Thanks you guys ~ very helpful!

He lives in our neighborhood and everytime he hears about families homeschooling, he just says that the homeschoolers ARE doing well at Lipscomb, HOWEVER he says these kids still need to learn to be independent. That he is amazed at how many homeschool parents are emailing and calling professors from out of town/state about their kids weekly assignments and micromanaging their college students and never give the kids a chance to handle anything themselves :001_huh: In his view, that is the annoying thing about many homeschooled students ~ their parents. :001_smile: Just thought it was an interesting observation and not related to the subject at hand at all ~

This transcript thing is exhausting ~ :) So DS is coming home to homeschool the last three years of high school (his choice). What do I do with the 1 year of high school (honors) credits? So I add them to our home transcript, or just create a separate attached transcript for home? I did not have him take SAT II's this year, because he was in an accredited public school and those grades and credits should be "objective" enough for anyone. I do plan on him taking as many SAT II's as reasonable in the years to come (our goal is a private university) to "validate" his grades and we plan on duel enrollment as well. Duel enrollment question ~ I know our state (TN) pays for up to 300.00 a year for a students jr and sr year for duel enrollment. However, if we want to enroll for more than one class and buy our own ticket, I guess we can do that? Many thanks ~ Debbie

This may or may not be helpful ~ MIT AP Biology helps for teachers/students (FREE) http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/hs/biology/biology/index.htm

Some PDF links to help from the DIVE science folks ~ I don't think most would consider Apologia as AP material (and we use it). And yes, to put AP on the transcript, you must get it approved in advance by the College Board. However, here is a link I'm using to bump up the Apologia Chemistry this year to an AP type course (which I will call honors) and some information to adapt Biology as well that may be helpful ~ one using internet resources and one combines the Apologia Anatamony and Physiology to the couse: (this is from the DIVE folks) http://www.diveintomath.com/clipart/3027AuWn.pdf Or http://www.diveintomath.com/clipart/525AuWn.pdf

Ditto ~ been there, done that.

Here is your state of FL link http://www.specialolympicsflorida.org/ Let me preface this by saying that we are fortunate to live our in the state capital (TN), so we have a lot of things here that are not available throughout the state. And yes, tracking down the local folks is kind of hard, but email your state reps because they usually work very closely with the local folks and can probably get you in contact with the right folks. We began in fall and were only able to find the right folks because they had a Special Olympics "fair" at one of the city parks in August where ALL the local teams, coaches, voluneteer, etc...set up tables and talked to parents. We began with swimming (swim team) because my son loves to swim, and though not proficient enough to swim with the actual team, they offer "pre-swim team" for a half hour before the team swims. Basically, it's just swim lessons in order to get them able to swim witn the "team." That is nice because it lasts all school year and is regular. At swim practice, they passed out flyers for winter basketball that met on weekends once a week. We were fortunate enough to be able to go to the State finals (which were held here in the capital). This was a short 3 month committment but we REALLY loved this. We had probably one of the lowest divisions, but the coaches are fantastic (two parents) who were able to work all these kids together as a team by focusing on their abilities ~ it was really amazing! I think I cried at almost every game ~ Track and Field ~ we participated in that as well BUT, it is a little different that the other sports (in TN anyway). There is not a "team" you really sign up with and the teams that come are public school special ed classes. Again, some of our swim parents got together and formed an independent group and went to track and field together. But, again, there is not any practices....you just who up for the city meet, and if you're lucky, you get to go to the state meet (which we did last weekend by default, because the people ahead of him could not go). So, yes, he participated (he is 13 years old by the way) but it's kind of a one day thing and not something to do for months. Maybe some groups do, but not here. We are very excited that nationally, they are starting flag football this fall! Lessons learned this year ~ the best contacts you will have is other parents with special needs locally, and once you get hooked into Special Olympics, you will get the word about most of the other sports since those same parents seem to do several of them. Kind of a tight knit community in itself. The best thing we have done for this child! And I have to agree with Sandie ~ I would nearly give everything I have to Special Olympics because it has been such a valuable part of our lives as a family. My son with Down Syndrome loves it, my older "typical" son has enjoyed it so much he wants to volunteer and decided lat weekend at the "State Summer Olympics" that it would be his litmus test for a future date of wife ~ bring her to a Special Olympics event and hope she just enbraces it as much as he has. :) (he's 15 right now) ~ well, and taking her to his favorite Mexican food "cheap eat" ! Enjoy ~ Debbie in Nashville

Thanks, Jackie ~ So we can apply to take AP Chem regardless. Another Question ~ In taking an AP Course (especially as a sophomore) ~ yes, he MAY recieve college hours for that, but it is possible (and maybe preferred) for him to retake chem over if required for his major? Or will they possibly just move him to a higher level college level chem? I always have trouble with getting too advanced and the implications downt he road. It's a long time to sit out chem (3 years) and jump back into college requirements and classes in the same subject. But, maybe it comes back to you, assuming your learned it well. I'm more interested in him learning well, than padding his transcript for $$ and admissions. Not that anyone admits to that (me included). But, the kid is perfectly capable of AP classes but is it really wise to do it. Just kind of thinking aloud here and welcome any thoughts on it.

? High School Chemistry and making it AP ~ Part I: I've been researching on the web and found a couple of different views: 1. One AP Chem class won't accept students for AP Chem without having had regular high school Chem first due to the level of work and difficulty of an AP Chem class (or his anyway). 2. One AP Chem class teaches regular high school Chem and bumps it up to AP Chem (no prior chem prerequiste) and his course is approved by the College Board. Opinions on sequencing? Part II: Do you have to have your course "preapproved" by the College Board in order to take the AP? I've read different things and am a little confused. In, other words, can you register to take the AP exam without the course approval? I've been looking at the Dive Science supplement which he markets as AP Chemistry (if you use both Apologia Chem and Adv Chem together). So, if we do this at home, do we need to get prior approval? And yes, I've searched a lot of threads on here and read ~ but am just wanting some clarification of what I deducted. TIA ~ Debbie

Christy, I don't know anything about Notgrass (except their TN history curriculum), but Omnibus is a focus intentionally on Western Civ. No secret there.

Well, I didn't know who Martin Luther was until my late 20's when I happened to marry a Lutheran. I wanted to know where the name "Lutheran" came from and that is when I found out. However, I was Methodist growing up, and knew all about John and Charles Wesley. I just consider it all part of my lack of a great education and experience at the time.

This is probably not appropriate for American Lit, but the funniest book I have ever read by an American author is Mark Twain's Innnocents Abroad. It's a tome, and you really will have to have gone to Europe to appreciate it or at least on a cruise. It's a tome and I laughed so hard I was crying and could barely breathe :) I read it aloud to my family, but they couldn't quite appreciate it as much as I did. I had traveled abroad before marriage and kids. I guess this qualifies as literature, though it really is a non-fiction book from when he was working as a reporter in San Francisco, and traveled with a religious group to Europe and the Middle East via ship (and some overland). He wrote a series of articles about his trip and it was later complied into this book. Really, it's hysterical ~

Thanks, Jill ~ great post.

Well, thanks everyone. It's pretty ugly, but I'm glad to know that is normal. I'll call the doctor tomorrow :(

From having been raised with show cats in my childhood, I think she is an old cat and I think she did get startled. I think my male walked up on her and scared her (he was just walking around her), because she swatted him, our lab and me....but you're right, I don't know her shot history.

We have a stray that showed up within the last 5 weeks that we have been feeding and housing at night. She and our male just got into a terrible cat fight (in the house). They have been avoiding each other but.... anyway, in seperating them, I picked up the female stray and she bit the tar out of the top of my hand. It's bleeding and swelling up. Having never been bitten by a pet before, is this normal? I cleaned it and have Neosporin on it and have read all the potential rabies issues. The stray is someone's pet. She has a collar (no name), and is obviously used to be indoors as she runs in every chance she can and has been a good house cat thus far. However, we haven't found her owner (posted signs) and therefore, I don't know her shot history. Does that mean I should go to a doctor and get a rabies shot to be safe? TIA, Debbie

I have to agree ~ I like to do a broad overview (for context) and then primarily focus on a few things (for depth)

I think I would question the child as to "why" they felt the need to cheat? Didn't want to study (sluggard) ~ Hate the subject ~ The subject is hard ~ Afraid of disapproval ~ etc ~

Steph, I pm'ed you ~

Thanks y'all! I will look seriously look at these ~ Many thanks!

DS is needing to do his last credit of Latin next school year (Latin III). The only thing I have been able to find is Latin Readings at Veritas Scholars Academy, but the time slot isn't working for us. I can't seem to find another on-line course ~ Do you know of one? I've checked Alexandria. Schola and Oxford Tutorials already. Many thanks ~ Debbie

That was my thoughts exacting about the diploma. I know when I contacted xxx (large private Nashville university) xx Dean of Admissions, they have a manual of all the accredited schools/organizations in the nation. The accreditation is what they want to see, then your transcript and ACT/SAT scores. She pretty much said the same thing about the diploma....it doesn't prove anything, especially from an unaccredited source (private or homeschool).

Well, yes, the umbrellas DO issue a diploma. But the diploma is still "unaccredited" when it comes right down to it. Yes, we may register with FCS this year and/or do their tutorial they just announced....we;ve been doing classical since 3rd grade, with the exception of this public off year we are currently in. I've already called everyone under the sun here in Middle TN. It alll comes down to accreditation and if it matters or not. I don't think it really does mostly. I don't think the accreditation is worth having to change my education goals, KWIM.

Liza, thanks for sharing your experience!

My sister who is still with a major carrier and deals with all this stuff daily said that though a photo id not required for anyone under 18. However, you should bring a copy of the child's birth certificate in case someone wants to see some form of id. It's highly possible they may not have to present it, but it should be brought in any case.