I don't see a problem with "stupid rule" I don't allow self-referral as stupid -- i.e. "I don't understand, I'm stupid" or referral to others as stupid. It really, really bugs me.

Our house was similar and we were always so broke -- we kept it at 50 during the day and turned it down at night. I never realized it wasn't normal to need to wear long johns and a coat in the house.

"Any sufficiently advanced troll is indistinguishable from a genuine kook"

Aha, I'd missed the Spanish link -- yes, now that I have seen that, I am 99% sure that this site has been put up by someone who makes a habit of trolling education websites (not specifically this one) with offensive race-based statistical rubbish, as well as maintaining several similar websites of his own. I shan't link them because they're really horribly repulsive.

I doubt it's a joke. It looks like a very lightly modified booklist from the Great Books Academy/Angelicum Academy with some electives thrown in and some books added to make it much more German-oriented -- and skimming the links and added books it reads like it was modified by a neo-Nazi.

There's also the option of finding them college-level science-for-non-majors textbooks that they can read and understand. Here's a listing of some that ought to be accessible (note that since this would be an intro, older editions would be absolutely acceptable). Physical Geography Meteorology Introductory Astronomy Astrobiology (Life in the Universe book by Bennett is enjoyable reading) A chemistry history book such as Caveman Chemistry (free) Historical Geology Environmental Science Environmental Geology Ecology Oceanography Marine Biology Zoology Botany

I think the arithmetic system is beautiful -- but I think that actually doing computation is rather boring.

You know, I have said in class "contrary to popular opinion, math is not just something we made up to torture you"

I can only say that until I reached real proofs I saw little beauty in it myself. My high school courses had many proofs, and I loved them, but when I took calculus at an average state school I lost my way for a while. I saw math only as a boring yet easy subject that I took to bring my grades up. I was taking my last class for a math minor when I took introduction to proofs -- that was the semester I changed my major. For me, it is the logical thought process and the proof -- closing every last loophole -- that makes it beautiful. Solving an equation? That is pedestrian -- that is boring -- and yet it is all that many see. But proving that a type of equation can always be solved or can never be solved? Solving an entire class of problems? Yes, there is beauty. And in successfully completing a proof, there is accomplishment and pride -- and yes, joy.

Are your kids advanced readers? This is a middle school program and might be a bit old for them.

Yes. I would be in huge trouble if none of my students had an idea as to where they were in the class at this point!

Most HS physics classes haven't been calc-based anyway. There might be a move in some areas to teach ap physics B instead of ap physics C, but not a global one that I've heard of.

What about Galore Park's Junior Science or Singapore Science grades 3-4? They're readable and fun textbooks (from what I have heard), and neither education system really includes much earth science in science class (it's in geography class) so it would minimize overlap. ETA: Here is a link to Junior Science Book 1 -- there are 3 books intended for grades 2-4, but they are about $20-$25 each with free worldwide shipping, and they are rather slim books, so you might buy more than one -- http://www.bookdepository.com/Junior-Science-Book-1-Sue-Hunter/9781905735174

The curriculum's aimed at grades 5-9 -- maybe it's a little old for them yet? Are you set on biology for this year?

As Kathy said, it's in algebra 2/trig, in trigonometry, and in analysis -- I don't really think 3 coverages are necessary. I don't think you can go wrong with either Dolciani or Foerster. I mean, obviously preview both and pick one, but don't agonize too much over the decision. Both of them are very good, solid textbook series that will adequately prepare your students for any major they choose, including mathematics.

Oh my goodness, so much ... faith ... :grouphug: With respect to your son, is deferring acceptance due to these medical issues a possibility? With respect to your dd, is freezing eggs a possibility? There are clinics now that are willing to fertilize one egg at a time so that there won't be issues with "extra" embryos.

You should not need both trigonometry and analysis.

Many people do this. Calculus is the mathematics dealing with changing quantities. When you take a derivative, it's an instantaneous rate of change. When you integrate, you're dealing with the accumulation of quantities. Here's a website I like with a "what is calculus and why do we care" explanation: http://www-math.mit.edu/~djk/calculus_beginners/chapter01/section02.html Trigonometry literally means "measurement of trigons" (triangles). Originally it really applied only to angles within triangles, but later it was expanded to angles larger than 180 degrees, and later still to real numbers. As functions of real numbers, trigonometric functions are very useful for studying periodic phenomena -- this is because every 360 degrees (2pi radians) the values of the basic functions repeat. Algebra is a lot more difficult to define because it is studied at many different levels. There is high school algebra/college algebra (really the same thing) which is more about setting up equations and solving them for unknown quantities. But, in a broader and more abstract sense, it is really about studying number systems and operations. For elementary algebra we restrict ourselves to the real numbers or possibly the complex numbers, but there are many other systems that we study in an advanced algebra class for math majors (seen in university catalogs as abstract algebra or modern algebra).

Geometry should come before algebra 2/trig. If trig is not included they can be done in a different order but to do trig properly requires geometry.

You might really enjoy number theory as well if you enjoyed algebra. I loved algebra, loathed geometry, and when I took number theory it was one of my favorite classes ever.

Two young students of mathematics were discussing their coursework: "What's your favorite part of mathematics?" "Knot Theory" "Yeah, me either"

I really wouldn't try it unless they pass the TT algebra 1 placement test. If they are very close you could possibly do some targeted review of problem spots. It would also be reasonable to "test through" the pre-algebra by doing chapter tests (since you already own it) looking for holes to fill and then start algebra when done. If they aren't able to pass the chapter tests algebra really wouldn't be a good idea. Is summer school for math an option? If math is her only subject the older could probably work on pre-algebra over the summer.

MM7 is pre-algebra (or it will be when it's finished -- only 7a is out but 7b is expected early in 2015).

I don't think you can go wrong with a mix of both. Good scores on AP's AND good grades in dual enrollment classes show that your child can handle themselves in a college classroom AND that they can do well on a nationally standardized exam/course.

I'd just keep trucking. So what if you don't finish 3 full rotations? I'd rather do that than skip modern to go back and start ancients "on schedule" every time.