This made me chuckle! Math humor (intentional or not). Regards, Kareni

Two ideas, Mandy. Check to see if your library can obtain the book through inter-library loan. Alternatively, do you have a college or university nearby? Check their library to see if they have a copy. Regards, Kareni

My 11th grader needed a graphing calculator for College Algebra at the local community college this year. We bought a TI 83 plus. Some ideas: There is a ... for Dummies book that I checked out of the library. At our local cc, there is a math resource lab that is available free of charge for all. It has some video instruction in using a graphing calculator. Is there a similar option available for you? Some math textbooks actually include instruction in the use of the graphing calculator. Good luck! Regards, Kareni

We've never done Vocabulary as a formal subject ... lots of reading would be my first recommendation. Given that though, a few suggestions. My teen was introduced to the following website in an SAT Essay writing workshop: http://www.freerice.com/index.php She enjoys it very much. I also recommend that your child do the free SAT question of the day. Here is the site for that: http://apps.collegeboard.com/qotd/question.do The vocabulary cartoon books are also a fun means of learning vocabulary. See: http://www.vocabularycartoons.com/ Regards, Kareni

We began homeschooling when my daughter was in 7th grade. That year we used a mishmash of library resources for Pre-Algebra. (I'd chose Lial's BCM now if doing it again with monetary resources!) In 8th grade, she used Lial's Beginning Algebra under my direction. In 9th grade, she started the year at a resource center using Jacobs' Geometry, 3rd edition. We pulled her out midyear as she was not learning as much as we would have liked. (Disorganized teacher.) My husband (who tutors math) then oversaw the rest of the year. She chose Jacobs' 2nd edition as the text having found the 3rd edition to be more distracting. In 10th grade, she did Lial's Intermediate Algebra (under my husband's supervision). This year, she placed into College Algebra at the community college and followed that with Trig. Both classes used Sullivan's Pre-Calculus. She also used Chalkdust's SAT Math review DVDs before taking the SAT last month. She found them useful. Next year, her senior year, will probably be Calculus (for non-Science majors) or Discrete Math at the community college. The decider will probably be what fits best into her schedule. It's been interesting to see the various paths that others have chosen. It's great (though it can be daunting too) that there are so many good options available for our children! Thanks for providing these boards, Ms. Bauer! I enjoy them very much. Regards, Kareni

Hello Miriam, No personal experience with Danish; however, my teen enjoyed using Pimsleur CDs before a trip to Italy. I see Pimsleur does have a short Danish program. http://ww5.pimsleurapproach.com/include/lp/19_95_c5/lp001.asp?Learn=Danish&Sid=CJBpimdanishGGL&s_kwcid=pimsleur%20danish|1356141009&gclid=CMaXl7rg0JICFQInlgod5lCHIA Regards, Kareni

I've had good experiences in the past both buying and selling through Vegsource. Today they are in the process of changing their server so that might account for any issues you were having recently. Regards, Kareni

A second vote for Fierce Wars and Faithful Loves. My teen enjoyed it very much. Regards, Kareni

Chiming in late here ... My 11th grader used Lial's Beginning Algebra in 8th grade. She followed this with Jacobs' Geometry in 9th. In tenth grade for Algebra 2, she used Lial's Intermediate Algebra. This year she placed into College Algebra at the local community college. She received As in both that and Trigonometry. She was well prepared. Regards, Kareni

Coming late to this thread ... Yet another vote for http://www.freerice.com/index.php. My 11th grader was introduced to this in an SAT essay writing workshop and loved it. Regards, Kareni

Fun Books sells them. Here is a link to their site: http://www.fun-books.com/books/murderous_maths.htm Regards, Kareni

Perhaps not quite what you had in mind; however, do check out the song The Elements by Tom Lehrer. We have it on a CD; however, there appear to be many sites online with it. See here: http://www.google.com/search?q=elements+tom+lehrer&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-ahttp://www.google.com/search?q=elements+tom+lehrer&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a Regards, Kareni

out of the home: Latin 3 AP US History Swing Dance Essay writing class Chaucer Debate Yearbook (some of the above were for part of the year) at home: Intermediate Algebra with Lial's book Chemistry (Ebbing with MicroChem Kit) Regards, Kareni

My teen watched the movie and read the book when she was covering that time period. I recommend them. Regards, Kareni

I have an 11th grader this year. All of her classes are outside the home. At a homeschooling resource center: AP Latin (Catallus/Cicero) using Wheelock's and more AP Comparative Politics and Government at the local community college, she's currently taking: World Literature Rocks and Minerals Earlier this year at the community college, she took two quarters of composition, two quarters of Geology, College Algebra, and Trig. Regards, Kareni

My daughter read the one on Mao and the one on the Spanish-American War. She still remembers things from them and did not quibble while reading them. (I'd say that's a definite yes from her!) Regards, Kareni

Chris, No, my daughter did not offend anyone so far as she knows. But do bear in mind that her interactions were mostly of the ordering gelato type! Regards, Kareni

I just wanted to add that Richard Feynman's biography is also great reading. From Book News: "Classic Feynman: all the adventures of a curious character by Feynman, Richard Phillips. Comic stories about his life and work by American Nobel laureate physicist Feynman (1918-88) are compiled from his 1985 Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! and 1988 What Do YOU Care What Other People Think. The included compact disk contains 19 recordings of him telling stories." Some of the stories he tells are laugh out loud funny! Regards, Kareni

I believe that would be alliteration. Glad to hear that you liked the idea of using The Whole Story series. Yes, they are unabridged. Regards, Kareni

Regards, Kareni

My teen went through the first eight or so lessons of Pimsleur Italian before taking a trip to Italy. She recommends it. (Though bear in mind that your daughter will learn how to order wine!) Regards, Kareni

Would The Picture of Dorian Gray fit into your category? It's an intriguing story. If your child is not easily distracted visually, I'd like to recommend the Whole Story series of books. They have fascinating sidebars and illustrations of items pertaining to the time and setting. My teen really enjoyed them. The series includes: Frankenstein, Hound of the Baskervilles, Picture of Dorian Gray, Pit and the Pendulum and Other Stories, and Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde amongst others. Regards, Kareni

My teen used Lial's Beginning Algebra and then followed it with Jacobs' Geometry (2nd ed.). She then continued with Lial's Intermediate Algebra. Regards, Kareni

My teen worked as a crew member on an organic farm (run by the local food bank) the summer after ninth grade. The following summer she was invited to come back as a crew leader. Regards, Kareni

Bill Bryson, who is an amazingly humorous writer of travel books, has also written some fun and informative books on the English language and one on Shakespeare himself. Here's the title -- Shakespeare: The World as Stage (from the Eminent Lives sereies) -- and a link to the Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-World-Stage-Eminent-Lives/dp/0060740221 Regards, Kareni