I still can't really help but thishttp://www.free-clep-prep.com/Chemistry-CLEP.htmlwebsite is the most useful one we have found for free. It gives a good breakdown of what is actually on the exam. You can compare to table of contents for the text books. In general the dc's have found the Clep exams to be very similar to the SAT subject exams when both have been taken. Literature, French, and German are the three we have done both. The major difference in preparation is they are trying for as close to a perfect score as possible with the subject exams and simply passing for Clep. The content of the exams and question types have always been very similar so they may be for chemistry also. Dd is thinking of taking the subject exam if she can get the content down for the Clep. She will run through some subject exam practice tests before taking the Clep also since those are easier to get.

No idea about Zumdal but dd is currently prepping to take the Chemistry CLEP. She is using the REA study guide and reviewing with a Coursera Advanced Chemistry course that is part of the on demand course list. She thinks the course has all the new to her topics. Chemistry was two years ago for her.

Angel, I was typing fast this morning and didn't have a chance to wish your dd a Happy Birthday. For some reason 15 seems so much more mature at my house than 14. Didn't get much more of The Rook read. I started a Regency because too many distractions while in the car. I need to go back and click on the links and investigate the thread better. I did get a couple of Kareni's freebies. So Thank You.

We used muzzy. There is a workbook etc that I bought, really expensive because classroom. It was cumbersome but usable because I had nothing else. Are you in a German speaking area still? I would start searching discount type stores before bookstores due to price but this time of the year there should be lots of kid coloring/ workbooks available. School supplement ones. Even math with German directions is good imo. I would buy a stack. If they are cheap buy two of each in case you end up wanting to go back over things with her again. I bought in a large book chain years ago. If you can play European dvds I would pick up a few classics here because many are dubbed in several languages. For some odd reason ds used to watch Bedknobs and Broomsticks in Norwegian???? Loved it. Have a great time!

I just knew you would like it! You were on the top of my BaWer's who would like this kental list. Jenn is at the top of the list too. Angel, Robin, and Noseinabook, would also enjoy it I think. Noseinabook....enjoy the baby! :) We are finally hopefully off on our short holiday. It has been cancelled so many time I hate to say it. No one has announced they are sick (we have had a nasty virus that has forced cancellation for the past month) so crossing my fingers and getting dressed to go!

I have been trying to read The Rook today while doing what feels like a million other things. ;) I think someone here read it early this year. So far it is great. I can imagine several of you trying it but at only a measly 12 percent can't fully say. It is certainly interesting and fun so far. Here is an article http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/mar/08/science-fiction-roundup-reviewsthat lists The Rook along with some other steampunkish books. The Rook is not steampunk so far...simply a version of twentieth century England that isn't my reality, as far as I know. :lol:

Swallows and Amazons is another popular classic here.

Not sure what age your children are. We moved here while my dc's were still in primary school. They had read Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, Milly Molly Mandy, and Harry Potter. HP was probably the best for conversations..... I am sure they had read others. Libraries and charity shops here have lots of Blyton and Horrible History books so I would wait on thoze until you arrive. A popular picture book series at the library here is Winnie the Witch. My kids had read some of those before we moved.

:grouphug: As someone who had to go home ill during my first semester I am going to offer this bit of experience to think about. When returned I had missed a round of exams in all my classes so I was busy rescheduling retakes while still feeling awful (mono). My favourite professor asked which class I was dropping very matter of factly then helped me decide which. Small school, he knew which class was going to be hardest to catch up on. I never regretted dropping a class.

Nan, Glad to have you back! I finally came to the top of my hold list (started at 998) for the Girl on the Train. The overdrive library that I use had over 130 copies. I signed up back in March. The last couple of days have been hectic here. Our horticultural show is this weekend and everyone has been frantically getting their entries ready. Mine were already done, some stuffed animals, so I just facilitated the dcs. Making sure we had plenty eggs etc took tons of effort ;) :lol: and I am resting until judging is over.

I think this is both a :grouphug: event and a Congratulations one!

I just finished a good historical romance by a new author. Kelly Bowen's I've Got My Duke to Keep Me Warm was a book I enjoyed but thanks to the title am really glad I was reading on my Kindle. It contained spousal abuse so potential trigger but the heroine was trying to save others after her abusive marriage.https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21857233-i-ve-got-my-duke-to-keep-me-warm?from_search=true&search_version=service

VC - I haven't had a chance to post today but I love the quotes too!!!

Kmama, At one point Hooked on Phonics made a British version. It was sold at Costco roughly 6 years ago. You might be able to find one on the resale market. I have also heard positive remarks made about Jolly Phonicshttp://jollylearning.co.uk/overview-about-jolly-phonics/.

I agree with Jane. I have never seen Seven so no idea comparisn wise. I started with the second one which honestly was a good place to start. When I went back and read the first it was more detailed but I knew most of it already so the shock factor was gone at least. Actually the first could be skipped. I was worried when you posted you were starting with the first because I was not sure I would have liked the first one first. I just wasn't sure how to stop you because I hadn't read them in order myself and thought maybe I was wrong. The books are very French and the main character is so unusual.

I shouldn't have but I went ahead and checked Amaryllis out. It looks interesting and I normally enjoy your recommendations. I also found the Guenivere Jones seris which I remember liking. I am probably at more like 50 percent on the wiki list. Stephanie James is one of my all time favourite romance authors but have also read my fair share of the others especially the oldies.

I think it depends partly on the dc but once again a higher score is needed to get to the aime via the amc10. I can't remember the numbers but the point difference for actually qualifying is significant between the exams. When I got the phone call that dd had made it to the aime, the test coordinator told me it was too bad my ds hadn't taken the amc12 too. Apparently it is common to take amc10 on the first date and amc12 on the second. When we looked all the information over I had to agree that taking both exams would have given my son a higher probability of reaching aime. I think your daughter should try some old amc12's and look at the scoring and qualifying points. Make your decision from that. In my son's cas he had completed Pre Calc and was able to do as well as his sister in practice. Who knows about the actual.....next year. ;)

Sorry Kareni, I don't know how but I missed your post. Great link. I am definitely going to have to read more of her books. I can get My Sweet Folly through overdrive so will probably start with that one. Many of them sound interesting. Regarding the Jayne Castle series, I have never read her new books but used to love her romance novels back in the 80's. Did you read her before too? I have looked at the new ones but never actually checked one out. Now I will. First I need to get through my stack of Fool's Gold by Susan Mallery. The new one was put on hold when I read the first one and the line has gone quickly. I am going to have it way sooner than anticipated and would like to have everything in between done first. ;) I had no idea how much in between there was.

I just finished Flowers From A Storm by Laura Kinsalehttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/360259.Flowers_from_the_Storm. This book totally deserves it's place on the Best Romatic Fiction list. She is a Quaker who becomes intrigued by a Duke because he shares a gift for mathematics with her father. This brilliant man ends up in an asylum after a stroke (loss of language and appears mad as opposed to frustrated). She becomes his caregiver and companion. I really am not giving serious spoilers because the book goes on from there in an interesting fashion. Lovely romance. Very different, between the stroke victom and the Quaker parts I have never read a similar romance.

Thanks for the interesting list. I am now wondering about the Dark World series for ds. I would love to find something he loves to read again. He read a bit of Under the Dome to see if it was like the show (the part he read was) and enjoyed it. I think Stephen King may be one of my spooky reads...... Stacia - A full dinner might make a bookclub worthwhile :lol: but not a cup of tea and a biscuit! They actually do read some pretty good books. We have a wall in the conference room where they meet displaying the book covers the groups have read. Many of them are either favourites or by authors I enjoy. But there are enough up there that I know I don't want to read.....I think I am happier with our type of book club. ;)

Ali :grouphug: I hope your back is completely better soon! Teacherzee- Hope you have a good week next week with your new students. Please check in with us even if you are too busy to read much. Aggieamy - :lol: That's what happens to me with an organized book club, I am always the kid who didn't do her homework. I never manage to read a book when I feel pressured. I even have problems here sometimes. My library runs three very active book clubs and my absence has apparently been noticed ( blush, mainly because I am a volunteer and board member) and someone recently asked me why publicly(while I was standing behind the desk working, trapped). All of you would be amazed at what an active group of readers my online bookclub is (that's you). We actually really are thanks to Robin but my explanation about no time for more was interesting. I just do not want to look at a book and know I must read it, takes the fun out. Imo Jenn - Glad you had such a nice time on you trip. I love Chicago. I hope you enjoy Irene. I think you will be the first one who starts at the beginning. I will be interested in your view from where much of the story starts. Negin - The Stand sounds good too ( last week someone was talking about 11/22/63). I am going to have to be brave and read a Steven King book again. Banned Books - None on the current list but have read quite a few on the larger list. I have never read The Great Gatsby. Dd is reading it this year so I will try that, I think. I can't commit too firmly! ;)

Jenn started the Raven Black readathon for me. I am now on the third in the series and so far enjoying it. I am reading them in hardcover because that is all I can find at the library so it is taking me longer than some. I am reading Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale. It was on the list of great romance novels. So far very different then the norm. I have read many romances where the hero is suffering from some sort of physical affliction, usually blind, but never a stroke.

You sent me on a bit of a search because I normally love crime fiction (even though all I seem to read currently are romance novels) and hadn't heard of Liza Marklund. These look good. I have them on my list for the future, when I read crime fiction again. :lol: The St. Mary's Chronicles look great. I have the first one on hold, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18456025-just-one-damned-thing-after-another?from_search=true&search_version=service because it is on order it may be awhile. It apparently started as a free Kindle offer, I enjoyed the author's blog regarding that experiencehttp://www.jodi-taylor.com/?tag=the-chronicles-of-st-marys.

Kareni, I recently read The Witness also. It may have been a reread.

Pam, Great to have you back. We missed you! Eliana, I am so glad you are enjoying your granddaughter's visit. Jenn, Hope you made it on your plane and that we see you here later today! In honour of poor Shrek I feel the need to display some of my vast ;) sheep knowledge. I live in a village surrounded by fields of sheep and various types of grains. There are breeds of sheep where the fleece falls off (not very attractive but due to expense can be easier if you need to hire shearing) by late summer if not sheared. A good friend has a flock for fun and hates shearing them, hard work and she can only manage a few each day, she is very hands on. The fleece is no longer valuable enough to bother selling and her shed to store fleece in for future knitting projects is full. Considering that she still needs to learn how to spin the wool her supply will last quite awhile! This year she just sheared the breed where the fleece won't fall off and left the rest of her flock to mother nature.