Did you use just the phonics/reading portion? Wondering about writing also. What do you mean 'forced vocaularly'?

They're coming to our area & had been planning on doing their K, but just wondering if there are any downsides. Looking for others opinions/experiences.

We've been homeschooling for just a few years, and have never done kindergarten before. I'll have a 10th & 8th who are more self-sufficient, a 4th who requires LOTS of assistance. Any suggestions for a curriculum that would give me confidence & not be ultra time consuming? DD who will be in kindergarten was adopted, just brought her home last May. To date, I'm not her favorite person & I'd like to minimize conflict. Hopefully that makes sense!

THANK YOU!! That's exactly the info I needed to help us.

How do you know what curriculum to use that will prepare a student for an AP exam? Are there any tips out there? We're trying to plan out the last 3 years of high school for my dd & it's making me nuts. Struggling with feeling confident about choices, second guessing everything.

I've been reading on the college board that they recommend if doing dual credit classes at college, to do them junior year so when applying to college it will be documented. Anyone have recommendations for specific classes?

Thanks! She did Saxon Algebra 1/2 also, but it was before LOF.

My 7th grade dd, has always been very strong in math. She did Saxon through 7/6, then switched to LOF for fractions, decimals & pre-algebra. She's been working through Algebra I (LOF) this year & it's just gotten really hard, like all of a sudden it doesn't click. I've read on some other posts about brain development that needs to occur. SO... Do we just stop, and try again next year? Any suggestions?

I feel your pain. We own a business with my husband's family, and, even though our actual 'take home' is not very high, because of the business our out of pocket on the FAFSA is sky high. My son scored very well on the ACT, took many AP classes, received the highest merit aid available...and it's STILL looking like he will not be able to attend his first choice school because of what costs have done. At our local, in-state, university, he's an alternate for a scholarship that gives full tuition waiver & stipend. For being an alternate, it's about 1/2 tuition. He was in the merit competition for full tuition waiver at the private school & was not selected. He's filled out MANY 'outside' applications & we haven't heard on those, but still, just a drop in the bucket for the full cost. In the meantime, he's holding out hope for the private school...I'm just waiting for that final financial aid package, that I'm fairly certain will be full of not so good news for him.

Is there any standard as to when these arrive from colleges?

yipee!!! Congrats!!

I had an 'ah ha' moment, when DD received a similar letter from the state university yesterday. He didn't receive the 'major' scholarship (tuition waiver + grant), but is on the list as an alternate if the original recipients do not accept. This interview was local, no travel expenses for us. U also offered him $2K for being an alternate. It was the wording of the letter. The first rejection letter sounded like, well sorry, you just weren't good enough, 'not the news you were hoping for,' as in, you need us more than we need you. The second letter, though similar in nature to the news it was conveying...consider it an honor you made the final pool, very qualified applicant, we still want you, here's what we can offer you. Good reminder to me to be careful of the words I choose!

Ironically, my son did say, in talking to other students, most of them said this college was NOT their first choice, they'd 'wait & see' if they got the scholarship. It's too bad there isn't a way to narrow it to kids who TRULY want to attend that institution. Of all the kids he spoke with, only one other, besides himself, was it truly their first choice. I'm sure the kids didn't announce that in their interviews. We're still waiting on an Honors College that was application / interview, for a local university. I asked DD if they asked him if the U was his first choice, as he is very honest, thankfully, they didn't ask! Will be interesting to see how everything pans out in the end.

My son was in one at SPU. Involved an 18 hours of driving in winter conditions, overnight stay, etc. They invited 50 kids to compete for 5, 4 year full tuition waivers. 'Competition' consisted of series of interviews & monitored round table discussion; students were given the topic ahead of time to prepare. Students could not apply for this, the university chose from applications. We received notification this weekend he did not receive it. Actually left me feeling a bit frustrated with the university. Wish they would tighten their pool, maybe invite 25 for the 5 spaces. It's a lot to put the kids (and parents) through. Many of the kids my son spoke with, were also in similar competitions at other universities. Will be interesting to see how the rest of this financial aid thing pans out.

Toastmasters does have a short speech program for kids. It requires a club willing to sponsor it. One of their members teaches it. A local club did that for a group of our homeschool kids this fall & it was wonderful. It's either 6 or 8 weeks & a great introduction to speech.

5 of your family members...that's horrible!!! It's hard enough going through this with my mom. My mom is also diabetic, which complicates the whole eating thing. After Christmas (Christmas has always been the highlight of her year), she's really been battling depression. Mentioned to my Dad, maybe she should just give up & quit eating. (That's how her favorite aunt died). We keep going. I keep calling to cheer her up. I keep trying to think of new things for her to try to eat. Keep trying to hold my Dad's spirits up. They had a special healing service for my Mom. 3 other people walked out healed, but not my mom. I've struggled with that also. Why some & not others. I know, when she gets to heaven, she won't want to come back, but selfishly, I want her here. Healthy & happy.

We haven't, but a friend's son graduated from West Point. When my eldest was still considering military, we talked to her & she suggested keeping a notebook, starting in 8th grade with EVERYTHING they do in it. Then, when it's time for applications, etc, there'd be no trying to re-create...it would be all in one place.

Thanks for that input. I will look for those things. Last time I went out, I showed my Dad how we make smoothies, and he's been making those. The ensure type drinks/muscle milk really upset her digestive system. We tried the powder kind from GNC as well. I try & make anything I think she'll eat. Made several soups. Her doctor has tried (as have I) to talk her into the feeding tube MANY times, but she still stubbornly says no. She's losing 3 or so pounds a month, believe she's down to 110. She's on the breathing machine at night & on medication to keep her from panicking. Her doctor said for her age (she's 64), 2-1/2 years is the expected survival, but it hits each person differently. It's been 3 years since diagnosis. I know the medical people say I should be thankful; I don't feel thankful...as I'd like my mom around for much longer. Sorry for whining!!

My mom is there. She lives 9 hours away. Been heading out there once a month for a long weekend to help. She's losing the ability to feed herself & swallow. Looking for food ideas that worked. Baked potato soup was a good texture/consistency. (She's strongly opposed to the feeding tube.) My husband & son are heading out this weekend for son's scholarship interview. Want to send some things out with them, and just drawing a complete blank. Any tips, even if they're not related to my specific question, I'd appreciate. Such a difficult journey.

My concern with the Core 400, I've read it's really dry, plus it's supposed to be upper level. I'm concerned about boring her to death, or overloading her. We need a US History credit, so the Core 400 is Am Govt & I've been told it could be used for both. This high school experience is all new for us & I want it to be the best possible. She's done really well with Sonlight, other than, we lack the writing. We've been working to improve that. She works well on her own. For 10th she'll have for sure: German II (Powerglide), Biology (BJU), Algebra II (Lial's), that's as far as I've gotten. If we wanted to do the MFW for US History, which one would you recommend? Have you used either of those? I like it being complete, vs just a guide, sounds like it's like Sonlight in that way. Thanks for your help. Katrina

Brindee, I read lots of your posts & value your input. I've been looking at MWF, but have been having trouble making a final decision. My dd did Sonlight 100 & 300 (8th & 9th grades). We own core 400. Have you used MFW for high school? Thoughts? Katrina

Our state requires a full unit of US History.

DD did Sonlight 100 in 8th grade. Been reading about lots of different options, and as soon as I make up my mind, see a new thread that changes my mind. Is there wisdom in doing US History & Am Lit at the same time?

Does anyone know how Saxon 4 for the classroom compares to the homeschool editions?

Not the ones I've seen, just oxygen sat. rate.