I have a friend wanting to use the courses at https://schoolhouseteachers.com/ - this is not a method of homeschooling we have tried and I'm unfamiliar with it. Has anyone here used this and have any comments about it - open to both positive and negative reviews. She is a relatively new homeschool parent of a junior in high school so I'd like to provide her with good feedback but don't want to go with my initial feelings about it just because it's so different to how we have homeschooled through high school. TIA

Hmm, still much to decide, but here's what I know so far . . . Math: Algebra II (WHA - Mr. Reini) English Lit. & Comp.: EiL American Lit, Sadlier Vocab, Daily Grams (10) Science: (Pre-AP) Chemistry (WHA) History: Either dual enrollment for something like Western Civ (or equivalent) OR Notgrass Government and Economics Electives: Not sure yet - possibly dual enrollment in something business related He will also continue swimming competitively and piano lessons.

We've mostly used the videos for enrichment alongside other resources. One year we worked through the Geographic wonders of the world as we studied geography/cultures (this one stands out as everyone's fave). We've also used the Hubble Space series while studying astronomy/space. Speech class one year we did IEW Speech Boot Camp dvds and alternated with the GC set on Famous speeches. Last year we used the series on how to listen to and understand music as a supplement to our music appreciation credit.

We discussed that too - the real issue is the lack of class options in our area and the cost of an online class for a subject she's not interested in seems excessive. It looks like we may have the option to take Biology 101 as a DE class next summer, or possibly even spring at the college she's most interested in attending. She's not terribly concerned because none of the colleges she's looking at require 4 sciences. I think she's ok with just telling them she's taking it later if the topic comes up in an interview. My oldest completed her 4 sciences (Physical, Chem, Bio, and Physics) before senior year and did enjoy having a break because she certainly was busy with other things getting ready for college. That was my only concern, but unless we can find a good option before August, I think this may just be a non-science year.

One thing to consider is the available memory of the laptop. We got some reasonably priced HP laptops for our high schoolers last year but have had headaches trying to do windows updates etc.due to the lack of internal storage. Thankfully DH is a computer guru and has been able to rig it with external drives and uninstalling factory installed "bloat ware" that we didn't need, but for sure check the amount of storage available.

That's true - I hadn't thought of it being an issue that she wouldn't have a grade for her "in progress" science her senior year. I think mostly around here they look at ACT scores and she has a very solid score already, so as a music major I'm not sure how much they'd worry about her current year science grade. Her other science courses were A's.

So the way our cover-school sends transcripts they don't have the year on it, but the courses taken in each subject. I've not seen one that shows the year next to it, and it wasn't requested like that for my DD who is attending college this fall. I'm thinking that must vary by school and state etc?

For those with non-science major kids, what do you do for a 4th science credit? My oldest graduated this year and had 4 science credits, due to a physical science course we made it through but didn't love enough to ever use again for the other kids! So we did things differently for my second DD who will be a junior this fall; so far she has a Physics and a Chemistry credit. The plan was always to take Biology this year and then figure out something for her senior year, but now our Biology options have fallen through (tutorial teacher changing careers etc), so I'm debating putting Biology off until her senior year and just letting her take a social science (sociology) that she's been asking for this year. Is there any potential disadvantage to this? None of her top university/college school choices so far require anything beyond 3 sciences/2 with lab. My thinking is that a social science and possibly a computer science elective credit will engage her brain enough in the "science" area this year. She isn't planning to STEM major or science major; she wants to go into music but hasn't decided which avenue yet. I should note - she did exceptionally well in Chemistry and Physics at WHA, but she doesn't love science enough to "teach it to herself" from a textbook or dvd course. I'm a writing major (aka NON-science major lol) so I can help and guide and facilitate labs etc but I'm not going to be able to provide a class experience like she's enjoyed for her other science courses. Just wondering if it's too "outside the box" to be considering skipping a year of lab science her junior year? Also, any thoughts on where I'd list the sociology credit? Is that a social science under the science section of her transcript or under social studies or elective? It will be a full credit of work - sociology was my minor and we are excited to do this credit together!

Thanks for this - we've signed up for him to try a month out for free and will probably go with the digital savvy class and a ready, set, STEM kit for some fun hands-on projects!

When I looked at this it seems like they want to still use me as the instructor (even without any skill set) - which is an inexpensive option but probably not the best dynamic for our family. Unless I'm missing something?

We actually do have a local homeschool robotics team, but the time commitments are fairly extreme and would interfere with his swim team commitments. We still may put swim on hold one semester just to try it out, but I don't want to do that just yet.

So my rising 8th grader is showing interest in all things programming, robotics, physics etc and I thought for science this year we would focus on technology of some sort since he's completed all the usual middle school science offerings. My dilemma is that most of the resources are not very 'open and go' - rather they are a conglomerate of amazing you tube videos or websites where you have to purchase multiple different components and piece together a year of study on your own. 🙈 I'm just not a piecer! Lol DS (13) loves structure and he would enjoy a format where there are clearly laid out lessons/assignments and projects. I don't mind buying a supply kit (he already has a raspberry pi and some other components) but I don't want to have to figure out what he's going to be doing all year with this mashup of components - this subject is very much NOT my liberal arts major brain's thing 😂 DH is up on all things technology and computing and can assist but he is so busy during the work/school week that we've decided it's not best for him to be responsible solely for this subject. He can troubleshoot and help out but not plan, schedule, and teach. Does such a course or curriculum exist? Can it be less than $500 too? (I've seen some super pricey options! 😳) (X post on k-8 forum also)

So my rising 8th grader is showing interest in all things programming, robotics, physics etc and I thought for science this year we would focus on technology of some sort since he's completed all the usual middle school science offerings. My dilemma is that most of the resources are not very 'open and go' - rather they are a conglomerate of amazing you tube videos or websites where you have to purchase multiple different components and piece together a year of study on your own. 🙈 I'm just not a piecer! Lol DS (13) loves structure and he would enjoy a format where there are clearly laid out lessons/assignments and projects. I don't mind buying a supply kit (he already has a raspberry pi and some other components) but I don't want to have to figure out what he's going to be doing all year with this mashup of components - this subject is very much NOT my liberal arts major brain's thing 😂 DH is up on all things technology and computing and can assist but he is so busy during the work/school week that we've decided it's not best for him to be responsible solely for this subject. He can troubleshoot and help out but not plan, schedule, and teach. Does such a course or curriculum exist? Can it be less than $500 too? (I've seen some super pricey options! 😳)

We are in the same boat. I offered to give my DS the review questions as a grade for the chapter and he liked that idea because he's currently not struggling but as the work gets more challenging I may have to come up with another option. One thing for an Algebra I credit I thought about doing was using some tests from the Lial's algebra book we have to be sure his skills can translate. If that is successful (vs confusing) for him I will likely do that if I can determine how the skills and and chapters correlate.

Wow thanks so much for the feedback! The Maker sets look so cool! I'd never seen those before. DS has a larger snap circuits set (but not the biggest) and has made all of the projects, so he is ready for something more intricate. The Raspberry Pi kit would be a hit I think as he is also into programming and logic, just like Alte Veste Academy said!