Have you had blood work done recently? This makes me wonder if you could possibly have low platelets. I’ve never seen ice applied post blood donation, and I would think it unnecessary. What happened to you is unusual. The tight wrap is usually plenty of pressure to stop bleeding.

My oldest is considering applying to St. John’s College. Any ideas of similar schools she should look at? We are in Texas and I’d love something sorta close to home. I’ve seen a few recommendations for University of Dallas. We aren’t Catholic, but that wouldn’t necessarily be a deal killer either.

But the two dose regimen does protect your kids. There has also been at least one study showing that post vaccine infections tend to have fewer days of being contagious.

So, I follow the TWIV podcast religiously. This Week in Virology. They are still saying no booster is needed for those who aren't immunocompromised. They just released an episode on boosters. They are really good about just nerding out on the science and not really getting excited about anything. I have found them to be right time and time again. They are extremely covid cautious and absolutely recommend you get the first two doses.

We have four kids ages 16, 14, 12, 9 and are going to DC in October. I have never been to Washington DC before. We will have three full days. There is just SO much to do, I don't know how to narrow it down to three days of activity! We are staying about 1.5 miles away from the capitol building. The house is close to a subway stop. We are going to spend one full day in Nashville and one full day in Atlanta and one full day in Nashville. I'm open to ideas in either of those cities as well! Thanks for any trip advice!

Any opinions on these two? I like samples of both. We bought DIVE this year and I wasn't a fan.

My oldest is currently in Saxon algebra 2 and it has been a struggle. However, math has never been her best subject. My rising 9th grader just finished saxon algebra 1 and is a math whiz. I’m having some hesitations about moving him to the Saxon algebra 2 book a year younger than his sister. Maybe I’m just traumatized from slogging through it with her! I’ve considered moving into a geometry program with him for 9th and then we could always circle back to Saxon algebra 2 in 10th. My top consideration if we go with that option is jacobs. Maybe trying Derek Owens? Or maybe just going through the textbook together? Any thoughts?

I looked at the sample lessons and it looks pretty light. Anyone used it? I'm mostly looking at geometry for next year and maybe a semester of Algebra 2 review before my daughter starts math at the community college.

This is what we used this past year. He read it cover to cover and loved it.

My youngest read through a kid's graphic Bible this year. He said for Bible next year he wants to just read through a different Bible. I'd be happy for him to have that to do while I work with the big kids. Any thoughts on options that aren't too baby-ish but would still be appealing for a 4th grader with a short attention span?

Can we skip around in lessons? Or start later in the material? I'm assuming we could just skip everything labeled honors? I'm looking at the site now.

My daughter is finishing 10th grade. She made it through lesson 90 of Saxon Algebra 2. She has 40 lessons remaining. I'm letting her off math for a month or so because she has some summer activities that are major time sucks and she hates math. We both just need a break. The plan is for her to take College Algebra at community college in the spring of next year. This will give us the fall to finish Saxon Algebra 2 or to do something else to make sure she doesn't forget everything and is prepared. Her test average with Saxon is an 81. I'm wondering if our best bet is to just keep plugging away with Saxon Algebra 2 or to switch to some easier math program (Teaching Textbooks maybe?) to sorta try to cement fundamentals and then move her in to College Algebra. I don't know. We have the DIVE videos and hate them. I feel like I'm failing her with math. I probably need to really review things if I'm going to get her siblings through Algebra 2 in a more successful way than I have muddled through with her. Back in the day, I was really good at math! I just don't remember so much stuff! I feel like I've failed her this year. I feel like I need a plan to get her to a point where the community college can take over.

Pfizer or Moderna. Pfizer has a slightly higher risk of severe allergic reactions (extremely rare). Moderna has a higher risk of side effects like fever, headache, etc.

Don't do it. It's normal to NOT have side effects.

English - co-op class with literature and writing with DD16 Science - Jay Wile Chemistry with sister (just the book? do we want the prerecorded video to view?) Math - Saxon Algebra 2 -- Not sure on this anymore. I think I want him to take a traditional geometry year instead. History - Guest Hollow Geography with sister Speech - Fitting Words in co-op also with his sister Electives? I'm not sure on those yet. He's super tight with his big sister. They used to be combined a lot when they were younger, but haven't done anything together since she started 7th grade. I'm hoping it works to throw them in several subjects together. She's got two years left of the homeschooling thing, so I figure we should take advantage of them both being in high school. It will put his science in an odd order, but I can't see that it really matters.

I'm hunting for writing ideas for our co-op for junior high students. Is it possible to use W&R books 7 and 9 one year followed by 8 and 10 the next? We have a class of combined 7th and 8th grade students. Each year, new 7th graders move up. I need a curriculum where students don't have to do the first year before doing the second year. If that makes sense.

We use IEW in our co-op for elementary school. We've had sort of a book discussion group for 7th and 8th but are wanting to include more writing for that age group. I don't really want kids doing IEW for years and years since each book is so similar. I've had some suggestions for Bravewriter, but when I look at it, it's not something I would purchase for myself for home use because it doesn't seem very structured. Are there enough writing activities to work on once a week in a co-op setting? We would plan on alternating writing instruction and some lit discussion. With COVID, I'm not sure that we would be able to do "tea times" or that sort of thing in co-op in the fall because we may still be in a position of requiring masks in class.

Ohhh... I am looking at this now. Is it hard to pick and choose which aspects to do? How old is your daughter?

Yes... the others would cycle to early modern next year. I was hoping I could just find something with a nice daily breakdown instead of creating it, but alas... curriculum providers just don't always make exactly what I'm wanting! I'm going to look at your suggestions. I was perusing build your library earlier this afternoon!

I've looked at that. She's not a science lover, necessarily, but it might be a more interesting approach to her. And, I could throw my rising 9th grader into that alongside her.

My oldest did Sonlight American and then Sonlight Modern World. She's already done government at community college. The history of the Christian church sonlight core doesn't look appealing to her. What she's loved is the relatively easy readers that reinforce the history. I've read most of them alongside her, and man, I do feel like they've given me such a different view of multiple modern events. We also like that you can just do history and have a completely separate literature. We will do a literature course with some other families, so we need an independent history. Any ideas?

We started Apologia Health this year and dropped it. I did notice multiple places where it seemed to reference a very specific worldview that had nothing to do with health. I particularly remember a section where it was sorta said that it's ideal for a woman to remain home with her children. I found it bothersome, as did my teen daughter. I say this as a conservative Christian who gave up my career to stay home with my children, lol.

I feel like I need to pay you for these thoughtful responses!

Looking at using this theme to combine 9th and 11th graders next year for literuature. I have some ideas, but I'd love to hear yours! I'd love the books to include some from the following categories: an ancient work, a play, an American novel, a non-Western novel, a British novel, a sci fi novel.

Ohhh... I love the idea of following a theme through time/culture.