Awe ~~ BIG thanks, Ladies. I *so* appreciate your thoughts and opinions. I do not take your words personally, but to heart. From those who have "been in the trenches." Yes. At this point he does need to "own" it. He does read, but that is a challenge for him. He can spell a word one day. then the next day he can't, like he hasn't seen it before. He has a phone and will text, but is bad spelling with that. He has a younger sibling, so hoping that this coming year he will be encouraged more to do better as she is going to be at his level, if not surpass him. I like the ideas about the computer, spell checker, proofing, etc. I am writing these down to formulate my plan after the summer. Thanks, thanks and thanks for your input. amy

Please help me. My rising 11th grade DS end of year testing for 10th grade was essentially a 5th grade level! (gasp) He has never been a strong speller/reader, has struggled with these over the years but this is bad. We live in Va which requires end of yr testing. What do you recommend? Last year we did Spelling power and he seemed to do well, not miss much. (I don't know.) Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Amy

Thanks. I will check it out. Amy

I plan on using Apologia Advanced Human Biology upcoming yr with DS. We will do the experiments. (I am a RN, so the medical part I do not have trouble teaching.) My DS is more a visual learner, so I feel more "watching" along with the reading/doing experiments. Any suggestions? I know about Teaching Co but have read mixed review's about the professor. Thanks in advance! Amy

I use Natural Vitality Natural CALM PLUS CALCIUM (with Magnesium). Have been using it of 8 or so years with out any problems. I sleep so well, wake up refreshed. I use the regular one, not the flavored. Amy

Labor nurses (in general) usually tend to have a mind set, NOT that they don't help you in your laboring process.There are some: who don't want to have to deal with hours (& hours) of dealing with a laboring woman (crying, screaming and yes, hitting/kicking/slapping/biting me while I am trying to help her - I have had all done to me) and would rather just get the scheduled C/S that are on the book to come in. Some want to just have the patient get the epidural and go along. The charge RN knows what mixture of RN's there are for the day and can assign the nurse as needed as she makes all the assignments at the beginning of the shift any way. Birth Plans are the bane of L&D. Most of the time people just print off some thing on the computer and do not know what is even in it. I usually review with patient her "birth plan" like, "I see you don't want and epidural" and have had her tell me adamantly that she does, :confused: and how soon can she get it! or another requesting no circ on the birth plan but stated she wanted one.... :blink: Yes, in the heat of the moment (as you said) main thing is getting a baby safely delivered and not worried about what is on the piece of paper, but it is optimal if you can make the birth experience what the mother desires. You have the birth plan in your mind and try to deal with it as things roll/happen. Amy :001_smile:

:grouphug: I am a L&D RNC. I deal with your situations every time I go into work. When you get to the hospital to begin your wonderful experience, ask to speak to the charge RN. Let her know what you are desiring ~ VERBALLY~ !! (Never write a birth plan as it is the "kiss of a C/S" as we L&D RN call it!!) There are many different types of L&D RN's and if at all possible get paired with the right one to support your desires. The charge RN will know what types of personalities she has on deck for the day. I tend more towards natural, love Doula's but will do what ever I can to help the patient achieve her optimal birthing experience. So I get asked to take those patients. We have another RN who loves the OR, so she tends towards our scheduled C/S patients. I have had a lady in labor who started vertex (by bedside US scan). Wasn't making cervical change so MD scanned her and baby was then a transverse lye. We waited a while and did various position changes to see what baby did (RN to work with you and be an advocate for you). Later (with in set time parameters) the baby flipped back to Vertex and we had a SVD! I just cried. Every birth is beautiful and a gift from God. You are right. Hormones are there and a 'happenin'. :willy_nilly: You are blessed and my prayers are with you. :) Amy :seeya:

Thanks every one for responses here and emails that I got. I wrote down info and am researching, so to speak! :)

l read that whole Thread. :thumbup: Ideas that I gleamed and really like: ~ Bioethics ~Gizmos & Gadgets ~Backyard Ballistics ~Fine Arts (study and music and art of a particular period) ~History/Economics (books by Richard Maybury) ~Greek History Amy :D

Thanks! I like how your co-op offers Notgrass and Omnibus. That is cool. Gross Science.... never heard of that. Will research. The co-op offered Creative writing and science and Spanish, no Latin though but I can't teach that! Ha! :leaving: Literature is a great idea that I haven't heard of offered at a co-op! Please keep the thoughts coming ladies. :bigear: Amy :D

FYI. I heard through the grape vine... that there is a NEW edition of the Advanced Biology: The Human Body. I emailed Apologia and got this response. Hi Amy, Thank you for your Email and for your encouraging words. We are really excited about the new edition for The Human Body: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made! It is, Lord willing, due to come out this summer in time for the 2013/2014 school year. I hope that this information helps! In Christ, Amy

I have been using Sonlight for 13 years, and one of the "ones" who, as of next year are not using any more. Why? Let me see if I can answer with out offending. It is harder to write "feelings on a computer" than to talk in person, for me. Sonlight used to be simple to see what you wanted to use by GRADE. Then they went to CORE, follow by a number which was usually grade related but now is CORE followed by an alphabet. (i.e. Grade 2 was now Core 2, which is Now Core B) . It is like they are "competing" or something. I understand the need to re-evaluate your product and to improve but it doesn't come across that they are doing that. It is more confusing. It seemed like to me they "changed" just because it had been a while since they had made any "changes". :huh: Then the TM (Teacher Manuals) became the nightmare from >>> well. I can't type the word here. What the ???? You went from easily finding/following in the TM to flipping, flopping, placing a tag/paperclip and/or out of frustration just placing your weeks worth of the TM in different 3 ring binder to simplify. The content also changed. Harder to explain unless you actually used the previous/older TM and can compare by experience. (Hence ~ older customers no longer using, but newer customers not realizing the difference.) Sonlight got rid of their "used forum" for sale. They have the attitude of essentially purchase from them, or not at all. This isn't always possible and therefore made Sonlight now inaccessible for some. They made some "dry/flippant" remarks on their used/for sale Forum (to announce the closing of the used/for sale board) which was not necessary. Now, someone may look as this and think this isn't too bad all in all. It is just that over time things have happened, perceptions have changed and Sonlight took some thing that wasn't broken and broke it. Amy ...who is stepping off her soapbox now. :lol:

If your child participates in a Home school Co-Op, say meeting once a week, what kind of classes are offered. What classes do your children take? My children have participated in a co-op. I usually steer towards classes that I wouldn't necessarily do at home (i.e. public speaking, Home ec, Nature Journal combined with writing/art, praise/worship band, chess club,etc. This particular Co-Op we are in now (military and move frequently) doesn't offer much. I am interested in what classes your co-op has as I am thinking I might like to "teach" next year and want something >>>>> I don't know. :confused1: Grades I am looking at are 7-12th range. Thanks! Amy

We have used Apologia for many years, since the elementary level. We get the kits for Apologia from Home Science Tools at hometrainingtools.com. We have ordered from them for over 10 years with NO problems. Many years ago Sonlight didn't use Apologia but I loved it and wanted to use it, so I had to go to an outside source and have used hometrainingtools. With Apologia, many things are in your home. It is not a fancy, difficult hard to find items for the experiments. enjoy! Amy

My oldest DD did Apologia Biology 9th grade, Apologia chemistry in 10th grade, went on to do Community college sciences (which she accredits Apologia for getting her there at 16 yr old) and is now at a large university studying Chemical Engineering. My next child is doing the same except for next yr 11th grade the Apologia Advanced Biology. (Physical Therapy interests him) We have done the General and Physical Apologia's as well. I love the way they are laid out, challenging, thought provoking and end up way beyond anything their friends are doing. I feel like Apologia gets the kids the knowledge they need in college if they are to do any type of science field. My DD said most of what she did in college science she new from using Apologia! :coolgleamA: YMMV as with what your child wants to study.