I hate to ask ...

[Teachin'Mine]

because I don't know what I'll do if the replies come back that it's too much. But I want your input on how this schedule looks for 9th.

 

I'm also having a larger internal battle with how to provide an overall rigorous high school education, but at the same time allow her to pursue the things she loves - writing, music and art. She's getting lots of time for these things during the summer, but this year her summer is so short, and I'm sure "school" will be taking up even more of her time next year. She's good in math, getting more interested in science - now that we have a text that she likes - but I'm not sure if I'm providing enough opportunities for her to pursue the things she loves. I don't know if she'd get a paid job doing what she loves, or if she'll go after something else and do these things on the side. It's so hard to know what direction to take. I want to give her as much of an opportunity to do whatever she wants, and that to me means covering everything well, so she isn't hindered in college.

 

Here's what's planned:

 

English 9

Grammar & Comp. 9

Religion 9

 

(The above 3 credits are mandatory and through a school.)

 

Advanced Math

Physics

 

Electives:

 

Latin I

World Geography

Keyboarding - 1/2 credit

Health - 1/2 credit

Art (drawing) - 1/2 credit

 

And I'd even like to add music theory to that, but I know that would be too much. But it sure would help with her keyboard and guitar playing. :tongue_smilie:

[Ruth in Canada]

We did not do any fine arts because our kids were so heavily involved in music. We did count music credits because our kids are using the Royal Conservatory of Music curriculum, including theory, and taking exams.

 

I don't know that you need a full half credit for key boarding. My kids practiced 15 minutes a day or so from a very young age. I'd make this informal--leaving time for theory.

 

Often English and grammar and comp are combined for a single credit. You say these courses are mandatory--but is it a school that you've chosen? Would you consider other choices?

[Musicmom]

It looks good to me... challenging, but I think doable. Looks like you have a total of 8.5 credits--that's about what my ds had each year. He was very busy, but he was also quite diligent, organized and mature, so was able to rise to the challenge.

 

One way to work music theory in might be to put it opposite Art--in other words do drawing one semester, and music theory second semester.

 

Also, by "keyboarding" do you mean typing or piano playing? If typing, you can always just do that informally on the side, not a lot of effort and she can practice as she writes papers for composition. You don't have to do a formal course in it. If it means piano playing, then she'll still have the time investment, but many students pursue a musical instrument in addition to school.

 

I see your dd plays both keyboard and guitar... does she pursue these seriously--taking private lessons and putting significant time into practicing? I just ask because my kids study both violin and piano. They put a huge amount of time into practicing (2 hrs/day total) and they get music theory (an accredited state curriculum) through their piano lessons. Because of the time spent and the academic aspect, I rolled violin and piano study into one course called Music, for which I give 1 credit each year. Just an idea.

 

HTH!

[Rhea]

I don't think it looks like too much. Are any of these classes going to challenge her to the extent they will require more time than normal? If so it might be too much. If she's excited about it I'd go with it, but know what will be dropped if need be. (Such as health which could be done over the summer.) Just some thoughts this rainy morning. :)

[EKS]

If the school is optional, I would combine the English/grammar and comp credits into one. Also, is the religion course about her own religion? If so, the reason I ask is that wouldn't she be studying that informally anyway? If informal study would be acceptable to you, that would free up the more formal study time for other things. Also, I agree with the other poster about just doing keyboarding informally. After learning where the keys are, she could practice by typing some of her work instead of writing it out. That gets you down to 6 credits and more time for her own interests, whether as formal coursework or otherwise.

[Teachin'Mine]

Thank you so much for the feedback!

 

We're using Seton and my daughter likes being accountable to someone other than me. She says she needs this to do her best, and her work has shown that to be true. The two English classes have enough work to qualify for a credit each. Religion is required in order to get their diploma, which is the plan as of now. My dd enjoys the religion class, although this past year was almost entirely memorization. Next year should be more about deeper learning of what she memorized - the catechism.

 

Honestly, she's already a great typist - much faster than I have ever been - but we're doing the keyboarding (typing) since it was offered for free, and is an easy class. I consider this her basketweaving 101 class. :lol: She has to learn about proper letter form, and then she'll be done with the class quickly, so it would be 8 credits, or 8.5 with music theory, during the year.

 

She's okay with the classes I've chosen, but feels the art will bring her over the top. This would be a free virtual class and would teach her the "rules" of drawing - which she has never done. She draws beautifully but has resisted classes of any sort as she likes to "do her own thing." I'm not looking for her style to change, but just for her to get more ideas of perspective, shading, and all to add a new element to her drawings.

 

She plays the keyboard (piano) by ear, but I'd love for her to learn to read music. I like the idea of doing the music on the days she doesn't have art. I forget if it's half a year, or if it's three days a week all year for the art class.

 

I chose world geography as an elective since she'll be doing world history next year. It just makes sense to me to have an idea of where the countries are, what their culture is like, etc. before studying their history.

 

And for the Latin, they don't normally start a language until 11th, but that gives them two years of a language at most. I'd like for her to have at least 3 years. Starting in 9th will allow her to finish in 11th with the three years. Ideally, I'd like for her senior year to be lighter so she can have a break after all the standardized tests and all before beginning college.

 

We were originally going to do health over the summer, but dd got behind in science, so we've been doing that and she just finished. There's only two more weeks of "summer" so we won't be starting that early. I want her to have health just to learn and the class shouldn't be very hard.

 

Thank you MusicMom for the ideas about the music. Keyboarding (piano) is just by ear, and she's just started playing the guitar. We have the e-Media guitar and she's slowly working through the lessons when prodded. Otherwise, she likes to look up the songs she likes, and learn the chords needed to play them. Her whole motivation for learning guitar is to be able to write the music for the songs she writes. She spends a couple of hours a day playing, but I don't think she'll be able to continue putting in that much time once school starts. That's the downside to using a school as their courses take up a lot of time, and she has less time to write.

 

I just asked dd about music theory vs guitar for the half credit, and I'm totally stressing her. I think I may have to drop that idea for now and just let her enjoy her music. :) Maybe next year ... :D

[AngieW in Texas]

I still wouldn't list keyboarding on the transcript. It's a skill that kids are expected to have by the time they're in high school now. I took typing as an elective class in high school, but that was back in the days when most families didn't have typewriters. Now that there are computers in just about every library and in most homes, it's really expected that kids will already know how to type.

[Teachin'Mine]

Angie, since she's taking the keyboarding (typing) through the online school, it will be on their transcript. I agree that students should know how to type before high school - she is learning proper letter form. :)

[Myra]

"This would be a free virtual class and would teach her the "rules" of drawing - which she has never done. She draws beautifully but has resisted classes of any sort as she likes to "do her own thing." I'm not looking for her style to change, but just for her to get more ideas of perspective, shading, and all to add a new element to her drawings."

 

I'd be interested in a class like this for my boys. Could you send the link or info on it?

 

Thanks,

Myra

[Teachin'Mine]

Myra this is through our state which offers these classes to students in state only. There was a great link on here to see if your state offers free online or virtual classes, but I've been searching on and off all day, and can't find it. :tongue_smilie: If anyone has that link, please post it! Thank you!!!

[Teachin'Mine]

Finally I found it!!! It was posted on this forum, but I couldn't seem to find it no matter how I searched. :tongue_smilie:

 

http://www.onlinehighschool.org/Free_Online_High_Schools.html#AL

[Myra]

Thanks for taking the time to search for the link for me! Sigh....but New York wasn't on the list. I'm sure your link will be helpful for others

 

Thanks,

Myra

[Teachin'Mine]

Myra I'm sorry NY doesn't offer it yet, but in this thread

 

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=193318&highlight=2012

 

someone said that they thought it was federally mandated that each state provide this by 2011 or 2012. So there's hope! :)

[angela in ohio]

It looks like the usual, except for the double English credit. :001_smile: My dd wouldn't mind, as that is what she likes, though.

[In The Great White North]

It looks normal to me too, except we would have another language.

[Teachin'Mine]

Angela, I thought it was unusual to have two separate English courses in 9th too, but the amount of time and work needed does make for two full credits. English includes spelling, vocabulary, sentence structure, literary analysis and research report. The Grammar and composition is a semester of grammar and a semester of composition with weekly compositions.

 

Another language? :svengo:

 

That's dd. This is me. :lol: I actually would love for her to either continue with Spanish or pick up Mandarin or any other language that is spoken. :tongue_smilie:

[ChemMommy]

It seems a bit light in history, but neither of my two older ones show a lot of interest in math/science but love history/writing. Our load is skewed towards those topics. Of course, I teach chemistry professionally and it would be easier if my kids preferred those classes, BUT of course, they don't! LOL

 

I do not think that this is too heavy of a load. I wouldn't worry about the credits too much--my goal is not to replicate average ps education but to provide an excellent education. If colleges will balk at seeing more than 7 credit, then I'll just combine courses and reduce the number of credit the child has on the transcript.

[Teachin'Mine]

Thanks Pam! There is no history offered in 9th through her school, and honestly my dd is looking forward to a break in that anyway as she did American history, Church history and Bible history this past year. :tongue_smilie: We're doing world geography in prep for world history in 10th.

 

I love living history - visiting historical sites and learning about the time period and people's lives, but the date memorization stuff can draw the life out of the subject. I wasn't interested in history when I was in school, but I love it now that it's not just read, memorize, test and forget. We've tried to do a lot of the living history, so hopefully dd will develop a love for it too. Right now, it's about read, memorize, test ... :lol:

[katilac]

I think it's fine, and I'd even consider adding in that music theory :D

[Teachin'Mine]

:D