I've now been married 4 years longer than I have not been married! This afternoon we celebrated youngest dd's 6th birthday...she will be 6 on Monday...I had to buy her all new shirts--she is just growing too fast! DH is taking me out to some fancy restaurant tonight--and DH and older DD are outstide mucking the horse for me! (it is a present from them--but I'd rather muck the horse stall than clean house anyday...strange I know!).

I do not suggest comparing tests based on the number of problems... Most of these problems should be very easy to work out...and they are a nice sampling of the many differenty cases that come up when you factor. If your dd is slow at factoring then I can e-mail you a few help sheets that I have developed... I might cut out number 1 and 21 and make 30 a bonus problem...but other than that I think it is a good test...and should be completed by most students in about an hour...if factoring is taking longer than that she may need a bit more practice as factoring will not 'go away'. Feel free to e-mail me if you ever have questions from this text...I've taught from it several times...

I used and liked Saxon (1-3)...I was able to adapt it to my VERY different dds. We also used Saxon for 6/5 through 8/7...but not sure if I would ever use them again... mixed results... For highschool maths I really like the Lial series--beginning with Basic College Math (BCM) for Pre-Algebra. Introductory Algebra and Intermediate Algebra are my favs for Algebra 1 and 2. I've had great success with students of very different learning styles with this traditional text. I'm also impressed with the depth of material--definatley college prep (but then again they are college texts!).

I agree with the other posters--it is VERY difficult to change over to Saxon at this level...it is just that different. The Algebra 2 text will assume that your student has completed and mastered the concepts in THEIR Algebra 1 program--and that they are familiar with Saxon's unique methods and ways of explaining/wording problems... I like Saxon but would NEVER recommend starting it after Algebra 1. If cost is an issue look into the Lial series (Margaret Lial as main author). It teaches at the same depth as the Larson (Chalkdust) texts--but the older editions (7th or 8th) can be found VERY inexpensively on amazon.com or half.com. Even new the program is less than $150 with supplements and video/computer based lessons. My dd is working out of the Lial's Intermediate Algebra text right now. The student text is all that is needed (older 'like new' for around $20 or less--solutions manual is optional (used copies are less than $15) and video lessons for computer (called DVTs) are still available for older editions--(around $30 new). This is an EXCELLENT series. The texts were designed for community college use--so they are structured for block schedules and most lessons take 2-3 days to work--but ALL of the teaching is in the student text. It is very easy to break longer lessons into smaller chunks as the text is very organized.

I'm friends with a family who 'home schools' in our town. They have 8 children at home--ages 1-25. The oldest is profoundly handicaped. The oldest son is in the military (he is the only child that attended public schools). This family does NOT provide their children with any education above the 1st or 2nd grade level. Their 2nd grade son does not know his alphabet yet... My oldest dd is friends with their 15 yr old dd--she has not had ANY school work for the past 2 years (their mom will by workbooks at Wal-Mart if the kids ask for them)--she just babysits the younger ones or works cleaning apartments with her mother. They are really nice people--but education is not a priority. They are NOT unschoolers they are ANTI-schoolers...girls just need to know how to cook and clean and make babies... teenage sons dig ditches and fence posts and other manual labor jobs as soon as they are able to get work...If the children want to learn/school they have to do it on their own--a very sad situation. One of the older daughters (20yrs) was 'graduated' from their homeschool without knowing how to write a complete sentence--and math skills were about a 4th grade level (at least she had learned to read on her own). She really REALLY wanted to go to college. She is now in her 3rd year of community college and is finally taking classes for actual college credit. Basically she used the community college for her highschool level courses. It will take her 7 years going full time to complete a bachelor's degree. Most community college placement tests will test writing and math skills. The will offer remedial--non-credit courses to help bring the students up to credit level. Your dd will need the equivalent of Algebra 1 and Algebra 2--don't worry about Geometry--these can be learned in less than one year. Science courses can be taken that are similar to highschool level (many homeschoolers use these for actually highschool credit--dual enrollment). Depending on your dd's writing ability she may need to take/pass a non-credit writing lab class to qualify to take courses like Science, History... She really does not need a full highschool program--especially at her age. I really suggest talking with your local community college counselor--they are used to working with students in your dd's situation and will be able to answer your questions and help your dd to set goals that she can reach.

We pay $40 an hour for a professional (actively performing) clarinet teacher for my dd. My dad is a former PS band director (clarinet) and charges less than $15 an hour for lessons...he runs a HUGE homeschool band group in Oklahoma and just can't charge homeschoolers more...(what a softie!). I guess I'm a softie too because I only charge $10 an hour for tutoring homeschoolers...must run in the family! Back to your question... I would be willing to pay up to $20 an hour for an experienced clarinet player to give my dd lessons. There is a difference between a player and a professional...I played clarinet from grade school through college--I'm still just a player. My dd's instructor is a professional clarinet player (how he supports his family) and he is also a gifted teacher. It really depends on your level of experience and the 'going rate' in your area.

Sounds interresting---I actually have a niece in NC who just had a baby...and DH has PLENTY of frequent flyer miles... something to ponder.

One of my dislikes would be their high school math program. It is by far the weakest I've ever seen/taught. Their Geometry program is the worst text I have ever seen --period! With the DVDs at least there would be a teacher to decipher the text for the students--but even then, the content is not up to par--most of their high school program is taken directly from math books published around 1914...they are VERY dated. I had to supplement almost every lesson (I was forced to teach from it at a private school). It is very difficult to find just one publisher that is equally good/acceptable across the different courses. ABeka tends to have lots of busy work and a very narrow perspective (and I consider myself very conservative too!). I think a student would have a much better education if each course is chosen from a publisher separately. It takes a bit more work--but it is much easier to tailor fit to individual needs and learning styles. Do you have any specific reasons for wanting an 'all in one' program for high school? There are several other alternatives (Christian and secular) that we can help you explore with a bit more information on your reasons and goals.

Last year I treated myself to EQ5 (Electric Quilt 5th edition software). They now sell EQ6 but I'm not upgrading. This is VERY COOL quilt designing software...but the main program (EQ5) is around $70 on e-bay. I also purchased a few companion/instruction books--did not really need them. Anyways... Use graph paper and map out your quilt. To make the 'sides' of the quilt a straight line you will use setting triangles. Sew your quilt in diagonal sections with a setting triangle on each end. I like to make my setting triangles a tiny bit oversized--this way it makes a nice boarder too as the triangle 'points' will slightly overlap. When you make setting triangles you want the hypotenuse (LONG edge that will be the straight side of the quilt) to be on grain. If it is not on grain then you will be sewing on the bias and most likely your quilt will NEVER lie flat! If your main blocks are 4 inch squares then I would use this formula (4 x 1.5) and then add an inch to get the size square to cut my setting triangles from. This allows for a nice overlap. Formula is (n X 1.5) + 1 with 'n' being the size your original blocks are. Cut one LARGE square the size of your resulting measurement--which would be 7 inches in my example. Draw diagonals on your square and then cut out the resulting 4 triangles...you have just made 4 setting triangles. CAREFULLY sew them to your diagonal 'rows' being careful not to stretch due to sewing on the bias. You can experiment with the size of your setting triangles maybe making them a bit larger...when matching them to your blocks match up the 'right angles' and let the 'ear' hang off the top...do NOT trim it off. When all of your diagonal rows are complete sew them together and the setting triangles will now give you a nice finished edge that you can add an additional boarder to if desired. These directions are much easier to follow once you have your quilt mapped out and can visualize what the setting triangles must look like... I hope this helps... OH- As far as yardage goes...I often map it out on graph paper too...I allow 40 inches for the width of the fabric... I tend to make most quilts using strip quilting techniques as much as possible--this makes mapping yardage a bit easier... With my EQ5 software I can map out my quilt in the program--color and experiment then click a button and it gives me patterns (if needed) and yardage estimates...pretty nifty gadget....but I've made tons of quilts the 'oldfashioned' way.

My oldest dds used Saxon 1-3 a year ahead (working 3 in second grade). They were not quite ready to write out the whole problem so we used ABeka 3 for one and Horizons 3 for the other (2 years difference in age but SAME level in math due to older dd's learning issues). Both of these texts flowed well from the Saxon 3 program. After that workbook year we went back to Saxon. Oldest dd spent a few months in 6/5 and then went into 7/6 before Christmas and youngest went right into 6/5. When you switch programs (especially with independent publishers) it is important that you ignore the printed 'grade level' and place your student in the appropriate text conceptually. ABeka and Saxon move at much different paces--but BOTH programs meet by the Pre-Algebra level--then Saxon pulls ahead. I'd NEVER recommend ABeka past the Pre-Algebra level for maths...e-mail me if you want to know why. If ABeka is working then feel free to stay with it. Many ABeka users I know switch after ABeka 5...if you wait until after ABeka 6 you should be able to go right into the Pre-Algebra program that goes with the highschool program of your choice. It is OK to use ABeka through their Pre-Algebra--but definately switch after that!

The OLD (original edition) 8/7 texts did not include an introduction to variables. Both 8/7 and Algebra 1/2 are considered 'Pre-Algebra' texts. I personally (as a math teacher and parent) prefer 8/7. It moves a bit slower and the explanations are in a bit more detail. Algebra 1/2 jumps right in to more complex problems and has a tiny bit more Geometry (like constructions) in the back. I've tutored more students who had troubles in Algebra 1/2 (due to the program moving too fast). Most students really benefit from a 'once more from the top' Pre-Algebra course to solidify processes and give them a year to mature before the more abstract problems of Algebra 1. If your student is a VERY strong math student then use Algebra 1/2. If they are making below 90% on tests and daily work then use 8/7. Algebra 1/2 is just different enough that one could work BOTH texts if an extra 'maturity' year is needed.

Her next step would be a Pre-Calc course that includes Trig. Pre-Calc is another name for the combination of College Algebra (3) and Trig--both one-semester courses on their own. Alex offers many different combinations/names because their program is most used as a tool for review purposes...couple that with the normal options of College Algebra and Trig as separate courses--and it is no wonder you are confused! This same confusion is found with upper math textbooks too!

It was nice to look at some beautiful horses today---I can usually see mine out the window--but since it is rainy and cold he is hiding out in his run-in. The rescue horse I took over this fall has finally cleared all hurdles--he is in beautiful shape. He had his first hoof trimming yesterday (has been nearly a year since his last ones) and the farrier told me he has excellent natural feet--especially for an older horse and our semi-rocky ground! He also confirmed what every other 'horse person' has told me--Black Jack has EXCELLENT ground manners...someday I'll truly know what that means! Now our next quest is to purchase saddles... I have a friend who is a trainer who will start working with him once the rain stops...(but rain is a GOOD thing here where it has been so dry so I'm not really complaining about it). My 17 yo dd and my 5yo dd can't wait to ride him. --- My heart hurts for your babies--but it is something that has to be done...hopefully they will accept it soon and comfort each other in the meantime.

My Dad was a Clarinet major (he teaches homeschool bands in Oklahoma). I played the Clarinet through college. My middle dd plays Clarinet in her highschool band and jazz band. I really really like the B12. It has the same 'feel' as the R13 but is made of resin (plastic). It is light weight and it has a rich sound. I think it makes an excellent beginner's clarinet--and if the student will ever play in a marching band it makes a great 'outside' clarinet (how my dd uses hers). I LOVE the R13--but it is around $1000 (used) as opposed to around $200 for the B12. It is also hard for me to justify a PROFESSIONAL clarinet for beginner use--it will NOT make a difference in their sound! The B12 has an excellent 'feel'--again it is modeled after the R13...so it is comfortable and smooth to play...many other cheap clarinets are rather stiff feeling. For a beginner I would go for the B12 and then try to get an HS* mouthpiece--the quality of the mouthpiece makes a HUGE difference even with beginners. If you look around (ebay and such) you should be able to find the HS* for under $100. My dd's first clarinet was a wooden Signet 100. It was a good instrument--but no comparison to the R13 and she says even the B12. I would NOT suggest purchasing from a music store as their markup is way too much... Purchase a used clarinet that has been recently overhauled (new pads & corks and keys adjusted) and it will HOLD its value. E-bay has been my friend! Look for dealers who overhaul clarinets professionally and who have high ratings. A good B12 should be around $200 and sometimes less! HTH

My oldest dd is 17 and for educational purposes is in 11th grade. Yesterday DH reminded me that she will be eligable to VOTE this fall! We are covering American History post Civil War this year...I planned on Government for next fall... I need some ideas to help her get used to the idea of voting--and to assist her in choosing people to vote for! I've been in denial that my little girl is growing up!

http://www.starfall.com She LOVES this site. She attends the local PS and they get to go on this site during computer rotation. She is on it a few minutes each day at home. It is a site dedicated to early/beginning readers.

We purchased our land for cash--we were fortunate that get it way below market value. After we had it for a year we decided to build (to get out of the busy city). Our land was appraised for DOUBLE what we originally paid for it. When we financed we had to 'roll' the land into the full mortgage and the bank bought our land back from us at the new value...INSTANT down payment! We put our current house on the market a few months before we started building. The house sold and we closed 2 days before our new house was complete--we moved in anyway! Our land came with a 'no trailer, no modular home' restriction. The closest land without restrictions had several lots that were in pretty BAD shape (think LOTS of trash). We settled on the restricted land. We had been prepared to move into a rental if our house sold quickly. The market in our area was moving very fast at the time so we were not that concerned about the house not selling. We have builders in our area that have duplexes and townhouses that they rent out for up to 2 years at a time for families who sell their houses first and want/need to save up money or just need a place to live while their new house is completed. We have several friends who sold their old house and then moved into a small trailers (not on their new property) for a period of time before they built. One family spent 3 years in a VERY OLD trailer--but they were able to build their new home for cash (doing lots of the work themselves)...they said it was worth it not to have a mortgage!

My only concern is that you said that she often forgets the process...she will be using long division in the first half of Introductory Algebra--and it will be a tad more complex! Most students understand the concepts in Algebra--90% of mistakes are in the process. If you have looked at the majority of Algebra 1 problems, most can be figured out in your head. This is done with a purpose--so the students can easily check their own work. In Algebra the process is as important (if not MORE important) than getting a correct answer! My gut feeling, from your description, is that your dd IS ready for Algebra 1--she may need to move carefully (a bit slower) in the first chapters that review and expand the last chapters in BCM. Introductory Algebra is a big text. It would be easy to design a program that takes more than one year to work...you could start out slowly and then speed things up when she is ready. When splitting a lesson divide it into pieces using the lesson examples. If a lesson has 5 examples teach/practice the first 3 examples on one day and then teach/practice the remaining ones the second day. By practice I mean working the practice (margin) problems AND the corresponding odd homework problems. If needed you can narrow it down even more and stretch a lesson over 3-4 days... This text was designed for BLOCK scheduling--and it is pretty flexible. HTH

There have been lots of studies that prove this to be true...especially if any type of apnea is involved. My DH had the surgery--FIL did too. Both said it was the most painful thing they ever had to do--but they also agree that they felt sooooo much better after the recovery (about 3 weeks). I remember my DH waking up in the morning actually refreshed...a NICE change for the whole family! I would make sure to get at least one more professional opinion...and then go with the Dr who has the best track record/experience.

Our oldest dd is homeschooled and has been for the past 8+ years. She is 17 and in 11th grade. Our middle dd is 15 and in the 9th grade. She attends the local high school. She was homeschooled for grades 1-5. We had TERRIBLE problems with her at home due to hormone imbalances the last year. She was impossible for me to work with/teach and she was also physically and mentally/verbally abusive to me. She was sent to our local PS beginning in 6th grade. She is an honors student and overall teacher's pet. She also LOVES band--another reason why we considered PS. I hate the average of 3 hours a night in homework, but she is thriving there and our relationship is slowly healing. Her moods are starting to become more stable and her anxiety level is beginning to subside. Our youngest will be 6 next week. She is in K in our local PS and has the most wonderful teacher. DH made the ultimate decision for her to go to school, and it has been very good for her. It has also given me the opportunity to spend lots of quality time with oldest dd. Unless there are major changes in our district (teaching to the test) youngest dd will not be attending past 2nd grade...we will cross that bridge when we get to it. We homeschool because it is the best learning environment for oldest dd.

BJU is pretty much current with state standards and rigour. The only problems I've seen with their highschool texts is that they rely on the teacher too much--not enough material in the student's texts for independent learning or homework help. You may want to pick up a cheap copy of Lial's Intermediate Algebra/and or Pre-Calc as a reference text because of the lesson details (all teaching is in the student text). As far as needing to supplement...there will be some holes as TT Algebra 2 is about half of a regular Algebra 2 program as far as content goes. Most of Algebra 2 is an expansion of Algebra 1 so it will be familiar and some strong students may be able to get by and figure the missing parts out on their own. A month or 2 of ALEKS before starting BJU would also help to locate any holes or weak areas. Most Pre-Calc texts have a bit of review--but the higer you go the LESS review there will be. Half of the Pre-Calc year will be College Algebra (Algebra 3) which expands Algebra 2 concepts a bit more. The other half is Trig--which is completely different animal. HTH

Textbooks are a big business. Textbook publishers contract with colleges and college bookstores bring in lots of $$$ for the colleges. College bookstores make more money when text editions change often! This is the main reason for so many editions--they RARELY add 'new' material. I have an OLD copy of Introductory Algebra--it does not say the edition number but it is from the 1970s! It is a tiny book with teensy print--but the teaching and material is 90% the same and the current texts. Once again, there is not enough difference to warrant choosing one edition over another... and both series by Lial (now merging into one for the 10th edition and beyond) are good. Let's add another coal to this fire--you can even go from Lial to Foerster or Larson without missing concepts. They are all 3 based on the same standards...just slightly different approaches and layouts... Hope I have not confused you more! E-mail me if you would like. snikrepj @ gmail . com

I have both the 7th and 8th editions of Introductory Algebra--VERY VERY similar--and in some parts exactly the same problems. I normally plan on each lesson taking 2 days. Depending on the material covered in the lesson I sometimes split the teaching part into 2 chunks going over let's say Examples 1-3 on one day, working the odds that correspond and then going over Examples 3-5 the next day and working the remaining odd problems. My dd usually checks after every problem or at least after every section of problems and corrects before moving on. Lesson is not complete until ALL problems have been worked out correctly. I allow at least 2 days (usually 3) for the Chapter Reviews as I require ALL problems to be worked out and that means nearly 100 problems for most chapters! In most cases I have her work all of the problems on the tests. We do Cumulative Reviews as needed. Answers for the odd homework problems as well as ALL of the answers for the Chapter Reviews, Tests and Cumulative Reviews are in the back of the student text. I have the text only for this level. I have the text, TE and student solutions manual for Intermediate Algebra (but the solutions manual has yet to be used and I only use the TE on occasions when I want to plan and dd is using her text--or if she needs help on a lesson and doesn't feel like sharing/cuddling. HTH

She has recently developed patches of long dark hair on both of her arms near her elbows...patches are about 5 inches long. This dd has blond hair (should turn brown in the next few years) and fair skin. The majority of hair on her arms and legs are shorter and much much lighter. Oldest dd has also commented about the difference recently. Is this anything unusual? WELL THAT WAS A DUMB QUESTION! Is this anything to be concerned about or am I just being paranoid because she is my baby and my teen girls don't like to cuddle anymore...

My oldest dd is 17 and has been homeschooled for the past 9 years. My middle dd was homeschooled for grades 1-5 and is currently a 9th grader at our local public school. My youngest dd is 5 and is currently in Kindergarden in our local public school.