I just sent them an email yesterday. I got a reply back today. It looks like they are changing things a little bit. "Instead of weekly phone conversations one on one with the instructor, students will do the weekly videoconferences- these class meeting times will be posted in August for the fall semester. These meeting times are optional. They will occur once a week and will be between 3 and 7 pm central time and will last 45 minutes to an hour. This will allow students to interact with each other to practice their Spanish. This will be the videoconference format." I am hesitant to sign up because for us 3 - 7 pm CST is hard becasue dd is involved in soccer twice a week (typicaly 5 - 7:30 pm EST). So, not know the day/time it's difficult to apply for the class. Also, I liked the idea of one-on-one phone conversations (like they've done in years past). But, perhpas that was getting impractical? Also wondering how much time will dd get to converse within 1 hr, if all kids will be interacting?? How does OSU German work?? Do they have videoconference? or phone conversations? Is German a hard language to learn? Would you recommend OSU for German? Thanks so much for your help, Sangita

Both our older girls took the SAT in 8th grade. It was a good experience for them and the non high schoolers were put in a seperate room. Also it gave the kids the experience of what it was like to take the SAT and a timed test (in a non-stessful way). Also, showed us what we needed to work on and gave them confidence in their abilities. The score doesn't stay on their record (unless you specifically request it). Oldest dd's score was very good, and we were contemplating keeping it, but decided against it, since she will take it again in her junior year. Good Luck!

I am searching for a online spanish curriculum for my soon-to-be 9th grader in the fall. Our co-op offers spanish I, but it's at about 60 miles round-trip, and with rising gas prices ($4.00/gallon here!). I'm looking for a good online class that's not as expensive as the Potters School (close to $600! - Spanish I + conversation class). I had a few questions - 1) Can you all explain to me how the class works? 2) Is it real-time, meeting twice a week? Is it one-on-one or class setting? 3) Are there quizzes, tests and a final grade? 4) Is there a textbook used? 5) Also, would you recommend to dc with NO spanish experience? Sorry, maybe I missed these on the website - thanks SO much for your help! Sangita

Hi Laura & Heather, I've cut & paste the resonse I sent to ValRN below - Yes, my dd is taking AP Eng Lang with PAH. Her teacher is Mrs. Inspektor. She loves the class. The teacher is very organized and timely. Lots of feedback on writing. Dd spends close to 2 hrs per day on the class. There is a daily morning message (so things are due daily, not weekly, like other classes). Fellow students critique each others writing, there are book clubs, and it's a highly interactive class - which dd loves. I must say dd likes to write and it is a strong suit of hers (unlike math lol). Depending on how comfortable your dc feels about his writing ability, consider contacting the teacher and get her opinion. Maybe give her a background and sample of dc's writing. It is an intense course with lots of essays and paragraph writing. But, it is aimed at teaching kids to writing eloquently, fast, and be able to analyze writing. BTW, Debra Bell is another teacher that I've heard good things about. Dd just wanted to take the course with Maya Inspektor because she liked the books titles and b/c she teaching AP Lit, which dd wants to take next fall. I know it's a tough decision. Good Luck. Dd is asleep right now, but if I've forgotten to mention anything I'll email you back - Take care, Sangita (also in MD)

anyone?

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Val - I pm-ed you

I'm looking for online Spanish I recommendations for our soon-to-be 9th grader. Our local co-op offers once a wk Spanish I class, but due to time constraints we probably can't go that route for dc. Any thoughts/suggestions are greatly appeciated!

This is an interesting thread and I am in a similar boat and could use some advice. In 9th grade dd has done Spanish I (Abeka) thru' our homeschool co-op. In 10th grade dd is currently doing Spanish II (Abeka) also with the co-op. Next year (11th) she wants to take Spanish at local cc. There is no placement test. But, another kid a yr older in the same co-op (also did 2 yrs hs spanish) went straight into Spanish 102 (2nd semester of 1st yr spanish). But, the next class after Spanish 102 is spanish 201 and that class is not offered in the spring, so dd would have a semester gap if she did SP 102 in fall. Therefore, we decided to let her take SP 101 in the fall, SP 102 in the spring. Even though SP 101 will be review. We didn't want her to have the semester gap... On the hs transcript, I was going to write 9th - Spanish I (1 credit), 10th - Spanish 2 (1 credit), then for 11th - Spanish 101 (at cc, 1st semester 1 credit), and Spanish 102 (at cc, 2nd semester 1 credit), 12th (projected) - Spanish 201 (at cc, 1st semester 1 credit), Spanish 202 (at cc, 2nd semester, 1 credit) From reading the previous posts, is this wrong? Am I giving dd more credits than I should be? (since SP 101 covers hs spanish 1 & 2) Never thought that I was... Now I am wondering... Can someone clarify? Thanks so much, Sangita dd(16), dd(14), dd(11), ds(8)

Hi, I'm also in the process of looking for an online Spanish I class for my dd (9th grader) next fall. We are looking into The Potters School, but the times just aren't working for dd's schedule. Can you tell me a little more about the La Clase Divertida hs class and why you like it? Did your dc get a good amount of conversation time? Do they turn in homework, writing, are there tests, or semester exams? Thanks so much for responding, Sangita

Our dd took her first cc course this year at the age of 15. She really wants to pursue biology/genetics major and was eager to take bio 101 & 102 at cc. She thrived with the challenge and gave her more confidence, but it also helped that another friend of hers took the class also. I would suggest ask you dc what she thinks of the idea and find a friend she could take her first class with. It helped my dd not be as nervous in class and gave her familiar face in the crowd. Good luck on your decision!

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Thank you for the insight about Ms. Califf's class. Have you heard any opinions about AP classes thru' Patrick Henry or Potters School?? I have been wondering what folks think of their AP courses (especially AP Govt & AP Calc AB) Wish PHC had a sample class one could view. I viewd TPS sampl Calc course but, very time the teacher's voice sounded a little fuzzy somewhat garbled (sp?) ... don't know if it was the recording, or if that's the way it would be (very annoying) Thanks for any advice you can give! Sangita

No, it's not time for applications yet. I believe mid-march? But, trying to figure out dd's schedule for next year. I've just heard mixed reviews about the teacher w/PAH. So, I wanted some opinioins... Thank you!

Hi All, Anyone have experience with dc taking PAH's AP US Govt class? How did they like the teacher Mrs Califf? Pros/Cons/likes/dislikes? I see it's a year-long course, is there any busy-work? Dd would like an interactive group of students - is the class like that? Thanks so much! Sangita

:iagree: JMHO - Selective colleges are looking for more than academics. Here is a excerpt from a recruit at Harvard who explained their process (from hs2coll yahoo group) - "I thought I would tell you all something about the evaluation process. I have interviewed applicants to Harvard for the last five years or so, and I have attended several seminars for interviewers, where we get to see how the admissions committee works. The following information is presented without comment or criticism by me, take from it what you will. Applicants are given ratings from 1 to 4 in four categories: academics,athletics, other extracurricular activities, and overall character. Character is a rather broad category that can include personality, overcoming adversity, etc. The categories are given equal weight, with academics weighted perhaps a bit more than the other categories. "1" means that the applicant is extraordinary-- gold medal at IMO, nationally recruited athlete, eye-popping service work, actually *is* Yo-Yo Ma, is an accomplished actor. Most well-qualified candidates have "2s" in most (but not all!) categories. Exceptions to the above will be made if a library or dormitory on campus is named after your grandfather. But that is a different conversation." Our dd is in 10th now and she is also trying to keep her opportunities open for admission into a selective college. She is leaning towards a STEM major and taking a mix of APs and cc courses to show progression of challenging course work along with sports, music and leadership/volunteer work. . Good luck!

anyone?

Ladies, Thank you all so much for the informative posts. For us, cc is not free- it's pretty expensive ($176 per credit hr). But, yes, AP's are year long (unlike ps)... a mix sounds like a good idea for us. But, I had one more question - How many classes/credits should dd have per year in hs? Should I basically give dd 1 credit for each hs class and cc class? Should she have 7 or 8 classes per year (math, eng, history, science, foreign lang, 2 or 3 other classes?) I don't know if this is right? Especially if dd takes 3 or 4 APs and cc's next year, will it look "ok" to have 6 classes next year (3 APs, 2 cc and 1 at home)? Or should dd take more to keep her competitive with other dc? I really feel muddled here... (I belive in our state hs'ers need 21 credits for graduation, so no problem in meeting that requirement)

Hi all, Hope this topic hasn't been beaten to death, but I'm wondering if I could gleen from those how have btdt. Our oldest dd is a rising junior and she has done some APs and 1 cc course (this year). We are planning for next year and wondering do selective colleges like to see AP classes w/exam, or community college courses (i.e AP Chemistry or Chem 101 & 102 from cc)??? My dd is interested in biology/biochem/genetics major (at this point) and would like to keep her options open for upper tier colleges. So, can you give me some advice on this?? I don't want her to burn out, but don't want her to miss her opportunities either (with how competitive I hear college admissions are)... Many thanks for your help! Sangita dd(16),dd(14),dd(11),ds(8)

Hi all, I'm trying to make some preliminary decisions for next fall. I'm looking for a good AP Calc AB course for dd. Math is not her favorite subject, but she want to try Calc AB, though she is motivated to do the work, but math is the last subject she tackles daily.... Has anyone had experience with The Potters School Calculus class or the new additional AP Calc class? We have never taken a course with TPS, so I don't have any opinions and would love to her what you think - pros/cons/worth the time/teacher accessibility etc Thank you for the advice, Sangita dd(16),dd(14),dd(11),ds(8)

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Thanks for your input. Can I ask some questions about AP Chem - Is your oldest taking it with PA Homeschoolers (I believe it's the same teacher as chemvantage)? How many hrs does dc put into the class? How does he like the the course? (interactive, teacher accessability) Is there a lot of math involved? We're trying to decide whether to take cc chem 101 & 102 next year or PAH AP Chem course. Thanks for your help, Sangita

Thanks for the post - I've read on other forums that the changes to AP Chem are really dumbing down the exam. Some were expressing concern over calling it a first year college chem equivalent. Have you heard differently? Thanks, Sangita

Hi All, Dd is in 10th grade and doing AP Bio (thru' cc & self-studying). Next year as a junior was planning to take Chemistry either at cc or AP Chem with PAH. Then in her senior year, physics (again either at cc or AP Physics B with PAH). I had a few questions - 1) Lately I've been reading a few posts that suggest doing Physics BEFORE Chem? What do you all think? Should dd do phys in 11th, chem in 12th? 2) Which AP is "easier"? (AP Chem or AP Physics B)? Which one has less math involved? (math is not my dd's strong suit! She will be taking Calc in 11th, but she is not too confident in math) 3) Which AP test is considered easier (I guess that would mean the class is easier as well)? Thank you SO much for your help! Sangita dd(16), dd(14), dd(10), ds(8)