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In a message dated 6/3/99 12:44:07 PM !!!First Boot!!!, tl2b@...
writes:

<< but then again I have an 8yo that is begging to learn algebra. there are no
books for kids that age. SO I am just putting in letters for numbers and
letting him solve the prob. my partner will have to take over when isaac
gets past that stage. >>


You might take a look at "Algebra The Easy Way" -- it introduces Algebraic
ideas through a story.

Nance

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denizmartinez@... writes:
> First of all, the laws of physics are just as
> important as algebra when it comes to understanding life and the
> universe, so why isn't physics a required subject the way that
> algebra is?

You have inadvertantly stumbled upon one of my pet peeves! Why is physics
taught seperately from algebra, why is algebra required if physics is not, as
physics is the only applicable use for it in High School anyway? To teach
calculus and geometry? I didn't take calculus, do you need algebra, or is that a
artificial learning order?

<<Once again, an example of how the public schools compound bad science
with even more bad science. It's not just that they've decided to
program children, it's that they don't then even do that in what
would be the most productive way! Dumb and dumber...>>


ARGH!!!! * I must breathe* I am cursing *years* spent failing algebra until
senior year where all was understood....in Physics class. Thank god the
system makes no sense, or my bad algebra grades would've prevented me from a
wonderful class that I loved!!

~Aimee


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[email protected]

In a message dated 08/14/2003 8:24:10 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
denizmartinez@... writes:


> The only thing kids seem to need to know algebra for is to pass
> standardized tests and get into college. And that's just a plain dumb
> requirement

And this is just the point. My son DOES want to go to college, and it is a
music college of all things! LOL. BUT, if he wants to get in, he has to have
a diploma , and to get the diploma, he has to take algebra. It is a stupid
requirement, but there it is. If anyone knows of a way around it, I would LOVE
to hear about it.
Teresa


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Fetteroll

on 8/17/03 5:39 PM, HSMOTGO@... at HSMOTGO@... wrote:

> My son DOES want to go to college, and it is a
> music college of all things! LOL. BUT, if he wants to get in, he has to have
> a diploma , and to get the diploma, he has to take algebra. It is a stupid
> requirement, but there it is. If anyone knows of a way around it, I would
> LOVE to hear about it.

Where are you thinking he'll get a diploma from? Surely they must require
more than just algebra. If he just needed a course in algebra there are
community colleges, lots of good books like Painless Algebra and the Keys To
workbooks, getting a tutor ...

You can print up a diploma on your printer. A diploma just says that a
student has performed to the standard a particular school considers
graduation material.

But, really, none of that shouldn't be necessary. Most colleges have
accomodations for homeschoolers so you should check into that. Some colleges
may not have had to deal with homeschooled applicants so may not know what
to do but they're going to recognize that it's something they need to have a
policy for since homeschooling is growing.

Here's some links to useful pages about college:

http://www.learninfreedom.org/,School is Dead, Learn in Freedom
http://www.homeschoolteenscollege.net/,Cafi Cohen's Homeschool Teens and
College (seems to me she's more schooly and may not be as useful to
unschoolers)
http://www.gomilpitas.com/homeschooling/,Ann Zeise: A to Z Home's Cool
http://www.nhen.org/,National Home Education Network

Joyce

Alan & Brenda Leonard

8/18/03 02:42:

> And this is just the point. My son DOES want to go to college, and it is a
> music college of all things! LOL. BUT, if he wants to get in, he has to have
> a diploma , and to get the diploma, he has to take algebra. It is a stupid
> requirement, but there it is. If anyone knows of a way around it, I would
> LOVE
> to hear about it.

Need more info, Teresa. What music college? They can't puzzle out a way to
admit a kid who hasn't got a diploma? Did you ask them to try? (Calmly and
patiently but forcefully!) They've never ever had a talented kid with a GED
admitted? They've never in their lives dealt with a homescholer before?
(And even if they haven't, they can surely start now...he won't be the
last!)

Give us all the facts, surely one of the 1000+ people on this list can help
you figure out a way around it! Algebra is a stupid thing to stand between
your son and what he wants to do.

brenda

Pamela Sorooshian

On Sunday, August 17, 2003, at 02:39 PM, HSMOTGO@... wrote:

> And this is just the point. My son DOES want to go to college, and it
> is a
> music college of all things! LOL. BUT, if he wants to get in, he has
> to have
> a diploma , and to get the diploma, he has to take algebra. It is a
> stupid
> requirement, but there it is. If anyone knows of a way around it, I
> would LOVE
> to hear about it.
> Teresa

You don't even have to have a diploma to get into college. But - there
are costs to not doing things the "usual" way, of course. There are
colleges that look at the individual as a whole when making admissions
decisions - New College of New York might be one of those, I'd guess -
they have no specific list of requirements for admissions.

My daughter applied to a University of California campus - the
requirements are normally very clearly laid out - you must have x, y,
and z, in order to be considered for admission. But - she has a lot of
community college coursework completed with very high grades, and they
accepted her to this UC, on the spot, with the understanding that she'd
take a science class and a couple of math classes at the UC, to make up
for "deficiencies."

But - if a kid wants something and knows the requirements, then the
easiest way to handle that is for him to find a way to fulfill the
requirement, isn't it?

-pam

Pamela Sorooshian

On Sunday, August 17, 2003, at 09:10 AM, AimeeL73@... wrote:

> You have inadvertantly stumbled upon one of my pet peeves! Why is
> physics
> taught seperately from algebra, why is algebra required if physics is
> not, as
> physics is the only applicable use for it in High School anyway?

That really isn't true. There are many other uses for algebra besides
physics.

> To teach
> calculus and geometry? I didn't take calculus, do you need algebra,
> or is that a
> artificial learning order?

Yes you need a good grasp of algebra for learning calculus and you need
a good grasp of algebra to delve very far into almost any scientific
field, these days -- just to be able to read the professional
literature of most fields.

-pam

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Joyce,
Thanks for your post, the sites that I was able to access are really good.
The school he wants does accept a GED, so I guess I will look into that, and
I am going to talk to the college again.
I know that many colleges do have special admission procedures for
homeschoolers, but, at least so far, I have been told that This college does not. But,
I will look into it further,
Thanks again,
Teresa


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

Brenda,
thanks for your interest. The school is Berklee College of music in Boston.
I am going to call and talk with some other people there and find out what I
can do. They do take a GED, and good SAT scores, so, I will work on it.
Believe me, I don't give up easily when it has to do with my guys! LOL.
Thanks, Teresa


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

In a message dated 08/18/2003 11:28:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
pamsoroosh@... writes:


> But - if a kid wants something and knows the requirements, then the
> easiest way to handle that is for him to find a way to fulfill the
> requirement, isn't it?
>
>
Well, if all else fails, we will do the stupid Algebra, BUT, it goes against
what I feel is right, so I will try some other things first.
At any rate, thanks for your interest and suggestions.
Teresa



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hollyfurgason

See if you can find a copy of Realm of Algebra by Isaac Asimov. It's
perfect for an 8 yo who's interested. It's out of print but can
usually be found in college libraries. It's book that is to be read
not worked through written by a man who loves and is enthusiastic
about the subject. It's like sitting down with Asimov and have a
conversation with him- very gentle.

Holly

--- In [email protected], Marbleface@a... wrote:
> In a message dated 6/3/99 12:44:07 PM !!!First Boot!!!, tl2b@a...
> writes:
>
> << but then again I have an 8yo that is begging to learn algebra.
there are no
> books for kids that age. SO I am just putting in letters for
numbers and
> letting him solve the prob. my partner will have to take over when
isaac
> gets past that stage. >>
>

Alan & Brenda Leonard

Teresa,

I wondered if that was the school. Berklee is one of the most radical (in a
good way!) music schools out there. They have to be able to figure out how
to admit your son without algebra. Call and ask lots of questions, and let
us know what you learn. If you hit a brick wall, write me off-list. I've
met a couple folks from there, maybe they can send you the right direction.

brenda


8/21/03 18:06:

> Brenda,
> thanks for your interest. The school is Berklee College of music in Boston.
> I am going to call and talk with some other people there and find out what I
> can do. They do take a GED, and good SAT scores, so, I will work on it.
> Believe me, I don't give up easily when it has to do with my guys! LOL.
> Thanks, Teresa