So, are you saying would WOULD do those at dual credit? That might mean more difficult than home taught, but one time and he's done. Right?

I did not realize you were so close to me, we are also in ACC. I had not thought about "Intro to" science classes, that may be a great option. It seems that most Texas schools are now wanting FOUR lab sciences, which is really irritating my liberal-arts minded son. He would like to get the last two knocked out more quickly at CC instead of spending another two whole years at home or other outside science classes. He knows what he would like to do, and really wants to go out-of-state to schools that don't require all the science, but I hate to skip the science now in case he does end up at a Texas school. Thanks for the great suggestions from all of you. It looks like most of you are not loading up on the maximum allowable hours, but are picking and choosing.

We never take the summer off (and - I'm sorry to say - my kids are NOT ahead in math :glare:) You are correct that they forget too much over the summer. Because of that, I bet you will find that the first section of the algebra text is review. Maybe you could just keep moving on into the next book, taking it slowly? Or slow down and work all of the problems instead of the odds only - spreading it over two day? I think the best math review is either the end of the book you are currently using, or the very beginning of the next. My kids have fits when I try to have them "review" with anything different than what they are used to.

Our local community college allows two classes per semester - junior and senior years - for dual enrollment. At first I was excited because that is quite a bit of college credit that can be earned, but now I'm not so sure. They just don't offer that many classes that my son wants or needs. Can you help me think this through? I really don't want him to take history or literature courses there. These classes and the worldview and discussion behind them is the reason we homeschool. He wants to be an attorney, so he isn't taking any more math and science than he needs. However, because it isn't his area of major, maybe it would be good to go ahead and get some of these completed for college? Would college chemistry & physics be too difficult for a non-mathy, non-science high school kid? Foreign language - this must get done and we haven't started on it. I've heard that starting out in community college spanish, with no prior experience, is difficult. But I'm having a hard time justifying an additional spanish class, just to make CC spanish easier. Has anyone had dc jump straight into CC spanish? And, am I correct that one semester of community college is equal to one year of high school work? So he could cram an entire chemistry course into one semester? My son spends alot of time on debate and mock trial and wants to have some time to intern at our state capitol, so I almost think that too much community college could get in the way. I'm just not sure I want to load up the maximum number of courses he could take. Am I wrong? I would appreciate any input and hearing of your experiences. Tracie

Nope. They were just rainy day / cold day / hot day / sick day entertainment in our house. We watched them over and over. I'm still fascinated by the description of equilibrium.

Oh, I long to learn Italian and travel across Italy (I am Italian, after all) Actually, I want to eat my way across Italy. Alas... I live in Texas and Spanish is almost required here. :( It just sounds so harsh compared to Italian.

We're using Henle Latin. I do have a friend that can help me when I need it. I use the Loyola University Press answer key and it has MANY mistakes. When I feel certain there is a mistake, I run it by her just to make sure I'm right. I really think it's fun. It is difficult, but like any good puzzle, it's rewarding.

I always thought this was an entire book, and never got around to it. Thanks for posting!

printing.... :bigear:

We did a trip just like this earlier this year. We took 6-weeks in September and October to avoid the summer crowds and heat from Boston down to Virginia. Because of that, my kids couldn't take any outside classes. Instead, I had my oldest take two online classes this year. He's taking astronomy - with labs, but the labs can be done independently at anytime throughout the year. He's also taking a writing class. We made time for him to work on these two subjects (only) on our trip and he was able to attend the class chat times or read the chat log if that wasn't possible. All of our homeschool classes were started back in July, so we could take a break for those 6-weeks (except for weekly math lessons so they didn't forget anything) and just pick up where we left off when we got home. Most Texas schools really want 4 lab-sciences, so I didn't feel that we could skip a year. He actually took biology in 8th grade, so I may count that and let him drop science his senior year, but I wasn't ready to miss a year yet just in case we change our minds. I hope you have as much fun as we did!!!

This turned out pretty nice. Kinda homeschoolish. Thank you. I have found that the elusive driver's license is the ultimate carrot. Until school starts getting completed on time - no driver's license. Of course, I may end up shuttling him to his college classes... and first job :lol:

OK, thanks. My son just joined our local chapter. I though you were speaking of NHS (for public schoolers). The link to the article was interesting. It also discusses the National Society of High School Scholars. My son has been getting invitations in the mail and I've been throwing them away. I though it was just a money-making venture. Are they legitimate?

The link didn't work, but I searched the College Board website, and they do have a student ID form. Don't know why they didn't tell me that on the phone. Thanks for the idea. Texas DMV offices are crazy!

NHS website seems to say that they don't accept homeschoolers. Am I wrong?

OK, this is all new to us (duh!) My 15 yo son does not have a driver's license or passport, so do I need to go buy a photo ID to take the SAT? Will anything else work? I called the College Board, but they seemed clueless about homeschoolers and kids that don't yet drive. Thanks, Tracie

Anne, Was that Write Guide or Write At Home? Thanks for you input!

Even WriteAtHome's Lively Art of Writing Workshop spends and entire week to just develop the thesis statement, a week on the first draft, another week on the second draft, and ANOTHER week on the final draft. It still takes and entire month to write one essay. Was that your experience?

Even WriteAtHome seems to spend 10 weeks (in their workshops) to produce two essays. I was kind of expecting an essay every one-two weeks from my son.

Thanks, Mary. I just saw that the workshops are based on The Lively Art of Writing - I love that book. I would like to have them help with some papers my son has already started. That seems a bit expensive, but he needs some feedback from someone other than me. I would like to look into the workshops in March. Tracie

It looks like they want to spend about a month per writing assignment. That seems excessive. Did it really take that long to complete an essay?

It seems to be what I'm looking for, I just would like to hear from someone who has used it. Was the feedback helpful? I'm a little concerned from their philosophy page, that they may be a bit easy in order to motivate the student. And because I've never heard of it before. My teen boys don't want to hear me critique their writing any more :D Thanks, Tracie

I don't know where you live, but here in Texas public universities must take the top 10% of students from ALL high schools (well, not homeschools :glare:) regardless of their academics. Freshman admissions are very competitive. For a homeschooler, it is sometimes easier to just transfer into a state school. Of course, you still need good grades, but at least you're not competing with kids that gave up their outside activities so they could concentrate on advanced classes and "community service."

We're using Traditional Logic I & II by Martin Cothran, published by Memoria Press (you can buy it on Amazon.) The Bluedorns have written an article about each: http://www.fallacydetective.com/articles/ just scroll down to the logic section.

Mine says copyright 1958. It also states that earlier editions are virtually the same. I think I bought the first set from Memoria Press several years ago, this last set I bought through Amazon. I normally buy hardback books, but I like the pb of Henle because my kids write extensively in their books. When they translate English -> Latin, they really need to mark the gender/case/number above the nouns. I've heard of some families removing the binding and having the book comb bound. That might be nice, I've just never tried it.

I spend all day - every day - with my son, and I can't tell you how many times I've discovered that something had been falling through the cracks (or, rather, pushed through the cracks and covered up) without my noticing. By age 15 you would think he would have learned that it won't stay hidden forever, but no. Why do today what you can put off until you are caught! ;)