historymatters
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Posts posted by historymatters
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52 minutes ago, Junie said:
I have chronic health issues including migraines.
What I have found to be the most helpful is to take a nap every.single.day. It's annoying to work my schedule around an afternoon nap every day, but it's the only thing I have found that really, really helps.
Yes, I do that myself, at least 50% of the time. My medicine also makes me very drowsy: Lyrica and muscle relaxers.
I wouldn't mind his napping if he awoke earlier, but he wakes up after 10 as it is. I'm working on his vitamin and herbal combinations to get his best focus and calm through the day and a better night's sleep. Obviously, exercise has to start.
I'm going to create, with his commitment to and cooperation with, a daily schedule which sets specific parameters on time spent on academics, a couple of breaks during the day, and alternating between subjects to lessen brain drain and computer time. He finally found his blue-light filter for his computer. A big problem he has is he waits too long to eat. Drives me nuts because his lack of schedule is a cause for many migraines, specifically, sleeping and eating schedule inconsistencies.
We've talked and he's approved a new yearly schedule for him. It's 36 weeks long, but it allows for 4 weeks on, 1 week off, in addition to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Passover. This also allows his history to to be done in 3 days, instead of 4 and stretches it out to having 2 weeks to complete a chapter, instead of 1.
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On 9/9/2018 at 1:18 AM, J-rap said:
You've gotten good advice from others regarding classes. I just wanted to add that I'm so very sorry for all of the difficulties and heartbreak that you've had to face. We had a catastrophic event happen in our family when my youngest two were in high school, which felt like I had been jolted overnight to an entirely different life and left us in just plain survival mode for several years. It still pales compared to what you're going through, but I have some understanding of trying to homeschool and wanting the very best for your child in the midst of chaos and pain.
I hope you're doing okay and are taking care of yourself in the midst of everything.
Thank you so much. Everyday requires extreme effort. I'm trying. Overwhelmed. Emotional pain makes my neurological pain worse. That should improve in time; hopefully. There are other areas of my health - and his - that have been neglected over the 4+ years which need attending to. It will take awhile for me to climb out of this pit she, and her adult enablers, have dug without any sense of consequence for her or us. But, I have to. Thanks again for your kind words.
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2 hours ago, Pen said:
Where/when is the Discovering Music? I see it referred to in Lori D posts, but not in op.
I forgot to write it in my original post; I wrote it in a later one when i noticed. It's for this year. Once a week. It's low-key (no pun intended).
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1 hour ago, Pen said:
I’d still consider giving an elective credit for chess.
And, maybe in summer, giving elective credit for a careers class which could include taking some interest area testing and job shadowing or even volunteering.
And also perhaps have him study cooking and nutrition hands on and give it credit. (At my son’s school culinary arts is a popular for credit elective class amongst both boys and girls. )
I don’t know anything about the classes by Beth class, but if it lives up to its description it looks good!
I'm just not sure his chess class qualifies. When I asked a veteran homeschooler mom and co-op teacher, I was informed it was only extra-curricular.
If he finds something, that'd be good. Frankly, he needs a paying job.
Yes, we are going to be cooking together. I'll make a syllabus. I'm a Nourishing Traditions person. I have teaching cookbooks by Sue Becker and reading material by Food Renegade who created a NT-based food "curriculum" for middle and high school. And, yes, I will include food docs and maybe some of the GC lectures re: food prep. I guess I would just use the time-clock version of what qualifies as a credit.
Thanks for nudging me with this, as it's something I wanted to do, but it's been on the back burner. It will help both of us.
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2 hours ago, Lori D. said:
Subjects/credits completed/in process:
4.00 = English -- 5.00 --> 1.00 extra can count as an Elective
2.00 = Math = 2.00 still required
4.00 = Science -- 4.00 by switching Physical Geography to a Geology 0.50 credit
1.00 = Soc. Studies -- 2.00 still required
3.00 = CTAE -- 3.00, with 2.00 For. Lang. (Latin) and 1.00 Fine Arts (Discovering Music)
0.50 = Health/PE -- 0.50 still required
3.00/3.50 = Electives (if counting extra English here)-- 0.50-1.00 still required
17.50 - 18.00 = total credits completed/in process
_______Still need to plan/do = 5.00 - 5.50
2.00 = Math [1.00 = Alg. 2 / 1.00 = Personal Finance*]
2.00 = Social Studies [1.00 = American History or Cultural Geography / 0.50 each = Econ & Gov't]
0.50-1.00 = Health
0.50-1.00 = [continue 3D Modeling -- or other choice of Elective]Thank you for all your effort.
The Personal Finance and Accounting class at Classes by Beth is categorized as a math class, worth 1 credit. Plus, I can get the "Recorded" option for him which is not only cheaper, but moves at a much slower pace; giving him over a year to complete the material and the teacher still grades his work. Awesome!
QUESTION: Since I'm doing a subject-based transcript, and he's completed subjects out of order, can I omit the dates on his course descriptions?
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I just canceled his Biology Lab Intensive coming up in November. It would've required that he get across Atlanta by 8:30 and go till 5pm; and then stay at a hotel close by and get there again the next morning by 8:30 till noon. Additionally, he would've missed his co-op day AND his Latin class. Which would stress him out even more. Not worth it. There's no way he can handle that right now and I'm not comfortable with pressing him to BE ready in two months.
I'd signed him up in June, when he was feeling better, during a lull in our drama.
I have the Apologia DVD which has all the labs completed by the teacher. So, he can watch and write up a lab report. Plus, he can do it at his own pace. Yeah!?
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26 minutes ago, perkybunch said:
FYI, we are using Personal Finance as our Economics credit. I am calling it Economics on the transcript, and it is Dave Ramsey's high school course.
I was looking at that as an option. Another is Classes by Beth recorded or live version of Accounting and Personal Finance
Recorded classes allow students to take up until one week prior to the next school year to complete the class. He can contact her via email and she still grades his work. Sounds like a winner!
This would prepare for handling his own business affairs if he would prefer to be self-employed for whatever reason, more options. Plus, it's a math credit.
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3 hours ago, Pen said:
However it sounds like you have science covered by calling physical geography a geology science — since if I understand it correctly he did Not (?) do the *space* part of earth science I would not refer to what he did as “astronomy” but rather .5 of Earth Science Or 1 whole credit earth science putting together physical geography with the Earth Science he did
I'll need to double check on what part he covered. He devoured the H.A. Rey books on Astronomy as a little boy and the Wonders of Creation series, up till Ecology.
3 hours ago, Pen said:He does not need 4 mathematics classes for what you said you want him ready for. However Personal Finance can be very useful.
GA requires 4. I want him to be prepared to handle real-life finances and maybe be an entrepreneur, so to understand business. His personality will demand more choice in his life; he gets it honestly.
3 hours ago, Pen said:Carolyn Leaf also has a book about eating for brain health which might be helpful. This is interesting to me too because I feel like with increased teenage activity food has gotten less priority than it should have in our home as well.
I have found Daniel Amen books related to brain health very useful. And Grain Brain by Perlmutter
I'll take a look. Thanks. His gut is messed up due to his experiences with his dad when his schizoaffective disorder was ascending. It flares up.
3 hours ago, Pen said:In the thread about a board member who needs to recover from childhood bullying, I linked 2 you tube videos which I would also like to bring to the attention of you and your son since they might help in dealing with what you have had going on too
That sounds interesting. We definitely feel "bullied" and emotionally abused by her (she was physical, too; he had to hold her down at one point before I took her to the hospital). Then the mental and emotional abuse continued as I had to battle with the facilities she was in to hold her accountable for her actions, to have family therapy (I was denied by two of the three), and recognize that she was being abusive towards us. But they didn't see it that way; she was the victim, not us and they took that, and her false accusations, to you-know-who; even though her accusations had already been investigated by another county and found false, but that didn't matter. So, then, the attention was taken off of her and placed onto us; exactly as she always liked it: blame others, no personal responsibility, and no remorse. But she's got lots of charm!
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10 hours ago, J-rap said:
I hadn't heard of the trait of having trouble completing a task and organizing being linked to migraines. I definitely see that in some of my kids! My dh's father had epilepsy as well as migraines, but no one else does. They're all very sensitive to the world around them. My dh used to sleep very soundly until his migraines became chronic; then his sleep cycle became really wacky.
Oliver Sacks wrote a good book about the migraine person. It reads like a textbook but is packed with interesting information.
I shouldn't have been so absolute with my migraine-personality statement, as it is controversial and kind of a pseudo-science and for good reason. Migraine sufferers come in all shapes and sizes and temperaments. Sometimes it seems which came first, the chicken or the egg syndrome: behaviors first or the migraine causing the behaviors?
He gets so much neurological junk from both sides. I have syringomyelia and hormonal migraines and my mom has myasthenia gravis, depression, anxiety, and migraines. I mentioned his Dad's problems, but also his side is littered with very serious mental illness (narcissism, borderline, sociopath, along w/anxiety, bipolar, and depression); that's where my dd got it from; she is my husband's biological great-niece. So, son and daughter are biological cousins. My husband's seizures were likely caused by a hit to the head as a football coach, not birth, though he was born at 28 weeks, died 3x in 1961, so, pre-disposed, definitely.
So, ds learning to manage his emotions is high priority.
We're going to watch and work through Who Switched Off My Brain? by Dr. Caroline Leaf. He's better on boundaries than I am, but he still needs work on controlling what he dwells on and making healthy decisions for himself, regarding activity and food. The latter is vital since he'll likely have a sedentary job. Which is what I like about the Apologia Health curriculum.
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13 hours ago, Garga said:
For his health credit, what are you using? Did he learn how to cook any meals in his high school years? Did he learn to do (and do) any exercises in this high school years? Can you watch a few documentaries like “Supersize me” and count them?
Does he need a full health credit, or just a half? Maybe he already has a chunk of time toward health if you count him learning to cook healthy foods or learning about/doing some routine exercise or watching documentaries. Think back if there’s anything health related that he learned in any of high school that you could count. Is there a mental health type of thing that he learned about you can count? Like, yoga for relaxation or some such thing? Or did he learn about/do journaling for example? I’d count anything like that toward “health.”
I'm using Apologia's new Health. It is very good in the areas where he needs: lifestyle habits, mental health, food safety, and also goes into sexual health and relationships. I can take it slower and cut out projects.
He knows how to do a few things, but not enough. I will be working with him more in the kitchen: knowing the names for tools, when to use what, basic dishes.
I lost all of my joy for cooking through all of this, unmotivated, and our appetites have been inconsistent; and so we've been just like two single people, unfortunately. So, it will help us both.
I don't know all of what his therapist has required. She's been working with him weekly, or biweekly. He tells me the basics of what they talk about and anything he fills out or does.
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13 hours ago, Pen said:
Only do 1.5 more science credits— I’d suggest a whole year of biology, and a half year of chemistry. Or earth science and or environmental science if these would be better
Eta: or, could a tech class count as a science?
Could he have American History, Economics, Government, Personal Finance, Project Management (organization of time and space ), Career exploration, for 3.5 total credits?
I moved Physical Geography to science since the text they used is a Geology text. So, after his Chemistry this year, he's fine.
Tech (I assume you're referring to 3D Modeling?) is considered an art form.
Am. H., Economics, Gov., are next year; and (hopefully) Personal Finance as a 4th math.
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15 hours ago, Lori D. said:
Credits required for admission at the typical NON selective/competitive college:
4 credits = English
3-4 credits = Math (up through Alg. 2; some require a 4th math above Alg. 2)
3-4 credits = Science, with labs (if not going into a STEM field, 3 credits is fine; most colleges are flexible on which Sciences)
3-4 credits = Social Studies (3 credits should be fine; however, many colleges want 1 credit of Amer. Hist., many also want 1 credit World Hist and/or 0.5 credit each Econ & Gov't)
2-4 credits = Foreign Language (same language)
1 credit = Fine Arts
4+ credits = Electives (you mentioned Health being required in your area)
20-24+ credits = TotalThank you. I had written it all out before, but that was before he had another downturn.
In GA its 4 sciences, 3 soc. studies, 2 Foreign Lang.; 1 Fine Arts; Health isn't an elective here. 23 minimum credits
I meant to put in Am. His. above post; slated for his senior year.
The book used for the Physical Geography class was Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology, 6th Ed, so I moved that into the science category as Geology on his transcript.
If he'll find something of interest to do as an elective that would work I'll go with that. I have your post about a homegrown film course that he found a couple things of interest. So, we'll look at that again.
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2 hours ago, J-rap said:
Migraines run deeply in our family, but hers were and are far worse and stubborn than anyone else's. Up till then she was a very hard worker and I could give her as much work as I wanted.
Yes, ours, too. His dad, in addition to his downgraded mental illnesses (5, himself), he has Complex Seizure Disorder and 2 aneurysms; has headaches daily. My late MIL had them. My mom and I do (mine are hormone and stress-related). His temperament fits the migraine-type; intense, deep-thinker, wants to complete something; has trouble organizing himself.
2 hours ago, J-rap said:As someone else said, we had no outside expectations to live up to (no co-op or online classes, etc.) so she could complete things on her own schedule.
If he were involved in other outside things, I wouldn't do the co-op. Also, I can't teach math or foreign language; I don't do labs, plus, he gets to socialize. He has no other socialization right now. His friendships and our congregation were shaken up after we moved 2x in 4 years and the latter's relationships fell apart, plus it reminds us of my dd, as we spent 15 years there; they had their Bnei Mitzvah there.
And we both feel weird around people now. Like we're damaged goods after all we've dealt with. We believe it will pass, but it's still very real.
2 hours ago, J-rap said:initially I felt badly to not be able to push her more than that, but her health was more important.
Yes, definitely this.
2 hours ago, J-rap said:I let her choose her own daily schedule. For her, it was getting started late, taking afternoon breaks, and then getting back to it in the evenings, sometimes working until midnight because that's what she liked.
Yes, we're going to work on this in the next week. I have some ideas to share with him. I'm trrying to communicate the necessity of taking a break after a computer-based subject from 45 m to an hour and alternating between book-based and comp-based.
He'll go to sleep, but then wake up frequently be it for a minute to half an hour. Because of that, it's difficult to get him up before 10am. I've instituted some requirements re: his computer and not watching exciting movies late. He likes to analyze, so he gets riled up.
2 hours ago, J-rap said:Because of her migraines, she never continued to college, but she is a very self-educated young gal and loves to learn on her own, and, she's very happy. She still struggles a lot with daily migraines, but she works and is finding her own path.
I will say that in our experience, migraines and insomnia often go hand and hand. My dh was finally able to find help for his migraines; hopefully your ds will too!
The book that really helped my dh with his migraines is Heal Your Headache by David Buccholz. I don't know if that would help in your ds's situation, but you never know!
I'm glad to hear she's finding her way. That's encouraging.
Yes, the wacky sleep schedule contributes to the headache, but then he has to go to bed, usually late in the day to get rid of it. He sleeps for 6-8 hours and wakes up after 1am. Then, he's back to a messed up schedule again!
Thank you for the book recommendation.
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2 hours ago, perkybunch said:
Just some comments, take them for what they're worth: It looks like you have enough science without adding Anatomy. Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Earth and Space Science (which I would be tempted to call something like Astronomy .5 credits and Geology .5 credits). I do see that Georgia has something called Earth Systems which might be the same thing as Earth and Space Science, I'm not sure. So in my view, you could drop Anatomy and not double up on Science since you still have two years to go. Also it looks like you have Physical Geography, which is either a science or a social studies depending on what you studied there.
Health, from what I can tell and from my experience, tends to be a semester course, and therefore .5 credit. So don't overdo that.
I would drop the the Logic, personally.
You only need four total credits of English, and it looks like he's almost there, so you might want to skip British Lit.
((hugs)) Best wishes for your son's education!
Thank you.
He only made it through 1/2 of Earth and Space (falling under "Earth Systems") before breaking down. I'm thinking it was the Space part. I thought about using that half and combining it with the physical geography (it was the science-leaning version) for Astronomy and Geology. Does that sound legit? Would I just name it separately like your suggestion? One was an online class, the other was not.
I'll double check the English credits.
I will talk with him about Logic. I guess Rhetoric won't happen. Thankfully, expressing himself and knowing why he believes what he does is NOT a weakness for him!
Yeah, the Health is the Apologia, hence the full credit. It has very valuable material about lifestyle habits, mental health, etc. I think the extra half is due to the Notebook. I could nix most or all the extra projects, of which there are quite a few, and spread it out more; analyze the questions for unnecessary ones, schedule for less than 1-2x/wk (starting in Feb.), he finishes when he finishes.
EDIT: GA requires 4 electives.If I nix Logic, I could possibly put 3D Modeling as an elective, instead of an Art, which it is considered w/in that category in GA; he'll have Western and American music appreciation courses, which more than fulfill the Fine Arts category.
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21 hours ago, perkybunch said:
I think it would be helpful for us to know what high school classes he has completed already, and potential future goals as far as college (community college? four year university? Easier or more competitive four-year university?) and maybe what state you are in, so we can help you brainstorm.
FWIW, my dd lost a lot of her 10th grade year due to surgery, so I have sort of been in a similar situation. But now we are in 12th grade and looking good for a somewhat gentle university.
Thus far, with its credit amt:
Debate, 0.5; Speech, 0.5; American Lit., 0.75; Writing ER, 1.0; Writing Elegant Essays, 0.5; The Write Shop, 1.0; Lord of the Rings, Lit. Analysis, 0.75; Latin 1A and 1B, 1.0; Physical Science, 1.0; Space and Earth Science, 0.5; Biology (1.0, in process); Chemistry (1.0, in process); Phys. Ed, 0.5; Physical Geo., 0.5; W. History (1.0, pending this year); W. Lit (1.0, pending this year); Alg. 1 (1.0, pending this year); Geometry (1.0, in process); 3D Modeling and Animation, 0.5-1.0 (in process); Discovering Music, 1.0 (this year); Latin 2 (in process, 1.0); Trad. Logic I (0.5, in-process)
Total complete: 8.5
Pending or In-process: 9 - 9.5
Subjects left, not mentioned above spread this year and next: Health, 1.0; Trad. Logic II, 0.5; Material Logic, 0.5 and/or Rhetoric, 0.5-1.0; British Lit., 1.0; Continue 3D mod, 0.5-1.0; America's Musical Legacy, 1.0; Anatomy and Physiology, 1.0 (4th science or a non-mathy Physics); Cultural Geography, 1.0; Economics, 0.5; Gov., 0.5; two-or three 8wk classes at Lantern, 0.5-0.75
Continue Chess, he loves it.
His math got all screwed up, I'm not even going to try to explain. Suffice to say, he'll finish Geometry - he has until March 2019 to finish two chapters and a final; leftover from Mr. D this past summer. He'll take Alg. 1 this year with myhomeschoolmathclass and next year, Alg. II and Personal Finance to equal 4 credits of math.
He's not interested in college, but I hope that changes as his bouts diminish and he gets stronger. His main interest lies in editing and modeling (computer), but he doesn't know what he wants to do, yet. I said he doesn't need to know to get a couple years under his belt, and he could do most, if not all, online. There's also a big movie industry in GA, if he wants to strengthen his talents and pursue that, but he can't even think that far.
He's just trying to get through each day.
I am trying to get the basics covered so he's presentable to a decent community college and/or tech/art school for computer arts (?)
I'd like to get a few CLEP done before he graduates, one each of the SAT and ACT.
I have decided to continue our year-round schooling, instead of only a 32 wk schedule. I will just spread things out more that I do with him and shorten his days and schedule more breaks.
I appreciate your help.
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20 minutes ago, Lori D. said:
Your DS is older and farther along than I thought
Yes, the stress, trauma, and pain from his Dad's situation in 2014 when we left, to this last year and a half, has been his high school experience.
So, I want these last two years to be manageable and reparative. That's why I need ideas from others.
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12 minutes ago, Lori D. said:
Oh, I am so very sorry for the incredibly difficult situations your family has endured, and for the tragic consequences all the way around. I am not quoting, in case you don't to keep those details in the thread. (((hugs)))
Thank you. I altered it. Yes, there's some things you just never think are possible...now you know better and you're damaged goods.
14 minutes ago, Lori D. said:I was very embarrassed at my assumptive word choice and edited, but not before you responded, so I apologize you actually saw that. I know this is your goal, and have every confidence that you are working towards this.
I appreciate that.
15 minutes ago, Lori D. said:You are very wise. He has all kinds of time to wait and decide what he wants to do. ? And waiting to start college can bring the benefit of additional "free money" from the gov't, as full Pell grant amounts kick in once a student is 24yo, as that is when the parents' financials are no longer included in the FAFSA. But that is a discussion for much further down the line... ?
That's good to know.
15 minutes ago, Lori D. said:Blessings for you ALL that this year will be a quiet and restorative place of refuge and of regaining joy in being a family together.
Yes, therein is the most important piece.
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1 hour ago, Tibbie Dunbar said:
Just to answer one thing: The Scott Foresman America Reads series is terrific. Any one of the texts really is enough for an English credit, for a student who is time challenged. I like to add one or two whole works per semester, to read and discuss a little. I'd suggest a free online guide for the discussions - try Pink Monkey, Cummings, Glencoe, or Penguin. But honestly, that is optional!! The textbook is enough.
That's good to hear. I got the idea to use it from positive reviews here. I found the teacher's edition to go with it. I would take the more obscure readings out of it so I can add in a few novels as you and Lori recommended.
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1 hour ago, Lori D. said:
And I'd be putting highest priority on scheduling regular down time/rest, good nutrition, and moderate regular exercise
Yes, I have an exercise DVD for him to start and our plan to walk, his riding his bike; get Vit. D. He gained weight during this time period: emotional eating.
Didn't think about scheduling downtime, Duh. Working on his appetite and choices. I'm struggling, too.
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2 hours ago, Lori D. said:
Wow. So, you're dealing with DS's health recovery issues, other very serious issues with another family member (adopted sibling), and you are moving out of being the full-time homeschool support/mentor and having to juggle a part time job with managing a family AND overseeing homeschooling. Yikes.
The adopted sibling can't come home, due to untreated mental illnesses (my husband and I live separately, though still married; she can't live with him, either). We had to make the determination that we would not be safe and secure in our homes were she to come back.
2 hours ago, Lori D. said:Second, it's JMO as I don't know you and your family to know what everyone can handle or likes, and I do mean this very gently and unjudgmentally, but your plans sound a bit like pretending none of the stressful circumstances happened or are still affecting the family, and that you are trying to jump back onto the express train of your original plans, when your DS really needs to climb aboard a slow, leisurely ferry boat. So sorry if I'm not understanding.
You're correct in the latter, but not because I'm pretending. I'm trying to get him graduated; and yes, I'm in a conflict with my hopes and dreams and the reality in front of me for what's best for him.
My son turned 18 Monday. He's already a year "behind" from his breakdown of 2015 (which was due to our having to leave due to me husband's descent into schizoaffective disorder - but, he's doing better). As you can see, mental illness has ripped our family apart. I don't want to lose him, too, by expecting too much from him. Yes, he's receiving therapy.
2 hours ago, Lori D. said:would NOT try and double up on Math and Science this year
He won't have enough credits if I follow this suggestion. If I drop Math and Chemistry, he won't have any credits in those subjects for last year. (He can go at his own pace with Biology: modules 1-6, may spread all year; and Geometry: last two chapters, spread till March)
I can drop: Logic; Grammar/Spelling (not a remedial student); Health (I will have to pick this up at some point b/c it's required)
Re: Writing - he's already done 3 years of writing courses (Writeshop I & II in one year, Elegant Essay, Writing ER). He just needs more practice on Research, Persuasive. and Lit. Analysis. Those I was going to put off till next year.
2 hours ago, Lori D. said:You didn't ask about History, but the reviews I'm seeing of the textbook you have all say it is NOT a "beginner text". Perhaps go with something that will be a bit easier for DS to do solo? If Christian materials are okay, what about BJUP, or Switched on Schoolhouse that use videos and text? Or if secular, Pandia Press' The New Penguin History of the World?
Not BJU; maybe Notgrass. SOS: we're trying to get away from unnecessary computer usage. I'll take a look at Pandia Press. The Penguin book was on my short list, but I had some concerns based on some reviews, so I'll double check.
Right now, he doesn't want to go to college, at least not too soon. Which I understand. Everything has been so hard. He's had to put forth so much effort. I expect he'll take a year off, but I think in two years from now, his views will be different. I'm not pushing.
2 hours ago, Lori D. said:Hoping your family has a good recovery from all the stress, and may you all find joy this year as you readjust to the "new normal" with you working. Wishing you all the very BEST! Warmest regards, Lori D.
Thank you.
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Since my son's nervous breakdown in 2015, he's easily overwhelmed. He's also migraine prone and struggles with insomnia. I'm having a hard time making his schedule for his subjects with me; I don't want to overwhelm him. He will tell me, but I'd rather it not get there in the first place. He's also catching up in two subjects, so there's that hanging over his head: Geometry and Biolgy. So, he'll have two maths and two sciences concurrently during his 1st semester. Given, they are AYOP (at your own pace), but still lingering.
This is what I have so far:
Online/Co-op classes:
Math, 2 hrs/wk in class-Mon, and Wed.
Latin: 90 min/wk in class - Fri.
Chem: 90m/wk Co-op - Thurs
Chess: 1hr Co-op - Thurs
3D Modeling: 1hr/wk co-op - Thurs
All Subjects broken down by how much time he SHOULD take (minus co-op and online time):
Math: 4x/w, 30-45 m/day
Latin: 4x/w, 30-45m/day (this seems to always take him longer than 45 m.)
Chemistry: 3x/w, 30-45m/day
History: 4x/w, 30-45m/day
Lit.: 4x/w, 30-45m/day
Logic: 4x/w, 20-30m/day
Grammar or Spelling: alternate-5x/w between the two of them, 15-30 m/day(only thing scheduled on Co-op day)
Health (Apologia): 3x/w, 30-45m/day
This doesn't include the two classes which he has to finish, nor our morning time together materials. I haven't even decided what to do about Literature, yet. I can't decide how much to require. I'm worried he won't be able to maintain a full schedule like this, due to his headaches and that he starts late, due to not sleeping well. Yes, we have rules about being off the computer 1-2 hours before bed, he takes melatonin and herbs for sleep. Much of it is stress due to issues I'd rather not go into, but hopefully will begin to lessen here soon. He'll do well, then he have a day or two of a headaches and it will get him "behind" and then he's feels overwhelmed.
Any suggestions for World Lit? I have America Reads: Classics in World Lit (Scott Foresman) and Stobaugh's W. Lit. I was going to piece these together, taking chunks out of each, but it still seems to be too much.
World History: I have Western Civilization by Chambers
So much of what I had hoped for him is not working out due to outside (and internal, i.e. adopted sister's RAD and other mental illnesses) influences/stress damaging our family. And I'm going to have to get a part-time job, since my disability isn't enough, so there's that, too.
Thanks
EDIT: BTW, he's not interested in using The Great Courses for anything.
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Here's my course description I made for Center for Lit.'s American Literature. It was only worth .5 because he didn't do any writing for it. His writing credit came from elsewhere. Mine isn't as widely spaced as this turned out to be. All of my descriptions follow the same format.
Course Description
American Literature: Online Academy
Student: Jacob White
Instructor: Adam and Missy Adams
Prerequisite: None
Resources Used:
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Center for Lit. Online Academy
Class Description:
In this course, CenterForLit instructors use the Socratic method to conduct online discussions of classic books. This method involves asking questions that force them to think carefully about their reading, and then to think carefully about their thinking. Using the author's theme as the goal of the discussion, instructors encourage students to understand his message by discussing the structural and stylistic components which make up his story. Next, students are drawn by further questioning to critically examine their own assumptions about the author's theme. As a result, students gain a deeper understanding of the book, and also of themselves as readers and thinkers. In addition to the Socratic discussions, a story chart is worked out and graded by the parent; plus, students make regular contributions on a Discussion Board conversation about the last book discussed, where each month, further discussion questions are presented; answers are submitted and evaluated by the insttructors.
A (90-100+)
B (80-89)
C (70-79)
D (60-69)
F (Below 69)
High School Credit: 0.5 in American Literature
Scope and Sequence:
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
American Poets:
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Anne Bradstreet
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Edgar Allan Poe:
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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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Emily Dickinson
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Robert Frost
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Carl Sandburg
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William Carlos Williams
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald
The Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway by Ernest Hemingway
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The Short Stories of Flannery O'Connor by Flannery O'Connor
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
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Apologia is very heavy on reading; it's wordy. Maybe take a look at and compare samples to Shepherd's Science Biology.
With Saxon, Geometry is next.
Personally, I would put him into an online writing course. He'll be accountable to someone else besides you. Writing ER at Big River Academy would be good (she incorporates grammar); or Intro to Lit. Analysis at BRA or Excelsior. That last one would cover writing and lit. and teach him fundamental skills for analyzing what he's reading. Then, maybe he'd get more out of it. "The Elegant Essay" at Bright Ideas Press Academy for 1 semester. You may want to limit online classes to just one or two subjects, limiting his temptation to play games instead of do his work.
If no lit with writing, Excelsior also has some specialty lit courses which might be of interest. Two in the spring, with a male teacher, which you might consider.
Otherwise, you could design a lit course based of off of less-normal selections. What genre would he be more interested in? Fiction? Nonfiction? You could use Teaching the Classics dvds and workbook to teach him to analyze using Socratic methods as part of your lit class.
Lightening lit is a get-it-done curriculum, but won't make education any more interesting. You have a chance of making something interesting for him to read.
I'd suggest World Geography instead of a history course. Cultural geography by BJU covers everything, over a year. You don't need the whole set. Just the main book and TG. Use the section questions as quizzes and chapter questions as the test. Use online geography games to reinforce locations-Seterra or one other (need to look up name). There may be project ideas in the TG.
Are you going to continue Logic? I'd suggest Memoria Press Traditional Logic I instead of Classical Academic Press. CAP is more conversational: MP is straight to the point.
I know others will have more and better ideas than this.
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I've heard nothing but good things about Lantern (used to be So Verbose). I would recommend Excelsior with Marilyn (?) but, her Foundations of Composition II is filled.
My son is going to take Literary Analysis with Write at Home and then 3 or 4 with Lantern. Lantern does not have an 8-wk course for Lit. Analysis.
Have you looked at the High School classes at Write at Home?
Circe: Popular Music in the 20th Century (Webinar)
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted
Perhaps a musical topic not easily or usually covered by many music programs. A webinar held by John Hodges of Circe Institute.
When: Thursday, September 27, 4:00-5:30pm EST.
Where: Online
Cost: Only $10!
There is a division between popular and art music in the 20th century, and the division grows larger as the century progresses. How did this come about? What are the roots of today's popular music? How does it compare with the music of past generations? Conductor/composer John Hodges will lead us through the history of popular music in the 20th century, touching on jazz, blues, rock and roll, and the various categories that follow.
https://www.circeinstitute.org/store/events/popular-music-20th-century-webinar?mc_cid=252c8afa15&mc_eid=fbe980169b