Thank you so much! That really helps. I'm thinking it might be a little too much to try to complete in two days a week.

Wow. So I did a sample lesson yesterday. It consisted of about 3 or 4 live video segments with questions and cartoon like 'notes' in between. Then it finally came to conclusion of the lesson. It took me about 30 min or so to do it. Does that count as 1 Activity, or would that be 3 or 4, since it was 3 or 4 segments?

I'm trying to decide if this will be a good fit for my son next year. He is in a hybrid school: 3 days a week at school and 2 at home. He would probably only have time to do the time4learning physical science on his home days (2x a week). I'm wondering how many lessons there are all together to see how many he'd have to do each day.

Apparently Florida only counts Intermediate Algebra at Community College as 0.5 credit for high school, since it isn't officially a 'college level' class. It is a preparation class for College Algebra. I guess I will just list them both for 1/2 credits and take off the explanation on the transcript and just leave it to the course descriptions. For the record, in case anyone else is writing up Comm. College courses. A lot of the science classes are also only worth half a credit, unless it has a lab. So the Intro to Meteorology I signed my daughter up for in the fall to satisfy her 4th year of science, only counts as half credit, and I will have to have her take another science class in the spring. I always thought a semester CC course counted as a full year high school course across the board. Here is the Florida Dept of Ed equivalency chart (I can't speak for other states, but we are in Florida) http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/5421/urlt/0078394-delist.pdf

Ok thanks all. I edited her transcript and put asterisk by Algebra 2 and Intermediate Algebra. In the notes section I put this. Any other suggestions on wording if it doesn't sound correct? "Mikaela started her Junior year taking Algebra 2. The 0.5 credit is the first half of Algebra 2. In the spring she switched to Intermediate Algebra through dual enrollment."

I've been spending days working on my daughter's transcript and course descriptions. I just ran into a big snafu. Her math course progression looks like this currently: 9th Algebra 1 10th Geometry 11th Intermediate Algebra-dual enrollment 12th College Algebra I just found out that Intermediate Algebra just counts for 0.5 high school credit. So now I don't know what to do. in the fall of 11th grade she used Teaching Textbooks Algebra 2, then in the spring she took Intermediate Algebra. Should I go ahead and list Algebra 2 on her transcript also, but just for 0.5 credit so she has a full math credit for 11th grade? Of course she didn't finish the TT Algebra 2, so I'd feel strange listing it even if it is 0.5 credit, and it just seems that would stand out strangely to the college admission people. Or do I just call it all Intermediate Algebra (or I guess I could call it Algebra 2), and count 1.0 credit, but list on her course descriptions that she used TT Algebra 2 in the fall, and Dual Enrolled in Intermediate Algebra in the spring? I've searched and searched online but can't find a similar situation, but I know I can't be alone. Thanks! Ginger

As for Meadowoods, BeunaVentura, Boggy Creek area, Kissimmee, and I'd even say Hunters Creek, you might want to speak Spanish if you are looking at any of them. We live in that area and are one of the few non Spanish speaking families around. But our area is very rural with lots of land, if that is what you are looking for. (Boggy Creek)

I'd like to hear if anyone has had any experience with colleges NOT accepting their homeschool foreign language. This is from the Florida Home Education Foundation webiste, and while it is referring to admission requirements for Florida colleges/universities, I would think that most would have similar requirements. ""Will the foreign language courses taught in a home education program meet the requirement for admission to a Florida public university?"" """No. A student is required to have successfully completed 2 years of language in a Florida high school or 2 semesters at a Florida college. The foreign language requirement must be met through courses taken in a public or private school, the Florida Virtual School (FLVS) or in a Florida college.* Some universities may accept a passing score on CLEP tests, however, you will need to check with the institution your child plans to attend. If the courses are taken through dual enrollment or after high school graduation, the 2 semesters will be counted as electives. *A Florida university may accept foreign language from an accredited out-of-state high school or college, however, before you register for the course be sure to check the requirement of the Florida university your child hopes to attend.[/color]"""

Can you claim high school credit for any of these?

My daugther is doing Challenge B this year (8th grade). I've supplemented with CLE Language Arts (she really still needs the grammar and spelling practice) and Notgrass America the Beautiful (basically just reading the text aloud and doing the map work). We also did a light Chemistry program with all 3 of my kids (RS4K). On the days when her workload has been heavier, she hsa just skipped the extras. I really wanted to add in BJU science this year, but thought it would be too much. In hindsight, I wish I would have. Challenge B hasn't been as time consuming for her as A was.

Has anyone went from CLE 7 to Algebra 1, and how was the transition? My dd14 is using 7 this year, and won't finish until mid summer. She will be in 9th grade in the fall, and I feel she really needs to start Algebra. She is getting the math, but not flying through it--she often makes careless mistakes. I have been planning to use Lials Algebra. I have Lial's pre-algebra here, and it doesn't look like there is much in there she will not have covered in CLE 7. Thanks, Ginger

I've been reading on here about neuropsych testing, but I'm not really sure if these are test my ds has already had. He's had IQ testing and a Woodcock Johnson Achievement test (and when he was younger he was given a few different reading/phonological tests). I haven't come away from any of his testing with any great revelations of anything that I didn't already know, nor was there one thing that stood out as his 'problem area' that shed light on any direction to take. It's been 2 years since he has had any formal tests, and I'm wondering if I should pursue a neuropsych.

We did Dianne Craft's program several years ago. I just went to try to pull out my manual, and I must have loaned it to someone, but I am listening to her CD's again and start back up on the nutritional supplements and see if that helps (Magnesium is one I just ordered, so I hope that helps!!) I'll give that a few weeks and see if I notice a change, and if not, I'll look into finding an OT. I did also get a lead for a counselor tonight. So I am feeling a little bit better. Plus, both his sisters are spending the night away, so I'll only have him for school tomorrow--so he has no excuses. OhElizabeth, that is really bizarre about the radio towers, but makes sense. Makes you wonder how much all of those types of things are affecting us.

I've tried music in the background, and he just can't handle any sound whatsoever. It's much worse this year since we started back to school at the beginning of the month. Music doesn't bother him at other times, just while trying to do school. However the noise of a pencil writing always does. I'm not sure how much of it is real or him just trying to be difficult. I did find something online today that totally described him; Selective Sound Sensitivity Syndrome. Unfortunately they say it is rare and there isn't really any research nor a cure. I'd love to try to find some type of therapist that might could help him deal with it though.

This may sound silly, but is a pyschotherapist the same as a pychologist or pychiatrist? And how would I go about finding one? In the past I've tried searched for a really good child pysch, but I've yet to find one nor have had one with glowing recommendations. Thanks! Ginger

My 11 yo son is making school miserable for us. He freaks out if his sisters or I use a pencil to write with. The sound to him is like fingers on a chalkboard. He also freaks out if anyone makes the slightest sound when he is trying to work--and that pretty much includes the sound of breathing. It makes for a pretty tense school environment. While he demands them to comply with his requests, he doesn't give them similar courtesies, and when they are trying to concentrate he bangs on the table, hums, and just does every thing he can to annoy his sisters. He is dyslexic, probably ADD, and who knows what else so he pretty much requires my one on one during school, and his younger sister is 7, so she still requires all of me, so we really need to be able to sit at a table and work together. I'm not sure how much of the sound issues are real or in his head. I know he wouldn't freak out like he does with us if he were sitting in a classroom. He also has to have the fan on on full speed which causes his sisters to freeze. I try to let him win on this one because I know boys need a cooler environment and we can put on coats, but the girls just don't see this as fair. If we try to do school anywhere else--on the road or in another part of the house or wherever, he complains that it is too hot, too loud etc. I don't know where to go to get him help for this, if there is anything that can be done. I don't think it is necessarily OT since it isn't a touch/feel thing. Should he see a pyschiatrist, pychologist? Has anyone ever heard of any thing like this--especially the sound issues? Thanks for any help--I'm really ready to drive him down to the local school today just to get some peace in our home... Ginger

How long does it take to notice a difference with the Magnesium? My 11 yo ds' ADHD has been really acting up since we started school Aug.1st. In the past I've tried all kinds of alternative things, with varying success, tried a couple of meds but they made him psychotic and suicidal--put off trying any more meds when I realized that we have a strong family history of Tourettes and if the gene is present in him, the meds could trigger it--and I'd much rather deal with ADHD than what my brother has gone through with TS. Anyway--yesterday when it took him over 10 seconds to answer 1+1, I knew I had to do something. I had given him a speed drill with all numbers 0-3. So all I could think of was to give him a Coke and see if the caffeine helped. Sure enough 45 min. later we tried math again--he flew through the problems--what had taken him almost 4 min. before with a score of 20/30 (all numbers 0-3), he completed in 1 1/2 min. and only missed one. He then did his math lesson which was several problems of multi-digit multiplication and finished it in about 10 min. with a perfect score. I sure don't want to give him a sugary soda every morning and he doesn't like coffee, but I'd really like to try this for a week and see what happens.

"Mickey" with Harry Connick Jr was a very good family movie about baseball. We watched it this summer and it became one of our favorites. I had never heard of it before. You can look up reviews/more info on Amazon.

I have always used baby wipes (well, since having babies at least) for cleaning. I keep a box in each bathroom and that makes it easy to daily wipe down surfaces. I also keep a can of Lysol spray nearby which I use afterward to do the disenfecting.

Has anyone used NL with an 11 year old. I was sold on the science based on recent threads, but disappointed when I went to the site and saw it was geared toward youngers. I don't know that I'd put the effort into tweaking it for him, since I like the whole idea of it all being laid out for me, and if I have to tweak it, it probably won't get done. Ftr, his reading skills are a bit behind, so easier in that respect is probably a good thing. I'll also have a 7 year old in the fall, but I'm not sure how much I'd require her to participate (it's all I can do to get through the 3 R's with her each day), and a 13 year old. But I'm looking to gear something toward my 11 year old.

How about the Wizard of Oz books? Do you think Wicked is more based off of them or the movie? My dd and I saw Wicked on Broadway and LOVED it! It was just here, but the tickets were more than they were in NY. So we'll just have to plan another trip and see it again there.

I got Alabama Moon for my then 9 yods last year. Fortunately I started reading it before him since I had heard it was such a great book--I wanted to see what it was all about. I could not get very far in it. I was appalled by the language in it. Such a shame. It seemed like a great story, and I'm sure it would have captured my reluctant reader's attention.

I'm trying to get an idea if what we are paying is typical. We live outside of most providers, so we're pretty much limited to an air card. I had a sprint card that cost $69 a month for unlimited access. The problem is that it is usually very slow. Last week I purchased a Verizon Mobile Hotspot for $50 a month but am limited to 5G's. It hasn't even been a week and we have used over 2G's. I'm thinking just doing our 'regular' stuff (facebook, email, webkinz type games) that we'll easily use 10G a month. It is $10 per G over 5, which would put us at at least $100 a month before the taxes. Does that sound right or high? I have one more week to return the Verizon, and stick with Sprint--cheaper, but slower. I wouldn't mind paying a little bit additional for the speed, but don't think I want to go that much higher.

Well, we are actually using a room on the church side of the facility. And we haven't actually asked, but no one has said anything to us.

Not only do we do school out, we do it at one of the top private church schools in our area! The church has a bible study for women/kids on Monday mornings. So some other homeschool friends and I take the kids to Bible study in the morning, then go to an empty classroom where we do school for the rest of the day (usually until around 2-3). We even buy lunch in their cafeteria. It works out great and the kids aren't distracted by the things that distract them at home. And so far we haven't been evicted.