ValRN
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Posts posted by ValRN
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No angst here. My problems was that I could not organize in my mind how much to schedule ds to complete each day. We've figured it out after many conversations with Mrs. Klopp. We found out that many students were having the same problem because they integrated the the OSU and Estudio sites a little differently this year.
We're good now. Thanks.
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In my son's case, it took him forever to do his English 1 work. His teacher was Ruth Frederick. She was absolutely wonderful, but the amount of work was almost to the point of being overwhelming for him. But that may just be for my son - 8th grade at the time he took English 1.
I agree with Running the Race about not adding grammar. However, I did feel that the two books they read (Redwall and In Freedom's Cause) were not enough. There were short stories though. My son is not a reader, so he does not read (anything worth reading) outside of classes (unless I MAKE him). It was very disheartening at the end of the year to see on his reading list only 4 or so books.
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I did a search and could not find anything on my question.
This is my first 12th grade DC. DS is going through the college application process in order to get apps in by Nov. 1. He handed me his personal essay........and it is soooo not a personal essay. He is very sensitive about any suggestion I make about his writing. That is the precise reason that I outsource this subject.
Anyway, I would like for him to work with a essay editing service for his personal essay. Has anyone used such a service? If so, was is worth it? Can you recommend a company/person?
And how much editing (or coaching) is not too much for this type of essay?
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9th grade DS is using OSU Spanish I. He started last week, but is having problems figuring out when to do what. He is overwhelmed with the amount of work. The instructor said that he is trying to do too much each day. I've searched the OSU course site (where the instructor places the assignments) and the Estudio site (where you complete the assignments) and cannot for the life of me figure out a way to divide up the work so that it is not too much. There are so many 'green As' (those of you who are taking or have taken the course will understand 'green As)!
How are YOU getting all the work done by the deadline dates? How are YOU dividing up the work for your DC? Feel free to PM me.
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I took my 3 dc for their wellness exams today, and the family practitioner suggested this vaccine for my ds (17 and 14) and dd (11). None of my dc are sexually active yet - they do not even date. I'm not saying that they will remain abstinent until marriage, but at this time they've chosen to be (thank God).
I declined this vaccine for dc based on the fact that it is too new and not enough long-term info has been compiled yet.
I also am selective when it comes to vaccines. I declined the chicken pox vaccine for dc when it first came out. I was still waiting on "time" but my dh took middle dc to an appointment and the doctor was able to slip it in on my unsuspecting (and less cautious) husband. :eek:
Anyway. I enjoyed reading the posts.
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Thank you so much, everyone.
Margaret, Kareni, and Ethel, your descriptions are so helpful. They give me a good idea of what I need to do to pare mine down.
Kareni, I like how you used 'educational partners' and listed their info in your homeschool profile. What a great idea. I also have a homeschool profile and will consider listing my 'educational partners' :D on it (if you do not mind me using your title).
You ladies are such a blessing. My goal was to have my course descriptions finished by this weekend. I met that goal, but then I kept second guessing myself and made a second document with the descriptions a different way and then a third document with more changes. I think I'm making it harder than it has to be. I just want to make sure everything is in the best format before ds submits everything.
I cannot wait until this is over and ds receives acceptance letters. Then, I'll have 3 years before I have to go through it again.
Thanks again!
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Okay, no teacher bios...maybe not even names.
For classes taken online or at community college, do you include
1. source of the class (online or community college), so the reviewer knows that the class was taken elsewhere (validation of mommy grades)?
2. the number of hours spent in class/online lectures each week?
3. a description of the type of work assigned?
4. that the grading method determined and final grade given by the outside instructor?
5. length of course (# of weeks)?
This is my first go-round with college applications. The course descriptions are stressing me out because I do not know what to include. I have the document complete, but I keep vacillating on what I should include. I'm up to my third version of this document at this point. HELP!
Can anyone give me a suggestion on what I should actually include in the summary of the course? Is anyone willing to show me what an entry for 1 of your courses looks like?
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I'm in the process of writing course descriptions. I am stuck at whether or not to include a short instructor bio. This is my basic format for each course:
Title
Instructor
Description
Materials
I need advice about whether or not I should include a short bio after the instructors' names and credentials.
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I had two DSs do VHSG last year. One did chemistry and the other did general science.
Chemistry (live option) DS is not on a science track. He did not like chemistry, but that had nothing to do with VHSG. I felt that the class was NOT challenging enough for a high school class. Labs are optional/extra credit. I required DS to complete, write up, and turn in labs. The teacher had a template for lab reports. Once DS forgot to take out some information on the template when he put in his own info. There were no points taken off for it. I honestly believe that the reports are not even read. I think she awards 100% credit just for them being turned in. Quizzes are given after every lecture. The student is allowed to take the quizzes as many times as they want to obtain a better grade. There is a test after each module, but students may only take the test once. DS did not have to do any major studying for chemistry. He read the modules, completed the OYOs, end of chapter questions, and practice problems. He made A's on most test and B's on some, so the test material must have come directly from the quizzes, lectures, readings.
General Science (live option) DS was about the same - no major studying. The orignal teacher quit within the first couple of weeks of the class and Tammi had to take over. Again, not challenging, but a good course to get a child used to an online class or to get a child used to being accountable to someone else.
I would have to say that if your child is a science-y kid, then VHSG may not be the best option for them because it will not adequately prepare them for deeper/advanced study in science. But if you are looking to simply check off the science box, then it is a viable option.
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Just wondering, for those who do... why do you include a book list? In course descriptions, I have included what he read (if applicable), but I'm curious to know why a separate list would be necessary.
Is this something that specific universities ask for?
Thanks!
DS has not applied to any colleges yet, so I do not know if this is something the university will ask for. I want to have everything ready when DS starts applying.
I'm including a separate literature list because my son reads a lot of material that is not a part of his English or literature classes. If I were to only include the literature that was assigned, the list would be sorely lacking.
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DS had a wonderful time! While in one city, two of the guys slept in separate queen beds (DS will not sleep in the same bed with another guy other than his little brother or father no matter how big the bed is or how many sheets/covers are between them) and when they went on to the next city, they rotated who got the beds. The good thing is that in the second there were comfy chairs to sleep in. One of the guys took a sleeping bag (guess he had prior experience with overnight-type stays) and he was okay with sleeping in his bag on the floor even when offered the opportunity to have a bed.
DS enjoyed every second of his time and wished the trip was longer. I learned a great deal from your posts and now know to have son take a sleeping bag or cheap air mattress on the next trip.
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We submitted the book list as just another part of the packet.
Gwen - do you include a heading on the sheet of paper that has the book (literature NOT texts) list?
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but beneath the principal's signature, do include "/mother" or "/father" ?
Underneath my signature, I have, "Teacher/Administrator/Mother" but a friend and fellow home-school mom said not to include the parental relationship.
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Will you share with me what the front page of your DC's reading list looks like? Do you have a cover page? Is your reading list a part of your course description packet (with 1 cover page for everything)? What does your cover page look like?
I'm trying to figure out how to include DS's reading list. This is my first rising senior, so I'm clueless :confused: to how things should be submitted. Any suggestion is appreciated.
Oh! And do you include "father" or "mother" in the " XXX, Teacher/Administrator underneath the signature on the transcript? For example: do you have
Jane Doe, Teacher/Administrator/Mother; John Doe, Principal/Father
Or
Jane Doe, Teacher/Administrator; John Doe, Principal?
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DS also received an invite from the National Society of High School Scholars. I googled the organization and read comments (there is a thread on College Confidential) about them. We came to the conclusion that although it is not a scam, the organization offers no real benefits. We also read that several "less than stellar" students have been invited to join. Those statements were made by the students, themselves. Because of that, DS decided not to join and that it is not worth mentioning the invite on his transcript.
This is just our opinion. You may come to a different one.
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viola. orchestras are notoriously lacking in the viola section.
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I have printed out all of the applications for the colleges he is interested in. He is filling out rough drafts of them.
This is a great idea! This is the second time I've seen that, and I think that I'll have ds do the same.
This will be my first graduate. DS will be a senior in the fall. He is not sure where he will apply other than University of MD College Park. He is using the summer to research universities with good/great music programs. He decided early on that he does not want to go to a conservatory because he's interested in getting a non-music second degree (anyway, he thinks he is). We've learned that there are a couple of conservatories where he may obtain a non-music degree along with a music degree. He will decide if he wants to apply to them this month.
DS has said from the beginning that he wanted to go to USC. Dad and I are not receptive to that because USC is all the way across the U.S. from MD. However, we have said that he may apply as long as he understands that he'll only be able to come home for Christmas and summer. DS is unsure of USC because of the required 3 SAT Subject Tests. He is so sick of SAT I/ACT tests at this point, that it stresses him out to think of more testing.
DS is so overwhelmed with choosing which colleges to apply. He just got back from Canada early this morning and really enjoyed the time he was there because he did not have to think about anything school-related. I know he dreads getting back in the swing of things.
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I list only final grades for 9th, 10th, and 11th grades. 12th grade, I list 1st semester and final grades.
I'm not sure if it matters how you list the grades in completed years. It may matter for a year in progress if dc is applying midyear to a program and the organization requests a transcript. For 12th grade, if/when your child is applying to colleges in December/January, a first semester grade, I think, is expected on the transcript.
But...take my opinion with a grain of salt because I have yet to graduate a child. Oldest dc will be in 12th in the fall. We will begin college applications in Sept (auditions in Nov/Dec) and will only have 9th through 11th grades on transcript with "in progress" classes listed.
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Sometimes it's just not that easy being the mom, is it? :grouphug:
Thank you Kinsa and Nan in Mass.
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O.K. I get it. I'm overreacting...which I'm prone to do. That is exactly why I came to the hive before making any phone calls. We've never done a group stay-away, but I see now that it is the norm for 4 kids to be in 1 room with 2 queen beds.
NONE of the boys wish to share a bed. These young people only know each other from orchestra. They spend 3.5 hours practicing on Saturdays and concert time together throughout the school year. DS is very quiet until he gets to know people (after 3 years in the orchestra, you'd think he know these people by now). Then he is more talkative. One of the guys DS is rooming with is a fellow trumpeter who is a little "different". It is hard to explain it, but DS has said before that this guy creeps him out. The other 2 guys have effeminate ways, so... DS decided to go on the tour after the stated deadline, so he ended up being put with the 3 unassigned guys.
These guys came to the agreement themselves that they would rotate sleeping on the floor. And just to be clear, DS is not the one having a fit. I'm the guilty fit-thrower. DS is fine with the arrangements he and the other young men came up with.
I am proud of DS because despite the preconceived notions that he had about these guys, he is making the best of it and discovering that said young man is not so creepy and the other 2 guys are alright too. So maybe now, Mom has some growing to do. :)
Thank you for all of your responses. I took them to heart.
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Sunday night DS 17 left to go on tour in Canada with his youth orchestra. They arrived today. Tonight I skyped with him and during the conversation, he told me that the room he and 3 other orchestra members are staying in only had 2 queen beds. So 2 of the young men have to sleep on the floor in sleeping bags. Now mind you, they spent 13 hours on a bus getting to Canada.
I don't know if they expected two of the 4 in a room to sleep on the floor or if they expected the boys to share a queen bed. :confused: Well, DS would never do that. He would insist upon a plane ride home before he would concede to that.
I do not know if this is a normal occurrence/expectation when youth orchestras tour. DS has never toured with this orchestra. They only tour every 3 years and this is his 3rd year being in the orchestra.
Needless to say, I am livid! :mad: No one ever mentioned that there would be kids sleeping on the floor. When the tour information was sent out to parents it included "Hotel accommodation utilizing first-class hotels, based on quad occupancy (triple, double, and single accommodation supplements are available)." I understand that "quad occupancy" means 4 people to a room, but I thought it was given that there would also be 4 twin beds. Am I wrong for thinking this way? Am I overreacting?
I asked DS if the other young men had spoken with their parents and what were other parents saying about their children sleeping on the floor, but he did not know. I'm going to call another orchestra mom tomorrow to see if possibly I missed out on some information or if she assumed the same as I did. I also plan to call the executive director (she's the conductor's wife and arranged the tour) tomorrow to let her know how displeased I am with the hotel accommodations, but first I want to make sure that I'm not overreacting and that my expectations are not unrealistic.
BTW DS ended up with a bed tonight. I told him that he needed to switch back and forth with someone so the same person is not sleeping on the floor every night.
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Thank you for that clarification. DS scored a bit above the national average but not well enough for a full scholarship.
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What scores are considered average, good, great for the ACT?
Vent!
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted
I enjoyed reading this thread because I also have a feigning (I say that because he is very bright) clueless 14 year old/9th grade ds. He got a 52 on an open book quiz because he was too lazy to look at the book or forgot to look at the book or just did not even give a hoot.
He was testing me to see how much work he could get out of. I'm not going for it this year. DH and I told him either he steps up or he takes another year of 8th grade. That seemed to do the trick because things have gotten much better.
:grouphug: to you. There is hope.