[Has anyone used Algebra 1: A Fresh Approach? I tried a board search and nothing came up.]

Thanks for all the additional info. Week one went very well with no stress at all. I'm cautiously optimistic. 

[Anyone else here with a pop-up camper? (help!)]

First make your meal plan and think through everything you need to prepare and serve each meal.

Think pasta- You need a pot for pasta, a pot for sauce, a strainer for the pasta. Serving utensils, plates and forks.

Think through every meal and compile a food, kitchen, bedding, game lists. We ended up buying double of some things and storing them in the camper to make getting packed up and unpacked easier. We had camper pillows, blankets, dishes, silverware, board games for rainy days. 

  Then think about setting up the camper:

Flashlights, hammer, things to level it with, wd 40...

I hate to say it but mostly we got out there and almost always "needed" something we didn't have with us. We would pick it up and leave it in there. We camped in our pop up for 10 years before it self destructed.

[Has anyone used Algebra 1: A Fresh Approach? I tried a board search and nothing came up.]

 

 

BTW, the Geometry book was very proof heavy if that matters to anyone. 

 

Thanks so much! Now, I'm not a math person so tell me why it would be good or bad that geometry is proof heavy? Also- do you think a motivated student (who also just wants to get math over with) could do algebra 1 and geometry in the same year?

[Just curious: do you have food trucks in your area?]

We walk 3 days a week to our doughnut food truck. And yep we have plenty here downtown,

[Has anyone used Algebra 1: A Fresh Approach? I tried a board search and nothing came up.]

Sure will. Including tests I have 129 days scheduled which will help us get to geometry faster- I hope. I am considering ordering geometry soon if this approach works for her. We could be done with this text at the end of March and then start geometry- or maybe do both a little slower and have them both done by the end of the year. She needs to take the ACT next Fall and I'd like her to at least be done with geometry before then.

[Has anyone used Algebra 1: A Fresh Approach? I tried a board search and nothing came up.]

We are starting it Monday. I'll let you know then. :)

[Emergency fairy dust, prayers, whatever you've got]

I have been wondering how he was doing. I'm praying he will make a complete recovery with no permanent issues. :grouphug:

 

What a horribly scary and stressful time for your family. :(

 

 

We gave him some temp work in our remodeling company but he is chomping at the bit to go back out west. I can't blame him- being back here has got to seem like a giant step backwards for him. I'll be happy when he is back on his own 2 feet.

[Emergency fairy dust, prayers, whatever you've got]

He is feeling pretty good. He is still seeing a cardiologist as he has had some heart problems which may or may not be permanent. We are hopeful that as his body heals it will all resolve on its own.

Thanks so much for asking.

[I go to court tomorrow for child support]

I'm hoping this gets resolved for you. Its the dragging on and on that makes it so hard. Hopefully you'll get a judge that sees right through him and gets down to business with no delays.

[Disney people regarding No so scary Halloween]

You can buy a ticket and they let you in around 4.

[how to turn a leather tote bag into a crossbody bag]

I'm not crafty at all. That said, I would cut the buckles. Or i would try to find another cheap bag at the thrift store and somehow combine them.A cross body strap from another bag might just clip on?  Probably not too helpful.

[S/O Dorm Piles - How did the roomate thing go?]

Drop off was a breeze. We didn't even have to carry anything up. They had hundreds of student volunteers who unloaded each car and brought it up to their room. We just parked and helped him unpack. His roommate is super nice. They were heading off to dinner together when we left. My only concern is that he has no cell phone service in his room unless he holds his phone up to the window. I guess we'll email more than texting.

[Meal Plans, etc.]

Either a debit card or paypal has a student card which is basically a debit card. I can instantly transfer money from my checking onto the student paypal card. I can see where the money was spent and the kids can use it as debit or credit (up to their current balance)

[Help me settle a dispute]

We ended up buying it today. Its a refurb from apple. It says it should be delivered by friday. If not, he'll go without it and come home and get it next weekend. Now we can get back to packing.

[All About Reading Tiles question...]

Well no. If you have enough to make the letter pairs -  there are tiles for ea, igh, er to show the phonograms. We lost a few tiles and I made them out of post its. I think its a convenience to buy the tiles from them, its not better or worse to use something else- just more prep for you.

[New Greek Mythology Book]

Thank you! I am so getting this.

[Younger child blossoming in older child's absence]

We noticed that when our oldest 2 left home. Son #3 bloomed into the self he couldn't be while they were harassing him. Now we have the opposite problem. Son #3 is leaving and is so good with son#4 who is only 9. It is going to be a tearful few weeks here. They get along so well and the older is so good with the younger. It'll be even worse when his sister leaves in 3 years. He will be 12 then. I know he won't be able to get away with anything cause he will have my eye of sauron right on him with no distractions. :)

[How are everyone's "dorm piles" coming along?]

I've got a pile going- but our to be purchased list is still long. We take him friday so I'll have to stop procrastinating soon. 

[How are everyone's "dorm piles" coming along?]

I've got a pile going- but our to be purchased list is still long. We take him friday so I'll have to stop procrastinating soon. 

[Further UPDATE: Asking for prayer for me and my family]

Hoping everything is going well and you'll be back home on the mend before you know it!

[Help me settle a dispute]

Will they even accept his portfolio for review if its not done on the same program?

 

No, his porfolio stuff will have to be done on a mac.

 

update- he managed to talk to someone who was a viscom major at his school and he will need it right away. So, I guess we will be shopping this weekend.

[Help me settle a dispute]

At the end of his second year there will be a portfolio review. If he doesn't pass then he can't continue on to be a visual communication major. That is just a new name for graphic arts. At that point he would have to change his major to something else.

[Help me settle a dispute]

How do you know that he won't need the computer?  Even if assignments proper aren't online, aren't there all kinds of administrative tasks that would be easier if he had his own computer:  emailing professors, checking class and exam schedules, signing up for 2nd semester classes, arranging study groups with peers, general research, etc. etc. etc.  

He has a computer- a $3000 custom built pc. 

[Help me settle a dispute]

I know. I was not happy with the wording or communication from the head of the communications dept.

He has a brand new state of the art desktop pc. I could either loan him my laptop or buy him a tablet with a keyboard to take to class. He will only be an hour away so he can buy a stupid mac the first weekend if it was needed. I'm so annoyed. At least this is the last decision I am involved with. I think that's part of it- I just want to buy the thing and drop him off.  

[Help me settle a dispute]

If you read this:

 

It is best to wait until mid-August to purchase a laptop 

to ensure you are getting the best computer for the 

money, and the most recent version. You are to have 

your laptop the first day of class.

 

and this:

 

What if I already own a Windows based 

PC Laptop?

Apple Macs are the professional standard in graphic 

design. However, it is possible for you to work with a 

PC in the Vis Com program, but you will not have the 

support offered by the faculty and other students. 

Becoming familiar with the Mac now will assist you in 

preparing for professional employment. It really is in 

your best interest not to use a PC in a graphic design 

environment, however, having a PC laptop is better 

than not having any laptop at all. 

 

and:

 

What if I don’t pass review?

A personal computer is a valuable educational tool 

regardless of your major. As a university student, 

you can use a computer for research, writing papers, 

internet access, email, listening to music, viewing digital 

photography, and many other general computing tasks. 

It would be a beneficial investment regardless of your educational direction.

 

  Would you have your son email the author (head of the dept) and ask if he could wait until January to get a laptop.

I say no- it is pretty clear, and probably why this was mailed to us. This guy is gruff and not approachable and will be handling the review to see if my son can stay in the program. I feel like it would be a bad start to ask a question that has been answered. 

 

In my opinion, we should buy it now so he can just start like everyone else with no issues. (you know I'm a rule follower) my DH (tech guy) sees that our son has no classes 1st semester that require the mac and wants to wait to get him one as late as possible so it will last longer.

 

What do you think?