Question for fellow Chalkdust users....

[KnitWit]

Hi :)

 

My daughter is a senior this year. We are Chalkdust Math users. We began with Basic Math, then Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Geometry, and then we skipped to Pre-Calculus at the suggestion of the Mosely's since my dd really *clicks* with this and has all A's.

 

First of all, all colleges are wanting to see Algebra II. I'm sure they will understand that it is covered in Pre-Cal, won't they? Also, I plugged Pre-Algebra into 9th grade, since skipping Algebra II makes it appear that we didn't do math one year. Has anyone done this before? Is it a problem?

 

Also, now that I am working on transcripts and also filling in the national merit app, I have been told a few times that Chalkdust courses should be given honors or AP status. Has anyone done this? I think the Mosely's told us that the text is from the college division, but I don't see anything in their literature that says to give that *extra* value to the grade.

 

I sure appreciate this board and being able to get lots of questions answered before I even ask. :) Hopefully, after I get through this year, I will feel better qualified to *answer* some questions myself. :)

[Corraleno]

You can't call them AP because only the College Board can approve AP courses, and there are no AP tests before Calculus anyway. I don't know what the criteria are in PS to designate math classes as "honors" ~ you might call your local HS and find out what constitutes an honors math class and see if your DD's coursework would fit the criteria.

 

Regarding Alg II, here are a few options:

 

(1) Did you use the Larson Elementary Algebra text for Alg I? If so, you could buy a cheap used copy of Larson's Intermediate Algebra and have your DD do the last 3 chapters ~ then you will have covered everything in the Combined Alg I & II course and you can legitimately say that she covered Algebra II. You could also do your transcript by subject rather than by year, so you could show 4 math courses (Alg I, Alg II, Geometry, PreCalc).

 

(2) You could list this year as "Advanced Algebra & Precalculus," instead of just Precalculus, or something along those lines. Maybe even Advanced Algebra & Trigonometry? I think someone here (Momsinthegarden?) recently posted that the CD PreCalc course was worth 1.5 credits?

 

(3) If you think your DD will be doing Calculus before she graduates, you could just list "Combined Algebra I & II" for 9th, Geometry for 10th, Precalc for 11th, and Calc for 12th.

 

Personally, I wouldn't put Pre-Algebra on a high school transcript. It's usually considered a 7th grade course, and I think it might make a student look like they started HS two years behind in math ~ and it might make the "leap" from remedial math to a very rigorous PreCalc course seem suspicious, KWIM?

 

Jackie

[Julie in MN]

If she scores well on standardized tests or community college courses or anything outside of home school, I think she'll be fine.

 

My oldest was public schooled & his math transcript looked something crazy like this:

Core 9

Core 10

Independent Study

CC Calculus

 

He had good CC & test scores to back it up. He was accepted into every school to which he applied.

 

Julie

[KnitWit]

Thank you Jackie. I didn't think about the Pre-Algebra issue. I am pondering what you suggested. I know the Dana Mosley said that the Algebra in Pre-Cal was College Algebra, which, when I asked, he agreed it's like *advanced* Algebra II. I asked him if she would miss anything by skipping Algebra II. He said "no", that she would get it, just quicker and at a more advanced level. So...thinking as I'm typing....why would she need to do a few chapters in Intermediate Algebra, *IF* she already did it, in an advanced level? I think I'm confusing myself! :lol:

 

Julie, she has a 32 ACT and is a National Merit Semi-finalist. She hasn't taken the SAT yet.

[Corraleno]

So...thinking as I'm typing....why would she need to do a few chapters in Intermediate Algebra, *IF* she already did it, in an advanced level? I think I'm confusing myself! :lol:

 

I just meant that if you really wanted to list "Algebra II" as a course on the transcript, your DD could cruise through those last 3 chapters and legitimately add "Alg II" to her transcript.

 

You could also just list Alg I as "Algebra" and list her Precalc course as Advanced Algebra (1 credit) and Trigonometry (.5 credit). Then her transcript would show: Algebra, Geometry, Advanced Algebra, Trigonometry. That way, you have four math courses, and no "hole" where admissions people would be expecting to see Alg II, kwim?

 

But if she's a NM Scholar, colleges may not really care how you list her math courses. :001_smile:

 

Jackie

[KnitWit]

OH! Okay! Thank you so much Jackie! I obviously was overthinking this entirely too late last night! Amazing what sleep and a cup of coffee will do for you! LOL!