May 15, 2006
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I’m Back!
Did you miss me?
Well, it’s about time I updated again. I had a lovely weekend at the homeschool convention. I very much enjoyed hearing Todd Wilson of FamilyMan Ministries. Linda W. and I listened to two of his tapes on the way home from the conference and were laughing so hard at one point that we had to shut off the tape. We couldn’t even hear it for laughing so loudly! I got a number of things–this and that–and I’ve used Ebay and Amazon to purchase some other things. So, I’ll be pretty well set for next year. All I’ll need now is the refreshing, recharging summer break!Yesterday, I had a great Mother’s Day as usual. I got my four hanging baskets of wave petunias, many signs hung around the house, and Libby made me a very nice flower pin from clay. We went to Pizza Hut for lunch (my 12th year running–no line!), and then Libby and I went to a huge used book sale. We like to go to look for animal story books for her, and we found about 12. I got myself a few books as well. I wanted to pick up more paperbacks so that I could read them while floating on a raft in the pool this summer and not worry if they got wet. But, few things looked appealing. “Raven Lovelyface, the spunky Regency-era heiress, thinks she understands men. But, when she meets Blake Thedude, Duke of Chutney, she is in for a surprise…” Blah. They all sound the same after a while. So I got Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose.
Today was our first day of summer vacation, and a rainy, cold day it was. But, I loved it anyhow. I served myself breakfast in bed (Lucky Charms and tea) and read my Bible. With all the rain and gray sky outside, it seemed a perfect day to stay in bed. Later, the kids and I had a discussion time of summer plans, chores, and school. Much house cleaning was done, and I had the boys go through all their clothes to get rid of what was too small or unworn, etc. It’s always a big chore to manage the summer/winter and too small/I need new ones switches twice a year. It was even worse when I was shuffling boxes of baby clothes, too. Now, when something is too small for the youngest two, it’s bagged up and passed on to a family in church.
Does anyone have any opinions on SAT prep software? I realize not many of my readers would have an opinion, but I thought I’d ask.
Comments (12)
Interesting! BTW, I like paper SAT-preps better than the software.
Doesn’t the College Board itself have a prep program? I recall using it for the GRE’s, and it was decent.
I am envious of breakfast in bed and reading! On the SAT prep, don’t really have an opinion, but you may want to check with a local library about access to Learning Express Library (learnatest.com). It has a huge selection of prep work, practice tests and other course work to use.
Well, I’m using Chalk Dust’s math prep video course which is excellent. I’ve worked quite a bit with it, but it’s really helped improve my math score. AP Lang and Lit pretty much took care of the English score, but since my passion is writing and not numbers I’d needed to boost my math. The other thing I did, which really helped, was just buy a few of those practice books and do 2-3 sections a week or so. It really allowed me to get extremely comfortable with the test format and types of questions they asked. I’ve taken the SAT once (back in April) and got a score better than I had hoped. I’m still taking them again in June, as I think I can do better, but I feel that my prep work (though perhaps informal) has helped.
To answer your question . . .
I’ve used the one Princeton Review has out: Cracking the New Sat. I really didn’t read too much in the actual “prep” section, but did the practice tests instead. Some of their advice was helpful, though. When I finished the three tests in PR’s book, I moved onto “The Offical SAT Study Guide” (or something like that) published by College Board.
It sure doesn’t feel like summer vacation around here, it is much too rainy and cold.
I took the ACT, so I’m really no help. I didn’t do any prep though, and I did fine. Didn’t they add another section to the SAT? Are you going to have Nathan start prepping already? I can’t believe you’re done with school already. I kept thinking how lucky you guys were as I read Nate’s posts. He was doing the countdown, and I was thinking, “It’s only mid-May…the public school kids will be going for another few weeks!”
I think we should make “daniel’s-day” a national holiday ’cause all those mother’s-day perks you described are making me envious
My favorite picture was the hacking/cutting one as well! I felt so original sawing through the frozen thing.
love, daniel
I agree with most of the other commenters here on the SAT stuff. My daughter is preparing or trying to prepare to take it in June. The paper practice tests seem to be the best way to prepare after all the actual test is a paper test.
If you go to collegeboard.com there is a SAT question for the day. I always thought it might be fun to try it but my daughter is the one who needs to and she doesn’t seem to have time. It’s just a matter of finding time to actually practice on anything for us.
Of course we missed you! Did you really have to ask?
In terms of SAT prep, I didn’t do any…and still got into college just fine. I guess, though, that maybe at least a practice test or two couldn’t hurt…good luck choosing something!
Welcome Back…Happy Summer! I took that ACT, as well…no advice here.
yay i’m glad you can come to my play! it’s going to be awesome………….. i hope! ;^)
I…
Took the PSAT.
Took the PSAT again.
Took the SAT.
Took the new SAT.
One of those times, I think for the PSAT, mom and dad made me do the practice booklet that the school gave me with the test info. Before the new SAT I signed up for the above-mentioned question of the day.