I have not yet homeschooled high school, but one thing I have learned from these boards is that a course should only be marked as an AP course on the transcript if you have had your syllabus reviewed and approved by the College Board. That being said, your student does not have to have an official AP course to study for and take the exam. Your student can take the exam without an official AP course on the transcript. One problem that homeschoolers run into is finding a seat for the AP exams. You have to find a high school that will take you. I think that this is unfair, but that is a different issue. If I am wrong about the APs, I hope someone will correct me. But seeing that AP exams are important to your plans, I wanted to point these issues out:) Good luck with your planning!

Here is a TEDx talk that I have on my list for the beginning of this year: Kelly Corrigan "More Reading" I just watched it, and it was only 9 minutes long. But I think that she made plenty of points worth noting and questioning. I think it is mostly a matter of finding something of value and/or interest to your student.

I suggest TED talks.

Was this it? Fieldwork

That would not stress ME out, but my kid does not like to start in the middle of a book. I understand :) I have the America the Beautiful (ATB) books and some of Joy Hakim's books. IMO, the Hakim books are at a higher reading level than the Notgrass. Another option would be Hakim's History of US starting with Volume 6, War Terrible War. Old thread: http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/146220-suggestions-on-using-the-joy-hakim-history-of-us-books-as-a-high-school-us-history/ One thing that I really like about the ATB books are the landmark chapters and some of daily life sections. Some of the biographies are a bit off-beat, too. Actually, I would like to have my 8th grader just read through those sections, and skip the history sections.

We start next week, too. I should go back and see what I have changed since I posted in this thread. foxbridgecademy, what does EP stand for?

Indeed. It has been a lifelong struggle.

I am of the mindset that most things can be made suitable if necessary (beefed up or tempered), but honestly I would go with something else besides the middle grades Notgrass book.

Are you wanting to use it for 9th grade? Or higher? And why do you want to use this particular text? I can see times for below grade reading. If a subject is totally new to the student, for example. If *I* want a quick overview of subject that is completely new to me, I might start with a crash course using a relatively easy text. If I wanted my student to read some meaty tomes of fiction/biography and really focus on primary source work for that course, I might not want my student's spine to be a tough slog, too. But I would only use a text that was below my student's ability if I had a well thought out reason for the choice.

Rosie, I really like regentrudes initial reply. My kids have always learned their IT skills when they needed it or wanted it.

Well, we are another technology savvy family, but I would like to chime in anyway. DS is 13, and his brothers are 20 & 22. They talk tech together on many levels, and learn how to do all kinds of cool stuff from each other. They are all creators in some way (music, movies, programming). And while we are fortunate to be able to all be together from time to time, my three kids live in three different countries. If there is a way to communicate electronically, it is likely that 2 or 3 of the 5 of us have it/use it, lol. We all have our preferences though. For school, DS13 types all of his papers and this year we will use Dropbox to share the files. We use one note for assignments, and are excited to that to a higher level this year. He will have an outsourced online class (Latin). He programs a bit. He does not want online textbooks and is not that fond of the kindle. We use anki decks. But every subject has a well-used physical notebook. We use composition notebooks mostly. We believe in "motor memory" and just plain enjoy pen (or pencil) and paper. We started the notebooks in 6th grade and just added to them in 7th. For some subjects, they will continue for 8th. But in the subjects where I feel that he is truly doing high school level work, I think we will start new notebooks this year (8th), with the intent of creating personal reference books during the high school years.

freesia, I would love to know more about your experience so far with Clonlara.

I just want to thank all of you for your stories. They have been interesting to read and ponder :)

What about an accredited, yet flexible, program? I am looking into Clonlara right now. Kolbe is very flexible, but doesn't have regional accreditation. One Catholic school in NC said that they would accept Kolbe's type of accreditation.

merry gardens, thanks for the additional info. It was helpful! I guess that we are dipping our 8th grade toes into high school. He will have an online Latin 1 class and Algebra 1. His Danish work is also high school level work. We want to have a bit of fun with science this year, and leave room to use some science time for programming.

Like I said, I won't be trying to convince a reluctant parent - I am not like that. Anyway, I did just look up SAS's policies since they are a major carrier in and out of Scandinavia. You can secure unaccompanied minor service for ages 12 - 15, but it is optional for that age bracket. http://www.flysas.com/en/travel-info/travel-with-children/unaccompanied-minors/

Posting to add links: Maria Miller's review Math Without Borders

I would love to know more about this :) Are you using all high school level materials and keeping high-school-worthy records? Or did you mean something else?

I am just curious about this: At what age do you think you would allow your child to make an international flight (between USA and Europe) as an unaccompanied minor on a direct flight? With connections? We have extended an open invitation to several of DS's friends in the USA to come visit us in Denmark. No takers yet...For some, money is the issue. But for others, I know it is unease with putting their kid on an international flight. I would never ever try to persuade a parent to go out of their comfort zone, so of course I just let it be. I don't even know when *I* would be comfortable, as the situation has not actually presented itself. The first time that I ever had to consider putting a kid on an international flight, said child was 17. My 13 year old has travelled back-and-forth with me from Europe to the USA multiple times, and we always have multiple connections. The last few times, I have made him "lead the way" during the entire process. He knows exactly what to do now, but dealing with a missed connection or a cancelled flight would still be a concern. By next summer, most of these boys would be 14 and it would be their summer before high school. It would be so fun to have one for a visitor! edited for clarity/typos

Maybe. Our 9th grade plans remain uncertain. I didn't start homeschooling until 6th grade, and I have really enjoyed it. I hold out hope that we will homeschool for 9th, but that might be the end point. I see-saw between making this year as close to high school as practical and savoring the fact that it is not a high school year.

merylvdm, how do the students in your group prep for the Medusa Exam? I have looked at their website several times, and what to study seems to evade me. By contrast, the NME syllabus is crystal clear. I might encourage DS to move on to the Medusa if I could really figure out how to direct his reading. If anyone else is interested, the 2015 theme is monsters and the syllabus will be up on August 30. Last year's recommended resource list includes the Odyssey, the Iliad, the Aeneid, Metamorphoses, and the Homeric Hymns as primary sources. And then there were four secondary sources. If all of those readings are essential, I think we will wait until the Ancients year in high school.

My son is attending school in a foreign country. His student visa permit spelled out how much his sponsors (that is us!) are required to provide each month. I'm pretty sure that I would have come up with a smaller number on my own , lol.

No need to sign up. Just visit the site each day.

Emerald Stoker, Thanks so much. I will look at the Math Mammoth review. I have great regard for Maria Miller's opinion. What's funny is that I am also scared of the Aops geometry book. I have the idea in my head that it is harder than the algebra book.

DS enjoyed doing the NME in 6th and 7th, and he eagerly awaited his results. We had a lot of fun studying for it, and I made up different activities. I gave him the assignment to write a play for one of the myths (he chose Orion). I don't think he will do it again this year, though. It is just time to move on to other things. As for the National Latin Exam, isn't there some rule that you can only take a particular level one time? You might want to look into that, Aimee. I am planning to have DS take NLE Level One this year. I just think that studying for these tests is good experience. I also hope that the NLE will help secure proper placement for DS if he attends private school down the road.