I live in Knoxville and, as I'm sure you know, Asheville is just 2 hours away, so I will comment on these 2 locations. They both have friendly people and have lots of outdoor fun opportunities. Here are a few considerations: 1. Knoxville has a significantly lower cost of living than Asheville. You would need to make $62K in Asheville to compare to $50K in Knoxville. 2. Both NC and East TN are conservative. I have heard that the city of Asheville is more liberal but if you want a country house, you will definitely be in conservative surroundings. 3. Tennessee doesn't tax earned income. 4. North Carolina has the edge on better instate universities (Virginia too for that matter) 5. Tennessee has a state lottery that funds instate college scholarships. These are available to homeschoolers.

FAFSA submission is necessary for taking out federal direct loans to the college student. These are available regardless of your financial situation (you do not need to prove financial need). FAFSA submission is required for SOME merit aid opportunities. Our state lottery scholarships require submittal of FAFSA, even for the scholarships that are strictly merit based. I'm not thrilled with providing so much of our private financial information when we are not eligible for need-based financial aid but the merit opps are too good to pass up.

It is not too late, especially if a summer session or extra semester will be possible. Chemistry and biology do not need advanced math abilities but students should be solid on their skills through college algebra. He should not give up on tutoring. It can make all the difference. If he isn't finding a tutoring center helpful, he should try a private tutor. Has he taken any math courses at college? How did he do? I would start there and put off additional science courses until he has the math skills. This is why a summer session or extra semester may be necessary. Finally, he should consider asking a fellow classmate who is doing well for a study session or two. I had a dramatic turnaround in one of my own college classes by doing this. I was borderline failing and couldn't follow the professor's lectures. In a single study session, by having the student work through the same material with me, it was like a light switch went on in my head and it suddenly all made sense.

Excellent! Thank you for all the ideas and suggestions.

Yes, the payment varies by center and area. It was about $20 per visit many years ago when I was doing it. The local centers now advertise between $250-$300 per month maximum which would be donating twice a week. Returning visits take about 90 minutes but plan on around 3 hours for your first visit. There is paperwork and a physical exam to be sure that you are healthy. You have to be over 18 and there is a minimum weight limit. I think it was 110 pounds when I was donating because I was barely over the limit. Those were the days. :laugh: It takes longer than a blood donation because the process removes your blood, puts it through a centrifuge to separate the plasma, and then pumps the blood cells back into you. I thought it was pretty neat but it is not for the squeamish. It doesn't hurt any more than blood donation but it feels cold when the blood cells are being returned.

I sold plasma when I was in college. . .until one time I passed out afterwards. They didn't want me back after that. :bored: I still remember trying to get back to my dorm room several blocks away, feeling dizzy and sick. I kept having to stop and sit on the ground.

I found a few more in previous threads. I'll keep adding what I find here. It may be helpful to someone else to have them all compiled into one thread. I apologize if I miss crediting any of the Hive. I know that Regentrude and jhschool made some of the following recommendations. Hamlet with David Tennant Much Ado about Nothing with David Tennant Midsummer Night's Dream with Stanley Tucci Romeo and Juliet with Leonardo di Caprio

I just found the following in another thread. These were recommended by Lori D. (Thanks, Lori!) I welcome additional recommendations. For viewing: - Merchant of Venice (Shakespeare) -- VERY good; alert: streetwalkers in the background of one scene have dresses with necklines below the breast level - Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare) -- VERY good; alert: opening sequence (which can be skipped with no loss of lines at all), has a quick shot of bare bums as people are racing around getting ready Also consider a "spin-off" or related movie once you read/view the original: - West Side Story (Romeo & Juliet) -- New York 1950s gangs Broadway musical - 10 Things I Hate About You (Taming of the Shrew) -- modern high school comedy - Throne of Blood (Macbeth) -- Samurai version

I'd love to hear some recommendations for movies and/or vidoes of stageplays to go along with DDs study of Shakespeare. I would like both true to the original and also ones that are based on his plays but are more modern or a twist to the story. Here are the plays that she will be studying: Romeo and Juliet Julius Caesar Hamlet Macbeth King Lear Twelfth Night As You Like It A Midsummer Night's Dream Merchant of Venice Thanks!

DD received a Kindle Fire HD for Christmas and we've been shopping for an inexpensive cover. We were both shocked by the cost, both in stores and online. Finally, we found a simple $5 cover that fits at Big Lots. I realize this is probably not what you are looking for but in case someone else looking for an inexpensive one runs across this thread. . .

I've done things like this too many times to count. Once I was at the grocery store and a woman greeted me warmly. I just looked at her blankly and she filled me in with "It's me. Julie!" and I continued to look confused. She then added "I live on your street, two doors down, we chatted in my yard the day before yesterday." Another time, I was grabbing a quick meal by myself at a fast food joint and a guy that looked only vaguely familiar greeted me by name and asked to sit at my table. As we talked, he started dropping names from my college days so I figured that I must have known him then. It wasn't until later that day that I remember him at all. . .and I had even dated him briefly! His name didn't come to me until a few days after that. Just a few weeks ago, I introduced a co-worker to an important visitor in the office. I used the wrong co-workers name. I've learned to try to fake it when I can and to apologize when I mess up.

Also look up esophageal spasms. They can feel like sudden, severe chest pain.

I'm in East Tennessee. I didn't even think of checking the art museum; I will definitely follow up with that. We do have a couple art centers in the area and I've looked at their websites in the past to see what classes they offer. It is a good idea to contact them about one-on-one lessons/tutoring. Also appreciate the Wyzant link. I never even heard of them and they do have tutors signed up in my area. Finally, my DD did enjoy an instructor that she had for a community outreach art class offered at a community college. I thought about trying to contact that instructor to see if she did outside tutoring. However, I wasn't sure if that would be appropriate.

Is it weird to even be thinking about finding an art mentor/tutor for my DD? We've signed her up for various art classes in the past and while she has a great time, they seem to focus on fun crafts or fling out several projects in quick succession or are over too quickly. She is almost 13 and is craving a more serious study to improve her skills. I am the opposite of artistic so I need to find an outside resource for her. I welcome any suggestions or ideas.

Duplicate post. Sorry. Trying to get used to the new format. It's running slow and I didn't think it posted.

My highschooler has several hours of free time per day, every day. She is homeschooled and while she has outside activities and household responsibilities, none of them consume signficant amounts of time. She'll start dual enrolling at the local CC next semester so that will eat a bit into her free time.

I use Jasmine rice interchangeably so I think you will be fine. It is a little stickier than regular rice so if you want your rice really fluffy, you might want to run to the store.

The HomeLife Academy transcript will be accepted without question by any university that is accepting of homeschoolers. These days, that is most of them. I do not think it is accepted MORE than a homemade transcript, however. Is it worth it to you for HLA to keep the records, send out transcripts, and issue a diploma? Only you can answer that question.

The OP is upset, which is entirely understandable. However, her anger at Home Life Academy is misplaced and the title of this thread is very misleading. The problems that she is having has nothing to do with HLA. Her DD is unable to pass the testing by the public school to get course credits. HLA did not direct which materials she should use or how to teach the various subjects. They provide a lot of freedom, which those of us who are signed up with them appreciate. Private umbrella schools are the most popular way to "homeschool" in Tennessee and most of them are simply a records keeping service. They will provide a transcript with parent-supplied grades. They do NOT control the entry requirements that the public schools put in place.

:iagree: You are my new hero! It can't go away fast enough to suit me. Even when used correctly, it sounds pretentious.

Unfortunately, that is usually what happens after situations like this. I was certainly put off from even offering to help anyone for a long time after one woman went nuts on me. She was juggling an infant and a young toddler when a slightly older child fell from a high chair onto the floor and was crying. I only approached and asked if she needed some help and she started screaming at me like *I* was the bad guy in the situation. I tried to say a few soothing things to calm the situation but that just made her madder. I finally said something very not nice and walked away. Not my proudest moment. Kudos to the OPs son. I do think the woman sounds unbalanced. If she was trying to scam, she would have taken the money.

It wouldn't hurt to do chem labs with conceptual chemistry even if your student plans to do a later chem class. Many students really enjoy the labs and it makes a nice change from watching lectures/reading text. We used the Thames & Kosmos CHEM C3000 kit. It contains most of the chemicals and glassware/equipment that you need. We did have to pick up a few additional chemicals elsewhere for some of the labs. We used the 3rd edition textbook and made extensive use of the free website lectures and worksheets. They have a list of the videos and how they correspond to the 3rd edition on the website, under the Tutorials tab, labeled "Third Edition Sequence."

We use MUS. Last year, my younger DD was doing fine in math but I just wasn't sure she was ready to dive into algebra. Instead, we ventured off and she did the two LOF pre-algebra books. She is now back to MUS Algebra I and doing great. Don't be afraid of taking a side trip and coming back to MUS Algebra later.

Just wondering before we toss them into the compost. Can we let them dry and feed them to the wild birds?

DH has a friend who was a teacher passionate about the public school system. He tried to convince us we were making a mistake when we started homeschooling. It is now several years later and he has quit teaching at public schools and is now teaching prison inmates. He loves it; the students WANT to be taught and he has the freedom to teach. He has apologized to us about his remarks about homeschooling. He now thinks we are doing the right thing. :001_smile: