We used Foerster this last year and really liked it :) Can't comment on the other - but I have also heard they are both very solid choices :)

Kawai is a great brand. They are wonderful with their warranties.... and they sound fantastic. Be very careful buying used - have a piano tuner check the piano out for you before you buy. Used is a great way to go, but just be cautious....

Ok - but you realize we are one of the "most" reporting countries on the list (many underreport), and that people with many multiples and very premature infants actually count in our score - whereas other countries don't count under (I think - about) 37 weeks as being mortalities? We also have many more moms who are able to get closer to term before something bad happens because of our supportive care.... And we count those lost babies. Many other countries just don't. You can make statistics say anything....

This is my understanding as well.... I'm all for letting nature take its course, but there is a reason mortality from childbirth has gone down.... for both the mom and the baby.

Here is my take: Yes, it can be scary.... but the offender you know of is better than the many that may live nearby who either haven't been caught or had their charges reduced. in whatever way you are comfortable (depending on the ages of your sons) make your sons aware they need to avoid him, never go into the home, never get into his car, and tell you any time he initiates contact with them. He has obviously served his time, and he is legally living there, any action you take can be called harassment and you could be the one to get into trouble for it. You can certainly look up the court records to see what the offense was, but I wouldn't go beyond that. .

Hmmm - we used Homework Helpers Chemistry by Greg Curran alongside that videos and the "High School Chem in your Home" curriculum. I think, with a bit of supplementation and labs, the videos and the Homework Helpers book are a great program :) The book really lays it out nicely. In fact - it is the most clearly written, accessible text in Chemistry I've read - but it also covers everything very well. The only issue is the order things are in, but for the most part it is easy to tell which chapters would go with each video lesson.

I'm really wishing we had gotten it for this last year (Algebra II, Foerster). I think it would have been well worth the cost.

We just completed Foerster's Algebra II with Trig (we didn't do the trig part, he's taking that next year). Once again (we used his Algebra 1 as well) I am very pleased and impressed by his text. I would recommend the teacher's manual and the solution guide :)

It looks just fine to me :)

One of my sons decided in 7th that he wanted to go to high school, so we went ahead and put him in 8th. The other son - it 8th - decided firmly he did not. He didn't have the option to change his mind after he started high school because they would give NO credit for any classes he took. Neither struggled with the decision, thankfully, but here is what each of them counted as important: Son returning to PS - social interaction, homecoming, prom, regular diploma Son staying - freedom, more choice in classes, DE classes would help make up classroom time, dealing with his LD's would be better.

With the two high schools I am familiar with - credit wasn't even an option... I think the course finals option might be a good bet. It would save him retaking anything. Usually they'll give you a syllabus that he can use to study from. I would certainly ask if they can stagger them by a month or so so that he isn't taking 7 tests in the same week.

Yeah - it's in there; first chapter of the book. I believe she realizes she is beautiful and becomes terrified of growing older and losing her beauty - but it's the concern about being beautiful that is the real issue - and it is that concern that takes her beauty away.

Do you remember in the Princess Bride where the "most beautiful woman in the world" realized she was just that, and then became obsessed with her appearance and became ugly because of it? Who we are and our beauty comes out through our skin, it doesn't sit on top of it. I absolutely always think personal growth - in whatever way you need to grow at the time - is worthwhile. I have "less-than" issues about my lack of formal education or career. I've worked for a long time to get over myself :) Work towards realizing that skin-deep is really only important in magazines and on film, and that most of those people are airbrushed and have personal stylists, lol. Some of the most beautiful people I know would never make it on the cover of a magazine, and thank God for that! It would ruin their amazing selves.

I help my DS get his corsages, and I pay for them. He picks out what he likes, but I pick it up. I know his jr prom date had help from her mom as well. I don't think it would be too late to go to a florist, they usually have extra, standard ones. Cant go wrong with a red or white rose.

Just last summer we bought a 30 ft trailer with a queen in the back and 4 bunk beds in the front, kitchen and living area, bath in between. Our two sons get the top bunks, our great danes get the two bottom bunks :) We love it. So much easier and nicer than hotels, especially with the dogs.

There is usually some kernel of truth behind every stereotype (yes - even including the homeschool ones). However, what I have personally seen is this: Mom and Dad have very different opinions on what is "safe' or "ok". Mom is over-protective, Dad is not - but kids haven't gotten hurt other than bumps and bruises when with him (normal kid/play stuff). Mom is a bit of a control freak as well. Wants everything done the "right" way, and panics if kid is given juice or the wrong kind of bread (etc.), and since Dad thinks it's no big deal - he becomes "incompetent". As for not wanting to help or be involved - well - sure, some just don't want to. But, I also know men who've stopped wanting to because they are micromanaged, and everything they do with the kids is critiqued and criticized when mom returns.

It sounds like she has what it takes for nursing :) Concrete thinking, hands on science, etc. I probably missed it (haven't had all my coffee yet), but where is she in math? There is a nursing program at the CC here and at many of them, she'd have to get a good score on the Accuplacer/Compass (which ever test they use near you) which would include math, sentence structure, and reading comprehension. But - she sounds like she could probably already do pretty well on that. I say meet here where she is, focus her studies on what she will need to get into nursing school, and everything else can be gravy.

Well - it isn't just American history, and you'd have to supplement anything pre-1850, but Trisms' Age of Revolution is a two semester or two year program (depending on how much you assign, pace, etc.). We're doing an American gov. class that will also include pre-1850 history, but Trisms' Rise of Nations (which we did this year) include units that cover the Revolution in the US. It is basically a syllabus, but does come with map blanks and questions on research and literature, a teacher's manual, and an answer key, tests, etc. Sadly, it is really pricey. I bought the two semesters together on Rainbow Resources for $405 (we're using them for two years and adding double the literature - my son will be a junior next year).

I'll second the Harry Potter and Philosophy book - you could probably get some great discussion/essay question ideas out of it.

I think it would be great as long as you discussed each chapter (or part of a chapter). I used a printable study guide along with it for my son and he did very well with it.

My son had never taken a standardized test of any sort, and had not done any testing on a computer (well - except the test for his drivers' license), and he ACED the Accuplacer at the local CC...

He needs to follow the same path as someone going into engineering. Math, math, math, uh - some more math.... ;) Physics. Civil Air Patrol is good, as is Jr ROTC. Our local CC actually offers private pilot courses, and the more private flight time he has the better....

I'm self taught - I just turned 40 and didn't start learning until I was 36. Lots of You-Tube videos! I sew pretty much anything and everything now: clothes, purses, wallets, pillows, quilts, etc. My sons know how to sew a straight seam in something (they basically learned to cut something out and sew a pillow).

Please don't count me as an expert - but from what I've read here and elsewhere ... no - you can't count them :) 6th is very young and early. Many colleges/schools will accept some classes taken in 8th grade if they are a HS level class, but I've never heard of one accepting an elective or any classes other than math before 8th. Too many credits would look suspicious or odd - I mean, yeah - my son will have extra, but not a large amount of extra. Maybe a class or two. I am counting his biology and algebra from 8th, so there are those. Now - can you count it on her transcript and not tell them it was in middle school - I suppose. I personally wouldn't, but no judgment here :) I know there are people who have transcripts that just list the classes taken and not the year they were taken in, so that would be a way around it.

Acoustic. I get all the reasons for having a digital, I do, but even being military we own a baby grand. You can't beat the sound (a studio grand is awesome as well). If you can get a studio or baby grand (5'5" or over), do it :) If you have to go with a spinet or a regular smaller console, you may like the digital better, as the sound difference isn't as profound. The only other issue is this: if they ever want to play acoustic, they should learn on one. The feel is different, the sustain is different, it is just a different animal altogether. Now - don't get me wrong, digitals can be great and there is absolutely nothing wrong with one. But I personally can tell the difference and prefer acoustic.