I just read this article. What a refreshing perspective this young man brings to the college application process. He sets an incredible example and highlights what is wrong with the cost of higher education in America better than any parent bemoaning the cost of college today. Wow!

Stellar list! Coming up with short essay questions for a student to answer is a challenge. How do you do this? Something to consider: For the past four months I've used Article of the Week with my 6th grade DD. I've selected articles that she can handle as a 6th grader. These are topical news stories that require close reading with annotation and a one page response. These are quick assignments which open the door to open ended discussions, improving reading skills and writing skills. Add to the list: Oral presentations, video presentations, slideshares/powerpoint, deadlines, and the housekeeping of school. The housekeeping of school are the basic skills of organizing work and following assignment tasks. Talking to kids in school, they say their grades depend not only the content of their assignments but also on the execution of the assignment based on a rubric. For example, how the paper or project is presented as bound, stapled, video, lab report, etc. Formatting counts.

I am not a good math teacher, so I am chained to a solutions guide/TE, but what you described is sad and yes, the problem may not be "the difficulty of the material being taught, but the teachers. The teachers don't understand the material they are supposedly teaching. " Sadly, I might be one of those teachers.

I thought taking AP Calc, or anything AP, just demonstrated an ability to do more advanced work, but to expect a college to accept this for full college credit is silly. As for 8th grade algebra--some kids are ready but more kids are not ready to tackle algebra in 8th grade. The one-size-fits-all solution will not serve those advance kids. What happened to gifted programs? I read this article linked above, and I encourage you to read it too. It seems not much has changed since 2011. Why America produces so few engineering students has a lot to do with how high school math is sequenced, but it also has a lot to do with content and developing the background for higher level math. "A colleague in the engineering department who also works summer orientation complained to me that many students who wanted to major in engineering could not place into calculus. The engineering program is structured so that no calculus means no physics freshman year and no physics means no engineering courses until it's too late to complete the program in four years. For all practical purposes readiness for calculus as an entering freshman determines choice of major and career. The math placement test given to incoming freshmen at orientation has much higher stakes than any test given in high school. But, the placement test has no course grade or teacher evaluation associated with it. No one but the student has any responsibility for or stake in its outcome." (The Daily Riff Nov. 1, 2011)

I am going grey/white, but I didn't realize how grey until I recently had my photo taken for a new passport. The grey hair makes me look washed-out. The kids and DH say not color. They are of the opinion that hair color on older women makes a statement of trying too hard to hang on to youth, and hair color doesn't hide wrinkles. For me, grey hair means wearing a bit of makeup to brighten my features, that and a lot of hair conditioner to combat dryness.

I like using OneNote for homeschooling. I set up a new notebook each year. I use the tabs on top to plan each subject in detail with the months and days all on one page. I want to see the big picture without a lot of clicks. I also have a tab on top called "By the Week." I cut and paste weekly assignments from each planned subject for DD to use and check off her work daily. DD really likes having a plan. Pretty simple. I add check boxes to both "By the Week" and the subject pages. DD checks off her assignments daily and I check off the subjects as completed. At the beginning of each week I add a page to my "By the Week" tab with the dates for the week and modify assignments if we are behind or ahead. DD can see all assignments for the week for each subject on one page. I also have a tab on top for notes where I copy links, pictures, or ideas for that year or the year coming up. I've used many scheduling planners over the years, but this one works the best for me.

Why not continue with Singapore Math? Singapore Math 6A & 6B review basic math concepts, readying students for higher level math. The percents section in 6A was particularly challenging for my DD. I have Dimensions Math Common Core 7A & 7B. This seems like a good series. I like "Extend your learning curve" at the end of each section. The page layout with worked examples presents concepts well. The problems sets: Basic Practice, Further Practice, Math @ Work, and Brain Works cover not just working through the algorithm, but works through application via word problems. Singapore Math is a solid program. I use Horizons Math alongside because my DD needs more review.

6 total. She will graduate with 9 AP classes. Too bad it didn't help with getting her merit aid or into very selective colleges.

I sent DD out the door at 5:45am today for her second and third AP exams. One more tomorrow and two more next week. Then done!

My DD-11 took the Smarter Balance Test last week. She disliked the essay part because she said the prompt was to write about the inventions of a six-year-old. My DD was not impressed. We took the test so the charter school we attend would get credit for the number of students tested. I do not think this test will accurately reflect what my student knows. Like the SAT, ACT, or AP testing, a student needs to do test prep to perform well on the test. I look at the Smarter Balance type of testing as a way to hone testing skills. I do not expect my DD to have done well on this test because I did not do any kind of test prep with her. I wanted to see what her score would be without any kind of preparation.

I just bought 7A & 7B. The sets I bought are the text, Teaching Notes and Solutions, Workbook, and Workbook Solutions. For me, it looks as if investing in the Teaching Notes and Solutions will be invaluable. The Teaching Notes and Solutions are more like the TE guides for lower levels. This book provides extra information and worked solutions for the text. The Text has example and sample problems to work before going onto the workbook. I am not mathy, so I find that the whole package will help me. For what it is worth, I am also going to use Horizons Pre-algebra for continuous review. Without this review, my DD will forget her math.

Traveling with kids. What should we see/do? We have about 2.5 weeks. Must be in Scotland by the first week of September. Driving?

no.

1. Spending too much time on the computer-me 2. Allowing my two oldest sons to go to public school-they stopped learning. 3. More field trips 4. Requiring that teens get a job so they appreciate the importance of an education.

Need blind?? Colleges claim they are need blind, but if a student can pay full tuition or will benefit a sport-football or basketball, a college will admit the athlete and the full paying student over an academically superior student in need of financial aid.

Above, my sentiments exactly. What bothers me is to read about some kids over at College Board that got into all the top ranked schools, taking placement slots away from others, just so they can say they got in? Sadder too, are the posts from valedictorians or top of their class students that didn't get in any of the most selective colleges, who had almost perfect test scores, grades, and extra curriculars. No, the doors of education are not open to all, but if you can pay full tuition, those doors do open regardless of academic standing. Next time around: If my middle school child should write a book, cure cancer, or become a sports celebrity of some sort, I don't think I will encourage her to apply to any reach schools. It is a hollow promise aimed at middle class ambition. Those reach colleges of single digit acceptance rates will gladly take your money then reject your student. Those colleges are banking on your ambition. Example: 2014 Stanford fielded 44,239 applicants at $90.00 per application=$3,981,510. Moving on. :)

A large daypack would work. I used one to travel around the world in my 20s. A small daypack makes boarding and exiting a plane easy, and these small packs fit in overhead compartments. Check out REI.

Anyone have experience with this. I thought to use Alcumus over the summer to keep math skills sharp. Good idea? Math Jams? Do "regular" student (non-homeschool) users of AoPS use AoPS in addition to their regular school math course?

I have "Strong Body, Ageless Body" by Erin O'Brien. It's pretty darn good. It does a little cardio and an a little weights. After doing this DVD for a while, I realize that one needs to have multiple DVD to keep at home workouts interesting. Keep adding recommendations!

When your kids/DH say 'There's nothing to eat' what does that mean in your house? The repeated refrain at my house: 'There's nothing to eat' What this means is there is nothing that anyone either cares to eat or make for themselves. We don't have ready made food at our house unless I make it. Cookies don't count since DD makes those weekly. Of course there is food in the refrigerator, but these foods are just the ingredients to a meal. It fries me when I come home from town late and everyone is look at me with wilting eyes wanting to know what dinner is and when its going to be ready. I guess I didn't train them to be self-sufficient yet.

I hear you, and second your emotion! I rarely sell anything on this board because people want something you spent your hard earned dollars on for next to nothing. I don't think it is a question of being competitive. I've had much better luck selling on Amazon and eBay.

I plan a year in advance, but life gets in the way and those plans always change. I do like to plan subjects that are not "open and go."

Go for the dual enrollment. It would be a good next step. No, you are not a bad mom.

Science is not my strong skill set. With my DD, now a graduating senior, I did very few hands on science experiments/activities with her K-8. I handed her Snap Circuits and she built all the projects on her own. We live far from town so she understands gravity feed water and how to start a siphon. We have a garden and animals. We've slaughtered and butchered animals together. My youngest DD just watched and assisted in the birth of baby goats. For transcript purposes, I sent my oldest DD to a summer high school lab biology class. It was her first experience in a classroom, and her first experience with a lab science. She did not feel less skilled than her class peers, and her ability to read, take notes, and write well are part of what earned her an A in the class. Since it was a lab bio class for freshmen/sophomores, the formatting of lab notes was covered so all students understood expectations. What has served my DD well throughout high school is her ability to write well, and her ability to take notes on her reading and discussing her reading. DD has gone to a private online high school for three year and done very well. I am following the same path with my youngest DD-grade 6. My thinking is a student needs background knowledge to help them make sense of the world around them, so we read, write, and discuss. If we have the materials to do a lab, we do the lab. I am thinking a dissection lab next year might be a good experience, but I don't push labs.