I spoke with one of the CC math professors who taught my son at a math boot camp last summer. She said she thought precalc would be a good fit for him, and that the course covers a lot of algebra. Taking college algebra and then precalc would probably be overkill. I still like the plan of taking college algebra this spring and then precalc next fall, but I don't want ds to be bored to tears when he gets to precalc. Sigh...

Thank you so much for this suggestion! This major sounds really interesting, and our state U offers it, so it is possible ds could take an introductory course his senior year to try it out.

I do tell ds it is possible, but that my concern is he will have to work so hard at his classes, that there won't be time for anything else at college. I don't want him to burn out because all he does is study from sun-up to sun-down. And we are starting to (gently) talk about backup plans. I always thought this kid had such a strong social sciences bent. He devours books, and he particularly loves history. He knows more history than most adults I know. He knows quite a bit of political geography too (he taught me that the capital of Burkina Faso was Ouagadougou!) and each week he can't wait to get his hands on the latest issue of Time magazine. He is excelling in his AP US History class, and struggling in his Physics class. The only thing about my son that has ever pointed to engineering is his love of legos and participating on Lego robotics teams.

I'm not sure how close the placement was. I have his scores from the Compass test, but not the ranges to know if he just squeaked over the precalc threshold or if he was comfortably in the qualifying range. Trig is a different course from precalc. And College Algebra (Math 140) is not listed as a prereq for precalc. Here are the course descriptions from the CC website: MATH-110 Trigonometry 3 credit hours, 3 contact hours (3 hours lecture and 0 hours lab) Prerequisite: C grade (2.00) or better in MATH-070 or COMPASS placement This course will cover concepts of trigonometry including the graphing of trigonometric functions. Radicals, exponential functions, and logarithms are discussed. Course is graded on an A-F basis. MATH-150 Pre-Calculus 5 credit hours, 5 contact hours (5 hours lecture and 0 hours lab) Prerequisite: C grade (2.00) or better in MATH-070 or appropriate score on COMPASS placement exam This course is a study of algebraic functions, trigonometry, vectors, conic sections, sequences and series. The course will include the study of polynomial, rational, radical, exponential, logarithmic and piece-wise defined functions, and the trigonometric functions and their graphs . Topics investigated will include domain, range, graphs, inverses, operations, equations, inequalities and their applications. Course is graded on an A-F basis.

Thank you for the suggestion. The CC does offer trig and college algebra. I hadn't realized those two classes were the equivalent to precalculus. But the only prerequisite course listed for calculus is precalc, so we will have to check with an advisor and see if he can indeed take calculus after taking college algebra and trig.

Our CC uses the Compass test, and ds placed into precalculus. I like the idea of taking trig one semester and college algebra the next. However, the course description for calculus lists the precalc class as a prerequisite. I'll have to ask the college if he would still be allowed to take calculus after taking trig and college algebra.

Regentrude, I think you make a very good point about the length of the precalc class. My problem is that I am not remotely qualified to teach this subject to my son, nor to answer any questions he may have. I thought he would benefit from having an actual teacher he could ask questions of, rather than using a video course (like Teaching Textbooks or Chalkdust). Any online classes are already half over, and we don't want to wait until next fall for this class. So that's why I was looking at our local community college. I don't really have another option with an actual teacher that can begin in January. Do you have any suggestions for us?

Thank you for sharing this! I am encouraged to hear that there are engineering students who need tutors for math and physics. I thought students who struggled in those subjects didn't get accepted into engineering programs. Math takes him a long time, but eventually he does get the majority of the concepts. And when I say "eventually" I mean that sometimes it is months later, after repeated exposures, before a concept clicks for him. I worry that this slow pace will hamper him at college. His ACT math score was a 23 in September. He plans to retake it in June after finishing precalc.

No, it would be a 15 week class from January to May.

After reading the thread on "How Much Math is Necessary for a STEM Major", I have a question regarding my ds. Can a student who does not excel at math do well as an engineering major? My ds loves robotics, and would like to work in this field some day, so he wants to major in engineering. However, math has always been his weakest subject and he is finding his Honors Physics class to be pretty challenging. He took the ACT this fall, and his math score was the lowest of the four sections. I'm concerned that majoring in engineering isn't a realistic goal for him. What do you all think? Background: Ds is currently a junior and is finishing Algebra 2 in the next month or so, with the goal of taking precalc at the community college next semester. He plans to take calculus there his senior year. He has earned A's and B's in high school math so far, but we use Teaching Textbooks with automated grading, which gives the student two chances to answer each problem. I think his grades would be lower without the second chance option.

Thank you so much for sharing this! I had no idea there were architecture classes for homeschool students. I think my son would love the Structures class.

Thank you for all the wonderful suggestions. Some of the books look perfect for ds12, as he is especially interested in skyscrapers and other commercial buildings.

I'm looking for some gift ideas for ds12, who is interested in becoming an architect. We already own lots of Legos and some of the Lego architecture sets. Any other suggestions to support his interest?

Actually, this is not entirely true. A number of organizations, including my husband's employer, use PSAT scores to award scholarships. Even though my ds is unlikely to score high enough for a NMS, he does have a $3,000 scholarship at stake through Gannett, so his score does matter.

I am currently using Core 100 with my 7th grader, and it is a good fit for him. In my opinion the Hakim books are too light for a high school level American History course.

I second the recommendation for Sonlight Core 100. The spine books are Joy Hakim's History of US, which is secular. I think the only real Christian content is in the commentary included in the Instructor's Guide, and you could just skip that part. A couple of the novels may have Christian content - I don't remember for sure since we used it three years ago - but you could just substitute a different novel from the time period.

Online course through Veritas Press Scholars Academy. They have class online twice a week for 90 minutes with a real teacher. Ds's teacher is a native speaker who actually lives in Mexico. They use the Bob Jones curriculum.

I think this is my favorite one yet!

Not sad at all. I've met Susan several times and she has signed books for me. And I love her convention talks. Can you come to Cincinnati next spring? Then you could meet her too. http://www.greathomeschoolconventions.com/

How did I miss that thread? It's hilarious!

I don't know if this has already been posted on the forums or not, but even if it has, it is certainly worth a second go-round.

Oops! Should have posted this on the chat board. *Photo removed at the request of the administrators.*

I think you can find this through the Potters School.

The 2.0 versions have automated grading, so each problem is being graded as your child completes it. My son benefits greatly from this feature. Instead of doing a whole section wrong (in 1.0) because it wasn't graded until after he finished, he now knows immediately if he got a problem wrong (in 2.0), and can view the solution so that he does the subsequent problems correctly. Getting that immediate feedback after doing each individual problem really helps him comprehend the material. He is someone for whom math does not come easily. If your child grasps mathematical concepts easily, and you have time to keep up with daily grading, then the 1.0 version would probably be just fine for you.

Another vote for Laurel Tree Tutorials. My ds had a very positive experience in High School Composition this year. And he went into the class as a reluctant writer who really had not done much writing. He improved tremendously over the course of the year. Your daughter may be fine in the high school class, but Rebekah Randolph, the owner and instructor, would be the best one to advise you.