Potters School English 2....

[Beth in SW WA]

Dd passed the assessment (happy dance!) so it looks like we're in for quite a class next year with Mrs. Frederick. It will stretch my daughter to the nth degree, no doubt. I'll have a huge roll in this also with correcting, inputting grades, proofing, etc.

 

Does anyone have specifics they could share specifically about this class. Is anyone taking it next year?

 

What did your dc do to prepare, if anything special?

 

Thank you in advance!

 

And we registered for Mr. Gray's Logic course (TPS).

[Laura in CA]

Hi, Beth!

 

Both of my sons are currently taking English 2 at Potter's. To prepare, they did ... English 1 at Potter's, so I'm afraid that's not much help ;-)

But both of my sons are enjoying the class, and it's less work than we'd feared, if that's any reassurance. We've actually found there is a lot less "busy work" in Eng. 2 than in Eng. 1. Eng. 1 had weekly grammar exercises; this year they've had only a few. They've filled out "logs" (daily record of English work) for only a few weeks this year. There seem to be fewer, but more focused, writing assignments, also.

 

But ... as you're anticipating, if you've never taken a class through the Potter's School, there will be a bunch of things to get used to in the beginning -- navigating the class page, uploading scores, procedure of taking a paper from the first draft (which they call "D1") through to the FC (final copy), etc. They will make available a giant parents' handbook which should have all the info about such topics you will need. Don't worry -- after a few weeks you'll be a pro. I'd be happy to give you any specific advice you need, too -- just pm me.

 

I don't know how much help your daughter will need, but I didn't do any proofing for my boys -- one nice thing is that the first draft of any paper is commented on by the teacher and the student gets full marks just for turning it in. That takes some of the pressure off! I've heard that in English *3* you just turn in a paper; it doesn't go through several drafts. My boys will miss that!

 

And one of my sons had Mr Gray for a programming class. He's excellent -- a good teacher, really cares about the kids, called me to discuss my son's future classes ... the only thing is that he teaches a *lot* of classes -- logic, math, programming -- and sometimes he didn't answer his emails; I think they got buried and I had to be persistent. The English teachers we've had always responded quickly, often the same day.

 

hth!

~Laura

[Beth in SW WA]

Thanks, Laura. It sounds like your sons are doing well in this class. How much homework per night/week?

 

I need to buy these:

 

The Miracle Worker by William Gibson ISBN 0-7434-5758-7

Animal Farm by George Orwell ISBN 0-451-52634-1

Writers Inc. handbook copyright 2006 ISBN 0-669-52995-8

 

Did you buy the Gregg's Reference Manual?

 

Do you need a separate vocab with this class?

 

I think we're both going to learn a lot through this class.

 

Thanks again!:001_smile:

[rockala]

We did Eng 2 this year and it was my dd first TPS course. We have found it not near as much work as I thought it would be. The papers get a first draft and also a peer review so it is very gentle.

 

DD spends about 3 hours per week tops in addition to the class time. Becuase TPS placed here there and she is in ninth grade, I wish we would have supplemented- as you say with vocabulary. there is some, but it is light. I would add that in, but not sure what grade yours is in.

 

As a side we just borrowed Aniaml farm and Miracle worker from the lib

 

kathy

[Beth in SW WA]

Thanks for the feedback, Kathy. My dd will be 13/8th grade next year.

 

Have I mentioned that I'm really excited about this class?:001_smile:

 

Yes, she'll do vocab also. Not sure which one.

 

I need to buy the books so I can read them AND have my ds read them this summer also. I confess I haven't read these yet. :tongue_smilie:

[rockala]

I do not blame you for wanting to own them. With one renewal and being that the books are short- not big books at all didn't need them long. TPS has many comprehension questions that go with each book- and you will have to correct them, and then submit your childs grade, so you do kind of read them then. I did not end up reading Miracle Worker but could not put animal farm down. The politics are amazing to see.

 

I guess for us, that it would have kinda ruined it if we had already read them, made sort of uneventful and boring so just my two cents word of warning. It would be different if you were talking Narnia or Lord of the Rings or something like that.

 

My son is taking Eng 2 with TPS next year as an eighth grade 13yo. DD wanted narnia to begin with so she will be in that instead of Eng 3. Ms frederick sems like a darling so you will be in good shape there.

 

Kath

[Beth in SW WA]

My high school English teacher, Dr. Sharon Bridwell, wrote the TPS Narnia class program. She also helped co-found TPS 18 years ago.

 

She was always obsessed (in a good way) with CS Lewis & Narnia in high school. Her license plate said ASLAN. :001_smile:

Edited May 15, 2010 by Beth in SW WA
typo

[rockala]

That is so cool to know. I have had my apprehensions about the class- but daughter insists. I do love Narnia though. I guess they moved it to a high school class last year. I never could find out if they changed anything or if it was just advanced. They say 10 plus hours a week in addition to class time!

 

Kathy

[profmom]

Beth, my dd will be in 8th next year and in English 2 & Logic at TPS! She'll have Ms. Tittel for English 2 and is in the Thursday Logic class. Which Logic section will your dd be in?

 

You've been doing CW with your dd, right? We have, so this will be our first year in several not to use CW.

[rockala]

that is funny my ds will be in section 8 Ms. Tittel. What section for your daughter?

[profmom]

that is funny my ds will be in section 8 Ms. Tittel. What section for your daughter?

 

 

English 2 Sec 7 - Mon 1:15 pm - 2:45 pm

 

Are you guys looking at the Classical Track for 9th grade? Maybe we'll have some TWTM kids together in the future!

Edited May 15, 2010 by profmom

[Beth in SW WA]

Beth, my dd will be in 8th next year and in English 2 & Logic at TPS! She'll have Ms. Tittel for English 2 and is in the Thursday Logic class. Which Logic section will your dd be in?

 

You've been doing CW with your dd, right? We have, so this will be our first year in several not to use CW.

 

DD will have English 2 on Monday nights at 5:45. Logic is 10:15 Pacific Time on Thursdays. So yes, our kids will be together. How fun!

 

No, we didn't do CW for 7th. I put my dd in a writing class at the ps where she takes Spanish. It was a great class and she learned a lot. We're changing it up again this year so I opted for TPS for English. I'm excited.