I am wanting to use American School for some classes. I don't plan on using it for math or English. I would love some suggestions on classes that your kids may have enjoyed more than others. Also, would you suggest the online courses, or just paper? Thank you. Alison

I'd give her the full credit and call it good :). My son is very intelligent but has always struggled with math. He doesn't fit in the typical math box for college, but I am not going to ever tell him he couldn't go to college because of his math scores and lack of advancement. It's taken me awhile to get this attitude :) I've worried more about mouth than anything, tried a variety of programs, tutoring, etc. Sometimes smart kids just can't do a subject (or that's our experience). I assume it's his ADD. A close friend and mentor has a daughter who never completed Algebra 1 in highschool. She's not successfully going through college on her way to being a physicians assistant. This mom tried and tried to get through the math. Maybe it just takes some longer to get it, maybe some never do. I just know I'm tired of stressing over it and having my kid feel stupid about math :).

Can anyone share some transcript examples and tips you've used to register a child in the NCAA? This is something I never thought I'd be doing and we have a fairly relaxed homeschool. My highschooler is in 11th grade, so I'm hoping I have recorded enough information from the past few years to be adequate. I'm just afraid not doing standard school type stuff will be a negative in this case, so some been there and done that would be great. Thank you. Alison

I'm in western KY....tornadoes hit this way too, but I'm not sure they make it to eastern KY. I've heard real rural areas of eastern KY have a big drug problem, and poverty but I'm not sure which area. I know there are church groups here that go to eastern KY for mission trips. It is fairly easy as far as homeschooling rules go :).

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So, I am curious. If you have been over and over a problem such as -7m + 48 = m.....with a kid who has struggled with similar problems for over a year is this dyscalculia? Is there a "cure"? Any suggestions? What I have been doing is trying to get him to figure out a formula/routine. Get the unknown on one side of the equation...explaining how and why to do that. Then get the number on the opposite sides...again explaining, etc...I've done this over and over. I don't really know how to get past this. I think he instantly is putting every number in his head that will work for m and trying to work it all out. He has a hard time explaining what the problem is or what he is even thinking. If the problem is more simple, say without any negatives, then he usually does work it out in his head. I was thinking it was an attention issue but when I am right by his side working through it, the same roadblock happens. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to conquer math with these kind of struggles? He is really good at manipulating math equations that are more simple...common sense stuff. But if it gets more complicated or requires a pattern or formula then we get nowhere. Alison

Visual Latin does an online class that has a fun teacher.

If so I'd like to hear how you well you liked the program (or not). Thank you. Alison

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Does anyone here have kids who shoot competitively, like the CMP/junior Olympics type shooting. We've been shooting with 4H and I think we are going to try some of the national target shooting matches. Alison

SOS ends it's sale today and I'm considering trying a few subjects now that they have updated their program. I am considering their biology and maybe some electives, like their Vietnam history package. If anyone has liked some of their subjects, would you please share which ones you liked and a little about it. Thank you. Alison

My son is interested in American history from 1880 to current. He really likes the Sonlight schedule and historical fiction books. I don't know of anything that fits this time frame that also comes with book packages. Does anyone know of something that will work, or will I be making up our own this year? Alison

My son turns 15 in a few days and we are inviting several teens to our church for a small party. I'm just not the fun, creative party mom. Does anyone have a few simple, fun game suggestions? Something cheap too :). Thank you.

Found this through a search and was wondering if you ever received more info. on Eden's Garden? Alison

I'm going through my Smarr cd and starting to copy things I need to start school. We will not be using this for writing. I'm a bit confused by the schedule. If you use it as is, are they expecting you to do all of the vocab/lesson sheets daily? Or did you pick and choose which questions to do? Any other suggestions on using this that worked for you? Alison

We will be starting Abeka 9th physical science for my son's 9th grade science and my first year of teaching high school. I bought the TM and was going to follow it, but it has me skipping all over the place with doing questions here and there instead of just reading a section and doing a few questions. And, there are lots of questions, quizzes, and tests. This would be his first typical text/question/answer he's ever done. We've always done science through reading a lot of materials and doing an experiment here and there. So, if you've ever used Abeka, do you get the book done in a year? Should I try their schedule, which tends to confuse me with all the page flipping, or just go for a more typical read and answer questions at the end. Should I really spend time having him go through this to really get it, or should I have more of a cover everything type of attitude? I thought this would be easier, but I'm thinking if we try to get this down before moving on, then it will be very time consuming and I doubt we'll cover the book in a year (say if I were to treat this like his math class). Any suggestions or anyone else BTDT? Alison

I think you could do the alpha and beta on a side notebook and save those student books for the next child. Just don't expect a magic cure. Go over it with them and then have him teach it back to you.

They are great to call for advice at MUS. I'd give that a try. Honestly, when my son was struggling we went all the way back to Alpha. I think he was 8 or 9 then. We moved quickly, but there were new concepts in there that he didn't know from previous programs. Also, it helped to ease math frustration when I relaxed and went for shorter lessons with me being by his side to teach and help...he's 14 and that still works! He just struggles with math retention and that's him...I always wanted a pill to cure him, but no such thing existed. I love MUS and the way it teaches.

The advantage of the Avanti 753 is that it is a single-cock rifle, (no CO2 or compressed air cylinders to mess with). The problem with all three rifles may be the weight. New shooters that are small in stature struggle with anything over 6 pounds in the standing position. If your child can handle the weight I would suggest the Avanti 753. If you don't mind having to use a compressed air cylinder to refill the rifle our 4H kids like the Champions Choice T200 sporter air rifle. Although it is more expensive at $525.00. http://www.champchoice.com/prod-Champion_s_Choice_T200_SPORTER_AIR_RIFLE-3220.aspx

I'll have my husband take a look later. I do know they use the trays like mentioned above. They use the pellets or BB's in order of the targets shot.

Thanks, that helps a lot!

Thanks so much, this I didn't know. Any guidelines on what to call an elective and what to call something that needs to go on an extracurricular list? Would this maybe just depend on if I needed electives for graduation or not? Also, is there a rule of thumb to know how many credits to graduate with, or how many is too many? Ky's pre-college curriculum says 24 credits, but some local schools are requiring 28 credits for graduation. We do not have to follow what the local schools, but I do want to at least do the pre-college curriculum requirements. Would I just alter the transcript depending on what school we apply for? This I 4 years in advance, but I want to have a clue on my looking ahead planning :). Thank you, Alison

Okay, I did not know there was such a thing as an extracurricular list. Would someone please explain more? I've only seen samples of a 1 page transcript. I was just going to add in gun safety and marksmanship 1 and 2 or something like that. Ad I prob wouldn't do it 4 times, but I was thinking twice. I'm thinking I need to study transcripts a bit more.

Thank you. I'm looking for some basics and something to teach him spreadsheets, word, etc. I can surf the net and copy/paste and that's about it...I know there are more basic skills than that. I was going to try scotto's but I think they are getting out of the teaching business.

My son does 4h shooting for 6 months of the year, April through Sept. if he does this for 9th through 12th grades, how would you show this on a transcript, or would you? Alison