<p>new thread to replace the thread for sophomore parents!</p>
<p>Enjoy Junior year!</p>
<p>Woot! Woot!</p>
<p>My son, after three weeks spent in Europe on a teen tour, is now preparing rigorously for 11th grade by, um...hanging out with friends, playing video games, and practicing his driving. Since he didn't do very well on the PSAT he took last year, I've been encouraging him to perhaps, oh, I don't know, do some practice SAT questions or something? His response is "Mom, it's July. Chill." But at least he says it with a smile. :)</p>
<p>I'm joining!</p>
<p>Son's been busy this summer with driver's ed, a school trip to Europe, XC team retreat, an upcoming rafting trip, and just hanging around. </p>
<p>When he gets back from rafting things will calm down and he'll start studying for the 10/4 SAT II (US History). He missed it in June because - by the time we knew it existed - registration was full. </p>
<p>After that he'll have about 10 days to 2 weeks to study for PSAT. His practice was OK (178), but I think he can do better.</p>
<p>Thanks, jackief. I guess this needed to be done, but I'm going to miss our old thread........lol. </p>
<p>Booklady - sounds like your S is enjoying his summer, and there's nothing wrong with that. I actually signed D up for an SAT course this summer - and it's the worst course ever. I told her that if she used the blue SAT book to practice, she could stop going to the classes, and she said she couldn't promise to do that (which was my reason for signing her up in the first place). She's actually having a very busy summer, so I don't want to bother her too much about this.</p>
<p>Here I am! S2 turned 16 last week, but it's his job to nag me about driving I'm not doing anything. I've suggested PSAT practice - he did well on Verbal last year, but much, much lower on both math and writing. He's supposed to be working for me, but he's the world's worst employee (he doesn't seem to care about earning money at all), and I'm not the best boss. There's really lots for him to do, but much of it is boring clerical work.</p>
<p>We did have a high point when his AP World History results came. He was sure he'd bombed the test, but he got a 5. What a nice surprise!</p>
<p>Two boys (not twins) graduating in 2010. Older S is happy-go-lucky soccer player and socialite. Dismal grades in 10th grade but finally managed a 3 on AP Euro. Younger S will return from Interlochen next Monday (piano). He has 4 APs, ACT, and two SAT II under his belt, and will of course take PSAT and repeat SAT 1. </p>
<p>It will be fun getting to know you all. I lost track of the other thread and too overwhelmed to catch up & rejoin.</p>
<p>D just passed her road test today and is now a licensed driver. Hooray!---I guess. It's an important rite of passage and she's taken on an air of maturity and responsibility in this process, all to the good. But we're still going to keep her on a pretty short leash for a while.</p>
<p>We're still focusing on PSAT for test prep after a short august break. D did did well enough taking it as a sophomore that she'd have met the National Merit cutoff for our state if she were a junior, but we're thinking she can do even a little better with prep on the math. Also, our sense is there's a natural progression from PSAT to SAT and nailing the PSAT will boost her confidence going into the SAT---as well as potentially landing that elusive "National Merit" tag. Does this sound right?</p>
<p>Congrats to your D, bclintonk! Is your D allowed to drive now? Where we live, kids can get their licenses at 16, but they can't drive, except to work, until they're 17 - and then only if they take driver's ed.</p>
<p>Congrats on your D's fabulous PSAT scores from last year. I'm sure she'll do even better this year. My D's scores weren't bad, but they were definitely not as high as they should have been. D rushed through the exam because she had a cross country meet to get to, and she didn't answer questions that required any thought. </p>
<p>My D also has two SAT IIs and the AP Euro exam out of the way. I wish she would take the time to practice for the PSAT because she has the potential to do very well. </p>
<p>Mathmom - your S sounds like the type of 16 year old my S will be a few years from now. While D won't practice for the PSAT like I want her to, she is working very hard this summer, but S is doing nothing but having fun. Congrats on your S's AP score, BTW.</p>
<p>catbird - it must be difficult having such different sons in the same grade?</p>
<p>D is doing the first 4 week stint of CIT at GS summer camp. Then 4 more weeks next summer. She really loves this so we are being nice although a job would give her the spending money she desires.</p>
<p>She finished her English summer reading book before going, but has her two APUSH books to read when she comes back. She also needs to do PSAT/SAT prep. Took it cold last year and did ok not fantastic, but standardized tests are not her strength. She is also studying for Latin SAT II in December (shout out to other parents of classics lovers zoosermom and bclintonk) her problem is her vocab is extremely weak as they have had open book tests. The vocab studying will also help with the Latin Lit AP test next year. She wants to prep and has been doing question of the day and dictionary.com word of the day for several months but always has so many other commitments. Also 3 sport varsity athlete and other ECs.</p>
<p>When we pick her up from camp we are going on our first college visit. Oh yes, and the driving practice is ongoing, she will need to take drivers ed somewhere in the fall in order to get her license. She is a year ahead in school so most of her friends are already driving, another series of issues.</p>
<p>She was also happy with a 4 on AP Psych self study, commonplace for CC kids but unheard of in our school which has 11 APs total half languages. School really teaches in depth great small discussion classes but not focused on the outside world of tests and college packaging.</p>
<p>Hey you guys!! I know you've all been waiting for me. </p>
<p>
[quote]
shout out to other parents of classics lovers zoosermom and bclintonk
[/quote]
See? LOL</p>
<p>(I hadn't noticed the shout out when I started the post)</p>
<p>I'm so impressed with you having drivers already. Mine can't even take driver's ed till next spring. I'm not really anxious about that. Did I ever tell you guys that I'm the worst non-drunk driver in the world? Now you know and can act accordingly.</p>
<p>Two boys in 11th grade? What a blessing! Will they have overlap?</p>
<p>Satan err I mean Zoosersister has done a forensic psychology program for credit this summer at the local college. She's enjoyed it a lot except for dissecting a cow brain. As you will imagine, one who aspires to a career in a museum isn't much for organs. She's starting PSAT prep next week and is working on CAS for her IB diploma. I'm crossing my fingers because it's so unusual, but I must give her credit for managing her time well. She does actually have a topic and a bunch of books for her extended essay. The boyfriend is a good influence. She's teen reporter for our local newspaper and just had a major story, beautifully placed. She was proud because she word hard, and so was I. Plus money. I'm optimistic for this upcoming year. Last year was a little bit of hell on earth, but this is a different person. Last year she was goth in look and attitude, this year she's gone preppy. Let me tell you that I like the preppy girl better.</p>
<p>Next?</p>
<p>momof3sons checking in! Twin boys for the class of 2010. Have spent the first six weeks of summer at a performing arts camp. (First time they've spent summer together and it seems to be going well.) They've been lucky to be cast in great roles in big musical theater shows. They also play in the jazz band, a pit orchestra of another major musical, appear in a dance production, and have sung and accompanied each other on the piano. We are really getting our $$'s worth out of them! LOL. One of them has a couple of SAT II's under his belt and the other has one finished.</p>
<p>They will be unhappy to find out my plan for them post "childhood" summer. The SAT Blue Book. I believe that they can prepare on their own, if they take this seriously. The only question is will they? I really do not want to shell out for an SAT course because I think they are monumentally boring and not worth it.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Will they have overlap?
[/quote]
Sure, they share a bedroom, a computer, and a cell phone (cheap stingy me :D)</p>
<p>They will be in APUSH together but otherwise younger S is ahead of older S in everything. They were in AP Euro together last year and kept each other honest.</p>
<p>:::Bowing in awe to moms of multiples::::</p>
<p>
[quote]
otherwise younger S is ahead of older S in everything
[/quote]
How do you handle that?</p>
<p>I have three--one at each end and one in the middle (I never post about all of them at once, except now). The boys love each other and have usually been very close throughout the years. The tough situation is D who is desperate to graduate in 2009 ahead of the boys. I suppose I could join the Class-of-2009 thread except college is not in the cards and VESID (Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities) would be OT.</p>
<p>Catbird, we share a state and I'm looking forward to getting to know you, but I have no idea what you said in post 15!</p>
<p>
[quote]
shout out to other parents of classics lovers zoosermom and bclintonk
[/quote]
</p>
<p>And me, although it's not 11th grade S, it's D who's a junior in college, majoring in Classics. We'll have 8 straight years of tuition payments, but at least no overlap!</p>
<p>Booklady, would you consider sharing your junior's school and whether you are happy with the program? Or any other Classics-related advice?</p>
<p>We'll be joining in the fun...</p>
<p>S2 completing driver's ed this week; spent part of June at "nationals" for Student Council (NASC) in Texas, as a member of the CT delegation; then family vacation in MI; spare time spent doing major landscaping work in our yard for pay; and, hopefully, AP Language summer homework.</p>
<p>
[quote]
They will be unhappy to find out my plan for them post "childhood" summer. The SAT Blue Book. I believe that they can prepare on their own, if they take this seriously. The only question is will they?
[/quote]
Got it out of the library last week and hoping that he'll open it soon :rolleyes:</p>
<p>My son is president of his school's Latin club this coming year. Well, consul, or whatever they call it in Latin.</p>
<p>My son is eligible to get his license, but he's not bugging me so I haven't taken him yet. He spent the summer doing all kinds of things: one week on a school-related trip, a few weeks at a summer job, workng on his Eagle project, three weeks of volunteerism, some time spent begrudgingly with the Blue Book, a few college visits, helping his dad paint the house and today -- all day with a friend playing some game called Civilization. Oh, and playing on Facebook, which has led to many a party invite so ther's been plenty of fun in there, too.</p>
<p>I'm glad to hear not everyone's kid has made a 235 on their 10th-grade PSAT. S should make Hispanic Scholar recognition easy, but it would be great if he also could make Commended. I think NMSF is too much to ask at this point.</p>