title, they are probably changing it to reflect the actual quality of what was learned.

We had this problem. I had to start asking myself the same question, "What if it wasn't digital?" Screens have been an easy way for my son to develop avoidence habits. That is the only negative we have found. He will do school in bed or in his pajamas all day long because it is easier with a screen to just not get up. I definitely do not like that part. I honestly think it took longer for him to develop some of those personal life habits (get up, shower, comb hair & teeth; make lunch, clean up, eat, brush teeth; reasonable bedtime, get washed, brushed, ready for bed) because he could digitally zone until I got overly frustrated. He has found a groove now, but I had to push a lot. In general, he has become more resourceful, discovered more interesting subjects, and developed more creative thinking when using digital school than with only books and occasional movies.

Great job. Even if you cave, which is not saying you will, you should, you shouldn't or any of that, just if you do, know you have already achieved a large victory. You stood up for yourself. You are not giving her power over tuo even in her absence. You can acknowledge you are freer. All such positive and difficult things. Way to go! No matter what happens, that is serious victory!

I do not like reading from an iPad. I am old. I openly admit this appears to be a generation gap. Ds has no issues unless it is a much longer book (novel.) iPad schooling has greatly reduced clutter and increased engagement in our house. I am personally all for it in many arenas of life. Just not *my* books :)

I would check on language, particularly things that would now be considered racially or socially insensative. I have a feeling that the founding history if Texas has not changed a whole lot. The only other part that might be different is the level of Nationalism and rah! rah! America. That sort of stuff drives me personally crazy. With the social movements happening in America at that time period, it might be pretty thick.

I have a question about how to re-rail a thread (or conversation for that matter) once it has become apparent that it is sliding into the blinking red light territory. How does one get the focus away from aggression, name calling, personal attack, feeling defensive, and back to a place where people are actually making progress with discussion? Maybe this is not possible. I am personally terrible at it. Often, I say something and it turns out I worded it wrong. It normally blindsides me. Any others out there gifted at smoothing the waters once dullards like me get things all murky?

Yep. It is considered history. Essentially modern history. It is a required course around here.

My husband's high school calls it "Contemporary World Problems" or "Current Social Global Impacts" They have two tracks. Contemporary World Problems is a much denser course that covers history to understand what is going on. CSGI is just current event discussion and debate.

Lukeion's Latin 3 requires three(iirc?) analytical grammar essays. It is a major part of the class. They focus on intensive translation and AP Latin prep. You could enroll her for 7th so she can practice.

If you go to the mall, you will find jewelry she is most thinking of and she will probably get a whole little kit to feel very adult. My don go to put on a wizard hat, they took pictures, there was the picking out of the jewelry. It was a whole thing. When you go to a professional piercest, they are used to adults. It is short, sweet, to the point and a million times more expensive.