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Rebecca

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Posts posted by Rebecca

    Did AP English Language ruin your student's writing?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by Rebecca

    So, I pondered this a bit... First, 14 is young for AP Lang in my opinion- so I offer that. Second, it helps to consider what the course is designed for/ the targets, etc. Honestly, reading your post, I wonder if you would have felt/ would feel more satisfied in AP Lit which is much more about vibrant, expressive articulation of meaning in literary texts, etc.

    AP Lang is analytical, logical, rhetorical study in writing and language. It is about argument, persuasion, and structure to advance meaning and unveil analysis. Students learn how to identify logos, pathos, and ethos in essays and apply these tools in their own writing.

    Keeping that in mind, it has its place. Your son should be able to learn how to move between the different modes and forms of writing thereby maintaining his own voice and style. AP Lang is one such mode in my opinion.

    On a personal note, AP Language did not at all ruin my (now senior) son's writing, and now he is in AP Lit and very well prepared. He is a much stronger, more articulate writer now than he was prior.

    My son who is a creative writer is now a college freshman. He took AP Lit last year after having never taken AP Language. He did worry that it was ruining his writing during the course of his class. I, however, did not feel worried about  that.The class he was in gave us a run for the money, was frustrating, demanding, and difficult- but I truly trusted the process- and in the end- he did emerge a stronger, more vibrant, and more articulate writer. And his creative process and "voice" is still intact.

    I, too, felt very frustrated with some aspects of our AP English experience last year- mainly in AP Lit which also focused heavily on "exemplary" work. But, I wanted to mentor my sons in the highest level writing I could- and so I was very involved (and still am).

    I would study the AP essays in AP Lit. I found many of them inflated, dramatic, and rambling.. but I kept searching to figure out what was launching them into the exemplary category. In the end, I think both my son (and I as a writing/English Tutor) were better for it.

    AP Language is just a tool belt. It is providing your son with more resources at his disposal so when he wields  the metamorphical pen, he has more available to him for his own personal expression. While it might structure his writing for a time, in the end, I do think he will be able to fly or rise above...stronger.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    • Like 5

    Recommendation Letters ?

    in The College Board

    Posted

    Thank you for the feedback. 

    As a note- yes, both Instructors know my child and have worked with him for at least a year.

    The term "relevant details" seemed like a key word to me because of the way they used it- so I wanted to reach out.

    Regentrude, thank you. 

    I certainly would NEVER want to be insulting.

    Last year, I do not know if all the recommenders my oldest son asked knew what to do-

    and I purchased the Comprehensive Record Plan from Lee Binz this summer to help me do a better job with this next son- AND that resource is full of templates.- So that is where that comment came from....  

    I had him draft a little paragraph with his future goals and plans. We are going to attach his resume and activities/awards list. 

    Thank you very much!!

     

    • Like 2

    Recommendation Letters ?

    in The College Board

    Posted

    When recommenders ask for a student to provide all relevant details, exactly what are they referring to and do you provide a template, too?

    My rising senior is requesting to send the links for his letters to individuals and two separate instructors have asked for his "relevant details."

    Please help.

    Thank you.

     

    • Like 1

    Brainstorming career options

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    I do think an accounting field would be a good option. My husband is a CPA, so I have some knowledge of the field.

    If she struggles with the changing dynamics that come from people, I would look for a technical field that suits introverts.

    Another option is computer programming/science. This is the field of some of my family and they work with very smart, technical people who do not always have strong "soft skills."

    I absolutely agree with taking a career assessment/vocational aptitude test.

     

     

    Suggestions for Online AP European Class?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I unenrolled from PAH because we signed up to take it with the original (posted) instructor. I was not comfortable with the switch. I did seek out and receive reviews about Mrs. Donohue (at the time) that confirmed (for me) that we should unenroll. 

    Mrs. Donohue should have current reviews up if she taught last year. I have not checked. I found that AP Euro is a unique class. I was fortunate to find a seat for my son for the exam at a local school- and then it ended up that there were only two students taking the exam: my son and one other student-- who was taking the class as independent study. Thankful! Because without that student, they would not have been offering the exam. The other schools around were not offering this exam.

    Anyway, we did not have trouble attending the live classroom session (with son's schedule) so it worked out for us!

    I hope this helps!

     

    • Like 1

    Dd's summer professor has disappeared - updated last post

    in The College Board

    Posted

    I would definitely urge her to continue turning in all assigned work regardless of the feedback (not) received. If something should happen (have happened) with the professor, she can at least show that she fulfilled all assignments. She would have grounds to ask for the ability to revise the turned in work as well to help improve her grade if needed.

    I think it is totally fine to reach out to someone (professor, TA, department head) if there is concern over what happened to the professor, lack of feedback (therefore difficulty to improve/strengthen subsequent assignments), etc.

    • Like 2

    Suggestions for Online AP European Class?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    My son took AP Euro through HSLDA Academy for the 2017-2018 school year. 

    All in all, we were pleased with the course. He will receive his scores next month.

    I thought the course should have required a research paper and included more test prep- especially during the two weeks before the exam date. The classroom teacher recommended the Princeton Review AP Euro test prep book- so he used that- but I am not sure if his self study was intensive enough. We will see. 

    Last year, I was in this very position. We had originally signed up through PAH. 

     

     

    Saxon Calculus and AP Exam

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I do not have personal experience with this--

    However, if I was you- I would buy an AP Calculus AB test prep book and use that to figure some of this out. If you find her scope is beyond AB- I would move to the BC book. I would have her take sample exams to determine if she is ready for the AP exam and where she needs to focus/study more.

    Regarding the College Board Syllabus-  if you want to label the course ON THE TRANSCRIPT as AP- then you need to have it approved through the college board.  She can study for it and take the exam without it being designated AP on the transcript. The scores (if she scores well) will still count for college even if her course is not labeled "AP Calculus BC (or AB)" on the transcript.

    Hopefully someone with AP Calculus experience will chime in- but I thought I would offer the support I could!!

    -Rebecca

    • Like 1

    Evaluating the strength of the History department?

    in The College Board

    Posted

    We considered the following also:

    what graduate schools are their recent undergraduates attending

    what kind of research is included for undergraduates? do they have opportunity to participate in and perhaps publish in Professor research/publications

    it is also important to look at all course offerings, see the specialty of each Professor, and we also looked at degree path for the faculty. How did they get to where they are now? Where did they study? What do they teach? Where did they start and where did they get their PhD.?

    We also looked at course requirement and degree plan at each school.

    Because we had a specialized interest, that was a key focus as we looked at departments.

    Finally, we did consider language requirements and study abroad. We have considered worldview because we are Christians and so have weighed Christian school vs non-Christian, too.

    All of this stated, it seems that our final decision is not going to as clear cut as the above questions would seem to provide. 

    I hope something here helps,

    Rebecca

    • Like 1

    Soccer Cleats Question

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    Thanks for the replies!

    I bought a pair of diadoras in the fall. They were inexpensive, and I didn't know any better. They were terrible and hurt my son's joint around his ankle. He was playing competitive soccer, and he was having trouble running, etc. I bought them at a used sports store (they were new, though). A week or so of every day practice, and we were taking an emergency trip to the local sports store to find a decent pair of cleats. My lesson learned: the cheaper pair ultimately cost me MORE money. :( 

    My high school kids are no longer outgrowing their shoes regularly. However, it is important to replace worn out sport shoes whether they are outgrown or not to prevent injury.  I was a runner in high school, and I had to replace my shoes regularly. I just asked my Mom (cause I couldn't remember!!!!) and found out we had to replace them each season or every 500 miles. 

    My basketball son (senior) needed a new pair each competitive season.

    I am surprised by some of the answers.

    Adidas fit my kids feet- and we learned to choose that brand the hard way. I will never just buy a "least expensive" pair of *any* athletic shoes for a high school aged athlete again. I do buy the lower end shoes in  the  brand that works, though.

    I always wear Saucony for running (when I was younger) and for walking now. From my experience, it is pretty normal for an athlete to stick with a brand that works for their foot. 

    I am new to soccer, so I thought I would ask other moms what they do.

    I have bought used cleats for my younger children ( and the son who is now a freshman) in the past- and there was no problem- however, the amount of play and running my younger children (k-7) do/did was significantly different from what my high school people engage in.

    Finally, my freshman is not good at communicating pain, etc. He can't really recognize when there is a problem with his shoes. So, I was reaching out for a baseline.

    His shoes from fall are getting worn, I just am not sure how worn. :( 

    It seems like the answer is to replace them when they are worn, and I need to figure out when that is for this son.

    -Rebecca

    Soccer Cleats Question

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    So, one of my sons is a freshman and began playing soccer for a local Christian school this year. He played some indoor for Winter, and he is now playing Spring rec.

    How often do I replace his cleats? Is it once every season? 

    He played competitive soccer for fall. He used indoor shoes for winter. I thought he could keep using the fall cleats for the spring rec and get a new pair for this coming fall. However, I did just buy him another pair- because I felt concerned when I was watching him on the field.

    Just as a note: I am not a very adept sports Mom- and I ended up having to buy two pairs of cleats for fall- because the first pair I bought were terrible and were causing him intense pain. I learned from this, and got him a good quality Adidas pair- we now stick with Adidas. But anyway....

    How often do you buy cleats?

    Thank you!

    Rebecca

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