ValRN
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Posts posted by ValRN
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We use AP courses for rigor only. I don't ever plan for my DC to take exams at the end of an AP course; however, they do have a say in the matter.
We also send a very detailed curriculum vitae (that has course descriptions, texts, grading and course requirements, etc.) and a homeschool profile (mission statement, philosophy of education...which explains that AP courses are taken for rigor) to admissions offices when applying.
With that being said, please understand that I've only graduated and sent 1 kid to college. My 2nd is in 11th and my 3rd and youngest, is in 8th. The DC that I have graduated was accepted and offered merit scholarships at every college to which he applied, so I can safely assume that skipping AP exams did not hurt him.
HTH
edit - Let me add that none of the colleges to which DS applied were highly selective. The most selective admits about 47% of applicants. So, it may be different with highly selective schools.
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I agree with the recommendation of Jann in TX/myhomeschoolmathclass.com All 3 of my DC have taken Jann for one class or another. Older DC took Jann for alg 1, geometry, and alg 2 and then went on to take higher maths at the community college. Middle DC took Jann for alg 1 & 2, and youngest DC has taken Jann for pre-algebra and is taking alg 1. We've been with Jann for a long time - 7 years. My oldest got in when she first started. He was the only student in her algebra 1 course and got 1-on-1 teaching.
For me, the most important thing about Jann as a teacher is that she genuinely cares about each and every student's comprehension. She does not rush through concepts if she sees that the class is struggling with understanding a concept, she stays after class if possible to help students, and she gives free, private tutorials to her students who need further help. The thing I like least about Jann as a teacher is that she does not teach pre-calculus or calculus.
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DS 20 is in his 2nd year of college, majoring in music composition (he added the 2nd major music technology). He's home on spring break, and I posed your question to him. He recommended http://www.youngcomposers.com/.
Entering young composer competitions is something that I would highly recommend. If your DD writes orchestral/concert music, I'd also recommend she get connected to a youth orchestra. With that she can have her music "read" (played during a rehearsal) and possibly premiered. Also, if she plans to pursue music composition in college, I would suggest that she create works that she can have played and recorded to go into a portfolio for college submissions. Yes, they do ask for scores and recordings of the scores when applying to composition programs. In most cases, the colleges/universities/conservatories require applicants to audition on an instrument in addition to submitting a portfolio.
HTH
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DS is currently taking pre-calculus at Wilson Hill Academy. The course is great; the teacher is excellent. WHA uses Canvas as the interface. The teacher is visible, there is a whiteboard, and there is a chat box. There have been absolutely no problems with the connections except that sometimes the teacher's camera freezes. It has not had a major affect on the lectures. If you have specific questions, feel free to PM me.
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What about Modern Chemistry (Wilson Hill Academy chemistry) by Sarquis & Sarquis, publisher is Holt McDougal. ISBN 978-0547586632?
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We've loved American Experience. I think of it more as a supplement, but there are actually hundreds of videos. I'm putting together a chronological list if you're interested. Crash course US History could be more spiny, but there's only 40 or so and they're all around 15 minutes. Neither is religious, but both are really interesting.
Momling, I'd be interested in that list also. Thanks for sharing.
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So he's good at math but doesn't like it? (Why would he then be interested in engineering?) Or maybe he assumes he doesn't like math due to the style of the math program(s) he has used? Just thinking out loud...
Could he have a hidden learning issue requiring him to exert so much extra effort? In other words, might something be holding him back from reaching his full potential? (Sorry, I'm in issue-spotting mode... you know that old saying about holding a hammer and everything you see is a nail?)
It sounds like a good plan to keep going with high school. Before he should choose the CC route, you both might research what various engineering schools might require in terms of whether they'd accept any CC credits for math.He
I believe that he THINKS he does not like math because it takes him so long to complete because of his LDs (dysgraphia, slow processing, and ADD among others). He's always liked his math programs/teachers (always taken math online). I have to take that back; he hated geometry with DO. That was a year-long nightmare...that ended in an A. Go figure! He's taking pre-calc currently and likes his teacher and has a 98.1 average. He just does not like math because of the effort. He knows he's good at it and he likes maintaining A's....meaning he doesn't dislike it enough to let his grades slip.
As mentioned above, he has had an educational/neuropsych assessment and been diagnosed with several LDs. His IQ is in the superior range, so he definitely has not reached his full potential.
Any courses he takes at CC will not be taken for transfer credits. That is never our focus when DC take CC courses. We do it for the increase in rigor and verification of 'mommy grades'. If he has to take a math course over at the 4-year college, hopefully that will be one course he'll be able to skate throuhg while working hard in the others. But before I make decisions based on what matters to me, I'll aks him and check into if he wants transfer credits instead of re-taking a class.
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DS chose his college so that he would graduate debt-free. He chose the school that gave him a full tuition scholarship. It was not his first choice -- It does not have the best program for his major of all the colleges he was considering, but it offered him the most money. He loves his university and mentors/professors and does not regret his choice.
So to answer your question, my son felt strongly about not taking on debt to attend college and willingly made sacrifices for it.
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Would he be interested in earning a technical certificate from a CC next year? If he's burned out on academics, it might be a nice change of pace to learn something hands-on.
DS probably would get a kick out of any trade that has to do with cars. However, he plays classical guitar, so he has to keep the nails on his right hand longer than a guy would normally keep his nails. BC of this, he has to be very careful about hands-on things.
DS definitely has a talent for science and math. He's thinking he wants to go into aerospace engineering, biochemical engineering, automotive design/engineering or some science field. He's really unsure but dreads the math he'll have to take in college to study engineering and dreads the effort he'll have to extend to be successful at college. I mean this kid is physically, emotionally, and psychologically drained after a day of school....and he works 7 days a week (and sometimes through the summer). No, I don't give him too much. This is the first year that he's had (what would be considered) a 'normal' number of credits for his age/grade. Before now, he's only been able to handle about 4 courses during the year and 2 in the summer. (Hmm, I guess there has been some growth in his academic abilities. Maybe there is hope by the time he graduates.)
After much thinking and discussing, we've decided to have DS complete another year of high school. He'll take most courses at the CC. After graduation, we are thinking about having him take a gap year to "be intentional about his academic choices" (a friend gave me this wording). During this year, he'll either work full time, serve the community, travel abroad, or go to the CC to sample courses to find out what 'feels right' for him.
Thank you all for your suggestions. They spark great conversation and inner thought for DS, husband, and me.
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Maize - I'm looking at his 8th grade work to see if I want to go this route. Thanks.
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Could you consider this his senior year and count 8th grade as his freshman year?
If it seems that he will have to attend cc because of timing, would taking several classes while still being a high schooler be an option? That might give him the feeling of taking the next step while keeping him on the timeline you'd previously planned.
I'm thinking about this option, Sebastian & Ellie.
Another difficulty has crept up:He has 3 sciences (PreAP Biology + lab, PreAP Physics + lab, and Marine Biology), but does not have chemistry. I'm wondering if it will make a big difference to colleges not having chemistry on his transcript. Our original plan was for him to take an easy science (marine bio) this year and do chemistry in 12th grade. But now that he wants to graduate this year.... Why? Why? Why is he throwing a monkey wrench in the works? I don't do well with curve balls.
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I didn't think about the Common App. Darn. Elder DS applied early action and got offered many academic and music scholarships, so our goal for the remainder of our children is to apply by the early action deadline. We could not pull it all together by then. Although he has had teachers who have offered to write recommendation letters, they are under the assumption that they'll be doing that next year. It would be inconsiderate of DS to ask the teachers to write and submit ASAP. We could consider schools with rolling admissions, but we are not that far yet. I'm just trying to figure out the transcript situation right now.
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Crosspost
What is the norm for a student graduating in 3 years?
Did you only reflect 3 years on the official transcript or did you spread all courses over 4 years?
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DS is in his 11th grade year and asking to graduate at the end of this year, and we are considering allowing him to do so. He has more credits than designated for honors at our local high school. His credits are also quality credits with verification of 'mommy grades'. DS works VERY hard to be an A student but has LDs and is tired of school at this point. We aren't sure if DS will go straight to a 4-year university (we realize that application deadlines have passed) on a part-time basis, go to the CC for 2 years, or take a gap year to work, travel abroad, or serve the community.
For those of you who have graduated your DC in 3 years and sent them to college, how did you set up your transcript? Did the transcript reflect only 3 years or did you spread the course over 4 years on the transcript?
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Barbara H - Thanks for the link to the interview. I found the interview fascinating and very helpful. I vacillate between thinking I'm being too hard on DS 16 and being a pushover. I needed the confirmation (from the interview) that I may need to let go of MY (not his) expectations of what he will do after high school...that college may not be up his alley. It's so hard for me though because this young man is sooooo bright. It takes so much effort and time for him to keep up with the work. He was stressed to the max his 9th grade year (when we had him evaluated). Now that he knows that he has obstacles, he's less stressed. And I'm less pushy.
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LisaK - Thanks for the suggestions. I looked at the TC course, but it was too expensive at that time.
elegantlion - I'm using the History Channel's World Wars Extended series, DK's World War II Day by Day, lots of movies and literature. We work in discussions at the dinner table, and I assign short essays. Since this is a subject she wanted to pursue, I try to keep it as fun as possible (no tests). We live in the DC area, so we will visit the Holocaust Museum and WWII memorial. I am planning to have her contact our local VFW post to inquire if there are any WWII vets there and if so, interview one. 'llI also have her interview a person who was a child (at least 5 years old) in Europe (or America) during that time. Her paternal grandmother was in Ireland and her maternal grandmother was in the U.S.at that time, but they both may be too young to remember.
My daughter has read The Diary of Anne Frank and Night already. She's also read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, The Book Thief, and The Devil's Arithmetic. DD is a really compassionate young lady, so she's always felt empathy for what happened during the Holocaust, but reading The Book Thief and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society really set off an interest in learning more. A book you may consider adding to your list is Hitler's Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow. It gives a chronological look at the lives of specific (and actual) teens growing up in Germany under the Third Reich. Another good book is Kristallnacht 1938.
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DD is doing survey of World War II for her history this year. I'm having to make the course myself and it's taking a lot of time. Does anyone know of a curriculum already written for this?
Val
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Let me just say this: I had/have two sons like that. My 19 y/o worked very slowly, except for reading. He got faster as he progressed in high school, but basically still worked all day to finish his work. He was able to begin taking community college courses the summer after his 10th grade year and he did go to a university with academic and music scholarships and finished his 1st year with a 4.0.
Conversely, my 16 y/o son struggles mightily to get his work done. It started in 9th grade. It got so bad that we had him have a neuro-educational assessment by a neuropsychologist. Turned out that he has ADD (causing him to have to read sentences over and over...hence reading slowly), dysgraphia, and a host of other learning differences. Although the evaluation showed that he had a genius IQ, all of these other things affect the speed at which is does work, his processing, etc. The neuropsychologist explained that the dysgraphia affects his ability to come up with material to write about. He has to do school year-round to finish a "normal" load of courses. At this point, he will not be able to attend CC or take AP courses in high school. He may even require a gap year after he graduates. I said all of that to say that it can simply be a matter of maturity or there could be something else going on and it's worth it to investigate further.
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DD 13 is interested in learning more about WWII after reading The Book Thief, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Devil's Arithmetic, and several other books with a WWII setting. Before moving here, we lived on an Air Force base in Hawaii, and the back of the base was connected to Pearl Harbor. We visited and discussed the attack often, and I think that is what sparked this interest years ago. I've decided to create a Survey of WWII course that includes a detailed overview of WWII, reading lots of literature (she's a reader), watching documentaries, visiting the Holocaust museum, etc. If possible, I would like to purchase a WWII curriculum just to use as a guide in structuring my course. Does anyone know of a good WWII curriculum?
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Does anyone have experience with the Pre-Calculus course with Dave Schiffman/Landry Academy? I watched a sample class and was very surprised to see that the screen on which the students view what the teacher is writing was VERY small and had poor clarity. I emailed LA and this was the response I received:
"Yes, absolutely. We are working on this now and will not be using the small screen for writing for any of our classes next year."
Can anyone speak to the quality, content, organization, rigor of this course/teacher?
Or can anyone recommend a different pre-calculus course? We've already discovered that Derek Owens does not work for DS. We are also considering using the Lial's text and supplementing with Thinkwell videos. Any other suggestions?
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Great!
DD currently takes a free Scratch programming course with Virtual Homeschool Group. All of their courses are free. I would not use them for high school (or late middle school for that matter), but they are great for having a student get used to an online format, be accountable to someone else, etc. We don't use their courses for academic content or rigor; we use them more as a supplement to learning certain skills. The Scratch course is very basic and NOT rigorous at all...probably best for elementary and early middle school grades.
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Not done choosing courses for next year, but here goes:
DS rising 11th grader - TPS CADD for Mechanical Engineering Design 1 (anyone have experience with this class?)
DD rising 8th grader - Alg 1 with Jann Perkins
I'm still deciding which language arts and science online courses.
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And let me just add that on several occasions when I could not figure out what DS did not understand about his homework, I emailed the assignment to Jann (even though I grade DS's work) and she looked at it and told me what DS was not understanding and suggested a tutorial.
We take a lot of online courses, and I have not found ANY teacher to be more accommodating or willing to help than Jann. She genuinely wants her students to understand and do well and , in my opinion, goes above and beyond. No, her courses are not perfect. Jann goes off topic a bit during lectures, my DD feels her lectures progress too slowly, and I have even had someone tell me that they thought she was rude to students. But I have not found a single online teacher other than Jann who truly cares so much about each individual student's understanding and success. I personally do not know how she is able to offer such individual and specific help and still be able to have a life outside of teaching.
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This is interesting to me. My daughter is on her third year with Derek Owens and he also offers free tutorials. When my daughter has problems with an assignment he always sends her extra videos to help and several times has even made additional videos for her. So I would say that is incorrect that he offers no tutoring.
DO was mostly timely about answering emails and also sent an extra video to DS two or three times. I don't consider this tutoring. This is not the one-on-one, immediate answers to questions that a live tutoring session provides.
May I make an important point?
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted
While reading several posts about which online provider to choose for a certain subject, something popped into my mind. It's something I've always considered since my children entered their high school years, but something I've never shared on the board. Guess I assumed it is common knowledge. Then while reading a post about DO AP Calculus, I felt the need to share. I'm not sure if someone else has made this point or not, but it's worth mentioning again.
When my oldest DC was going through the college application process, he needed letters of recommendation from several people. Since he was applying to academic and music programs, he not only needed letters from teachers of academic subjects, but also he needed letters from music teachers. I found it very helpful that DS had created rapport with his online and music teachers, had successive courses/lessons with teachers, and was able to ask for letters of recommendation from them.
When choosing an online course for upper high school, I think it's very important to inquire about if the teachers are allowed to write letters of recommendation. And if a teacher is a good teacher and the content of the course is rich, consider staying with that teacher if he/she teachers the next level course in that subject. I also impress upon DC the importance of creating a rapport with instructors.
We've used several online providers: TPS, DO, Ray Leven, AIM Academy, Jann in TX, Wilson Hill Academy (and more) and not all of them write letters of recommendation. If your DC plan to go to a 4 year college, whether a teacher will write a letter should be high on your list when you are considering the pros/cons of a course provider.
Just my two cents worth. :001_smile: