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bluebonnetgirl

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Posts posted by bluebonnetgirl

    Big River Academy English Classes?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    My son took that very class - English IV - with Jana Bontrager in 9th grade.  He enjoyed it; it was well done.  Some of the literature selections were challenging for him (The Hobbit for example), but he did well nonetheless.  The course was a combination of literature, vocabulary, grammar, and essay writing.  Jana did a good job engaging the kids and providing feedback.  She was a fair grader and available for any questions or concerns by phone.  A highly recommended course!

    • Like 2

    Building an 11th grade English credit unconventionally

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    He will also be taking art during the school year and an intensive cinematography internship over the summer.  So that is a total of 7 credits (English, Chemistry, Algebra 2, World History, Spanish 2, Cinematography, and Art) which I think is a full load.   And he will be doing theater during the school year where he does read plays.  Wouldn't the plays count as literature?  Probably the best way to get literature into the English credit is to count the plays he will be in and their scripts as literature, especially if we do some in depth discussion about them.  He will of course be acting in them and reciting the lines, and probably have lead roles..  He will no doubt internalize the material that way better than reading anyway. 

    Building an 11th grade English credit unconventionally

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by bluebonnetgirl

    I have heard in my area, that the SAT prep courses are commonly used for high school credit as they are quite a bit of work. So a semester of SAT verbal prep would count as .5 English credit. 

    I know a lot of you have super academic competitive kids here but my son is an average academic student.  I’m leaning toward a lighter English for 11th grade for my son, as he will be taking a lot of very challenging courses for him such as Chemistry, Algebra 2, World History and Spanish 2.  In addition he will be prepping for the SAT which won’t be enjoyable for him. He did only did “ok” on the PSAT in early 10th grade, nothing close to scholarship worthy, and his scores, if they don’t improve, won’t get him into  competitive colleges.   He will likely go to a community college or a state school.  Sometimes I feel like most of these high school classes for him are like pounding a square into hole.  They just doesn’t fit him.  But he does it because it is required. Sigh.

    I wish he could skip some of them and focus on his interests such as graphic design, web design, photography, journalism, creative writing, art, theater, etc.  This is what he excels at but his core classes leave him pretty spent, and leave little time for them.

    • Like 1

    Careers for social, creative types that pay

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    My rising 11th grader is trying to come up with a list of careers to explore that fit his personality and aptitudes.

    He is first and forsemost social.  He’s happiest collaboratating with peers in anything creative.  Hes enterprising and imaginative.  He’s a decent writer.  He’s a talented (though not exceptional) artist and actor.  He loves being in the theater and making films. I think he could be a very good artist, but due to his extrovert nature, he lacks the motivation to spend long periods of time by himself creating so he has only a small portfolio.  He is energized by others.  His standardized test scores are average. Grades are good. He’s well liked by his teachers, peers, and kids.  Traditional school subjects are boring to him (science, history, math, literature) but he puts in the time and effort, though it’s draining for him and leaves him little time for his true interests.  His favorite subjects so far (but this is limited by exposure) are art and writing.  He’s not had too much opportunity to explore classes he might enjoy like journalism, photography, graphic design, web design, architecture design, etc) due to all the amount of time he has had to devote to his core subjects.  My intention is to expose him to these areas via electives in the next two years.  What’s unfortunate is the disproportionate amount of time he has to spend working hard in the maths, sciences, history, classes that take a lot out of him. And now SAT prep which will really be a chore.

    What kind of careers could fit my kid that .....also can earn a decent living?  And offer a good risk reward payoff in higher education?  I look forward to hearing some ideas to pass along to him.

     Thank you!

    Building an 11th grade English credit unconventionally

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by bluebonnetgirl

    The SAT Verbal Prep  class meets one hour a week and the Journalism class meets 1.25 hours a week.   I am guessing there is 2-2.5 hours of homework for each class in addition to the class meeting time.  Each class would be worth .5 credit I am pretty sure.  I am just not sure if they together are enough for an English credit.

    I could add a speech class for one semester.  It is also .5 credit.  Does .5 credit of speech count as .5 of English credit? 

    If I did this, then would his English credit be SAT Verbal Prep (.5) and Speech (.5)?  And the journalism course becomes a .5 credit elective?

    They also offer a year long literature class - but I think this would be overkill and killjoy on top of the SAT Verbal and Journalism class.  I need to keep in mind that this average student is going to be very challenged by his other classes like Spanish 2, Algebra 2, World History, and Chemistry, plus prepping for the SATs.  So I don't want to burden him with a rough year of English.  He is not an academic overachiever.  His real passion is art and drama and I need to leave some time for those too.

     

    Building an 11th grade English credit unconventionally

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    We are fortunate to have a homeschool outsourcing center near us with small classes and qualified teachers teaching a nice variety of high school subjects.

    There is a one semester SAT Verbal prep course I am considering for my rising 11th grade son, followed by a one semester Journalism course.   Could these 2 courses combined make up 1 credit of high school English?

    He needs the SAT verbal prep course, and the journalism course is to explore this as a potential career field while getting writing in.

    Thank you!

    2019-2020 11th grade planning

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by bluebonnetgirl

    Edited 8/14/19

    1.  English:  “Chronicles of Narnia for high schoolers” online through Homeschool Connections

    2. Chemistry:  Local provider

    3. Algebra 2:  Local provider

    4.  World History:   “Christ the King, Lord of History” through Homeschool Connections - online

    5.  Spanish 2:  through Big River Academy - online

    6.  Principles of Information Technology - online 

    7.  Advanced Art:  Local provider

    8. Cinematography:  3 week hands-on intensive

     

    • Like 1

    Disappointed in MUS Geometry - suggestions?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Thank you all for the suggestions.  I also reached out to MUS.  The boys are also working through the written instruction - I print the pages.  There are no additional worksheets, only the 5 lessons per chapter, which often does not seem enough - there are only 15-20 questions per lesson, and 5 lessons per chapter..  Merryathope, I agree with you that the lessons and tests are harder than the DVD and written instruction.  I think the issue with Geometry so far is that it is very heavy language based and one son has a language processing disorder and autism, and the other son has some sort of language based disorder.   Algebra was way easier, since it is so procedural and number based.    I am going to have to get more hands on with teaching it and find additional problems for them to work through.  There are just not enough practice problems to get them ready for the test.

    • Like 2

    Disappointed in MUS Geometry - suggestions?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    My two boys have been doing MUS Geometry and lately they have been not doing so well on the lessons or the tests.  Looking into it, it seems that there is not enough teaching of the concepts in detail.  They are up to Chapter 10 and they both failed the test.  

    I am thinking of using Khan Academy as a supplement and going back tot the beginning with Khan and seeing if they can get a better foundation.

    Any other thoughts or suggestions?  

    I also feel that the MUS Geometry is rather inadequate in the teaching component and there are a lot of questions on the lessons and tests that are not covered well enough in the teaching portion.

     

     

    Anyone use 12starstutoring for online math?

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I have heard some good reviews from local sources for 12starstutoring.com  for math.  Someone mentioned that switching her kid over to them made them go from failing Algebra I to and A.

    Her Geometry uses a method to retain Algebra concepts/

    I think she uses All Things Algebra now for her high school Algebra and Geometry curricula.

    Has anyone used 12starstutoring for online math?

    https://www.12starstutoring.com/

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