I'd really try for this, if you can. My daughter took one class and can't wait to take more next semester. She's far more motivated to work for someone else, and by that, I don't mean a high school teacher. College classes can provide her with peers who think like she does. She can also see what's expected of a college student.

How about "Raising the Hunley." It's a true story about raising a Civil War submarine from the bottom of the ocean. Nonfiction and riveting.

For the musicians: Reeds, guitar strings, rosin For the beauticians: lip gloss, inexpensive makeup from Dollar General, new comb and brush For the magicians: deck of cards with tricks downloaded from the net For the budding politicians: subscription to a newsmagazine they'd like OK, I'm done rhyming: For Wiccans: a calendar with all celebrations marked. New Age enthusiasts: Tarot cards, rune stones For scribes: Quill, ink and parchment, wax and seal Movie mavens: Gift card for tickets Food fanatics: cute utensils (try Target), spices, unusual ingredients Coffee and hot drink lover: International House coffees, various teas, hot chocolate

I admire your spouse for trying so hard.

With absolutely no offense to the poster, I think these parents are looking for any attention they can get and we're giving it to them. I say we should end it now. Those kids are going to bear the brunt of their parents' foolishness.

Found a jeeves and wooster CD on ebay for a mere 120 pounds, about 170.00 US. Yikes.

This gives me something to go. I'd like to put the music in its historical context, something a lot of books don't do. But you've given me something to start with.

Why am I so delighted with this score?

I'm looking for sources for early 20th century American music such as swing and jazz. Would also like blues, country and rock with all of it in the same book. Impossible? Then I'll take suggestions on separate books. I'd like to complement my daughter's American history reading with readings (and recordings) on music and art of the modern period. She doesn't have time for separate art and music courses this year. Don't you love the catchy intro tune to "Jeeves and Wooster?" It's simply infectious.

Everyone else has given you great advice. All I can say is you will laugh about this later. And let's face it - at least your child knows his parents "get along together." But if you don't mind, I'll laugh now. And then I'll wait for it to happen to me. Also - have you ever thought of doing some writing yourself? Your post had an Erma Bombeck quality to it.

I've read a few reviews that are favorable. He's not on my list of favorite presidents (Trail of Tears and all), but I will at least skim a few chapters when our library gets it. He led an interesting life.

This is very useful to me. Math isn't my strong point, so I want to make sure we're doing the right thing. We spend about an hour a day, five days per week on math, not including some evening math assignments that are really reinforcement drills. A used TT program that I could get rather inexpensively might be good, too. You know, I don't worry about anything other than math. Thanks for your help. Pam

You said on another post that your 8th grader is doing algebra and geometry at the same time. Geometry will take two years to finish. Is your child a math whiz or could a child with reasonable math skills do this? My daughter is getting better at math, but she had to do pre-algebra as a freshman (no credit for that). She's now a sophmore doing algebra and finally appears to be getting it. The trouble is, she won't have two years of algebra and geometry before taking the ACT. Do you think she could do algebra 2 and geo together, or could I start geo next semester to go along with the algebra? Or would this be too much for a child with just reasonable math skills? I intended to get both of my kids a tutor just to reinforce everything. We're currently using Life of Fred as well as supplemental materials from other books and the Web. I read before that your family doesn't consider LOF as adequate, but it seems to be working for my kids where a lot of other stuff doesn't. I also have to keep costs in mind. I can't really afford an expensive math program. Thanks for any advice you can give. I'll check back later. Pam

What good advice from Sunshine. Her advice reinforces what I know I need to do with my teens.

Well, that's what's great about America. We can agree to disagree.

Mine are 15 and 13. The 13-year-old always wanted to draw his own stuff. Fortunately, his teachers allowed it. My 15-year-old had more old-fashioned teachers who insisted on silly coloring projects. Now she hates to draw. I agree with everyone who said to let him do his own thing. Another thought: Maybe crayons aren't his medium. Perhaps he'd like watercolors or markers.

I'm not sure I'd characterize Howard Zinn's work as victimology. Most American history textbooks (and I've examined a number of them) either don't mention, gloss over or simply give a line or two to some terrible things that happened in our country. Why ignore them? I'm talking about child labor, deadly labor strikes, unimaginable poverty, 14-hour mandatory work days, lynchings, etc. What's needed is balance. We have plenty to be proud of in this nation. I believe we are a democratic experiment, that despite some very serious problems along the way, that has succeeded beyond the Founding Fathers' wildest dreams. But we also need to know and understand the problems. For American and world history, we use Zinn, Page Smith, Spielvogel, and a variety of other sources. I don't see any value in studying only one side of our great American story.

Some of you might be interested in a book I'm reading called "The Dumbest Generation." It discusses the topics you're speaking of, but especially addresses the "gotta have it or I'll die" attitude and the lack of learning that actually goes on in high schools and on college campuses. As the poster who talked about American history, you're right on the button according to this book. According to the author, kids today have unprecedented educational opportunities but they don't take advantage of them. Nor do their parents and teachers push them to do it. The kids don't read much and they don't see any reason to read. I work in a newsroom, however, and none of my young colleagues are like the kids described in the book. But then again, journalism tends to attract people who like to read about a wide variety of topics, who are politically active, etc. I know I'm rambling, but I encourage you to see if your library has a copy of this book. It's fascinating reading.

:confused::glare: What an annoying and clueless thing for a small college to say----homeschooled kids have MORE than proven not only are they able---but usually do better in college than PS counterparts! I consider statements like this to be a setback for the homeschool community----and certainly NO offense to you Pam :) I didn't consider the comment annoying or clueless. Many colleges still don't accept a lot of homeschoolers. I don't have facts and figures in front of me, so I hope no one will ask. The Austin admissions counselor said the classes simply bolster the homeschooled kid's application. But he also said any homeschooled student is considered for entrance whether she's had any college classes or not. He liked my daughter and has written to her several times since we had our visit. I can see where some people would find this annoying. But if it were up to me, I'd be impressed with any application that contained college-level courses already taken whether the applicant was homeschooled or not. I'm also sure I didn't set the quote up correctly. I hope this doesn't come across looking weird.

Next year my kids will be using "Short Lessons in Art History." There are two books in the set and they contain readings as well as projects and writing assignments. Interweave those with a big art book and some field trips as mentioned by other posters, and that should make a well-rounded course. "Short Lessons" are available at Rainbow Resource.

First, it gives my daughter the opportunity to take college classes while she's still under my supervision. I can help her get organized if necessary, talk to teachers with her, and ultimately, turn her loose. Second, the small colleges I've talked to want homeschooled kids to have college experience just to prove they can do it. And they don't care how you count the credits. Austin College in Sherman, Texas, (a great little place) told us they could look at her credits and probably accept a lot of them, or we could count them as all high school credits and start her off as a freshman. Thirdly, it gives my daughter confidence. She's taking a beginning French course right now and has learned how to follow a syllabus, get her homework done and study for tests administered by someone other than her mother. Hard to put a price on that. Pam

For any Michigan homeschoolers Michigan bill would expand students’ math options Eds: APNewsNow. LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan soon could expand its options for meeting the math requirements needed for high school graduation. The state House on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill that would allow a financial literacy course to count as an option toward meeting graduation requirements. The bill already has passed the Senate and will be returned to that chamber before being forwarded to Gov. Jennifer Granholm for her consideration. The bill also would allow students to complete Algebra II over a two-year period with each year counting as a credit. Michigan’s high school graduation requirements start with the graduating class of 2011. Four math credits are among the several requirements students must meet to get a diploma.

BBC magazines now has a publication called Knowledge. It's full of interesting historical snippets about all kinds of subjects. They've only published 2 issues so far and we have them both. They might have way you can see an issue online, but I don't have a link.

That's my favorite magazine and my kids love it, too. What about Utne Reader? The articles are longer but they are excellent and thought-provoking. I don't know of any other magazine that has short, colorful snippets like Mental_Floss. It's the best.

Our problem isn't computers, it's not being able to visit the library between 2:30 and 6 p.m. That's when the nearby middle school students take the place over. Parents around here use the library as a babysitting service and the place is loud, loud, loud. The librarians try hard to contain the noise, but they don't always succeed. A question: Why do you let your kids use the computers if you dislike them so much? Computers and classical education aren't mutually exclusive. We can educate our children deeply and thoughtfully without eschewing technology altogether. However, if your kids are very young, I would limit their computer time to perhaps 20 minutes per day. I agree that you shouldn't discount your library completely because of computers. Many people who use library computers don't have access to one otherwise. That's why I'm glad my library has a lot of them. Good luck, whatever you decide to do and please keep us posted. Perhaps your library will reconfigure their computer areas based on your input.