MommyThrice
-
Posts
604 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Blogs
Classifieds
Store
Posts posted by MommyThrice
-
-
Grapes of Wrath is a longer novel, and grows increasingly depressing and hopeless, coming from a somewhat existential worldview in which Fate is arbitrary and crushing, and people are unable to better themselves.
I read this recently and was actually looking forward to a depressing book on the dust bowl era, but it was that fatalism that I hated. I wasn't sure if the family was unable - or just unwilling - to better themselves. (Kind of like when I desire to lose weight, but won't bother changing my diet or exercise routine.)
But the clincher, for me, was the scene at the end where the young mother, whose baby recently died, literally "nurses" and old man back to life - with a sly smile on her face. Good grief. :ack2:
-
PSAT is the best prep for the PSAT, but my son took the SAT in 9th because we were out of town during the PSAT. And I wanted him to take the essay portion in a real test environment - I can't recreate that at home. He had taken the PSAT the year before and just wanted to know what the other was like.
-
So many of you mentioned your teen sons lack of motivation. What a coincidence. :D
Did that change when they attended a public or private school? Any idea why?
Did any of you find that it worked itself out while continuing to homeschool?
-
One option might be to plan on econ in a box for the spring once he's adjusted to the AP course (unless everything is getting done each day much more quickly than you anticipate) or even waiting until next year. I've always heard the AP classes are very time-consuming and there's bound to be a learning curve just getting used to the assignments, etc.
As far as the disorganization... my husband and I call it teen brain! It's like having an absent-minded professor living here! Interestingly enough, I still have teen brain at 52!
That's a good idea. He would like to do mock trial in the spring, so I'd like to get it out of the way before then. But since we're doing it all at home, I could just spread it out over the year instead of cramming it all in at one.
My husband is still disorganized and that what has this organization-freak so worried!
-
I'm curious why you think he's weak in math. Usually Algebra II or Geometry in 10th grade is right on target. Not all kids get through calculus in high school nor do many kids actually need to. Has he had geometry? The reason I ask is because if he takes the PSAT at the beginning of 11th grade, it would help him if he to has. The PSAT covers algebra I and geometry but nothing much beyond that level. In my opinion, maybe the English is a little heavy and just sticking to the AP prep course would be enough. But, you know your son and I don't.
Because it took him two years to get through Algebra I, and he made a B. But you're right, there's no hurry because he probably won't take calculus at all. It's been difficult for him & he has his mind made up that he isn't good at math. However, he tried the SAT this year (freshman year) and his best section was math, which is really odd since that is more grade-level dependent than the english sections.
-
and what you've used.
I chose Notgrass American for two reasons. 1) My younger dd is in jr. high and they have a jr. high American History. I thought it would be fun for both girls to study the same time period. 2) DD requested American history this year.
Maybe I should rethink the American History. Both girls could probably do world history, but then when younger hits high school she will have already completed the world history course...ugh!
I just posted about it here
I think your American History plan sound great.
-
Is this reasonable? I ask because, in 11 years of homeshooling, I've yet to come up with a plan that works in real life! :glare:
This plan is for a boy that hates math but loves logic, debate and the Con Law class he took this year. I think he's capable of writing well, but won't take criticism from me anymore, so I'm farming it out.
English:
AP English Language and Comp through Patrick Henry Prep (they estimate 10-15 hours/week, I have no idea how long it will take ds)
Additional 6-7 works to read at home
Lit Analysis: Windows to the World with the family, once/week
Maybe Vocabulary from Classical Roots
History:
Studying Middle Ages - Renaissance with Notgrass World History, Gileskirk lectures, and the literature listed in English, above. Pretty light this year.
Math:
Saxon Algebra II - 4 or 5 days/week
Foreign Language:
Rosetta Stone Spanish. I'm just using this to prep him for dual credit Spanish his junior year. I've heard it's difficult if you don't have a little Spanish already.
Science:
Putting it off until he can take a dual credit Chemistry this summer. I think he'll need the time this year for his AP class
Economics:
Economics in a Box, fall semester only. Pretty rigorous.
Electives:
Debate (4th year)
Guitar
He could, possibly take AP Gov't in the spring if all goes really well until then.
I estimate the English and lit will take 3-3.5 hours/day
History 30 min-1 hour/day
Math 1 hour/day
Spanish 30 min-1 hour/day
Economics 1 hour/day (fall only)
That totals 6-7.5 hours/day plus debate and guitar
I feel certain it will probably take him far longer than my estimate, so I really need to know if this is reasonable. He wants to go to law school and is hoping that AP English, AP Gov't (maybe spring or next year), Con Law and Economics electives will help make up for his weakness in math. He's smart, but he really struggles with organization, and that's what makes me want to :banghead:
I would appreciate any suggestion.
Thanks,
Tracie
-
I think it looks good. We used Notgrass American in 8th grade; it is significantly more difficult than their World History, but I think will be fine for 9th grade. I, personally, would drop the grammar. We use R&S through 7th, then drop it and just address grammar issues through writing and foreign language. Ninth is when we switch to traditional logic; it works nicely with geometry - at least it did with Jacobs.
Good luck!
-
It was useless to me. The book is mainly examples of student's writings, with comments on how the author would discuss it with the child, showing various problems or how to improve the writing. I would consider it a book for you to read some weekend to give you an idea of what to look for in writings, but that's all. If that is really what you are looking for, I would be happy to sell mine. ;)
-
How many minutes per day?
It started off pretty easy. By the middle of the first book, about 30-45 minutes per day. In the second book, about 45 minutes to an hour per day. There is quite a bit of writing out syllogisms in various forms, so there is alot of thinking and alot of writing.
-
3 days/week
Logic--Traditional Logic followed by
Rhetoric--following WTM recommendations
We used Traditional Logic by Martin Cothran and it took a significant amount of time. My son worked on it 5 days/week, and that is without any videos. This year we are going to try the James Nance books with videos. I think my second son will benefit from the videos, but it will require more time to watch them. Both series take two semesters to get through both books.
I wouldn't add true rhetoric to the schedule until after the logic is completed. But if, by rhetoric, you mean speech or debate, that will be a great compliment to logic.
-
I'll say, "Yes." The Latin placement test was difficult for my child, but we used a different text, so, obviously he hadn't studied the same material. If my child had used the SAME text and covered the SAME material, I would either ask for an exception or just go ahead and put your child in the next class. It would be ridiculous - and maybe cruel - to make your child repeat the material unless they really struggled with it.
-
We love Rod & Staff. If you want one year for high school, I would recommend the 7th grade book. It's the last book in the series that we use and it covers everything I think my kids need to know (except for what is needed for Latin). It would not be too simplistic for high school if you haven't used the books leading up to it. Get the very cheap workbook pages to go with it so your child won't have to copy so many sentences.
-
Holly,
I sent you a PM.
-
Speech & debate is the most important activity our family has ever done.
Time commitment: Are you asking about debate? or speech?
The time commitment really depends on what your son (and his debate partner) what to accomplish and what his club expects. When my son started at age 12, he spent very little time working on debate - maybe one to three hours per week plus Friday club meetings. Obviously, he didn't do well in competition, but he grew TREMENDOUSLY and loved every minute of it. Now my boys spend and hour or two per day during the busy tournament season. Your son will have some basic research responsibilities for the club - all the kids contribute to the evidence pool to help each other - but beyond that it is up to your family to decide.
I think there is a good chance that your son will step up to the plate in terms of "laziness and rebellion" if you get in with a good group of kids. Does he have friends in the club now? The biggest benefit we've received from debate is the positive peer pressure.
CONS:
Time commitment
Travel to tournaments
Stress
PROS:
Public speaking skills
Self-confidence
Positive peer-pressure
Critical thinking and argument formation
When my oldest started at age 12, his speeches were no longer than 30 seconds. He couldn't write well, had no critical thinking skills, and couldn't speak in front of a group. Now he has decided he wants to be an attorney; he enjoys current events and politics. He has taken Constitution Law, Economics and Logic by choice. His writing and critical thinking skills are greatly improved. He has competed at the national level and gone on to compete in mock trial. All of this was prompted by speech & debate. I highly recommend it.
-
-
There's a syllabus that combines Teaching the Classics with Windows to the World.
Can you tell me where you found this?
Thanks!
-
If I want to do selections of something I haven't already read, I look for online study guides (google name of work + "study guide"), to see what high school and college teachers assign.
Great idea. I never thought of that!
-
OK - here are two readers that I used. I did not use all the selections but we read about half from each book, on top of our reading list (On The Incarnation, Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, etc). It was nice to have them preselected!
Renaissance and Reformation: 1300-1648
These are from a series Ideas and institutions in western civilization. I have them in storage as it will be a few years till I teach high school again, but if you give me a few days I can dig them out and give you a better idea of the contents!
Are these similar to anthologies? So the selections are actually in the book? (Amazon had ZERO information.) Please don't fish them out... thanks for the info!
-
My ds is taking an AP writing class next year, so I don't want to load him down with too much literature. We're going to be studying middle ages through the renaissance. I have some ideas for literature, but for some of the works I just want him to read selections - Augustine's Confessions and Paradise Lost in particular.
How do you choose selections from literature (No, I haven't pre-read these works :blush:) How do you know where to start? The Bluedorn's Ancient History book lists selections for ancient literature - I haven't found the selections to make any sense at all... almost like they were chosen at random. But beginning in the middle ages I haven't found any source to help me choose.
Any suggestions?
-
Is that Patrick Henry College Prep Academy? I don't know anything other than what I can see on the Web site.
I was skeptical. We had a terrible experience with an expensive, online writing class - ds had ONE paper graded by the teacher in an entire semester. We dropped it and lost the entire tuition. Anyway, I kept asking PHC questions about this course until I got the entire syllabus, a list of which assignments are graded by whom, as well as a list of literature readings. I think it will be worthwhile.
-
When my dd took AP Lang and Comp (through PA Homeschoolers), we were doing TOG, so she did the lit part of that, but very pared down - did the reading and oral discussions with about one paper and test/semester. However, writing and lit were her areas of strength, so she doubled up LA credits most years of high school. If you only want one credit of English for the year, the AP class will provide more than enough work in writing and reading. My dd usually spent between 6-8 hours/week. Maybe you could incorporate some lit with your history studies if there are some books you/he would like to read, but not have another additional course.
Thank you - that's exactly what I had in mind. Reading some literature along with the rest of the family's study of middle ages through the reformation.
He's hoping to do the AP lit class the following year, but we'll have to see how this one goes, first!
Is PA Homeschooler an online class?
-
My son will be taking AP English Lang & Comp next year through PHC. I think there is a fair amount of reading to demonstrate various writing styles. But, is that adequate? Do I need to add literature for the year? I don't know how busy the class will keep him.
-
I think the Adv. Biology is a good idea - she will be through with Alg. I, right? If she wants to sit for the Biology AP, she's better off taking the two classes in a row so she doesn't forget any of the material.
My son didn't have the math to move into Chemistry in 9th (he book Biology in 8th) so we let him take a year of Astronomy. That's a good choice, too, except that we took it through Scholars Online and it was like a college course. It required way too much of my liberal arts minded son.
s/o rigorous studies: personality types of Draconian Homeschoolers?
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted
Another ENTJ - which now explains why my children never have any free time. Classical education? Yes. Real world experiences? Yes. I want it all!