Dd, 10th grade, is taking math and science at the local public school, and everything else on-line with Veritas Press Scholars Academy. She has earned A's in all classes, save Geometry and Composition (B's). I feel that one of her weaknesses is test-taking. I think she tends to rush through things, and not perform at her best. She is afraid of them. She excells, however, on essay style tests in classes like Omnibus. She is hoping to attend a private college majoring in either Literature, English, or some sort of Classical Civilizations major. We will need her to receive a pretty hefty academic scholarship in order to go this route. Either that, or sell half of the cow herd, lol. (NOT actually an option!) So, do you experienced parents of college students think she should take advantage of all the testing opportunities available? Are there any cons to her taking the PSAT as a Sophomore? Thanks for any advice you can give. I am a complete rookie at all of this! (I did x-post this on the high school board.)

We don't have TV reception or any video games or anything. I just don't like what it does to my kids' attitude. It seems to make them cranky. We do watch videos on week-ends (after the sun goes down). If it's still light outside, we play outside. I figure they have enough sitting around time during school. One unexpected consequence of our limited TV/computer time is that my kids just CANNOT WAIT for their computer history classes to start with VP. They are so excited!

And sometimes they just need a good hard pop to the jaw. My brother described someone the other day as "a *n* with a badge". My ds is African American. I can't tell you how shocked I was. My arm came up and popped him one before I knew what I was doing..... Just a Mama's protective reaction, I guess. I felt better. My brother will hopefully think next time.... Thank God I only see him once every 6 years or so.... And no, my ds was not present.

Yes, that's the one. Thanks Brownie!

Anyone? (Shameless bump) ;)

Has anyone used this? What are your thoughts on this program? I'm looking for a general science curriculum for my 3rd grader who really doesn't like to read. Thanks! Jackie

Dd, age 15, has asked me to review the following books/authors, and would like permission to read them. "Percy and the Olympians", by Rick Riordan "Dragonspell" series (Dd doesn't know the author). Dd says she is "out of books to read", lol. The real truth is that she reads so quickly, it's hard to keep a ready supply available. So, are the series mentioned above appropriate for a 15 yr old, christian girl? She loves good fantasy a la Tolkien, and Lord Dunsany. Any other suggestions are always welcome.......

I knew I could count on the hive for interesting ideas. Sometimes you just get stuck in a rut, you know? When all you have to look at is ground beef. It's BBQ meat balls for tonight, then on to some of the other great recipes! Jackie

So we're here on the ranch for the summer. Lots of plusses to this situation, but one of the rather large minuses is the cooking situation..... I have 2 burners on the stove and a crock pot, but no oven! Also have lots of ground beef, and stew meat (both beef and venison). With all of us working outside all day, it takes a LOT of food to keep us all satisfied. So, any recipe ideas for hearty meals? I'm a little tired of the following: Tacos Sloppy Joes Spaghetti Hamburgers Chili Beef Stew Lentil Stew I look forward to all of your creative ideas! :) Jackie

We own an '02 suburban. Cose to 200k HARD miles on it. Bucking snow and mud on the ranch, pulling trailers, hauling mineral through mountain pastures to the cattle. But hardest of all on it are the 4 ranch kids! Anyway, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this truck. The balance and 4-wheel drive cannot be beat. It can get places that the ranch truck can't. I grew up in a Ford family. My brother owns an expedition which I don't really care for. It just doesn't feel as solid as my suburban. I sure hope that Chevy can iron out any problems with the newer models before I have to trade this one in, which I'm hoping will not be for another 100k or so..... Also want to make a plug for our ranch truck. Dodge cummins engine. Excellent. I would look at anything with that motor in it, although I don't know if they make any passenger type SUVs with those. Cheers, Jackie

Dd is working through MUS Epsilon (fractions). She is a good student, but has trouble "seeing" the word problems. My younger boys are also having trouble "seeing" the word problems in their math books. I am very mechanical and methodical when it comes to math. I have difficulty being inventive or creative with this subject. Is there anything out there that can help me to be a better teacher of word problems? Thanks for any help you can offer! Jackie

Yes, we had a situation similar to this. I had taught my dd in Latin from 2nd grade through 7th grade. So I had a pretty good feel for her abilities. She then started an online class in 8th grade, because I felt that she had outrun my ability to teach her. She really struggled in the class. It was hard to watch. It was so discouraging. Dd was really working hard in the class and still getting very poor grades on the quizzes and tests. Something didn't add up. Communication with the instructor was frustrating. Nothing changed. FWIW, I really dislike online quizzes. I have a professor that gives them in an accounting course, and I really think that they hamper communication, and create a disconnect somehow. It seems that the professor is out of touch with the progression (or lack thereof) of the students. Perhaps they can be used effectively, but my experience with Dd's class, and also my college course, has not been great. This year dd took Latin II with Mrs. Hensley at Veritas Press. What a difference! My dd loves latin again. She consistently scores in the 90's on tests, quizzes, and translations. I am so glad that we didn't just quit Latin. I am so thankful that she is with a teacher that communicates well. Dd has to take next year off from Latin, so that she can fit in a required year of Greek. She is disappointed, but is looking forward to taking Latin Readings the following year. Don't give up. The right teacher can make all the difference. Veritas is very open to prospective students (and their parents) "sitting in" on classes. Maybe that would be worth your time?? Warm regards, Jackie

Just wondering.... Did you happen to read the article I posted? I did not mean to "take the air of being above it all". I was trying to make the point (as I stated) that this forum seems to mirror our country in that we are all on edge, and that it might be a good idea to turn down the heat. As for "walking away", sheesh...... why should I have to defend myself for having to work all day? I guess I don't belong here. I always feel like I have to defend myself. Thanks a lot. It's not worth it to me.

We've been "discussing" some pretty complex and emotional topics on this board lately. I, for one, have been discouraged by the anger, ad hominem attacks, and vitriolic language in many of the recent posts. After reading this article this morning, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704094104575144070064980374.html?mod=WSJ_hps_sections_opinion I think this forum mirrors what is happening in our country as a whole. So let's take it down a notch. Let's lower the temperature just a bit. Agreed? I'm going to go dodge the arrows now, and work at educating my dc.

:iagree: :iagree: We can give them so much, but their dreams are theirs. And our dreams matter also.

Dd, (15) is currently working on "The Stranger", by Schumann; "October", by Tchaikovsky, and "Impromptu #4", by Chopin. I have no idea how these compare to what your dd is doing. I have no musical training. But they are lovely! Especially the Chopin piece. :001_smile:

Yes, I think our location can limit the opportunities available to our children. And as many others have said, the grass is NOT always greener somewhere else. Someone mentioned that they'd like to just "buy a ranch" somewhere..... Well, be careful what you wish for. We did buy a ranch. It was our dream for many years. However, the reality was that the opportunities for the children were extremely limited. But maybe more important than that were the influences on our children. Let's just say that because of the lack of opportunity in the area, there was a very high rate of teen pregnancy, and a very high rate of underage drinking, etc. It was not the environment we wanted for our dc. It was not the environment that would prepare them well for life. So that is our new criteria: "will the environment and the opportunities available to our children prepare them well for life?" And sometimes, for us at least, that means having access to people in need instead of one more activity. It means shoveling snow for the elderly lady on the corner, and visiting with her, because she is lonely. Sometimes if you do things like that, instead of one more "thing" that you have to pay for, you can save the money necessary to do the day trip to the museum in a not-so-close good-sized city. That is what we have learned, anyway. Warm regards, Jackie

When my French relatives visited us, they could not bring themselves to eat corn. Their mindset was "Corn is what we feed to the pigs. It is not people food!" Wheat, they were fine with. Think French sourdough..... Mmmmmm.

In my very limited experience traveling in France, I noticed they ate a lot more fresh food. Also, the portions were so much smaller. They didn't snack. They ate 3 balanced meals. The noon and evening meal included a broth-based soup, and/or a green salad. Or sometimes just a vegetable salad (not necessarily leafy greens). I never saw anything fried. There were lots of sauces, but they were light sauces, not your "brown gravy" type. They drank a lot more water. I ate everything I wanted while I was there, and maintained a very healthy weight. (I was also young then). I was also raised on this type of diet, and have always had a healthy weight. We never ate fast food. We always cooked at home, and long meals with all of us sitting together discussing our day was the norm. My dm always said that eating slowly was the key to not over-eating. And of course, NOT eating in front of the TV.

Yes, I believe this statistic. I also think it varies by region. Where I grew up in Northern California, I think the obesity rate might be in excess of 50%... really. This is a very poor region, where there is currently about 27% unemployment. People tend to sit around watching TV and drinking beer. I would say that where our ranch is, in Northern Nebraska, the rate is probably 25-30%. It is a very small community. (No rec. center, biking, etc.) The men get plenty of physical activity with ranching, but the women tend to have to spend hours in the car, driving to work, etc. So the women have a somewhat sedentary lifestyle. Then, where the dc and I spend most of our time in SE Wyoming, I would say the rate is closer to maybe 20%. This is a college town with lots of sports, a rec. center, and more of a focus on health. So it's interesting to see how different communities reflect different lifestyles. I also wonder if our current clothing styles contribute to "overweightedness" ?When did it become cool to show off the roll of fat around one's midsection??? :confused: Sorry, but YUCK.

No words of wisdom.... just :grouphug: :grouphug:

:iagree::iagree: I have never seen the government do a better job than private enterprise. Yes, as others have stated, the insurance companies are out to make a profit. But there's nothing wrong with making a profit. It is not inherently evil. My dh and I try to make a profit every year! Those profits are then plowed back into growth, research, updating systems, employee raises, etc. Maybe the appropriate question is: how do we make it profitable for insurance companies to insure the uninsurable without government involvement?

This, to me, is the most frustrating and illogical part of our current health-care system. I understand collective bargaining, and that some insurance companies are able to get a "sweeter" deal than others...... But really! An example: We have been in and out of coverage over the last 15 years, but more or less with the same pediatricians. When we are covered by insurance (extremely high deductibles, so still our cost) our pediatrician's office charges us FULL RATES. During those periods that we aren't covered, the rates are lower. I realize they are trying to help us, but I think that whole way of thinking is flawed. I still have to pay when they charge us up the kazoo, whether in higher premiums, or higher out-of-pocket to meet deductibles. When my husband or I work, the rate is "x dollars/hour". Why can't the medical profession work that way? It seems dishonest to me. It seems like a way to be paid higher rates (when the patient is "covered") because the consumer is not as discerning. How do we change that?

What would be appropriate attire? It will be in June. Just a nice summery dress? Evening, I can do. A matinee seems to be a little more nebulous, attire-wise. Thanks, Jackie

Laura, I really admire your father for the choice he made. I hope that if I ever have to make that type of decision, I can have the grace to let go when it's time. One of the things I admired about the family in the article is how THEY LIVED. They went to Pompeii, they went to Spain. They made wonderful memories with their dc. Aside from how they lived, the thing I found both troubling and interesting was the different prices charged by hospitals for the same medical procedure. How much could we "save" in medical care costs if the hospitals charged the same, or nearly the same prices. I am NOT an advocate of price controls. That never works. But I would think that the medical profession would be doing themselves a service by coming up with a more uniform method of pricing. If we were able to "shop" for health care; if the pricing were more transparent.... wouldn't we all be better off? I know that healthcare providers are often surprised when I ask for a price estimate. But I pay for almost everything out of pocket... so I really need to know. Thanks for sharing your father's story. He was a good example, in my opinion. Blessings, Jackie