I agree, Algebra is the foundation for everything that comes after. We ended up spending two years on algebra, 8th and 9th grade, because I didn't feel it had particularly "stuck" after the first year. Then on to geometry, and as the pp said, when we returned to Algebra II in 11th, a lot had solidified and it went very well for my non-mathy dd! I personally think the current push to make everyone do algebra in 8th grade is doing a lot of kids a disservice.

That's been my experience as well. They don't even want to think about it until the very end of summer or early September. At that point, if I didn't get an easy response, I'd truck in there in person. Don't they have to let you take it? Surely they can come up with a chair for one person.

How are you handling the "evaluation" section on the Common Ap School Report? She is submitting several recommendations from outside people, but it appears I, as her "school administrator" need to supply an evaluation of her academic, extracurricular and personal character, among other things. Seems strange for a parent to be writing this and just wondering how others may have handled it!

That's my question, too. A lot of the school report stuff would get a N/A, wouldn't it?

We're in the thick of it now! Does anyone know if I need to send the "School Report" form as a home schooler, or does the Home School Supplement take the place of that? Seems like we'd be putting N/A on most of the questions. Also, is there a word limit on the "philosophy" statement? I gather it's not a good idea to load the poor admissions counselors down with a treatise on home schooling. . . what do you think is a good length? Boy, I'll be glad when this is all over!

I second the idea of working in Wheelock's this year, progressing from the beginning and making sure all holes are filled. There are supplemental materials available as well. Then find another resource for Latin II or wherever he ends up next year. We've really liked the Lukeion Project.

I've seen a lot of discussion about writing course descriptions, but now that we're getting into the application process, it is not clear to me who is requesting these. I don't see it on the Common Ap, just a list of major texts used. Am I missing something?

We just commited to trying one new recipe a week to add some new stuff to our regular repetoire.

Hi Shannon, My dd is also taking LatinI with Lukeion this year. Maybe they'll cross paths. Pam

I'm planning on using HOAW supplemented with literature and Teaching Company Lectures (Famous Greeks, Asia Minor Civilizations, etc.) for our Ancients study this year. I do have the study guide that a wonderful person posted as well. I also have Pandia Press' History Odyssey, but I can't get excited about it. I'm a total devotee of SWB and we've worked our way through SOTW and Spielvogel with tons of supplements, all to great success. History is everyone's favorite subject. My concern is that the whole thing is going to hang together. I know some of you out there have used HOAW. . . any particular recommendations or observations to help me??

Total congratulations and I agree you deserve the new suit now! Have you looked at Marshalls/TJ Maxx at all before you buy? The style you like is pretty popular now and I saw a lot of suits like that when I was in there last week. Just an idea. Otherwise, go for the LE one!

Would it be possible to circumvent the whole issue and put "98" on the transcript instead of A or B?

Ah, thank you Kendall. I wanted to be sure to have tests. Does the IG also include info about pacing and different tracks for students?

The next question is where to find a teacher's edition and a test bank. I can't understand Key Curriculum's website; all I see is support info, no textbook products. Am I in the right place?

Thanks! I expect she'll take as little math as possible when she gets to college but I would like her to be competent! Anyone else?

We are finishing Chapter 12 of Foerster's Algebra and Trig book and planning on moving on to his Precalculus text next year, as he recommends. In looking for the textbooks, I'm seeing several editions. I would be just has happy to order an older edition, say the 2002 Precalculus with Trig: Concepts and Connections or 1987 Precalculus with Trig, depending on which I can find supporting materials for. Anyone have any thoughts on these editions? I'd rather not have to pay for the 2012 editions! My daughter is solid in math but is not heading down the engineering route or anything. TIA!

We definitely found, through experience, that Latin is better most days for a short time (1/2 hour.) We like longer blocks for history and science. We also have changed our approach to art by having "art week", often after a vacation, which includes studio work in a particular medium, study of artists in whatever time period fits with history, and visit(s) to local museums. It's worked very well for us, after years of trying to throw it in once a week or so, we actually get some good projects done this way. Oh, and we sometimes watch some shows on art as well (The Life of a Masterpiece, TC Lectures, etc.)

I'm glad to hear the plan of watching and reading is working out. Thanks for more info on the workbook. We haven't started on this yet and I'll have to plan the details this summer. I was just looking at the LabPaq website and it looks like they've changed things so you can't see the kits that are available and are supposed to send in a request form for your course. Not sure how that's going to work out, but I'll check it out when school's out and I have some time to think! I'm sure I'll go with the basics because my dd will be a ninth grader. I wonder what other ready-to-go lab kits are available for biology?

I agree. What about having the children correct their sibling's homework? No chance of anyone being let off the hook then!

I have a Masters of Architecture (4 year graduate program) obtained when I was in my 20s and it consumed every waking hour other than the 10-15 hours/week I worked. It involved staying up all night fairly regularly and was exhausting. Now, that's just me, but I can't imagine homeschooling at the same time. JMHO

Another vote for Galore Park: we used both Latin Prep and So You Really Want to Learn. . . gave them a very solid grammar base for the rest of their studies.

I have an 8th and an 11th grader and we still do read aloud first thing every morning. I think it's one of the great strengths of our schooling; that, and the ensuing discussions, of course. We also sometimes use "listens", that is, we listen to an audio version and each work on a project of some sort. How can my reading compete with Ian McKellan reading "The Odyssey?" And I've almost finished a quilt I've been chipping away at for years! Good luck!

We've been using it. I bought the whole binder for grades 8-12 and I pick and choose the units, so we haven't worked through it in any kind of order. I think the literature support and background materials are great. Some of the writing assignments are good, especially the ones specific to a book, but some of the general forms (like a character analysis, etc.) are a bit lame! Overall, I would recommend it. It's great to have the resource all in one place, and it covers a ton of great books.

My dd also commented that the science was tough. We've been using Princeton Review but maybe we'll try Barron's this summer. We did like the Barron's Flash Cards as well.

I'm planning on using the Teaching Company course "Biology: the Science of Life" and Campbell's 6th edition of Biology for my ninth grader. I think I can purchase the CD from the publisher that will give me some additional resources (like some tests to use for evaluation, among other things.) Then we will add a LabPaq and call it "Biology!" Anyone done anything like this? Can you offer any tips or other encouraging words?