Interested also as my dd will be doing it 2013-14.

THIS! I forgot to add this to the list of opportunities I see as possibilities for the future. My oldest needed an accompanist for her flute solo for her contest piece, but we didn't find out until about 2 weeks prior to the date. We have no one and the contest was over an hour and a half away. In stepped her younger sister (plays piano at the same level) who accompanied her. She did a lovely job -- although I'm sure it wasn't an incredibly difficult piece. I was very impressed with her first effort -- and being able to successfully do it in just 2 weeks. How would we get the word out that we may have girls who are interested in becoming better accompanists and then actually finding people who need accompaniment?

Thanks for this helpful information ladies. I guess I should be more specific with what I am wondering. All 3 of my older girls do play piano -- intermediate level at the least. Their piano teacher (who happens to be a worship pastor) was a music major. He tells me that they know much more music theory and are more capable piano players than he was when he started in music school. Two of them play flute and one plays clarinet. None of them have ever had a private lesson. The flute players are doing fairly well. The clarinet still struggles a bit (especially over the bridge -- to be expected). They have been in a homeschool band which as offered little to no individual training, so they really have basically taught themselves the instruments. We recently purchased a violin and a program and they intend to start learning to play that as well. Again, at this point it will be without any outside instructional lessons. The oldest is not leaning towards a music degree at all. I don't know about the other two as they are just finishing up their 6th grade year. One of those is definitely much more musically inclined. I want to keep all doors open. Even if they don't choose to major in music, they could always get a minor or be eligible for a small scholarship to play in a band/orchestra/ensemble at college. I am looking at it as more of an opportunity if they choose to use it. I also want them to continue to practice and get better because they could have other opportunities such as giving private lessons (while homeschooling their own kids -- heehee --;). If they had the gumption they could get an ensemble together themselves and play for weddings, etc. Unfortunately, none seems to me that motivated at this point -- much to the dismay of their mama!!! A couple of them are skilled enough to offer beginner piano lessons now and I have encouraged them to do so, but alas they don't seem inclined to want to do it. So all that to say that I am looking at what instruments would be good if any of them wish to switch or learn more. I would love to see my clarinet player switch if she truly doesn't like it. I played clarinet my entire school years, hated it, never practiced, and haven't played a note since my high school graduation. I want more for them. I don't have a lot of funds for private lessons (already paying for piano), but if one of them does start taking more of an interest and seems motivated, I would be willing to try and swing it. I would like to see the flute players give piccolo a try. The oldest absolutely fell in love with the fife music while at Wiliamsburg several years ago, so I thought she might take interest in the piccolo. Thanks again for all your help!!

This is coming up after reading a thread on the college board regarding scholarships for certain instruments. Is it a requirement to be a very good clarinet player in order to play the oboe? If my daughter can play the clarinet -- but is still what I would consider an advanced beginner (going into 7th grade), would it be good for her to switch to oboe now instead of later? How difficult of an instrument is it to play in comparison to the clarinet? Also, same question regarding the flute. I have a kid who I would consider an intermediate flute player. Is it possible for her to pick up piccolo fairly easily? Depending on what transpires with our homeschool band this coming school year, I would consider spending the money on some private lessons for those instruments if need be.

Yep, we pull with a mini-van. We had a Mercury Villager that we pulled our small pop-up with and now have a Kia Sedona that we pull our bit bigger pop up with. We make sure that we are within limits weight-wise and so far we have had no problems. We don't travel through mountains or extreme hilly areas though -- we stick to the midwest where we are located for our camping with our pop-up. Hoping we continue to not have any problems because we love it.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I finally had to adjust our route in order to make things work. We will no longer be able to to to Fort Laramie, but we'll still be able to go to Scotts Bluff, Courthouse & Jail Rock and Chimney Rock. I ended up being able to get into the KOA cabin that is only for 4, but they are allowing us to use our 2 cots.

I'm hoping there might be someone here who may be able to help me. We have planned a trip from IN to the Black Hills for the 1st 2 weeks in June. I have reserved all of our camping cabins for the trip -- other than the way back. We were hoping to leave the Black Hills and drop down and head back over on the Oregon Trail in order to see all the sites along that way in Nebraska. However, I am finding NOWHERE to stay!!! We are doing camping cabins, but I have even looked for hotels and I cannot find anything anywhere that enables us to be able to drive from the Black Hills, along the trail and through Lincoln. I have a call in to the Flying Bee Ranch which is my ONLY option to stay in Bayard or anywhere near. If that does not work out I have no other ideas. No camping cabins and no hotels to sleep us (we have a family of 6). Does anyone have any ideas that I may be missing searching online? I've exhausted all possibilities of any state parks in those areas as well. TIA!!!

She says that she actually finds it easier to just do searches. Here is an example: Search using the word "stoichiometry". It will show 7 matching videos. It will also provide any practice exercise if there are some available (however, there are no practice exercises specifically for chemistry -- you need to go to math sections for that). If what she is looking for does not come up under the the search, then she says she reads through the chemistry list to see if there is something that sounds closely related to a topic in her book. Another example: search using the word "significant figures". This search brings up several videos that are actually listed under some math courses. It also brings up practice exercises. She wouldn't find these by looking only a the chemistry list, but finds those videos and some of the exercises helpful for chemistry, so that is why she prefers to do searches for exactly what she wants to match in her chemistry book. So, it would probably be extremely difficult or at least very time-consuming to attempt to chart out an entire year of Khan videos that correlate to the Apologia book (not impossible though). Does this help at all?

She is sitting next to me and just said "Wow, that is a difficult comparison." From her perspective: They are both really good teachers and both are funny (which she believes makes it a better experience). The only problem is that she feels Khan doesn't touch on every topic that is included in the book. However, it does include topics which are not covered in the General Chemistry book. With Khan you do not get to watch the experiments as you do with the DVD. Rusty also guides the student through the math used in the experiments, which is very helpful towards the end of the book. She went through the book and the DVD very quickly the first semester. Now she has been using Khan to go back through the entire book over again and is gaining a better understanding (she feels it's much simpler for her to watch Khan now -- but that's her learning style). We actually used to attend the same church as Rusty and his family (many of the experiments were recorded in the church kitchen), so she had personal knowledge of his kids that he talks about on the DVD. Sorry this isn't very helpful. She says they are both very good, so it really does depend on what one is looking for and what style of learning one prefers. If you want to ask some additional specific questions she can try to answer them for you.

My daughter used both the DVD by Rusty Hughes and Kahn Academy for Apologia Chemistry this year. It's fairly easy to figure out which Kahn videos correspond to which areas of Apologia. She just chose which videos to watch after reading the material and watching the DVD.

I, too, can 2nd the recommendation for the Chemistry DVD by Rusty. Now that he has a Physics DVD out, we will definitely be getting it.

I'm really upset now because my kids will be seeking private schools. I've been under the impression this last year that our house and any retirement would not count because the financial college planning man said it doesn't count on the FAFSA. Never did he mention that private schools would require something different. Back to not being able to pay for college. :sad:

Wow, that definitely does change things. I had no idea about the private schools asking for additional information and taking that into account. Thanks.

A comment in that thread regarding home mortgages has really piqued my interest. We were told that on the FAFSA home ownership does not count. Therefore, if one has money in an account and a mortgage, one should put the money into the mortgaged because the FAFSA will be better since the home does not count against you as the money in the account does. Is this NOT true? Since we heard that, we've been planning based on that information, so if it is incorrect, could someone please tell me what IS correct? TIA

Do you think it's safe to purchase a refurbed ipad2 now, or do you think the prices will drop more as they take in more of them from people replacing with the new iPad?

Measles are showing up around my area -- several documented cases in the last few weeks. This is how they are describing what it is on TV.

Might any of you lovely, well-informed ladies be willing to help me help guide my daughter as we begin to attempt to figure out where her true interest/giftings lie? At the beginning of this year I thought that it was looking as though she would be leaning the STEM direction. She immediately ruled out anything related to bodily functions or animals and it's now becoming more clear that she's probably NOT going the STEM route. Although math has always come easy to her and she does well in the math/science area, she is finding that she doesn't particularly care for it. These are the areas that DO fascinate her and that she is just chomping at the bit to dig deeper in: Graphic Design Animation Web Design Computer Programming Architecture Game Programming Cartooning She is creative and can draw very well -- based on the limited instruction she has had and taught herself. She is very self-motivated and has taught herself (with some simple homeschool curriculums or online stuff) some basic programming, game design, graphics, web design, etc. She currently has about 25 books checked out from the library focussing on several of the topics listed above -- and reads them cover to cover. How can I find classes, curriculums, programs and what not to get her in that will help her to really get her feet wet in their areas to find out if indeed it is what she thinks she may want to pursue as a career? I read every single post on the boards regarding all of these areas, but still have yet to really nail down any specific courses/classes or curriculums. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!! TIA

Jann, My emails on your website are bouncing back to me. Can you pm me please? Thanks!!

If you would be interested in CCA (Christian Communicators of America) please pm me. We started our own local club this year and it has been an amazing blessing!

:bigear: I'm still waiting to get some of the questions answered that I posted as well. Anyone?

Yes, they are incredibly expensive. I would steer clear.

Indiana does count all finished square footage in the total -- this includes basements.

:bigear::bigear: Interested in this as well.

So needed to see this thread today. I seriously just got finished having a conversation with myself in my closet while getting dressed (yes, I'll admit I talk with myself because I seem to have so few others who I can have these discussions with) about this VERY topic. I can't find any groups or offerings around me that hold to the academic standards that I have set. That in itself would be okay, but the fact that others think I have a "problem" because I have these standards just kills me! Why is it so terrible that I would expect a highly academic, highly intellectual, discussion-filled course where there are specific goals/expectations to be met for my (somewhat advanced) 9th grader next year -- or even for my 7th graders next year? And forget even thinking about speaking allowed the words "graded class" for high school level courses!!! How dare I think that there should be grades given for expectations met or not met. Seriously, I am looked at as though I am an alien and I am so tired of being talked about behind my back (because I know that I am the subject of conversations). Just had to have a conversation about some of this again yesterday when I was asked why I wouldn't continue with a group that I am working with again next year. It's just not okay that I have expectations for my kids. I feel like I am losing friends over it and I'm just sick of it. Yes, I love the flexibility of homeschooling, and yes, I do think we have the ability to change up things when family issues arise and that is wonderful. And no, we probably don't accomplish even half of what I'd like to most of the time, but I still feel like at least setting the bar higher is better than not having a bar at all. KWIM?

I'm interested but I just need to know what it costs per person with a group buy. If we have more than 5 do we get more than the 4 sibling discount?