Fonts 4 teachers - Love it! :001_smile:

I'm a non-worrier and I agree with your speaker. I've been at this 10 years now and it pays dividends to relax. To me homeschool is about going at just the right pace whether that is slow or fast - but if you are going at the right pace then you don't need to worry about where they are because they are always on their way to getting where they need to be. And edit to add: Why homeschoolers still believe that they must complete a grade level each year is beyond me. If it takes two then it takes two. If you don't complete a text and you like the text, then just pick it up again in the fall. Who are you competing against? In my opinion - individualized pacing is just about the most important advantage of homeschool, why would anyone throw that away?

Yeah - what the heck is going on in the public schools? Honestly - my kid is just about the laziest out there and barely does 2-3 hours a day for school and can read and speak at college level in the 8th grade (which is his grade level right now). Whatever the issue is - it has nothing to do with money or hours spent in the classroom. People really need to stop with the politics and get to the bottom of this before the kids get any dumber.

Wow - that is extremely cool. I love love love my Amazon Prime membership and this just makes it even better. :001_smile:

Sounds challenging...but whether or not it will prove anything for those who pass - I'm not so sure. The best preparation for college is a thorough understanding of the basics. I realize that as the years go on the basics become more comprehensive, but instead of adding more material to the scope, what they should do is divide biology up into discreet sections - like molecular biology, developmental biology, environmental science, and biochemistry. That way students learn only the facts that relate to each topic. In addition - taxonomy and evolutionary theories can be left out in my opinion - unless of course your student is interested in doing that in their scientific career and they realize that in high school. They can take that stuff later. The big concepts for biology are molecular and biochemical - so if they know cellular respiration, photosynthesis, replication, transcription, and translation they will rock college biology. Additionally, basic biochemical reactions and molecules (amino acids, carbohydrates, and lipids) go a long way for both chemistry and biology.

Yeah, she's kind of like a living legend around here - she just gave a presentation at the Colorado Farm Show - but I was working at our booth and couldn't go to see it.

I was lucky enough to have Temple Grandin for several classes when I was in undergrad at Colorado State. She made us go out to the farm and walk the chutes for cattle, load ourselves up in a truck, and crawl in the squeeze chute too. We even had to walk down into the dip tank (no dip, thankfully!) to see how the ramp made it easier for cattle to walk and kept them calm. Her classes were always fun! Very hands on...and she is EXACTLY like the character in person and she really does wear her "uniform" everywhere. Total cowgirl! :001_smile:

Although the economy is bad, I don't think that is really what the current fear is about. Yes, I think it will still get worse and there is a very real possibility of inflation beyond what we are used to, but the issue right now is the political upheaval, not the economy. Read about it Here :001_smile:

Perhaps you should research a little more - members receive the full report of their efforts every month in a magazine - they tackle many issues where homeschoolers are being discriminated against. http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/default.asp

I've been a member for 7 or 8 years and I will continue to be one as long as I homeschool. My reasoning is that they have a very powerful lobby and voice - one that has helped out every homeschool family whether they care to admit it or not - whether they are Christian or not - so even though I am not religious in the least, I support their efforts.

My son chose Japanese when he was 10 because he was a Naruto fan (BIG TIME!) and wanted to watch the cartoons in Japanese. Well, fast forward 3 years (yes, he's still taking Japanese because I bought all 3 levels of RS!) and now he won't even ADMIT to ever watching Naruto and thinks Japanese is "too feminine". He has since told me next year will be German ("a manly language" if ever there was one - his words not mine) but it was a hard choice with Russian running a close second. I'm happy with his Japanese progress and I think it was a good choice to learn an Asian language because it is so different. But I'll be happy to give him German next year as it will be much easier in my opinion. We never did get the Japanese alphabet(s) memorized...

I'd just like to say (besides - thank God you are OK) that your DS who wrote the update is quite adorable in his online personality! He should be a writer! Anyway - he was the best man for the job and it's great that he recognized that and took charge of you! I love how he told us what he said to you to make you feel better - Oh my, what a great family you have! :001_smile: Welcome home and get back to 100% real soon! :grouphug:

Hi Teresa, That's actually my company and you can try one for free here if you want. They are all 50% off for the CurrClick secret sale - tomorrow is the last day I think. Thanks! :001_smile: J. Anne

Yes, that's also a good point. On my grad school applications I had to calculate my GPA from all classes (including the transfers), then again for all major classes.

None of my grades counted when I transferred them in - I took a lot of CC classes in my college career, from several colleges at that. But they DO go on your transcript so while you can bring your GPA up you'll never lose that grade.

:lol: Yeah, I'm with you there. I really can't tell people what our day is like - it is NOTHING like the "perfect" moms. And I do mean nothing. And as for waking up at 10 or 11 for school - I'd be happy if he got up by noon. He announced a few months ago that it shouldn't matter what time he does school as long as it gets done and my only argument was something along the lines of "Well Mister, in the real world..." Which made me sound like a public school teacher. :blink: So I relented.

I haven't graded anything in like 6 years. :tongue_smilie:

Work 2007 also has a convert to pdf option under save as. Saves links too and many of the pdf converters will not do that.

I am not bothered by public assistance but I believe there should be very strict regulations as to who gets it and for how long. I do not support giving any illegal alien public assistance - ever. I do not support more than 2 consecutive years of public assistance for any one family unless they jump through a lot of hoops to convince state officials that it is required. The hoops should be HUGE. I do not support rewarding single mothers for having more children to up their payments. I would find very creative ways to punish fathers who walk out on children. Very creative, embarrassing, humiliating, and difficult ways. I would make continuing education a requirement for any public assistance - basic skills, vocational, or college. Take your pick. With that said - I DO believe in helping people when they are down. They need it. But there is a difference between being down for a period of time and never having been productive EVER. Public assistance should always be viewed as a temporary solution to an insurmountable problem. Not a way of life and NOT a way to socially distribute other people's wealth. It should be entered into with a tangible way out in mind and every TAKER should end up being a GIVER at the end of their public assistance period whether that be through community service or a small extra tax on their paycheck for the same number of months they were on public assistance.

I'm sure my chickens would eat dog food...I know my donkeys fight for it and they are strict vegetarians. (Or so they think...) ;) I only feed Flock Raiser which is 20% protein. They have been eating the waterfowl food for so long they won't touch the Layena so I stopped buying it. If I ran out of feed I'd throw them a loaf of bread and some salad. They'd figure it out. I really don't do that though, I just make them wait until the next morning when I can get to the feed store and then feed them extra. All my birds are on the chubby side right now - missing a meal won't kill 'em.

ohhhh...thank you! You have solved a 35 year mystery! :D

Whilst. I can't stand that word and will actually just stop reading if I see it. I just can't stand it.

They are pretty disgusting. I would definitely NOT be anywhere near them let alone holding one! :ack2: But I still want to know what kind of spider that first one was. I saw one as a child and tried to show my family and they thought I was nuts because it was gone when they came outside.

I have to know what type of spider this is - does anyone know? And if we are talking BIG here's one for ya...camel spiders from Iraq! :tongue_smilie:

You're awesome! :D