I always used the higher grade level materials and it worked well for us because my son's reading ability and comprehension were high enough that it wasn't a problem. We didn't have a lot of money and we just used whatever books we had, even his sister's college level textbooks for some things. My son likes well written books with high level vocabulary and books that make him think, that he can discuss with me or his dad. We are currently reading the book "Lies My Teacher Told Me." I think this was a book that Austin recommended and when I saw it at the Barnes & Noble I got it. My son complained that I only bought bargain bin books unless someone on the message board recommended them and he wondered if he could PM Austin with a list of books he wanted but couldn't talk me into getting because they were not marked down. He thinks he might have better luck if he can get Austin or someone else on the board to recommend them. I also heard him mutter something about Dave Ramsey when I told him he could only pick out one book. We just can't afford to buy every book he would like to have and I do appreciate the suggestions I have gotten on this board.
My son really likes "Lies My Teacher Told Me--Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong" and it is going to be slow reading because it is provoking a lot of discussion. He and I are both enjoying it.
My son has always liked social studies and I used to wonder if his time would be better spent on more math or something more useful, but my husband and I took him to a few sessions of a video gaming conference at a community college where he was the only kid in the audience. He was able to listen intently without getting bored because he had the necessary background knowledge to understand what the speakers were talking about. He understood the vocabulary they were using and the references to history and economics and even geography when the speaker talked about where a lot of American jobs were going and the need to learn foreign languages if you want to have a better chance of keeping your job. He especially liked the discussion about gaming and free speech and censorship issues.
The only problem, if you can call it a problem, is that your child might talk more like an adult, might not fit in as well with other kids. There are people in my town that think I was wrong for letting my son learn too much above grade level and not trying harder to make him fit in the box. They seem to think I am guilty of contributing to the geekiness of a minor.
I didn't make my son go through math in order and maybe that was a mistake that he will pay for later but so far I don't see any problem. I am always second guessing myself on that one.
