There are quite a few web-sites on the Internet. The best ones have study questions and test questions. I found some for US History that are good. Search AP US History Test questions or whatever. The MIT OCSW site has a selection of lectures for math and science AP students. What subjects are you thinking about?

This book is horribly written and awkwardly plotted, and could have used some serious editing but....there was something v. compelling about it so I kept reading. I loved the ideas behind the story and the characters but, I just wished the writing had better. I understand it is not the fault of the translator, the book was a mess in Swedish too. I read the 2nd book and saw the 1st movie (better than the book but, not nearly long enough). I'm holding off buying the 3rd until the cheap pback comes out. I am now reading a book that was exquisitely written and edited but, totally blah! BTW I also tried a Henning Montel Wallender book, also Swedish, that dealt with some of the same issues as the Dragon Tattoo....It was both well written and engaging. I'm going back for more next trip to the bookstore.

As the teacher, I am using binders for everything!!! For Math, I've got a sheet of assignments/tests/projects for each week. I loaded up the worksheet stuff and tests behind each page. I also have a section for grades. We will generate an exam study section and a portfolio section (of work that my dd and I liked or did not like). I think the most important thing is to have tangible evidence of the work you do so you can easily refer to it and use it in the future for course descriptions, study, and college app. documentation.

I think the SAT subject tests, especially in language, may be harder than the AP tests, at least that's what I've heard.

Great job. We are also in our 1st year of hs. My dd is doing the Am Lit/US Hist combo as well. We are using the Norton Anthology for a lit. source. We are combining it with a Rhetoric book since college classes seem to be doing rhetorical analysis of Am. Lit. That approach is particularly valuable in the early american writings so that you not only get historical info. out of them but, can learn to appreciate their literary value.

I'm not sure what NROC and TOC mean???? V. new to all this. I am using the MIT site as a supplement, something to look at say, right before a test to review, etc. DD wants mostly book-based learning this year so, we are doing the workbook and study guide exercises. Those materials look v. complete and thorough. My plan was to take the book and schedule it so we get around 1/2 done at xmas. I ordered a test bank which we will use for assessment. I am also instituting a weekly AP/ACT science test question quiz weekly. I'm going to get the questions from the test review books and something called AP Parts (some where in cyber space the dd tells me). I think the MIT curriculum is probably geared towards the 7th, if it is a few years old. But, I do love the 8th. Also, at this age, they should be able to figure things out if those curricula are using a different edition than what they have???? Whining is soooooo middle school.

I haven't seen any discussion of this..... What is the best Eng. vocab. series for the last 2 years of high school? My dd has done Vocabulary Workshop - Sadler Oxford for the last few years but, I think she needs something better, especially for the ACT/SAT ordeals.

I'm using the 8th. I was able to find it for a reasonable price along with the workbook and study guide. I think the pictures and layout are "newer" and more engaging than the 7th. If the 7th is substantially cheaper tho' I would go with that. My daughter wants to hold on to this book forever so, I figured the new edition was best.

My dd thought the big blue book's tests were the best. Well edited, not confusing. She thought the Princeton Guide was on the wrong track about a lot of the questions. And while we are here....Does anyone have an ACT guide that they liked the best???

I am combining US History and Am. Lit. this year as well. What I did was get hold of a Norton's Anthology and the US History text book. I paced the lit readings to the history readings. In her reading summaries I will expect my dd to address what was going on historically. It seems that most everything in the early part of the NA is written in response to some historical event so, it is easy going at first. Once we hit the 20th century, I think it might be harder to match things up.

I am just starting the hs process with my Jr. in HS. I am teaching everything with the exception of an online German class (OSU?). The planning has been completely time-consuming so far, (Pre-calc., AP Bio, Eng. Rhet and Am. Lit, Am. History). The reason why we decided to do this though is so that the dd is actually prepared to go to college. I know that my curriculum will be much more strenuous than ps but, hopefully she will learn more and get on track....she's a bright kid that totally lost confidence in ps this year. For the folks that have been doing this for a while. I would go with some outside classes, in order to get some nice academic accountability and some "non-mommy" teacher recs. I realize that by doing things the way that we are we sill lose those things but, it is better than a kid losing all heart!!!

I am thinking of doing the same for Am. Lit. and possibly rhetoric this year. The AP bio. course parts look like they'd be good to incorporate. The NYT article in the education section a while ago got me looking around. I've not worked out the curricula for these courses yet but, will keep y'all updated. It looks like you can follow the courses as much or as little as you need to. I am doing my own grading tho' the guidelines that I saw looked like they would work. I suppose it all comes down to what your umbrella school requires.

We are using Foerster (Pre-calc and trig), just books. Have a teacher's guide, text, and solutions. The PhD down the street will tutor my dd over any rough spots.

I pmed you. This is a great idea.

She would do summer work just to keep her mind in shape. She is going to do some SAT/ACT study and I'd like her to read a few things as precursors to our US History and Am. Lit courses. Our public schools have always assigned summer work, especially to hi-schoolers (she is coming out of public school). Also, I'd thought we both have a chance to break in our teacher/student relationship (scary?).

I am beginning to homeschool my daughter (dd?) as a JR in highschool. Thanks to the forum I've got my book orders lined up but, OMG, I think I will be working more than she will. How does everyone decide about what to assign for summer work? When do you expect product from that work?:confused: