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SA Homeschooler

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    STEM spin on World History?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    How can I put a STEM spin on World History to make it more interesting for my 16yo DS?  I am thinking about doing somewhat of an overview of the periods in history but really delving in to the technological advance that helped shape history....sort of world history focused on math and science.  Has anyone done something like this?  I would love to have input from the hive.

    Geometry Course Description - Holt Geo. by Burger

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    My son is taking the MyHomeschoolMathClass Geometry with Jann in Texas and I need your help to come up with a good course description for what they have covered.  If your child is in this class I would love to see what you are using as your description.  If your child is not in this class I would still love to have your input. =)

     

    Here is what I have so far:

     

    This is a Pre-AP Algebra-based Geometry class that emphasizes the study of the properties and application of common geometric figures in two and three dimensions. Euclidean methods are used to solve proofs of geometric figures.  The student uses inductive and deductive reasoning skills in problem solving.   The text emphasizes real world applications of geometric principles.  Constructions and transformations are explored as well as tessellations.  Numerous axioms and theorems are introduced with regard to congruence and triangles.  The study of triangle is further amplified by the study of the Pythagorean theorem and other properties of right triangles including the introduction of trigonometric ratios.

     

    Primary Text used:  Holt Geometry, by Dr Edward Burger (2007) ISBN 9780030358289

    Moms with recent high school graduates....

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    FWIW, my daughter spent some time talking to the admissions officer who admitted her to Olin (she picked her up at the airport when she went to visit,) and she was telling dd how they would love to admit more HSers, but they don't send enough info to evaluate them properly. They have turned down homeschoolers with very high test scores because they couldn't verify any other information about their high school courses. Colleges are unlikely to chase a student down, if the student is applying to a very selective school, because there are other students available.

     

    I had several documents, and I sent what was appropriate for each of dd's applications (11 schools, ranging from local state to Ivy.)  I had the one page transcript with her semester and final grades, listed by academic year. I had a school profile, which included all of the info from the Common App homeschool supplement and a bit more. I had a course description document, which included a few brief sentences about the content, assessment methods, any outside resources or instruction, and the materials used. I had a spreadsheet of activities, volunteer work, and employment. And I had a full book list of all the literature read for dd's Great Books work. "Run the numbers through a machine" schools got just the transcript. Schools with enough resources to actually assess the students beyond numbers got at least the school profile and course descriptions.

    Hi Angela,

     

    I was so pleased to see your post and signature line about your daughter attending Olin.  I too have an aspiring engineer who would like to attend a school such as Olin.  He is only a HS freshman right now but I am already trying to start a file of information that will be helpful to us in the application process.

     

    I hope you don't mind me messaging you once in a while for tips. 

     

    Best Regards,

     

    Mayte

    The Value of Grunt Work?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted

    OMG!! My son is just as you describe!! In PS he was making A's in Pre-AP math but being the "math person" that I am, I knew he didn't really get it.  Somehow he was very good at "pattern-matching" or  something of the sort; somehow managing to get passed the test and then dumping all of the information...never truly absorbing it.  This has been such a mystery to me.  I never understood how he could manage this because I studied until I knew the info forward and backward!  I was very concerned about my grades.  In my opinion, the spiral math that they were using really enabled this brain dump behavior for my kiddo.  Now we use a mastery method with Jann in Texas and it is so much better.  He finally gets it.

     

     

    HS World History- Ways of the World? World Civilizations?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I am trying to give my son a more global view of World History than I got in High School.  I have ordered two of the Great Courses: Foundations of Eastern Civilization and Foundations of Western Civilization.  I realize that these will only supplement the spine I select and it is in that search that I would like The Hive's help.  Here are the two spines I'm considering any input is welcomed.

     

    Ways of the World: A Brief History by Strayer

    World Civilizations: The Global Experience by Stearns

     

     

    Honors Compostion at Wilson Hill --- Reveiw?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Can anyone give me a review of the Honors Composition Class at Wilson Hill Academy?  My son is currently taking an online BraveWriter course and while we like the material he prefers a live teacher component versus the all text format of this course.

     

    I am hesitant to use anything that feels formulaic as he did not appreciate the format of IEW so, although I had considered it Lost Tools of Writing is out.  I'm guessing anything using the Progymnasmata would be ill received as well.  The class at the Potter's School sounds like it has more grammar than I care to incorporate.  I only like grammar as a part of the writing process not to be studied as a separate subject.  WriteGuide, Write@Home and Time4Writing all seem to be text only as well.

     

    I'm really at a loss as to what to do with this STEM boy. Please help.

    What would a STEM-heavy high school curric look like?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    We have done what others have said above. All I can add is:

     

    We have made ds's history classes light to make room for more challenging math classes. So not only does history only take 4 hours a week, it is also less brainful as I choose non-challenging materials. So history is fun not rigorous.

     

    He does a lot of math over the summer (camp, classes, personal study). So in 9th grade and 10th grade he has taken six math classes.

     

    He does math competitions.

     

    We spend time doing scientific investigations.

     

    Ruth in NZ

     

    Ruth, 

     

    Thank you so much for saying this because this is exactly what I had planned to do for my ds.  I see no need to expend brain power on history or literature.  We will cover it but in a much more relaxed manner than science, math and writing.

     

    • Like 1

    Travel Tips ?? Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto and Niagra Falls

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    With Niagara Falls are you staying just on the Canadian side?  

     

    I'll second the Maid of the Mist (called Hornblower on the Canadian side - Maid of the Mist just on the US side now - boats go from either side).  We also like to go under/behind the falls (from Table Rock).

     

    However, the US side has a couple of our favorite things to do.  You can walk across Rainbow Bridge for 50 cents.  Bring your passports as you are changing countries.  Then head to Goat Island (after the Rainbow Bridge, turn right and follow the paths to Goat Island).  We love to walk around the island (now a paved walk the whole way) as it allows you to see the Upper Niagara River in all of its building fury.  Go clockwise from the bridge and it will get more and more powerful and impressive.  It's also a nice stretch break.  This is literally the closest you can get to both falls.  From Table Rock you can get close to Horseshoe Falls, but not the American Falls.  From Goat Island you get very close to both.

     

    We also like to go down next to Niagara Falls on the walkway.  Entrance to this is over close to the American Falls themselves.  This one allows you to get wet and actually touch parts of the falls - and sense their power in a way that merely looking at them can't do.  My family and I can stand there for long periods of time soaking it all in (we did - twice - last summer/fall).

     

    But to add a note to all of my suggestions... we're nature lovers and really love natural things.  If this doesn't apply to you or your family, you might want to mainly stick with the boat ride.   ;)  We do all three of my favorites from the US side - then will add the behind the falls bit and (sometimes) the tower on the Canadian side.

     

    And Poutine.  We get poutine from Smoke's each time we go there (now - it hasn't always been there).

     

    http://smokespoutinerie.com/About.aspx

     

    We will make sure to bring our passports so that we can move about freely!!  We really appreciate the suggestions on how to explore Niagra!!

     

    Travel Tips ?? Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto and Niagra Falls

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    Between Montreal and Toronto take the time to travel on Rt 2 (perhaps another number there too) rather than Highway 401 (superhighway).  You'll get awesome views of the St Lawrence River, Lake Ontario, and many cute small towns like Brockville.

     

    It does take extra time, but you're going there to SEE the country, correct?  The St Lawrence River is a gorgeous blue on a sunny day - the prettiest river in the world IMO.  Many people go to that area just to vacation on/around the river.  There are places (Brockville, Gananoque) where you can take a boat cruise on the river seeing some of the famous 1000 Islands (of which there are more than 1800, not just 1000).

     

    Oh darn, we'll be flying from Toronto to Montreal but we are planning on taking a train from Montreal to Quebec City.  Thank you very much for your input anyway.

    Travel Tips ?? Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto and Niagra Falls

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    I went to see the Rogers Cup last year, and it was fantastic! It's wonderful how close you can get to the players on the practice courts. 

     

    My favourite sites in Montreal are:

     

    - Old Montreal, including Notre-Dame Cathedral

    - St. Joseph's Oratory

    - Mont-Royal Park overlooking the city

    - shopping/walking along St - Denis and St - Catherine streets

    - eating at the interesting restaurants

    - sampling Montreal Smoked Meat sandwiches

     

    In Quebec City:

     

    - Vieux Quebec (Old Quebec), and all the sites associated

    - Citadelle (old fort, still a functioning military base)

    - restaurants along Rue Grand-Allee

    - Provicial Legislative buildings

     

    Niagara Falls:

     

    - Maid of the Mist boat at the base of the falls

    - Falls at night, lit up with coloured flood-lighting

    - If you have a vehicle, the nearby town of Niagara-in-the-Lake is picturesque, and there are many wineries in the area as well as fruit orchards

     

    Toronto:

     

    - CN Tower

    - take a ferry across to Island Park

    - Science Museum

     

    Thank you so much for such a detailed account of things to do and see!! We are really looking forward to seeing great tennis and beautiful sites!!

     

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