9th Grade Plans, would you take a look and give advice?!

[3browneyedboys4me]

This is as far as I've gotten in my limited research and planning, but I'm feeling pretty good and would like to know what others think.

 

English: 1credit

Easy Grammar 9th grade

Writing- papers assigned in Notgrass

Vocabulary and Spelling- undecided, recommendations?

 

Literature: 1 credit

Notgrass assigned reading books

 

Math- 1 credit

MUS Algebra 1

 

History- 1 credit

Notgrass History- American History

 

Foreign Language- 1 credit

Rosetta Stone German

 

Music- 1 credit

Piano Lessons

 

Science- 1 credit

Apology Biology

 

Does this look correct? Did I forget anything? Is it ok that separated the Literature from the English as a separate credit? I thought about making that one credit but it truly seemed like so much work for just one credit. I appreciate your thoughts.

 

Thanks!

[regentrude]

The topic of English credits comes up frequently on this board. Many people are of the opinion that giving two credits for English looks as if you are trying to pad the transcript. Most people give one credit for English, even if the amount of work is large.

 

How extensive is the piano instruction? Will it really amount to 130+ hours for a full credit?

[3browneyedboys4me]

I should also add:

Bible- 1 credit

 

I'm guessing this could/should be an elective? I know it might not look academically as 'strong' on a transcript, but shouldn't I include it if he is doing the work?

[regentrude]

You do not have to decide NOW what you put on his transcript for college applications in 3 years. Keep good records and write the transcript when you know what he has done and where he wants to apply.

 

ETA: You say vocabulary and spelling undecided. Does he need spelling? I did not teach spelling past 5th grade, once my kids could spell.

FWIW, I do not believe in the benefit of vocabulary programs; I' find it more effective if the student reads a variety of good literature from different periods and genres.

[3browneyedboys4me]

Oh, that's a good point! And, you are right about the piano. I should make that a half credit and add Logic as the other half.

 

Piano 1/2 credit

Logic 1/2 credit

~ Thinking toolbox, Fallacy Detective

 

Ok, question about the literature. When it comes time to adding up the credits and you need to have some additional elective courses, why would it be a bad thing to add Amercian Literature? I realize how it might look, but at some point, don't you need the literature electives to add to your credits?

[3browneyedboys4me]

Regentrude, you make a good point. I appreciate the ease of just keeping good records and not focussing so much on the transcript part yet.

 

Vocabulary and spelling...hmmm... well, he is not the best speller. I think it would hurt for him to practice in the area without being bogged down with an extensive program. Vocabulary, you are right. I think I will just work through his assigned reading for the literature portion and create my own 'thing' for him. I like that idea!

[regentrude]

Ok, question about the literature. When it comes time to adding up the credits and you need to have some additional elective courses, why would it be a bad thing to add Amercian Literature? I realize how it might look, but at some point, don't you need the literature electives to add to your credits?

 

 

I do not have "literature electives" and do not see why one should need them - I have English courses. One per year, with a different focus. American Lit could be the focus one year, and typically is.

 

The only way I would count a lit course separately would be an upper level dual enrollment course. My DD will take a 300 level class on Shakespeare next semester at the university, and that will be a full credit.. Should she decide to take another lit course the spring semester, that would be a second credit. But for self designed courses at home, I do not count lit separately.

[3browneyedboys4me]

Starting to click with me! My cleaned up version is:

 

English-

American Lit, Essay writing through Notgrass, Vocabulary through assigned reading, Easy Grammar for review.

 

Math

MUS Alg. 1

 

History-

Notgrass American History

 

Religion-

Bible Studies

 

Science-

Apologia Biology

 

Foreign Language-

Rosetta Stone German

 

Logic/Piano-

Electives

 

 

= 7 credits Freshman year

 

I feel better about this and appreciate the insight. If anyone else has suggestions, pls let me know!

[MorningGlory]

Your cleaned up version looks great!

 

About the Bible...consider giving the course a name. My cover school requires 4 credits of Bible for graduation, so it is going to appear on my kiddo's transcript. For 9th grade, my son is taking "Old Testament Survey" (whole credit), and for 10th he will take "New Testament Survey" and "World Religions" (each 1/2 credit). Then I am considering courses such as "The Letters of Paul" or "Bible in Literature" or the like. It just seems more interesting to have titles for the courses instead of Bible 1, Bible 2, etc. :)

 

ETA: I just realized that the "Bible" you are referring to is in the Notgrass course. You might find it to be quite light...not really worthy of a whole credit. To make it a credit, you may want to add in something else. Or just forget the credit. You don't have to decide now...when you get going into the program, you will know if what your son is doing is worth a credit or not.

[Sebastian (a lady)]

You may also find that Rosetta Stone alone is not going to meet your goals for foreign language. There are some things that RS does an ok job on, like helping students get over the stumbling block of constantly comparing another language to English and feeling like the target language is wrong because it is different.

 

But there are also some significant weeknesses in RS (at least up to version 3, which is the most recent I've owned). In particular, there wasn't as much active generation of the language orally or in writing. I also think with German that there may be some frustration with understanding the way that articles and adjectives change depending on how the noun they modify is used in the sentence. Because the student is left to construct this paradigm on his own from the lessons, it may seem more confusing than it really is.

 

I haven't found the perfect homeschool German course yet. (My ideal would be German taught in a format similar to Lukeion's Latin courses.) But you might want to look into German Online from Oklahoma State University. I think they accomplish quite a bit more in a year than one level of Rosetta Stone does. (There is a discount for homeschoolers, so email and ask about the price.)

[SkateLeft]

The cleaned up version looks good, though I'm not familiar with Notgrass. Like Regentrude, I only do one English course per year, and don't offer separate credit for literature courses, unless they were earned through dual enrollment.

 

I called my English courses things like "American Literature and Composition" instead of English 9, English 10, etc.

[Sebastian (a lady)]

I was looking for something that would better illustrate the scope and sequence I'm envisioning for a language. Unfortunately, it seems like a lot of states have gone to listing things like "exchanges greetings" or "is familiar with major cultural festivities" but not listing goals for grammar like tenses that should be mastered at each level.

 

I did find some drills and practice sets from Goethe Institute for students working toward their Goethe Zertifikat exams.

[TranquilMind]

This is as far as I've gotten in my limited research and planning, but I'm feeling pretty good and would like to know what others think.

 

English: 1credit

Easy Grammar 9th grade

Writing- papers assigned in Notgrass

Vocabulary and Spelling- undecided, recommendations?

 

Literature: 1 credit

Notgrass assigned reading books

 

Math- 1 credit

MUS Algebra 1

 

History- 1 credit

Notgrass History- American History

 

Foreign Language- 1 credit

Rosetta Stone German

 

Music- 1 credit

Piano Lessons

 

Science- 1 credit

Apology Biology

 

Does this look correct? Did I forget anything? Is it ok that separated the Literature from the English as a separate credit? I thought about making that one credit but it truly seemed like so much work for just one credit. I appreciate your thoughts.

 

Thanks!

My state requires 2 credits of PE, which most people do in 9th. I know...it should be all four years, but this is our state requirement, so you might want to check yours. My son plays travel hockey so that counts.

[3browneyedboys4me]

The cleaned up version looks good, though I'm not familiar with Notgrass. Like Regentrude, I only do one English course per year, and don't offer separate credit for literature courses, unless they were earned through dual enrollment.

 

I called my English courses things like "American Literature and Composition" instead of English 9, English 10, etc.

 

 

This is great and creative. I'm looking into HomeScholar for advice on names and such for transcripts. I definitely need help with that. I love your ideas!

 

My state requires 2 credits of PE, which most people do in 9th. I know...it should be all four years, but this is our state requirement, so you might want to check yours. My son plays travel hockey so that counts.

 

 

Yes, we are required to have PE credit as well. I'm fortunate to have a great class here in my area. I might add that for next year. It's a good idea! Thanks for mentioning that. I think 9th is a better year to do that while academics are still less demanding.

[PeterPan]

I wouldn't even mark piano as a music credit. Lots of people take piano, and it's an extra-curric. Where I worked, if we saw the music was piano, we marked it off and didn't count it. And yes, I would get that PE in for 9th. You might also be able to sneak in art or econ. I still have to balance our schedule and see where we're at. I found some cool stuff for econ and art this weekend at the convention, so I'm all in a flutter about it, hehe.

[3browneyedboys4me]

Your cleaned up version looks great!

 

About the Bible...consider giving the course a name. My cover school requires 4 credits of Bible for graduation, so it is going to appear on my kiddo's transcript. For 9th grade, my son is taking "Old Testament Survey" (whole credit), and for 10th he will take "New Testament Survey" and "World Religions" (each 1/2 credit). Then I am considering courses such as "The Letters of Paul" or "Bible in Literature" or the like. It just seems more interesting to have titles for the courses instead of Bible 1, Bible 2, etc. :)

 

ETA: I just realized that the "Bible" you are referring to is in the Notgrass course. You might find it to be quite light...not really worthy of a whole credit. To make it a credit, you may want to add in something else. Or just forget the credit. You don't have to decide now...when you get going into the program, you will know if what your son is doing is worth a credit or not.

 

Ahh! Yes, that is true. I love the name idea for the specific study. I was also thinking of including his independent studies from youth and church as more meat to help with his credit. I figure if he's doing the work, he should get credt.

 

 

You may also find that Rosetta Stone alone is not going to meet your goals for foreign language. There are some things that RS does an ok job on, like helping students get over the stumbling block of constantly comparing another language to English and feeling like the target language is wrong because it is different.

 

But there are also some significant weeknesses in RS (at least up to version 3, which is the most recent I've owned). In particular, there wasn't as much active generation of the language orally or in writing. I also think with German that there may be some frustration with understanding the way that articles and adjectives change depending on how the noun they modify is used in the sentence. Because the student is left to construct this paradigm on his own from the lessons, it may seem more confusing than it really is.

 

I haven't found the perfect homeschool German course yet. (My ideal would be German taught in a format similar to Lukeion's Latin courses.) But you might want to look into German Online from Oklahoma State University. I think they accomplish quite a bit more in a year than one level of Rosetta Stone does. (There is a discount for homeschoolers, so email and ask about the price.)

 

This is great b/c we aren't familiar with Rosetta Stone. It just seems to be the 'go to' for foreign language in the homeschool community. I really appreciate your help and will definitley look into the online programs. He is passionate about German and learning it. I've let him make the decision since he will have to learn the language. I figure if he really loves it, it might make the work worthwhile.

 

 

 

 

I was looking for something that would better illustrate the scope and sequence I'm envisioning for a language. Unfortunately, it seems like a lot of states have gone to listing things like "exchanges greetings" or "is familiar with major cultural festivities" but not listing goals for grammar like tenses that should be mastered at each level.

 

I did find some drills and practice sets from Goethe Institutefor students working toward their Goethe Zertifikat exams.

 

 

Thank you so very much! i really appreciate this!!!

[3browneyedboys4me]

I wouldn't even mark piano as a music credit. Lots of people take piano, and it's an extra-curric. Where I worked, if we saw the music was piano, we marked it off and didn't count it. And yes, I would get that PE in for 9th. You might also be able to sneak in art or econ. I still have to balance our schedule and see where we're at. I found some cool stuff for econ and art this weekend at the convention, so I'm all in a flutter about it, hehe.

 

Why shouldn't I mark Piano as 1/2 credit elective? To me, it's the perfect elective. He's learned so much during his 7yrs of piano lessons.

[NCMom]

Why shouldn't I mark Piano as 1/2 credit elective? To me, it's the perfect elective. He's learned so much during his 7yrs of piano lessons.

 

 

You can, 'cause you're the boss, but if you do, then you really shouldn't use it as an extracurricular, i.e. no double dipping.

 

I haven't personally used music lessons on the transcript because it was tough to write a good course description for them, I'm very lazy, lol, and it just wasn't that much like a real "credit" class. Your mileage may vary!

 

My youngest will have at least 1 credit in music on hers because she is doing history/ theory stuff at the CC. Lots of time and book-work involved, though.

 

 

Georgia

[Snoopytwo]

I wouldn't even mark piano as a music credit. Lots of people take piano, and it's an extra-curric. Where I worked, if we saw the music was piano, we marked it off and didn't count it. And yes, I would get that PE in for 9th. You might also be able to sneak in art or econ. I still have to balance our schedule and see where we're at. I found some cool stuff for econ and art this weekend at the convention, so I'm all in a flutter about it, hehe.

 

 

Really? :confused1: This just mystifies me. We are musically inclined here. My daughter spends a lot of time on her piano, over an hour every day. She also participates regularly in recitals, play for weddings and church. Right now she is working on a Beethoven sonata. How is that less academic than a PE or health credit? But then, I don't give credits for PE or Health.

[3browneyedboys4me]

 

 

You can, 'cause you're the boss, but if you do, then you really shouldn't use it as an extracurricular, i.e. no double dipping.

 

I haven't personally used music lessons on the transcript because it was tough to write a good course description for them, I'm very lazy, lol, and it just wasn't that much like a real "credit" class. Your mileage may vary!

 

My youngest will have at least 1 credit in music on hers because she is doing history/ theory stuff at the CC. Lots of time and book-work involved, though.

 

 

Georgia

 

I still have so much to figure out b/c I think piano would be great on a transcript.

 

 

Really? :confused1: This just mystifies me. We are musically inclined here. My daughter spends a lot of time on her piano, over an hour every day. She also participates regularly in recitals, play for weddings and church. Right now she is working on a Beethoven sonata. How is that less academic than a PE or health credit? But then, I don't give credits for PE or Health.

 

Me too. I need to think on this and do a little research on transcripts. Seems perfectly acceptable to me.