Brenda in MA
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Posts posted by Brenda in MA
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Chelsea,
My 6th grader is working in Saxon 87 now as well, and he understands math concepts pretty easily. I've been mulling over the same things you have. I'm thinking of starting him with Algebra 1 in 7th grade, but probably taking it slowly.
If he doesn't finish it in a year, he can continue it in 8th grade, but he'll still be ahead of the game. He tends to work a bit slowly as it is, so if it takes him 3 years to complete Algebra 1 & Geometry, he'd still be on track so that his higher maths would enable him to take higher level science. If he does well with Algebra 1 and finishes it in a year, all the better as long as he understands it.
I'm looking forward to hearing others' thoughts on this issue as well.
Brenda
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if you want a formal "course" for high school credit, Potter's School has several courses on computer applications and programming.
Brenda
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It looks like something I might be interested in in a couple of years for my younger ds.
TIA,
Brenda
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My son is using Giancoli Physics this year. If you're looking for a rigorous non-calculus based course (but does use higher maths like Trig); I think it's wonderful. The explanations are clear and the illustrations and examples tie the Physics to real-life problems. Giancoli is a typical book used in many schools for AP Physics.
HTH,
Brenda
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with these courses, I've heard a lot of good feedback on the Latin courses offered by Regina Coeli. Maybe someone whose dc are taking/have taken these classes will chime in.
HTH,
Brenda
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God's blessings and peace to you both,
Brenda
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I've used it for several years. http://www.homeschoolart.com. It's pricey, but ds has really enjoyed it, and I've been able to sell it on the used forum once I'm done with it. I'd suggest starting with Level 2 for your children's ages.
HTH,
Brenda
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Jay Wile says to do Algebra 1 alongside Biology -but I've heard a few times that it is recommended to be in Alg II during Chemistry - so where does that leave the Geometry year? Or is this mainly set up for a Saxon sequence?
I would guess that this comment is based upon the Saxon sequence. To do Chemistry, you don't need any more math than Algebra 1. So if your child has finished Algebra 1 before starting Chemistry, she should be all set.
For the OP -- my ds used Apologia Biology in 9th after using Rainbow Science in middle school. The General & Physical courses are not required prior to Biology.
HTH,
Brenda
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if you're worried about the ACT math, then just schedule no regular math lessons a few weeks before the ACT and have her work in prep books and review all the math topics that will be on the test during that time.
If you really want to do some work during the whole year, maybe have her do some work from a prep book once/week to keep the Geometry fresh. I'm not as familiar with the ACT, but the College Board has an SAT question of the day where they will email you a practice question every day once you sign up. We've found that helpful for on-going review. Also, http://www.number2.com is a free site that offers test prep for both the SAT and ACT.
JMHO,
Brenda
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at 4 lessons and 1 test/week. He finished comfortably in 2 semesters (1 school year). Once in Advanced Math, he slowed down to 2 -3 lessons/wk and a test every other week. He finished just over half the book in 1 school year.
HTH,
Brenda
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all of these expensive graphing calculators go on sale at Back To School sales in July and August.
FYI,
Brenda
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my ds used Rosetta Stone for Spanish -- I know not a strong program, but we had to cut corners somewhere to fit it all in.
I think I'm the one recommending the "check the box" approach in a few subjects, like Government, because ds's interests are in computers and engineering. I wanted him to have some exposure to Gov't, but time for a programming course, too. We delve deeper in some areas, like Physics, so some other areas have to receive less attention.
Like Gwen, I'm an engineer and don't care for literature, but -- the more of it I've read with my son, the more I find that it's growing on me. I guess I'm getting the classical education I never got as a child/young adult.
I have more time with ds#2, so he is getting Latin, but won't do Greek. I'd like him to have some time for Spanish, too. He's a real people person, and I think he may end up in a field where knowing Spanish will be helpful.
Thanks to everyone who doesn't belong! And to the few who do!
Brenda
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A lot of local kids hit the public schools in 8th grade and do very well there. I'm seeing a lot of my local support wane as parents get discouraged, and then if the numbers aren't there, important social opportunities among homeschoolers aren't there like they were in the elementary years. Co-ops here are great until about 7th-8th grade, like you said, then it's harder and harder to find talented moms willing to put that much effort into a class that is supposed to count for "credit." Some here hang on by doing Sonlight or by online classes, most here just try to make it to the junior year when their kids can do dual enrollment. It definitely is more challenging, but I am enjoying homeschooling this year more than ever now that I have a high schooler.
My local hs group of close to 100 families has only a handful of high schoolers doing school at home. Most families send their dc to private or public high school. Our coop only goes up through 8th grade for that reason, too. There just aren't enough high schoolers to have meaningful classes.
Since my son started high school three years ago, I've tried to make sure that we still have a presence at some group activities. I've had many moms thank me for bringing my high schooler, and tell me that my son being there and going through high school at home is helping to give them courage to teach their dc at home for high school. I hope that is the case, and the number of high schoolers who school at home will grow.
I know that high school at home isn't for everyone, but I've really enjoyed having my son at home, too, and I know that he's growing here both academically and spiritually. I know that his course of study won't fit the "mold" when he begins applying to colleges. My heart says that differences in his schooling will make him stand out above others in the college application process. He won't be student #xxx from public high school yyyy. They will be forced to look at him as an individual.
I could definitely relate to Kelli's post about having moments of panic about whether I have prepared him well enough. When that happens, it can be hard to think clearly about anything. The only way I've been able to keep those feelings at bay is to trust that my son belongs to God first and to me & dh second and that God will lift him up and help him over the bumps.
Leaping in faith right there with you!
Brenda
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I do think that the core of posts/posters has changed a bit over the 7 years I've been visiting these boards. One common thing, though, is something dh and I heard as we were exploring the idea of hs. We heard this from a co-worker of his whose wife had homeschooled their children for years. That is that what all homeschoolers share, no matter the approach, is a passion for seeing their children succeed and making sacrifices to see that happen. Even though the nitty gritty of the day to day approach can be very different for different families, I've come to understand the wisdom of this comment.
We are a family that started out trying to follow TWTM to the letter when my oldest was a 5th grader. Although I quickly found out that my son was not up to the level of literature recommended at such a young age, I did find his passion for a good story. I also found that I had to reduce expectations in some areas in order to meet him where he was. I've also found that we came to the high school years too quickly with this son where we've had to make decisions about how much emphasis to place on particular subjects given the time we have left and my son's interests.
I share Michelle's view that sometimes you have to make a decision to move on to a different subject if by not doing so, you will kill your child's passions. Just switching gears like this (especially with a teen) doesn't necessarily mean that you've choosing the "easier" route. With some teens, I think it easy to see where their talents/interests lie, and that makes it easier to help them find enough time and balanced their activities so they can pursue their passions.
I really appreciate the diversity of methods and hs approaches represented on this board. When I read a post by someone whose methods are drastically different from mine, it really makes me think outside the box a bit. I have to ask myself, "Am I really missing the point of teaching this subject? Or, perhaps this approach just wouldn't fit my child or our goals." Many, many times here, I've been inspired to make changes or to try an approach that I wouldn't have had the courage to try before because I know others have been down the road. The result has been an added richness to our homeschooling.
Literature, for example, has not been a strength of mine. I hated, hated literature in high school and being forced to read many books that I did not have the experience to understand or interpret. When my son started his high school years, I was determined that he would not hate literature. As a result, we've taken a more non-traditional approach. I felt empowered to do that by reading many posts here and by reading TWTM.
We've read a lot of good books together and discussed them, and he's written about them, but I sometimes feel that I neglected analyzing each book completely, as a literature teacher would have done. As we near the end of high school, I wonder if my son will be prepared to tackle the few literature courses he will need to take in college -- but, I realize that he does not hate literature like I did. I did not kill his love for a good story. So I guess I succeeded in one way, but perhaps failed in another. Only time will tell. My heart says he will be fine, though.
So, thanks to all for your perspectives, and for sharing your approaches, struggles, and successes. This board is the one forum where I feel free to discuss and contemplate a what a rigorous education looks like. I also feel free here to share our struggles and our successes. I very much enjoy hearing about others' successes so I can rejoice with them and wonder at the possibilities of educating a high schooler at home.
Brenda
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offers several on-line courses in Computer Science/programming/web design.
HTH,
Brenda
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we do need to discuss math with our dc, and beginning at a very early age.
In addition to going through the lesson with my dc when I can, I also try to ask them stretching questions -- questions that are just outside the realm of the lesson (e.g. when you're done discussing adding 2 digit numbers, casually ask if they would know how to solve 123 + 456. You're getting them to think about the relationships and how they would apply in another similar case.
I also find myself doing what Gwen mentioned -- constantly asking my children, "Does this answer seem right to you?" I figure if they hear me say it a couple of times a day for 8 or 10 years, it might become automatic.
I think that numbers are a kind of language of their own. They have some rules and patterns that need to be understood in order for an individual to speak "math" fluently. I was thinking that you'd never hand your child a Spanish textbook and tell them to go read the lesson and do the exercises, then expect a fluent speaker of Spanish as the result. I feel like we need to guide our dc through the language of math -- teach them the inherent beauty of numbers, patterns, geometry, etc. Understanding these deeply lets them go beyond the lesson and apply the math to real life.
Getting off my soapbox,
Brenda
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after using Saxon Algebra I, II, and half of Adv Math. A fair number of the concepts have been review, but Chalkdust approaches PreCalc from much more of a visual perspective. A lot of emphasis is placed on graphing functions, and a graphing calculator is used extensively. This visual approach has really helped my son to a deeper understanding of the math. Chalkdust also includes many more real world application problems so students can see how the math is used. My son loves the instruction on the Chalkdust DVDs much better than the Saxon Dive CDs. Chalkdust is an expensive program, but it's worked well for us.
I would not recommend a strictly Trig program because Saxon does a decent job (IMHO) in Algebra 2 & Adv Math of covering the basics of Trig. PreCalc is typically a mixture of trig & advanced algebra.
Brenda
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I have been on these boards since 2001. I think I remember you as well. Welcome back!
Brenda
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My ds used Saxon and completed Alg 1, 2, and half of Adv Math. This year, I decided to use Chalkdust for PreCalc because I sensed that he really wasn't understanding how the math he learned could be applied.
He's loved Dana Mosely, the teacher on the Chalkdust videos. The book has quite a few application problems and explanations of how particular concepts are applied to real world problems. This year, I've really seen his understanding of math deepen, and he's doing so much better applying what he's learned. He's also taking Physics, and seeing the math applied to Physics problems has also helped his understanding of math concepts.
If your son is interested in computers (as is my son), I think you are right to encourage more math. Music is a hard field to make a living in, unless one is very, very good. I have a friend who majored in music, struggled for several years, and then went back to school for Computer Science. She is able to support herself with a CS degree, and in her free time, she still participates in plays, a chorus, and other musical endeavors.
HTH,
Brenda
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Karen,
My son took the SAT2 Chemistry test last spring, and I was able to download a SAT Subject Test prep booklet from the college board's website here:
This booklet had a few sample questions for each test, including the math tests. If you google SAT Subject Test Math on amazon.com, you'll come up with lots of prep books. My son hasn't taken either of the Math subject tests, so I can't recommend a particular guide.
Brenda
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Sharon,
I hear you when you raise concern about a possible bad experience with Calculus at the cc ruining your son's transcript. This is exactly the concern we've had here.
Ds will most likely continue with Chalkdust Calculus at home for his Sr. year. Math isn't a strong area for him, but he's doing OK because he works very hard at it. I'd hate to discourage him by risking a bad experience at cc. I think he'll probably do OK at his eventual college taking Calc I because of the introduction with Chalkdust and because he'll have gained more maturity by then.
We are working out what he'll take at the cc this coming fall. Right now, it's looking like Psychology and Chemistry. I feel like I've really been wearing my guidance counselor hat this week as ds and I try to sort out all his options and chose a course of action.
Brenda
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Potter's School offers a couple of courses on Web Design/HTML.
Brenda
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My son is interested in studying either Computer Programming or Mechanical Engineering in college, so I've been thinking that he should have 4 years of Science on his high school transcript.
He's already taken Biology & Chemistry, and he's taking Physics now. He needs a course for next year, and we are not sure what he should take. Our thought process goes something like this -- he could take an AP or a Community College course, but in what subject?
He's just finishing Physics, so he really doesn't want to take another Physics course next year. He doesn't care for Chemistry. Since he's interested in computers or engineering, AP or CC Biology doesn't seem like it would be a useful course for him.
We're wondering how colleges would view a couple of computer programming or networking courses instead of a strict "science" course. He is taking a Visual Basic course now (at the same times as Physics) and enjoying it. Another option would be for him to just buckle down and take another Chemistry course.
We're not looking, at this point, in trying to transfer the AP or CC credits in computing because we think he should take the courses in his major at the 4-year school he will go to the following year.
So many decisions.... Any thoughts would be appreciated.
TIA,
Brenda
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and it is working very well for him. I do wish that we'd spent the extra few dollars and got the "Silver Edition" because it has a lot more memory. There are all kinds of applications that can be downloaded onto it from the internet, like a Periodic Table and a Simultaneous Equation solver.
I believe that the TI-84 is acceptable for both the SAT & ACT. The ACT seems to have stricter requirements, and some higher level TI models are not allowed on the ACT.
I bought my son's calculator at Staples during the Back-to-School deals in August and got an excellent deal on it. If you can't find a deal now, and there are only a few lessons that use the graphing feature, perhaps you could borrow one or just go through those lessons later.
HTH,
Brenda
Visiting for advice..What writing program do you wish you had used for 5th and up?
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted
in IEW, and I wish I had used it with my high schooler.
Now that they have their Theme Based writing manuals available, I think that IEW goes very well with the WTM approach.
Some say it's too formulaic, but I've seen my son write more easily and with more variation in his writing almost from the start of using IEW.
One thing we did over the summer after 5th grade that is still paying dividends -- we had ds learn to touch type. Editing is so much less of a chore now.
Best wishes,
Brenda