I didn't even know what a "Mardels" was before I googled it - sounded a bit like a deli. :laugh: Nope.. no curriculum stores within any sort of reasonable driving distance. Wish there was!

Oh we could certainly do that - we could get library books or look up our missing bits online.. we're not really on a schedule, no. I wish I could get my hands on the book and actually flip through it.. I'm gonna send out an email to our local hs group and see if anyone owns it, but I doubt it. There's not many families in the group with kids older than mine - there was one with a bunch of older teens, but they moved away this summer. I figure it's worth asking though. I'm torn - I really don't want to squash her interest, as she isn't exactly in love with science.. or school work in general. ;) But I also don't want to end up with something that we can't make heads or tails out of... we really would be doing this together, because I never took any biology classes myself... dd13 actually thinks that's pretty funny. :tongue_smilie: The sample module wasn't complicated to read.. I wish they had more to view, from farther into the book...

It is! :D So do I! :laugh:

(I initially posted this in K-8, then realized it should probably be in here) I wonder if I might bend the ears of anyone who has used this... Dd13 has expressed interest in using the Marine Biology program... and the last thing that I want to do is squish an interest... but I'm a bit concerned. 1. It's listed as a 11/12th grade course; she's going into 9th. 2. It says that a student should have taken a "first year biology course" already; she hasn't. 3. It's (obviously) written from a Christian, and I believe YEC, perspective; we do not fit this profile. There was also mention of math skills on one website - I can't remember what it said.. something about "Algebra II" ? She hasn't done Algebra yet. Now - we aren't concerned about 'credits' or anything. That doesn't begin until the 10th grade for us. This is purely because she's shown an interest. I wouldn't expect her to do this alone - I'd do it with her. I've not done a "first year biology course" either though -- so can someone tell me why they suggest that? We're both coming at this with empty biology buckets. ;) If we need to do a little extra 'looking things up', that's fine. If this is more like trying to jump into the 2nd level of a language course without even knowing how to say "Hello" -- that could be a problem. She does NOT want to do the basic biology course that they offer - it's the marine that's caught her eye. Oceans, marine life, how's it all work, what's done there, etc. I'm really not seeing a whole lot of other programs that are similar to this - if you do know of something that might be a bit more age/grade appropriate, please give me a link to check it out. (it has to be something we can order - not an online course.) I've never seen the book before...I did look at the sample module here and... it doesn't look that difficult... I like the 'conversational' style and I think dd13 will as well. In the sample module there, I really don't see anything that screams "You can't do this! You need other courses first!" I do see three very obvious 'in your face' bits about the age of the earth and anti-evolution. (I don't mean rude by 'in your face' - I just mean obvious.) If it's always that 'out there' -- the author seems to go "I'd like to take a minute blah blah blah" or stuff.. makes it obvious... if it's always like that, we can just skip over that stuff.. or look up info to counter it with our views, whatever. Oh one other note: we'd be getting a good microscope and the kit with the specimens on slides, but not the dissection stuff. She doesn't want to be cutting anything open - can't say as that I blame her. We can always go online and look for some videos/animations of dissections if need be. Apparently there is also a cd with videos/etc on it too; we'd order that as well. Anyone care to share their experience with it? Thanks! :)

Hmmm. I wish I could actually get the book in my hands and flip through it.... I don't mind if we need to look up some extra stuff - like your example of cells...I mean, we both have a 'basic' idea of what cells are (building blocks of life/etc) but we haven't *studied* them in depth. We could easily go and get a book on cells or look up something online... I don't know, I'm torn. I don't want to squash her interest.. when she realized there was a course that was all about oceans/ocean life/etc, she got all excited - that doesn't happen much in regards to school work. :tongue_smilie: I also just realized that I should have posted this is the "high school" area - oops. I'll 'cross post' it there as well.

(edit: cross posted to the 'high school' section as well) I wonder if I might bend the ears of anyone who has used this... Dd13 has expressed interest in using the Marine Biology program... and the last thing that I want to do is squish an interest... but I'm a bit concerned. 1. It's listed as a 11/12th grade course; she's going into 9th. 2. It says that a student should have taken a "first year biology course" already; she hasn't. 3. It's (obviously) written from a Christian, and I believe YEC, perspective; we do not fit this profile. There was also mention of math skills on one website - I can't remember what it said.. something about "Algebra II" ? She hasn't done Algebra yet. Now - we aren't concerned about 'credits' or anything. That doesn't begin until the 10th grade for us. This is purely because she's shown an interest. I wouldn't expect her to do this alone - I'd do it with her. I've not done a "first year biology course" either though -- so can someone tell me why they suggest that? We're both coming at this with empty biology buckets. ;) If we need to do a little extra 'looking things up', that's fine. If this is more like trying to jump into the 2nd level of a language course without even knowing how to say "Hello" -- that could be a problem. She does NOT want to do the basic biology course that they offer - it's the marine that's caught her eye. Oceans, marine life, how's it all work, what's done there, etc. I'm really not seeing a whole lot of other programs that are similar to this - if you do know of something that might be a bit more age/grade appropriate, please give me a link to check it out. (it has to be something we can order - not an online course.) I've never seen the book before...I did look at the sample module here and... it doesn't look that difficult... I like the 'conversational' style and I think dd13 will as well. In the sample module there, I really don't see anything that screams "You can't do this! You need other courses first!" I do see three very obvious 'in your face' bits about the age of the earth and anti-evolution. (I don't mean rude by 'in your face' - I just mean obvious.) If it's always that 'out there' -- the author seems to go "I'd like to take a minute blah blah blah" or stuff.. makes it obvious... if it's always like that, we can just skip over that stuff.. or look up info to counter it with our views, whatever. Oh one other note: we'd be getting a good microscope and the kit with the specimens on slides, but not the dissection stuff. She doesn't want to be cutting anything open - can't say as that I blame her. We can always go online and look for some videos/animations of dissections if need be. Apparently there is also a cd with videos/etc on it too; we'd order that as well. Anyone care to share their experience with it? Thanks! :)

I'd say... it depends. Is the shirt colored? I'd make sure the shirt was colorful - not plain white, black, or grey. In other words - look pleasant & well dressed, but not like you're interviewing at a law firm. ;) (I remember being taught to be careful not to overdo it - not to show up in a suit for an interview at a dairy bar, or in a dress & heels for an interview at the community pool. That kinda thing.)

Faves: Angel Blood Ties Moonlight True Blood I don't watch a lot of current tv shows (with the exception of True Blood) - I tend to find shows a bit later on dvd and end up going "oh! so this is what everyone was babbling about!" :tongue_smilie: Plus - I hate commercials, and I prefer to have control over when/where I watch something, so I don't mind waiting to get the dvds of something. Currently waiting for season one of The Vampire Diaries to come out at the end of the month. (impatiently)

How in the world does a vet give a reference & approval letter for someone that they don't know from a hole in the ground??

I saw that you have Angel on your list in the other thread - you might also like Blood Ties and Moonlight. :)

Those sound like good plans. :) ds12 doesn't really go through this, but dd13 does - every. single. year. - and it's been starting up a bit lately, as she sees her friends (mostly all public school kids) out getting all sorts of new school clothes, backpacks, lunch bags, supplies, etc etc and she turns a little green. ;) Maybe your daughter would like something 'new' - even if she doesn't NEED a shiny new Hannah/Princess/??* backpack, perhaps she'd enjoy one for carrying her snacks to park days and such? * I have no idea what the 5 year olds are into these days. When dd13 was 5, she was all about that <cringe> purple dinosaur whose name shall not be uttered. :tongue_smilie:

That. :) He's only in 1st grade - you aren't on a deadline for college entry here or anything. ;) Most homeschooling families that I know IRL don't even start until early/mid September, with the exception of a couple who go year-round. It's okay to wait. Pinky swear. :D

I realized that I didn't thank the rest of you here, so thank you! I've been researching the programs mentioned, along with some others, and haven't made a decision yet (still waiting on info re: how this year will go) but I appreciate everyone's suggestions. Many thanks! :) EDIT: Okay, we finally know what's up. She does NOT need to follow the school's curriculum if she participates part time this year - we can still do our own thing. So we've got this year (at least) to 'catch up' in the mathematics area. Good good.

You might call it a 'bad idea' :laugh: but thanks for mentioning it! I found what you're talking about - awesome. :D

Right now, dd13 has a babysitting job with 2 kids (ages 3 & 7) and they pay $10/hour. Sometimes another family brings their two kids to the same location (the parents do stuff together) adding in a 5 & 7 year old - then she earns $20/hour because each family pays her the $10 rate. With 3,5,7,7 - she's earning every penny of that. :laugh:

"Rhubarb Crisp" is really good too - I've never made it myself, but my mother does. :)

Dd13 will sometimes buy things at the grocery store that she wants to have as "hers" only - regular groceries are generally fair game for whoever wants to eat them, so if she wants to have her own chips/crackers/block of cheese/cereal/whatever, then she'll buy them and it's paws off for the rest of us. ;) edit: she also uses her own money if she wants to go out for pizza/burgers with her friends as well.

I'm in agreement with the "she's already been punished enough" crowd, but may I make a suggestion? If possible, I would try to have a chat with her about what she saw. There's some pretty wild stuff out there... I'd be concerned that she may have seen things that confused or even scared her - especially given her very young age. :(

Depends. I wouldn't bother calling our doctor's office for 5/10 minutes, mainly because they never answer the phone & the voicemail is ALWAYS "full".. I'd just arrive & apologize. For other appts, I'd call for 5/10 min late or more. For friends, it depends on the person and what the plan is. For one of my friends, "come over around 2pm" means "come over sometime between 2 and 3" - so I wouldn't text/call unless we weren't gonna make it until after 3 :laugh: ... for most of them, I'd text/call if we were gonna be 15 min late or more.

That would be way too long of a school day in our house, for any grade. :001_huh: That said, each family is different.. what doesn't work for one might be perfect for another. How long were his days last year?

I hope you gave her a freebie 30min for that creative thinking! :D

Those are awesome! :) (dd13 and I are both Twilight fans)

23?! So someone who is 20, living in their own apartment, working, not the least bit financially supported by his/her parents --- would be considered "dependent" ? That's nuts. :001_huh:

Whether you agree with the methodology or not, parental income and savings will be considered by colleges. In my day it was far easier for a student to declare independence from parents so that only the student's assets and income were considered. Much more difficult now. Gone are the days in which students could earn a substantial percentage of their fees during the summer months. Because college is important to us, we have saved since my son's birth for his education. Further, he has saved as well. I view this as our responsibility. It sometimes surprises me when parents state that they do not want their children to assume debt, but then are unwilling to pay. Who then pays? Perhaps we should have a spinoff thread and/or survey. It sounds a bit as if you think I was talking about myself? I wasn't. :) If our kids decide to go to college, we'll try to help them. I don't know if we'll be able to or not, but we'd certainly try. I was talking about those whose parents refuse - like mine would have done. I do, actually, disagree COMPLETELY with it being "mandatory".

:iagree: What happens to the student whose parents flat out refuse? (I never went to college, but my parents wouldn't have given me a red penny at 18. We didn't exactly get along back then...)