orangearrow Posted July 7, 2012 Share Posted July 7, 2012 DD was set to do a Physical/Cultural World Geography course this year for an elective for 9th grade. My other two kids would do physical/cultural geography during the same year. But, her schedule is packed with some tough stuff... including her first year of Latin (lots of memory work), Biology (lots of memory work), second year of French (ummm, more memory work), Art History (memory!!) - along with a ton of literature to be read and writing to be done. I'm thinking Geography (more memory work) just might push her over the edge and it might be wise to save it for next year. So - thinking in terms of "light" on the memorization side of things, does this sound like something that could count as a high school credit? Semester 1 (half credit): Creative Writing. She'd spend 1 hour a day, including instructional time, written assignments, and writing. This semester encompasses NaNoWriMo, which she's done for the past 2 years, so time would be spent this semester modifying and editing her NaNo novel after November ends. Semester 2 (half credit): Pattern Drafting/Creative Design. She has an interest in fashion design and has a small biz idea that would involve sewing for children. She would spend this semester being taught how to draft her own patterns, learning tricks of the trade of sewing. The final project would be sketching her own designs, drafting her own patterns, and making the final products for a product line she would like to produce. Possibly 7 pieces in the final project (including a purse). She (and I, teaching her) would spend more than 5 hours a week working on this. This would give her a total of 7 credits for 9th grade. She's also involved in band and will spend an average of 1½ hours a day (7 days a week) with either practice at home, lessons, or class, which I am just counting as an extracurricular. But, this is our first high school-aged kid. I'm not sure if courses like these are appropriate? They do both pay homage to her creative side, which is highly likely where she will find the career path she loves... so I hate to add more memory/hard work classes on her (because then she has neither the time, nor the energy to bother with her creativity when she's academically bogged down. That happened this year... and I'd like to avoid it this year. This is already a really full plate, I think, and we will pull Art History this year if the year starts out rough - she can take it at the CC in 11th grade). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanetC Posted July 7, 2012 Share Posted July 7, 2012 Sure, looks great for one semester of Creative Writing, and one for Home Economics. One note: For college admissions, students should show 4 years of English, including 3 of "standard" literature and composition courses. You can count one credit of things like creative writing or public speaking, etc as English, but any beyond that might be considered electives (by some college admissions departments). Even if she does a half-credit for Nanowrimo every year, you should still shoot for 3 units of traditional literature classes. --Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangearrow Posted July 7, 2012 Author Share Posted July 7, 2012 Thank you! Yes, she'll still have 4 years of traditional English Lit & Comp credit. The creative writing would be entirely separate from that. And we would only count the Creative Writing this one year, since she'll be doing more than just NaNoWriMo, or more than just writing her own creative story. Next year, she'll be in more of a routine, I think - and she'll be taking a not-as-tough Chemistry course (compared to what we're planning for biology)... plus I think the 2nd year of juggling two languages will be easier than the first... so we'll be able to add in the memory work of Geography much easier next year, and she should be able to carve out enough free time to continue her passion for creative writing and designing without incorporating it into the school time... :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted July 7, 2012 Share Posted July 7, 2012 I love the pattern drafting/creative design class idea! Let's see: Latin I, French II, Biology, Art History. Are English I (or whatever you are calling it?) and Math the other courses? If the going gets tough, both NaNoWriMo and pattern drafting would be great extracurriculars. The entrepreneurial aspects of the latter project might continue throughout high school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orangearrow Posted July 7, 2012 Author Share Posted July 7, 2012 (edited) I love the pattern drafting/creative design class idea! Let's see: Latin I, French II, Biology, Art History. Are English I (or whatever you are calling it?) and Math the other courses? If the going gets tough, both NaNoWriMo and pattern drafting would be great extracurriculars. The entrepreneurial aspects of the latter project might continue throughout high school. Yes, her other classes are English I (lit & comp) and Algebra II. :) We're hoping to add a business class of some sort in one of the later years so she can learn about building a business plan and the financial/accounting side of things. She'll probably take those classes through the CC. Edited July 7, 2012 by orangearrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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