Paradigm Accelerated Curriculum: http://www.pacworks.com/pages/curriculum.html#_ipc We are currently using the Integrated Physics & Chemistry. It is a 2-year program and the first year is mainly chemistry. We bought a separate lab kit to do over the summer.

I have to say that I think it's hilarious that your dh, who owns an e-learning company, would have any reservations at all about homeschooling! Your son sounds like a dream homeschooler to me! He already loves to learn and is willing to take ownership of his education. As for interning at his father's company -- I really don't think a college is going to care where he does his learning. I'm sure many Ivy-league students have business contacts because of their fathers and have taken advantage of those opportunities (they would be foolish not to, IMO). If you and dh sit down and make an education plan with your son, that will be "structure" enough. He can tell you his hopes and dreams and you get to help him achieve them! How great is that? :001_smile: Enjoy the journey ~ Laura

I really felt the need to respond to this -- I have been a computer programmer / systems analyst for over 20 years and can I just say that your son sounds like just about every guy I've worked with in this field? When he can pursue his passion and do something "for a reason, not just for a grade", he may lighten up a little! Would it be possible for him to intern/volunteer/job shadow (in other words, do the work without pay) anywhere near you? That is a great way for a kid to see the day-to-day aspects of a job. It will also get your son around some very intelligent people and, once he realizes he's not the smartest person in the room, he can relax and learn something!

http://www.alice.org/ has everything you need for an introductory course in programming.

I usually give my daughter the list of books we'll be reading for school so she can get started on them. That's her choice though, because she likes to take her time reading and doesn't want to "feel rushed". We've also saved most of our chemistry experiments for over the summer -- again, our choice so we can take our time.

:iagree: I also am a computer programmer by trade and I think Alice is a great starting point for all the aforementioned reasons plus it's free. :)

...with a BS in Computer Information Systems. My grandfather, father, 2 uncles & some cousins all graduated from Ferris as well (all Pharmacy except my dad). It is a medium-sized campus in a very small town. The only reason (I think) that the town is still there is because of Ferris. The classes and campus are not so big that you get lost in the crowd but big enough that you don't feel like you're attending a community college. I got a first-rate education there -- I learned things I have actually needed to use on the job. :) I don't know "liberal" or "conservative" -- but remember, I was in the geek dept! (btw: thanks for the tip about doing FAFSA in their junior year)

My non-mathy 16 yo dd used Lial's BCM (Basic College Mathematics) a few years ago and it thoroughly prepared her for Algebra. I highly recommend it, if only for the very clear explanations. I bought our copy from half.com for around $10. I don't think the edition matters -- I mean, how much has math changed, really? The answers and solutions are in the back of the book, so we didn't need anything else besides the student text.

Chairman Meow. :lol:

Here's a nice article on that subject: http://www.homeeducator.com/FamilyTimes/articles/10-3article1.htm Your MIL needs to remember that ps teachers are "qualified" to teach a room full of kids -- not your kids. :)

I can supplement with any specific country's history. But a sequential world history in story form, written for a logic-stage audience? Now that I have not found.

We had very good results using the Spectrum Spelling workbooks. My dd did a page a day and took a spelling test on Fridays. Simple! http://www.a2zteachersoutlet.com/catalog/mh-spsp.shtml

we school year-round. ;)

Was it Learning Adventures, the unit studies written by Dorian Holt? http://www.learning-adventures.org/

It's been my experience that any nice hotel's food is expensive, so I don't even take that into account any more. I look more for room price, comfort and proximity to the event I'm attending (and I bring as much of my own food as I can ;) ) Funny, I was planning on staying at the Hilton next year because it's attached to a shopping area with a food court. We ate there for lunch one day and it was very reasonably-priced.

I like this book: http://www.amazon.com/High-School-Home-You-Can/dp/0805445455

Our homeschool group offers a biology class taught by a gifted teacher -- she uses Apologia biology -- and the kids are really getting a lot from this class. I say (to your dh) "Life's short. Follow your passion!" :)

I plan on calling it "Integrated Physics and Chemistry" with an explanation of what topics are included. Here's a link to a site that sells PAC's Integrated Chemistry & Physics: http://www.lamppostpublishing.com/paradigm-integrated-chemistry-physics.htm According to them, "when the student completes all 12 chapters, you can assign two credits (years) for Integrated Physics and Chemistry." So I'd say yes, you can count it as 1 science credit -- probably 2! HTH!

Thank-you!

I'm looking into science alternatives for my non-mathy, definitely artsy 15yo. She is college-bound and I want her to have some physics and chemistry, but don't want to suck all of the life (or love of learning) out of her. :) Have you used Integrated Physics & Chemistry from Paradigm Accelerated Curriculum? Did you supplement with labs? How? I'm also researching Glencoe's Integrated Physics & Chemistry but am having trouble with their site. What is your opinion of this curriculum? Does it give a good overview of both subjects? TIA!

Me!!!...and 15yo dd who, I think, is more excited than I am :lol: I'm also looking forward to seeing your new little one!

ITA!! That is exactly what we did. My (then) 11yo loved MOH...but her love of history was already firmly in place by reading the SOTW series. :)

We are enjoying this program: http://www.ourlosbanos.com/homeschool/history/worldstudies.html It was designed to supplement Winter Promise's Children Around The World, but we are using it as stand-alone geography lessons. We started out using BJU's Geography, but my 15yo dd is getting much more out of this living books approach to geography. HTH!

My 15yo dd is really enjoying these (free) geography lessons: http://www.ourlosbanos.com/homeschool/history/worldstudies.html

I second this suggestion. Our church does the Angel Food distribution in our area and we always have several boxes purchased then donated back. Plus our church family donates a few boxes each time. BTW: This ministry is for everyone -- it's a great way to be frugal with your grocery money.