I am so incredibly stressed over 9th grade!

[thepoteetteam]

I am about to just bawl. I can't get a peace about my schooling! My first high schooler.....a very diligent son.....I am so blessed! I just don't know what to do for him. :( 3+ years ago we were doing bju homesat. Hated how LONG it took to do it all and eventually weaned our schooling to more of an eclectic type of schooling. This year I was going to do R&S Bible, R&S English, VideoText Math, Apologia Biology, Total Language Plus for reading/literature and SOS for History. Now after reading so much on these forums, I am afraid that's not enough for HIM. And I honestly never even thought about what will be counted as "credits" for his future. I am NOT organized. I don't keep records. I don't know where the time has gone! How can he be in 9th grade already? I do live in a very friendly homeschool state and don't have to check in with anybody. I was reading a lot about MFW and was very drawn into that approach, but I am almost afraid I am too airheaded for that curriculum! Omgosh I am making myself sound so bad..... Can someone encourage me? Advice anyone? PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!:001_huh:

[Teachin'Mine]

It sounds to me like you've got all the main subjects covered. :) I'm not familiar with the different programs you've listed, so others will be able to give you better advice on them. You may want to add a foreign language. As far as record keeping, just keep track of what he does this year. If you want to have an idea of how all the "requirements" will fit into his four year plan, you can make a basic schedule for the four years, and fit the requirements and his interests into that time frame. It's not carved in stone. We did this and will probably be changing things through the years. We've just started 9th too. :)

[Blueridge]

You might consider getting a spiral notebook and simply jotting down the books and curriculum that you are using for 9th grade. It won't take long. Add a sentence or two describing each program that you can use later on for course descriptions. Through the school year you can make additional notes here and there of special things that your ds is doing, that could count towards his extracurricular activities on his transcript. Remember...'faintest ink is more valuable than longest memory'. :) You have a nice list of things you'll be using. Look at the lovely high school suggestions for literature in the WTM book and consider adding a few of those readings to his schedule.

[sadiegirl]

I sort of feel the same way as you do. I have one that is in 9th grade this year and we have always just kept a very simple log of what we did in each subject each day. However, I never kept a detailed lesson plan, kept grades on quiz, test, or other activities. We simply do our IOWA at end of year.

I read all that others are doing to start a portfolio for each student in HS--the detail, the activities, the community service log....it is soooo overwhelming.

So, there are others out there feeling like you---let's just encourage each other and come together for an occasional group hug:grouphug:

[Jean in Wisc]

I am about to just bawl. I can't get a peace about my schooling! My first high schooler.....a very diligent son.....I am so blessed! I just don't know what to do for him. :( 3+ years ago we were doing bju homesat. Hated how LONG it took to do it all and eventually weaned our schooling to more of an eclectic type of schooling. This year I was going to do R&S Bible, R&S English, VideoText Math, Apologia Biology, Total Language Plus for reading/literature and SOS for History. Now after reading so much on these forums, I am afraid that's not enough for HIM. And I honestly never even thought about what will be counted as "credits" for his future. I am NOT organized. I don't keep records. I don't know where the time has gone! How can he be in 9th grade already? I do live in a very friendly homeschool state and don't have to check in with anybody. I was reading a lot about MFW and was very drawn into that approach, but I am almost afraid I am too airheaded for that curriculum! Omgosh I am making myself sound so bad..... Can someone encourage me? Advice anyone? PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!:001_huh:

 

I offer you this: my homeschool entries on my blog. http://shadesofwhite.typepad.com/shades_of_white/homeschooling/

 

I talk about my schooling, esp. high school.

 

And then I wrote this in another post:

 

I buy a file box (sometimes called a banker's box--one for each kid) and several folders--all red for English, green for science, etc. I mark the name of the class, child, and year in magic marker on the front of the folder.

 

Every test, test booklet, lab report, paper...etc.,etc. gets put into the correct folder after it is graded.

 

At the top of the box is a notebook. At the top of each page I write the name of a class. Then I record the grades for each paper, test....etc. that was handed in for that class. At the end of the class I average the grades and write the final grade at the bottom of the page. This is the grade that will show up on the transcript.

 

At the end of 4 years I have a folder for each class and a notebook filled with all the grades. It is very easy to make the transcript and if I ever need proof of what the child has done, it is all there.

 

I can tell you right now that you are not going to "get it all right." You are going to look back and wish you had done some things differently or that you had know XYZ. We all do. So, check out a few colleges and see what they expect you to have. Make a rough sketch of the classes you are going to need or want during your next 4 years (this will change as you go along, so don't worry about it being perfect). Then try to find materials you think will work for this year and get them organized. Keep track of the grades, and take one step at a time.

 

One thing you CANNOT do is to do all that everyone here does. What you are not seeing is that each of us talks about our successes and the wonderful things child A is doing in one post, but if you dig a bit, you will see that child A DOES NOT do it all in every class. Each of our homeschools have strengths and weaknesses. Some families are willing to spend all day and half the night doing school. Others participate in umpteen outside activities and keep school hours abbreviated to the morning. Another child will do 3 hours of English, 6 years of Latin, but have a science curriculum that barely squeaks by. Each of us will post about how wonderful our _______ curriculum works, but we don't post if we are only doing mediocre classwork...so what you see here is a collection of ideas that you may or may not be able to implement. Consider it a smorgasbord that you get to nibble and and taste, try and consider. Then you have to turn around and look at your home, your time restraints, your child, your child's projected future, etc. etc. and implement a REALISTIC year's worth of class work.

 

Free yourself up to make mistakes. Put together something you'd like your child to do--not what you fear your child should do. ENJOY the journey. That is even more important than doing it all "right".

 

Smile. Relax.

 

"Live simply; love life; give generously"

[Wendi]

My son is in 8th grade this year, and I am already making up some tentative schedules for high school.

 

If there is any chance your son will want to go to college, you will need to become familiar with high school graduation requirements in your state, and the requirements of colleges/universities. (I have no idea where my son might go, but I checked the entrance requirements for the state universities here, as well as some private Christian colleges.) Community colleges generally do not have very strict requirements for entrance.

 

Once you know what's expected/required, you can make a chart to plan out (tentatively) when he should take each class. Put in additional subjects you know you want him to take, or that are important for his area of career interest (if he has one). You'll change it, but at least you'll have an idea.

 

There's some difference of opinion concerning what a "credit" is, but generally it seems that for students doing a typical school year (about 180 days in most places), a credit equals 4-5 hours of work per week in that subject.

 

Keeping grades is stressing me out, too. I downloaded an Excel file from donnayoung.org that I'm going to try this year. She has some helpful forms for planning high school on there, too.

 

HTH,

Wendi

[momtotkbb]

I am about to just bawl. I can't get a peace about my schooling! My first high schooler.....a very diligent son.....I am so blessed! I just don't know what to do for him. :( 3+ years ago we were doing bju homesat. Hated how LONG it took to do it all and eventually weaned our schooling to more of an eclectic type of schooling. This year I was going to do R&S Bible, R&S English, VideoText Math, Apologia Biology, Total Language Plus for reading/literature and SOS for History. Now after reading so much on these forums, I am afraid that's not enough for HIM. And I honestly never even thought about what will be counted as "credits" for his future. I am NOT organized. I don't keep records. I don't know where the time has gone! How can he be in 9th grade already? I do live in a very friendly homeschool state and don't have to check in with anybody. I was reading a lot about MFW and was very drawn into that approach, but I am almost afraid I am too airheaded for that curriculum! Omgosh I am making myself sound so bad..... Can someone encourage me? Advice anyone? PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!:001_huh:

 

Relax and breathe! The advice I was given when we began doing high school is to work backwards....to take a few day, hours, a week whatever and sit w/ your child and figure out what he/you want him to end his high school career with. For me it was the knowledge that my dc need to have a minimum of 24 credits and what those credits needed to be (that was dictated to me by my accountability group and the colleges dc are interested in). You will need to get some what organized or require your ds to help w/ this and do some of the organization himself.

 

With the info that you have given I would award credit as follow --

R & S Bible ---either 1 credit or 1/2 depending upon work involved --I would be tempted to give it a title, such as if it focuses upon New Test or Old Test ---in my case my freshman is taking 1/2 credit World Religion bec she is studying about various religions around the world.

R & S Engl/Total Lang Plus ---1 credit for Engl I (our schools want to know within that what type of lit is studied --for example general lit, world lit, British or Am Lit) so I have listed Engl I - General Literature.

Video Text Math --1 credit --I would list what the class is though - is it Alg I, Adv Math, or what?

Apologia Biology ---1 credit for Biology (keep track of what labs are completed as well - but those aren't listed on the transcript)

SOS History - again 1 credit for _______ (is it Geography, World Hist, or what?)

Then if he has any electives you would list those as well.

 

I was encouraged to keep a computer file or notebook that listed volunteer hours, sports, activities, etc. so that a resume could be built for colleges that shows more than the transcript for things dc are involved in. You'll want something to file/make a portfolio for the year's work --not everything from every subject, but the best work or at least something that shows where he was when he began and where he ended. I have been told that sometimes if a student is going into a science field to make sure you maintain a good listing of labs that were conducted to be able to prove to a school bec many believe hsers aren't able to conduct those labs at home.

 

For a high school student I do believe that they should have some involvement. I also believe that they need to be involved in saying I'm interested in schol x, y, z and find out what they require for entrance so that a plan can be developed to meet those requirements. W/ the classes that you list - which I think look great --I would only consider adding in at least 1 elective of dc's choice ---something like a foreign lang or a fine art or computer.

[Mad Jenny Flint]

Loved the file box idea.

[Kim in SouthGa]

Have you looked at the Well-Planned Day planner for high school? It has all 4 years in one book. It looks so awesome, I have just been putting off buying it because I have so many customized forms that I have made myself on my computer. http://www.wellplannedday.com/planners.html

They are having a special this week where you get a free one year subscription to their magazine when you buy any planner.

Also, the HSLDA website has a ton of information about high school. And the Patrick Henry College website has a whole how to prepare for college handbook that you can print out. That has all been tremendously helpful for me. I helped put together a high school packet for our homeschool group and can email those files to you if you would like to see them. you can just pm me or email me at kimrandydavidson@bellsouth.net Mostly it is various handouts we found on the internet, but I did go to several college websites and put together a chart listing requirements such as credits, courses, test scores, etc. It really helped to see how different each college can be.