Thanks! I feel at total peace with it right now. :001_smile:

Thanks everyone for the excellent advice. I think we are going to continue with the Lial's for this year (thanks Jann for the help). We will take a look at things at the end of the summer when we finish the Algebra 1 text to see if we continue on with geometry or do another year of algebra. I really don't want to jump to something else because the grass seems greener. I have done that too many times and the results have not been good. I had totally forgotten about Khan Academy. I need to remember to go there as well when we don't understand something. I also need to remind myself that we have all summer to finish this text. Slow and steady sometimes wins the race! Thanks everyone again for helping me think this one through!

Jane, Are there solutions to any of the problems in the back of the textbooks? I have read that solutions manuals are hard to find. I would need something beyond an answer for each problem. You are right about the time commitment. I think my ds understands that it is what is necessary for the career path he is choosing. He is willing to work as long as he isn't frustrated. Sometimes that happens with Lials as they will assume a step and leave something out.

I have been looking at LoF. It might work as a possible supplement. I am wondering if I just need to purchase a bunch of texts and have him look through them and choose.

Does AoPS explain the why of math well? Could I use it to supplement the Lial's or maybe I should just try it? I have read lots of threads about it on the board but I have been fearful of it. Maybe that's just me. Maybe it would be good for a future programmer as part of programming is debugging and problem solving. Are all the problems challenging and difficult or are those types of problems just one aspect of the course?

I am sorry. I wasn't clear. He was spending 20 minutes per day on the pre-algebra. That's why I decided to try again with the algebra 1 text. He usually spends an hour a day on math with the algebra 1. Are there texbooks I could supplement with that would give him a better understanding of the why behind the concepts?

I have an algebra 1 dilemma with my ds. He started his 8th grade year in the Lial's introductory algebra textbook after two years of Saxon. We got to Chapter 2 and he hit a roadblock so we backed up to a prealgebra textbook and spent a few months there. He was spending about 20 minutes a day on math at that point and it was just too easy for him. We have restarted the algebra 1 textbook and we are in the middle of chapter 5 (factoring). He is having some difficulty with the factoring. I am also questioning how much he is truly retaining and understanding. He asked the other day for some practice with slope because it was on a review section at the end of the last chapter and he could not remember how to do the problems. Hhas always been a strong math student but I am rethinking his readiness for algebra. He is definately a math/science kid and wants to be a computer programmer. I know he needs a solid math program and a solid math foundation. We had hoped to get through a calculus course in high school but I know that having a strong algebra foundation is best. Should be just finish out the year and redo algebra 1 next year trying a different program? We were planning on finishing algebra 1 over the summer and moving to geometry in the fall. Could we redo algebra 1 and do geometry concurrently? Can someone recommend a good algebra 1 program that would have some review built into the daily lessons? My ds disliked Saxon because of the incremental approach. I know he would not enjoy AoPS as he would not enjoy the discovery approach to math. I would also like something that would help him understand the why of math. Help.......

My dd's like yours is interested in computer programming as well. He is in 8th grade. We started the year with Lial's Introductory Algebra after Saxon 87. He did fine in the first chapter and then seemed to hit a wall in the middle of chapter 2. So we backed off and worked a pre-algebra text for a few months until he was ready to try again. We are now working through the algebra 1 book and he is doing fine. Math takes him about an hour a day. He is more careful with his work as he writes down every step. That has helped the silly mistakes. He does realize he needs to get through calculus by the time he is finished with high school as well as needing a strong science background.

Oops.... sorry. In my excitement I missed the date.:blushing: I would like to meet up with some folks as well.

I missed this thread as well. We are coming from PA for the first time. I would love to meet up with some of you wonderful ladies who have inspired me and given me such great advice over the years! I am so excited!!!!

The restaurant suggestions look amazing! Quick question about the seminars; how difficult is it to find the locations and how much time should you leave yourself to get to each one?

Thanks! This is good information to know. I had no idea that there were talks in different hotels. Good to know about Saturday morning..... Any recommendations for a great place for a nice dinner Friday night?

Hi all, This is my first time at the Cincinnati convention. I am traveling from Lancaster County PA with two girlfriends. :driving: Any advice on what to expect? Also what about food options? We are staying at the Millenium. I cannot wait!!!!! Thanks!

We are staying at the Millenium. This is our first time going to Cincinnati and we are so excited! The 8 hour drive will be worth it!!

BS in chemistry, minor in economics.

Hi all, I am trying to teach my dc how to correctly cite sources in research reports. We are going to build up to a research paper (with a defendable thesis) but at this point we are starting with report writing. I have read information from the Purdue OWL, IEW, and a book I have called "Cite It Right". After reading all this information, I am walking away with the idea that everything they put in the report needs to be cited. I can't be right about that can I? I have also read information about "common knowledge" and how that information does not need to be cited. I am also reading that unless it comes from your brain it needs to be cited. Well my dc are researching because they don't have information about the first ammendment to the Constitution in their brains. So if it's common knowledge but not in their brain do we still need to cite it? I understand that you would cite original thoughts, quotes, charts, statisitcs, etc but it is the gray areas where I am having difficulty. How have you taught your dc to correctly cite sources for a paper? I have been using IEW with my ds and like the way the KWO help you to create original sentences but then I worry if we should be citing those sentences as well since they are a form of paraphrasing. Sometimes I think all of this is too much for me! I finally have all of the writing process understood and can teach that and now I need to deal with avoiding plagiarism. I think wrapping my head around this is more difficult. Any helpin understanding this process is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hi all, I am planning for my dd's senior year. She is definately college bound and is planning on the local state university 10 minutes from our home. She is a decent writer and I think we just need to work on refining her skills. We will finish working through Lost Tools of Writing this year. She also had a novel writing class at our homeschool group that was a bust however she did write a good portion of a novel and she will finish it here at home before the school year is finished. She is starting a research paper on the need for the electoral college for her government class. She is considering English as her major in college. What writing skills should we work on refining before she graduates? I know one area we need to work on is developing better thesis statements. What else would you all recommend for college success? Thanks!

My dd is taking the test at Penn Manor high school in Millersville. If you live where I think it might be an hour's drive to the school.

Thanks for the helpful advice. Yesterday we took a timed practice ACT test I had downloaded from the ACT website. She scored a composite of 23 taking it cold. Her English scored was very high (as I expected) but math needs some work. I was pleasantly surprised by the science score as it was better than I expected. We will be watching the YouTube videos for science prep and I ordered both the McGraw Hill for math knowledge and Barrons prep books. Luckily we found a test center not too far from our home that offers a test on June 9. Works out much better!

Hi all, My dd has been working on SAT prep for the last several weeks. We are finding weak areas in her vocabulary and math and are considering the ACT. It is only offered in our area on April 14. She is a junior this year. I would like her to try the test to see how she does. I think a straightforward test would suit her better. I was wondering if anyone had some ideas for a "crash" prep course. I found the YouTube videos for the science portion of the ACT but am looking for some math ideas. I think she will be fine on the English portion as she has excellent writing and grammar skills. Thanks

I am pretty well planned for my ds. He is a math and science kid and would like to be a computer programmer. Here is our tentative schedule: TT Geometry Apologia Physical Science (as an elective) Apologia Biology (at our homeschool group) World History I (still need to decide on a curriculum) Essay Writing (Epi Kardia) and IEW Speech Bootcamp (at our homeschool group) Abeka Grammar and Vocabulary Latin I using the Henle materials from Memoria Press Computer Programming I Gym at our homeschool group Intro to Literature planned by mom Looks like about 7.5 credits which I think he can easily handle. I still need to decide on a few curriculum choices but we are feeling more and more comfortable with this mix of classes.

I am so with you! We have always had to turn ours in to the district. However, the secretary fills out the form they use and I would assume from that is the one who reviews them. My evaluator's letter should be sufficient as the law says they have to be approved by the PDE to evaluate. My thought has always been, "So you don't trust the people you approve to determine whether my child is receiving an appropriate education?" I know that there has been a bill introduced several times in the education committee in Harrisburg to change the law so that an evaluator's letter is all that is needed but it always dies in committee. Apparently there are several lawmakers from the Philly area who always shoot it down.

Laura, What would you recommend for practicing analogies? I just ordered IEW Classical Rhetoric for the writing. I am going to review it and see what I think. I also have A Rulebook for Arguments and The New Oxford Guide to Writing that we can use once we finish the LToW. Thanks!

Progressive took our homeschool grades without a problem!

Hi everyone, My dd who is a junior wants a course(s) to teach her logic and reasoning skills. Last year she worked through MP Traditional Logic 1. She seemed to enjoy it. Now she is beginning to take life a little more seriously and realizes that she may need more than a half credit of logic to help her with what she would like to do (go to law school). She realizes that she will need to work over the summer as well. I am looking at all types of things and my head is spinning. I was thinking of this plan: Summer: Traditional Logic II or CAP Argument Builder Fall: Material Logic Spring: Classical Rhetoric We are currently using Lost Tools of Writing and will continue with that next year doing level 2. Does this look like a feasable plan? Is it too much? Are there other options I have not considered? Thanks!