DonHomeschool
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Posts posted by DonHomeschool
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Mom31257,
With an ACT score of 33, I don't think she is going to have a problem maintaining a 3.7 GPA (average of A-). But based on my experience with college instruction, here is my “2 cents:â€
1) Have your daughter take the minimum amount of courses needed to qualify as a full-time student. It is usually 12 credits (approximately 4 courses at 3 credits each). A lot of very intelligent students make the mistake and take 18 to 21 college credits in one semester. That is a lot of work and can "burn" a student out very easily. Instead, I recommend that your daughter take 12 credits for each full term (Fall & Spring) and take a few classes in the Summer and Winter sessions (if available).
2) If your child is going to take 4 courses during a semester, they should try to balance the courses by taking 2 “easy†courses and 2 “challenging†courses. Easy courses can be defined as subjects that she “masters.†I know students that registers for a natural science and a math course (as their easy courses); and registers for a foreign language and social science course (as their challenging courses). On the other hand, I see students that register for the same courses, but see the opposite (natural science/math as hard courses, and foreign language/social science as easy courses).
3) Very important, Regentrude stated above that “professors want students to succeed. Most choose careers in academia because they enjoy teaching and interacting with students.†That is true for some, but not all professors. Let me quickly explain:
There are professors that are engaging and enjoy teaching. However, a few will never give a student an “A,†especially if the student is taking a course that is subjectively graded. Moreover, there are professors that grades on a curve. So if your child is averaging 96 on all her assignments, but there are a few more students in the same class averaging a higher grade, your child may get her grade curved down from an “A†to an “A-“ or “B+.†Your daughter may have learned a lot and did well in class, but these types of professors can put her scholarship into jeopardy. As a result, if there is a course that has various sections, a student should research which professor would be a “good fit†(and avoid all the bad professors).
There are other recommendations, but it will be too long to post. I hope this helped.
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JanetC/Momto2Ns,
Thank you for your feedback. With your input, I am able to finalize the first two years of science (Biology/Chemistry).
Now, I need to finalize the last two years of high school science (Algebra-Based Physics & Calculus-Based Physics).
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I have been planning my child’s 4-year high school science courses. This is what I got for Biology:
- Thinkwell Biology
- eScienceLabs.com (Introductory Biology-Version 3)-I welcome any suggestions on a better lab kit to supplement Thinkwell Biology
- Based on previous feedback on Thinkwell Biology, I will create my own chapter quizzes and tests
I have never used Thinkwell, therefore, should I add a textbook to supplement the videos and lab kit?
Your feedback would be appreciated. Thanks.
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I came across the following job posting from Education Portal (EP):
Now we know why they are going to charge for their content. Unless they improve the quality and quantity of their instruction, EP will not be able to sustain the new business model.
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Ameena,
I don’t know how it works at your local community college, but my local community college gave my daughter an exception after enrolling at another out-of-county community college. However, that exception came with a price difference in tuition. That is, instead of paying less than $170 per course for dual enrollment, we were charged “regular tuition†at approximately $475 per course. I guess I cannot complain because their age minimum restriction is also 16 years old and I had them give us an exemption for my child that is only 12 years old.
In your case, I agree with some members of this board that an exemption will probably be given. Continue to research, plan, and analyze your options to be better prepared for any challenges that you may face in getting the exemption. Good luck.
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Raristy,
In my experience with various instructors (high school and college), every single one has suggested that a paper should be edited by someone other than the student before handing in an assignment.
By the way, it is normal to have a little friction during the editing process. When I was a student, I also had a little friction with the person that was editing my papers. Now, I have the same issues when editing my daughter's papers. Even though she is wrong most of the time, I respect the way my daughter formulates her arguments. In other words, she challenges my explanations of the suggested changes.
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Emmie,
When I was outlining my daughter's high school curriculum, I had the same issue (how to transition from Teaching Textbooks to a Calculus course with a similar format). However, I will be making the same transition that was suggested by creekland and musicmom; to transition to Thinkwell's Calculus program.
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I agree with Julie 100%, but one must always offer help (just in case they need it or want it).
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Ann,
You stated that he did well with TT Pre-Algebra. What do you consider a passing score with TT lessons (could have led to the problems in TT Algebra 1)? Did you allow him to continue to another lesson in TT Algebra 1 without properly understand a specific lesson?
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Corraleno,
Thank you for your detailed opinion on the World History Courses with the Teaching Company. To answer your question with how I am planning to use these courses, I am going to match a textbook for each lecture. Therefore, if I use two 48-hour lectures in a grade, it will be supplemented with the proper textbook for those videos. This will give the student a total of 96 lecture hours, plus an additional 84 hours to read the textbook, complete homework (from the textbook), and take a test (that may or may not come with the instructor's edition of the textbook, or with an ordered test bank) to make sure that the student is learning the material. Most likely, the student may go over the 180 hours needed for the high school credit (something that I will try to avoid).
Moreover, I like the idea of replacing Human Prehistory and the First Civilizations (Course# 380) and Origins of Great Ancient Civilizations (Course# 3174) with History of the Ancient World: A Global Perspective (Course# 3850). However, that course does not cover the prehistory time period (prior to 3500 B.C.). Does anyone have a suggestion to cover the prehistory time period if one starts World History with History of the Ancient World: A Global Perspective (Course# 3850)?
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My daughter will be entering high school in August and I am analyzing/preparing her potential courses. I may decide to use the Teaching Company (The Great Courses) for 9th & 10th Grade World History (11th Grade will cover U.S. History and 12th Grade will be covered with Government and Economics). Again, this is something that I still studying, but wanted to get your input on the following courses from the Teaching Company:
9th Grade: Human Prehistory and the First Civilizations (Course# 380); Origins of Great Ancient Civilizations (Course# 3174); and Foundations of Eastern Civilization (Course# 3630)
10th Grade: Foundations of Western Civilization (Course# 370); Foundations of Western Civilization II: A History of the Modern Western World (Course# 8700)
I also like the following courses, but did not choose to have it as part of the world history curriculum because it may not fit within the 2-year period and may even overlap the courses chosen above:
1) Big History: The Big Bang, Life on Earth, and the Rise of Humanity (Course# 8050)
2) Origin of Civilization (Course# 3130)
Do you think I covered the topic for High School World History (9th & 10 Grade) or did I miss something (a specific time period or a specific part of the world)?
I look forward to your responses.
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Dana, the problem with the guidebooks is that the suggested readings come from different sources. For instance, it may suggest reading chapter 1 & 2 from textbook A for lesson 1, then suggest to read chapter 5 & 6 from textbook B for lesson 2, and so on. Therefore, I could end up paying hundreds of dollars for various textbook suggestion readings on one full video with 36-48 lessons.
I am looking for one textbook that would match a specific video in a topic and wanted to know if any members actually tried to attempt to manually match them. I am truly thinking about doing this myself, but wanted to ask the members before taking on this task.
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I wanted to know if anyone has ever matched a textbook to the video courses of the Teaching Company. In other words, I am looking at some of their Ancient Civilization, World History, and Modern History videos for a homeschooled high school student. However, a textbook to supplement these great videos would improve the curriculum.
Any ideas or guidance would be appreciated.
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Thanks for the welcome and links provided. However, after reading all of the provided links by Lori D and contacting American School (recommended by Negin), it still seems that Clonlara and Bridgeway Academy are the only two schools that are regionally accredited (that will give me the flexibility with record-keeping). Ellie gave a strong recommendation for Clonlara; however, I am trying to avoid them as best as I can (had a bad experience with an advisor four years ago). There seems to be a lot of changes at the school; therefore, I may give them another chance (at this pont, I may not have a choice but to go with them).
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I am looking for a flexible record-keeping high school that is accredited by one of the regional accreditors (e.g., Middle States Association , New England Association, North Central Association, Northwest Accreditation, Southern Association, or Western Association) or AdvancED. The only two schools that I found that are accredited by these agencies and can give me flexibility with record-keeping high school grades/transcripts are Clonlara and Bridgeway Academy.
Is there any other schools that can give me the flexibility with record-keeping, but at the same time be accredited by one of the agencies mentioned above? Your feedback and guidance would be appreciated.
Tell me about Chegg
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted
Kendall,
Unfortunately, you cannot download the solutions manual from Chegg. However, even though it might take a lot of pages and time, you can technically print every solution if needed.
FYI, these solution manuals are not the same offered by the publishers. I have noticed that Chegg’s solutions manual does not cover every question or section (sometimes offering limited explanations). In other words, they are okay, but it does not compare to the publisher’s version.