We're doing it over a year with a group of middle school students using one the CAP schedules.

Excellent article. We moved away and left our freshman staying with friends of the family in our old home town. Not what we'd planned, but that was the way it worked. I told her *she* should call *me* when she had the opportunity as her school/work/commute schedule was complex & variable. And I would expect the prof to mention no cell phones on in class on the very first day. And I would expect the students to be listening and complying. It's on them. But in her case, the thing we should have planned ahead for more was car problems and alternative transportation methods. Turns out you can't rent a car on your own until you're 21. Luckily she had a network of friends in place and somebody was able to help her.

This is another nephew-related question, LOL. Dear nephew is interested, long-term, in neuropsychology. As an undergraduate, do you think he would be better served to major in a science (human biology? physiology? what else?) or in psychology? Is there a BS degree in psych?

Phone conversation marginally successful. The registration lady fixed the system so it recognized he'd met prerequisites and he is at least wait-listed for the classes it wasn't letting him in to. More sections open up in August, so he should be able to get a seat. Biggest problem is that all this has been done long-distance, electronically, while traveling. Being able to call and talk to someone (thankfully the college had a US toll free #) did help. Face to face will be even better, and he has plans to see an admissions guy once he arrives on campus in late August.

Long-time boardie here, 2 in college now, 1 a senior at charter high school so I facilitate but do not assign, and 1 heading into 6th grade @ home. We're still sort-of-eclectic WTMers. Welcome back!

My nephew lives in Spain, is a Canadian citizen, speaks English and French with his parents, and wants to go to university in Canada. He moved to Spain from west Africa and attended high school in Spanish, which is his 3rd or 4th language. His grades were low the first year, but he passed his mandatory end-of-course exams for every class....however it brought down his gpa. His SAT score was excellent, So the Canadian school required him to an english proficiency exam (because, of course, he's *from* Spain), gave him Canadian tuition, looked only at his gpa in Spanish and not his SATs, and told him he'd have to go a year to community college in Canada and reapply in order to supply improved grades. He took the english exam in April and it's still showing up as missing and holding up his registration for classes. Guess what I'm trying to help with today as his parents are on the road?

Volunteer work in areas of interest. Although, last year dd (17) did get 1/4 credit for working as a TA.

We've had one girl (and she was in our troop) get the AHG Stars & Strips award here in CA so far. Of course, we're not the state with the most troops by any means. We have 3 very good candidates in our troop this year, but they have a ways to go. GYI, 4H has a star ranking: bronze to silver to gold to platinum - and by the time you've finished platinum you have a great deal of leadership experience accumulated. To make it the equivalent of an Eagle, I think you would have to count community service hours and send them in for a Pres. Service Award - 2 of mine have done that. Or 4-H has an Emerald Star, which is awarded for a year-long, county-wide service project that includes collaborating with other clubs and county staff.

My "caboose" is 11, so not as young, but yes, lots has changed. Lots of folks offer things labeled "classical" - so it helps to think about what you really want. Consistency and the refusal to give in even when discouraged matter so much...especially when you are learning new stuff along with your students (like Latin, at least for me) or relearning stuff you had forgotten (like Logic, for me). I was just talking with my upcoming 6th gr. student about the new organizational skills we'll be working on this year, along with academics. Which reminds me, I think I need to change my siggie line....

48 is really low--as in eat NOW or you faint. Normal range is 70-120 an hour after eating. She shld have protein at every meal for more stable #s....and, yes, it would be an idea to check her sugars regularly (timing as per your dr.) for a few weeks. Dr. should be able to prescribe a home kit and test strips.

I waited until I was 33 to marry - the first time. Met him @ church in older singles group. Just so you know it's not impossible!!

Many CCs have a single-unit class called intro to career planning or some such, also one on study skills. Once he takes placement tests he can also go sign-in and wait to see a counselor who can help him with a general study plan. I would agree that for a federal govt. career a 4-year degree would be most helpful for advancement. He might consider getting an AA first at the CC, because he would have *that* degree on record as he works on the next part of the degree plan.

I am just sitting down and planning badges for my group, figuring where I need experts and when, and wondering what might happen @ Camporee this year. Usually we use it to finish up badge work & it's just our troop, but this will be the 2nd year we are going in with another troop & this year THEY are planning activities!! (Yea!) How about you-all? And just in case, here's a link back to the previous Scout thread. http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/452188-what-are-your-scouts-working-on-boys-girls/

Yes, 4-H is worth it. I've had 4 kids participate in it, and every year there are times I love it and times I hate it (like when we have record books to complete...this week). However, 4-H does mentoring and leadership very well, even tho' their communications tend to break down because so many people are volunteers. It led to a small college scholarship for my oldest...thru the breed association she began participating in when she joined a particular 4-H project. It got my kids up and doing public speaking. It gave them a chance to plan and work special events...and realize that it takes a LOT of work to put those things on. It's helped them develop skills and interests that have turned into a first resume and even a first job. Though I moan and groan occasionally, we'll keep participating, probably until youngest is thru high school. BUT, don't quit the first year and do assume you will have to get personal with people to get information and do try to get a schedule of special events and volunteer work and project meetings onto your calendar EARLY! After the first year the rhythm of it will be easier! Find a "heavy hat" mom to make friends with. (4Hers put their stripes & medals & such on their hats, so somebody who's "all in" has a heavy hat.)

When we moved we found about 1/2 our stuff didn't fit our new place at all. I think we kept a couple of dressers and the couch and dining room table & chairs but had to get all new for the kids' rooms....well, new to us on craigslist. We also got several of those folding 6' plastic tables...they are still in use 4 years later as computer desks and kitchen work table. The one thing I did get new (and pricey!) was a tempurpedic mattress...I LOVE it!! We should have sold off or donated more stuff before we moved. I say, go for it!

THANK you!!

We were going to do WWS 1, but I want to include more literature...we've read a lot this year but not talked about it much. So, this is the plan: Rod & Staff 6 for grammar Spelling Workout Jamestown's Best books on short stories, nonfiction, and poetry (these include lots of lit analysis and incremental writing assignmts) - you can get an answer key for these from Hewitt Homeschooling, which is where I heard about them first. WWS @ end of year after we finish the Best books...IF we finish the Best books. I have the plays book also; we may start off 7th grade with that and then finish WWS 1 the rest of the year. Anybody else making changes as you sit down to schedule and realize you've bitten off more than your kiddo will willingly chew?

We've let the rabbits run loose in a given area. They loved it, as long as they had shade and water. Pretty soon it was NOT a lawn but an obstacle course for humans, full of holes. And heaven help you if you had drip irrigation or sprinkler wiring in that area...oh, my! I know I sound negative. We loved our bunnies, but now that they've all passed on we're happy not to be making repairs and dumping poo trays.

I post several times a week and have for years, since before the board switch. Just recently I am listed as "inactive" and nobody can email or pm me. Please help.

Hamsters - not durable, escape artists and very hard to recapture, chew everything while on their jailbreak, bite if not handled early & often, cheap cages but need bedding changed, usually don't live past 2 years even if they don't take a nosedive off your hand and score themselves a concussion on the tile floor. Not trainable. Guinea pigs - squeeeeek, stink, need bedding changed, but much more durable and longer-lived than hamsters. Like to cuddle, come in lots of colors & hair styles. Not my cup of tea since the first one I met pee'd on me and they have little scratchy claws. Some folks love 'em. 4Hers show 'em. I know a woman who kept 20 of them in her apartment (she was a bit crazy). Rabbits -- Can be inside but I prefer outside due to the smell of the urine (strong), make garden fertilizer for you (no need to compost), shed (some breeds more than others), need a hutch that is not cheap unless you find an old used one, feed is cheap and hay/grass is not too expensive, live a LOT longer than the other two, like to cuddle for about 1/2 hour at a time, then they have to go pee somewhere, leave bunny "berries" wherever they go (but we never tried to litter train ours), may come when called, can get pregnant in *seconds* if exposed to a rabbit of the opposite sex...beware!, are sometimes hard to find a vet who will treat as they're considered "exotics". 4Hers show 'em. Some folks keep them inside (look up house bunny online). Will not bite if handled frequently and gently. Come in several sizes and many colors/hair styles.

Another one for K12 Human Odyssey, vol. 2, plus World History Detective 1. And we read kids' versions of all the epics. Doing Beowulf and norse myths over the summer.

Not be able to afford the COLA....that's us for sure. Traveling distance to family and medical facilities....and minimal snow....are our considerations.

Problem with most areas billed as retirement communities is that they typically don't allow residents under age 55. (We have a big one in our town.) We started our family in our 30's and into our 40's and want to be available to "backstop" our kids should they every need layover housing. We also feel we'll have to move out of state -- our money will go a LOT farther outside of CA and we can find a home that is more suitable to our advancing years than the current tri-level, so we're hoping the equity in this house will cover the cost of a retirement house in a cheaper locale....but who knows what the real estate market will do???? And with our last kid ready for college when we'll be nearly standard retirement age (63 & 64), dh says he'll be working until he drops. That said, we'll probably want something like a condo but all one level with wide doorways, etc. I don't look forward with joy to the prospect of moving and downsizing and making new friends...maybe one of my kids will set up house outside of CA and we'll move near them? Most of my family is west coast US, so maybe OR or northern NV?

Paragraph Town is about the how & why of writing in paragraphs & organizing ideas. There's a bit of grammar thrown in. I think you could just read the story & talk about it if you're using another writing program. I found it a nice contrast to some of the more structured writing programs. (And, BTW, I'm selling a PT set used on this board.)

I am still putting away this year's stuff and just posted a bunch of stuff for sale. Our area's used curriculum sale is this week. THEN I'll start scheduling.