Thank you for the suggestions! I hadn't thought about the Scarlet Pimpernel. I will see if I can get that, and will check out the lectures and the History channel documentary. Have a blessed day! Kirsten

Anyone have a good movie (documentary or other) to recommend about the French Revolution? Needs to be okay for a 13 year old boy. Thanks! Kirsten

Thank you very much! We will be on pins and needles until then!:001_smile: Kirsten

Just wondering how long it takes to get the SAT scores back...we have only done ACT and they are usually ready online in about 3 weeks, but I can't find the time frame for getting SAT scores back anywhere on the college board site... My son took the SAT today, so when can he expect to see his score? Thanks! Kirsten

Thank you! I will give one credit for each (unless someone else wants to chime in with another opinion...?) :001_smile: Kirsten

My son (senior) is taking a Calculus class and an Economics class at the University of Central Missouri (reg. 4 year university, not a CC) and I am wondering how many credits to give him on his transcript for these classes. They are usual college classes that run one semester, so do I give him .5 credits, or 1 full credit, since they are college classes. Thanks! Kirsten

Not sure if this qualifies as a self study, but this past year my son (junior) did the Sonlight British Literature course http://www.sonlight.com/530-00.html, which is not "approved" by the AP board as an AP course, but Sonlight claims that it will prepare the student for the AP Lit test. It covers a lot of literature, writing, poetry, and vocabulary. He did the majority of the assignments, but not all of them because of other commitments and time constraints. About a month before the test, he worked through Barrons's AP English Literature and Composition prep book, as well as 5 Steps to a 5 Writing the AP English Essay (McGraw Hill) and when he took the AP English Literature test, he scored a 4. I was thrilled, since he would rather solve calculus problems all day rather than analyze literature! :001_smile: His plans are to be an engineer (aerospace), so that 4 is plenty good enough for the engineering schools he is considering. Don't know if that helps, but has been our only experience with lit APs. Good luck! Kirsten

Great suggestions! Thanks so much! Southcarolinamom...sorry your son got nervous, that must have been very frustrating for him! :crying: jennifermarie...your suggestion is actually one he and I talked about and wondered if it would be a useful approach. :) Brenda...thanks so much for the utube link. I watched the first video and it looks like it will be a great help! My son is at work right now, but I will have him watch all of them this weekend and see if that improves his score on his next practice test. I am excited that someone would go to the trouble to make those videos to help kids on the test. I guess you never know what you will find on utube!! :D This board is AWESOME!!!!!! Kirsten

Hi, Anyone have any tips for getting through all the reading and graphs for the science section in order to finish on time? My son (rising senior) keeps running out of time (on practice tests) before finishing all the questions, and he is a very good reader, just says he thinks he reads too slowly. I suggested skimming quickly, then go straight to the questions and only read for the info necessary to find the answers. He will be taking the ACT for the second time this September (he took it last year in Sept.)...is there time to take a speed reading course before then? :001_smile: We would greatly appreciate any help or suggestions! Thanks, Kirsten

Thanks for the suggestions! I wish I could just use the 3rd edition but my son is taking a class with some other home schoolers and the teacher specifically requested the 2nd edition of the book. My son took Algebra I from this same teacher this past year and they used the 3rd edition of the Alg. I book. Thank you thank you LatinTea, for the link....I think that will be the way for me to go! ~Kirsten

Hi, I bought a used Saxon Algebra II set (2nd edition) to use with my son this year but it did not come with a Solutions Manual. Can I buy a 3rd edition SM to use with it, or do I have to find a 2nd edition? Will the DIVE cds work for any edition? This is only our second year to use Saxon so I don't know how the different editions line up. thanks!! :001_smile: Kirsten

Thank you for the replies. I will proceed with plans to have my 10th grader give it a try this year! :001_smile: ~Kirsten

I was recently rereading a section of SWB The Well Trained Mind, and in chapter 44 she mentions that you can take the PSAT as many times as you wish from 8th through 11th, but if interested in National Merit Scholoarships, take it only once in 11th. Do the 'powers that be" look differently at students who have taken it in 10th and then again in 11th? I know that it only counts towards NMS in grade 11, but I guess I am wondering why it would matter if it was also taken in 10th. My son took it in 10th and again this past year as an 11th grader, and his score was high enough that he would have qualified last year (we won't know about this year until Sept. I guess). Did we mess up having him take it twice? My second child will be a 10th grader this year, and I was planning on having him take the PSAT, but if it is not a good idea, then I guess I won't. I am confused. Sorry for rambling on... Insights? ~Kirsten

Yeah!! He must feel very happy! My son took his first AP this year (English Lit.) and scored a 4. I am very pleased with that. :D This next year we are thinking Govt. and economics.... ~Kirsten

On SWB's blog, she mentioned that her 13 year old is interested in meteorology and a few people gave their sugggestions which I pasted below. The course at BYU looks good...I also have a 13 year old son who wants to be a meteorologist. Hope that helps. :-) Renee June 17, 2010 at 7:08 am For meteorology, try looking for an introductory course in physical geography. When I took the course from South Dakota State University (on campus, not online), they used the book, “Physical Geography: Science and Systems of the Human Environment†by Alan and Arthur Strahler. Part 2 of the book is specifically Weather and Climate Systems. I have an older addition of the book, but you might want to check out this one: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Physical-Geography/Alan-H-Strahler/e/9780471480532/?itm=6&USRI=physical+geography+strahler I hope that helps. Reply Katie June 17, 2010 at 8:05 am FYI: There is a high school meteorology class offered by BYU Independent Studies. I don’t know how rigorous the class is, since my children haven’t done any on-line classes at this point. If you are interested, here’s the link: http://ce.byu.edu/is/site/courses/description.cfm?course=EARTH55Meteorology. Reply Megan June 17, 2010 at 10:30 am This is a site for an online school done by the National Weather Service. And it’s free! Reply Megan June 17, 2010 at 11:32 am http://www.srh.weather.gov/srh/jetstream/ I didn’t know how the site would post the website. Here it is again. Reply Sebastian (a lady) June 17, 2010 at 4:03 pm I did a physical geography course from University of Oklahoma a few years ago and it did include quite a bit on the interactions between physical geography and weather. It was one of their undergraduate science offerings.

Thanks, Kareni! That link was very helpful. I forgot that I could do a thread search... :tongue_smilie: Kirsten

I am looking at the Thinkwell government course for my senior this next year and was wondering if anyone has used this and what they thought about it. How long did it take to go through...one or two semesters? Thanks! Kirsten

Hi, I have a friend who is looking for good book suggestions for high school level European history 800-1200, including Saracens,crusades, saints, etc. Also, same time period in the Middle East. Any books that fit that time that shouldn't be missed? Thanks in advance!! Kirsten

Hewitt Homeschool Resources sells a reading guide to the History of Us that includes tests (with essay questions) and I believe project ideas. http://www.hewitthomeschooling.com/book/bsingle.asp?i=2852 ~Kirsten

I appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences! I guess he will be fine...he has survived some pretty gruesomely hot/humid weeks at Boy Scout Camp, so as long as he stays hydrated, the heat should not ruin his week. The schedule indicates that they will do their workouts early in the morning, so that is good! I know he will love the academicic sessions, so I will try not to worry about the rest!! thanks again, Kirsten

Thanks, Brindee, for the overview! My son also did well on the PSAT and is planning on studying engineering, so that is probably why he got the invitation brochure. We sent in his application, and he got accepted, so now he needs to get in shape for the physical part ( he is a competitive swimmer, but needs to do some running since that is what they will be doing there, at 5:30 in the morning!). I am just wondering if it is going to be like boot camp, or more like a rigorous summer camp. Anyway, just a nervous mom wanting to know more... TransientChris, as far as the camp goes, they just call it Naval Academy Summer Seminar 2010, and it is open to kids completing their junior year in high school. So the one your daughter wants to go to must be something different from this? Hopefully she will hear soon; I know the waiting can be hard! Kirsten

My son has been accepted to attend a week long summer session at the Naval Academy in Annopolis, and I am wondering if anyone has had a child attend, and if so, what did they think of the experience? My son is very excited, but I'm feeling a little nervous... Thanks for any insight! Kirsten

Thank you, My Three Sons, for giving me the link. I have printed it out and I know it will help clear up any confusion! Blessings, Kirsten

I was just on the website and couldn't find the corrections...could someone help me? My son is doing the advanced physics and if there are corrections I would sure like to know! Thanks, Kirsten

I am so glad other people chimed in on this...I will take another look at AG and try and figure out if it will meet our goals. it really does look like a great program and I liked the look of the excercises. Thanks again to all who shared an opinion :) ~Kirsten