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kpacademy

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  • Biography
    Homeschool 3 boys ages 13, 11 and 7
  • Location
    Middle Tennessee
  • Interests
    Scrapbooking
  1. I called today and was told that I had to wait for the paper report. We have an online account from last year. It took until February last year for me to get my son's results -- many phone calls and many promises that they were "in the mail." I finally had enough of hearing that "they are in the mail and some just take longer to get to people than others" and insisted (in as nice of a way as I could muster at that point) that my son's scores be sent to me. So I have started my log this year of when I called and with whom I spoke. I was told that the scores should be here by the end of next week and to call back if they weren't. We live in the south where the ACT is accepted at most colleges. Unless my son decides that he wants to apply to a school that requires the SAT, we will not be taking it after the customer service that I received there last year.
  2. My son is a 10th grader taking English 3 at Potters school -- I think 10th is the last grade they recommend for that class. He's more math/sciency so I just wanted to be sure that he had a good grasp of grammar. But I like the fact that the class includes the literature and writing. I will say that compared to other classes he has had, I do think the Potters School class is quite challenging. He's hanging on to an A in there by his chinny, chin chin! He has yet to make an A on a writing assignment. He makes mid to high B's. I would say that the teacher is gentle in her comments. She has a grading rubic so he knows what she is looking for in his writing. She usually includes with each writing assignment an example of a similar paper which I think helps my son have some idea of what is expected. I just pulled up his last paper: He didn't underline the title, put something in italics that should have been in quotes, had a subject/verb agreement error, an unclear topic sentence in one paragraph, and way too many be verbs plus a few other things! Those be verbs kill his grade every paper - only 2 allowed per paragraph. He made an 87. However, she doesn't include only errors in her comments. She has commented on the topic sentences that she likes or wording that she likes. The grading rubic includes voice, word choice, fluency, presentation, conventions with how many points each area is worth. The teacher has always been available via email when I have had questions about something. I will probably put my rising 8th grader in one of their high school grammar classes when he hits high school. Now, I have not actually sat in on one of the classes so I can't say for sure how much instruction is occuring, but he doesn't seem to struggle with the grammar worksheets that I grade each week. He's not the type of kid to just study on his own for the sake of knowledge so she must be covering what he needs to know to do the weekly assignments. lol
  3. I have a high school son in Potters School English 3 right now. He also did Write at Home several years ago. I don't remember if it was 6th grade or 7th grade. I much prefer the Potters School Class. It combines grammar and writing and has a literature component. I would assume that English 1 is the same. I prefer actually having an online live class to just receiving comments from a writing coach. Live online instruction gives the student an opportunity to ask questions and join in the discussion. The English 3 at Potters School has a very thorough grammar component with diagramming. I grade the grammar and diagramming worksheets and upload the scores. I do edit my son's papers but am continually amazed by the comments the teacher makes -- things I did not pick up when I was editing the paper. My 7th grade son is currently in Veritas Press' Grammar and Writing III. They are using Shurley Grammar 7 and IEW. The online class is 1 1/2 hours twice each week. Let me know if I can answer any further questions.
  4. My oldest son took Algebra II last year and is currently in Precalculus at Veritas Press. My middle son is currently in the PreAlgebra class at Veritas Press. I went with the twice a week class option that Veritas Press offers because I thought that it gave them an extra chance to ask for any clarifications they needed instead of waiting an entire week for class again. My oldest scored in the high 90's percentile in math on the ACT and PSAT but I'd have to go look at the scores to tell you for sure what they were. I don't know if that's due to the classes or just he fact that he's very math minded. So far the teachers have always been quick to respond to any emails that I have sent them asking questions about my children's grades. I also like the fact that if there is some reason that my boys have to miss a class, they can watch it in an archive. That also means that if they just don't understand something, they can go back to any class to rewatch the lecture. Veritas Press leaves the entire year of lectures up until the year ends. You can email me privately if you have any questions you would like for me to answer or I'll try to check back on this board.
  5. Still waiting on my 10th grade ds' psat score. The school where he took the test told me to call psat. When I called psat last week, they told me to call this week if the scores weren't here. I called just now. The first question he asked me was if we were homeschooled. I said yes. He checked to be sure my son had listed our address correctly then told me to call early next week if we still don't have them. The psat employees have been very nice, but the students at the school where he took the test have now had their scores for almost two weeks! I'm getting a little impatient. Just wondering if anyone else still hasn't received their score.
  6. We haven't received my 10th grade ds scores yet either, but the Christian school where he took the test received theirs last week. I called PSAT, and they said to call after December 15 if you have not received your scores by then. They were very nice about it. This is the first child I've ever had take the psat so I'm new to all of this.
  7. We are also in Middle Tenn and actively involved in 4-H. I don't think it's ever too late to start 4-H. We have a homeschool club that has a wide variety of grades. 4-H is basically what you make it to be. Your children can just do the monthly activities or they can pick projects and work on those. We also have plenty of service opportunities. My 9th grader was the Regional winner for public speaking and will be competing in the state contest this weekend!! So we are all very excited! In Tenn we can't participate in the public school sytem's extracurricular or sports teams (not that we would if we could...) so 4-H provides my children with the opportunity to learn public speaking and other things they wouldn't ordinarily get to do. We live in small town but not on a farm. There are plenty of projects that are not farm related. My oldest son is doing Consumer Education and Economics. So I encourage you just to check it out. It's free so you could check it out and just see what you think.
  8. I need some advice. I don't want to be rude or uncaring so I'm asking for advice here. I bought some used homeschool items two weeks ago using paypal. The person still has not mailed them to me. She didn't mail them the first week cause she had health issues. The second week she said she was waiting for paypal to transfer the money to her bank account so she can pay the postage. This week she says she has health issues again. and is hoping to mail them mid week this week. Basically, I just haven't said anything. After all, it's outside my control. However, when I sell something I try to mail it the next day after I receive paypal confirmation. Meanwhile, I told my ds that I had bought a new math book for him so he's been asking for it every day. So do I let her know that it is frustrating me? I've tried to be patient, but it's beginning to try my patience!! Do I ask for a refund? Do I give up and just hunt the book elsewhere? See I am torn because I don't want to be unChristian like in my attitude if someone really is sick or having financial issues, but at the same time I want to scream in frustration! If I had known, it would be like this, I would never in a million years have purchased these items from this seller.
  9. My 9th grade ds is currently in Omnibus I with Mr. Etter and loves the class. I know it's expensive, but the teacher has been able to make these books come alive in these online discussions. My son is constantly telling me what was said in class. I don't think I would have been able to generate quite as much excitement had I been the one discussing Gilgamesh or Herodotus with him. I'm beginning to wish I had read the books, too, and just listened into the class with him! Maybe I will when the next son is old enough for the class! Karen
  10. My 9th grade ds is currently enrolled in the online Alg II class with Veritas Press. For him, the class has been worth it. He gets 3 hours of lecture and interaction with a teacher and class members each week. She's available via email if he's having problems during the week. He's using a textbook about which I've read a lot of good reviews. He was (is) a child that I have struggled with trying to motivate. I have to push, pull and drag him as it relates to schoolwork. He's quite capable but somewhat lazy when it comes to doing school. The online classes with Veritas Press have helped him step up and take responsbility for his assignments. He's taking more pride in his work and is disheartened if he doesn't score well (which I am thrilled to see - being concerned shows me that he really does care about his performance). So for us, the price has been worth the changes that I have seen in him. You can email me privately if you have any more questions.
  11. I can so relate! The most exciting time of year for me is when all of the school supplies hit the shelves - I have to go to all of the major discount chains just to see what they each might have that's a little different. When that doesn't quite satisfy me, I get online . . . my husband's question to me this week . . . "I'm placing an Amazon order, do you want these Pilot disposable fountain pens that you have in the cart?" My answer, "No, that was a the result of a search after reading someone's rave revews at the WTM boards. Just put them back on my wishlist." So whatever this sickness is . . . you are not alone! My sickness even stretches a little further . . . I'm sure that if I can just find the "right" journal to go with the "right" pen, I will suddenly become an inspired writer
  12. I use one of these for my sermon notes cause it fits so nicely in my Bible cover. I buy them at Barnes and Noble using my educator's discount. I really like their compact size and the thickness of the paper. I bought one to use as a personal journal also but it's still in its shrinkwrap - best laid plans and all that . . .
  13. My ds is enrolled in VP's online Algebra II, Chemistry, Omnibus I, and Comp I. We live in a very small town so any swimming is done just for fun. We do have a big lake not too far away so we water-ski, wake-board, knee-board, etc - once again just for fun. Does that count?? We are looking very forward to these online classes. Okay, let me re-phrase that. I am looking forward to these online classes. :001_smile: My son is very capable but completely unmotivated. I am hoping that having some interaction with a cyber teacher and cyber classmates plus deadlines from someone else will raise the bar for him. We'll see!
  14. I don't know if doing those booklets will help with long term retention or not. However, I actually saw him several times looking through his notebook at all of the little books and reading over them. He also would study them before the module test. He never looked back over his answers when he wrote them in a spiral notebook - he would barely re-read them as review for the test. Something else we did was put the definition on the back of the little paper instead of on front so he could look at the word, say the definition in his head then turn it over on the back and see if he was right. I will say that as a scrapbooking mom those little booklets - especially if you have a color printer - are really, really cute! My son was constantly intrigued with them. They are just very clever.
  15. My son who is not the least bit artsy did the Live and Learn folders for Apologia Biology this past year, and absolutely loved them! I was completely shocked - I was just trying to find anything for him to do so he wouldn't whine so much about the amount of writing he needed to do to answer the study questions. For some reason, those little booklets were just the thing - - he would take painstaking care that he cut them out and put them together correctly. I never had to remind him to do his study questions -- so unlike the year before!
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