<p>Our AP Bio apparently also puts off lots of labs until after the AP - it seems nuts to me - I thought labs were supposed to teach you the same material in a more hands on way. A few years ago mathson’s AP Bio class did oral presentations. He used it to find out just what his Dad did all day.</p>
<p>S found out today at school that he is in the top 50,000K for the PSAT. I believe it in September when he’ll find out if he is commended or a semi-finalist. He’s five points above last years cut off for our state, so here’s hoping!</p>
<p>Between his ACT, PSAT, his birthday and being inducted into the Honor Society tonight, I feel like this has been a great week for him. For some reason, S is not feeling it. In fact, he seems a bit sad but not ready to share why with us (he says he’s not sad at all but, hello, I’m the mom!) I can’t help but feel a bit guilty, did we do something to take the shine off? I can’t think what it would be, plus my best guess is that is friend or boyfriend related. But still…I wish he could really enjoy this week. Life doesn’t hand out too many like it.</p>
<p>Teenagers are moody, right? This too shall pass…won’t it?</p>
<p>Congrats on all your son’s accomplishments. I wouldn’t worry about the moodiness, I think it’s fairly par for the course at this time in their lives. So much change, and stress, far beyond what we dealt with at their age.</p>
<p>Don’t worry that you did something wrong - at this point, just about everything we do is seen as “wrong” by them! </p>
<p>You enjoy tonight! My son’s NHS induction is tomorrow and all he’s happy about is that he gets to miss lacrosse practice. ;)</p>
<p>pugmadkate, We have something similar going on here. S. and I had been getting along very well (for us 
) for quite some time, then about a month ago he changed – more sullen, bratty, monosyllabic, etc. Not terribly so, but noticable. I thought this wasn’t supposed to happen until next year?!</p>
<p>My school doesn’t offer AP Euro at all; the neighboring school offers it to sophomores, so theoretically upperclassmen could take it as an elective, but I don’t know anyone who has bothered (some do take AP Psych or AP Studio Art through cross-enrollment).</p>
<p>My AP Lang class is working on logical fallacies right now, but I’m not too worried–just hoping that I don’t get an visual-analysis essay (because the “correct” analysis is written into the rubric), and I can’t control that. Calc AB has been done with the curriculum for a month now; my teacher is just awesome. Former nun who will probably retire after next year (after her homeroom graduates); she is hands-down the best calculus teacher at my school. I think last year ~75% of her BC class got 5s.</p>
<p>D is going to take AP Euro next year. It is rumored to be fairly hard at her school. She was thinking of dropping it for a non honors elective, but today she found out that one of her favorite teachers is teaching it, so t stays in.</p>
<p>I’m in my son’s good books since I cancelled his violin lesson last week since he was under so much stress. Actually I’ve really enjoyed him this year in general. He’s happy to talk about his schoolwork and other interests unlike his older brother.</p>
<p>Talked to DD. Chamber choir tryouts seem to have gone fairly well; she went last and thinks her voice was worn out from practicing in the hall. We’ll see.</p>
<p>She is stressed about the ACT Science section; she did a practice one today and bombed it. But I keep telling her that she did well on the PLAN and that she always does better on the real tests than on the practice ones (hooray adrenaline!) And, that if she does do poorly, she can retake the test. I’m pulling her out of the house tonight for free Ben & Jerry’s cones!</p>
<p>pmk:</p>
<p>My S has a similar attitude regarding academic awards. I guess for him, it’s all in the doing. Getting a certificate, trophy, etc. has never jazzed him.</p>
<p>AP Euro History:</p>
<p>My S was originally not planning on taking it his sophomore year, because he’d heard some negative things about the workload. We were fine with it, since he was already going to be taking AP Calc BC and AP Spanish Language. Somewhere along the way, he got some positive peer pressure and decided to take it after all. Turns out the AP Euro teacher was also the HS AP Coordinator and was a bit concerned about having a sophomore attempt three AP classes. In the end, it turned out just fine and was good “training” for junior year. He did say the AP Euro class was the hardest one, and it always seemed that when I saw him working at home, it was on that class. This year, it’s the on line Linear Algebra class.</p>
<p>Oh, my goodness, I don’t think I knew how much I needed some reasurance until I read your replies and tears came to my eyes. Thank you so, so much.</p>
<p>We’re leaving in about five minutes and I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. At least I’m going to enjoy tonight!</p>
<p>Pugmad, even my mellow S2 has been punchy of late. Lots of decisions to make, lots of exams, lots of implications for his future. Doesn’t want to talk about it much, but occasionally apologizes for being curt. I’m just asking him what I can do to help make his life easier. Trying to solve his problems doesn’t go over well these days, as I suppose it shouldn’t.</p>
<p>Sending you hugs and strength!</p>
<p>The moodiness comes and goes. The stress, of course, stays. Every time my D expresses her anxieties I point to the last 3 years as evidence that she has already accomplished a lot in high school and nobody can take that away from her. I think it works.</p>
<p>pmk - congrats on all the great news you received this week! And try not to worry too much about your S’s moodiness - I think that’s part of being a teenager. Just curious, how did your S find out about his status? I hadn’t heard that that information had been released yet. {{{{Hugs}}}}</p>
<p>RobD - I’m glad your D thinks her tryouts went well, and I’m sorry about the ACT science section - but at least it was only a practice. Tell her not to feel bad - if you read through the ACT section here on CC, you will see that by far, science is the most complained about section of that test.</p>
<p>ag54 - congrats to your S on his induction into the honor society. D’s school is doing theirs next week.</p>
<p>kate - your S sounds like a wonderful kid. Here’s hoping he’s enjoying all these milestones more than he lets on. </p>
<p>Whenever I can’t put a finger on my kids’ crabbiness I blame it on teething. Yup. They’re nearly 15 and 17, but I keep a teething ring in the kitchen. Sometimes they ask for the ring as a signal somethings wrong. Sometimes I just hand it to them as a signal to get over it/work it out yourself. </p>
<p>If that doesn’t work, we blame on the phase of the moon. Doesn’t matter what phase it’s in. Must be the moon’s fault. ;)</p>
<p>^^^oh my gosh
my best friend and i both own teething rings that we keep in our purses
they are great to take out stress…
i suggest them to all…
its only a dollar and works wonders</p>
<p>Love the teething ring! I so wish we’d done that. </p>
<p>Turns out what he need was two pieces of cake, several cookies and a cup of soda to perk him right up. I despair that he will never sleep again! His Dad and I loved the ceremony. We’re both sentimental and criers, so you can imagine how happy S was to sit with his friends and not his parents.</p>
<p>LIMOMOF2, He got called the office today along with one girl. Maybe because his school is small and there are only two students they found out early? Or told the kids early? Please keep in mind as well that this is what S told me that they told him. Things have been known to get lost in translation between the high school and our home when S is the messenger.</p>
<p>pugmadkate - I think it’s great that your S found out the news already. I was just under the impression that info came out in September (though that could be when they announce the NMSF status, and not just the top 50,000). Congratulations, again. And so glad all needed to cheer him up was some sugar. ;)</p>
<p>A teething ring? I never would have thought of that…lol. Wonder if it’s too late?</p>
<p>I think you’ve got it right about September. S said that is when they find out if they are Commended (top 50K) or NMSF.</p>
<p>Let me clarify that…September is when he’ll find out if it’s the end of the road for him (Commended) or he’ll go onto the next round (NMSF.)</p>
<p>i seriously suggest the teething ring…
you don’t know how nice it is…it just lets you relax…</p>
<p>pmk - by any chance, did they tell your S the cutoff score for commended? 
I think that’s the same for all states.</p>
<p>rocket6louise - my kids didn’t use teething rings when they were teething as babies…lol. They would think I was insane if I introduced them now.</p>