History Odyssey High School Level 3

[Reefgazer]

I have a question about the quantity of work expected with History Odyssey Level III. DD is planning to do this for freshman history, and when I look through the amount of reading and writing required, it seems like a far more than 1 credit's worth of work (assuming one credit equals 150-180 hours of work). I am estimating each lesson taking more than an hour a day, and DD having to work five days a week at more than an hour a day on history alone. DD does like history and doesn't mind doing more than that for high school history. However, she will be spending more than 180 hours on math, more than 180 hours on history, and more than 180 hours on her biology class, in addition to the rest of her coursework. This all adds up to a whole lot more than 180 hours per class, leaving her with precious little time to pursue her own interests. On the other hand, this seems pretty typical. Is this 150 to 180 hours per credit complete fiction, and is the reality more than that per class for most? I'm starting to wonder how we are going to fit all this in and still leave time for her to sleep and pursue her own interests. Have any of you pared this down to be an actual 150-180 credit hours, here or for any other course, or do you just require completion of the book/program?

Edited April 30, 2016 by reefgazer

[Reefgazer]

Well, that's what I am planning to do - merge the two.  But even doing that, I will need to add some more literature for a full English credit, and DD will also be finishing up WWS II, as well as a bit of punctuation/editing practice, and that makes history and English, even if merged, more than 2 credits worth of work.  I suppose I could not add any substantial literature, but that's the fun part she likes.  And this happens with science and math, as well.  It's nuts.

 

ETA:  I'm thinking of knocking off a few of the history lessons in HO, but when I look at them and try to cut, I think it's all important, and DD enjoys history and I don't particularly want to cut.  I am just overwhelmed because I want her to have time for herself, but it seems what is expected at high school level is actually more than 180 hours for most courses.  Or maybe my expectations are just way out of whack.....

Having the same program you do, imo, you can take some of that overlap from HO and apply it towards your literature credit. She's going to be writing essays and reading literature along with conducting analysis of the assigned works. I think you mentioned you were also going to use the Greenleaf guide as well, correct? The level of HO is not going to be the same level as someone completing say Notgrass or some other program with read a bit, answer some questions, and do a quiz. I don't think it improper at all to let some of the hours overlap at this level, especially when History and Lit are so intertwined in programs like these. I'm not saying to count the hours twice, rather merge your lit/English credit in with your History as for your hour counts. So that you'd have a total of 330 or something between the two- however you want to do it. Does that make sense?

 

Edited April 30, 2016 by reefgazer

[Reefgazer]

DD is insistent on doing History Odyssey, even though I told her it was a ton of work. Shereally likes history. And yes, it seems like we are in the same boat. I have to polish up her writing abilities, and she definitely needs to have her punctuation and writing mechanics shored up. I had hoped to have had that taken care of by high school, but she still needs some work on that.

 

Can you leave the history reading but cut some of the writing assignments and discussions? It sounds like we're in the same boat on a couple of things. I'm back to shoring up grammar and revamping writing after I thought I had that all squared away. I swear at some points I wish I had simply bought the teaching guide to HotAW and called it a day! Trying to keep up with dd's expanding interests and then providing real life expectations is proving more complicated than I thought.