We found that taking the PSAT as a sophomore really helped ds with nerves when he took it "for real" as a junior. He knew much more what to expect.

Doesn't get much better than that! Congratulations!:thumbup1::thumbup1:

FAFSA is like having to do your taxes . . . twice.:eek:

DS did the BJU Biology w/Miss Lacy via DVD's. Compared to the Space and Earth Science lessons with Mrs. Vick, Miss Lacy was a disappointment (newer, greener teacher). The lessons still included the Satellite people, so there was some conversations with those students that didn't fit well with our son and seemed like a time-waster. That being said, however, the Biology books (2 vol.) were VERY impressive and thorough, and we felt like our son came out with a good overall grasp of Biology. One thing to note if you go this route: the lessons presumed a ridiculously short amount of time for the student labs. We typically planned for ds to do labs on a Friday night or Saturday with his dad, and they often took several hours to do thoroughly (particularly if your student had not done a lot of labs previously and was learning about using a microscope, how to do a lab report, etc.). Hope this helps! P.S.: I'm not sure I agree with the negative perception of taking Physical Science in high school. Our daughter is doing 9th grade Physical Science with Mr. Harmon via DVD's now, and it constitutes an impressive introduction/foundation to Physics and Chemistry, fwiw.

Congratulations to all! It has been encouraging to hear the good reports rolling in even as we wait for word. DS got his acceptance in the mail today from Catholic University of America (D.C.). He's thrilled, and so are we. Now to wait and see what kind of a financial aid package they offer.

I've had several thyroid sonograms because of a benign nodule. They'll have you put on a gown and lie down with a pillow under your shoulders/upper back to make your neck a little more accessible. This is not painful, but the position can be a little uncomfortable for your back. After they put the slimy goop on your neck, they will slowly rub over your neck with their instrument. It's totally painless. When they're done, they will wipe off your neck and have you get dressed. Typically the radiologist has come in and checked the technician's findings and given me a verbal report right then. :grouphug: Hope yours goes well!

Homeschool is typically written as one word now. The comma before "or" in your question is called a serial comma. Its use is stylistic; some grammarians require the use of serial commas in lists, while others do not. I prefer it. It is considered correct to write either: Which is correct - homeschool, home school, or home-school? OR Which is correct - homeschool, home school or home-school? Hope that helps!

Our orthodontist recommended a WaterPik, also, and it really helped ds keep his mouth clean with pallet expander and braces. Edited to add: I was concerned that ds not come out of braces with a bunch of cavities and spots on his teeth like other teens I have known. Our doc recommended brushing within 15 minutes of every meal and rinsing with a flouride rinse every night.

We are giving P/F for P.E., Music Appreciation, and Art Appreciation.

Praying, Chris. I'm so sorry! I still remember when my Mom had to make a similar phone call about my brother. :grouphug:

Ds had one twice (several years apart). Although the concept sounded to me like some kind of medieval torture, he handled it well and without significant pain. (Like someone said earlier, any pain was at the moment of adjustment, and then not severe and not all the time.) The biggest hassle with one is brushing well. We bought a Water Pik, which helped a lot with getting food that stuck in various and sundry crevices. Best of luck! We have an orthodontist we love, who has now treated both our kids. Hope you find a really good one, too!

I hate the heat and my hair hates the humidity! 55 degrees would be my ideal. :chillpill:

Thanks for the confirmation! DS is also very relieved that it's over. Hopefully they did a great job and no more SAT's!

This is where I think it is imperative to have a long-term doctor you trust. I used to worry about taking dd in when she was a toddler, because she was a walking disaster, always bumping, bruising, konking herself. I took her in after she jumped off a still-moving merry-go-round and really konked her head (I was worried because she had a soft spot on her head when she shouldn't have one any longer and was walking a little funny). My pediatrician was really glad I had brought her -- she had a simply concussion, and she said it would have been bad if I had taken her to the ER. Because she saw how upset and worried I was and had treated my dd since birth, there was no problem. We actually joked about whether a pediatrician could prescribe high blood pressure meds to moms of accident-prone toddlers. All that to say that I'd take her in -- tell the doctor what happened and how you have been treating her. Like others have said, if the cut does not heal well or needs further attention, you don't want it to look like you delayed getting needed care. :grouphug:

Thanks for the info! I think it's almost as hard being the parent who wants everything to go smoothly for their children as being the student test-taker! :D As I laughed and told dh, the hive always knows!

Stephanie, the same thing happened to my son, and it threw me off, too. I did check his profile on collegeboard to be sure that we were registered to get an online score report (just in case a paper copy went to the testing school). I guess I was thinking too much of the way PSAT is done! Like you, ds is glad it's over! I think he was most worried about getting a really strange essay prompt. I hope all of you guys are pleased by your scores come June 23rd! :grouphug:

Sigh. My ds informs me that the teacher in his group of SAT test-takers insisted that he put the public school code on his form instead of his homeschool code. We are signed up to get his results online when they become available. Does anyone know if this wrong code really matters for us? Thanks, hive!

Praying for you, Stephanie. Touch base here when it's over, please! :grouphug::grouphug:

a set of The Great Books

We loved Middle Ages literature so much we hated to move forward in time. :) Here's what we read, discussed, and wrote about: Augustine: selections from Confessions and City of God Beowulf Thomas Aquinas: selections from Summa Theologica Dante: The Divine Comedy (Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso) The Song of Roland “Gawain and the Green Knight†Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales Machiavelli: The Prince Shakespeare: selected sonnets; Hamlet; King John; Romeo and Juliet Cervantes: Don Quixote Milton: Paradise Lost; selected poems

Many thanks, ladies! Any other evaluations are very welcome.

http://www.oxfordtutorials.com/ Has anyone used this tutorial service with Dr. Lund? If so, can anyone give me an evaluation? I'm considering a couple of his courses for my high school ds and dd. Thanks, hive!

One more thought: don't let yourself get pushed out of the dentists' office before you are comfortable that your daughter is fine. This may be routine for the docs, but it isn't for you and your daughter!

and he did fine, although the first 12 hours or so was rough (bleeding). Make sure dd bites down on gauze for several hours after the surgery. If bleeding is a problem, she can bite down on a moist tea bag, which will help the blood to clot. The doc had us ice ds's jaw for the first 24 hours. This will help significantly with swelling. I agree wholeheartedly with the advice already given on taking the meds. DS received an RX for an antibiotic as well as for pain meds. He needed the pain meds (badly) for the first 24 hours. After that, he was not in agony, but he did need the pain meds at a regular, more spaced-out interval, for several more days. Have your dd follow her doctor's rules precisely (no sipping from straw, very soft foods for several days, salt water rinses, very careful when she resumes more normal eating, etc.). Avoiding painful complications like dry sockets is a priority! Best wishes!:grouphug::grouphug:

I have used several BU products. I ordered Vocabulary, but quickly sent it back. It was far inferior to Vocabulary from Classical Roots, in my opinion.