Thanks, I did a search before I posted, but didn't find anything.

I have a three different sources of homework assignment pages for Jacobs Geometry. Some do not include or schedule the following chapters for study or homework: Jacobs Chapter 13: Concurrence Theorems -- Triangles and Circles, Cyclic Quadrilaterals, Incircles, The Centroid of a Triangle, Ceva's Theorem, Napoleon's Discovery and other Surprises Jacobs Chapter 16: Non-Euclidean Geometries -- Geometry on a Sphere, The Saccheri Quadrilateral, The geometries of Lobachevsky and Riemann, The Triangle Angle Sum Theorem Revisited Are these topics normally covered in high school geometry? If not, are they eventually covered in another math course? Do you think these topics are important or interesting? (Important for certain fields of study, follow-on courses, and/or standardized testing. Interesting as they tie topics together, extend thinking?) My dd, 16, would like to "finish" geometry and move on to Algebra II. But if these topics are really interesting or important I want to make sure I cover them. Thank you!

Hi, I've been reviewing past posts and it appears that many of you use Anki on a laptop/iPad. Two other flashcard apps have been recommended to me: Mental Case and Flashcards Deluxe. Do any of you have experience with these and how they compare to each other or Anki? I 'd like the capability to review words based on how hard they are -- so harder words are reviewed more often. And the ability to share lists between iPads and/or iPads and laptops (one microsoft, the other Apple.) Any thoughts and suggestions are appreciated. Deb

Do check out Discovering Math series from Singapore math. I love their chapter in a nutshell pages. May be difficult to find teacher materials and step-by-step answer guides. Also Center for Innovation in Math, http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm, has free on-line resources from primary through IGCSE and "step-up" to A level (British system, post-IGCSE). I've used both for geometry and statistics topics to supplement our US algebra textbook. But either could be used as the primary math resource. :) Deb

http://www.bookfinder.com Search engine that includes abebooks, alibis, biblio.com, amazon, many textbook resellers etc. Shows cost with or without shipping; you can change destinations to compare total cost with shipping to different locations. Helpful for me as I can compare US shipping (to consolidate and reship) or direct to my overseas address. Have also used thriftbooks.com for paperbacks

I have been researching on-line and correspondance options for a number of reasons similar to those discussed here. But at this point in time we simply cannot afford them. Laurel Springs ended up on my list, along with Virtual High School and Indiana University High School. Any reason you didn't include VHS or Indiana Uni HS on your list? I will be following this thread for any other comments and suggestions. (In retrospect I think I am insane for ordering all of the books, textbooks, lab supplies, videos, etc. and trying to do all of the planning on my own.) Deb

We've used the free Brightstorm lectures to help with Algebra I topics. It might be worth having your daughter check out the Algebra II videos. My daughter who normally has no patience for video instruction really enjoys them and seems to retain whatever is taught in the short 4-7 minute that they last. I realize that they're meant for the high school level but could work as a topic overview while she is pre reading before the class lecture. (We watched a few of the chemistry lectures and found the presenter just spoke too fast. On the other hand, she enjoyed the Physics lectures.) Not sure how they compare to the Khan videos in content. Deb

We plan to use the Exploring Biology text by Campbell starting in about a month or so. I've spent hours researching lab kits and other options for biology labs. We'd like to do hands-on wherever possible, including the dissections (minus the fetal pig), chemical analysis/microscope, and ecology labs as well. Had I known what I know now after hours of research, I would simply place the order for Labpaq -- either BK1 for general biology or HS AP if we decided that the AP route was for us. But while I was waiting for information from Hands-on Labs about their Labpaq kits(description of the experiments, lab supplies list and approval for obtaining the teachers keys not shipped with the labs), I started researching the labs that would go along with Exploring Life -- as when the EL text was written the on-line resources and labs were tightly integrated with the course. Another WTM member (thank you, thank you) sent scanned copies of Exploring Life lab material requirements so I could research what we'd need before receiving the used EL lab teacher and student books I'd ordered. I spent hours on the Carolina and Home Science Tools sites trying to understand what I needed to order and what I could substitute. Also found a chemical supplier willing to send a sample of an enzyme needed for one lab to me. (BTW Carolina offers a $25 coupon for first time orders, but Home Science Tools still came out less expensive for the materials I needed.) After looking at all the Exploring Life lab materials needed there were about 4 labs out of 36 (or suggested alternative labs) that I could not do. We live overseas and some materials, including live specimens and some of the microscope chemicals, cannot be mailed to us. Also some of the materials are supplied only in quantities of 30 for a classroom. Not very economical! The cost for the labs I could do came out to about the same price as ordering the Labpac kits. Let me know if you have any specific questions. I need to quit analyzing and place an order! Deb

I hadn't heard of American School before now. Is it really $1399 for the 4 year 18 credit curriculum including textbooks? I was looking at a few VHS or other online courses to supplement and have my dd interacting with a teacher other than me - but the recommended courses are all $600-800 each. Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks, Deb

We used some of the Brightstorm video lectures for Physical Science and Algebra this year. They seem short and to the point and my daughter enjoyed their presentation style -- the main points were already written on the whiteboard and she found the presenters entertaining. We listened to only one chemistry lecture and thought the lecturer talked too fast, even for a native American listener. (Maybe we have lived outside of the US for too long!) Lecture transcripts are posted as well which helped. Know you didn't ask about Brightstorm, but I thought I'd throw it out there as an alternative. (I'm interested in feedback on their Biology lectures and how they compare to alternatives.) Deb

Yes, it's the book with the big iguana on the cover. Dragon genetics labs sound interesting... We will probably add one of my daughter's friends to a weekly discussion/lab group. It sounds worth it to get a used student or teacher's lab book, even if we decide to use a general lab kit or an AP lab kit. Still wonder what happens if we do a year of general biology labs using either the lab manual + supplies or general lab kit (lab paq BK-1 or QSL), then decide to go for AP? Will we end up needing to do the 12 AP labs? We do prefer hands-on to virtual where possible. (Thinking out loud...) Cheers, Deb

Does anyone have access to an Exploring Life lab manual? I'll be using the Exploring Life text and teacher's manual for a high school biology course this year. (Ordered, but not received yet.) And I'm deciding what to do for labs. I understand that when the Exploring Life book was written the labs were tightly integrated with the text. I'm trying to decide whether to order the Exploring Life lab manual and find materials or kits to match their recommended labs, or going with a general or AP lab kit from Labpaq(BK-1, 26 experiments or HSAP, 12 AP experiments.) If you have the Exploring Life Lab manual, could you list out the experiments for me, just so I have an idea of what is covered? I hate to order the manual and ship it overseas if we aren't going to use it. If you've used the Exploring Life lab manual I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments on following their recommended labs vs. using one of the lab kits. Thanks, Deb