Thank you all for your replies. I'm going to be checking into all of these. I am wondering if anyone has used the University of Nebraska? They have a class on expository writing that looks interesting. Thanks! Laurie

Could anyone recommend an online writing course for my 9th grader? He has always been a very reluctant writer, so he really needs to start at square one. My price range is around $200 a semester. Thanks! Laurie

Luann, that article brought tears to my eyes. I am living so much of that right now with my oldest becoming a senior. Someone once said the days are long, but the years are short. It's important to keep in mind. Thanks for all the suggestions and support. I feel my batteries starting to recharge. :) Laurie

Elizabeth, I like the way you think! :) I will give my husband your prescription for a cure for what ails me. LOL LuvnMySvn, I think "Things We Wish We'd Known" sounds like just what I need to read right now. I will check it out. Thanks! Teachin'Mine, no matter how long we've been homeschooling, we all need someone to help prop us up sometimes. I appreciate the words of wisdom! Laurie

Just wanted to post a follow up on this. We used the Tindall and Shi book and the REA test prep book, and my daughter scored a 72 on the US History I CLEP exam. We are pleased!

Wapiti, that post was a thing of beauty! Just the kind of details I am looking for! And I had not seen AoPS before, and it looks very good! The very first sample I saw (in pre-algebra) really looked like something my son would enjoy. You are really helping me formulate a plan for him, which I appreciate. He is my third child, but the first one to show any aptitude for math. :) And ditto what boscopup said, if you please. :)

You're right, wapiti, about the differences in the two programs. I worry a bit about the fact that Saxon doesn't encourage more creative thinking with math. I used Right Start with this child, so he's good at mental math, and I don't want him to lose that skill. Saxon's benefit to me is that it covers all the fundamentals that will appear on tests and gives him plenty of practice (although, again, I worry about burn-out). I'm trying to find a happy medium and get him well prepared for high school math. We won't use Saxon in high school- it will have to be something self-teaching like TT or Video Text. For him, probably Video Text. Nmoira, I like the supplement idea, but Saxon has so much work, I don't think I could add more to it. I would have to use something else and supplement with Nurk. I also like Math Mammoth, so those two together might be an option. But does MM need supplementing? It looked pretty good on its own to me. Heck, I'm all over the place when it comes to math. Maybe I should just ask what is a good program for a mathy kid? Thanks, Laurie

If time and money were no option, what materials would you use for your children? Your goal would be to instill a love of learning and a depth of knowledge in key fields (math, science, language), rather than a superficial knowledge in a broad range of fields or test-readiness. Laurie

I've heard that you need Apologia Biology and Human Anatomy to be prepared for the CLEP Biology test. But that might be assuming that one did no other studying apart from those two books. We always use a CLEP study guide to prepare (but haven't done the Biology test and probably won't since she'll have enough science credits without it). Laurie

My 11th grader went to take it this morning. She seemed pretty prepared, but she's taken the PSAT the past two years, so that was a huge help. Here's to hoping for high scores for everyone! Laurie

Thank you, ladies! That was exactly the kind of detail I needed (not long winded at all! :) ) I was worried that it might be too much for me to take on, but it sounds do-able. I'm going to give it a shot in the fall! Thanks again! Laurie

I'm entering my 14th year of homeschooling and have really lost the thread. My kids will be in 12th, 9th, 6th, 2nd, and Pre-K next year and I need to get my motivation back and remember why I'm doing this! Does anyone have any suggestions for inspirational reading? I have tons of books on different homeschooling methods, but I need something that inspires me to get my kids to love learning again. Thanks, Laurie

I recently contacted the Bright Futures folks because my daughter is thinking of taking a gap year after graduation. BF said they would "hold" the scholarship for one year after graduation. I think that would also enable your daughter to go to Europe for a year. As we get closer, I want to verify the timing of that, though. And get it in writing! Laurie

I'm trying to decide between using Nurk's Math or Saxon 76 for my son next year. He did Saxon 65 this year and has sailed right through it. I have both books, so that's no factor. I worry about him getting burned out with Saxon's drilling, but there's only one level of Nurk, so I don't know how that would affect him if he did Nurk for a year, then went back to Saxon. Thoughts? Laurie

Thanks, Andrea! I'll check it out! Laurie