Hi Michelle, THanks for the post. I went to Derek Owens' website, can I ask a few questions? 1) Did you dd take the AP Calc class? Do you know if the class is College Board Certified? (i.e can I put AP Calc on hs transcript?) 2) If your dd did take the calc course, does Mr. Owens give time in April just to work on AP type math problems? 3) So, it seems like dc watches weekly/daily video, completes a workbook, then does problem sets from the book along with tests - Is that correct? 2) Just wondering how responsive is Derek with questions (via email) since he is also teaching classes? Did you dd have to email him with questions about any of the math problems? Thank you SO much for this option. It looks promising! Sangita

Thanks for your post. Dd is taking a few APs thru' PAH right now and I've looked into PAH for Calc. I'm just trying to decide if its the right fit for her. Thank you again for posting, Good luck to your dd! Sangita

Thanks so much for your helpful post! I am torn - on the one hand I'd like dd to take an AP Calc AB class, so teacher can prepare her for the exam in May. On the other hand cc class (which would go fast) would offer her a "live" teacher with free access to math lab when she needs help! :lol: Can you give me your opinion of PAH AP Calc class? Are there any chats? Is there a lot of interaction with other students? I heard there are a ton of notes to read through. Dd is not motivated in math (she leaves it to do as her last subject everyday! lol). So, I don't know if PAH would be a good fit for calc. Can you tell me you dc's impression? I also think part of my dd's issure is lack of confidence in math and motivation b/c it doesn't come easy (like english/writing/CR)... Thank you for the advice about AB vs BC. I want dd to succeed in Calc and my gut tells me to do AB not BC, yet I don't want this choice to close any college options ykwim? So, thanks for telling me your opinion- most colleges just really want to see kids taking challenging courses and they are ready for higher learning. Dd wants to go into Biology or Biochemstry at this point. I'm not sure how much Calc is required. Have you heard any opinions on Potters School Calc? They have AP Calc option, so the class would 'meet' twice a week. I like the flexibility of PAH (no assigned meeting time). But, I like that TPS uses "blackboard" w/audio I also saw PHC (Patrick Henry College has Calc AB class, but I don't know anyone who has taken their classes. Also, can't sample an online class either. Thank you SO much for your help! I'm still muddling through it all. BTW, what other PAH classes has your dc taken? Have they done AP Chem or AP Physic thru' PAH? Sangita

Hello all, Dd is currently in 10th grade doing Pre-calc at home using Prentice Hall's Precalculus by Lial, Hornsby & Schneider. It's a big book and she close to 1/2 way done. But, there are a ton of problem sets. Anyway, dd wants to take AP Calc exam next year in 11th. She is not too confident in her math skills (unlike her English skills); she is not a whiz in math (she can figure out the problem, but she's not super fast). While math is not her "thing", she would like to apply to selective colleges, so she would like to take Calc AB exam instead of BC. I had a few questions - 1) Any really good online classes you can recommend for teaching AP Calc AB? (helpful/accessable teacher) One with webinars or live chats would be a plus. 2) Another option is for her to take Calc I at local cc next fall. She is concerned the class (15 wks) will move much quicker than year long AP Calc AB class. But, would it be better to take Calc 1 at cc or take AP class? Which looks better on a transcript? 3) One friend (a math tutor) said finsih Precalc by next dec, then in spring 2013 take Calc 1 at cc, then take AP Calc AB exam in May. What do you think? 4) Is calc BC much harder than AB? I honestly don't know how much more work that is... do selective colleges really want to see the Calc BC on the transcript and don't think much of Calc AB? I am really confused what to do for next year. I don't have the time to teach her myself (I've forgotten my calc & I'm teacher 3 other kids). Dd also wants to take 3 other aps in her junior year, so she will be very busy... just want to make sure she can manage it all and not have a nervous breakdown... but she wants to do it.. :glare: Thank you all for any help you can give, Sangita dd(16), dd(14), dd(10), ds(8)

HI All, I'm considering getting my dd's AP World Hist syllabus approved for AP designation. Has anyone gone thru' the AP Audit process? I have created an account and now it wants an "association code" (like what school am I affiliated with). Anyone now what to do next? Thanks, Sangita

Thanks! I just sent you a PM.

Hi all, I'd love some chemistry suggestions for my 4th/5th grade dd and 2nd grade ds. They love experiments and I need something planned out so science will get done!! I'd like something with a good mix of narration and experienments using living books. Any suggestions? Thanks so much for the advice! Sangita

Deb, A BIG congratulations to your dd for all her hard work!!! Transcripts are a big gray area for me - I'm a little intimidated by how to start, what to write, how to organize. Would you mind sharing your transcript or Kareni's? Thanks! Sangita dd(15),dd(13),dd(10),ds(7)

Your post was really helpful. I just ordered Grammarland last week on Amazon! Just waiting for it to arrive. Did you just read it to your ds?? Are there any worksheets (I remember reading a post there were worksheets to go with grammarland, but can't remember the website). A friend also lent me Winston Grammar to try - she said it's very visual with color coded cards used for labeling parts of speech (I know this is totally different from MCT) I'm just desperately trying to find something that clicks with dd (oh we also tried GWG, but she wasn't retaining too much. She needed more review). Thank you again, Sangita

Angela, I saw from your sig you're also using FLL3, GWG3 along with MCT. Do you feel MCT alone isn't enough? thanks for your thoughts & Island schedule! Sangita dd(15),dd(13),dd(10),ds(7)

Thanks so much everyone! I'm a little concerned about retention (dd needs repetition). Anyone have issues with dc retaining info with MCT? Thank you again for helping me muddle through.

Hi all, I've been contemplating MCT for a year now and had some questions (I'm sorry if these have already be addressed by other posts) My 10 yo is a right-brain learner (very visual, artsy, has some auditory processing delays) We tried FLL 3 but that didn't work (wasn't retaining), we tried R&S English 4 (already owned it), which was better, but still struggles with retention and understanding some grammar rules. We do 1/2 orally, 1/2 written. 1) Is MCT only for gifted dc? 2) Is MCT stand-alone? I hear writing component is weak, do you all use another writing program? Would you recommend not using the writing part? I read a post that said there was a big jump between Paragraph Town & Essay Voyage. Anyone experience this? 3) Is there a schedule out there for each level ? (this would be very helpful) 4) Would dd start in level 1 (Island) or level 2 (Town) for dd 10 yo (11 in Feb)? 5) I read there is no diagramming - is that correct? 6) Should the new literature component be started after Island level or alongside? 7) Why do you like MCT?? 5) It's a very expensive program for us. Are there other websites where it can be purchased a little cheaper? (I have checked wtm sale/swap) Thanks so much for any advice! Sangita dd(15),dd(13),dd(10),ds(7)

I would second getting a Mandarin tutor. Our older girls are learning Mandarin from a local tutor. She is a native Mandarin speaker. I sometimes stay and listen to their lessons. Their tutor is very specific & draws out the inflections/tone of each word. I don't think they would get this type of teaching online. Mandarin is a tough language. If you are able to find a teacher locally that would be the best. My kids first got interested in Mandarin when they took a month long summer course (8am - 3pm) through the puplic school system. Then we searched locally and found a tutor. Good Luck! P.S A friend of ours took Chinese this past year with the Potters School and did not recommend it. She said it was not a good decision to take chinese online. I believe it was the instructors first year teaching the course.

When is Writing With Skill coming out? I didn't see it on the PHP website. Thanks!

I've been following the thread closely, as dd will be taking hs physics soon. So, I'm keeping a mental note that this might be a good option for her. Thanks! Also, has anyone taken higher level math (distance learning PreCalculus or Calculus) with Derek Owens? If so, would you recommend? Pros/Cons? Was the book thorough? From his website, distance learners watch video, take notes, do h/w, tests and return to Mr. Owens for grading is that correct? Can I purchase the video on cd or dvd? (how many cd/dvds do you get?) Also, are dc suppose to read the text after viewing the video and doing sample problems? Or does the video replace the need to read the text (like Chalkdust) Is Mr. Owens pretty quick in returning graded h/w and test? I like that dc can go at her own pace and start whenever she wants. Thanks so much for your help!

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Hi all, Just wondering if any of your dc took AP Lang & Comp and AP Lit & Comp from PA Homeschoolers? If so, which would you suggest to take first? Also, were both just a hard/time consuming? Any teachers you would recommend? Thanks so much!

Hi All, I was wondering if anyone has used Teaching Textbooks Precalc? I'm in search of either an online precalc or DVD course (TT, Chalkdust etc), or even better yet a local teacher (no luck here)... Dd did Jann in TX Alg 2 class online and enjoyed it, but Jann doesn't teach pre-calc :-( DD could continue with Lial's precalc book, but I just wanted to know other options and someone mentioned TT to me, but I have no personal experience with it. Dd would like to take AP Calc the following year so I really want a thorough precalc program for her. I'd like to know how your dc like TT Precalc, did it prepare him/her well for Calc? Any holes? Did you need to supplement? How many problems daily? Pros/cons would be helpful as well. THanks so much! Sangita

Dd did WW and VFCR (books A,B,C) she finished them early in 8th grade. She said VFCR was hard to remember because of all the roots. But, she took PSAT in 8th and 9th and scored above 200. So, I know something is working. But, she is a very avid reader which helps a great deal - you can't go wrong with rich literature. In 9th sh is using Vocabulary for the College Student. (see RR for description) Hope this helps.

Hi all, Dd (10 yo) is having difficulty with grammer. She has learning delays - diagnosed with PDD-NOS when she was 3 yo. She's been delayed in all her developemental milestones (rolling over, crawling, walking, talking). She use to go to occupational & speech therapy - graduated from both :-) Speech therapist suspected she has auditory processing delay. I went to an HSLDA conference a few weeks ago on struggling learners and really think she is a right-brain dominant learner. She is very artistic, gifted in piano, loves to write stories, but math, grammar, narration (remembering SOTW sections is awfully hard for her), she often copies words incorrectly when she is writing her final draft for history (We orally talk about the history lesson. I lead her with questions and write her narration, she then copies a final draft. For example, "believe" she'll write bileve, or "sight" she'll write "site") For math we've tried MUS and CLE Math. MUS was too abstract for her. CLE is good because of the constant review, but topics jump around a lot. One day they'll learn fractions, next day decimals. She has trouble with elapsed time, mutliplication tables, word problems(!). I think she needs a math curriculm that is sequental (one topic at a time) but still has a good deal of review. Any suggestions?? For LA, similar frustrations grammer is just hard for her! Topics just don't cement in her head. We tried FLL but she didn't retain. I think it was too audtiory. She could repeat all the definitions, but couldn't apply them. Next we tried CLE LA 4. But again as with CLE math, it was too jumpy in topics, but had a good amount of review. We are now trying R&S Eng 4. She still having difficulty with applying the lesson to the practice problems. Dont' know if that makes sense, but we'll read the lesson together, I'll discuss the main points. She says she understands, but many times when she does the class practice problems with me, she cannot apply what she just read in the lesson.... I like that R&S English is more sequential and has good amount of review, just not sure why she can't make the connection with what she just read in the lesson and apply it to the R&S practice problems. Again, I *think* she needs a sequential program that has a good deal of review. Things just don't stink in her brain and that's a challenge. Maybe I should stick with R&S English for another year or abandon and try something else?? Any suggestions?? Teaching dd is a real challenge. It's like pulling hairs and her attitude is not great either, probably because everything is so hard! I really want to find curriculums that will make school not such a struggle for her and make her enjoy learning. I am so blessed to teach her, I really don't want her to go thru' her school years laboring. ANY help/advice is *much* appreciated! Thanks, Sangita dd(15),dd(13),dd(10),ds(7)

Thank you all for your great advice. Dd and I will definitely read the student reviews, class notes, teacher qualifications; that will be very helpful in making a decision. Also, which AP should be taken first - AP English Lang or AP English Lit? Dd wants to take both. Which one is easier (better to take first)?? Thank you!

Hi all, I'm curious if any of your kids have take AP Eng Lang & Comp with PAH? My dd is very eager to take this course, but I wanted to know which teachers you would recommend and why??? The current teachers are Kathryn Walker, Maya Inspecktor, and Debra Bell. Any insights would be wonderful!!! Or any other online AP providers that you've had a good experience with would be helpful as well. Thanks! Sangita dd(15),dd(13),dd(10),ds(7)

Yes, I would agree LOF is supplemental imho. We used it alongside SM. Once dd was finished with SM 6B, she went straight into Algebra. No need to do pre-algebra. HTHs

Joan, How did your son like Laurel Tree Tutorials course? Was it worth the money and who was the instructor Rebekah? Was she responsive with questions and improved his writing and critical thinking? (I have looked into Laurel Tree for dd also, it might be an option as well this spring). Would you recommend them? THanks again! Sangita

Thank you both ladies for taking the time to respond. Your answers were very helpful. I'll definately checkthe PA Homeschoolers website in April and see who is teaching, books used and go from there. :) Thanks, Sangita