Career test? My ds and I were talking about career choices. He's really into theatre and, of course, thinks that would be an awesome career. Arg. I, on the other hand, would like for him to think of other choices/degrees/trades/etc that he could major in while, perhaps, minoring in some form of theatre. I told him I would try and find one of those tests that you answer and it gives you career ideas according to your answers/interests. See, I can't even describe it correctly! :lol: So, basically I am wondering if someone could steer me in the direction of one of those 'tests' because I honestly, for the life of me, cannot think of what they are called or where to find one. :confused: They do exist, right? :blink:

Oh my word! Don't even THINK about combining SL Core 100 and Core 400. In fact, if you want my opinion, don't even think about Core 400 at all! It's awful. The WORST SL Core we ever used, and except for the preschool cores, Core 7 (not sure what it's called now) and Core 200, I've used them all. If you want to torture your child though, then by all means...:lol: As for BJU's History. I don't know, perhaps it's my ds, but he loves BJU's History texts. One of the very reason's I even looked at MFW for high school was because I heard/read that they were using BJU for US History. The BJU Activity Guide brings it all together with fun, and oftentimes challenging, exercises, mapping assignments, etc. We are actually looking forward to it, and quite honestly, I'll take a BJU History text over Notgrass any day. ;) Not that Notgrass has been bad used with MFW, but, I don't know, I just feel kinda....meh...about it. I would never use JUST Notgrass for history but I would most definitely use just BJU. It is more meaty. More high school level. And I have honestly never seen any anti-catholic teaching in their books. I have always found them very balanced. :confused: I've not used them all though. Have you thought about just using SL Core 100 for your high school US history? You could easily adjust the Literature to make it a high school level American Lit credit. Core 100 was probably our favorite of all the SL Cores. Then next year you could go back to Ancient with MFW, followed by MFW's WHL. I can't recall what grade your student it going into. If 9th then you could save 12th grade for your government and econ. If 10th then you could add in a government text with Core 100, or add it in to your 12th grade. Or skip Ancients...most high school's don't require it...and just do a year of WHL and then a year of Government/Econ. Adjusting/tweaking a SL Core kind of takes some of the ease of use away from it because you'll be freaking out the whole schedule, but it can be done. Personally, I am happy to be using MFW. It's been such a nice relaxing year for me and my ds has yet to complain. He is currently listening/reading Odyssey and loves it! He got burnt out on historical fiction years ago with SL, but he's really loving the Great Books scheduled in AHL. Good stuff.

OK, here you go... You didn't say whether you are considering BJU w/DVD. If so, and If BJU still offers the course with Mr. Seeley, then I would not recommend it. My middle ds liked Mr. Seeley (he called him the old guy), but he seemed quite scatter-brained to me and it got soooo confusing on what was due and when. I had no idea what was going on half the time and sometimes neither did my ds. Arg. I don't know anything about Owens, and I normally love all BJU sciences, but the Physics was just...well...confusing. I will not use it again. If BJU has not updated their DVD class by the time my youngest ds needs it, we too will be looking elsewhere. As for completing BJU Physics without the DVDs. I wouldn't do so unless you, yourself, know Physics well. It was a TOUGH course!!

I personally would go with the BJU DVDs. I prefer thorough, and BJUs classes may be repetative...though we have not found this to be the case for physical Sci but we have Miss Lacy and not Mr. Harmon...but they ARE thorough and helpful in getting your child to learn the material. But, having said that, my understanding is that some colleges are VERY picky about the biology taught but perhaps this is in premed studies and not at the high school level. With your student thinking medical school you MIGHT want to investigate just in case.

I can totally understand that! But, honestly, it's not much different than paying for an online class, or coop course. But not everyone chooses to pay for that either. Totally understandable! If I did not already own the classes though, and I have the 2nd edition, I would still rent the courses from BJU. To me, they are that good. I love that it's a class, with a teacher, who does daily review, pop quizzes, etc. I could live without BJUs other DVD classes, but not the science ones. I know myself too well! Haha If it were up to me to teach science, it would get done but very pathetically. I'm a history, liberal arts person...science and math? Not so much. ;) I HAVE heard good things about DIVE.

Yes. I own them because I had the BJU satellite before it went out of commission. But, yes, the BJU online classes or the DVD rental option is the exact equivalent of what we used. (the satellite classes were the DVD classes aired via satellite)

:iagree:

I think I would start with purchasing the BJU TM's. You will then have access to the Lab Manual. From there I would pick and choose the labs you would like your ds to complete. If you will not be using the DVD classes then YOU can pick which labs are do-able in your home and even with the DVD classes not all of the labs are completed. My middle ds used BJU with DVD classes. With that program the parent is given a list of items needed for the labs. Except for the balance which can get pricey, and the prepackaged ChemLab 1100 kit that you can shop around for, I don't recall the cost being over-the-top or ANYWHERE near $500...and I bought an expensive balance. Many items are things you can find around your home, or at Walmart. ;) If it helps at all, BJUs Chemistry was my sons very favorite science class ever.

Yikes. Tough decision. I honestly don't think you could go wrong with either choice though. :confused: Both BJU and Apologia are great Christian Biology choices. If I had the decision to make, not knowing exactly how many other days you have to leave the house, etc., I would choose the Apologia one. NOT because I like Apologia better, I actually prefer BJU, but because I think Science is more fun in a group setting. I would choose that for my ds, I think, over my preference for BJU. Oh, and let me add that my older boys used Apologia Biology and it was not well received. In fact, they both despised it. While, on the other hand, they enjoyed every BJU Science w/DVD class they completed. So, when I say I would choose Apologia for the group setting, you know it's for the group setting and not the text. ;)

Our umbrella school says that all "English" work: spelling, grammar, literature, composition, etc. be listed under English. I can list it as either English I, II, III, IV or English 9, 10, 11, 12. We must also study American Lit and British Lit at some point in our high school studies...both of which also go under the English subject heading. It is assumed, I believe, that most high school students are no longer studying spelling and grammar and that their English credit consists of literature and vocab studies with composition. But even with just those three an English credit can far exceed 1 hr a day. That's just the way it is. :tongue_smilie: But, having said that, I have every intention of giving my ds an extra Literature elective credit next year (10th). We will be using MFW WHL which includes composition, and British Lit and I will be adding in CLE grammar. That will be his English 10 credit. But, he will also be completing Literary Lessons from Lord of the Rings next year and for that I plan to give him an elective credit...either a 1/2 or a full credit...I have not decided. So all that to say...yes, unless you are completing two separate full literature programs, you would award one English credit for what you have planned, even if it takes you 3 hours a day.

I just checked, our local cc doesn't even offer Spanish 3 or 4, just 1 and 2. How about Spanish at home and then CLEP tests?

This is what I was thinking which is why I held off on Spanish I in 9th. I actually own the BJU Spanish I set and the DVDs that go with it, but if my ds could take Spanish 1 at the cc this coming year (10th), I would prefer that route. Then he would get hs credit AND college. Win win. ;) But, alas, I'm not sure our cc is going to accept dual enrollments this coming fall...so many budget cuts going on here in CA. Arg. :glare:

:bigear:

In comparing the two, and having almost come to the end of AHL and knowing what it contains, it looks like Essentials in Writing will give you more structure and hand-holding in teaching the writing than MFW does. That may be something that is important to you. I have thoroughly enjoyed this year of AHL, and it does contain instruction, but some video and workbook hand-holding through the various writing assignments would have been quite welcome. ;) I might even recommend using both if you have the funds. Of course, I have not seen a sample of the student workbook pages for EIW, just the syllabus, but if one could plug in essentially any writing assignment into the workbook lessons, then it might fit nicely with MFW. Just some initial thoughts...

In MFW WHL there is 1 full research paper and, I believe, 17 to 18 other writing assignments. Here are a few of them: Write a play Poem Argumentative essay Editorial Speech Plot summary Cause-Effect essay Essay on Marriage Literary Analysis Business Letter Resume and several more, along with a few optional essays/assignments. Perhaps that will help you in your comparison of the two programs.

I purchased this: http://www.thegreatcourses.com/tgc/courses/course_detail.aspx?cid=1001 to use alongside Geometry next year. I recall from my older boys that taking that year off between Alg 1 and Alg 2 to do Geometry caused some loss of Alg 1 retention. So, I thought this would be a good "Friday Math" whereas my ds can take a day off of geometry each week to review Alg 1 concepts. Not sure how well this is going to work out, but I thought it worth a try. Of course I did NOT pay $254.00 for this! It was on sale last week for 70% off. I think, with shipping, I paid $79. Still a lot, but I thought something different for Alg 1 review might make it more palatable than, say, a textbook. ;) I am SURE there are less expensive solutions out there though. If I weren't brain dead at the moment I could probably recall some...but, alas, I am. :tongue_smilie:

This is what I am using. BJU is definitely an integrated chemistry and physics text, and it's not an easy one. I am using it with the BJU DVDs...which are excellent...but I think the DIVE CDs would be a great choice as well. My ds does not know WHAT he wants to pursue in college (I am just amazed that so many students do at this age. :confused:) so I don't know what he's going to need exactly. Our plan as it stands now is this: 9th: Integrated Chemistry and Physics (BJU) 10th: Biology (BJU) 11th: Chemistry I (BJU) 12th: Physics or another science of his choice. My only concern at this point is whether 'the powers that be" will frown on an integrated chemistry and physics course in 9th, and then a chemistry in 11th, and physics in 12th. I'm not sure how that works.

My ds is using Visual Link Spanish 1 right now and we really like it, but I will be using BJU's Spanish 1 w/DVDs next year for his actual Spanish credit. I will give him credit hours for using Visual-link, but I just honestly don't feel like it is enough for a full Spanish 1 credit...at least not the version we have (they came out with a new, improved version RIGHT after we bought ours. Arg.). It's great, don't get me wrong, but I guess I like the looks of BJU's DVD class. It reminds me greatly of my Spanish class in high school where the teacher talks to the students mostly in Spanish, giving them a lot of actual real life 'conversation'...or as real life as one can get from a DVD class. ;) I think it's one thing to learn a language via computer, but boy is it a different monster entirely when trying to understand a native speaker speaking said language!! It seems like they are speed talking! :lol: I have not actually used BJU Spanish yet, so my thoughts are somewhat irrelevant to your question. :tongue_smilie: But, I have heard great things about the DVD class...if that helps at all.

Believe it or not, this is the first I have heard of Landry! Not sure how I've missed it being mentioned before. :confused: Looks like they have some great class choices, but a little pricy considering I would pay the same amount with books for a duel credit cc course here in town. It's something I may consider if the cc proves impossible to get classes with though. ;) Our cc is really struggling for money right now, as are all of the California schools, and I hear major cuts are on the horizon. :glare:

I'm one who has always tweaked curriculum to fit my needs, so far be it for me to say that, no, you shouldn't take the 'L' out of AHL and WHL...but I'm going to intimate that anyways. I honestly would feel like something is missing without the 'L' part. Especially with AHL...since I have yet to use WHL. So much of the lit in AHL lends to the history and the bible, that I just don't think you'll be a happy MFW camper by taking it out. I mean it's a pretty integral part of the package, you know? If you are wanting to go with a boxed curriculum to keep things simple, then I would just go with what they are offering you in history and add in a bible component on your own. Adding in MFW and then taking out part of it, seems like muddying the waters making things complicated again. Can I ask you what boxed curriculum you are considering?

I like the looks of this...and the word FREE is really speaking to me at the moment. ;)

My oldest ds is a visual learner...like me. He also needs to use his hands in some way to make things click in his brain. Straight book learning never worked for him, and even in college he struggles mightily with classes that are all bookwork with no hands on projects, etc. Also because we are visual learners anything TOO visually busy will throw our brains into a tizzy. Mine will actually just shut down in a way that makes it impossible for me to learn the material on the page. DS as well. It's almost like I need to take a page of card stock, with a hole cut out of it, and put it on the page so I can JUST see what is in the box...learning that little bit at a time. Its a very frustrating way to be wired. I wish I could learn like normal people. My dh is so cute, he'll be explaining something he's going to build in the garage and he'll look at me and say, "you need me to draw you a picture, huh?" :lol: I am NOT an auditory learner. I can not visualize what someone is saying/explaining, I have to actually see it or chew on it a long time before it really clicks. Which totally explains why I struggled in school. Schools and curriculum are mostly geared toward the auditory learner. One math curriculum that would have worked well for my oldest ds would have been Math U See. I was not aware his problem back then otherwise I would have used that with him throughout his homeschooling years. One history curriculum that seemed to work well for him was the year we used Mystery of History. We worked on the big timeline, and he made his memory cards each day, and did his mapping. It was a good year for him. I did not realize he and are are different learners until he was in 12th grade though! I knew that he had a learning disability because the ps helped me diagnose him, but I didn't know anything at all about learning styles. It wasn't until I found a thread on a homeschool message board that I had ever even considered such a thing and by then it was too late. :glare: So, all that to say, be sure you learn her learning style and gear her curriculum toward that. I think it will help her excel, and improve her attitude. One thing the ps psychologists told me was that my ds's brain would get overwhelmed and then cause him to not be able to remember facts. He had GREAT short term memory and excelled at things like memory verses, but was terrible with chapter tests and the like. And because he couldn't remember, he would just not bother trying very hard. He knew that he would fail anyway, so why bother. I don't know if our experience is at all helpful, but thought I would share just in case. Kids NEED to know that they are good at something, so be sure you praise her on those things she excels at. Perhaps she will never get straight A's in math, and that's OK. My ds was a straight C math student. It was honestly the best that HE could do and he is doing fine in college. He is not pursuing any type of math degree...:lol:...but what math he did have to have he has been able to complete.

I agree with the others. If he doesn't have a specific elective in mind then I would tell him that he's going to do_____________ because it's a required course of study for high school. Or give him a choice of required courses and let him choose the least offensive [to him] one. ;) I also agree that computer skills/typing would be an easy elective and something every student today should be proficient in. My ds knows more about computers than I do so having him take a class would be way to easy for him, but he doesn't know computer programing so that may be an elective at some point. You said your ds doesn't like to read, but would he be interested in the Literary Lessons of the Lord of the Rings? Lots of war in there! Perhaps he would enjoy it? I plan on using this for an elective credit this coming school year. You could also do an extra history elective. Something geared toward weaponry/wars/etc. I personally wouldn't know how to pull that off, or what to use to do so, but I'm sure it's do-able...somehow. :001_huh::001_smile: ETA: How about an art class? My ds is using the How Great Thou Art drawing book. He really enjoys it. You could also add in some fun art to the class, perhaps some sculpting....Sonlight use to sell a sculpting kit that my older boys used and really enjoyed...or as someone else mentioned, leatherworking. Or what about a Culinary Arts class? Alton Brown's Just Here for the Food cookbooks work well for that. Just thinking out loud for ya...

I haven't any suggestions. Just wanted to say that I, too, am looking into Jensen's Punctuation for next year and am hoping to hear from someone who has used it. :bigear:;)

This is great to know! We get info on this each year and DH and I have talked about sending our youngest. I think it is something that would really interest him, but am skeptical about sending him away, by himself, to a camp so unfamiliar to us. :scared: