Thanks for all the good info. on communicators for Christ. I've actually talked to them about starting a chapter but have yet to be able to make a conference. I don't see material on their web site. Do you know how one can order material and not have a chapter? Carol

My son did the first course for high school. The teacher Viki Gardner was very encouraging and I feel my son learned a lot. She gives a grade on rough draft which seems to be based on following directions-an important skill needed in real life. She then gives feed make and if the student follows her suggestions for improvement they are usually awarded a high grade. Suggestions are usually punctuation, stronger opening sentence, more action verbs, this is unclear, et. Hope this helps. Carol

I am looking for a public speaking curriculum that is Christ centered and can be easily used with a range of ages and yet suitable for high schoolers. Thanks for your help Carol

Thank you, Anyone else? Carol

I was going to have my son to 75 hours of mission work to count as a 1/2 credit Bible. 25 hours at church, 25 hours local, 25 hours otherwise. Any suggestions? Perhaps a couple of good reads that have several missionary stories in them and reports. A project? Not sure, just brain storming not, any input will be greatly appreciated. Carol

The only thing I can add is missions. We are putting togther a co-op where the do several mission projects and possibly study a couple of missionaries. We don't have it fully laid out but the plan is for children to receive a half credit in missions or Bible credit. Thanks, Carol

First and foremost, I'll be Praying. Can you pinpoint when the problems began. Did he begin having issues with your other son before or after spending more time with the youth pastor. Is he turning to the youth pastor for help because he knows he has a problem or is he part of the problem? Unless the youth pastor is abusing him in some way, I'd think he'd be part of the solution. I'd talk to ALL adults whom he spends time with to see if they see his anger management issues and when they first started. Carol

The history is extremely easy yet the biology is harder than my college course. They are written by different authors though. My friends nephew just got a perfect ACT and used nothing but ACE. Carol

Students: There are many different nerf guns and each has their unique ability while battling against other ner players, I am going to discuss my favorite three primary nerf weapons. My Correction: There are many different nerf guns and each has their own, unique abilities while battling against other nerf players: I am going to discuss my favorite, three nerf weapons. Input please! Is there any place I can get to do evaluations/critiques yet use my own assignments? This is a 9th grader. Thanks for your help. Carol

I to teach for mastery too. I have my high schooler repeat most assignments until I feel he has mastered it. I only count test scores. If your child truly does everything to mastery then they should get an A or B on test. This also makes grade tracking easier. I will count projects and lab reports towards grades also. My most difficult subject to grade objectively are writing, art, music, P.E. , etc. Any thought? Carol

Some schools around here are considering eliminating the block schedule cause students get 8 classes instead of 7 which means more books and teachers. I have been told the block schedule was to prepare for college which operates off of semester basis. Ok have seniors do it not freshman.

Are the "projects" part of a class or is credit issued? How is it put on a transcript? Carol

Would she be going to college locally? I had a friend who's daugter graduated early. Her daughter had a difficult time socially. While her friends were dating she had to say no because she was a minor and they were adults. In fact she was the only minor at the university. She was living in an apartment on her own to avoid the issues affiliated with dorms but living on her own at 16 sounds young. Carol

I second using the Spalding curriculum for spelling. I have a sixth grader. I dicovered this program last. Feb. and started at level 1. It has been a slow mountain to climb to get on track but we finished level one and almost half-way thru level two last year. I'd recommend skipping the reading in level one if you have a third grader. My son retained about 80% over the summer and we are currently reviewing before continuing. she teaches both people and leopard in level one. There are many easy words in level one yet some challenging ones. When you complete level 4 your child should have a middle school spelling level. I hompe to complete this in 7th then do a regular grammar program in eighth prior to high schoool. Carol

My son is taking 6 core courses plus electives. Each course is 1 credit if it is designed for a full year and a 1/2 credit if designed as a semester course. Don't keep track of hours unless it is a self-designed course. In the local high school they spend 50min. per class period times a 180 days which equates to 150 hours. Most of my self designed courses are electives so I give credit at 150 hours. These are P.E., art classes with instruction, band and music instructution plus practice. Carol

Thanks for all the input. I am looking for what you all guessed. A nonfiction book written by an American author. I hodge podge my language arts together and for the literature I plan for my son to do literary study on: Christmas Carol, variety of poetry, a shakespeare play, short stories, and a nonfiction book by an American author.

If you were only going to use one nonfiction american literature novel which one would you choose for a Freshman. What study guide if any is available for this particular work? Carol

The easiest is to scan them and e-mail them and have it the parents responsibility to print, especially if it is a large co-op. Anyone who doesn't have e-mail can pay a price like $5 for copying for the course. Carol

Is there any particular lapbook you'd recommend?

Thanks for the input.

I have a 6th grade boy who is very inventive, mechanical, and creative. Most of his academic skills are average with the exception of spelling(he made drastic improvements 2nd semester last year when we found a curriculum that works). He is probably somewhere in the mid of 4th on spelling and his writing is probably behind too since he won't write words he has difficult spelling and although he knows how to use a dictionary he doesn't like to take the time to. He labels himself below average academically because of this. I believe he is comparing himself to his older brother. What would you do? Thanks

The same problem exist here when student re-enter PS. They don't seem to test those who enter in mid year just those at the beginning. I'm not sure how affordable your private school is but some homeschooled students do just a semester then transfer. Just a couple of thoughts. Good Luck!

input please

Forgot Bible 1 credit Drivers Ed 1/2 credit

I forgot we are doing the old and new testement surveys for Bible. We will also do drivers ed late spring bringing us up to 8 1/2 credits. Carol