Ms. Riding Hood
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Posts posted by Ms. Riding Hood
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Ahh, ok. Thanks for answering that!
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that appear to the right of some of the post titles? If you mouse over them a little note will appear, such as "Nan's words of wisdom", etc. How do these things get there? What are they called? I like them!
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I saw your post earlier and was hoping you might get a good reply. I've looked at these, and ds has tried using some of the physics lectures. The material I've seen seemed like it would have been hard to use "as is", with homework and tests, because it didn't appear that solutions were available for all assignments. The courses vary from one to another in that regard, I'm sure, but that is what I remember running up against. Don't want to discourage you at all, though! Just throwing something out here.
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Well, not exactly the same as what you're asking, but my aunt is an elementary school counselor who uses pets in her work. She's getting her PhD right now, with this as her focus. She uses dogs and rabbits (cat allergies are a problem), and it's really amazing what effect these animals have with the kids she sees. Plus, she is the most popular adult in the school; the kids are often given "rabbit time" or "dog time" as a reward for good behaviour, etc., and so a visit to the counselor is viewed as a thing to be envied. She is paid for her work--a normal elementary school counselor's salary. Nothing to write home about, but it is pay. Just another thing to think about!
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Congrats on Drexel!! I know you've talked about it many times. What a great feeling!
I'll be praying for you, along with my own prayers, that God's will be done with financial aid.
That's such wonderful news for you!!!
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Sandy, that is wonderful! And isn't it a relief to be done with that?? Very happy for you and ds!
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Thank you all so much for your kind words and congratulations. I am truly in shock over this. It's like I know it, intellectually, but my mind does not comprehend. My homeschooled son was just accepted at one of the most selective schools in the nation? How can that be?
Again, my deepest gratitude for your support over the past four years. And that means all of you. Reading your posts here has been so very important to me, and has been invaluable in navigating our high school road.
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If you have a kid who has drive, then the sky is the limit for what he wants to do with homeschool. My ds said, "I was able to do this [get into MIT] because I was homeschooled." I wish you both the best.
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with us how you did it? What field is your ds pursuing? I'm assuming some area of science/technology/math. If so, can you please share what curriculum you used for each field and how your ds studied, applied, etc!
If you only knew how this question makes me laugh! Someone is asking what I have done? :lol:
Okay--here's how I did it. I prayed a lot, I cried a lot, I sometimes screamed, often doubted, frequently despaired, generally second-guessed and between-times bit my nails. And that's really the honest truth!
But here's the story:
This ds has been homeschooled since the beginning of 6th grade. I was incredibly anxious about bringing him home, since at that time we frequently butted heads, however I have enjoyed him immensely. In one of his essays, he wrote about how he blew off his work throughout the 6th grade, until one day a friend mentioned something they were doing in the p.s. Ds apparently became alarmed, suddenly fearing that he was behind all his friends. He says this was a great motivator for him, and encouraged him to realize that he needed to get busy, or he'd be behind forever.
He is an incredibly self-motivated, self-disciplined person. Much more so than I! I'd say he began to be this way in the 8th grade and has continued to pick up speed. It was only last year about this time that he discovered MIT and set his sights on that grail. While I knew that homeschoolers had been admitted, I really had no clue whether he had a shot.
He has been entirely self-taught. Can I please emphasize that? I did nothing, other than organize a few materials, set up test dates and so forth. We discuss things, but I teach him nothing. This has included AP-level classes in chem, comp. sci, physics. He has used, and I have frequently applauded, Apologia science textbooks. He used both the Apologia chem books to score a 5 on the AP chem; both physics books to score a 5 on the AP physics B, and an 800 on the SAT Physics subject exam. Jay Wile has been his favorite "teacher", with the notable exception this year of Dr. Edward Burger and Thinkwell calculus. Otherwise, he has used a smattering of Laura Berquist's syllabi, Saxon math, Henle Latin. Nothing earth shaking here. I'm sorry if I disappoint.
I truly think he got this acceptance because of who he is. He's a kid who loves to learn, and I think that he was just his plain ol' simple self in his application--no fancy words, no big contests and awards. Just a hard working boy who wants to take himself to the limit. Beats me that that's good enough, but I think it really was.
He has played three sports at the local high school, and was able to have two coaches write recommendations for him. They were very nice, supportive and honest assessments--but nothing like what a star English teacher might have written. Just simple, straight-forward, and "storied". Without these objective recommendations, I am positive that he wouldn't have had a chance. I think the AP scores and SAT scores (two were required) also served to validate my home-made grades and demonstrate a certain level of achievement.
He is interested in engineering and physics. I think he'll use his first year or two to decide where he fits.
What more can I say? Susan Wise Bauer, these boards have been an incredible blessing to me as I attempted to guide this child. I don't do things per TWTM, because I've never felt cabable. We just struggle along as we can. But there are so many good moms on here that have offered suggestions, wisdom, ideas and encouragment. Maybe that last thing has been the biggest of all, as I have no support group in my rural area. I am SO grateful for these boards, and for all those who have shared so much here. I can't say it loudly enough: THANK YOU!!! :grouphug:
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Ds was just accepted early action at MIT. Oh my.
:willy_nilly:
:svengo:
:party:
:blink:
:scared:
I am so speechless. Somebody slap me. Oh oh oh my.
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Yea! Don't you love it?!
Way to go kid/high five mom!
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I don't remember who recommended the website Earth & Sky, but I set it as my homepage. I'm not way into astronomy, but I do like looking at the sky and knowing some stars and constellations. I rarely read the daily page in full, but as I log onto the computer I always see what the night sky will feature, and have been able to point out neat things to my kids that we otherwise wouldn't have noticed...like Venus and Jupiter, lately, or tonight I'll try to see the pleiades.
Just wanted to say thanks. I've really enjoyed it!
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No, that is different, though perhaps those scholarships are chosen from this pool? It is a question on the form.
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I was sooooo not expecting this, and feel very caught off guard. I thought I remembered someone here doing this last year. Any BTDT advice for us? Wow. I'm just wondering if it would be too much to submit both the counselor/teacher rec. AND the employer rec. from relatives. It is our situation, after all! :001_smile:
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Good luck! Please let us know how they turn out!!
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I do feel pretty confident, although I'm afraid to feel confident....
I'm on such a roller coaster. I go from thinking, "How could they possible turn him down?" to "He doesn't have a snowball's chance!"
He's applying to MIT, Rose-Hulman, Texas A&M and Purdue. MIT is the only one that would be hard to get into. RH would be hard to pay for. At the other two he's competing for scholarships which will be hard to get. So there's a little suspense at each school.
But I like being a mom of a senior!!!
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Cool! I wasn't familiar w/the MMA, but it sounds like a neat thing. Keep us posted on what things he does there!
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And just a minute ago we found out that ds's MIT application (which we've been tracking--what a wonderful service!) is now complete! There were a couple of things that hadn't been showing up as received and processed, but now it's all there. Hoping to hear good news by mid-December!!
Nan, your college sounds so unusual. Passport and uniform? This is mysterious! Can you share more? PM me, if you'd like. Enquiring minds want to know! :)
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How funny...I haven't really been reading the board regularly since school began, but I came on here today for the express purpose of saying YEA!!! The applications are FINALLY ALL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He applied to four, and I thought the applications were all very easy to do online. The essays required some time and thought, but hey, he is a senior after all. It was just the down-to-the-last-minute-let's-get-it-done nerves that were bothering me. Plus, I was trying to wait to send my snail-mail "counselor" packets of stuff till he submitted the online stuff. That was REALLY making me nervous!
But now it's done and we just wait for the acceptances and scholarships to roll in! :tongue_smilie: Which reminds me, that FAFSA and PROFILE are next, ladies. UGH!!! I'll take the applications anyday.
Best wishes to all!
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I'm so happy for you both. That's really wonderful, Nan! Congratulations.
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We're doing this this year, so I can't tell you how it will work out. I don't think our plan is particularly special or well tailored to the AP course syllabus. Ds is working through 5 Steps to a 5 and Cliffs, both which came highly recommended. One is more focused on practice exams, the other is more like an outline of what you need to know.
I talked with a high school girl who did this last year in public school, and she said they read tons of essays, did lots of analysis on them, and studied and wrote arguments. It seems to me the key to success is the ability to identify rhetorical techniques and write about how the author uses them to produce a certain effect, and also the ability to write an argument of your own.
We're using political speeches right now to identify different devices; there's a lot to see in these, both good and bad, and effective and ineffective.
Sorry I don't have a better answer for you!
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GretaLynne,
I agreed wholeheartedly with Beansprouts's post. I had totally forgotten an earlier conversation between us on the boards here until I saw your post today. Funny, but I hardly ever look at the general board, and if I do look I tend to only see the most recent posts that are right on top of the stack. When I saw yours, I immediately remembered a gracious note from you on this same subject that I had never responded to. I apologize for that oversight, and wanted to tell you that I think it courageous not only to post your changing views, but that you have had the courage to look deeply at yourself, your so-called "inconsistencies". It's hard to say "I was wrong". I don't want to put words in your mouth, maybe you wouldn't go that far. But you have effectively said that you were at least not completely right. That, in my opinion, is the hardest thing of all! I do applaud you for wrestling with this most important issue, which would be so easy to dismiss.
I don't want to be in violation of any board rules about not discussing politics, but I am curious if this shift will cause a shift in your voting preferences? And so you know, I haven't seen ANY of the political posts here on the board, so I have no idea if you've "taken sides" or expressed political views on the subject. If this question is a bad one, then I'll be happy to delete it right away!
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Thanks Mary--and nice to see your "face"! I'll be checking out the Dell forums. Tomorrow.
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Unfortunately, no. Their only question is: do you have service? If so, then the rest is your problem. I guess I can see where their service might be abused if they didn't approach it this way. But they won't be any help. Thanks for the idea, though!
*I* have to re-learn algebra and up. Need recommendations, please.
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted · Edited by Ms. Riding Hood
re-format
I'll copy and paste some info I've saved from Jann in Tx. She recommends a certain version of Lial's, and I've listed the ISBN's for those below. If you want more info, search Lials on this board and read everything Jann has posted.
Intro Algebra (Albegra I):
The 7th edition DVTs (digital video tutors) are VERY HARD to find...but in this case the 8th edition dvt will work just fine. The solution manual edition, however, needs to match up with the book. You can get new (7th edition) texts for under $10 shipped, solutions manuals for around $5 and videos (for computer) for $35. Somtimes you can find 'bundles' for less.
There are only MINOR--very MINOR changes between editions. There is NOT a 9th edition of Introductory Algebra...the only difference between the current 8th and the 'just released' 10th is (besides the price) is the fact that the digital video tutors now have the instructor working out the in-text TEST answers/solutions.
7th edition Annotated Teacher's Edition ISBN 0321088697 (2001)
7th ed DVT 0-321-09203-1
7th Student Solution manual: ISBN-10: 0-321-09105-1
7th Softcover text: ISBN-10: 0-321-06458-5 ISBN-13: 978-0-321-06458-5I have both the 7th and 8th editions of Introductory Algebra--VERY VERY similar--and in some parts exactly the same problems.
Intermediate Algebra (Algebra II):
The 8th editions of the DVTs will work just fine with the 7th edition book. Usually under $50 for a set (with videos and solutions) for 7th edition. There are very few--VERY MINOR differences--many lessons are exactly the same--problems and all. For cost purposes the 7th is the real bargain--and can still be found 'new'. It is from 2001 so it is really not that old!
The DVTs for both of these editions are easy to find. The 8th edition is still current with the publisher--but VERY LITTLE other than the cover has changed from the 7th edition (I have both).
The 7th edition is the most economical. I just purchased a student text for less than $10 shipped --Priority! It was NEW.
8th edition isbn and link http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...7256917&sr=8-2
7th edition isbn and link http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...257035&sr=8-22The student solutions manuals can easily be found on amazon.com or similar sites. The DVTs can be found at www.ecampus.com
7th ed softcover: (October 17, 2001) ISBN-10: 0321064593 ISBN-13: 978-0321064592
7th Soln. man: (November 2001) ISBN-10: 032109204X ISBN-13: 978-0321092045
7th dvts ISBN10: 0321092139 ISBN13: 9780321092137
8th softcover text: ISBN-10: 0-321-27920-4 ISBN-13: 978-0-321-27920-0
8th DVT (July 30, 2005) ISBN-10: 0321285700 ISBN-13: 978-0321285706
8th Student solution manual: ISBN-10: 0-321-28569-7
DVTs are assigned an ISBN by the publisher but retailers DO NOT use it because they are NOT texts/books so searching for them can be a pain if you don't know the key words to use! Instead of searching under "DVT" search under the whole title "Digital Video Tutor". While Amazon.com will usually post them under publishing date--if you look at the actual sellers product description you can verify edition. www.ecampus.com has the older DVT editions. It is a PAIN to search their site but they are there. When searching by isbn for DVTs enter the ISBN under 'search all categories' instead of the default text search bar (click the search bar and then at next screen select 'search all' and enter number--took me a while to figure this one out. They have the DVTs for most of the older editions in this series!
Answers for the odd homework problems as well as ALL of the answers for the Chapter Reviews, Tests and Cumulative Reviews are in the back of the student text. You do not need the teacher edition, just the text and possibly the student solutions manual. All solutions are not included, but enough to be very useful.