as a matter of routine but on a first come first served basis. I'd go ahead and see what the university can do for you for fall. Give them a chance. Usually the apps for state schools are not that complicated, but he probably has to be accepted before his paperwork can go on over to financial aid. Good luck! (I posted something similar on one of the other threads re. scholarships yesterday, if you are looking for more detail on state school info.)

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that what I am doing with my children is an apples-to-oranges comparison with public schools, so standardized testing was not appropriate. (This is not quite as true now that ds #1 is completing a more traditional subject-oriented highschool path, but it was very true in earlier years.) That could, I suppose lead to further interested questions, but the couple of time I used it, it did not. :) V

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I'm looking for something rather like an Advent devotional. TIA! V

Ds will be freshman next year at the local state 4-year university. He is bright, but has language-related LDs that make it more time-consuming and more difficult for him to do his work than for the average student. That is important, because we don't know how long he will be able to keep up his GPA in college, one of the (normal) requirements to make scholarships renewable year afer year. In addition, he is interested in engineering, so it will be a challenging field. That said, he participated in the school's Early Admissions Program, which is part of their Honors College. If a student takes at least 6 hours (essentially dual credit) prior to their freshman year and maintains a B average, they automatically receive a scholarhip worth $X for each of the following four years. They may also continue as an Honors College student, with special classes and perks reserved for the HC students, if they so desire. (There is more work for HC classes as well.) He was awarded another merit scholarship based strictly on numbers--high school GPA, class rank (optional in his case), and SAT scores. Everyone with those stats receives $Y, renewable for four years pending GPA. Finally, we were surprised that he received an outstanding freshman award from the engineering department. It is also renewable, but I don't yet know the stipulations. So, in his case, the institution is a public school, awards were strictly by the numbers, and if there was any competition on the engineering award--I doubt it--the fact that he is a homeschooler did not hurt him. HTH, Valerie

Replying to Pam's story: Pam, it's her loss! :) Really! Val

I know we are told that we will endure trials, but my heart aches for both of you! Please know that both families are in our prayers, and Heather, please, PLEASE, keep us frequently posted on your and Stacey's condition. I would like to be able to hold you up before the throne on a very regular basis, with as much as you feel comfortable sharing--although He certainly knows before we even pray. :o I will go put your names on my pantry door list right now--that's the best way I've found to keep the names of folks who are dear to me frequently in prayer! :D {{{Heather}} {{{Stacey}} Valerie

My eldest has language related LDs so I won't even go into his continuing struggles. My second student has been called a "natural writer," but I hate that term--she has worked as hard as I have to write as well as she does. As far as outside evaluations of her writing, I had her in a sixth grade writing class at a co-op, then in seventh grade a TOG 3 (unit study) class taught by a journalism major who is reputed to be a great writing coach. She wrote at the top of her class of 12, which included several 11th graders. (I did not think that her writing was that great, but she did put effort and heart into her papers.) After several years at home, including working through Wordsmith Craftsman, she is now in a pre-AP english class where her avg is nearly perfect and in Torrey Academy Inklings in which her papers routinely get As and A-s. Currently, her papers are still lacking in sentence complexity and variety, appropriate and varied vocab, and in correct usage of prepositions. I have her in these classes, because she is willing for me to look at her papers and make suggestions, but having me *grade* her papers is more than she is able to stand. :) No doubt, the teachers there are much more diplomatic and inspiring, as well. :D I am finding that if I point out and underline things, such as "this paragraph has several punctuation errors," "you have used the word 'repetition' six times in three paragraphs", "this construction is awkward," or if I read something she has written aloud to her, she is able to correct her work. I'm trying to nudge her toward seeing her own mistakes and help her learn to revise and edit without my help. We have a way to go, but she is making progress. There are three themes that I come back to in working with my three students: 1) organization 2) speed -- get something down on paper fast 3) be humble enough and patient enough to revise and edit. There is *always* room for improvement. I hope something there helps. Valerie

You had posted several time about the TGs being useless, that the meat of the program was in the two presentation books and workbook. The set I purchased was a 2001 edition, so not the most current, but it is complete with everything I need, and it is in pristine condition. (I waited to happy dance until it arrived! :o ) **Thank you** again for all the useful information you posted--I'm so grateful for your being there to share your experience. Val

Claire, you had mentioned that they occasionally came up for sale, so I set up a search awhile back, and this is a beautiful set! I had been working with a modified version of Laurie4b's plan, which has been helping a lot, but I was really beginning to feel like we needed a change of pace, or maybe it's just that it's February ( :eek:!!!) and --voila-- this popped up after a number of months of having it on an eBay search! I'm so tickled! Thanks to both of you!! Valerie

I have older kids, so I was "out of practice" and--very foolishly--did not put down towels on the floor after I sent ds18 to bed with a bucket. He woke up from a dead sleep at 1:30 a.m., got most of it in the bucket, but also liberally doused his floor as well. I use the carpet cleaner the carpet the next morning, but am still sprinkling and vacuuming up baking soda every couple of days. :( These are the things that have worked well for us: 1) No one gets to sleep in a high bunk if they are sick. 'Nuf said. 2) layer towels on the floor and in the bed, so if they don't make the bucket, it is very easily removed, rather than having to wash out the carpet. (Like I said, I had forgotten.) 3) where possible, designate one bathroom as the "sick bathroom", and keep lysol/papertowel wipes handy for doorknobs and any other hard surface that nees cleaning. I'm sorry! Hope you all get well soon.

The city of Irving started puting in the rubberized surfaces about 6 years ago. What if you called them and asked them for their two cents' worth on the pros, cons, and longevity? Valerie

You are doing the right thing! Truly! Press on, and it will be one valuable lesson learned! At the moment, one of my children is in the midst of a much needed refresher course on consequences. In addition dh and are also thinking about consequences for a serious infraction, so after you are finished with the bottle of spine strengthener, please send it back, as I am going to need it this weekend when the other shoe drops. :eek: I can't imagine where we'd be without the discipline and consistency that have already been laid down...it's hard enough as is. V

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thanks! v

I'm looking for both classics and more modern, but not dark, hopeless angst-filled, at least not at this time in our lives. I read voraciously as a child, as there was nothing else to do, so to me all books are all treasures. I need help narrowing down to the must reads. Ds (12 yo dyslexic) has suddenly hatched into a reader, a voracious reader, where before he would struggle through what he had to read. he is still struggling and reads slowly, but there is joy in his reading! :cool: Older ds transitioned this way with the Ralph Moody books, but this one doesn't really care for them. I'd also really appreciate some suggestions for books about inspirational or heroic figures. Thank you!

...this would be for upper elementary level (5/6th grade or so). I was hoping someone had a list of both fiction and non-fiction, so I wouldn't have to go compile a list myself. ;) Thanks in advance! V

I loved the baking/oven analogy--you all are such a hoot! I'll have to see if the "thinking/planning for it" helps. :) Val

I'll post something serious later. :)

I would go to the dean of the math department at the local CC, explain your situation, and ask if he knows of any good but reasonable tutors, or someone who could mentor your ds on a pro-bono basis. You could also ask if there are any math interest groups around to whom he could refer you. See where that path leads you... We think that Lial's precal book combined with the Thinkwell videos make a great combo, and using those, I do think someone could meet on a weekly basis with your ds, and it could be enough. BTW, not that you mentioned this, but I do not recommend BJU precalc with homesat videos. HTH

I need suggestions on how to normalize (amp up the level of) desire. And I don't mean in the moment, I mean in general. There is nothing else wrong. I won't put it all into writing, dh is truly wonderful...there is just something missing in my biochemistry. Any natural suggestions? Thanks, V

dd is taking their first year class, The Inklings. It is a 3 credit synchronous course, covering Bible/theology, philosophy/worldview, and lit. (You can list it several different ways on a transcript.) It is a tutorial, with the class meeting twice a week for 1.5 hours, and they use both voice and texting during class. Dd has loved the class and thoroughly enjoyed the material. I love it that she is working hard, being challenged, and growing in her confidence--she is beginning to believe in her ability to tackle and conquer difficult things. (Like the ad says, "....Priceless." ) V

Fears presents both C's public and personal lives, traces themes throughout C's life, and shows the deeply conservative principles that drove C to embrace positions that frequently were not the mainstream view. In many ways, Churchill seems like the Reagan of his era. Imho, this is a "don't miss" lecture series. V