Our state requires Algebra 1 and 2, and geometry, with one more math credit in their senior year. The senior math credit can be things other than a higher math class. Things like accounting, finance, physics and a variety of other courses fit that credit. My son did Algebra 2 over two years at the local high school. They called it Algebra 2A and 2B, the same material was covered just at a much slower pace. He received a credit for both.

My 9th grader is doing: Algebra 1 (Lials Introductory Algebra) World Geography (Northstar Geography) Dutch (Rosetta Stone using Lesson plans from MFW) Choir (at public school) Physical Education (various activities walking, hiking, horse riding, etc. plus CPR certification and First Aid Course) English (following HOD World Geography guide using Bob Jones Literature and various books, Essentials in Writing 10) with Easy Grammar Biology (Ace School of Tomorrow with DVD's plus Apologia Labs) Blessings, Pat

My dd is also using Rosetta Stone and following MFW lesson plans. It has been a tremendous help in knowing how much to study and when to use the CD. It is $15 for the plans. http://www.mfwbooks.com/products/24/Foreign-Language/#Lesson_Plans_for_Rosetta_Stone Blessings, Pat

:bigear: Would love to see your plans too. This sounds like something my dd would like as well. Blessings, Pat

Thank you for your replies. It does make sense to keep all that came before fresh in their minds. I also like the idea of going back over the reviews again while doing geometry . Blessings, Pat

I will be using Lials with my dd this year and wondering about the cumulative review exercises? I read a post by Jann in TX that said Cumulative reviews should be open book if given. Do you have your students do the cumulative reviews? Or is it based on how well the student is doing in that chapter whether or not you make them do the review? Blessings, Pat in MI

I had one of those unmotivated teenage boys. I would like to offer you some encouragement. My ds would get A's in classes he liked and barely pass classes he disliked. He had the attitude "as long as I pass the class". He graduated June 2014 and took a year off. He didn't work and did not much in this pass year. I was beginning to worry. His life had seemed to stall, but he is now signed up for our local community college. He plans to attend cc for a couple years and then transfer to state university for a degree in computer engineering. He said he just needed time to figure out what he wanted to do. He had no idea in high school and couldn't figure out why everyone said you had to go right on to college. His words, "Why do I have to know what I want to do with the rest of my life at the age of 18?" Maybe his plans will still change, but at least he now has a plan. Sometimes it just takes longer, I think, to figure it all out. HTH Blessings, Pat in MI

We are planning on using this in the fall. I would also love to hear pros/cons of the program.

We haven't used Apologia yet, will use it this coming year, but I talked to a mom this past year who was using it with their daughter. They felt Apologia was a very good college prep course. This mom has a minor in science and husband is a vet so they are very familiar with college science courses. Mom said she was seeing things in Apologia that she didn't see until she was in college. I realize that there are other courses out there that go more in-depth on some topics, but Apologia is a good solid course according to this mom. As pp mentioned see which your children prefer, some really dislike one and love the other. Just too many choices :confused1: HTH Blessings, Pat

Have you looked at Heart of Dakota? http://www.heartofdakota.com/ They have a lot of readers and it looks to be a good english portion too. Blessings, Pat

I'm going to try having dd write words on a 3 x 5 card as see encounters them in her reading along with the page number. When she is done reading she will look up the words in the dictionary and write the definition on the back of the card along with the sentence where she originally found the word. I'm sure dd is not going to like this, but it seems to be a more natural way to learn vocabulary.

Oh, I hope you get responses. I am having the same dilemma. :bigear:

Looking for something too. Exactly as you put it , that she learns science from, but doesn't dread everyday. Hopefully, someone is able to respond. Blessings, Pat

Thank you Debbie, that puts my mind at ease. No Ivy school here, it will be a state university.

I do know here in Michigan they do need Biology and then Chemistry or Physics, and one other science to graduate. So I will follow those requirements since most of the colleges are looking for incoming students to have these. I guess I am just on the fence of whether or not she should do the intro classes and then move into Biology, Chem, and Physics. I wonder do most colleges look for an advanced science course or AP if you are going into a science related field or if she just takes regular high school sciences if she will be fine??

Thank you The Girls Mom. It makes sense to follow their interest with a higher level course. I think we will look at doing biology next year.

Bumping for you. Hopefully, some one chimes in. I'm interested this too.

Thanks Silver Moon. That is a different set up than I'm used to seeing. Something to think about. Is there that much chemistry and physics in biology that I would put it last?

Okay, so she should probably do the Intro courses. I was thinking she should have 4 science credits. So she can follow the Physical science with biology, chem, and physics. Thank you for your response.

Hi Everyone, I have been lurking around these boards for a long time, but I never thought I would be joining the high school board. I didn't think I would be schooling for high school because ds went to ps in 9th and I thought dd was going to follow his path, but she is staying home for high school. She will take choir and art at the local ps and all other classes at home. Now on to my dilemma of high school science. At the local ps they do Intro to Physics/Intro to Chemistry in 9th grade (so Physical Science) and then Biology in 10th, Physics or chemistry in 11th, and that is all that is required. So 3 science credits. I'm thinking we should skip the physical science and go into biology, doing biology, chemistry, and physics and one other in 12th grade. Would this be what you would recommend? As of right now, dd wants to do something with animals (like wildlife animal rehab) which probably means some sort of biology degree or pre-vet degree at college in order to get into this field. If we go with physical science we would do Integrated Physics and Chemistry. If we go with biology :crying: - what would you recommend?? I would like to thank all of you wonderful ladies and gentlemen for all of the wisdom you impart here. I have always gained so much insight on these boards. Blessings, Pat in MI

We use TT, but I do have dd do additional facts practice, but I think it is my child and not the program because we used MUS prior to TT and she still didn't have the facts down. Here is a post about TT success: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/551372-teaching-textbooks-success-x-post-gen-ed/ Blessings, Pat

I use it along side Winston Grammar because it offers review in areas that Winston does not have. It is easy to use and does include grammar, quotations, comma placement, etc., but not at a very in-depth level. At least not the elementary and Secondary levels. It has copywork, writing of poems, and narration writing. It doesn't give instruction in how to write just assignments to write. My kids did well with the poem writing, but not so much with the narration parts. HTH Blessings, Pat

Currently doing TT pre-algebra with my dd. Yes, the tests are still on the CD, but there is also a test bank book too. I would do as a pp said and sit with your dd while she does math. Why not just move at her pace and not necessarily say you are going to take two years. How about watching the instruction and have dd start working the problems, if she can get through one lesson without many problems than let her. If she starts to make mistakes, figure out what they are and go back for more review. The new pre-algebra tells you what lesson a problem is from so you can go back and review how to do the problem. If she is just frustrated stop for the day and the next day. read the lesson from the book and pick up where she left off in the problems. Is she good on her math facts? I still have my dd practice her multiplication and division facts so they come faster and easier for her when doing fractions and things. I think if you moved along this way it wouldn't take you a full two years to get through. There are 156 lessons/tests at this level, so if you do 180 days in your school year this still gives you 24 days extra to work through problem areas. HTH Blessings, Pat

:bigear:

You would need to do the Saxon placement test to determine if you need catch up or not. My guess is if your child is doing one level ahead in TT they will probably place on level in Saxon.