Heather in WI
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Posts posted by Heather in WI
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I'm in the early stages of figuring out a world geography & current events class for my 9th and 11th grader for next year. I would like to use the BJU Cultural Geography book as our spine and add in extras.
My first concern is: is this *really* okay for an 11th grader? He is headed for a STEM field and taking 10 credits (Calc 1 and Chem 1) at the community college in the fall, so I want to make his other subjects very manageable and not overwhelming. He has done a rigorous great books history/lit program for 9th and 10th and done well, so I'm thinking it's ok to lighten up on the humanities for him for 11th and 12th. (Currently thinking geography for 11th and US Gov/Economics for 12th.) The book doesn't *say* anywhere that it's only recommended for 9th grade, so ..... is it okay?
If we go with BJU, I'd like to flesh it out with videos and print journalism to make it more engaging/current/rounded and would love ideas/suggestions!
I found the Power of Place videos -- http://www.learner.org/series/powerofplace/. They look fantastic!
Maybe Rick Steves videos for the tourist view? Dispatches from the Front for missions info?
Other videos you know of?
I'd really like to subscribe to a few periodicals/newspapers. We currently don't receive anything and rarely watch the news. :eek:
Possibly the New York Times and/or Wall Street Journal? National Geographic, The Economist, Foreign Affairs, or New York Times Upfront? Help! I would love any suggestions/ideas. Thanks!
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I really like this thread. It's so interesting and exciting to see the reasoning behind the decisions.Thanks for being willing to share! :-)
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Can I derail your thread for a second? Please? :laugh:
Ds is a sophomore and I'm currently planning next year. At this point, he plans to apply for USAFA, USNA, and USMA, and AFROTC. How did you handle the recommendations?
Here's our dilemma: Ds will be taking Calc 1 and Chem 1 dual enrollment for the fall, so he would have those 'outside' recommendations, but we'll be doing English at home next year. Would they rather see a recommendation from me, from an 'outside' 10th grade English teacher, or possibly from his 11th grade Russian teacher?
Also, for WP, we don't have a PE teacher, so do you think they'd take a recommendation from his baseball coach?
I'm so nervous about all of this as he's our oldest and it's our first time through all of this!
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So excited -- school #2 out of the three I contacted just confirmed he could test there! I just have to go over to drop off the check!
Whew! :hurray:
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Yes, I actually called them again in January and also resent the same letter I sent last year. It's such a headache for us.
Same reply -- homeschoolers are just a fraction of their customer base, and the "system" isn't currently set up for doing it any other way. They'll take it under consideration in future planning.
Given that the College Board is having financial difficulties, I wouldn't hold your breath.
I do wonder why they wouldn't consider setting it up like the SAT testing and SAT II testing. That is so easy to sign up for! I can't really understand what the difference would be administratively between administering a SAT II test and an AP test. You'd think it would be easier on them and require less resources than the current setup.
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I just sent out two emails for our first time going through this. I'm so nervous! I hope someone will let oldest ds test with their school.
Both people that I originally contacted (the AP Computer Science teachers at two schools in our area) replied quickly that we could test at their school.
Then, the first teacher replied that after checking with the administration, we couldn't test there.
I was still hopeful about the second school, but now the person in their administration isn't returning any contact. I'm starting to panic. :-(
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I just sent out two emails for our first time going through this. I'm so nervous! I hope someone will let oldest ds test with their school.
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@Heather in WI-Does TPS Honors Biology and Physical science has Experiment videos in a class?or kids have to do the experiments at home?
For the biology class, most were done at home and two (I think - maybe 3?) were virtual.
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I have been doing it for about five weeks now. I love the way I feel now & I've lost 10 pounds.
I don't use a lot of specifically specialized Keto recipes; I just try to eat normal, whole foods. (Like scrambled eggs for breakfast, salad for lunch, taco salad for dinner, etc.) There are a lot of recipes on Pinterest though!
Sites I've found helpful are:
http://www.foodrenegade.com/how-to-burn-stored-body-fat-a-ketosis-primer/
http://keto-calculator.ankerl.com/
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Matryoshka, you are a gem! I *knew* our board was the place to bring this. Thank you very much!
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Okay, that's in an old German script that was used pre-WWI. It's pretty much unreadable to even most modern-day Germans. I taught it to myself 'cause I'm a nerd (the alphabet was in the back of my math text in Germany - they use the letters as variables, like we do Greek). Anyway, I usually have a super-hard time reading it 'for real', as real people's script varies so much from the 'ideal', but this is fairly clear, so maybe I can make some of it out for you...
It might be some kind of poem? The top says "In memory of your friend, L. Weisser 18__"
It starts:
Beautiful world, where are you? Come again, sweet blossom of Nature!
I can try to keep going - it takes a while to decipher, and I'm not sure I can do it 100%. Regentrude, can you read this old script?
Wow! Thank you for what you've done so far! Updating my parents! :-)
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I will try that, Maize. Thank you!
ETA: I can't. Her inbox is full.
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We discovered an old letter lodged underneath the drawer inside a jewelry box handed down in the family. It appears to be written in German and looks dated 18__. Can anyone translate it for us?
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Granted, we were not going for the really super high end-schools, but they still all required that a separate transcript be sent from all online schools. I wrote my own transcript with all of the grades in one place, but then I contacted each online school (Ds had several different schools because we pick and choose individual classes and instructors) to send their transcripts to the schools. I believe the common application asked for this as well, but I just cannot remember. I had no problem with all of the schools doing this, except for one school - The Potter's School. They really gave me a hard time and finally, I just did not have them send one.
Are you saying TPS won't send a transcript? Ds is currently in a class with them this year & is signed up for one next year. Can you elaborate on this?
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How much interaction is there between students?
I think, compared to other online classes that my boys have had, there is a lot of interaction between students at WH -- lots of discussion & break-out rooms. Ds is friends with many of his classmates on FB.
I don't have much to add to the other posters here except to agree with them! We are very happy with WH and have already signed up for classes next year.
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I'm not sure about the writing classes as we haven't taken those, but my boys love the Great Conversations classes! WH combines the Omnibus Primary & Secondary classes into one class. I know there's a thread on the HS board right now about WH or feel free to PM me with any specific questions. :-)
ETA: Just realized you started that thread! LOL! I'll go weigh in there. :-)
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This is how my son's Omni II Primary class was graded last year:
Attendance / Class Participation 20%
Reading Assignments 30%Writing Assignments 20%Exams 30%So, the exams are written and they are graded on discussion/participation.I will say that my oldest son is not a reader or interested at all in history or literature, yet he earned an A in each of the Omni I & II Primary & Secondary sections. (He is my math - programming-chemistry guy!) There is no way *I* could have ever gotten the level of interest/participation/discussion out of him! It was a joy to watch him go through these classes and rise to the expected level. He absolutely loved his teachers.-
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Did you like site better than the others? Cost value? How much time did you spend grading, helping to understand assignments and such?
I think the sites each have their own benefits and drawbacks.
VPSA and WH's classes (that my boys took) meet twice a week, where TPS meets only once a week (for the class that my son took.) Each school uses a different system for their classes. My son's like Wilson Hill's system the best, but I would think that's something that might change from child to child. I found each system easy to navigate as a parent.
The classes are expensive, but worth it in my opinion. I believe that my sons are receiving an education that's far superior to one I could provide.
I don't spend any time grading and little to none on explaining. The teachers have all been fantastic. All have been more than willing to answer questions outside of class if one came up. The only time I do spend is asking if homework or quiz has been completed or reminding to go to class.
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My boys have taken classes with:
- Veritas Press Scholars Academy (Literature III, Omnibus I Primary & Secondary, Omnibus II Primary & Secondary, Latin Transition I, Latin I and Latin II)
- Wilson Hill Academy (Great Conversations I, Great Conversations III, and Algebra II)
- Potter's School (Pre-AP Honors Biology)
Do you have a specific question or specific classes in mind? I'd be happy to answer any that I can. :-)
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Oh, I dream about my child getting the same amount of money for his education as every other child in my country does, whether they are in public or private school!
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I'd like to see homeschool education funded as a tax deduction, or a reduction in student loans or something.
Last summer, they proposed giving homeschoolers & private schoolers a tax credit in WI. A group of homeschoolers organized and got the legislature to take out the homeschoolers part over fears of accountability in the future. So, now the private schoolers get a $10,000 tax deduction and we get diddly squat. :glare:
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The most exciting thing for me is the Writing Lab option to supplement/complement whatever Great Conversations (WHA's Great Books/Omnibus courses) a student takes! The one thing I think has been missing from Omni/Great Conversations/some Great Books courses is writing.
I signed my boys up yesterday and hadn't seen this! Thank you for pointing this out.
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We've enjoyed Pressure Cooker (Students in a culinary arts class in Philadelphia compete for scholarships) and Brooklyn Castle (Chess team at a inner city junior high school that has won more national championships than any other in the country).
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Ds is in Pre-AP Honors Bio with Noemi Gonzalez at The Potter's School. It is taught from a Christian perspective, but it does cover evolution thoroughly. (Actually this is what they are currently studying!)
The class meets once per week from Sept - May. I am pleased with the class so far. Ds was never interested in biology (he viewed himself as a chemistry/physics guy before this class), but he is enjoying it. I think it has challenged him and I'm glad we went with it. I'm particularly pleased with the instruction for the formal lab reports. Mrs. Gonzalez has responded to emails quickly and graciously.
I don't know if it was necessary or overkill, but I chose to pair this class with the Landry Academy "Biology, Anatomy and Physiology" Lab Intensive.
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Mr G's class moves very slowly. My dd's progress has been much better under Mrs. Denne. She prefers the one-on-one tutoring. She tailors the course and book selections to the student.
For now, I think we're going to pursue the class with Mrs. Denne. Ds has already exchanged emails with her and loves the idea of one-on-one tutoring. She offers a free class to try it out and he's hoping to do that this summer. Thank you!
World Geography & Cultural Events
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted
Thank you both. I didn't realize the Power of Place videos were old. I really would like it to be current!
I've bookmarked the Scoop It site. Looks like a lot of great information!
Also, I logged into TGC. I bought a couple of DVD sets a few years ago, but I haven't been there/purchased anything for awhile. Maybe logging in will cause them to start re-sending the awesome savings mailings to me again! ;)