Thanks for the replies. I think I'm going to search out a Solutions Manual. Thanks, Trenna

Thanks. Do you have the Solutions Manual, and if so, is it more useful than just having the answers in the teacher's manual?

If I am going to use Jacobs Elementary Algebra for Alg 1 - what do I need to get besides the text book? I see that there is a TM and a Solutions Manual - which would you recommend, or do I need both? Thanks, Trenna

Thanks for sharing these things. I'm glad to have the LAOW workbook - thanks for your hard work.

I will be praying, both today and in the days to come. I've seen many PICC lines placed and people seem to tolerate it without too much discomfort at all. They usually use a local anaesthetic to your arm and it is usually a pretty quick procedure.

I have similar concerns. My dds just do the ballet classes and so far have not had to wear anything I'm uncomfortable with. The problem comes at the recital. My girl's costumes and dances are fine but some of the other classes dances have me squirming. I just can not see how anyone (parents that is) can enjoy watching young girls dancing in suggestive ways. In fact, my dad isn't going to my dds recital this year because the older girls jazz dance last year was just too much. I don't know what the answer is, other than not taking part at all, which I hate to do as my dd12 just loves ballet and it is really good for her. The year that the recital theme was Michael Jackson music, we didn't take part. That was going too far for me.

Thanks for the further suggestions. I think I'm going to use the Dolciani for our summer pre-alg. Don't know about going on to use it for Alg 1 because of getting hold of solutions manuals and not having the backup of DVD/CD if we need it. A math teacher at the CC where my dh teaches suggested using a text from the 1960s as being better than a modern one. I'll look more closely at BCM to get more of an idea about style. The thing I have noticed about it so far, when looking up a subject we were studying in SM 5b, was that the material in 5b was harder than what was covered in BCM. I don't want to overwhelm dd, but if she does Alg1 in 7th, then she will be doing harder stuff in the last years of HS and I want her to be well prepared for this. Is Jacobs much less rigorous than Foerster? And then, therefore, if it is will she be as well prepared with Jacobs. These are the ?s still swirling around in my head. I read quite a few recommendations for Foerster over on the HS board and I have read a lot of recommendations for Jacobs. Thanks Trenna

I think the thing I was wondering about Foerster was if it would be too rigorous given our situation. But then again, the rigorousness of it is appealing.I'd really like her to get a thorough grounding. I'll have to check out the High School Board as suggested. I really like the sound of AOPS, and I can see that it could give a good, deep understanding of math. Dd12 is quite a perfectionist so would probably have some trouble tolerating frustration. I'm going to keep it in mind for dd8 as I think her personality may well be more suited to it in some ways.

Thanks for the suggestions and links. It seems like maybe Foersters is not so popular, the MM site gave it a glowing review, so it would be interesting to know why others might not choose it. Trenna

DD seems to prefer using books rather than computer or dvd, although she does ok with Khan Academy.

Thanks for these suggestions. I wondered about Jacobs and will have to have a close look. I've been reading the AOPS threads with interest but have the impression that you kind of have to "love" math to do it. She picks things up quickly but I don't think she'd be described as real "mathy". Trenna

Thanks, I'll look at that. Also good idea about doing the tests and moving through the pre-alg stuff that way. Trenna

I have been reading and reading the Algebra threads but still feel like I need some help, so sorry for yet another Algebra thread. Background - My dd12 has been homeschooled since 4th Gr - before was in PS. We have used SM 3A - 5B, some MEP, and LOF Fractions. She has also been working through the Khan Academy sequence. She always does well at math but does not love it. She did the Explore test this year and scored quite well on the math section. I was going to do a year of pre-algebra and then do Alg 1 in 8th, but she really, really wants to start Algebra this next year in 7th. My dh thinks we should go with her enthusiasm and go for it. If we do so, we will spend the summer covering pre-algebra as much as possible. I have a Dolciani pre-alg book and also BCM. If we need to, we could also take 2 years to do Alg 1. So --- Which text to choose?? I keep going back and forth. We are on a fairly limited budget. I read the reviews done by MM author and she seems to really recommend Foerster, but I was wondering if that would be too hard. I probably wouldn't buy the DVD avail. at first, but maybe could if we ran into difficulties. I should add that my dh is good at math and could help us out a bit. I have been interested in Dolciani, but am worried about getting the books necessary, as it is older. If you could tell me which text you would recommend in our circumstances, and books needed for that choice ( TM, Student bk etc), that would be wonderfully helpful to me. Thanks, Trenna

It's really interesting reading this and seeing the process in action. I'm really enjoying it and learning a lot!

I say - Good for you. I can well imagine organizing something like that when I was that age. Sounds like a fairly harmless prank to me. Also, I can completely understand rebelling about those tests, at least they're taking the test for the school.

This is probably a somewhat grumpy reply but if someone has enough time and energy to be worrying about Berenstein Bear books then I hope they realize just how lucky they are to have that much spare time and energy. I would imagine a diet of just one kind of book would not be great for anyone but my kids have been read and read all kinds of books (and yes, I do vet them but never to this extent). I honestly feel like now I have heard it all. This forum never fails to amaze. :lol:

He is risen, indeed!

I would be interested to hear what other countries do about strep - from my experience North Americans treat it much more than some other countries. In England, for instance, they very rarely seemed to do throat cultures at all.

Not sure about the safety or otherwise of sunscreen - but I don't understand how you can read the initial article about Melanoma and leap off to blaming sunscreen.:confused: If anything, the article seemed to implicate tanning beds.

I would be very interested in hearing about some of the amazing things your kids have done. I find it very interesting but difficult to visualize in a practical way. I would love to read about some examples if you have the time. Thanks, Trenna

Just wondering - what were her reasons for not testing? or rather for thinking you shouldn't get him tested?

We are a few weeks behind you in WWS but I'm planning on showing your son's description to dd11 when we get to that section. It is very interesting and informative to read how you go about the lessons. I'm going to try and incorporate some of the things you mentioned, as I think we will get a lot more out of the lessons if we do. ETA - I showed your ds's description to my husband when I was reading it and he thought it was very good and then he said "What a fantastic childhood those kids are having." Trenna

What a great description! You really get a sense of knowing what his brother is like. I think it is really, really good.

My dd took it in December. This was her second time taking it. Last year, the thing she found different was the time limit. She knew she had 1 minute per question and I think this freaked her out a bit. This year she was prepared for this and less freaked out by it. There is no penalty for guessing, so she should answer each ? even if guessing. I also told my dd that she may not have seen some of the math before and not to worry, it is written as an 8th gr exam I think.

We are too! More good luck than good judgement on my part but pleased to read this seems like a good combination. Thanks for sharing all this good information Ruth. Trenna