For geometry, Jann used more worksheets and practice problems and videos online than the textbook. If we remember correctly, Jann would provide an answer sheet for the proofs, and they would go over them in class. HTH Pauline

This is my fourth year homeschooling; however, the first year I homeschooled my dd ( 10th grade this year) was 8 th grade, and I had a steep learning curve. I had only taught 1st grade before! We did okay that first year, with about 3 co-op classes. I did a poor job teaching her Algebra, though. We switched books three times. I had no idea what type of curriculum would work best for her. Next, in 9th grade, she really wanted to take an AP class, and I knew she needed a qualified teacher for geometry,so we choose online. Then, I found she had a hard time staying caught up in the classes I taught, including biology, and English. Probably that should have been a sign that we had an issue. School work takes her longer to finish than her peers. We're testing soon, to get it figured out. Now, this year all her core classes are online, and one is at our ps. I teach electives. I really enjoy discussing with her. We are taking those more slowly and may finish some over the summer. I haven't even thought about standardized testing yet this year! Pauline

In our state, dual enrollment is only offered for about 10 classes, and all are online through our states virtual learning program. So, my dd is taking AP classes, primarily for the additional challenge. Her first class was just fantastic, so this year she took two more. Unfortunately, we learned to do more investigating into how the class is set up before she chooses her next AP class. I' m sure this can happen with any class, including DE. Pauline

I just happened to see this article online, and thought it might be interesting to some of the people posting here. It's titled "Non-traditional mathematics curriculum results in higher standardized test scores". http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130916122137.htm Pauline

Thanks, OhElizabeth for the suggestions! She can't eat dairy, so Panera is out, but she loves Barnes and Noble and Dark chocolate bars. I have some good news. We saw the OD and, even though she hasn't done VT every day, there has been improvement in her vision! She also has double vision/ blurry vision long distance, but this should help. Pauline

We are also working on an elective in Philosophy, and using "Philosophy for Kids", and TGC. You've already received some good ideas. Here is a link to some interesting resources that may help also. We're in the process of using some of them. http://squirefoundation.org/curricula/

My dd is now in Algebra 2 with Jann and also took Geometry with her last year. Her teaching style has fit my daughter very well. You can choose a one or two day class, and they both cover the same amount of material each week. Math is not a strength for my dd, so she prefers the material more broken up per week. She also requests tutorials regularly, which have helped her understanding tremendously. Also, the classes and tutorials are recorded so the student can rewatch them if they need to. My dd also has had some learning challenges this year, specifically vision, and Jann has been very accommodating. We both wish she taught Pre-Calc!! We're still not sure where to take that next year. I don't think self-paced will work so well for us. Hope that helps! Pauline

My dd, age 16, recently started Vt. Actually, it was over 6 weeks ago, but she hasn't been able to do it regularly. I do realize how important it is. It's hard at her age, because she really can't cut back on her academics, with chemistry at the high school, and 3 online classes, and the rest at home. And she does a varsity sport year round. We're pretty sure she's had convergence insuffiency for awhile, but we always saw a pediatric ophthalmologist . He had her do pencil push-ups and checked her eyes with a prism, but never mentioned anything else, except that one eye turns out. After she started to complain about double vision this year, perhaps due to more text books and online reading, I decided to take her to an OD. VT is so hard and painful. Guess I need some good rewards. Hoping to have her do it daily starting tomorrow. Nice to know we're not alone. Thanks, Pauline

Hi Lisa, I just want to add that we are going through almost the same exact situation. I have wondered for awhile if "something" is going on. My dd, a sophomore, has always needed more time in elementary and middle school (ps and private school) for tests, and especially writing. Her test scores were always fairly high so the school continually said they couldn't help her. She's always been very good in all language arts subjects, but has issues with math, and science that involves math. We started homeschooling in 8th grade, and things were better for a year or so, but she still needed more time to complete tasks than I had expected. Then, in 9th grade, she took AP US history and Geometry, with great teachers, but she spent lots of time on these classes, to the point that our home classes got pushed aside. This year she's taking 2 AP courses online, Honors Chemistry at the public high school, French dual enrollment, Algebra 2 online with Jann, and a few electives at home. In November, she got extremely frustrated when she couldn't finish a chemistry test, and got a poor grade. She said she has to check and recheck her work because she occasionally writes the problem down wrong, and doesn't catch the error the first time. In class,it takes her a lot longer than her peers to figure out the problems. She learns the concepts pretty well, but the math takes a long time. She's getting a B+, and has spent many hours with a tutor and with my husband, working through many extra problems. I will say she only takes classes with teachers that come highly recommended by her cross country and track teammates, or that she knows well. After some miserable years with teachers that didn't "get" her (she's quiet in class), we are super careful. This teacher has been great. She's worn glasses since 5th grade, and we knew she had extropia (sp?) meaning her eye turns out. She has always seen a pediatric opthamologist but I decided to take her to an OD in December for a second opinion, and yes, she has convergence insufficiency. She's in vision therapy now, but it is so painful for her, that she hasn't done it regularly. My dd has been complaining about distractions also. She's always been an avid reader but textbooks just do her in. I didn't know until recently that in AP US history (love Mrs. Richman, by the way!) she skipped reading the textbook and just listened to the Great Course US History mp3's. I'm sure part of that is the fact that she sees double and has blurry vision. She also said her vision is double long distance, so I have to get that checked out. Meanwhile, I decided to also pursue neuropysch testing, just not knowing if vision could be the whole problem. Now, as we get closer to the date, I keep second guessing myself. She's a sophomore, so I feel like it's now or never. Extra time in classes, perhaps for standardized tests and college may be necessary. I just want to help her, and hope we get some answers, but we don't know if having this documentation could be a problem with colleges. One interesting thing: the first thing the psychologist asked about was what hand she uses for writing, what foot she kicks with and what eye she uses to look in a telescope. My dd has mixed dominance so that could be an indicator of a problem, because her brain can't access things as efficiently as a brain that has only one dominance. I hope you could follow that! Hope that helps! Pauline

My dd is ready for a year of at home English after her AP language class this year (great class but wants something different for next year.) Here's our plan for English 11 so far, would you mind taking a look at it/critiquing? Is it enough coming off an AP class? She is a strong writer and really wants to perfect her skill. Thanks so much! Writing: -as many scholastic award categories as she can get through (she entered the personal memoir category this year and loved it) -National History Day research project?? -Script Frenzy?? -5+ prompts literary analysis (on books she reads) -Linguistics Olympiad (is this English?) Reading: -Lit discussions from Center for Lit -summer reading (probably some more modern American works like "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" etc. -various readings, books dealing with current events, etc. Grammar: -SAT prep book -quick review at beginning of year-Rod and Staff 8??

Our experience: My ds finished FLL 3 last fall, and we started with R&S 4. It was way too easy with too much review, so we jumped to 6 ( just because I already owned it). He is doing fine with it. Pauline

Thanks for asking this question...I was just asking my dd today if it wouldn't be better to take AP English Lit as a Junior for those same reasons!

Hi, My dd, a sophomore, really wanted to take AP English Lang with Ms. Inspektor this school year, but we waited too long and the class filled up. She had her mother, Mrs. Richman for AP US History and absolutely love that class. She learned an incredible amount. Instead, she has Ms. Serbicki, and she is really enjoying the class, and learning a lot. These two teachers have different approaches. She has weekly assignments. My dd struggles a little with lots of deadlines, so I was unsure how she would do having daily assignments in Ms. Inspektor's class. I'm not sure who she'll want as a teacher for AP English Lit. Now it will be a hard choice! Pauline

Just to make you feel better, Apologia Biology was a flop for us, last year. My dd was even in a co-op class, but the newly graduated high school student who was the teacher, just needed more experience. They did very few labs and my dd couldn't tolerate the textbook. We switched to Miller and Levine Biology and got the teacher access pack. It was good, but labs were hard, and because we switched mid-year, we had trouble finishing. It was a little tricky to line up the topics, but you could check the TOC online if you are interested. We hope to do Landry Academy 2 day intensive soon. Hope you find a good solution! Pauline

I tried to print the e-chapters in a larger font, but I couldn't do it from the website. She's going to try reading it on the ipad, so at least it is closer to her than her laptop. My dd hasn't received her essay back yet, but maybe it is missing. She's going to email her now. I also emailed the teacher to see if she had any suggestions about the online chapters. I did find some more resources for this book that should be helpful. Thanks! Pauline

I just recently found out that my dd didn't read the text for AP US history last year, and she relied on the Great Course podcasts that were part of the class. She got a 5 on the AP test. She dislkes text books, and online texts the most. It is VERY comforting to hear she's not alone! Thank you, Gwen in VA and At the beach! The first semester, I realized in December the text could be purchased, and it was "Central Ideas in American Government." Now, they are using Cengage (I think), but I couldn't find an option to purchase the chapters in hard copy. I think this is the same text you are referring to, At the Beach. She has 5 e-chapters to read (economic policy, social welfare, policy making process, foreign and military policy, environmental policy). Along with essay writing assignments, and 2 position papers (group project and my dd ended up writing almost the entire paper herself), and that is it, for the year. I found a some online videos and lectures, and maybe those will help, along with the study resources you recommended. Thanks! Pauline

Hi, DD is taking this class, but she has a hard time reading and comprehending the online text. This is the main component of the class, no videos or lectures. AP US History was great last year, with all the variety of learning materials. She also has a just diagnosed vision problem, and will start VT soon. Anyone have any suggestions or ways to find some supplements? Thanks, Pauline

Hi LAmom, I really like the approach in FLL. The definitions of the parts of speech, and lists of helping, verbs, prepositions, etc, are memorized. Sometimes a clapping rhythm is used. There is a student workbook that they write in. Sometimes, I think it helps that the sentences are written with vocabulary that the kids understand. Some of the old English in rod and staff confused my ds. Often, the lessons have an optional follow- up, and dictation exercise. I just skipped that because we use WWE also. I have only used Rod and Staff 4 this year, and 6 and 7 in the past, so I can't comment on staying with it or not. I hope that helps! Pauline

Thanks for your explanation, gratitude! That was very helpful. From everyone's comments, it sounds like FLL3 is good preparation for rod and staff 5. I stil might do FLL 4, partly because I miss it! I especially like the poetry included. I do like rod and staff, too, and I already own 6 and 7, so my dd's start with it next year. Thanks, everyone! I appreciate all of your replies! Pauline ds(9) Singapore math, LOF fractions, astronomy, WWE4, Sonlight

We're not doing every assignment, but only because he totally understands the lessons. The upcoming writing assignments do look good. Thanks for sharing your experience, lovelearnandlive. If we do FLL4, we'll do rod and staff 6 the following year. Thanks! Pauline

My DS finished FLL3 last year, and we switched to Rod and Staff grade 4. So far, it just feels like total review. We're around lesson 23, and when I look through the TOC and future lessons, it just seems easy, and that not a lot is new. Is FLL3 just more in depth? I've always heard that Rod and staff is rigorous, and I found that to be true of level 6 and 7, with my DD. I'm thinking of switching back to FLL4. Anyone been in this situation and have any recommendations? Thanks, Pauline

My dd took this class last year online with Mrs.Richman and she recommended an amazing study guide-http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_22?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+insiders+complete+guide+to+ap+us+history+the+essential+content&sprefix=The+insiders+complete+%2Caps%2C216. The Insiders Complete Guide to AP US History: The Essential Content. The author also has a website with mini podcasts to listen to, I'm pretty sure he has the site listed in the book. Another idea might be Greg Feldmeth's free question of the day-here's the registration page if you are interested. http://fs18.formsite.com/gfeldmeth/form392609765/index.html HTH

This may not be applicable, but my dd took the test cold turkey in seventh grade and scored a 710. Her score was definitely linked to her voracious reading habit-at the time she had always been public/private-schooled and her then current English teacher used class time to watch Doctor Who and read one book for the whole year. She is VERY grateful to now be homeschooled and be able-and required-to read the great books she loves. HTH

This sounds like my dd's ninth grade year last year. :) Is your son in Mrs.Richman's class by any chance? If so, you will not be disappointed :D That has been my dd's absolute favorite class so far. :) Anyway, your schedule looks pretty good, just a few suggestions. One, make sure your coop classes are good ones. This was probably an unique experience, but we tried an Apologia biology class at our local coop this year- it was supposed to be just a lab class, but it turned out that the teacher was an 18-year old and only taught 3 labs, with the rest of the classes just being 2 hour summaries of the module. We ended up dropping out of the class and are currently struggling to finish biology with a new book. There ARE many excellent coop classes out there-just be wary of the other side of the scale. The second caveat would be to be sure you have at least 2 years of a modern foreign language scheduled somewhere in your 4 year plan. Otherwise it looks good to me. :D

Congratulations! I do not have personal experience with any of their programs, but my dd qualified and did very well on the tests in both sixth and seventh grade. The online classes and camps all look very interesting. However we have not done any of them mostly because of the cost, but also because at the level she is at (AP classes, the classes do not look as engaging or thorough as the PA Homeschoolers classes.) We are still glad we did the program though, because her scores are helpful in verifying if a class is a good fit for her, and assure outside teachers that she can handle the course load. Of course, my dd is much older than your dd, but some other classes we like are G3, Bravewriter, and PA Homeschoolers (of course this would come much later :) ) The day camps for CTY look good too. HTH