Liza Q
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Posts posted by Liza Q
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I am considering a DE English Comp class for next Spring, though I do have a plan for writing if it doesn't pan out.. But I am doing my own Literature with my son. Even though the DE class technically equals a high-school credit, I wouldn't like to go an entire year not reading any real books!
I think that the CfL class would be a great addition! Maybe you could do a few just-for-Mom literary essays during the spring if you find that it was not covered well in the fall DE class.
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Over the years I have outsourced different things with different children. Besides Art, I did not outsource anything for K-8 for any of them.And altogether I would say that most of their High School work has been done at home with me, but sometimes opportunities/challenges came up and out-sourcing was our best option. Since we have a bit more $$ now, I do it more with the younger ones.
- A few Art Classes for all of them, in programs for kids in different colleges
- Drama at the co-op one year for 2 children
- Debate at the co-op three years for 1 child
- Several courses with The American School for 1 child - 2 years of Math and English, Health, Psychology, US History, Environmental Science
- German (online Ok State) for 1 child. Latin, French, and Spanish were done at home with me, depending on the child/year
- A few workshop-length (6-8 weeks) online writing classes with several providers - Write Source, Write at Home, Time for Learning, Bravewriter. Each child took 1-2 over the High School years
- Science labs for 1 child for 2 courses (Bio and Chem) at a Christian School. The rest of the labs have been done at home
- Geometry correspondence course with Seton for 1 child
- Physics and Alg 2 online this year for my youngest
- Pre-Calc online next year for him.
- Senior Thesis online for 1 semester for him next year. I could totally do this at home....but I have enough going on next year and I want to enjoy my last year homeschooling!!
Oh - and soccer/ballet/fencing/swimming over the years.
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Shiloh, Old Yeller, and Rascal since he liked Where the Red Fern Grows. But he may get to the point my kids did when they begged me "No more dead dog books!"
If he liked The Sign of the Beaver, has he read Johnny Tremain?
Even though he didn't like Harry Potter, he might like Percy Jackson. The Lightning Thief is an easy read...but the later series that starts with The Lost Hero is longer, more challenging and, imo, more satisfying.
He might like The Outsiders. Or Freak the Mighty. Bud, Not Buddy. A Single Shard.
Surviving the Applewhites is pretty funny and it is about a homeschooling family.
Also. I assume that you are looking for free reading books, not literature to study? The books I am recommending are not High School level, though they are interesting and relatable for 12-14yo boys.
And I want to second Bomb. Also non-fiction by Jim Murphy.
ETA: I;m sorry that I didn't put any authors for you - I don't remember them all and I'm on my way out
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Hatchet
Frindle
Holes
I'll ask my son for a few more.
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Is the NY thing just a problem with publics like SUNYs? Or is a place like NYU the same way?
And what about graduate school in NY?
Say a student homeschools high school, graduates Other State U, and then gets into Columbia or a SUNY for graduate school? Problem, or not a problem?
https://www.nyu.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/how-to-apply/homeschool-applicants.html
NYU looks reasonable! I would check each college to be sure.
I wouldn't be surprised if a CUNY/SUNY grad schools also required a "real" diploma or GED.
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Well. If NY is that alone in being hardheaded about high school diplomas, I can see why so many here believe that an HSE is pretty much never necessary and can only see the negatives.
OP - If you are not from NY, I guess a "Mom" diploma will work just fine!!
As for Homeschooling in NY - Many years ago I challenged the local school district on a small-ish matter. They were requesting copies of my children's birth certificates, which is not required by law. I declined. They pushed me and it was clear that they were being ridiculous. They told me that they needed proof that my children existed lol. I contacted HSLDA and then it got out of hand and it ended with them sending child welfare to my home. The case was closed...but it is still there in the files somewhere. That is scary.
And my husband and I believe that it got out of hand, in part, becasue of the inflammatory letter HSLDA sent to the district on our behalf. In retrospect I regret getting HSLDA involved. Actually, I don't really, because the district dropped their extra-legal requests for everyone, as far as I know. Certainly no-one else in our HS group had to deal with it. But I hate that my family and I had to deal with that crap.
But I would not hesitate to recommend homeschooling to a family just because NY is a pita. The benefits for my family have far outweighed the difficulties.
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Just a quibble here ;) -- I wanted to clarify that a parent-awarded diploma for homeschool is as legally valid of a diploma as a school-awarded diploma. Legally it is not an "equivalent" -- it IS a valid diploma. In contrast, the GED (TASC/etc.) has historically been called a "high school equivalency", and not a high school diploma.
How do you define legally valid? The NY State Education Department does not see it that way. While companies are probably free to hire anyone they feel like, the SED is the one that determines the validity of diplomas. Here is a link to a NYSED document - http://www.highered.nysed.gov/ocue/ceomemos/05/homeinstruction.htm
Quote: Only public high schools and registered non-public schools are permitted by New York State Education Law to issue high school diplomas.
So, not only are homeschool diplomas not recognized, but online and correspondence diplomas, even if accredited by another state, are also not acceptable. I am not totally sure about private colleges, though.
We do have a few options other than the TASC but they all have their own difficulties. So an HSE is a reasonable choice.
I find it hard to believe that NY is the only state with this kind of view.
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But doesn't it really depend on the student and their needs and plans?
I did a search for the kinds of jobs that would be available locally without a GED/TASC or a High School diploma.
The Home Depot and Family Dollar had language that suggests that they might be open to a homeschool diploma for entry-level positions, as they are looking for a HS diploma, GED or equivalent.
But the security guard, customer service, and call center positions I looked at all required a High school diploma or GED - no equivalent.
And all of the trade schools/certificate programs don't seem open to the equivalent. Community college requires the TASC or a few hoops (and some districts are restricting those options) for entrance.
The job training programs here all have the TASC classes as part of the training. Some are not available unless the applicant already has already passed the test...or has a HS diploma.
So. My daughter who has the TASC has more options than she would without it. For a kid who may never manage college, I see that as a plus.
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My son did this exact thing when he was 15. I went to the mall twice with him when he was acting like this. Then I told him I would take my gay fashionista friend Henry shopping next week and Henry would pick out ds's new jeans. Ds fixed his attitude at that moment.
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Sparkly - If I were you I would appeal to my husband to back me on this one. My son will do what his Dad tells him to without a lot of fuss as I think that he thinks - well, knows - that Dad understands stuff better than Mom. So I would ask my husband to measure him for me and then, after I had ordered a few different pairs, make him try them on.
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I hardly ever mention my experience (I lost my son to cancer when he was 5) because it is rarely helpful. Why should I scare or upset someone who is just looking for encouragement or understanding?
There was a time that I would get aggravated by the kind of things that people I knew considered traumatic and I was very much SHUT UP you have no idea. Only in my head of course, but I did feel it. But as my grief has changed and sort of evened out across my life I feel that way less and less. And I do, of course, have many other difficult issues in my life, just like everyone does. and they really can be overwhelming. So I do understand how many people feel that their particular issue/struggle/trauma is the worst.thing.ever. And was I any different when I was so sure that my experience was truly the worst.thing.ever? Well, maybe I never said it, but I certainly felt it.
I think I do understand it when some people feel the need to emphasize their pain and suffering over someone else's. How many time was I told that I'll get over it with time and it gets better and oh it could have been worse? Maybe not so bluntly and meant to be comforting and encouraging but still. So I give people the benefit of the doubt as they may just be reacting to all the times others have minimized their pain. No, I don't think they are handling it well, but I can understand their frustration.
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SWB recommended it in the first ed. of TWTM and it was easy plan and use. But I did use it for my non-academic daughter as a get-it-done course so we did not do much more than watch youtube videos and a museum visit with it. She read it and skimmed over most of the math but I think she did learn a lot. If I were planning to use it with one of my other children I would add some stargazing (parks dept and local astronomy club), maybe a show or lecture at the planetarium, and a research paper.
ETA: This was a .5 credit, one-semester course.
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I know that. My meaning is - what if no degree follows high school ? What if the high school diploma is all there is ?
In that case, I don't want it to be a mom diploma.
This view may be unpopular here, but it's worth consideration.
My 18yo daughter just took - and passed, thankfully - the TASC this winter. She is not at all academic so I see her either 1. getting a retail job 2. going to a trade school (like cosmetology) or another job training program 3. starting at community college and just maybe 4. going to FIT (fashion college). All of those options require something more than a Mom diploma.
She would be able to get a job off the books or maybe manual labor without a diploma/HSE. One of the boys in our HS group is working for a company that cleans office buildings. He refuses to take the TASC and has no interest in college. I want my daughter to have options here in NY and I thought that was more important than any possible stigma. My oldest has a BA from a LAC and a Masters from a Public U. and her GED hasn't gotten in the way of her getting the education and jobs she wanted.
My 16yo son is aware that he might need the TASC but things seem to be changing with the school district here (as someone mentioned upthread, NY has specific requirements for homeschoolers for state/city colleges)...he is college-bound but wants to go to CUNY. So he will only get it if he needs to. We are waiting to see what he needs.
Bottom line - I think it may be the right choice for some but certainly not all homeschoolers.
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I want to second Lial. My son had used TT, the Math Mammoth, then ALEKS in middle school and was not happy with any of them.He disliked math. Before 9th grade I ordered a few different texts and I had him compare Jacob's, Foerster's, Lial's, and Teaching Textbooks. He looked them over and told me that he liked how Lial's was set up, the explanations, etc.
He used the Algebra 1 with a little help from my husband and I. He is taking the Alg 2 this year with Jann in TX's class (myhomeschoolmathclass) and will continue with Pre-Calculus with them. I believe that Lial's is not as rigorous as some of the other options, but it has worked well for my slow-and-steady son. He thinks it is very clear. And he no longer dislikes math!!!! He likes it enough to apply to a math camp for this August.
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My older children read everything, but my third daughter is not much of a reader. I used a few Literature textbooks for her. She read a variety of short stories, essays, poems, and short excerpts. She didn't like any of them...well, a few poems and stories went over well...but she read them. I kept the TM in my room and discussed about 1/2 of the selections I assigned with her and she never knew which ones I would choose, which discouraged any possible "faking it", iykwim.
What kinds of books would your DS like? Is there any genre? Will he be more cooperative if he gets input in the literature selection? My DS enjoyed his study of Dystopian literature.
If he dislikes ANY reading, too bad - he'll have to read.
My son will read the books I give him but he rarely likes any of them as he prefers non-fiction to most fiction. So I have cut the amount of fiction I would like to assign by about half and I have added several biographies and non-fiction titles each year. I only have him read the poems I think are most important and we read very few plays. This compromise works well. And he has chosen all of his fiction for next (senior) year from a list I gave him, since I try to give him more input every year
So, I recommend trying either shorter selections - something he can read in a day or 2 - or letting him choose from a list of acceptable books.
As for your daughter - would it be possible for you to have her do an online or co-op class? That way she can discuss books with someone else and have that someone else critique her writing. I am figuring that you have many children or maybe a part-time job or something else which really eats up your time so it makes sense to outsource, if possible. Also. One benefit of the Literature textbooks is that they have all sorts of background information and some analysis for the student to read. They weren't my first choice, but they worked well for that particular child. So you may want to consider something like that. Or. A books like Miniatures and Morals that discusses Jane Austen's books might work. Your daughter could read the commentary after she read the book and it would broaden her reading experience.
No, you don't have to discuss every book...but she ought to be analyzing some of them, even if it is not with you.
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Video Killed the Radio Star!! I was 15 that year...and now I am a Mother-in-law.
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Thanks, Lisa. I am going to show my son your comment and we'll think some more about it!
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Which Chemistry at TPS?
My daughter took Pre-AP/Honors Chemistry. She said it was a very challenging class.
Either class would fit our week. I had my eye on this one because it seems to have more real lab work...but he has a busy year and I don't want him to do be overwhelmed...but he is interested in going in to STEM and probably a challenging class is the best thing for him...but he is interested in Physics and Math, not Chemistry...but he will still have to do chemistry in college and I'd like him to be prepared....but but but...I keep waffling on this.
He's doing well in Physics this year but I don't think Clover Creek is considered very challenging.
Anyway. Can you tell me if the amount of work is challenging, or is it the work itself? Or both? He will enjoy the math, but probably not the memorization.
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Hi. I've been looking for an online Chemistry class that fits into our schedule. WTMA and Wilson Hill will not work for us but both Potter's School and Kolbe classes will. I was hoping to find some reviews here but neither seem to have any comments.
If I can't find something we will try DIVE with Zumdahl...but I was hoping for something more.
Any thoughts?
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I think it is wonderful. The autobiography of a reader. My hubby graduated from Hunter College High School too, '87.
I graduated in '83, which means that we were there at the same time!
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Lanny probably remember this - one of my daughters went to Cartagena with a friend a few years ago. They had a marvelous time! I know that they took a boat to an island and she said it was wonderful!
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My daughter asked me to write something for her book blog. She and her friend, who was also homeschooled through high school, started the blog last year. They asked me to write about some of my reading over the years, focusing especially on children's books.
Then she asked me to post it here! As I am not a writer and I can see so many things I'd like to fix/improve, I am not too comfortable with sharing it....but here it is.
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And - several of my friends are using this one. It's also available as an app you can use on your phone, but I think that is a few dollars.
Today is Day 2 but I'm sure that you could catch up!
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My church has a free one that you can print or read online - I'm looking forward to using it!
http://resurrectionsheepsheadbay.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/02/LentenGuide_Web_v1.pdf
http://resurrectionsheepsheadbay.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/02/LentenGuide_SongBook.pdf
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tmstranger - I wanted to give my son a solid Biology class and also have him think about evolution/creation, YE/OE, etc. So we used DIVE Biology with a regular textbook - Holt McDougal Biology (Nowicki). The text was just-the-science and the lectures went into depth about creation, so he got a pretty thorough introduction. Since we're in NY, we have to list our curricula/texts for the Dept of Ed. So if some college wanted to look, they would see that he used the Holt book.
Fwiw, I am a fairly conservative Christian and my belief about creation lines up pretty well with saddlemomma's.
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What book have you read that was "unputdownable?" The book you blazed through?
in The Chat Board
Posted
John Adams and Truman by David McCullough.
The last 2-3 Harry Potter Books.
The Name of the Wind, like several here have mentioned.
Doomsday Book and Black Out/All Clear by Connie Willis.
Persuasion by Jane Austen.
The Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff.
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley,
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
I am sure there are more but these are a few I can specifically remember where I was and how I just couldn't stop reading.