Melabella
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Posts posted by Melabella
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We would need a class that can be done after school, and preferably, self-paced.
Derek Owens is your guy. It's rigorous, online, can be done anytime of day, and is self-paced. The cost is $58/month with a $15 enrollment fee. You'll need a copy of the Harold Jacobs textbook, but Mr. Owens will send you one if necessary.
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Thanks to all of you for your helpful feedback. I will contact the College Board about being in the room. The counselor most definitely said I would need to stay in the room, but she may not be familiar with all of the rules. I believe this is the first year they have ever given the PSAT at this school.
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Two weeks ago I contacted the guidance counselor at our local high school about my DD taking the PSAT there this fall, and she was very welcoming. Now I am beginning to question a few things she told me.
First, I asked her if I needed to come in and pay the fee in advance. She said that I did not. She just took my daughter's name and said she would put her on the list. Does that seem right?
Second, she said that I would need to stay in the testing room with my daughter. No electronic devices, but I could bring a book to read. Is that allowed?
Lastly, I'm no longer sure my DD should even take the PSAT this year. She is in 9th grade, so we definitely have time; however, I really wanted her to have as much experience with the test as possible before it counts (11th grade). We started school 6 weeks later than planned and have had zero prep time so far. She took Algebra 1 last year, but ended up having a long break from early May until early September when she finally got to start Geometry. Therefore, I am sure she will have trouble with the math section. She usually does well on standardized tests, but my concern is that she may do poorly this year and be scared of the test next year. To test or not to test?
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Thanks! This is helpful.
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Thank you, Lori. That is most helpful.
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Typically a high school English credit is comprised of mostly Literature and composition (writing), with a little grammar and vocab. thrown in -- usually more grammar in 9th grade and less grammar (or just a review) -- if any grammar -- in the later high school grades.
Thus, because of the time needed for reading, approx. 150-180 hours for the total for one credit in English. For us, what that looked like on a daily basis was approximately something like this -- about 90-100 minutes a day on English:
- writing = 30-40 min./day, 4-5 days a week
- literature = 50-75 min./ day, 5 days a week
- grammar = 15 min./day, 3 days a week
- vocabulary = done in context of reading (BUT, if we had done a separate program, I would have planned about 15 min/day, 2-3 days a week)
Hope that helps! BEST of luck in your planning and scheduling. :) Warmest regards, Lori D.
Lori - What comprised your literature component? Does that time include reading, discussing, and writing essays? If so, how much time was spent reading literature daily? I assume literature discussion and essay writing would be once weekly.
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I am glad to know I am not the one only one freaking out!
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I see that this is an old thread, but now that it's back I'll pipe in. Our local PS offers FL only in Sr. High and ONLY up to 2 years of Spanish. No other languages or levels are available. This was a key reason in my decision to homeschool in the first place. I wanted FL available beginning in elementary, and I wanted a choice of languages.
This. We have the same thing here and it was one of the main reasons we chose to homeschool.
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We both spend a great deal of time bored. There are no neighborhood kids to play with. Everything must be scheduled due to distances. I can't begin to tell you how much time either of us spends on the computer searching for things to relieve the boredom. (Have you seen my post count?)
Unfortunately dd is an only child. Not by design. If she wants to see someone other than her parents we must leave the house.
(Apologies in advance; the 'Enter' key isn't working for me.) Chucki, as a mother of another 13 year-old only child living in the sticks with no neighborhood friends, I completely understand. This is us exactly. My daughter does just as many extra-curricular activities, but I do struggle with balancing it all. I cut back on activities this year because I needed to be home more, and we were only out of the house two days per week. Big mistake! Next year we'll be out of the house four days per week. I'm worried about the ramp up in studies for 9th grade, but she needs to interact with other people most days of the week.
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Dante's Down the Hatch, a fondue restaurant. We went there for our wedding dinner and several anniversaries after that. I'm really going to miss that place. The ambience was superb. The owner, Dante, was always there and came to our table every time to say Happy Anniversary because DH would tell them on the phone when he made the reservation. :)
I loved Dante's! So sad it is gone.
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Have you considered GA Virtual School (www.gavirtualschool.org)? It is free to home schoolers, but there are limited spaces/funds. It looks like they are still taking enrollments, though. Here is a list of non-AP Science courses offered :
Astronomy
Biology
Chemistry
Earth Systems
Environmental Science
Epidemiology
Forensic Science
Geology
Oceanography
Physical Science
Physics
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I don't own either one so I can't give a detailed comparison - sorry! :) From what I could find with a quick Google search, it looks to me like the Modern Biology text is at a more advanced level than the Biology text. The Mod Bio text seems to be entirely organized around evolutionary principles (which would make sense given its title) and covers biochemical processes in greater chemical detail (i.e. Calvin's Cycle which, in a reg bio course, would just be discussed as a general concept but in the Mod Bio book is looked at down to the chemistry that's taking place). I could be wrong, though - maybe someone who has first-hand experience with both books can chime in. :)
I did find these two resources for the Modern Biology text if anyone is interested:
Additional online resources for the text from the Holt website:
http://go.hrw.com/hr...eyword=HM2 HOME
The Study Guide for the text (hosted by a school, by the looks of it):
*WARNING! THIS LINK OPENS A PDF!*
Thank you again for your help with this. The above information is very helpful for this mom who is not science minded at all. The Modern Bio text is the one used in my dd's co-op class next year. I appreciate the links.
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Dicentra, thank you for compiling this information. Do you know anything about Holt's Modern Biology? What is the difference between Holt's Biology and the Modern Biology text?
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The Westminster School, where Mr. Owens previously taught physics and still teaches their summer school physics course, is a (very well-regarded) Christian private school.
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I have course descriptions for Years 1-3 of a WTM-purist Great Books Study with Spielvogel history correlated with literature. If you want a copy, PM me with your email address and I will send them. We have finished Year 1, are almost done with Year 2, and Year 3 is a draft I'm working on for next fall. I don't have Year 4 done yet, but I was just thinking today about drafting that out too.
WTMCassadra, I just sent you a PM. I would greatly appreciate it if you would send me what you have. I am working on this tonight and am a bit overwhelmed at the moment.
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Has anybody had luck joining the AP Human Geography group? What did you put in the box where a professional link was asked for?
I was able to join the AP Human Geography group. I was honest and said that I was a homeschool mom putting together an APHG syllabus for my daughter, etc. The approval took about 12 hours.
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I just purchased the 6th edition today and am working on a lit list for ancients through middle ages. :bigear:
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This may be a stupid question, but I am not technically inclined. Thankfully, my husband is; he's just not available right now.
If I purchase a course in digital audio format and download it, can I then transfer that to a cd?
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I am not aware of a tutoring fee. His website specifically states that he does not have time to tutor, but that he will e-mail you a list of tutors in the metro-Atlanta area. If you are a student enrolled in one of his courses, he is more than willing to help you with any concepts you do not understand. My daughter has only needed additional help with a concept once or twice, and we have handled it by e-mail. He offered to make an additional video clip if she still was not clear, but that wasn't necessary. She really just needed clarification. I am not sure about help by phone.
I also used some Khan Academy videos for extra practice on one particular topic that was difficult for my dd. She understood the concepts from Derek Owens instruction, but needed more practice than was provided. Really, though, his videos and materials are very well done, and we have found him to be very helpful when we needed extra assistance.
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1. Homeschoolers who don't test well are at a disadvantage. If you know your child doesn't test well, start as early in high school - there's a lot that can be done earlier to help compensate for this even if their scores can't be raised.
Barbara, your entire post was helpful, but I want to ask you about this part specifically. My dd who is a rising hs freshman typically scores above average on standardized tests, but not top scores. She is not aiming for the Ivies or even a very selective Tier 1 school. The school she wants to go to right now is an out-of-state, large state university. I am hoping she considers other options, but her grandparents, her aunt, and I all attended this university. She's been raised to love it and to dislike our own state's university (they are rivals). Plus our state schools are not generally friendly to homeschoolers. Sigh. Anyway, we have not had the means to save for her college, but make too much to expect any meaningful need based finacial aid that is not a loan. The out-of-state tuition plus room and board would run $30,000 - $35,000 at this school. Not doable! I think she is going to have to be a NMF with multiple 5's on APs to earn significant merit based aid at this school. What is it that can be done early to compensate for less than perfect scores?
I originally began homeschooling my child in 3rd grade because of the "teaching to the test" that was so pervasive in our local schools. I am so disappointed that we are going to have to abandon our homeschooling philosophy and basically do nothing but teach to the test for the next four years.
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Thank you snowbeltmon and regentrude! I was leaning toward Plan B but began having concerns about the points you both mentioned. Plan A it is then.
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My dd will be entering 9th grade next year, and I am sure this will the first of many questions I have for you wise WTM ladies and gents.
In general, I believe in the physics first philosopy although I do not necessarily think my dd would be ruined if we do not go that route. DD has a penchant for physics and chemistry and a strong aversion to anything remotely related to biology. I am not sure if she is headed into a STEM career or not. I do not want to close any doors for her, but I would bet the chances of her having a career in the medical field are roughly a zillion to one. She must still take and pass a biology course to graduate from my hs, however, I am willing to allow her to do a very basic biology course instead of an honors/AP track course that I will require in physics or chemistry.
So, which of these plans would be best and why?
Plan A
9th - Easy biology
10th - Physics
11th - Chemistry
12th - AP Physics or Chemistry
Plan B
9th - Physics (Algebra based only)
10th - Chemistry
11th - Easy biology
12th - AP Physics or Chemistry
Academic summer programs for high schoolers - add your favorites
in High School and Self-Education Board
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Tell me more, please. I am looking for an immersion experience for my dd.