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If 1-year course takes a dc longer than 1-year to complete


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I give credit for the course no matter how long it takes...

Example:

Algebra 1 is one year credit even if it takes a slower student more than one year to complete--OR a stronger student one-semester.

 

You can organize your transcript by subjects instead of dates--or you can list the course in the year completed (or possibly the year the majority of the work was completed).

 

Since many homeschoolers are not bound by PS schedules it is common to begin and end subjects at random times... KEEP THE TRANSCRIPT SIMPLE.

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While I completely agree with Jann's post, I do have a difference of opinion also.

 

I really do believe that part of what makes a class a high school level class is the speed at which it is taken. Taking over a year to do a year's worth of content, imo, takes away from the strength of the class and suggests the student is not quite at the level being asked of him.

 

This may or may not make a difference though. Just my thinking on it. Just for an example, I would not give a high school credit for a student who took all of 7th and 8th grades to do Apologia Biology.

 

(ETA: Faithe mentioned something below that would make me rethink though. My daughter was very ill and on medication which made studying (and sleep) near impossible. In her case, though it altered school during that time period, it didn't make a long term difference. Had it, of course, that would be different. My above opinion was really based on a more typical situation. Hospitalization, crazy meds, stress while going into remission from an illness, etc requires more flexibility)

 

As for would you ever give more than one credit? Sure, not in math, but....Algebra I is Algebra I and is worth a credit. However, if a child spends 3 hours daily on 20th Century History? Assuming it was a rigorous program with more content, depth, broadness or work than the average student does in one hour per day? Absolutely, I would give more credit. I probably would call it 20th Century I and 20th Century II or something.

Edited by 2J5M9K
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how do you record it on a transcript?

Would you ever give more than 1 credit for it?

 

I would only give it 1 credit. My son was sick a lot last year and fell behind. He is finishing up Algebra 2 and Chem this semester. If he were in PS, he would have definitely failed due to absences. He would have had to repeat the entire 10th grade year. As we have the option of schooling year round and catching up over the summer, I did not have to fail him completely, but I certainly wouldn't give him extra credit.

 

So, on his transcript, I will put Chemistry and Alg.2 as 10th grade courses even though he is finishing up 10th and beginning 11th simultaneously this year.

 

Anyway, I list courses by grade level, not by year. My hope is that the child will finish all credits for 4 years within a 4 year period even if some take longer and some are done quicker.

 

HTH

Faithe

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If the class content is clearly laid out to be done in 1 year, I would give one credit (for instance the typical algebra 1 course).

However, if it was not a course clearly designed for one year, the student went above and beyond, covered extra material and went into more depth than the typical high school class, I would assign credit according to time spent working.

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Thank you for your replies. We are dealing with a potentially serious medical issue. Since we are still in the middle of tests, we don't know exactly what it is, but the testing alone has taken away school time and there are more tests to go. On top of that, there is a recently diagnosed learning disability to consider. My feeling has been that it may be worth going slowly in the one or two subjects where the disability is showing the most impact. I technically have the option of cutting back on the extra-curriculars, which would make more time in the late afternoon for school work, but I don't want to take away anything that this sensitive dd really enjoys with the medical stuff going on.

 

Thank you for helping me consider our options.

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If the class content is clearly laid out to be done in 1 year, I would give one credit (for instance the typical algebra 1 course).

However, if it was not a course clearly designed for one year, the student went above and beyond, covered extra material and went into more depth than the typical high school class, I would assign credit according to time spent working.

 

I agree that a standard course, that has been used with many students over time, has a certain expectation for one credit, no more or less. And other credits, you can be more flexible on.

 

However, I kind of disagree with Pamela about the time requirement. Even if no illness is involved, there are a lot of reasons that time doesn't matter to me. Kids have different abilities, different interruptions, and different levels of maturity. Some kids will never be fast or aren't mature enough to want to be fast or whatever. Homeschooling allows them to build their strengths and weaknesses, and allows you to be alongside of them as they go. Although I agree with pushing a child to their potential, by the same token I don't believe in pulling the rug out just because a detail is not met. Yes, life will have some of those kinds of consequences, but we are still "preparing" them for life.

 

I know some homeschoolers don't teach their kids enough about deadlines and such. But on the other hand, in the public schools, there is way more variety out there than some homeschoolers realize. Lots of teachers provide extra credit or points for attendance or silly group projects. If you fail a course, you get to do summer school and then Thursday school and then whatever you need in order to gain that credit. Not saying these are the greatest options, or AP options, but there are options for kids who would benefit from the extra time.

 

JMHO,

Julie

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For a different perspective... my SIL teaches high school Algebra (I & II). In her school district they have not only the traditional one-year Algebra classes, but they have divided both of these classes into two-year courses for a full credit each year. This was done because they start honors students in Algebra in 7th grade and everyone else in 8th grade. Many of the non-honors students couldn't do Algebra I in 8th grade. If they are failing or do fail, they have them take the 2 year version. She said most of the 7th graders make it through Algebra I fine, but get lost in Algebra II in 9th grade. As soon as they seen one of these students struggling they pull them into the 2 year course and they finish Algebra II in 10th grade and then usually have no trouble going on to Pre-Calc and Calc afterwards.

 

I give you that long winded explanation to say that if your student is getting in enough hours to count as a full course - the public schools would give them credit for the full time that it takes to complete, not based on the course. They spread out materials over a greater period of time, so you can too. I have never done this and don't plan on it, but you never know.

 

If, because of illness, your child is just not getting enough work done, then I would just let them continue through at the pace they can and give one credit for the course. If, on the other hand, they are working enough hours, but struggling to learn because of the illness, I might give credit for the actual time it takes.

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