Summertime--is the living easy for your teen?

[Jane in NC]

I never quite realized how burned out my 10th grader was until late May. June was occupied by Driver's Ed, a backpacking camp in the mountains, and then the start of a summer job. Now that he is in the summer groove, I realize how much stress he has shed from the end of our school year.

 

Perhaps it was his first AP test that bogged him down. It was followed one month later by an SAT subjtect test on the same material. While this made logical sense to do, I found that he had a hard time focusing on that second test. He was just plain tired.

 

As he heads into 11th grade, the big year as far as testing goes, I would like to downplay these events. It is not that he is a poor performer on standardized tests--on the contrary, he tends to do well. It is just that I find that time spent prepping for multiple choice exams is time that could be spent doing other things.

 

Latin is one of my son's strong points so the plan is for him to take Vergil in 12th (we're doing Catullus, Ovid and Cicero next year) so I could see him eventually doing a Latin AP and SAT subject test. But he is going to test the waters of the CC in August. We'll see how that goes and whether he should continue there or possibly focus on another AP in the spring. (Environmental Science would be doable in a semester for him.)

 

I am just not sure that AP is worth it. I know that many on this board find the experience to be valuable. Yes, students are forced to master mountains of material with a disciplined approach. Yes, we see how our students stand when compared with others across the country. But what is the message that the meat of important college level courses is reduced to a multiple choice exam and a few essay questions? Critics have argued that AP presents breadth not depth. How challenging it is to explore the depth of a student's interest (an advantage of homeschooling) when the syllabus demands we move forward at a fast pace!

 

Musings all as I enjoy a Cape Cod breeze on a shaded front porch. School begins again in six or seven weeks. Maybe I'm the one who is struggling with burnout.

 

Hope that you are enjoying these blissful days of summer.

Jane

[LisaNY]

Jane, I've thought the same things about the AP courses. I just don't know.

Last year, my dd's history teacher advised us NOT to do AP history, but Honors instead. (She didn't take Honors history this year, due to scheduling problems.)

 

Sorry I don't have much to share, but my REAL reason for responding to your post is to say "LUCKY!!!!" A Cape Cod porch???? *SIGH* We go to the Cape every year, but not this one. WAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! :willy_nilly:

 

Smell the salt air for me, will ya??

[Kareni]

Jane, you asked, "Summertime--is the living easy for your teen?" ....

 

I'd have to say no.

 

My daughter just finished 11th grade with a load of community college courses as well as a couple of outside the home AP classes. In addition to the two AP exams in May, there were two SAT subject tests in June as well as the PSAT in October and the regular SAT in March. Can you say lots of tests??

 

She has a Saturday only job through mid-October. She's just started the second half of a month long intensive Beginning Japanese class. [she had intended to take Arabic but that was canceled due to low enrollment; she's really enjoying the Japanese class but it is work.]

 

She is winnowing down her list of about 30-35 interesting colleges to a more manageable list of ten or under by doing research on line and looking at mailings, etc.

 

I've asked her to read five non-fiction books this summer to add some variety to her college reading list. Oh, and I've also asked her to start working up some preliminary essays for the Common Application.

 

It's not all work, work, work however. She's managed to read an impressive number of fantasy novels and manga. We'll be taking a trip to visit family (when she'll also see a Broadway show and visit a couple of college campuses). And there's a week long camping trip on the books for August.

 

Enjoy those Cape Cod Breezes!

Regards,

Kareni

[Jane in NC]

A Cape Cod porch???? *SIGH* We go to the Cape every year, but not this one. WAAAAAAAAAA!!!!! :willy_nilly:

 

Smell the salt air for me, will ya??

 

And I'll toast you with a cup of clam chowder.

 

Jane (who realizes how incredibly lucky she is!)

[Jane in NC]

Jane, you asked, "Summertime--is the living easy for your teen?" ....

 

I'd have to say no.

 

My daughter just finished 11th grade with a load of community college courses as well as a couple of outside the home AP classes. In addition to the two AP exams in May, there were two SAT subject tests in June as well as the PSAT in October and the regular SAT in March. Can you say lots of tests??

 

 

 

This is exactly what I am thinking about with regard to next year. PSAT in October. The regular SAT at some point. Our state mandated knowledge based test (we choose ACT since it does double duty.) National Latin Exam. Possibly more SAT subject tests. Throw in AP on top of it and I want to throw in the towel or at least whine.

 

My son has some assigned reading and research as well. At the moment, though, I have been letting him decompress and hang out with his buddies. He borrowed one of his assigned books (A Distant Mirror) on his own initiative. Those other assignments can wait a week, right? Or will that week turn to two and into four?

 

Regards to you and yours as well.

Jane

[mcconnellboys]

I'm worried about junior year stress, too. How is it that so much seems to be crammed into kids nowadays and yet they seem less prepared, less well-educated, in general, when they get out of college? Ah, well, I'm trying to help strike a balance for my son and ease him into things as much as possible. He'll be young for college, so we're considering letting him sit out a year before he goes if he has a worthwhile project for his life during that time.

 

Enjoy your quite time. It's all too short-lived these days, isn't it? Even a short nap is a wonderful restorative, so here's hoping that all of you feel like Rip Van Winkle when it's time for school to resume in fall! I'm praying for the same for my son,

[Laura K (NC)]

He had a really challenging first semester last year, and his schedule didn't really let up until February, but then he had a fairly easy time of it. He chose to get one of his subjects out of the way this summer so his workload next year isn't too heavy. It's one of his lighter classes -- an HTML online class -- but it will still relieve some stress in the fall. He is doing sports heavily through the summer, but his schedule is considerably lighter and our schedule is really upended. Though our family calendar is crammed full, making work heavy for me this summer, each of our children have a fairly easy time of it... hopefully there will be enough down time the rest of July so that we can start back the first week of August ready to hit the books hard. My duties this summer are not school duties, so I'm feeling refreshed and ready to go already. The idea of fresh, new books and clean, white paper always does it for me even as early as May. I love a clean slate, so to speak.

 

I am prepared for the idea that junior year will be a lot harder than sophomore year, but junior year will be an exciting time for my son, since he'll be able to drive and date then, take community college classes, and really feel like an upperclassman for the first time.

[JennW in SoCal]

Jane,

 

I just started a new thread with a link to an article you might find interesting, titled "The Disadvantages of an Elite Education". One of the things author bemoans is the current culture of testing and prepping and how it shapes the students he has had at Yale. How they are students who are good at pleasing teachers and getting an "A" but how they aren't necessarily original thinkers.

 

My current high schooler is avoiding the testing game entirely. He had to take the CA high school exit exam as he is homeschooled through a public charter umbrella, but he is not going to take a single AP or SAT. We're avoiding that rat race not to make a philosophical stand, but because his learning disabilities and interests make a community college to state college route the most sensible for him.

 

But I've got another one who will be heading into high school after next year. I know he would like to go to a small private liberal arts school (someplace that actually has 4 seasons:D) so I will have to face the AP or SAT subject test monster in a few years. I really don't believe in standardized testing and the whole AP system seems like such a racket!! I absolutely believe in the value of studying something in depth, to passionately pursue personal interests. But since I'm only wrestling with this issue on a theoretical level for the time being, it is easy to be lofty about it all and dismiss the testing process with a sniff of disdain.

 

Now about that summertime and living easy title to your thread. I'm feeling mightily refreshed by the summer! My middle schooler and I are sharing lots of books together, spending days in a slug-like state of relaxation. My high schooler on the other hand has hardly had a day off between paid and volunteer work at church and in a local theater, but he is having a blast and is gaining professional contacts and work experience.

 

That's about as deep a musing as I can muster this afternoon!

[Michelle in MO]

Yes, we're taking a breather now. I too have been burned out, and feel like I'm much more laid-back about getting projects done and goals achieved. I'm farming out more and more work to the kids, when I can get them to do something.

 

The girls have been reading tons of books lately, which is good. They need the mental break from having to think and write about literature all the time. Just reading is learning too!

 

Summertime should also involve watching clouds, daydreaming, doodling, and letting the brain lie "fallow" a little bit. It'll still be a fertile field when school starts! I'm not talking about endless hours of watching TV, but just---relaxing.

[Brenda in MA]

I am just not sure that AP is worth it. I know that many on this board find the experience to be valuable. Yes, students are forced to master mountains of material with a disciplined approach. Yes, we see how our students stand when compared with others across the country. But what is the message that the meat of important college level courses is reduced to a multiple choice exam and a few essay questions? Critics have argued that AP presents breadth not depth. How challenging it is to explore the depth of a student's interest (an advantage of homeschooling) when the syllabus demands we move forward at a fast pace!

 

Jane,

 

I am totally with you about testing and AP courses. My son just finished a grueling junior year. Aside from the PSAT, ACT, and Subject tests, he took a Physics course that was supposed to be regular high school Physics, but was really AP-level Physics in the breadth of content. He didn't take the AP exam, but he worked on that course 6 - 7 days/week the entire school year for 2 - 3 hours a day. He learned a lot, and he enjoyed the topics, but by May he was very burnt out. His course had to cover every topic I studied in 3 semesters of college Physics in an engineering school (but at a slightly less difficult level) in order to cover what is on the AP Physics B exam. He was so tired by June, that he had a tough time mustering the energy to study for the subject test, and probably could have done better than he did.

 

He isn't going to take any more AP courses, but he will take a few courses at the cc next fall. I think those courses will be a more realistic college experience than AP. He is also trying to decide this summer whether he should invest any more time in standardized testing. He did well on the tests he took, but he might be able to improve his scores if he put in more time studying. I am worried about the cost of that time, however, so deciding whether to retake the exams is a tough decision. I'd rather see him put the time into his fall courses, pursuing his interests, and working, but better scores might help him get more scholarship money or get into reach schools. I just don't know.....

 

I do worry, though, in a way, as more homeschoolers pursue the AP approach that colleges might realize that it really is an option for homeschoolers and expect to see serious homeschooled kids take AP exams.

 

My son has had several interviews at colleges this summer, and he believes that they have all gone well. He says that the interviewers are most interested in discussing his Eagle Scout project and his experience at Design Camp (a pre-engineering camp he's done at a local university). None of them have asked him about AP courses. One of them did ask how we managed to do science labs at home, and he told them about our microscope and other lab equipment that we own.

 

Enjoy your time on the cape, and especially the gentle breezes!

 

Brenda

[Kareni]

This is exactly what I am thinking about with regard to next year. PSAT in October. The regular SAT at some point. Our state mandated knowledge based test (we choose ACT since it does double duty.) National Latin Exam. Possibly more SAT subject tests. Throw in AP on top of it and I want to throw in the towel or at least whine.

 

My son has some assigned reading and research as well. At the moment, though, I have been letting him decompress and hang out with his buddies. He borrowed one of his assigned books (A Distant Mirror) on his own initiative. Those other assignments can wait a week, right? Or will that week turn to two and into four?

 

Regards to you and yours as well.

Jane

 

That's right ... how could I forget that she took the National Latin Exam? And, hey, she has summer assignments for two upcoming AP classes .... Just a little light reading like the complete Ovid's Metamorphoses in English and some chapters in her Latin textbook. And let's not forget the reading for the AP Statistics class -- ****ed Lies and Statistics: Untangling Numbers from the Media, Politicians, and Activists by Joel Best -- which admittedly looks rather interesting.

 

Sure those other assignments of your son can wait a week ... or two ... but best not wait four.

 

Regards,

Kareni

 

P.S. I hadn't realized that this board has a language censor until I saw those asterisks!

[Liz CA]

I never quite realized how burned out my 10th grader was until late May. June was occupied by Driver's Ed, a backpacking camp in the mountains, and then the start of a summer job. Now that he is in the summer groove, I realize how much stress he has shed from the end of our school year.

 

As he heads into 11th grade, the big year as far as testing goes, I would like to downplay these events. It is not that he is a poor performer on standardized tests--on the contrary, he tends to do well. It is just that I find that time spent prepping for multiple choice exams is time that could be spent doing other things.

 

Musings all as I enjoy a Cape Cod breeze on a shaded front porch. School begins again in six or seven weeks. Maybe I'm the one who is struggling with burnout.

 

Hope that you are enjoying these blissful days of summer.

Jane

 

When my ds was this age, I could see the exhaustion as well. They are growing so fast and their energy level is comparatively low.

I definitely would downplay the SAT importance. I have never made a big deal about it and we scarcely practiced and he has done well.

However, we are going the community college route so we are not exactly needing top performance on those tests in order to be admitted.

As far as the summer goes. He is now involved in his 3rd week of VBS - assisting with the younger kids and they are wearing him out - in a good way. After this is done he will have to visit the oral surgeon for 4 impacted wisdom teeth. Well, there is good and bad in this summer.

 

Enjoy Cape Cod! Wish I was there instead of in CA where we have nothing but fires this summer...

[Moira in MA]

I never quite realized how burned out my 10th grader was until late May.

 

<snip>

 

I am just not sure that AP is worth it.

 

<snip>

 

But what is the message that the meat of important college level courses is reduced to a multiple choice exam and a few essay questions?

Jane, you ask such interesting questions. I'm making a third attempt to respond to this.

 

Yes, dd's sophomore year was stressful but she conquered her fears to take the AP test in chemistry. Now she knows what to expect next year when she'll take more in subjects that she really cares about: Latin, and English Language and Composition. The stressed teenager of the end of May has given way to one who is refreshed and more confident in her ability to accomplish her goals.

 

As homeschoolers we have the chance to insulate our children from many of the stresses of education, but I don't think that we should insulate them from all of them -- testing, with its inherent flaws, is a fact of life in our world. They need to know how it works and, more importantly, how they respond to it.

 

I view homeschooling as a gift to my dds that has allowed them the time to learn about the world on a timetable appropriate to their development, not some official's standard. But I would not be helping them to reach their potential if I shielded them from all stressful challenges. They need to do hard things to grow, we all do.

 

jmho