I've never used PAH either and I don't know how quickly the classes fill. As for Wilson Hill, I'll check that out now. We haven't used Novare before.

No reviews on Mr Bob. It's going to be his first year offering this course - a beta year. He's currently preparing his son for the AP Physics C exam so I'm being patient waiting to get more information on his plans for an August start.

Opententacademy.com We've had a tremendous year with OTA. Eva and Jonathan have been fantastic to work with. Check it out.

OTA is offering a marine bio course which looks really interesting.

While our older daughter is on a pre-med path, our younger girl discovered a passion for mindfulness and meditation last year. She'd like to take a high school course which would also include yoga and a textbook/workbook. I found a course on udemy.org which looks promising. There's also a teen mindfulness program at a yoga studio which meets twice a month. It's free but a 90 minute ride. Anyone have experience putting together such a course? After spending the last few years researching sciences and math courses, I'm finding this new path refreshing AND challenging! Thanks!

Our daughter recently completed a mindfulness class through Outschool.com. She learned tons of great tips, breathing exercises and body meditations. She also participated in 2 months of club mindfulness as well. The teacher was Heather Shamp Mitchell. I emailed Ms Heather regarding the next "club" but haven't heard back yet. Just yesterday our daughter asked for a high school elective class focused on mindfulness and meditation. So I'm researching the following: shanti generation; conscious kid by Lisa Villeneuve, mindup.org, mindfulschools.org. We did buy a udemy.com course - mindfulness and mindfulness meditation - as it was only $20. I also have a few books in my amazon cart: the anxiety workbook for teens; conquer negative thinking for teens; the relaxation and stress reduction workbook for teens. I've also contacted two yoga studies which offer mindfulness classes - one is geared toward teens and meets twice a month on Sundays. I'm not sure which direction we'll head for the upcoming school year. At this point, we're just practicing breathing and doing 20 to 30 minute body scan meditations.

We formed a small teen group this past December. We had the teens put together a list of activities they wanted and the moms did the same thing. Both sides had many of the same ideas. Here's our list: Starbucks game nights Movie night at someone's house/office conference room (the kids had a blast at my husband's office) Dinner at Red Robin/movie Frisbee golf Miniature golf Painting pottery Chinese New Year Party (with paper lanterns, minute to win it games....fantastic time!) Murder mystery night Casino Night (this will be a larger event) Bonfire and games (this was very fun) Park days/nature hikes Indoor rock climbing (always a favorite) Zipline / adventure course Explore a local town (shops, museums, eateries) Horseback riding Busch Gardens (we live in Fl) Snorkeling Zoo MOSI Rent water bikes Attend local youth bands Room escapes Mall scavenger hunt Sailing lesson Camping Tampa Bay homeschool prom (for those 14 and older) Teach a skill (our daughters want to teach their friends to crochet) Jewelry making Pottery making on a wheel We were doing something every week at the beginning of the year and it was way too much. We're now at once a month....maybe twice. Hope this helps!

We started with OTA last year, and have been very pleased with the following teachers and classes: 20th Century Wars - Mr Jonathan English Lights Camera Action - Ms Eva Art History - Ms Geula (Update: For her most recent assignment, DD 14 years old had to learn how to use photoshop and import an image of herself into a Rembrandt painting. Very fun project. DD learned how to use photoshop, dressed herself in period clothes for the painting and her project came out great.) Powerful Paragraphs - Ms Eva Study Skills - Ms Charissa (Update: this class did not reach it's minimum required students but OTA opted to hold the class and I'm thrilled they did. The strategies and techniques are perfect for DD 12 years old. She's been sharing study strategies with her older sister.) Deaf Culture - Ms Selena (Update: This class is very organized and structured with clearly defined assignments. Please know that deadlines are strictly enforced by this particular teacher.)

Now that we've registered, thought I'd update DD12's classes: Middle School Writing (OTA) ASL 2.5/3 (OTA) Science - Ideas that Changed the World (OTA) She loved how every couple weeks the topic changed. For my non-science girl, this may be a good fit. Intro to Theater/Acting 101/Acting 201 (OTA) Should be a very fun year for her.

That's awesome!

Just wanted to update everyone....only 3 spots remaining in OTA's ASL classes for 2018-2019.

We were also sad to hear about Ms Marie. Both girls have truly learned and embraced ASL because of Ms Marie. We're also signed up for OTA's ASL 2.5 and 3. As of today, there are only 3 spots remaining in OTA's ASL classes, so we're thrilled that another plan came together so quickly and the classes reached their minimum requirements. I agree with you, counselinggirl. The Signing Naturally curriculum is excellent. In fact, two of our local colleges use this curriculum which only served to reinforce what the girls learned with Ms Marie was broadly recognized. (On a side note, OTA's theater programs look tremendous. Maybe your DD would be interested. We've communicated with the instructor and she's been a huge help. In fact, our girls are taking a class with her today through outschool.com - a character analysis from the sitcom Friends.)

Maybe combine the pirates unit study with geocaching. Both seek treasures!

Ms Eva gives far more than a DVD. She gives the personal touch and for our family, we are wiling to pay for this special service. For the powerful paragraph class, our 12 year old received a video from Ms Eva which included feedback on a homework assignment. Our girl LOVED seeing and hearing Ms Eva give feedback on her writing! The feedback was both positive and negative ... with the negative feedback being done is such an incredibly encouraging way. This 90 second video meant the world to our daughter. Another example of the personal touch....DD wrote a paragraph about classic rock music and referenced a recent Billy Joel concert. Ms Eva commented so personally on the subject and really connected with our daughter, who was thrilled with the feedback. Just today, DD emailed Ms Eva about a possible topic for her analogy paragraph. DD emailed pictures of her brainstorming paperwork and ideas. And within no time, Ms Eva responded giving DD the go ahead to work on the paragraph. DD presented two topics which Ms Eva hadn't seen paired together and noted how excited she was to read the final submission. DD is now writing the first draft, which is on her planner to tackle tomorrow. We also have a 14 year old in Ms Eva's Lights Camera Action, movies for literature class. This girl had never written a five paragraph essay before. She'd written tons of lab reports but no formal essays. I can't get over the progress in less than a year with Ms Eva. I only wish I had found Ms Eva a few years earlier, as I know DD14 would have truly benefited from the classes. The interaction is class, especially the movie class, is a highlight of our week. DD always shares the other students opinions on the movie and what everyone liked an didn't like. Today was hysterical because no one liked the movie! (I actually did, but apparently the younger generation did not!) As far as our next step, DD12 plans to take the middle school writing class and DD14 the research class. We had no previous experience with IEW, as we were a Bravewriter family. I'm thrilled to have made the transition. I'm not going to be a good source to help with time commitment. For DD14 it takes her days to write a five paragraph essay. She agonizes over every word. Plus she studiously goes through Ms Eva's checklist....twice. I'm not worried about timing yet because I'm just so thrilled she's actually writing. I'll deal with time management another year! Each movie required 20 plus questions be answered in no less than 3 sentences...preferably a paragragh....and then the five paragraph essay. DD would watch the movie 3 times. Once just to watch it for fun. The second time to watch it as she answered the questions. She would watch a section, pause, answer a question and move one. And the third time, she honed in on certain aspects of the movie (i.e., music, cinematography) as she wrote the first draft. For Powerful Paragraph, I'd say 30 to 45 minutes 5 days a week. The final editing day sometimes takes 60 to 90 minutes. Overall, we have had a tremendous year of writing and learning with Ms Eva and OpenTent.

FundaFunda offers Spanish III. The instructor has been very responsive with my questions regarding Spanish I.

The one PAH physics teacher told me that they have a live class once a week but that the student isn't required to attend.

For the classes we're tentatively planning to take, the time commitment (i.e. homework, assignments, etc) for class is listed in the syllabus. I've also emailed several teachers for further clarification.

I realize I must sound like a broken record when it comes to Open Tent Academy (OTA), but I have to share something. With CurrClick no longer offering live online classes, we were in a pickle in terms of American Sign Language (ASL). Plus, Ms Marie, who is outstanding, has decided not to teach anymore so taking classes directly through her was not an option. I reached out to Open Tent Academy (Ms Eva) for help. This morning she notified me that OTA has set up a special ASL class for Ms Marie's CurrClick students. There will be no lapse in learning and these students can enjoy seamless transition from CurrClick's ASL 201 class into OTA's ASL 2.5 class with Ms Selena. Even the workbook is the same! Our daughter is thrilled and so am I. They even set up the class on the same day and nearly the same time as the CurrClick class! I encourage you to check out OTA. Registration begins March 1 with a 20% discount for the first 14 days.

Ms Selena, opententacademy.com

Send an email to Ms Eva (eva@opententacademy.com) for the info. It starts Monday.

We're on a pre-med path as well. DD is going into 10th grade next year. She's attended two summer pre-med camps and learned a ton. Check out apprenticedoctor.com as these kits are great. DD got them when she attended summer camp. During down time, she often pulls out the suturing kit to practice. Local aquarium classes were a huge help as well with great hands on labs and dissections. While in 8th grade, she also attended an anatomy and physiology class for 11th and 12th grade students at a local co-op. It was an expensive semester but worth it. She didn't do the homework and tests but did every dissection and lab with the class. The hands on exposure to a higher level class at a young age solidified her passion for medicine.

Ms Selena at opententacademy.com teaches ASL and uses the same book series as Ms Marie. We've already contacted her to determine where our daughter can jump into OTA's ASL 2.

On Tuesday, we received notification via email direct from CurrClick regarding the closing. Then during class on Wednesday Ms Marie notified the class. It was difficult for her and her students. Our 12 year old daughter is in ASL II with Ms Marie, and I"m working with OTA to figure out where she should jump into ASL II with Ms Selena. Ms Marie's ASL II should be halfway through the second book (Signing Naturally Units 7-10). They'll probably get through Unit 9.

Garga, at this point, it doesn't sound like Ms Marie is going to continue teaching. We're heartbroken. (If this changes, I'll let you know.) However, we're already pursuing other avenues. Ms Selena, opententacademy.com, is another ASL teacher we're using for a Deaf Culture class and she's equally as good. We tentatively plan to enroll with her this fall. Ms Selena uses the same textbook as Ms Marie so hopefully it'll be a smooth transition for our younger daughter. Plus FLVS is planning to offer ASL this fall. So that may be another option for you.