Well....this really puts a different spin on my thoughts. Thank you, ladies, so much! She is passionate about her music, but not to the point you are speaking of. I think we will plug along, strengthen her academics, and see what I can come up with in a year or so. She might have a stronger opinion by then. I liked what her sister planned with her double-major. It just made a whole lot of sense. I'll need to give dh some more time. Blessings, Stephanie

I say she's not a stellar musician, but she is one of the better students. Take her out of our community, and she is just another fish in the ocean. That said,I think she has potential if she chose to continue applying herself. Timing issues: Early graduation would be - next year dual-enroll, then graduate HS and then 3 years at college Regular - junior year dual-enroll, graduate senior year, and then 3 years at college Stephanie

n. And if you rush through and do JUST a music degree, especially a performance one, you'll end up with one of the least marketable degrees out there. This is also what also concerns me. Why go into mega-debt for an undergraduate degree in music performance when she could possibly get her undergraduate degree free at this college and then go into debt for graduate school? Blessings, Stephanie

Thank you for your thoughtful and reasoned responses. We do live in a smaller university town (University is 10,000). The professor that teaches violin at the college teaches here and travels to a large city where he also has a studio. He is the best teacher for my daughter and a true friend. As far as socializing....I really meant the parties and sororities, etc. She already participates in master class and ensemble class at the college and has several college friends who along with her older sister (who is a double major in violin and middle school education) go out and socialize small-scale, play in public, and do the Starbucks thing, etc. I am certainly not against this. When she takes Spanish I in the fall, I certainly will encourage her getting together with like-minded students to speak Spanish. The idea of starting with another degree or classes is very interesting, because this is exactly what her older sister did. But she knows she wants to teach math and history too. Elizabeth hasn't a clue. She is relying on me for advice. But her sister and her violin professor think that she would be wasting talent not getting the proper violin instruction sooner rather than later. In other words, she would be better off concentrating on perfecting her violin skills THEN if/when she wants, get another degree or emphasis. I see validity in this, but I still waffle. Blessings, Stephanie

I need some thoughts concerning my 5th daughter who is freshmen in HS this year. She plays the violin and wants to major in music performance in college. Her current teacher is the violin professor at our local university. He has taught her for 5 years and only wants to teach her for 3 more years. That puts her in college, but we and she have serious reservations about going into big-time debt for a violin performance undergraduate degree. She isn't a stellar player, so while she could get into a conservatory or music school, she won't command a much of a scholarship. Our local university would mostly likely give her a full-ride and she would live at home. However, her professor knows that she wouldn't do well with him for another 7 years. So we are thinking of graduating her from high school at 17 (junior year). My reservations are plenty. Secondly, she isn't a stellar student. I haven't spent near enough time with her, getting her prepped for this step although she is quite capable. I will just need to commit to working with her more for the next 1.5 years. Dd would CLEP enough credits for a year at this college or near so, so she would get her degree in 3 years. If we graduated her next year (2014), she would be with this teacher 4 more years (her sophomore year, 1st year college, 2nd year college, and 3rd year college). If she graduated at the regular time, she would have 6 years(sophomore year, junior year, senior year, freshmen, sophomore, and junior year college). She would be living at home and our rules would be: no socializing as a college student until she was 18 (maybe last semester of what would have been her senior year in hs). As a 16 (she would take 2 classes only) and 17 year old, she would be treated as if she were still in high school. The college music program is not extensive. She already plays weekly at the college master class and ensemble class. She could play in the orchestra, but we have chosen not to allow her to do so at this point because it is too time-consuming. She running enough as it is. Blessings, Stephanie

I have a 6 year old who needs a computer player for chess. I'm schooling his older siblings. Any suggestions? I can't seem to find any worthwhile CD computer games. But the Einsten computer game from BN gets very poor reviews. Thanks! Blessings, Stephanie

I have had 4 kids so far do Jacob's Geometry. Three of them went onto college with math degrees. But all of them were poor at geometry. Was the text the lack of understanding, my teaching efforts. I don't know. Anway...dd (#4) needs a solid semester review of geometry to up her geometry understanding and ACT score. She will revisit geometry in college (because she is going into middle school math education), but temporarily, we need to ACE the math section for a scholarship opportunity. Is there anything like "ACT Geometry for Dummies"? The ACT math books just don't have enough for her to cement the concepts. Thanks! Blessings, Stephanie

My son took the Bravewriter Class for the SAT writing 4-5 years ago. My hope is that that particular class was not prepared for writing (some 7th graders, etc. not ready for timed writing. But this class was sorely disappointing at $150. She had kids peer edit and the comments were "great work", "liked your topic". The good point was that the kids could read each other's papers and she did have some great points to offer. However I have yet to find an on-line writing course that works for writing.I also bought the book and found it better than this particular class. Blessings, Stephanie

My baby is 14 months old and if I get a breast infection, she fights nursing so much too. But this is part of the problem. A 14 month old has opinions. She could forget about nursing during the afternoon one day and cling the next. So the supply and demand tends to get off balance. But maybe close the door to your room, draw the drapes, and then nothing else seems "exciting". I hope you are well soon! Blessings, Stephanie

This does not sound like thrush. But if everyone is sick, I come down with at least mastitis AND maybe the illness they have. So sometimes it is just our bodies way of dealing with the germ. I have had chronic mastitis for 23 years....gup...you read that correctly. My oldest is 24 and my youngest is 1. Antibiotics is not the answer. You will just set yourself up for thrush. Drink lots of liquids and really rest, rest, rest. Hot bathes, compresses and get the baby to nurse non-stop. I cut out everything in the way of drinks and food for the baby/toddler until I recover. The baby is part of the solution. Blessings, Stephanie

Thanks so much! I think we have found a few penpals! Blessings, Stephanie

I have been homeschooling for 19 years. In the beginning, the homeschoolers in our area were above average in goals academically. Now, I am seeing the opposite. In fact, several families let their kids get so far behind that they had to send their kids back to school. Two families sent them to a private school where tutoring was available because the kids were that far behind. It's sad. What started out to be a great movement is quickly disintegrating. Our coops are great "fun" for the younger crowd. (Fine). But nothing with academic rigor for the middle grades on up - when parents might REALLY need it! It is sad, frustrating, sad, and more frustrating. Blessings, Stephanie

My daughter is looking for a penpal. She is 10 years old, living in MO. She is a middle child of 9 children. I have her write letters on occasion for her English assignment, but her current penpal has only written once in several months. Any takers? Blessings, Stephanie

We also used: The Romance of Physics by Irwin The Secrets of the Universe by Fleisher Books by Friedhoffer - Feynman - Six Easy Pieces Blessings, Stephanie

Thank you for the responses! One issue is that he does have a nearly full scholarship now based on his ACT score at the university where he is taking 2 classes. He could get more if his ACT score was one point higher....basically incidental fees and books. But his tuition could be fully paid for. So that is really not a motivator. I am going to take the computer out of his room. He never has had internet access, but still a lot of goofing off goes on anyway:glare: He needs more follow-through. I guess I was just trying to get out of doing "it all". I just feel a bit overwhelmed with schooling the other children too and I was hoping to rashly see another option. Blessings, Stephanie

I homeschool our 9 children. The 2 oldest boys are in college. But my newly-turned 17 year old son is nearly "unmotivated". He does take college algebra and English comp at the local university as an early college credit student, but that is all I can get him to do. He has scored a 30 on the ACT, but this doesn't qualify him for a full scholarship at this college. He will need at least a 31. However, he has his sites on another college where decent scholarships start at 32. Technically this is a junior year, but I am seriously considering graduating him this year. Socially, he jells better with a bit younger kids....this is what worries me....and the fact that he hasn't had physics which he will need for his computer science degree. He won't have time to do it this year as he will take chemistry next semester at the college. He would have to study this physics this summer. I am tired of going into his room where is suppose to be reading Dante, doing his religion, studying art history (something he really enjoys), and working on his ACT for the October test. Instead he is installing something else on his darn computer or mindlessly goofing off. It just doesn't seem to be worth the conflict and the near ruination of our relationship. He is a very soft-hearted kid who loves playing with his 2 year old brother. But my "nagging" is getting to me AND him. Basically I have had it. I either let him "BE" and just let him waste all this time or prematurely enroll him college which I hestitate to do because of his soft-heartness and his social attractiveness to everything (this is secular college). I am afraid I am going to regret that decision. BUT....this goofing off also isn't good for him or me. Any thoughts....suggestions....??? Throw in the towel or just let him be? He does work part-time at a computer shop. He could get more work, but that isn't getting the schoolwork done AND honing in his study skills for college. Thanks! Stephanie

I signed up for Kolbe last year for specifically for the EES service so that I could get some help grading papers. (I am currently schooling 5 children again). But the EES service was a month or longer behind, returning papers. So this summer, I hired a woman who used to work for Kolbe. She committed, but now will not answer my emails. My daughter has her first paper done and I guess I will grade it. BUT..... Can anyone recommend a reliable, rather-strict, editing service? I don't want a curriculum (like WriteatHome) or someone who will grade only the Padewa way. I need more lengthy analysis than "great paper" or spelling mistake-line 3. I want a thorough going over and suggestions. Any suggestions???? Blessings, Stephanie

Thank you for all your thoughts. Realistically, the food is not much of an issue. The oldest 2 rarely eat here. They are either sleeping (oldest works shift work at the hospital). He does occasiontally offer to do something if he is around for suppper IF it is quick and he is in a good mood. I think I haven't been a very good manager. Dh is VERY laid back....which can be problematic. So, I am going to have to set some rules down and follow through. Heck, I thought I would get a break after the toddler/early grade school years on all this "follow-up", rules vs. punishment stuff. Oh, well:001_smile: I guess I have not been realistic with the situation. Thank again for all the input!!!! Blessings, Stephanie

I have basically given up on my 3 older boys (21, 19, 17) and helping around the house. They just became too frustrating to follow-up on by the time they were 17 or so. They all have jobs and college is expected to be paid by them. We do provide everything else including transportation back and forth to school. I just had to keep the peace:glare: My original idea was to have them live at home, even AFTER college, and save money. Dh's cousins did this....BUT they helped out at home, mowed the lawn, cooked once a week, and paid for some groceries. My oldest will graduate this year and I KNOW this arrangement will not work. He has to move out and realize that people do go to a job, pay the bills, and keep house. Now my real question......I have 8 kids. The older 3 boys are followed by 4 girls and another boy. My oldest daughter (14) was once decent help, but this year, she is nearly totally brain-dead. I WANT to chalk it up to hormones. But I have this nagging feeling that she sees her older brothers doing NOTHING and now she is going to cash in on the lazy attitude. (She does occasionally complain about their lack of involvement). This is causing a lot of friction between us, because basically I NEED THE HELP. Example, yesterday she sat and read while I put supper on the table. Her next youngest sibling was watching the baby, but she SAT in the living room with a book and only helped when I asked SPECIFICALLY carry this over or stir this, etc. She made it plain that she didn't want to be helping me. REALLY....what do these kids think mothers are???? The energizer bunny?? I was the oldest of 9 and really helped Mom out. Now...I didn't LIKE it all the time, but I did take pride in what I did. I was VERY glad to leave home for college though, because a LOAD of responsibility was lifted from my shoulders. I swore to myself that I wouldn't overload my kids like that. BUT....I feel as though my kids nearly want a free ride. How can I keep the peace....but stay sane and teach the kid's responsibility. Seriously though NOTHING is going to change the older 2 boys specifically. #3 does have concentration issues, but tries at times. (But really is not reliable help....however, he doesn't have a problem (it seems) with his job outside the home. Ummmm. (Maybe I should just be really happy about that! Blessings, Stephanie

I bought a set of Precalculus DVD and they were sealed when they arrived. However, they were defective. The tracks would not play. So there are some of these issues out there also. Still $50 from the manufacturer who will back up the sale isn't too bad. Blessings, Stephanie

I tried customer service at Chalkdust and was very disappointed. In fact, I found them rude. I don't understand either why they sell to homeschoolers the same program as they sell to libraries and schools, but at a higher price. The prices are listed on their website! Plus I wanted to purchase just one DVD in one program, but they were going to charge me $15 to ship it to me. Now, really. That said...I think Chalkdust is buying up the DVDs:glare:

Thank you for all your responses. I am going to order at least one book in the series to try next year.

It has something to do with Moses not writing the Penteuch or something like that. I really don't know all the specifics. That is why I am posing the question. I can't imagine it not being orthodox, but sometimes scholars (eg. Hahn) teach the "latest scholarly thesis" and what high schoolers really need is the basics, not get involved in the latest debates in theological circles. I have seen this with my siblings at Christendom, etc. when professors have a total dedication, but it ends up one-sided. (eg. distributism vs. capitalism comes to mind). These things can be debated, but it just gets too much, especially for HS. I don't know if "Understanding the Scriptures" would qualify for any of this. That is why I am posing the question before popping for the books. So.....I wanted some opinions from people who have actually used the books. Blessings, Stephanie

I posted a similar question under Kolbe, but I thought I would open it up as a new question. Does anyone have reservations about its orthodoxy - such as the problem with "Understanding the Scriptures" take on the books of Moses. Laura from NC, if you can elaborate, that would be great!!! I was just getting online to place an order for a few books...BUT....I don't want to deal with contradicting my religion book....at least not at this point when I am schooling 6 kids (and have 2 more). Simple would be easier:001_smile: Thanks for anyone's input!!!

I was ready to purchase (gulp) at least 2 of these books for my high schoolers. BUT....are there any other problems with any of the texts from a solid, Catholic perspective besides "Understanding the Scriptures"? Laura, (or anyone) could you elaborate a little more on this problem with "Understanding the Scriptures"? I really don't mind contradicting historical issues in a history book whether it be Anne Carroll or secular...but I don't want to be contradicting the religion text. I find that I have to contradict enough from other Catholic's perspective on moral issues, like bc and abortion:tongue_smilie: Is it even worth purchasing and looking over - or just bypass it for another Scripture text? Laura, (or anyone) what would you suggest? Also has anyone used/needed the TM? I think the answers would be nice to have because if we discuss anything here, it's literature and religion. (I homeschool 6 with 2 others)....so time is limited with each. Thanks so much!!! Stephanie