I sorry to hear it didn't work out. Was this the memory foam mattress of the spring one?

Thanks. I think the Loom and Leaf memory foam ones are newer. I wish I knew if we would like it and if they last.

We are in desperate need of a new mattress. I recently had back surgery and our old mattress is not helping. We have checked out some at the local mattress store, but I am intrigued by the ones offered online by Saatva. I have read many online reviews, but I want to hear from real people not just semi-professional reviewers. I am interested in either the regular spring/ foam Saatva mattress or the new Loom and Leaf ones. If you own or have tried one of these please chime in. Thanks, Michelle

Been having the same troubles, but I think it is fixed now. I just got ds's scores

The school did not specifically ask for gender, but it was on generic samples I found online. I also stumbled across a website declaring that not listing gender as one of the big "mistakes" that homeschoolers make on their transcripts. After all that, the admissions counselor didn't even ask for it while we were there. But I am very glad it put a fire under me and got it going.

just wondering because Homeschool Tracker Plus doesn't put it in and I don't want to type it all up just to have it.

KarenNC I saw that GCC (one of my alma maters) had a homeschooler rate. But I'm looking at Corning which does not have a homeschooler rate as far as I can tell. For some reason I thought SUNY schools were the same. I wish I still lived close to GCC.

Today I called the local CC here in NY about my oldest taking his economics requirement there for the class experience. The class description sounds great but I cannot believe the price. They charge $177 per credit hr for this 3 credit course plus student fees and books. How do other homeschoolers afford this? I am almost regretting homeschooling because in PS he would have been able to take ACE classes at $19 a credit hr with no book fees.

I dropped Rod and Staff Spelling 7 for GradeSpelling.com (free). The words are much more relavant to our world and the exercises are not frustrating. I also like that it includes definitions. Michelle

OP here. I am enjoying reading all the responses. My ds has to be at the school at 7:00 am tommorrow. So far he has done little to no prep so I guess it will be a baseline for him too. Michelle

So, if I understand correctly, the PSAT next week is the first of the "new" format where guessing will not be penalized. My 10th grade ds could not participate in our school district this year because they are doing a special test where only juniors that attend that school may take it. It is a very small school district and I know the counselor personally and I know she is not just getting rid of us. She also told me she is never agreeing to something like that again. So I called another local, much larger, school district to take him. They are fine with him coming, but she had no clue about the new PSAT. I do realize she wasn't a guidance counselor, but she promised to ask one and get right back to me. Which she didn't. She has done this to me twice now. It seems like the schools really don't take much interest in this test. When I took my oldest 2 years ago for it, there were teachers coming into the office just learning that day that their students would be testing all morning. Also, my niece who attends one of the best districts in NYS did poorly on her test because she didn't realize that guesses counted against you. I don't know if they are given any preparation for these tests or maybe she just didn't follow directions. So, is anyone else having their 10th grader take it this year?

I have two so far that have gone through MFW AHL. My plan for my next ds is to do a comprehensive year of American history (maybe CLE 8th grade). My previous ds did a full year of geography and cultures using PAC Geography. My oldest did SL Core H in 8th grade then on to ancients with MFW. For me it depended where they were in the history cycle.

BUMP

I am in the process of putting together my upcoming senior's literature course. I like the look of IEW's Windows to the World, but I also like the idea of using the 7Sisters literature guides. DS has done MFW for the past 3 years, but I couldn't justify purchasing the second half of the US study this year. I also don't like a just read what you want plan from a booklist for literature. I would like to have both some free reading (more WEM style) and some planned literary studies. My question is that if anyone is familiar with both of these resources would they be considered redundant? I would probably drop WttW before the study guides just because I can tailor them to books I want to use. One additional question. Would you have your student read a book that they have already expressed that they do not want to read? I was considering The Great Gatsby as one of our books and, for some unknown reason, ds is against that book.

We have the Allure pine looking planks in our bathroom and study (schoolroom). And we have the Allure tile in our kitchen. For the most part this has been a great solution for us. Our bathroom floor is very uneven, but the planks are staying together great. Our schoolroom has heated cement floors under the planks. The only two negatives is they can scratch just like hardwood so you need to put felt on the bottom of chair/table legs. The tile looking one in our kitchen seems to scratch easier than the planks. The other negative is that if you are installing it on a floor that is above a cold space, they may pull apart and leave a bigger crack than you originally had.

I have been thinking about economics also. Coursera has two free economics classes I have considered.

Thanks. I ordered it. I am tired of trying to buy decent priced used one from ebay.

Is there difference in using the TI-84 plus ce and TI-83 plus? I bought TT for Algebra 2 and Pre-Calc this year which calls for the TI-83 plus. I have been hesitating to buy because it seems like a lot of money for a calculator. I saw the color one at Walmart the other day and thought that if I have to spend the money, I would rather have the color one.

Bump.

Has anyone developed a high school level American literature course that starts with literature from the late 1800's to present? Oldest ds has been using MFW high school till 11th grade, but I decided not to get the schedule next year and do more of our own thing. Most Am. lit. courses I have looked into have too much overlap of what he has already read. I don't like the idea of just giving him a list to read, but may end up approaching it as the WTM describes. I also have considered throwing in a few literary guides to help us with literary terms and writing. Also what criteria do you use for grades for these more open ended courses? Thanks, Michelle

I agree with freesia. DS did Foersters for Alg. 1, but lost his confidence. He is going to use TT this year for Alg. 2

I'm OK with it if it is a teen I have more than a casual acquaintance with at church. We have given money to a few teens we know, but they have displayed a servant attitude and hard work ethic. That said, our oldest wants to go on a trip this fall and refuses to send out letters. He has the money to pay for it from savings since his childhood, but he is working hard this summer to try to not dip into it.

Thanks. I ordered the How to Look at and Understand Great Art. Looking forward to watching it.

I need to put together a fine art credit for my upcoming senior. I will probably have my 10th grader join him. I am looking at 2 different Great Courses as part of it. They are How To Look At and Understand Great Art and The Worlds Greatest Paintings. Are they both very useful, or would one be preferred over the other? I do own the understanding music lecture and may incorporate that also. I don't want the whole year to be all lectures. I am also planning on seeing live performances and visiting museums. Also, some hands on art would be great.

I shopped around online yesterday. Of several of the places the College Board said they tested, most said they did not do it anymore. We live in the southern tier of NY if anyone knows a cheaper option.