Would this be okay for Freshman year?

[MamaSprout]

I have older kiddos, but this will be my first pass through homeschool high school. I need to look at next year to figure out what we really need to finish up this year.

 

I'm confused on how many classes per year. I have my state's "academic honors" planning sheet, at it says 6 year-long courses per year, the neighboring district does 7, and our local district does 8 (block schedule). Our older kids graduated from the local district, but they had band and lots of dual credits.

 

English: Roman Roads Greeks (skipping a unit but adding Rosenberg's World Myths & Rulebook for Arguments)

Math: Algebra 2

Science: Chemistry

Foreign Language: French 3 (or 2 depending on where she tests- we will outsource this).

Elective: Oak Meadow Health

Elective: Henle Year 2

 

She does a wind ensemble, piano lessons and some civics/ leadership type activities. Right now she won't have an outside sport next year, so the OM Health/ PE is attractive.

 

She's on the young side of her grade, so we are calling next year 9th, but I'm reluctant to schedule anything that wouldn't "count" from middle school in case we end up making this "8th" later.

 

 

[almondbutterandjelly]

The only obvious missing subject is History/Social Studies. I don't know much about Roman Roads, so that might get taken care of there.

 

 

[RootAnn]

While some people suggest packing 9th grade because time seems so short in 11th & 12th, I'm all for making 9th a trial year in terms of how many credits to get done. I think starting with 6 with not all of them being rigorous is a good idea. It is SO EASY to over-schedule high school.

 

If first semester seems easy, you can always add a one-semester elective for second semester. Plus, you want to leave time in her schedule for music and other activities. 

[TCB]

We have just done the core subjects with some good electives and none of the fluff classes that some of my friends kids do in the local PS and we seem to have been fine for college admissions. I think when some schools say they are doing 7 or 8 per year that includes some classes that are, in my opinion, pure fluff.

[RootAnn]

We have just done the core subjects with some good electives and none of the fluff classes that some of my friends kids do in the local PS and we seem to have been fine for college admissions. I think when some schools say they are doing 7 or 8 per year that includes some classes that are, in my opinion, pure fluff.

:iagree: When we looked into putting dd#1 into public school, I realized that some of the classes they have the kids take (word processing, graphic design as two examples) were things that my kids either do that I don't give credit for (like word processing - which was a combo of typing and learning Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) or things my kids do on their own (like messing with Paint or Photoshop to make different images or mix images up, "Game Theory" which my DH covers with the kids informally over the course of a couple of years). 

 

ETA:  This isn't universally true, of course, but it is what I noticed about this particular school. We do not live in a place where AP classes are routinely available.

Edited December 6, 2017 by RootAnn

[MamaSprout]

The only obvious missing subject is History/Social Studies. I don't know much about Roman Roads, so that might get taken care of there.

 

I think from an exposure standpoint, it is covered. Not enough for a credit, though.

 

I don't think any colleges require 4 years of "social studies", do they? I've seen several that require 3.

[MamaSprout]

:iagree: When we looked into putting dd#1 into public school, I realized that some of the classes they have the kids take (word processing, graphic design as two examples) were things that my kids either do that I don't give credit for (like word processing - which was a combo of typing and learning Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) or things my kids do on their own (like messing with Paint or Photoshop to make different images or mix images up, "Game Theory" which my DH covers with the kids informally over the course of a couple of years). 

 

ETA:  This isn't universally true, of course, but it is what I noticed about this particular school. We do not live in a place where AP classes are routinely available.

 

This makes sense. Dd is very artsy both with fiber and digital arts. She wants to do a Khan Academy or Edx course on coding, and has read extensively on aerospace topics, but I've not included any of that in her academics. I would have a hard time awarding credit for using word processing software, lol. ETA- we don't have any APs either. I might have her take some SAT subject tests, though.

Edited December 6, 2017 by MamaSprout

[skimomma]

My 9th grade dd only has 6 subjects (5 core and 1 elective) and that is almost too much.  She had lobbied for more when we were planning and I am really glad we decided against it.  

[fourisenough]

I’m planning for an 8th grade year (that I will very likely go back later and call 9th grade) for my DD13, who is also young (10/25 birthday). So, everything has to be HS credit-worthy. I’m planning for 5 core academics + 1 elective, which is consistent with my very good local PS (from which my older girls graduated/will graduate this year). (They gained admission everywhere they applied with generous merit scholarships, FWIW.)

 

It will look something like this:

English: Honors Lit & Comp 1 at Integritas Academy

Foreign Language: Latin 2 at WHA

Math: Geometry at WHA

Science: Physics at Clover Creek or WHA

History: World History

Elective: OM Health

 

So, to answer your question, I think 6 solid credits is plenty for 9th grade.

[almondbutterandjelly]

I think from an exposure standpoint, it is covered. Not enough for a credit, though.

 

I don't think any colleges require 4 years of "social studies", do they? I've seen several that require 3.

 

Texas does.  They want a year of World History, a year of World Geography, a year of US History since 1877, a semester of Government, and a semester of Economics.  Or the equivalent.

[MamaSprout]

Texas does.  They want a year of World History, a year of World Geography, a year of US History since 1877, a semester of Government, and a semester of Economics.  Or the equivalent.

 

Good to know. Geography is actually the course I'm trying to figure out if we should do it this year or next. I have it on the shelf, and we are doing Modern this year with Human Odyssey, which is really light.

[Clear Creek]

Texas does.  They want a year of World History, a year of World Geography, a year of US History since 1877, a semester of Government, and a semester of Economics.  Or the equivalent.

 

Specifically which college in Texas has those requirements? Homeschooled students are exempt from the State of Texas Uniform Admission Policy, so it is definitely not a requirement at the majority of colleges in the state. Texas A & M, for example, does not even list any social studies credits as needed in their minimum required coursework:

 

 

 

• 4 years of English
• 4 years of Mathematics - Three of the courses must be Algebra I, II and Geometry
• 4 years of Science - Two courses must come from Biology I, Chemistry I or Physics I
• 2 years of the same foreign language
  • American Sign Language is acceptable and will satisfy Texas A&M graduation requirements for all Bachelor of Science degrees.
  • Computer Science is acceptable for admissions purposes but will not satisfy Texas A&M graduation requirements.

 

 

 

ETA: Maybe that exemption is only at A&M. The waiver for admission to schools across Texas still only has 2.5 credits required for SS under the minimum high school program - one credit of US History and 0.5 credit of Government, and student's choice for the other credit.

Edited December 6, 2017 by Clear Creek

[almondbutterandjelly]

Well, specifically I am looking at Tamu-cc.  I did say "or its equivalent."  Reading the forms on the website, I am not comfortable saying that my 2.5 years of World History, Ancient for a year, Medieval for a semester, and Modern for a year, are equivalent to the current requirements that I listed above.  So I am being sure to cover those requirements. 

 

But you can certainly do what you want.  I'm not going to argue with you.  I was trying to be helpful.  

[Clear Creek]

Well, specifically I am looking at Tamu-cc.  I did say "or its equivalent."  Reading the forms on the website, I am not comfortable saying that my 2.5 years of World History, Ancient for a year, Medieval for a semester, and Modern for a year, are equivalent to the current requirements that I listed above.  So I am being sure to cover those requirements. 

 

But you can certainly do what you want.  I'm not going to argue with you.  I was trying to be helpful.  

 

You were not clear that those requirements only apply to public schoolers, and only to those trying for the top 10% automatic admission who have also completed the recommended or advanced/distinguished high school programs. That is vastly different than stating that Texas requires four years of specific social studies credits. Homeschoolers at that school trying for the top 10% or top 25% automatic admission still only need three credits, and those credits are not even specified.

 

These are the pre-college high school curriculm requirements listed on their admissions page:

 

Courses

  No. of credits More about this requirement English 4 credits None, Laboratory science 4 credits (At least one credit must be in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics), Mathematics 4 credits (Must include Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II and a higher math), Social Studies 3 credits None, Foreign Language 2 credits (Must be 2 credits in one foreign language or

2 credits in American Sign Language)

 

 

 

You are free to make your own credit requirements for graduating your students. If your goal is meeting the requirements for public schoolers to get the top 10% automatic admission, that is great. But your statement was very misleading, and I wanted to clear it up for everyone else reading the thread.

 

ETA: tried to fix the formatting in the box above and it didn't work, sorry.

 

Edited December 6, 2017 by Clear Creek