Stem Center USA will be having a Black Friday Sale on their pi-bots. Thexd are really nice kits. I think the usual price is around $120. My 6th grader has one and takes classes at the center as well. Stem Center was on SHARK TANK and got funded for around $250,000.00. Here is the link. http://www.stemcenterusa.com/

When I was a bit younger, I bought several cars from auto lease close-out consolidators in the Houston area. Would fly into Houston, then get picked up by the seller at the airport. Then, 22 hours driving back to Los Angeles area. Picked up some really nice cars, and, even with the travel expenses, saved a few thousand on each. One car I purchased for $6k, got totaled a few months a later, and insurance gave me $13k. Used the insurance proceeds to get an even nicer car same way..

There is a reason why the Washington Post is not considered an authoritative source. Consider the author cites a book he wrote as proof. The kid the author claims confessed to him, denies the statement. LA Times March 17, 1988 "Real Life Flashback to 'Stand, Deliver' articles.latimes.com/1988-03-17/entertainment/ca-1966_1_stand-deliver-real. Even the college board retracted after kids hit 4 &5 on retesting.

I'm converting! My 6h grader has used Thinkwell for pre-alg, alg 1, and geometry. I liked the instruction, and format. Anyway, I wanted to give the kid a break from Dr. Burger, and went to Tablet Class for alg 2. I like the instruction, but I don't like the format. My son is not above taking shortcuts to complete his work--i.e not showing his work. Well, with Tablet class the answers are right there. on my random inspections, I can't tell what he actually worked out. Now, having actually watched some Derek videos, and read how his program works, we are switching immediately. I will be quite surprised if we do not use through calculus.

Would not surprise me if your daughter and her friend are taking the same classes. . I remember the problem Jaime Esclante (renowned inner city math teacher) had with the sat/college board for ap calculus. SAT board wanted to invalidate his students' score for cheating because all of them missed the same questions. Turns out that since they were all taught the same way, they got the same right/wrong answers.

After schooling goes year round for the 6th grader. Over winter break, he continues on-line math, french and vocab for 1-1 1/2 hours per day. The he does a home assembled pack for standardized test prep. Typically a section a day from an isee or ssat practice test for about 30 minutes more.

My kid is up to algebra 2 and has never been allowed to use a calculator--not even to check answers. Things will probably change when he gets to pre-calc. I understand that the pre-calc books have lessons on calculator usage.

Current homeschoolbuyers discount is 89%. Discounted price is $39 annual subscription.

Have used the on-line version for a couple of years. love it. Same Words and format, but Interactive--, words are pronounced, and auto grading exercises . subscription is for a year.. So you can move to any grade level at any time. regularly 1/2 price sale at homeschoolbuyerscoop.com. With discount, online version is not much more than the book version, if you do a couple of levels per subscription.

In So.Cal., and somewhat of an energy miser. Haven't used the heat yet. But for the whole season rarely have it on more than 5-6 nights. In summer, only have the a/c on 5-6 nights, as well.

Try online Wordly Wise. Regularly 1/2 price at Homeschool Buyer Coop. interactive, pronunciation, and self-grading. Plus, subscription is for a year. So it is possible to do a couple of levels during the subscription period.

I haven't used AOPS. But my son's tutor uses Schaum;s series, and Rong Yang's books as primary textbook. several thousand problems in each.

Do not rent a storage unit!!!. Yard sell the excess, give it away. I know many who rented these units temporarily @$250-400/month. 2 years later, when they finally got the time and motivation to retrieve their stuff, threw everything away. Nothing they placed in storage was worth the $8,000 they spent to store it. All told me they could have purchased every thing brand new for far less.

We started early with board games. Anything with dice. Our favorite was a horse racing game ( horse advanced by number rolled.). When he could count to 12, we added an extra dice. Then we moved to a 10ft number line. Did simple math on the line. eg. 2 + 2----start at 2 and used pointer to move two places to 4. 4-1== used pointer to move back 1 place to 3. Used stand and deliver method. Had him up with the pointer. About 30 minutes a week was all that it took.

All of the above. But rather than stirring, try folding. When the bottom gets cooked solid enough to lift, fold a section to center of pan. Tilt pan to let liquid uncooked egg run into the now empty section, Repeat process around pan

Since you are planning so early, contact your congressperson/senator and see if they can assist you with l White House or Congress tour. There are special ones for connected people.

Needless to add, but do not under any circumstance reintroduce her to that flock. Clearly, she is at the bottom of the pecking order. [sorry! couldn't resist after reading of her recovery]

Don't forget to eat breakfast tacos.

I thought the homeschool movement started with southern and middle class whites finding out the so-call christian schools they spawned, with restricted admissions, were no better than the integrated schools they were fleeing. Then privileged whites joined in because their privileges and educational backgrounds allowed them

Find another class. Comprende?

Sorry. Did not mean to suggest in any way that your son was being bullied. Just trying to point out that being the new kid is tough enough even when not standing out. Sounds like a great program. I would not let him drop out. 9th grade is a good time to start life lessons: can't quit simply because you're not comfortable. college and work world both have challenges that he will have to adjust.

Actually, you take SCAT through CTY. With a qualifying score, you are accepted for CTY on-line classes, and live summer classes held around the country.

If this is first year in school, transition difficulties are expected--especially if he has been totally homeschooled. Most likely has difficulty adjusting to kids his own age, possibly even teachers. . Ease up some up on the workload his first year. A 9th grader doing pre-calc, and AP anywhere, but the most rigorous school, is walking around with a "kick me" sign. No way to meet friends and blend in ( In HS it all about blending in). You can accelerate him in 10th grade where class/schedule variations stand out less.

House painted my way through college. The secret to a good paint job, is good preparation. Fill in the deep knicks and dents with wood putty, and sand everything smooth working your way to at least 160/180 grit paper. Then degrease and sand again. Paint lightly, sand with 200/220 grit between coats, and then recoat. Repeat until you are satisfied with finish. If a work/play table, a couple of coats of water based poly urethane. will protect the finish. grit refer to the smoothness of of the sandpaper (lower the number, the coarser the sand). some of the smaller hardware stores will sell to you by the sheet. You will only need a few of each at around a dollar each.

California City was the original timeshare rip-off. Heavy TV promotion in the 60's for dream and vacations homes- -hunting, fishing, hiking, fresh air. The trick/trap-- sewer, water and infrastructure to a particular tract will be built after every owner in that tract pulled building permits. Nearly impossible to get all to do that. Had a similar TV campaign for land around Salton Sea, CA. btw, you do not have to accept deed transfer.