My dd has a love for music however we haven't really encouraged her to pursue music other than as a hobby. But as she approaches high school (she's in 8th), I am thinking I need a plan that incorporates music, if she wants to study it in college. A little background may be helpful. She has played violin for over four years, piano over six years, and recently discovered her voice after winning a singing competition. She has been in a multi-age community orchestra for two years however is taking this year off. Her music teacher has a PhD in music, is a working musician (Opera), and has her in a theory class as well as lessons. Her teacher wants her to solo in piano and violin in two annual (small) concerts for the community. These are low key performances, circle of teacher's friends and local artists. My dd has up to this point been heavily interested in science, wanting to be a physician. Lately, however, she is spending more time composing music and writing lyrics for songs she plays and sings. I am thinking music could mean something more for her in the upcoming years. What advice would you give to me that would help prepare her for a college music program while she is in high school? Or an "and science plan"? BTW she plans on going to a week long intensive summer music camp for middle/high school kids this summer at the college she intends to go to after high school.

My dd took Athena's Literature classes when she was in early elementary. The book choices were good as well as the guided discussions from "Athena" however I don't remember any intensive writing assignments. We used Athena's classes so my dd could have an exchange of ideas with other kids on a regular basis.

Best wishes to your family!

Magnesium is the only thing that has helped me reduce hot flashes but I still struggle with insomnia despite using melatonin.

My dd has used CLRC Literature & Composition courses, Homeschool Spanish Academy, Blue Tent Honor's Biology, MOOC (Music Composition courses), and Coursera (Forensic Science, Animal Behavior).

Thanks Sebastian for your feedback. I am also thinking about my dd doing some CLEP courses in Sociology/Psychology/History. I am looking more at the English, Math, and Science courses at the college(s) however not more than a class or two the first year. My goal is not to amass college credits but provide more educational options which I am not qualified to teach.

My dd's college choice (a state college) will admit a student with 15 hs credits (very specific credits) along with a decent SAT score however a high school diploma in our area is issued after earning 24 hs credits. My dd would have the needed 15 hs credits at the end of her sophomore year if we counted classes earned in middle school. I don't want to graduate her early. We have a Running Start program using a local community college but my dd would rather go to her choice university's satellite campus (5min from us) for additional high school classes than the community college. I think I need to talk to the university to see if they would work with us. Thoughts or advice?

I don't have a book suggestion but would recommend studying body language which will help with future studies and interviews.

Decided to part time enroll my dd15. I need help with her, she needs opportunities. Thank you for the above suggestions everyone.

Can I count two Spanish credits that my dd earned prior to high school? Credits earned from an accredited school. She's not sure she wants to continue with Spanish after two years of high school level. She's become interested in French again and Irish. I just don't know if these credits earned prior to high school will be accepted by college admissions.

What advice can you give me to help them? My dd13 (8th) will be a freshman and dd15 freshman special ed.

Yes, as well as others. Several other families had kids on the autistic spectrum. We found the unschooling crowd to be friendly with kids who were engaged but with parents who weren't caught up in meeting school expectations.

I have a kiddo with a learning disability so parents open up to me. I am also a former social worker with a degree in Sociology. I wasn't citing a formal study but rather sharing our experience.

In our experiences with unschoolers (years in a social group & co-op type setting) over the last ten years, about 60% of the kids have a learning disability.

We are still trying to recover from a great weekend road trip. We were visiting family, attending a college volleyball and football game. Monday was difficult but today is better.

For my dd13 it was enough, especially considering all her other classes and extra curricular commitments. She did do some work in Caesar's English 1&2. Your student might enjoy writing competitions or blogging.

Yes, I agree Roadrunner. My dd13 really liked the book selections and online chat classroom with CLRC.

Are you taking Intro to Lit through CLRC in addition to WWS2?

I think we need to cast a wider net and maybe online...service groups, quilting group (wow! that is awesome) for instance, not focused so much on age matched groups but rather activity. Thank you everyone!

My dd13 is into music(violin,piano,voice)/songwriting (taking a music theory class now)/performing, science competitions, and tons of reading. My dd15 is into drones(anything that flies) ,movies and reading.

My dd13 has been in a small orchestra (mixed age) and plays two instruments for years. She's been involved in Teen Council and Teen Library club for over two years (no one questioned her age at 11) but she's more friends with the librarian than the other kids:( My other dd doesn't play anymore and isn't interested in library clubs. Sorry, this is hard. I really don't understand why they don't have friends.

Do the college years provide more opportunities for making friends? Maybe the kids have more social skills?

It bothers them. My dd13 has some online friends she meet at an academic camp in the summer. My dd15 doesn't really have any friends. Neither of my kids click with kids their own age.

That's true Jean! I have a dd13 and a dd15 My nephew (16ys) in public school has very few friends too.

Last year she wrote summaries for every chapter of each assigned book along with rough drafts and final essays. I felt she did enough writing, especially for her age. She also had a blog going for time and entered a couple local writing competitions. No, she hasn't tried other providers other than Athena's Academy when she was younger.