Can I still add to this thread? I LOVE musicals, especially ones with great dancing (West Side Story is one of my favorites.) And, usually the less "edgy" the better (West Side Story is an exception) - I love people breaking out in song. I HATE mushrooms, so there! They taste like dirt and feel like rubber. I have tried them on and off since I was a kid. (My mom considered them a staple.) I like the smell of cigars - just don't smoke them in my house. I like disco! Next to the fun dance music of the 80's, disco in the 70's was fun!

No doubt! I have difficulty going even one day without peanut butter. It would need to be a PBJ (peanuts & salt, fruit and fruit juices). I have had periods in my life where I've had pbj's 3 times a day.

I did not read all the posts, but I'll give you a personal anecdote about high school math and college STEM. I did graduate high school in 1980 so things may have changed. In 9th grade I took Alg 1, then in 10th I took Geometry. I began loving math by this point so I signed up and took Alg 2 in the summer before my junior year. I wanted to take Calculus as a senior. As a junior my first semester was a trig class. My second semester was to be College Algebra but we moved to a different state. The only math class left that I could take at my new school was Analytical Geometry (I think that was the title). So I finished math at that school in my junior year. No math in my senior year - I was bummed. Anyway, I was accepted into an engineer school and I had to take math modules in areas I had forgotten over the year - but I took them concurrently with my Calc I class. Once I hit college the math was no longer "easy" for me, but I did okay. I did receive my engineering degree, however I was motivated (full ROTC scholarship). So in a nutshell: A student can be successful without taking Calculus in high school just not ideal.

:grouphug: and prayers.

I don't feel it's hijacked. You and others often put into words what I am feeling better than I can.

Thank you for the hobby idea; I have never really been a hobby person (my issue). I have been more of a work (with projects), fitness and travel person. (I am s.l.o.w.l.y. learning to garden.) I think of homeschooling kind of like a project: I get to plan (my favorite part), and implement the plan. I see my son still is just a sophomore so he for sure will be at home for a couple of years more but my planning days in this project are dwindling. Nan, I do see myself still filling the roll of mom and daughter -in-law (my dad lives across the country) but I am anxious about the rest of it. I guess it is transition to an unknown, in some ways scary, but in some ways thrilling. I guess, I never really had a plan when I first started the homeschool scene; my kindergarten daughter asked to stay home and there I have been. Perhaps the next phase of my life will start in a similar way.

I am just no sure what I should be doing, if anything, to assist my daughter while she's taking a gap year. She has not applied to any school because she doesn't know what she wants to do. I thought I would be spending this year like so many of you, helping my child navigate the college search and application waters. I was looking forward to it. Now...I don't know what to look forward to. I love to plan (especially someone else's life - lol). Her only plan during her gap year is to work (she lifeguards at the Y) and volunteer with TKD. Maybe I am just beginning to feel the end of my time as a homeschool mom and am floundering. My son would like to go the route of his sister next year and take a full load of cc classes. If you can read though my short ramblings and figure out for me what I really need, I would appreciate you letting me know. If you haven't a clue - that's okay as well; thanks for reading.

You're welcome. I would pay attention to how long it takes your children to read. When I said Steps 1 -4 took 2 -2.5 hours that included reading the 3 chapters. My kids read at a fairly average speed (whatever that is). Yes, the kids write a context page for each book they read. I used the 3rd ed. of TWTM to develop my schedule.

I am a little confused about your dilemma, so I'll just tell you how my kids did the foundations. They read 3 chapters a week (the chapters usually range from 4 - 9 pages with maps). Here are there instructions they followed. Read three chapters per week from The History of the Ancient World. Look up coordinating section in DK History of the World. Use these resources to fill out your notebook page as follows (You should fill out one notebook page for EACH CHAPTER of The History of the Ancient World): 1. List any important dates in the chapter and tell why they are important (place in Timetable). 2. List the names of the two or three most important individuals in the chapter and why they stand out. 3. List three or four events that stand out in the chapter with a sentence describing the event. 4. List two events, people, or ideas you’d like to investigate further. 5. Once every month you will write a one to two page essay on the history topic of your choice. Look back at your completed notebook pages for ideas. I will also discuss possible topics with you. Steps 1 -4 took about 2 -2.5 hours per week.

We "do" history the WTM way more or less. For Ancients both kids used HOAW and loved it. My kids followed her suggestions (Foundations, Context, Book Notes and Composition tabs) for the most part (I didn't have them write weekly history reports - more like monthly). They read about 10 - 13 books and we discussed them; they wrote on most. I wanted to cover a greater span of time (400 -1800) this year so we opted for Spielvogel's Human Odyssey as our spine. Ds takes notes; he writes history papers about once a month. I've incorporated, the Annotated Mona Lisa, The Classical Music Experience and the Teaching Company's War and World History (this kid is interested in weapons). The literature follows last year's pattern as well. HTH.

DD had 6 as a freshman, 6.5 as a sophomore, 10 as a junior (9 DE classes), and will have 9 (DE) this year as a senior (she will be getting her AA concurrently with her high school diploma). Therefore, she will have 31.5 credits. DS will have at least 24. Not sure how many DE classes he will take.

:hurray: Mega awesome! Congratulations to you all!

We really liked this as well (and we are not huge fans of poetry). ETA: I just looked at the link and was surprised to see how much it was. We did this three years ago and only the student book was out. The TE came out right as we finished. It was quite doable with the student edition, but the TE probably would have made it a little easier for someone like me.

I have not read "The Smartest Kids..." so I don't know if this was addressed, but I am not sure if the disparity is as "simple" as you laid out. Both S. Korea and Finland are very homogeneous societies. The U.S.A. is not. There are just so many cultural dynamics at work in our society, our schools/teachers must juggle these.

Do academies take gap year kids? Just curious. ETA: What's a BGO?

The news about your son is thrilling! I think I'd be trying to bring it up in all sorts of conversations if it were me ...you know, "Those covalent bonds are fairly attractive, but not as much as the scholarship nomination my son has received." :tongue_smilie: I'll pray your tumors are manageable without surgery.

Hewitt Homeschooling used to sell Vocab for the HS student and its answer key. Unfortunately, it looks as if they only sell Vocab for Enjoyment now. We used the the Amsco product and liked its organization as well.

Could you use MOH and add some "great books" to the reading? This web site provides a good list: http://www.thegreatbooks.com/courses/ancient. You can also do a search in this forum for some lists that others have used. LoriD has provided some awesome lists.

:grouphug: :grouphug: to you and your family. P.S. I love all the wonderful advice.

My ds is enjoying Apologia Biology with Red Wagon tutorials (we have a microscope which adds to the fun). Alg 2 with Jann in TX is also great.

What I had my daughter do her first couple of quarters was to start off easy, this helped her gain confidence and success. She took Computer Literacy, English 101 (a requirement for many other classes) and Spanish 121 (she had already had some Spanish under her belt). She has had progressively more difficult classes since. This quarter (she's a high school senior), she's taking a 200 level class. She also has a part time job; she could not have done such a thing last year.

Both my son and daughter used his (RWT) DVD and they both enjoyed it. My son often stops the recording and tells my some cool tidbit Mr. R has explained to the class. I think they are worth it, but then I don't know biology.

Thanks. I am not sure my ds is ready for the intensity of a full-time schedule. I am cheap and am trying to avoid paying more than necessary. But your comment does entice me to look at how much a single class would be.

I apologize if this is in the wrong forum. To the question: If your student signs up for Running Start, but is not taking a full load at the college, is he required to make up classes at the high school or can he continue to school at home without oversight, or do we need to submit to the district's oversight? My daughter is participating in RS as a full-time student. My son is a sophomore and I just don't see him going to the cc full-time next year, just may be a class a quarter.

:grouphug: I know I haven't been at it as long as you, but I can empathize. sigh.... I, too anticipate going back to work, but I have had my "own" hours for the past 15 years and THAT is going to be tough to let go. :D