I have not used the Artpacs at that age, but I seem to remember (from the younger ones) that each lesson was trying to teach a skill. Can she look at the lesson and try to work on that skill? And for the next art time apply that skill in a creative work of her own. My daughter (14) is taking an art class right now. She is very creative. We ran into a problem because she wanted to do her own creative thing and not follow the teachers directions. She felt stifled. I talked to the teacher and she said dd needs to work on skills to become a better artist and use her creativity better. There was a time for skill work and a time for creativity. Every artist can lean from the skill work. I am no artist, but that made sense to me. I explained it to dd and she works better in class now. She doesn't always like the skill work, but understands the reasoning. There is always some part of the lesson that is creative (even if it is just choosing the colors you will use). Hope this all makes sense. Linda

My son did the Keys to Algebra for pre-algebra. He went on to get a degree in EE. It does work. Linda

My daughters' first quilts were sewing bandanas together, backing the entire thing with fabric (with batting in between) and then "stitching in the ditch" to quilt it. I also had them sew big buttons in the middle of each square. My older daughters still use the ones they made at seven or eight (now 21 and 25). Linda

I have taught 2 of mine with Saxon through Calculus and one through Advanced Math (pre-calculus). The two who went through Calculus are both engineers and graduated college with no less than a 3.9 GPA. I did not supplement with either of these two. The third did not do Calculus because she is majoring in Nursing and did not need Calculus. My youngest is currently in Algebra 2 with Saxon. This one I do supplement because we do math trough the summer and I use the summer to review the previous year with different curriculum. She also is very strong in math. So Saxon can work. Actually her worst year in math is when I stepped away from Saxon for a year. This child gets concepts quickly and just as quickly forgets them. The constant extensive review in Saxon makes certain she remembers.

I'm not saying to change, but to give you some perspective. I used Saxon from the beginning for 2 of my children. They were both in the 76 books at 10. The numbers on the front can be misleading. I also tried a mastery, not spiral for my youngest one year and it was a disaster. She forgot everything. Only you know your child and what works best. Perhaps you could start each day with a mixed review of 5 problems that you give her. It would build in the review while she continues working in a program she knows.

Her writing example was fine for 9. I loved her story. Most of the words were spelled correctly. If it were me (and you wanted to) I would use this as an opportunity to teach editing. Sit with her and ask if she followed the grammar rules she knows. Ask her about the subject and verbs in her sentences. Does she see any spelling errors? Gently correct with her. And praise her for a good story! I wish I could show you my 21yo daughters papers. She lets me read the rough drafts sometimes to see if I understand what she is saying before she edits to turn in. My first response is usually: "Did you forget everything I taught about spelling and grammar?" She laughs and says no, but she was writing quickly and it got jumbled. Also for your example of finding the verb in the sentence "I am tired" -- linking verbs are some of the hardest for kids to get. Spend a lot of time on action verbs and make certain she is solid before the linking verbs. Linda

I would take the placement test for Saxon. I switched one into Saxon at Algebra 2 (big mistake!). He was young -- 13 -- and it took him 2 years to do the book. I would never switch that late again. I think you wil be fine to switch at Algebra 1. Oh my guinea pig did fine with Saxon and went on to major in Electrial Engineering (and did qite well there). I have tried to move my kids to another math program because of all the bad reports on Saxon. Saxon works for them (all 4) and all understand math well. The constant varied problem sets keep the information fresh in their minds. Hope this helps Linda

Hello! I was just thinking of you last night. My husband put on Horation Hornblower to watch last night for the first time in years and I sat there thinking their used to be someone on the WTM boards with that user name. I hadn't seen you post in a while (just realized) and was thinking I liked reading your post. Then get on this morning to see you are back! Welcome back! Linda

I would forget the timer. If he can do it orally he knows the facts. Sometimes at 6, the handwriting is just slow. Also he is little -- playing is more fun.

Thanks for the update. Continuing to pray.

I would take it. It doesn't cost that much and missing one morning of supplementing will not put him significantly behind. Maybe you can add a little more math for several weeks to make up for it. Linda

She is in the 9th grade. The person I talked to did say she would look at the rules and see if she could take the PSAT itself. I was just surprised because I have never heard of the readiness test. Linda

Ok. After 2 days of calling for someone to let my daughter take the PSAT with them, I am told that she needs to take a PSAT Readiness test instead of the real PSAT? This is my 4th child to do this (unfortunately the small private school all the others used is closed) and I have never heard of such a thing. Is it new? If you know anything about it, what exactly is it? Thanks for any info. Linda

It's been a long time since I did this so hopefully what I am about to type will help. Tell him that a boy takes 1 minute to eat 5 cookies. How long will it take to ear 25 cookies? How many cookies can he eat in 3 minutes. These are all simple problems he could easily answer. All these problems are is rate. He eats at a rate of 5 cookies/minute. Then tell him that another boy took 3 minutes to eat 9 cookies. How many cookies could he eat in 1 minute. That answer is the rate the boy ate. So the boy eats at a rate of 3 cookies/minute. If he understands the above, go to the problems in the book. Ask him what part of the problem is the time and what part is the cookies? (For instance if a car takes 2 hours to go 6 miles, the time is 2 hours and the "cookie" is the distance (6 miles)) Now what is the rate: the number of cookies each minute (or miles each hour). Hope this helps.

Thinking about you. Update when you can. :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

You could see if he likes books by Andrew Clements. Frindle is the first one my child read. It is very good. Linda

A few years ago I had to have a periodontal dental cleaning. My insurance then paid entirely for the follow up regular cleanings called peiodontal maintanence. Now the new insurance does not see this as the twice a year cleaning (which they will pay in full). So I am having to pay the extra (and deductible). Now here is my question. The dentist does nothing different at these check-ups than at my cleanings before the special cleaning. Why am I being billed extra? I think I will call and complain. I do not want to pay more for the exact same thing! Linda

My daughter just said you might want to try Virals. She did say it was more science fiction than dystopian. Linda

The SMARR literature guide does include the odyssey in the ancient lit course, but not in the course for survey of world literature. (Just in case it makes a difference.)

Praying for Jean. :grouphug:

What a wonderful update! :hurray:

I think a good gift would be a homemade card with a gift card to an ice cream store. You then can bring a gift and it will definitely be used. (Unless you know of an allergy, of course, then some other treat gift card would be good.)

My only thought is to try the socks for diabetics. When my dad was so swollen from heart disease that was all he could wear comfortably. Linda

Melinda, it's been 4 years since I lost my dad and walked my Mom through this, but I fuzzily remember them leaving some money in the account to take care of any pending debts and moving the remainder to a new account for my mom. Then we coud set up all the direct deposit and payments from the new account right away. Does this make sense? Would the CC be able to do something like that? Sorry this has been harder than needed. Linda

I may be looking for the impossible. I have searched for a few hours now. When my daughter was little I checked a workbook out of the library that was like a geometry puzzle book. It consisted of overlapping shapes and had a few angle measurements given. You were to find the rest. Now that she is old enough and I want to use it, they no longer have it (sigh). Does anyone know what I am talking about or have any idea where to find one. She is 14, but geometry is not her strength so I thought these would be "fun". Thanks Linda