Starbucks VIA is almost like drinking fresh brewed coffee!! It would be the least fuss!

i do all my booking online...most of my friends do too. sorry!!

we live in south east KY...lots of ticks...esp. this year!! just about everyone has had tick bites this spring....a couple people i know took their children to the dr. if you're more comfortable with that, go ahead. However, they basically said the same thing...watch for signs of infection...fevers, rashes, unexplained nausea, vomiting etc.

the sniffing goes on forever!! my dogs still sniff each other...and they've been together for over a year!! once one has been somewhere...like potty outside.. the others take turns sniffing! :001_rolleyes:

Ok....my almost 14 yo ds is starting hs this fall. He will begin with BJU dvd's for his main curriculum. However, i need to incorporate a strong Art component into his studies. He is wanting to go to art college. He is a passionate cartoonist and stop motion animator. I have had him working through Artistic Pursuits in 8th grade. We are in an area that has very little access to live art classes - 1.5 hour drive would be closest decent classes. Any suggestions on how to give him what he needs to be prepared for art college?:confused:

My dd used the Real ACT prep book....got a 30 first time. However, her math was lower...25...so I might check out the Amsco guide!!

Must say that I agree with that statement...my ds 13 finds it very confusing to read. Finally...in module 16....he's able to take notes and study more or less by himself. Up until now, I went through the text with him to interpret what they were saying. However, this is my artsy ds......my rational/logical 15yo dd is another story. I believe that Apologia is very adequate preparation for college bound kids. My dd scored well in the science section of the ACT. I am interested in seeing how the Chem. class fares this year. By the way....high school labs are...well just that...high school labs. The purpose of a lab is to help understand the concepts presented in the text/material. Obviously, it is also to help understand the scientific method. Both of these objectives can easily be met using household ingredients with a few "extras" (like microscopes/slides etc). Needing to replicate a fully functional chemistry lab for a chem class in not required for high school purposes, imho!!

Wow...looks like a busy year!! Looks good though...I know what you mean about them being capable...just getting their teen brains in gear some days is a challenge...though my almost 16 yo dd finally seems to be getting back on track in that respect!!:hurray:

I was just going to second the recommendations from before...esp. the Classical Track at the Potter's School...but it's not secular. Have you looked at PA Homeschoolers??

to meet high school credit requirements and college entrance requirments if you do not intend on continuing with the language in college, then Rosetta Stone is a good choice for those who aren't competent to teach. It will give your dd some feeling for the language and provide her with the credits she needs. We used it for spanish in our home.

which dvd do you have...the multimedia disc, or the full text on dvd? if its the full text, you don't need the textbook.

Faith....Looks great!! I think you have a great school year planned!!:hurray:

Yah...we're with the ones who are just trying to get past the "stinky" stage. My ds started b.o. when he was 10...he's now almost 14...and still forgets deodorant after showers....but at least he's taking the showers now!:lol:

Hey....we just got a PS3 as well!! My ds13 has been saving like crazy!! We have Little Big Planet.....LOVE IT....I'm interested in some other good titles as well.

I was reading this thread with interest. I also live in a small-town rural area. I don't for a minute think that it's safer just because of it's size and/or isolation. However, when your kids are known by store clerks it does make a difference. We have a small store that is beside our house. The kids have all been expected to go over to make a small purchase since they were about 9 years old. The clerks all know them and they know not to talk to anyone else. We also live on a mission "compound" of sorts (although it is in a small town...hence the store beside our house)....so there are always trustworthy people about during the daytime. I will leave my 10 year old and 6 year old for a short time during the day, as long as there are staff about. I probably would not do this if we lived somewhere else, however. The issue of leaving the kids in a store is more difficult. I have never yet left my kids alone in Walmart, but I will let the oldest (15 and 13) go with the younger two to another area of the store while I am shopping. Or, conversely, I have let the 15 year old shop for groceries while I am in the store. I would not feel comfortable leaving them in the store by themselves. I would rather have them locked in my van in the parking lot with my cell phone than in the store without me. Does that make sense? I think that they are less vunerable in the van then in the store. Hmmm....any thoughts on that one? Also...I did find the "free range children" concept interesting...it reminds me of 'free range chickens" though...our friends have all be losing theirs to predators lately....another thought....

ok...i tried replying a while ago...and i must not have posted it...so i'll try again.....Thanks for all the great replies to my post. Sorry to "re-hash" old posts regarding math, but i needed some more direction. My dd did do Saxon from gr. 3 to alg. 1...but then she started with the potter's school and did their geometry and alg. 2 (they use chicago math). She's been getting A's...but struggles some with it AND i end up tutoring her .... so my thinking is that it's not worth me spending the money on an online course she's not making use of (prefers Text book learning). I've already ordered a used Lial's from Amazon for $7 (including shipping)!! So...i guess that'll be what we use...thanks again for your opinions!!

Hi - I need some help deciding which to use for my daughter's pre-calculus class: Lial's Saxon Advanced math...or Bob Jones Any advice?? Darlene

Brenda...thanks for the good suggestions!! she will be starting pre-calc this fall...so i'm sure that will help...though interestingly enough, her lowest marks were on pre-algebra/elem. algebra!! We did practice a little too close to the test itself...which didn't allow her to practice as much as she should have. So...those are all improvements we can make!! thanks again! darlene

while we're discussing act scores....my sophomore dd scored a 30 composite her first time as well...this april...but her math was only 25....she's an A student in advanced algebra using quite a rigorous program (chicago math online with the potters school)...however, she usually has more difficulty with multiple choice....so...any suggestions on how to better prepare her for the next go around of the act???

Hi - now that i've properly introduced myself (sorry...whoops)...I have an urgent question....i need to select a math course for my dd for next year....she has done saxon algebra 1 in 8th, chicago math with potter's school for 9th and 10th...geometry and advanced algebra...and i need to pick one for next year. the potter's school has a pre-calculus course...i don't know much about it...and they also have a two year course...the first being Functions, Statistics and Trig. and the second year is Pre-calculus/discrete math. If she does pre-calculus next year, should she then do calculus in senior year? Are the other potter's school courses adequate for non-math/science major? Would you suggest other options? I was thinking perhaps of another pre-calc. course ....maybe Veritas online? any thoughts? thanks,

BTW...i the bible curriculum should have been CLP not CLE...my bad!

Thanks for the warm welcomes!! Jane....regarding TPS classical track...we've been very very happy with it! The courses are incredibly well put together...great teachers, and great curriculum. They work together with all four required CT classes so that the work load is never overwhelming. And...they actually have continuity between them! My dd takes two other non-ct tps classes....biology and advanced algebra....those work out fine to take with ct...but it might be tough to fit in much more. We're needing to add a language, but it's sometimes tough to find the time (she swims on a swim team too!). Might have to do it during the summer!! Hope that helps.

Hi - I just realized that I posted to this board without ever introducing myself. I've been "lurking" for awhile, so felt that I already belonged to the board I guess....so here goes...I've been homeschooling for 12 years. I have an almost 16 yo dd in 10th grade with the Potter's School (TPS) Classical Track; an almost 14 yo ds in 8th grade doing an eclectic mix of tt math, bj english/world studies, artistic pursuits, pp lit, Physical science with TPS, and CLE bible; a 10 yo dd in 4th grade in R&S english, singapore math, sotw, artistic pursuits, all about spelling, cle bible, pp lit guides; and finally 6yo ds in 1st grade doing R&S math, llatl, cle bible, and artistic pursuits. Phew...that's done. We live in the Appalachian "foothills" of eastern KY. We have cats, horses and dogs. We're getting ready to breed our 3 year old Champion Brittany for the first time. The kids have also been on a swim team for the past 8 years or so. So.....I've been encouraged by all the Great advice on this board. Please ask anything of me as well. I've used alot of different curriculum over the years. Thanks for "listening"!!

My 15 yo dd started online classes with potter's school last year. She's in their "classical track", which invloves 4 core courses. She also did Latin 1 and Geometry with TPS. I scheduled her to do biology at home with apologia. It was a great difference for us in time commitment. The 90 minute classes once a week (times 6) plus all the assignments and regular homework provided her with a challenge to keep up with it all. Suffice to say, the course that I "scheduled" at home had to get dropped so that she could focus on the TPS courses. This year is much smoother, perhaps because we're used to the schedule. I think it depends on the course. For instance, the instructor for Latin 1 at TPS expected no less than 1 hour of homework each day. Other courses were more "hit and miss" depending on when assignments were due or exams that needed to be studied for. So ...hope that helps.

Hi - My dd has been online with the potter's school since 9th grade. She did geometry in 9th, and is finishing advanced algebra in 10th. She is a strong math student but has no aspirations to continue in math or science in college. However, she is interested in pretty competitive colleges. I'm confused by the math options available: Pre-calculus; Trigonometry; statistics; calculus; and a two-year course offered by potter's school called "Functions Statistics Trigonometry" (using Chicago math texts) followed by "Pre-Calculus and Discrete Math". Any suggestions which she should be taking?? thanks for any help!!