:iagree: I've found amazon to have the best deal.

You could list it as "independent study" under courses. For example ... Independent Study: Computer Programming Independent Study: Electronics and Rocketry I wouldn't assign a letter grade though, just Pass/Fail. If you submit course descriptions, I would include a description of the resources he utilized and the projects he completed. The credit hours don't really matter that much, IMO. On another note ... its not unusual for public school kids to do the same thing, and they generally don't receive "credit" for it. Usually they draw on these experiences to write their college application essays.

In my opinion, History research papers are the hardest. I find it much easier to write a paper on a present-day controversial issue. But anyhoo ... here are the steps I follow when preparing a research paper. Step 1: Select a Topic Start out general (i.e. History) and then narrow it down (i.e. World War II). Step 2: Preliminary Research Use some tertiary resources (Textbooks, wikipedia, etc.) to get a quick overview of the topic (or refresh your memory if this was something recently studied). Narrow down your topic even more, and come up with a question you want to answer ... i.e. Should the US have intervened earlier? Step 3: Develop Thesis Statement and Bibliography Use the tertiary resources to come up with some Primary and Secondary sources. Read through those; often these will lead to more resources; read through those. The reading should be more like skimming. The point is to find out what information is out there, and what will be a good references for the paper. Also in this step, you want to come up with your preliminary thesis statement (or answer to your question from Step 2) ... i.e. The US could not have entered earlier for these reasons .... Step 4: Develop Preliminary Outline and Take Notes Start with a preliminary (one-level) outline, to help guide you as you take notes on the resources. There are many methods for note-taking. Note cards are the traditional method, and can be useful for the first time writer. After the first paper, I would give the student some leeway to come up with there own methods. Step 5: Formalize Thesis Statement and Outline Flush out your thesis statement; often times I find it useful to write the introductory paragraph as well. And then finalize your outline. Step 6: Prepare rough draft Step 7: Revise, Revise, Revise

For a future engineer, this is what I would focus on in high school (listed in order of importance): 1. Math ... a strong foundation in algebra, geometry, and trig. Calculus is great if you can get to it, but don't rush through previous math courses just to get it on the transcript. Statistics would also be useful. 2. Language Arts ... strong verbal and written communication skills are a must! Do not underestimate this just because someone is "mathy." Focus on expository writing, research papers, lab reports, and oral presentations. Grammar and Style are also important. 3. Science ... the three "foundational" sciences (e.g. Biology, Chemistry, and Physics). Plus at least one advanced/AP science course, chosen based on the student's interest. 4. Microsoft Excel (or similar) ... practice using the built in formulas and making table/charts to present/analyze data. 5. Computer Science ... the language isn't important; learning how to "think" like a computer scientist is. I highly recommend MIT's introductory course on edx.org. Python and JAVA are popular these days. Don't even bother with Matlab; IMO this isn't really useful until you get into higher level math (differential equations, numerical analysis, etc.) 6. CAD is useful, especially if he is heading towards mechanical or civil.

The Market is about 3/4 a mile (down Arch Street) from the Mint, and I've walked it before. I actually parked in the Reading Terminal Market Parking Garage, had lunch in the Market, then walked to the National Constitution Center which is across the street from the Mint. You could also walk one-block south and take the Market Street Subway to 11th Street, then walk one-block north to the Market. Or you could take the Phlash Trolley I mentioned previously. I like Strasburg Railroad because I like trains, and because the scenery is beautiful. The train ride is on an old historic coal train, with all the steam and hissing you see in the movies. The museum has restored cars in the building, and then old rusted out cars in the field. There's not a whole lot to do, but I really like walking around looking at all the gears and what not. (Yes, I'm a dork.) Its a very popular destination for photographers. If your boys aren't interested in trains, then it may not be worthwhile.

I’d flip your schedule on the first day in order to maximize your time at the Franklin Institute. Eastern State Penitentiary is mostly outdoors, so if it is raining you may want to postpone to another day. The Franklin Institute is huge, with lots of hands-on learning and extra theaters to check out, so I would plan on spending as much time there as possible. The theaters and special exhibit (currently the Titanic) all cost extra … at a minimum I would add on a visit to the planetarium. I would probably do the Reading Terminal Market on the second day, after the US Mint/Federal Reserve. There is such a large selection there, hopefully you’d be able to find something for your son to eat for lunch. For your Independence Mall day, I’d start with the National Constitution Center (this is relatively new so maybe it’s not in your travel guide?). Then go to the Independence Visitor Center, check out the liberty bell if the line isn’t too long (you can actually see the bell from the outside of the building and skip the line), and then take a tour of Independence Hall. I would also add in a Ride the Ducks tour. Then if there is time, check out Betsey’s house and Christ Church (these are relatively quick attractions). Not sure how you are planning on getting around, but I would recommend checking out the Phlash Trolley … a family pass (2 adults + 2 kids) for the day only costs $10.00, and it takes you to all the major attractions … even the Philadelphia Zoo (BTW: I can’t imagine coming to Philly and not going to the zoo!!) I also vote for the Strasburg Railroad (and the PA Railroad Museum located across the street). Maybe do that in the morning as you drive out to Lancaster?

Have you looked at MIT's OCW courses in "calculus with theory" (18.012 and 18.022). They use Apostle's book, which is very heavy with theory and proofs. Unless she has a lot of experience with mathematical proofs, she may need to start at the beginning of this book (i.e. single-variable calculus). I used Thomas's book in college and thoroughly enjoyed it. Although, I would say it was more applications based than theory based.

I recently had replacement windows installed and I really regret not having the interior trim replaced at the same time. Below are a couple of useful questions: 1. Does the estimate include the replacement of existing rotted sill/frame material if encountered? If not, how much would that typically cost? 2. Does the estimate include new window casing (i.e. exterior window trim)? 3. If you are planning on utilizing a tax credit, ask to have the cost of the windows separated from labor on the invoice/cost estimate. 4. How long will it take? Who will actually be in your house performing the work? How much work spaced do they need? Do you need to move furniture or will they? (I would suggested doing it yourself if you can). 5. How will they insulate around the new windows?

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe "Analytic Geometry" in this sense refers to the application of Calculus to Geometric problems. I wouldn't say this is a "Lite" calculus, but instead is more of a practical/applied calculus. Engineers/technicians focus more on learning the applications of Calculus while Mathematicians/Scientists focus more on the theory of Calculus.

A quick list of some of my favorites: 1939 - The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinback 1952 - The Invisible Man, Ralph Elison 1967 - The Chosen, Chaim Potak 1987 - Beloved, Toni Morrison 2007 - The Kite Runner, Kahled Hossenini 1982 - Blue Highways, William Least Heat-Moon (non-fiction)

Weight Density (if you mean weight/volume) is one of the basic parameters used in soil mechanics ... the "theory" behind Geotechnical Engineering, which is a sub-discipline of Civil Engineering. I use it every day at work, in many different forms ... moist unit weight of soil, dry unit weight of soil, saturated unit weight of soil, specific unit weight of soil, specific unit weight of water, maximum dry density of soil, etc.

:iagree: Maybe also have him work through the AoPS Introductory Algebra book.. A good bit of this would be a review of the Saxon 1 algebra, but a good bit of it would probably also be more in depth, new information for him.

I work with two women that are constantly using these terms and it drives me bananas!!! It just seams so silly and unprofessional. But, I know that they are using them as terms of affection so I don't ever say anything. The only exception is if I'm out on a construction site. If anyone calls me "sweetie" etc., I immediately ask them not to call me that. If they do it again, I find their foreman and lodge a complaint. Those terms really do undermine one's authority. If I'm out-and-about, running errands, etc and some random person uses a similar term, it usually doesn't really bother me. I don't like it, but its not worth getting annoyed over.

Does he run out of time when taking the tests? Is he struggling with the homework? Is he saying that he doesn't understand the material? Unless your answers to these questions are Yes, it doesn't really sound like a comprehension problem. Instead, it sounds like he is suffering from stupid-mistakes-syndrome. (OK, I made that up, but you know what I mean) Instead of jumping curriculums, maybe work on his test taking skills? Is he taking the time to write out each step to the solution? Does he go back and double check his work after he's answered all the questions? Have you tried taking the "paper" test first? That seams like a great idea to me.

My 11-year old (soon to be 12) niece just read this one "for fun." She's in sixth grade and loves anything fantasy or sci-fi.

curtains - twice a year (fall / spring) throw rug - vacuumed weekly, spot cleaning when dirty bath mat - weekly shower curtain - twice a year, or when it looks dirty shower curtain liner - replaced once a year mattress pad - 3 to 4 times a year pillow cover* (not a pillowcase, see below for explanation) - don't use pillows - never, bed pillows are generally replaced every two years blanket on bed - monthly when used for sleeping, 3 to 4 times a year if just for decoration throw blanket on sofa/chair - 3 to 4 times a year bedspread/quilt/comforter - monthly Every spring and fall I do a "thorough" cleaning of the house. All the curtains get cleaned, windows are cleaned, every piece of furniture is moved to clean behind/underneath it, closests get cleaned out, basement is cleaned, hardwood floors get polished, etc. I learned this routine from my mother.

I've seen this allegory (see below) mentioned on several websites when discussing taxes, and I just don't get it. So, I was hoping someone out there might be able to explain it to me. I am NOT looking for opinions on whether you agree with it or not. I'm looking at this more from the viewpoint of a study in rhetoric, i.e. What is the author's main argument? ....................................... Every night, ten men met at a restaurant for dinner. At the end of the meal, the bill would arrive. They owed $100 for food that they shared. Every night, they lined up in the same order at the cash register. The first four men paid nothing at all. The fifth, grumbling about the unfairness of the situation, paid $1. The sixth man, feeling very generous, paid $3. The next three men paid $7, $12, and $18, respectively. The last man was required to pay the remaining balance, $59. He realized that he was forced to pay for not only his own meal, but also the unpaid balance left by the first five men. The ten men were quite settled into their routine when the restaurant threw them into chaos by announcing that it was cutting its prices. Now, dinner for the ten men would only cost $80. This clearly would not affect the first four men. They still ate for free. The fifth and sixth men both claimed their piece of the $20 right away: the fifth decided to forgot his $1 and the sixth only paid $2. The seventh man deducted $2 from his usual payment. The eighth paid $9 and the ninth man paid $12. The last man was left with a bill of $52. Outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings, and angry outbursts began to erupt. The sixth man yelled, “I only got $1 out of the $20 and he got $7!†pointing at the last man. The fifth man joined in. “Yeah! I only got $1, too! It is unfair that he got seven times more than me.†The seventh man cried, “Why should he get $7 back when I only got $2?†The first four men followed the lead of the others: “We didn’t get any of the $20. Where is our share?†The nine angry men formed an outraged mob, surrounding the 10th man. They carried the tenth to the top of the hill and lynched him. The next night, the nine remaining men met at the restaurant for dinner. But when the bill came, there was no one to pay it.

The school is the only one that can really answer this question (Trig vs Pre-calc) since there are really no hard-fast rules as to what "pre-calc" is. In my high school, the honor's Algebra including some Trig and the honors Pre-calc finished out Trig, reviewed some Algebra, and then started some basic Calculus. Students in the honors track then went on to take AP Calculus. Another question I would ask the school is what do the students of the various tracks do after graduation. For example, in my high school, most students in the honors track went on to 4-year colleges/universities while the students in the regular track usually went on to community college, vocational training (i.e. electrician), or just started working. Most engineering schools start their math sequence with Calculus I. Some students will test out of this course (or use AP credit) in the hopes of lightening the course load in one of the later semesters. (Engineers often take more credits per semester than Arts/Science majors). I don't think there would really be any advantage to studying Trig over an entire year. However, there may be an advantage in taking the honors Calculus. This could either give your son an easy first semester in college or allow him to test out of the first Calc course and lighten his course load later on. Personally, I would have my son follow the most challenging track he could handle. And by handle, I mean maintain a minimum grade of B.

Have you seen this: http://www.learner.org/resources/series212.html Scroll down to the bottom of the page ... click on the title of the book you are interested in (i.e. The Odyssey) ... then click on Explore > Connections. Listed there should be several related books, movies, music, etc. There is loads of other information here. Could be a great resource for creating a "unit studies" in World Literature.

I’m not a homeschooler. I don’t even have any kids of my own. (I stumbled upon these boards during my own self-education explorations.) But I am a Civil Engineer, so I thought it might be worthwhile to offer my perspective: 1. I agree with everyone that Math and Physics are very important for future engineering students. However, I would not rush through the introductory math classes just to get calculus (or calculus-based physics) on their high school transcript. It’s far more import to take the time to build a STRONG foundation in basic algebra, geometry, and trigonometry. Furthermore, the math sequence at most engineering schools starts with Calculus I. Provided your student has a strong pre-calculus course in high school, they should do just fine. 2. Engineering students take a lot of courses. And most courses build upon topics taught in previous courses. So, if a student struggles through Calculus II, they are going to struggle in their Junior and Senior year engineering courses. While it is completely doable to finish an engineering program in 8 semesters ( 4 years), many students will take advantage of summer (or mini winter sessions) to take some of their humanities electives. This gives them more time to focus on their engineering classes during the regular semester. 3. I would disagree with @Whoyouare and say that “high-school†engineering courses are [mostly] useless. (Sorry!) I would not think of these as academic classes. Instead, these are more like clubs, and are probably less effective than something like a Lego Club. One good thing about these types of courses is that they almost always involve some kind of group work. Engineering schools love making students work in groups, so this is an important skill to learn in high school. 4. I would strongly agree with @Whoyouare that some experience with computer programming is very useful. At a bare minimum, the student should be very familiar with the multitude of functions available in Microsoft Excel (or similar spreadsheet type programs). A computer programing course in any language will work (eg. C++, Java, Python). Or even a course in web design. 5. Engineering students need to be able to think spatially. They need to be able to envision what a 2-D drawing will look like in 3-D space, or take a 3-D object and sketch it in a 2-D space. Courses CAD or ArcGIS are very useful. The aforementioned Lego Club or “Engineering Club†also help develop this skill. So back to the original question, if I was in your situation, my high school math/science plan would look like this: 9th Grade: Algebra I and Chemistry (High-School or Conceptual) 10th Grade: Geometry and Biology (possibly AP*) 11th Grade: Algebra II (with basic Trigonometry) and AP Chemistry** 12th Grade Pre-Calculus (and start Calc I if there is time) and AP Physics*** * While the content of AP Biology isn’t really all that useful for engineering students (unless they are going into something like bio-mechanical engr), the skills learned in the laboratory portion (eg. experiment design, formal lab reports, oral presentations, etc) will be very useful for the student in their engineering laboratory classes. (Most college Chemistry and Physics labs are of the plug-and-chug variety.) ** AP Chemistry covers A LOT of material. I would strongly recommend completing a high school course in chemistry before attempting the AP course. *** Starting in the 2014-2015 school year, the College Board will no longer offer the Physics AB exam. Instead, this course is being replaced with two courses: Physics I and Physics II. The intent is for each of these courses to be one-year in length, but a student can take both exams in one year. The new courses are both algebra-based (as opposed to the calculus-based BC exam).

For books that are works of philosophy or theology, SWB recommends skipping the "genre" reading in TWEM (from TWTM, 3rd ed). From what I can tell, this is mostly because she doesn't really address this types of works in TWEM. You could try looking at Adler's How to Read a Book for suggested discussion questions.