:iagree: File a police report for your and your son's future safety.

I have taught Saxon Math since I home schooled my oldest three in the mid "80's and in private school beginning in 5th grade up to Algebra II. I love the incremental method and the fact that every lesson is a final for what was previously taught. I have said on this forum before that arithmetic and mathematics are one of the disciplines that are learned by repetition by all. Saxon majors in this and I am with the brother mentioned above who is a teacher, I have seen it work for whole classes full of students with very different learning styles. Some don't like all the practice but they all learn it if they correct their mistakes daily. I recommend testing at least 10 lessons behind to give a full two weeks practice before testing. Each test is a comprehenive final, so no real need for quarterly or other final testing. The newer editions all have Dive CD's and in edition 3 each problem has the lesson referenced where the concept was taught. I can't say enough about how thorough the Saxon Math program is. My last two children were taught Saxon from first grade in private school and both have a solid math foundation. The only children who are not successful are the ones who won't do the 30 problems each night and who won't correct the problems that were missed after reteaching. It is a matter of self-discipline to do the program as designed - no short cuts. When teaching in private school, I used the lesson instructions as a teaching text script so my students and their parents always had my exact words written down in the book if the student needed help away from the classroom. The instuction takes approximately 15 minutes each day with review or reteaching being extra.

No one has mentioned "King of the Wind". It is my personal favorite of her books. It is about the beginning of thoroughbred horse line and I believe is historically correct, as all her books are. It is a wonderful adventure story for boys or girls. I would read it at about 5th or 6th grade.

All of Saxon and most other math curricula is review for the first 6 weeks of lessons. If your child is competent in those skills and doesn't need review, do as suggested and do the tests until he hits a place where he needs instruction to continue. Home schooling allows us to use our brains and not be tied to the curriculum. That does't mean there is anything wrong with the curriculum, it just gives us flexibility to know and customize any curriculum to our children. Math is the only discipline you learn by repetition. It takes some students more reps than others. Most of the popular math curricula are designed for traditional classroom instruction where there are multi levels of competence in math, hence the lengthy review in the beginning of each book. It is to bring the class up to speed and hopefully most will be on the same page as far as learning new math. Once you know this, it frees you up to speed through the first 30 Saxon lessons or other math curricula and get on with it. We are in Saxon Algebra II and are finishing lesson 100 this week and will begin doing Geometry every other week because we know we can finish Saxon Algebra II and make a dent in Geometry to have some skills under our belt for the PSAT next October. We did the PSAT this year as a 9th grader for practice and to see where we needed to concentrate our efforts in math, Geometry was our only weak spot. Testing through the first 30 lessons each year has bought us time every year to complete Saxon early and concentrate on projects or subjects we can't zoom through so easily. This knowledge is from my years as a professional educator and an out of the box thinker home schooling my 9th grade grand daughter. Hope this is helpful for someone in the Hive.

:grouphug: ;);) Congrats. I know how you feel. I was just there a few days ago. Still doing the dance of joy.:D

It took 1 1/2 years of stretching, ice packs and shoes with high arch support. I have a coffee table in front of my den couch and any time I would be watching a tv show or dvd, I would stretch the achilles tendon on my foot repeatedly off an on for sometimes an hour. Intermittently, I would put my heel on a dedicated (to heel therapy) frozen bag of peas until it started to thaw. The stretching and the cold from the peas were the secret to the healing and the arch support in the shoes was the next benefit. I started wearing Birkenstock cork/latex insole sandals and cloggs that mold with the heat and preassure of your body to a custom orthotic. I also now have shoes I bought with a similar cork insole at a place in Atlanta called Foot Solutions. They custom fit the shoes you buy from them with a cork insole just for your foot style. I need a good arch support. The shoes I wear from there are leather cloggs and I can replace the cork/latex insole when needed. They are expensive initially but have lasted two years without an insole replacement. I never limp or have to crawl to the bathroom in the middle of the night as before. I have been pain free for over 3 years.:) I also had the foot brace for wearing at night but couldn't get used to it and it tangled in the blanket. You could also use a belt to stretch your foot if you don't have a solid coffee table as I do or stand on steps and let your heels drop down. Start with 5-8 and work up to as many as you can do several times a day with ice (frozen peas) in between. Be patient. It takes time for this injury to heal but it will eventually heal. Don't go barefoot. I am originally a Tennessee Hillbilly so I did go barefoot until this foot injury and have learned my lesson.

I'm a former HS/MS Principal and Elementary Principal in a private christian school. I am a former teacher of grades 5-12. I am also a certifiied educational therapist in private practice, curriculum consultant, and more. I do private therapy and testing in my home therapy station/school room after school hours only. I home school my DGD who is in 9th grade in the mornings and do any therapy in the afternoons. My dh has an engineering physics degree and helps out with the higher math, science, history and when he is away on his job working as a contractor for the USMC, he sometimes uses Skype to teach DGD Geometry and helps out with his love, "Civil War", which we are just completing. I also have four other DGC who are home schooled and occasionally I help my daughter out with them. I will be teaching DGS Latin next year. I home schooled my first 3 children 7-12th grades in the '80's and now get to help home school their children. Guys and gals you never know where the path will lead you as you grow older. Oh I forgot, my first degree was in nursing but only use that one now when needed. :lol: A teacher is never retired just more flexible in where she teaches.:D

Goodwill Industries in the book department, yard sales, grocery store bargain bins, Borders lobby at our store always has mark down books, thrift stores, Well Trained Mind Books for Sale (HERE), and local church/school consignment sales.

There are only two versions of the WJ III. They are A and B and most test administrators don't have both because of the expense. Your child will probably be administered the same questions as before but they may start at a different point because of age and she may get credit for the the questions that were before the starting point but not administered. If she continues to get the WJIII yearly, she actually may become familiar with the questions. I would just assure your child he/she will do fine again this year just like last year. You could read Snow White before the test if it comes up since you know the question was missed and you didn't cover it last year. All in all the WJ III is a good test for determining grade level in all subject areas and a great tool for determining you child's strengths and weaknesses. I would look at that aspect of the scoring and not focus on questions. When I test students every year, I am fortunate to have both levels and I alternate so my students don't become familiar with the testing instrument and invalidate the test. At third grade level, that is probably not a concern but at upper elementary level it can be a concern.

I lost my beloved Fatboy (17 yr old tabby 3 years ago this month). No one or thing can replace him and we still mistakenly call the other cat Fatboy. We will pray. God heals the broken heart from anything. He will help you through this and hold your hand. :grouphug:

One brick shy of a load. Worry wart. Fooey! A stitch in time will save nine. Caught in the act. Green as a gourd. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Pretty as a picture. Don't open the door of Fibber McGee's closet. It's neither here nor there. Six of one and half dozen of the other. Poor as a church mouse. The light's on but nobody's home. Too many freaks and not enought circuses. Doesn't have a pot to pee in. Lower than a snake's belly. Cross as a bear. "Going for the Gold" That dog won't hunt. Better off dead. Better late than never. Dumb as a bag of hammers. Tight wad. (stingy) Fat and sassy. Skinny as a rail. Sick as a dog.

These are my always buy at Sam's items: Breaded Flounder - Treasures of Sea (a quick dinner meal or fish sandwiches in a hurry) Unbreaded flounder - individually wrapped filets Fresh chicken tenders - always $1.99 and more versatile than boneless skinless whole breasts at market - I divide into family sized servings and freeze when I get home Eye of round roast feeds a large family or average family with leftovers for under $8 (a nice company or ministry no fail meat for under $10) Steaks for special occasion meals in summer are always cheaper at Sam's and they are great Beef stew (when it's cold) - weigh and divide into bags and freeze when I get home Rotisserie chicken - larger than grocery store varieties and cheaper - I find it a "must have" versatile meat for wraps, chicken salad, green salad with chopped chicken, etc. for quick easy meals and sandwiches Laundry detergent and dishwasher detergent Double roll Member's Mark Tall Kitchen Bags last 6 months Toilet Tissue - My fav. brand, not the MM Fresh organic spinach Fresh organic mixed greens for salad Avacodas in the mesh bag Russet Potatoes Bananas Seasonal fresh berries - strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, black berries Navel oranges in season Butter Eggs Tropicana OJ in gallon jug Chili Powder (seasonally) Cinnamon Yeast for bread making Diced tomatoes - case Extra Virgin Olive Oil packaged in Italy (that's important) Canned chicken - for chicken salad and quiche and more Canned tuna - you know Lunch meats in large plastic container Sliced cheeses Cabot individually wrapped cheese snacks Goat cheese - Chevre - cheaper than anywhere and great for quiche, pizza, salad, spreads, etc. Great Parmesean, Aged Gouda, Asiago and other hard cheeses - we keep the Parm on had to grate over pizza, pasta, salad, etc. all the time Northland Pomegranate Cranberry Juice Motts Apple Juice Frozen stir fry vegetable, mixed vegetable (broc., carrots, caul.) and sometimes you find organic frozen vegies and fruit Whole broiler chickens in a two pack are bigger and cheaper than grocery Raw whole mixed nuts - no longer available at our store :( Tortilla chips for a crowd and salsa mentioned above Large container of sour cream when needed for holiday baking and taking Bird Seed - 6 bags in a large box of premium bird seed that our birds and squirrels have loved for years All our prescription meds and supplements Eye exams and contacts and glasses (when needed) Copy paper for printer Tires (Michelin) for our automobiles as needed (will rotate and balance free for life of tire) Take and bake fresh store made pizza with meat under $8 and some less than that. Birthday or team party cakes are cheapest and best from Sam's. I am talking 1/2 or full sheet size not quarter sheet as in grocery stores - there're always cheaper and very good. I shop at Sam's twice a month and all these items will be purchased at least once in the monthly cycle or as needed when I run out. I try new things all the time when they are demo'd and we think we would like them and the price is right. On the weeks I don't shop at Sam's, I fill in with items from grocery store. I watch the prices and if there is a bogo at a local store, I will drop it from my Sam's list for for the grocery store price but that rarely happens with the above list. I am shopping for 2 adults, 3 grown boy/men children and lunch for my gdd that I home school.

Hi, I've read all the posts on this thread and new baby and appendicitis, whew! I am imaging your head spinning around like the girl in the Exorcist I (just dated myself-hated that movie and wouldn't recommend it to anyone but the picture sticks). Thank God that His grace is sufficient for each day and new each day so you will never run our for your son, new baby or hubby. PTL That said, I have been on both sides of the fence. I am a former teacher, principal and now a educational therapist. As a therapist we heavily depend on the reports we get from the ps (if they are done by educational psychologists) and our most favorite are from good neurepsychologists. Your son sounds like he has many processing weaknesses and probably many strengths you haven't even noticed. Have the "talk" and present all your scenarios and tell him of all the professional opinions as well as the non-professional opinions you received from the hive. As principal and teacher, I often had to tell parents that we were going to need to refer their child for evaluation. We always used the neutral term "learning differences" instead of "learning disabilities" which is more easily swallowed by the dads. Dads, for some reason, always take a child's suspected disabilites as their personal fault. It seems they think there is something they did wrong or they may even identify with some of the problems the child is encountering and I thought you might identify with that aspect. The dad was always defensive and left my office with a really hurt, sad, mad or angry look on his face. Later on when the evaluation has been done and we had the IEP meeting, he would be entirely different (mostly releived to know what was amiss) but often thankful for bringing the problem to their attention. As therapist, I was several rungs down the ladder and but still had to have a similar meeting with the parents and once again the dads would think any disorder was their fault. I just thought this might help from another standpoint. There is help for you son and God will make a way since "he is fearfully and wonderfully made and a marvelous work of the Lord.........." Love and prayers, Carolyn

My personal migraine triggers are loss of sleep, hormone fluctuation, going from low light inside to bright sunlight outside, stress, high pressure weather systems (very high not just a change), rarely excess caffeine intake,strobe lights on the back of school buses, police strobe lights or even flashing computer screens in the room I am in. I get the auras as a warning and can stop it if I can immediately go into a dark, quiet room and go to sleep. I also have a weird migraine where I will get a kind of blindness in one eye that makes me repeatedly clean my classes until I realize my glasses are not dirty but I am not seeing well because I am having a painless migraine. I now take beta blockers for heart disease and they have lessened the frequency of the migraines but I can still have one at any time with the above triggers. I have had migraines that lasted days and I have awakened from a nights sleep with a migraine. I do not take prescription medication for my migraines by my own choice. They are currently more manageable. I have a theory that the Vitamin D I take for my very low Vitamin D level has helped my migraines. They diminished at about the time I began taking D3 1000-2000 units about 2.5 years ago. I take d3 2000 Units during winter and d3 1000 in the summer when I get more natural Vitamin D from being in the natural sunlight. I never have had food triggers for my migraines but know that others do. Can you track your migraines with the local air pressure level. Try keeping a chart or have your kids make a graph of barometric pressure and plot your migraines on the chart to see if there is a relationship. Science experiment:001_smile:

I use Latin's Not So Tough. It works well for younger or older students who want to self-pace or do independent study. It moves slowly in the beginning with much practice. We started in 8th Grade and at this point in 9th Grade we are ending Level 4. We will finish Level 5 and 6 before the end of this year or perhaps in the summer. I taught Latin in upper elementary and middle school for years but this program moves so slowly and is geared to someone who doesn't know Latin that it would work for even a 2nd or 3rd Grader. It is a bit pricey but we will pass down to four grandchildren that are homeschooled. Fourth grade and up could probably do it alone with supervision and review. The flashcards are pre-printed and the student must do flashcards each night and they are held accountable for doing them. The lessons are practice with translation eased in a little at a time. I add conjugation and declension practice sheets for extra practice of new nouns and verbs but we stick with the curriculum and it has worked fine for my dgd. We do add derivatives also to make the Latin more meaningful. We have a Latin wall we can write Latin phrases we hear or encounter in everyday life. That adds some current relativity to a "dead" language to show it is truly not "dead" but living in 50-75% of our language. My best tool is a laminated poster of a dictionary page that shows words derived from Latin in red and Greek in blue which covers more than 80% of the dictionary page. I don't know if you can still order it. I had it from my classroom days of teaching Latin. I know this is not the most popular Latin program for this forum but it works for us and we will have all the tools we need for reading and translating classic literature when we finish Level 6. We plan to continue with translation throughout high school with other emphasis as needed.

Correct pencil grip is more for the neurological input into the brain than anything else. The index finger has many nerve endings, some say more than anywhere else in the body, and if you don't hold your pencil correctly, you miss some of that sensory input to the brain. Incorrect pencil grip has long been assoiciated with some learning difficulties such as dyslexia, etc. There is also more small to large muscle impact to the brain when the pencil grip is correct. We write on the brain as well as the paper. There are many gel type and other pencil grips that encourage correct grip and prohibit the wrong grip. Start early and be consistant, it will become natural eventually. Broken crayons and putt putt golf pencils usually can't be held incorrectly. Writing on a large notebook cover to give a wedge slant surface promotes better pencil grip and neater handwriting. Fatigue isn't the only problem you child might incounter. Arthritis can also be a problem later on with poor pencil grip. I hope some of this is helpful.

Oh! I forgot an important must have. You must have a weather radio on board. You will not be camping anywhere there isn't weather happening both good and bad.

Hi, RV'ers for about 2 years. The tip about lowering one side of the awning could save you a couple of thousand dollars alone. Don't leave the awning out when you leave the RV because wind and rain changes in weather happen quickly, especially in the summer and your awning is the first to go. We lost ours in a downpour with us sitting in the RV and we couldn't open the door to get out. Cost $2,000+ to replace. DVDs, Cards and board games for those times when you get rained inside. Yes, inside that small house with all those energetic, bored kids. Determine to have dedicated RV items and keep in the RV except when doing the laundry and clean up after a trip. If funds are low just buy a few dedicated items each weak at Wally World. It will make the pack up and clean up so much more simple. Take some boric acid to sprinkle around inside and out for the ants. They are waiting for you in every campground and can be in your camper when you awake the first morning. Boric acid is fairly nontoxic and they won't come in if you sprinkle it around your wheels when you set up. If a few get in from the tree branch touching your camper, use the boric acid around the edge of cabinet, etc. and don't park where a tree branch can touch your RV. No one mentioned a first aid kit (more complete than you carry in the car or boat). You will encounter every first aid emergency known to man in the first trip, so be prepared. Those ovens are the pits and burn everything. Get a small pizza stone or the broken one in your oven to help regulate the heat in the oven and pre-heat it before baking anything. Textured shelf liner from Walmart will keep your items from moving around on the road trip. Put them in the bottoms of every drawer, cabinet, storage ben, medicine cabinet, closet, etc. All that stuff moves around when you are moving and some will even jump out of the cabinet.:willy_nilly: The forums will become your best friend. Your life will never be the same. The world looks so different from a campground - it looks and smells fresh and clean (unless you forgot to empty the black water tank) and for the most part "home-type-stress" free! Oh, one tip I forgot. After you empty the black tank for the trip home, empty a large bag of ice into the black tank and it will knock loose and clean any residue, toilet tissue, poo, etc. that didn't get flushed out when you emptied the tank. After a bit, stop at a truck stop and flush again. This tip is for after you have used the RV a few times. Buy the kids new camping journals each year to keep on camper and get them to journal every night before bed. They will love to read their journals when they get bored and can't think of anything to do. You are in for an adventure you have yet to imagine!!!!! Have fun!!!!!

Hi, All these mom's have great ideas. My 2 cents worth is regarding the Sam's or membership stores. I have shopped at our local Sam's for many years in conjunction with my local groceries-2 - 3 every other week. I know what I can get at a bargain at Sam's and the list is set. We also have a milk allergy in our home and we like to eat organic as much as possible but can't do everything organic. I buy bulk organic fresh spinach and mixed greens at Sam's for a little over the price of a bag at the local grocery. I can get goat cheese for my milk allergy child for pizza, quiche, salad, etc. for half the price of the grocery. I buy non organic chicken tenders for cheaper at Sam's than the weekly sale price. I divide them into family sized portions when I get home and freeze. They are more versatile in my menus than whole boneless skinless chicken breasts. I buy Sam's apple juice-cheaper than any name brand even with a coupon. I buy butter, Eggland's eggs, half and half and occasionally organic frozen fruits and vegetables when they are stocked. Wild caught frozen salmon is cheaper here than anywhere else and I try to include salmon of some kind at least once a week. I also buy canned salmon, canned chicken and canned tuna at Sam's. I have a great recipe for salmon patties that could pass as crab cakes. Not your grandma's salmon patties. I buy my extra virgin olive oil here also-it is cheaper by the ounce than anywhere and is a product of Italy which is important to me. We are souther so I buy my family sized tea bags for iced tea in a two box at Sam's. They have great take and bake pizza for $7.98 for the day I shop and don't have time to make one from scratch. They probably aren't that healthy but we only eat two a month so everything in moderation. Depending on how pickey you are about nitrates, etc. in lunch meats, they are much cheaper at Sam's. I also buy non free range beef stew, eye of round and occasionally steaks at Sam's cheaper than sale prices in grocery. I don't leave without a rotisserie chicken because theirs are biggest of all and I can get at least two family of 4 men/boys meals out of the $5 chicken. Sometimes I get three meals out of one chicken. Chips, crackers, cereal, coffee and most everything is cheaper in bulk at Sam's. On the milk allergy issue, I use coconut milk in all my baked goods and reduce the sugar a bit since the coconut milk usually has a little sugar naturally. I also use almond, rice and occasionally soy milk. Yes it is cheaper to bake from scratch almost everything. I mill my own grain and bake my bread, tortillas, brownies, muffins, pancakes, rolls, pizza dough, etc. and bread at the last estimate was less than $0.50 a loaf. Buy fruit and vegies in season and sometimes you can find local organic for reasonable prices. You can buy goat milk or sheep's milk feta that doesn't usually bother milk allergy sufferers. We can get fresh goat milk in our area for $6 a gallon. I also buy free range ground beef for $4 pound from our local raw milk dairy and cage free eggs are $3 for breakfast only. I use Eggland's best for baking (just my compromise). Don't forget Big Lots-sign up for their Buzz Club and two or three times a year or more they give you a coupon for 20% off entire order. I used my coupon last week and only bought organic and saved a ton on pickles, olive oil, lemonade, crushed tomatoes, tomatoe sauce with vodka, soba noodles and the best was smoked salmon from their Christmas stash -YUMMIE. On a regular basis I find many organic deals at Big Lots. I've just found out they have started a rewards program also. If you buy $20 month, after 12 months you get a 20% to use when everyone else doesn't have one. I amen the potatoes a hundred ways. I also buy or make chicken stock to used in the mashed potatoes instead of milk and it works great. One of our favorite meat stretchers is chicken pot pie with potatoes, frozen vegies, onion, celery, and crust you make or buy. I use one of my frozen packages of chicken tenders from Sam's. It feeds my hungry guys with an added salad and leftovers, if any, are gobbled up not left in the frig to spoil. There are hundreds of recipes online. I usually find the frozen vegies cheap and the potatoes are cheap and I always keep onion and celery bought on sale chopped and frozen in my freezer. I could go on and on. I also clip coupons and shop our local Publix (I Heart Publix and Southern Savers for we who live down south) for bogo's with coupons which can be next to nothing on some items. You can do it as well. I will add other things I think of later.

Finally, I have found the Saxon lovers on this forum. I have been singing the praises of Saxon on this forum for many months and felt I was the "odd man out". I have taught Saxon for many years in private school and have seen the results in all types of students. As a home schooler, you have the privilege of tweaking any program to fit your student. You can slow down, camp out and supplement, do two lessons at a time if he is getting it, or whatever. I find that most students do well with Saxon's method. For those who don't know, Mr. Saxon was a chemistry teacher in Georgia and he could never get the students to enroll in his class because they were afraid of the math (this was years ago before everyone took chemistry). He developed the math from the top down and designed it so the students wouldn't be afraid of the math in chemistry. That's why the elementary program was written by someone else originally and wasn't available until many years after Alg 1/2 thru Advanced Math/Trig. Mr. Saxon's method is incremental. I call it the "baby step" method because as someone else said you learn a small part of the procedure at a time. I am teaching my 9th grade granddaughter Algebra II and she is flying with it and understands the principle, procedures, etc. In private school only the students with LD had to have math tutoring in this program and they would have had to have tuturing in any math program. I agree with finding a program and sticking to it. I don't think anyone has talked about the lesson instruction being scripted and lasting only about 10-15 minutes. Also, a bird in the hand........... would apply in this economy with the Saxon you have. It's a sound program and so effective that in Georgia several years ago many counties went rogue and adopted Saxon when state doe adopted another math program. The PS results were dramatically higher scores on the standardized tests at the end of the first year. It was probably the greatest free advertising the Saxon publishers ever had!

I have diagnosed heart disease and have had a heart attack, stent, quad bypass and 99% blockage in both carotids roto rooted and a stroke following that. I had all these things over the last 6 1/2 years. My cholesterol at it's highest was only 225. I was prescribed a statin drug following the HA 6.5 years ago but couldn't take it because of the severe muscles aches and pains. I acquired a grain mill not long after the HA and began milling whole grains and baking my own bread, muffin, tortilla, etc. 2.5 years ago I had to have quad bypass for unstable angina. My cholesterol was around 200 and my triglycerides were normal. My cardiologist was the one who put me on the statin & took me off after the reaction and has now put me on niacin and fish oil for the last 2.5 years. I also took fish oil prior to the quad bypass. I have heart disease in my family and can't seem to trump that with any healthy eating, exercise or the 7 prescription meds I have taken for the last 6.5 years. I do believe the whole grain bread products in moderation have helped my triglycerides and lowered my cholesterol to the 200 range. I also take aspirin and walk on the treadmill 3-4 times a week for at least 30 minutes. I am currently taking diatomaceous earth tauted as a natural way to lower cholesterol but haven't had a blood test since I started taking it in October. I will have checkup next month and get back with you. There are no clincal studies on the diatomaceous earth just anecdotal articles. Check it out for yourself. I will certainly also check out the two supplements mentioned above. I will say I had a very stressful occupation as a principal that greatly contributed to my health issues 6.5 years ago so get the stress out along with lowering the cholesterol. I also try to follow a low fat diet and eat more fish and chicken than beef. I haven't eaten pork of any variety in more than 20 years but it hasn't really showed in my cholesterol or arteries. Go figure! Hope this didn't discourage you. My cardiologist did say I could try red rice yeast but I haven't tried that yet. I know vegatarian diet is probably the best but I was raised on a beef cattle farm and I think meat eating is genetic for me. Oh well, I will keep on trying to elimate the processed foods and get more exercise and relax more. Good luck on lowering the cholesterol with grain. I wish I was a better testimony. I love the mill and baking and eating but had to moderate the bread eating after the bypass and stroke.

http://www.culinate.com/hunk/40133

Yes, I am not a diabetic but I know that it doesn't raise your glycemic index and is not a product of sugar nor does it have any calories. The brand I use is Stevita "Spoonable Stevia" and it is called a dietary supplement. I buy it in the baking department of our local "Ingles" supermarket. Hwy 287, Suite 104, Arlington, TX 76001 1-800-337-5561 www.stevitastevia.com It says it has no transfats and no allergens on the label. It is super sweet and you only need a sprinkle to sweeten coffee, tea or lemonade. I haven't cooked with it in this form but have cooked with the liquid Stevia drops I purchased at Whole Foods. Some people say it has a detectable taste but I taste only sweet. I can buy this variety in packets just like Equal or Splenda to take along in my purse. I highly recommend it. In the summer we also grow it in pots on our porch with our other herbs and use the leaves to sweeten our iced tea. I hope this was helpful. There are many varieties but I like to stick with the fewest added ingredients and this one beats Truvia and the others in that respect. You will have to be your own judge of the taste. My family complains it can be too sweet at times. I had to back off on the stevia in my iced tea sweetened with Stevita.

Shari, PM Georgia on My Mind and I will help you with the interpretation. I am certified to administer and interpret the WJIII and other tests. I am a former teacher, principal on all levels, educational therapist and currently a homeschooling grandma. I will be glad to help you any way I can. Georgia on My Mind

Hi I have no information or experience with the PASS but I have administered the WJII for many years. It is, as someone has already mentioned, the gold standard for achievement tests and well recognized in any academic community. I have found it to be very accurate in showing a student's grade level, strengths and weaknesses and if given with a complete battery of tests it will show if your student shows signs of any of learning disorders. It is very comprehenisve and depending on who administers the test should give you a very detailed report. I administered it yearly to the students I worked with in educational therapy to measure their progress but for the average student, it would be overkill yearly. Another problem arises if administerd yearly, the students can become too familiar with the testing instrument. There is an alternate version of the WJIII that is supposed to be used if you test often but the tests are very expensive and unless you are testing in a public school, you probably won't even find a psychologist who has both versions on hand. I used the WJIII with a battery of other tests to determine IQ, achievement, processing weaknesses, reading level and more. It takes someone with graduate level or above training to purchase or administer the WJIII and they must have been trained in college or by someone certified to train for the WJIII. That would be an psychologist, neuropsychologist or educational or cognitive therapist, etc. The educational level, cost of the test and training are all reasons for this test being expensive to administer. That is also another reason to only use WJIII every few years and use ITBS or SAT on a yearly basis. You can find someone in your area certified to administer both of these by contacting BJU. They have a list of testers they have certified to give the test and you simply contact one of them and purchase the test and scoring through BJU. I hope this was helpful.