Update: Our CS syllabus was approved as well. The CB took three weeks to reject it. There were just a few minor items to redo, and it was approved 1 hour after resubmission. We are 2 for 2. :) Where the Chem syllabus approval came with two practice exams (2013 & 2014), the CS approval only came with one (2014). They've redone the exam for 2014, doing away with Gridworld and adding three "recommended" labs and a 20 hour lab requirement. We feel that 20 hours probably isn't enough to do well on the exam, but it's a start. Bottom line: I'd submit a syllabus again if I had to for the extras, but I wouldn't worry about it just to list a course as "AP ___" on the transcript.

We use the Zumdahl AP textbook, 0-618-26505-8, copyright 2006. Our older daughter used it when she was a junior in high school; she got a 5 on the AP exam. She loved the book, and was inspired to become a biochem major. She's now in a Chemistry PhD program. We did not get a syllabus approved for our dd because the test had not changed for a few years before she took it, so the prep materials were pretty well developed. The exam changed beginning with the 2014 administration. We submitted a syllabus to get the two official practice tests and the teacher lab materials available to teachers. Our ds currently studying for the exam is not really into chemistry. He's doing it because I'm requiring it, and hopefully to test out of freshman chem for college. Every once in a while he shares something interesting he learned from Zumdahl, though.

I pulse in a food processor, and mix the coarsely-ground lentils with finely minced garlic and onions, spices, and flour. I find I need to add a fair amount of flour (about 1 1/3 cups per lb. of soaked lentils) to help the cakes stay together. I usually soak the lentils for about 24 hours or so. We like the cakes fried in peanut oil. Be very careful when putting the cakes in the oil because they want to break apart. These are delicious! We've had them twice since I first saw the recipes posted. We like to serve them with this recipe of potatoes and spinach: http://awaytogarden.com/nigel-slaters-potatoes-spices-spinach/ We use a lot of spinach because it really cooks down. The two dishes together makes a very filling, cheap, vegetarian meal. My family loves it!

That's beautiful and inspiring. :)

We stop at the end of 8th grade, because that's when eligibility for the National Spelling Bee ends.

I agree that SAT IIs seem like overkill if your dc have already taken APs. I am not trying to defend colleges for requiring or "recommending" them, but here are reasons that I have heard for the double testing whammy: 1. Not all students have access to AP courses or testing. 2. SAT IIs test high school level knowledge and are more accessible. 3. The scoring range is 200-800 vs. 1-5, so there is a wider score range (not sure how to word that). 4. Most importantly, the CB can make more money by requiring both. That's all I've got. We're riding the hamster wheel with ds this year and next, & will see what happens.

Our dd used Homeschool Advantage to test out of the 5 Bible classes required by Liberty: OT, NT, Theo I & II, and Evangelism. One of her friends was able to test out of 4 of 5. It was a good fit for our dd and her friend because dd was able to double major, and friend was able to graduate early. Dd also had CLEPs and APs, and friend had CLEPs. The tests only have 10 questions, and are multiple choice. The questions are nit picky and tricky, so be forewarned. You are not charged until you pay to put the courses on your student's transcript. I think it was $100/course, so it was a good deal. I'd only use HA with a student who plans to attend LU, and only one who was thoroughly familiar with the Bible and able to self-study. BTW, neither girl listened to all the DVDs included with the materials. They studied the books only. All that said, dd sometimes wishes she had taken the Bible courses at LU because the profs are so good. She wouldn't have been able to double major in 4 years if she had, though.

We aren't able to do DE, either. The local college is $$$, and the local CC is 45 min away, and $. Online classes are expensive, too. Self-study APs are a good fit for us. I'm glad there are options.

4 schools, with scholarships at each! Woot! So happy for you and your daughter!

We felt like crying when it first got rejected! Dh realized he misunderstood one of the requirements so he tried again. It was approved in less than an hour the second time.

Woo hoo! Dh put it together :hurray: , and it took two tries! This is the first time we've submitted one for our homeschool, even though our three oldest have taken several APs each. The carrots were access to the new sample exam and teacher lab materials. It was a pain, but it's done! :party: Our CS syllabus is still pending though, after more than 2 weeks. :toetap05:

We've been pleased with CD. I don't have anything to compare it to, but we feel it is good, solid college-prep high school math. My three oldest are math-oriented, though, so ymmv.

Beans from 2008 are probably "has beans."

From my experience I believe your dd should be fine. Besides reading great books, here's my tried-and-true plan for my dc to study for the AP English Lang exam: - Read and study two prep books. We like the McGraw Hill & Cliffs books. - Make flash cards for all the literary terms in the Cliff's prep book and drill on them every week. - Write essays using the College Board Free Response Questions. Mom compares the essays to the CB sample responses and gives a score or range. Begin with 1 40 minute essay/week and work up to 3 essays in 2 hours. - The last few weeks before the exam, take the equivalent of a full, timed exam using MCs from a practice book test and FRQs from the CB. My dc, like your dd, use the English AP exams to test skills they have already learned in our home school. I hope you find it easy to get a testing center for your dd! GardenMom

Yeah. What pops into my mind is the author thinking, "But I'm to lazy to show all my work." This happened a lot with the Giancoli Physics solutions manual. :glare:

I had the same problem. Dh fixed it by getting rid of my cookies. Hope that works for you!

I get frustrated with the waffling as well. I understand completely that situations can change, but I've seen children get confused and demotivated by waffling if it goes on for more than a year or two.

My hoop house. Even on cold days I can go out there and experience yummy green plants and a 10'x 12' patch of my own personal spring. Speech tournaments. Boy, is getting ready for them a lot of work, but they are worth it. Heat, hot tea, and clam chowder.

We camp in a travel trailer, so your mmv. Cooking is done on a stove or gas grill - I'd go nuts if we did it over a fire. I would have run to the store for one after the first meal if I were cooking over a campfire! If you're asking what I do, it seems I spend a lot of time cooking and doing dishes. I try to bring pre-prepared foods, but chores simply take more when you're camping. We've always camped either to access a lake, river, or beach; or for an event, such as college kids' move in, parent's weekend, or graduation or family reunion. Many of our favorite campgrounds are state parks. The children read, play games, get on the internet (which is usually better than ours at home :)), ride their bikes, play on the playground or in the woods; and hang out with the other campground kids who are usually looking to make friends. If we don't have another event, as a family we hike, tube, swim, and canoe; visit nature centers, battlefields, museums, or gardens; and attend ranger talks at night (campfires, storytelling, bat watch rides). I hope your next trip is more fun.

Speaking of OCD, I don't know what I'd do without my Asko dishwasher. Its tines are closer together so I can get lots of skinny plates in, it has space for three carefully arranged levels of dishes, and it is tall so I can fit my barkeeper's friend prescrubbed 16 quart stainless steel pot on the bottom rack. Our old Asko died last summer, and I almost cried when dh told me I might not get another one. Fortunately the local store had one left, the floor model that had been sitting there for 2 years. Apparently no one else in my town shares my love for Swedish dishwashers.

We live in VA and didn't choose RE for several reasons. First, I want the school board to see what we are doing in a controlled manner, when we send in our description of curriculum and yearly test scores. I want them to see that a functional, normal family that values academics can homeschool successfully. We also end up sending our dc to college (school) eventually, so I didn't feel comfortable filling out paperwork stating that we didn't believe in sending our dc to school.

I have, and I have learned it's best not to make waves with some people. We're pretty stuck around here with our AP situation. It's good right now, but it really depends on whoever is in control. I think Claire's friend was smart to not say anything.

I'm sorry. (((Plansrme))) If that's the way they want to treat your daughter, it will be their loss.

The quote is nice, but ironic considering the source. Edison, to further his position the the War of Currents, killed all kinds of creatures, including an elephant, by electrocution. Google if you dare.

Ack! Really? We do the CAT for eoy testing, and this seems like a step down for me.