Thanks for the thoughts. So far Lial's seems to be a good fit, especially for what we are doing. I like that there are a lot of mini lessons, within a concept so I can see what she's got down and what she has problems with. At least that's what has happened so far. Today, we managed to breeze through several of the mini lessons- she put together prior knowledge with a few missing links and it was great.

Math, Math, Math! As a background, after homeschooling through to grade 8 my dd came home at Christmas after 2 1/2 years in a private school. Just previous to leaving school, she did a semester of pre-IB math which would have put her into beginning an equivalent of 12 Adv Math, I think a pre-calc level. In Canada the math is not separated so she's covered algebra, geometry trig to a certain level. I was not happy with her mark (60's) and knew it was difficult fro her to get that, so wanted to backtrack. The geometry unit brought her mark up. I didn't think we'd be backtracking as far as we have. A placement test put her back to Algebra 1. I bought the LOF Beginning Algebra thinking she could probably read it over do the problems and have a nice little review. She absolutely could not do the problems on her own by chapter 2. She's missing something and obviously needs more step by step so I've switched over to Intro Lial's and are finally finding both knowledge holes and work she can easily do. We have seriously considered finishing this year and dropping math, as it takes up so much time (at least 1 & 1/2 hr a day) but we shall persevere lol. I'm not sure how to progress through the Lial's or how long it will take -somethings she knows very well, and then all of a sudden we are stuck because there is something she hasn't seen before or hasn't stuck with her. I am totally amazed that she got as far as she has in her Math program at school, and not really sure how she did it. I know somethings she just "did" but had no idea "why" so couldn't apply the knowledge to anything that looked different. I think I'll stick to the Intermediate Lial's for next year, but she will have only the Geometry and Trig she did last year. We don't have SAT so no need to worry about that, and I don't want to take time off of Algebra. She could do some Geometry in 12. She won't be doing Calc but Statistics could be useful in the future. Any suggestions on how this could look for her? Thanks.

My dd has just signed up for Psychology with AP Homeschoolers for next year. She's excited so that's a good sign I guess ; )

Sounds like fun...don't know if I'll have time to keep up but might as well try : )

OK so I am seriously thinking of dropping my dd's math requirement after grade 11...We are midway through 10 now. She is thinking about Law or Social Work 1. She has come home to homeschool highschool after 2 1/2 years in PS, and her math is what I would consider a full year behind. I backed her up and we are redoing Algebra 1 using LoF and the home companion plus drill work with "Key to". She is finding the word problems in LoF very challenging and we need to talk through most of them together. Actual manipulation is not a problem. My plan was to spend the rest of the year in this fashion and then do a Geometry and Algebra 1 review next year and possibly starting Algebra 2 mid year, but having Algebra 2 done by graduation (hadn't decided on texts yet). BUT she doesn't really need the Maths to get into University for her program of choice.... 2. The admission requirement for Arts at her first and second choice universities are ... 12 English or English 12: African heritage Four additional Grade 12 Academic or Advanced courses 3. She will be doing 2 AP classes next year (11) and possibly writing the exam for a 3rd, she feels she could have a better average without the math in the mix. She will be doing an additional 2 AP in Grade 12. Would she be better off not doing the Algebra 2 and focusing her time and energy on what she does do well? Obviously she isn't planning on taking Chemistry or Physics... thanks for any insights....

I taught my dds basic outlining in grade 6 with the intention of using it through the middle school years but they returned to school for 2 years. One has returned home again and is outlining "How to Read a Book" this semester. I think by the time she finishes the book she will be pro at outlining : ) I'll let her determine if it is helpful to her. She does like doing it on computer better than she did with paper. My other dd is in PS, she makes what she calls a table of contents for each course, it is basically an outline but with numbers and bullet points. Mind you she only started this after a teacher lost several of her assignments, so her table of contents also includes a notation of assignments and dates they were handed in.

Here are the available AP courses. http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/descriptions/index.html

Well managed to get something sorted out for her that isn't too far from home, she'll be at the food bank on Friday afternoons : ) I'm glad we (I) don't have to drive into the city. Part of the problem is as a previous poster mentioned, a local school organizes many of the teens who attend the school to do work around town and it's easier for the organization to deal directly with one person at the school. We also don't have YMCA/ humane society and such in our small town and even our museum and our pool/ rowing clubs etc are seasonal. She's done a lot of volunteer work when she was involved with 4 H or Girl Guides but she didn't want to tie herself into those organizations anymore. Anyway thanks for the great ideas- hopefully others have received some new ideas as well. And congrats to all the community minded kiddo's : )

Thanks some good ideas...we are just in such a small town. I guess we will have to look a little further. I was rather surprised to not have any takers on the calls I made locally. We've found a few interesting things in the city though to follow up on.

What does your teen do for volunteer work? I'm in need of some fresh ideas, apparently our town has an abundance of volunteers and the places I've checked don't need any assistance...library, elementary school, senior's home, hospital, food bank, food kitchen. I'm suspecting that no one has a desire of working with a teen, although many 16 year olds have paid employment. I'd like her to do more than fund-raise so something active...any other ideas?

Hi Colleen- Nice to see a familiar face. Looks like I'm back for another couple of years : ) Great suggestions- I think a placement test for Math is probably a good idea. She's a little everywhere in Math after this fall, it was an intensive class in algebra/ trig and pre-calc intending to lead into grade 12 advanced math after the Christmas break and skip grade 11. She's passed but not with great marks and I think it wasn't cemented well. I'm thinking perhaps spending the rest of the year doing it all again and then doing her grade 12 math on-line. Nice looking Biology texts, thanks! She did Physics and Chemistry this fall so it should be a nice change of pace for her. She's also finished a Cultural Geography Class this fall but no History or Lit this year at all. She's doing more of the planning for this and I think I'll let her map this out over the Holidays, but I was thinking about signing her up for an online writing course with Bravewriter - Looking at the Expository Essay class- anyone with feedback on it? Thanks!

Hi folks, my dd wants to come home.... We homeschooled up to grade 8 and she went into a local private school, now in grade 10 she wants to come home again. This time as an "only" as my other dd will be staying in the school. So I'm scrambling to get stuff together to start in January and I'm out of practice on this and out of the loop. I did not do much research or planning for high school. This child is thinking of a career in law... Logic suggestions for high school would be welcomed. I also need suggestions for a secular biology, and what are folks doing for Maths? We did a Saxon/Singapore combo in Grade 7. She is in the midst of an advanced Grade 10 math (pre IB) but it wouldn't hurt her to slow down. I really regret selling my WTM : ( although it was an older version - I guess I should start by ordering a new one for some Christmas reading.

Menu Planning. If your going to have to cut the budget, plan your menus for the month first. I used to laugh at my GF when she'd tell me to menu plan but it really does save a lot of $.

Your son did so well today Colleen! He was very confident and well spoken. I am sure he'll do REALLY well in the years to come. It's such good incentive for the kids to learn more words and the origins. All in all a very positive experience. I'm always surprised more schools don't participate... minus the HSers there would be 26 public schools and 1 private out of the whole province that sent in a representative. Oh well their loss. I can't wait to watch nationals on TV now.

We are outlining using Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia. My kids like science topics a lot and so although they find it difficult, it's not boring.

My guess is a sub species of Junco, probably a female. lol Here's a few pics of ones with red colours in them http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/Photos/Sparrows/SCJUcistFem1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.schmoker.org/BirdPics/DEJU.html&usg=__6B5iuoX3J9MNz0TFnJG2YtF1DOY=&h=449&w=576&sz=48&hl=en&start=25&um=1&tbnid=FBlGtjUPflsY-M:&tbnh=104&tbnw=134&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djunco%26start%3D18%26ndsp%3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADBR_enCA243CA249%26sa%3DN http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/photos/dark_eyed_junco_3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/dark_eyed_junco_3.htm&usg=__OHIpKBd7dnQ4CLJyri2CU902h-E=&h=509&w=680&sz=40&hl=en&start=28&um=1&tbnid=RivbhGCrAEj8TM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=139&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djunco%26start%3D18%26ndsp%3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADBR_enCA243CA249%26sa%3DN

Our power co is beginning to use some wind but mainly uses coal. : ( They are our primary source right now but my DH has been working hard at changing that. Our first wind generator went up before Christmas and a small solar array was added too. These are test positions for the winter.

My DH keeps trying to convince me to have a junk drawer. When we moved into this house 2 years ago I said no junk drawer. He has a garage so extra screws and string and fuses and all the what nots can get put away. He seems to now know where to find his screw drivers or wrench or whatever...in the toolkit, in the garage. I keep a few pizza menus in the phone book, but we don't do a lot of take away. My biggest issue is with not in use cell phone chargers that always seem to hang about.

Well here's ours. It's a basement "rec" room, but thankfully for me we have windows.Looking in from the stairs... From the window.... My weekly reading picks and some high interest books, timeline behind. We're working up towards the chinchilla cages in the 1800's. Maps and stuff. Sewing machine is used mainly by dds making Amigurami "Cute Things" Our classmates, 2 chins and a guinea pig. The hermit crab has left us and the gecko lives upstairs. The woodstove and puppet stage.

I'm also a 3-5 book at a time reader, so this is different for me. My book for next week is Time Travel in Einstein's Universe by J. Richard Gott. I'll also be finishing The Omnivore's Dilema by Pollan and Invisible Enemies: Stories of Infectious Disease.

I'm going to be starting a few more pairs of thrummed mittens for our own use. We all have pairs but no spares! LOL I also have a sock book and am planning to do a pair of every pattern. We'll see. It took me about a month to get on Ravelry but I love it. I still have some pics of things I did for gifts that I need to add. I am bohemiangirl on there.

Piano lessons are outsourced as well my dc have had the opportunity for some free drawing classes through the fall, but we still do some Art here.

I'm O neg. I found out when I donated blood. They are pleased to get O neg because it can be given to other blood types.

Really nice. MY dd wants to learn to quilt so we're planning a mini quilt project this month. I've never quilted before so I guess we'll both learn. Thanks for the book link.

My oldest DD, 13, says she's going to Veterinary School or a field in biology so she's planning a Science Degree to start. We're doing lots of Math and getting in Science at least 3 times a week and she reads a lot of Science material on her own time. I would like to find an opportunity for her to shadow or mentor with someone as a project.