Classes my kids are taking at the high school next fall...input?

[LisaKinVA]

Had our second planning meeting with the high school counselor regarding course selections for my oldest three kids (our children are allowed to take up to four courses and be part-time at the school).

 

Our first meeting, we "sign up" for the courses we think we want (helps them with planning final course offerings)

Our second meeting, we sign up for the courses that are actually available...HOPEFULLY on the day(s)/time(s) we want (we want all of our courses on one day, vs. two one day and two the other).

We may have a third meeting (the first or second day of school) to finalize the actual courses -- because things could still change with regard to courses available on each day.

 

Yes, it's a bit complicated :p

 

LEGOManiac is now planning to take:

 

Choir, Environmental Science, Italian 3, and AP English Language & Composition (currently AP Environmental is *only* available on Day 2, not on Day 1)

 

PonyGirl is now planning to take:

 

German 3, Environmental Science, Physics, and Engineering Drawing (CAD).

 

PokeMan is going to take:

 

World Geography, Italian 1, and an elective wheel with basic computers, home ec, study skills and career paths (I tried to get him into beginning band, but it wasn't available that day :p).  I pulled him out of the Algebra 1 A course and the PE/health - because it was only available split between 2 days or during Italian).

 

QUESTIONS:

 

Background:

LEGOManiac will be a Junior.  His science credits currently include: Physical Science, Biology, Physics, Chemistry (he took the AP exam this past spring, Bio, Physics and Chem were at an honors or advanced level -- using college texts).  Environmental Science will be easy...easy...easy.  We had planned for him to take AP Environmental this next year (taking 2 credits of AP Physics C his senior year), but that currently isn't an option.  I believe the lab work between regular ES and APES is essentially the same, and that there isn't a huge amount of difference (except for pacing, some depth and breadth) between the regular ES and APES courses.  We are currently thinking that he can self-study for the APES exam (EDX course, reading the APES text, and following the APES pacing, and practice schedule).  

 

Question:  He is currently considering an engineering major field -- will having a regular ES course on his transcript WITH a good grade on the AP exam be a hinderance with college aps?  

 

(His other courses at home will be:  Calculus, Western Civilization, Art History, and Robotics 2).

 

Background:

PonyGirl will be a freshman.  Her current high school science credits include: Physical Science, Biology and Chemistry (took the AP exam this past spring).  She asked to take Physics (regular) in addition to ES.  This will give her THREE high school science courses next year (ES, Physics and Marine Biology).  She will complete a second round of Precalc sometime this fall with AoPS and ETA start either Statistics or Calculus, unless we alternate days...so math for Physics won't be an issue).  ES will be easy, and she's already read the MB text a few times for fun, so all we are doing next year is adding the actual coursework (lab, quizzes/homework, tests).  My mind just can't wrap itself around taking 3 science courses in a school year.  She will also be self-studying for the APES test like her brother.

 

Question:  Am I just projecting my personal fears of this being "too much" -- and my driven, determined, science-oriented girl will be fine?  She just doesn't seem to have much in the way of what I'd consider "light" courses (yes, Engineering Drawing and Health/PE are light -- she wanted drama, but it wasn't available, refused Choir, digital photography and drawing).

 

(her courses at home next year will be:  English 9, AP Human Geography, Precalc (finishing) and starting either Calculus or AP Statistics [unless we alternate, in either case, she would not finish Calc this year] and PE/Health)

Edited June 2, 2016 by LisaK in VA is in IT

[EndOfOrdinary]

As far as I understand, there is a nice chunk of math, graphic, and crotical analysis on the APES. This is often woefully lacking in standard courses which tend to fall much more into Ecology than anything else. Hopefully he gets a good class. It can be fascinating!

 

Human Geo is becoming a very fluffy AP. The status with colleges is apparently dwindling. It is still AP and if she has any interest in the topic, go for it! If it is just to add another AP to look awesome, she might want to consider a different one.

[LisaKinVA]

As far as I understand, there is a nice chunk of math, graphic, and crotical analysis on the APES. This is often woefully lacking in standard courses which tend to fall much more into Ecology than anything else. Hopefully he gets a good class. It can be fascinating!

 

Human Geo is becoming a very fluffy AP. The status with colleges is apparently dwindling. It is still AP and if she has any interest in the topic, go for it! If it is just to add another AP to look awesome, she might want to consider a different one.

 

She requested APHG...the AP is more to differentiate it from a regular course, since she's going to be a freshman, I thought it was a good opportunity to get her feet wet with a humanities AP.  No idea what it will mean in 4 years to a college.  Plans are for her to take APUSH, AP Gov't, AP Econ, AP Euro and maybe AP World as well.  She'll probably have more APs and DEs than the rest of my kids combined -- but that's only because she's (a) a voracious reader, (b) incredibly goal-oriented and driven, and © an excellent test taker.  I was a pretty singular-minded driven kid, but she makes me dizzy with her plans.  All of this is on top of her goal of being a Div. 1 swimmer (where she has to push herself, because we currently lack the coaching/team network to really help much).

[8filltheheart]

So this is what you have listed:

 

English 9, AP Human Geography, Precalc/Calculus, maybe AP Statistics, and PE/Health, Marine Biology

German 3, Environmental Science, Physics and Engineering Drawing (CAD)

 

Since you asked for opinions, I would not let a 9th grader take that many classes regardless of wanting to or not. I have had to curb my kids' enthusiasm bc I know what they want is unrealistic and will lead to burn out.

 

Looking at the list, I would drop ES and stats, for sure. I wouldn't pursue APHG either, though, bc from my perspective, it is an AP that is not worth it bc it is not well regarded. It is seen as the "9th graders' AP" in a lot of places.

 

But that is coming from the POV that APs are not something we highly value. We only pursue the ones that make sense and fit their goals, not to have a bunch of APs across subjects. That is our perspective bc we don't homeschool to be a school at home. They distinguish themselves by making homeschooling something they have ownership over and making their educations uniquely theirs, not replicating what everyone else is doing.

Edited June 2, 2016 by 8FillTheHeart

[LisaKinVA]

Looking at the list, I would drop ES and stats, for sure. I wouldn't pursue APHG either, though, bc from my perspective, it is an AP that is not worth it bc it is not well regarded. It is seen as the "9th graders' AP" in a lot of places.

 

But that is coming from the POV that APs are not something we highly value. We only pursue the ones that make sense and fit their goals, not to have a bunch of APs across subjects. That is our perspective bc we don't homeschool to be a school at home. They distinguish themselves by making homeschooling something they have ownership over and making their educations uniquely theirs, not replicating what everyone else is doing.

 

Thank you!  I snipped your quote a little...

 

APES was her planned science for this year -- Physics is the addition (she is currently reading College Physics by Knight for fun).  I will talk to her about what to do instead (she has to leave the school during that period if she's not in class, which will either require me to be on base...and I may be anyway...or a place for her to go, as they won't allow her to wait in the library, and the main base library is closed on Mondays).

 

I'm not sure dropping APHG is going to reduce her load, since she would still have to take a Social Science -- she is a freshman, so I have no issue with APHG being regarded as an "AP for 9th graders."  She wanted a break from history (proper).  The main difference in taking APHG vs. HG is that APHG would be of greater depth/breadth than regular.

 

Her choices this year were APES, Physics, Marine Biology, German 3, whatever math is next, and APHG.  She is planning to go for a teaching degree in Biology, with a double major in math and extra certifications in Physics, Chemistry and German.  The APs and DE she's planning, are all based on making room for the double major in one particular college that is at the top of her list (which I am 100% certain she will be accepted to, as it is not a competitive admission, but is well regarded for their teaching program, is affordable before additional scholarships, and has the added benefit of being a Div 1 swim school).  Neither APES or APHG will get her anything at the other two colleges on her list.   But, I'm trying to make sure we don't close doors, because she's just 14 and could easily change her mind.

 

She is only mildly interested in history of any kind -- there are no passions there to develop. Thankfully, she at least reads a lot. This is her way of making her education uniquely hers, is it not?  Would this strategy not fit with your POV in this case?  Keep in mind that we do not have DE available in any affordable manner which also works with our major time difference, so AP courses are the least expensive route to achieving her goals.  I'm fine paying for DE IF we can't find a suitable replacement/alternative -- but we aren't to that point yet.  

[8filltheheart]

No, bc I don't think the purpose of 9th grade is to attempt to eliminate college courses in the future. (I would never DE my kids for all of 11th and 12th grades bc that is not what we see the purpose of high school. If I wanted to graduate them early to take nothing but college classes, I could. I want them to have freedom to explore subjects that are outside of the norm, have time to be kids, etc.) That is a philosophical difference.

 

Fwiw, burn out is real. My 20 yr old said to me at the end of this semester, "Do you realize I have been a college student for 4 yrs?" He hasn't really. He DE for math and science in 11th and 12th grades. I refused to let him take all of the classes he wanted in 9th and 10th. (Same with my 11th grader who wanted to add a 4th language to her day.) Anyway, that conversation lead to him realizing how glad he was that I didn't let him spend his teenage yrs "being nothing but a student."

 

If an 11th grader wants to push that hard and load up, I am more willing to let them do it. But not in 9th. There is a huge difference in a 14 yr old and a 16 yr old.

 

You asked for opinions. You don't have to like mine. :) (Fwiw, my ds graduated from high school with 11 science credits and 10 math credits. My Dd will have 15 foreign Lang credits. So I do know what it is like to have kids with extreme interests. They just bounds to what I willing to let them do.)

[regentrude]

 

Background:

LEGOManiac will be a Junior.  His science credits currently include: Physical Science, Biology, Physics, Chemistry (he took the AP exam this past spring, Bio, Physics and Chem were at an honors or advanced level -- using college texts).  Environmental Science will be easy...easy...easy.  We had planned for him to take AP Environmental this next year (taking 2 credits of AP Physics C his senior year), but that currently isn't an option.  I believe the lab work between regular ES and APES is essentially the same, and that there isn't a huge amount of difference (except for pacing, some depth and breadth) between the regular ES and APES courses.  We are currently thinking that he can self-study for the APES exam (EDX course, reading the APES text, and following the APES pacing, and practice schedule).  

 

Question:  He is currently considering an engineering major field -- will having a regular ES course on his transcript WITH a good grade on the AP exam be a hinderance with college aps?  

 

 

Why would it be a hindrance??? I doubt anybody is going to care about ES. It might also not count for college credit for an engineering major - I'd check that before going to the trouble of taking the exam.

You can get into a great college without having AP-everything.

[LisaKinVA]

Why would it be a hindrance??? I doubt anybody is going to care about ES. It might also not count for college credit for an engineering major - I'd check that before going to the trouble of taking the exam.

You can get into a great college without having AP-everything.

 

No science he'll take will really get him any credit in college...haha!  There are just limits to what he can do next that will be an actual lab science.  AP Physics C (both courses) are on the docket for his senior year, at a few colleges (if I'm recalling correctly) he could get credit for it if he gets a 4 or 5 on both sections, otherwise, he will have to retake it in college (not the worst thing).  He has no interest in AP bio (not offered this year anyhow), and has already done AP Chem, Honors Physics and Honors Bio.  There are other science courses he could do, but either they are "too much" to tackle at home/lacks a lab component I could put together, or he's not interested enough in them that I'm willing to do the extra work putting them together (since they aren't offered at the school, etc.)  KWIM.

 

I'm burned out after the past three years on high school science (Adv. Chem/Honors Physics/Honors Bio).  Options at the school (not including the virtual school, which would require at-home labs...hear me screaming NOOOOO!?) are:  Integrated Physics and Chemistry, regular bio, Chem/AP Chem, Physics/AP Physics 1, Environmental Science, APES.

 

He just needs another lab science.  If no one is going to care, I'm good with that.

[8filltheheart]

You can get into a great college without having AP-everything.

Exactly. I find the whole lists of APs as completely confining and unappealing. There are so many more interesting ways to study subjects w/o conforming to AP guidelines.

[regentrude]

He just needs another lab science.  If no one is going to care, I'm good with that.

 

Didn't you mention he has already taken bio, phys, chem and will be taking AP Phys C?

Why does he need another lab science?

I have not seen any college requiring more than three lab science courses.

 

 There are other science courses he could do, but either they are "too much" to tackle at home/lacks a lab component I could put together, or he's not interested enough in them that I'm willing to do the extra work putting them together (since they aren't offered at the school, etc.)  KWIM

 

I would have him pick a science he is interested in, get an intro college text and maybe a TC or OCW course, and have him go at it. There is not much you need to "put together". What about astronomy? Geology? Particle physics?

I would use the fact that he has already covered the basics to give him the opportunity to study something out of the box that he would be interested in. He should have agency and can help find resources and design his course. Like 8FillTheHeart, I find the AP route rather confining and limiting; I'd prefer to use the freedom to do something my student truly enjoys.

Alternatively he could spread the two parts of Physics C over two years; do mechanics now and e&m next year.

Edited June 2, 2016 by regentrude

[8filltheheart]

I would have him pick a science he is interested in, get an intro college text and maybe a TC course, and have him go at it. There is not much you need to "put together". What about astronomy? Geology? Particle physics?

I would use the fact that he has already covered the basics to give him the opportunity to study something out of the box that he would be interested in. Or alternatively spread the two parts of Physics C over two years; do mechanics now and e&m next year.

Great idea. Ds owns just about every TC astronomy and physics lecture. He loved them. There are some great options. Edited June 2, 2016 by 8FillTheHeart

[LisaKinVA]

No, bc I don't think the purpose of 9th grade is to attempt to eliminate college courses in the future. (I would never DE my kids for all of 11th and 12th grades bc that is not what we see the purpose of high school. If I wanted to graduate them early to take nothing but college classes, I could. I want them to have freedom to explore subjects that are outside of the norm, have time to be kids, etc.) That is a philosophical difference.

 

Fwiw, burn out is real. My 20 yr old said to me at the end of this semester, "Do you realize I have been a college student for 4 yrs?" He hasn't really. He DE for math and science in 11th and 12th grades. I refused to let him take all of the classes he wanted in 9th and 10th. (Same with my 11th grader who wanted to add a 4th language to her day.) Anyway, that conversation lead to him realizing how glad he was that I didn't let him spend his teenage yrs "being nothing but a student."

 

If an 11th grader wants to push that hard and load up, I am more willing to let them do it. But not in 9th. There is a huge difference in a 14 yr old and a 16 yr old.

 

You asked for opinions. You don't have to like mine. :) (Fwiw, my ds graduated from high school with 11 science credits and 10 math credits. My Dd will have 15 foreign Lang credits. So I do know what it is like to have kids with extreme interests. They just bounds to what I willing to let them do.)

 

My preference is that she not take Physics this year.  I have every confidence she could handle the material, I just think on top of ES and Marine Biology, it's just too much work right now (even just on top of Marine Bio). She wouldn't be DE full-time, ever.  At most, I'd allow looking at one course a semester -- and if we're here, it won't be math or science, it would be required the religion courses.  

 

I'm kinda sad she's so disillusioned with art at the school (apparently, all levels of various courses are grouped together, and they all do the same general assignment...so she feels like she's BTDT for drawing and painting, especially since she had to use all of the different materials this year).  I lack any ability to guide her through that.  Although, if we get my stuff organized, she could do papercrafting in her 4th period at home.  She could learn how to operate my machines, I could teach her all of the basics, and she could create and complete her own scrapbook over the year, along with several special projects using mixed media, paints, and found art.  OR, I could have her do a Digital Photography course (which I already have planned out).  Something structured, but mostly fun is what I was hoping for.

[regentrude]

I'm kinda sad she's so disillusioned with art at the school (apparently, all levels of various courses are grouped together, and they all do the same general assignment...so she feels like she's BTDT for drawing and painting, especially since she had to use all of the different materials this year).  I lack any ability to guide her through that.  Although, if we get my stuff organized, she could do papercrafting in her 4th period at home.  She could learn how to operate my machines, I could teach her all of the basics, and she could create and complete her own scrapbook over the year, along with several special projects using mixed media, paints, and found art.  OR, I could have her do a Digital Photography course (which I already have planned out).  Something structured, but mostly fun is what I was hoping for.

 

What about unschooling art? Why does she have to take it at the school?

[Caroline]

I would just make sure the environmental science course is what you think it is. At many high schools, environmental science is a course for kids who are up to on level biology. APES tends to be rigorous, but not regular environmental science. I just don't want your kids to be frustrated with the level of the class.

[LisaKinVA]

What about unschooling art? Why does she have to take it at the school?

 

Cost/availability of materials or outside classes, technique instruction that I can't give her?  She doodles on her tablet program and does animae (because it's easy).  I have some things, but hardly enough of anything (other then tempura paints, crayons and crayola markers) to do much of anything substantive. I have my papercrafting supplies, and I have some paintable ceramics, but that's it.  I could teach her how to make canvas books, paper bag albums, re-do/repurpose a baby board book, geneology, jewelry making, card making, rubber-stamping techniques, refinish a piece of furniture.  She has a set of drawing pencils, charcoal, and I get her a new sketch book every year -- but right now, I'd hardly call what she does credit-worthy.  

 

Unschooling art well?  I don't think she's passionate enough about it.  She finds it fun or interesting, but not enough to follow through beyond what's easy to doodle between assignments.  I guess I feel to unschool a subject well, it has to be driven by the student (if she pushed art the way she attacks swimming, it would be different).

 

She's dog sitting right now.  I'll be FB chatting some of this.

[LisaKinVA]

I would just make sure the environmental science course is what you think it is. At many high schools, environmental science is a course for kids who are up to on level biology. APES tends to be rigorous, but not regular environmental science. I just don't want your kids to be frustrated with the level of the class.

 

I can do that when the new instructor gets here at the beginning of the school year.  One thing with the DoD schools, is the curriculum is pretty standard.

 

Here is the online course description  and Here is the online course description for the AP version

Edited June 2, 2016 by LisaK in VA is in IT

[LisaKinVA]

Didn't you mention he has already taken bio, phys, chem and will be taking AP Phys C?

Why does he need another lab science?

I have not seen any college requiring more than three lab science courses.

 

 

I would have him pick a science he is interested in, get an intro college text and maybe a TC or OCW course, and have him go at it. There is not much you need to "put together". What about astronomy? Geology? Particle physics?

I would use the fact that he has already covered the basics to give him the opportunity to study something out of the box that he would be interested in. He should have agency and can help find resources and design his course. Like 8FillTheHeart, I find the AP route rather confining and limiting; I'd prefer to use the freedom to do something my student truly enjoys.

Alternatively he could spread the two parts of Physics C over two years; do mechanics now and e&m next year.

 

Physical Science, Biology and Physics were all virtual labs.  Adv. Chem was his first hands-on lab.  This would be his second, and AP Physics C would be his 3rd. I believe most schools he was looking at wanted at least 3 lab sciences.  

 

Whatever he does has to be structured out completely.  He is not a "have at it kid." We've gotten into all kinds of problems trying to let him pace himself.  He's much better than he was 2 years ago (he blew off several real on-line courses in 8th), but even his English teacher (online course) said his biggest challenge is managing his time/workload.  He prioritizes things this way:  

 

• At the school gets top priority (meaning, it's always in on-time, I never have to remind or cajole him -- even assignments he doesn't want to do, like his final project for Adv. Chorus, which was putting a poem of his choice to an original music composition).
• Online course, gets done at the last minute, or late -- but still turned in just in time for credit.
• At home (with me, MOOC, or other "unofficial" online course), what? I have home school work, too? Oh yeah, I'll get to it...just need to check my email first. :p (a bit hyperbolic).

 

Pushing Italian (maybe -- depends upon his test at the end of the summer, I may have to continue Italian at home), English and Science outside means I only have to worry about History, Robotics (which is his carrot), math (which he DOES do), and art history (which will focus on architecture, per his request).  

 

I agree with AP courses being a bit confining.  We did the equivalent of an AP US History course this year (content-wise), but we did not follow the AP guidelines, or take the exam.  Similarly, he'll do a solid Western Civ course, but we are self-studying for the AP Euro exam not following the outline for the course. 

 

The one home course he's taking next year which he is wants to help design is Robotics 2.  He's given me input in Art History as well, but beyond "yeah, looks good to me" there's no interest.  This 16yo boy would spend all day playing with LEGO, designing stop-motion photography shorts with either LEGO or Halo figures, or busying himself with scoutwork or LEGO chatboards.  Robotics is the "nod" to his LEGO passions.  He had the opportunity to take Digital Photography, but felt his photography skills were already beyond the course.  I suggested he take a course in Adobe Photoshop, nope...and I'm kind of a little disappointed he elected to take Adv. Chorus again over Architectural Design (mainly because he says he's interested in Architectural design as a major, and I don't see it in him -- because that's not where he puts his time).

[LisaKinVA]

I was just talking with my daughter a bit...not making demands at this point.

 

She is very introverted, not outgoing -- getting her to speak up for herself to others has been something I've been working on a LOT (as an example, last summer, when standing in line to place an order at the Subway in the NEX food court, she would look at me and tell me what she wanted and expect me to relay her wishes to the Subway employee -- I didn't).

 

She's gained a lot of confidence this past year -- but is still reluctant to speak up for herself.  When going through available courses, she was advocating for what she wanted/didn't want.  I guess I'm a bit hesitant, because I want her to continue to advocate for herself, and not quash her.  At the same time, I know I need to guide her as much as possible to prevent burn-out/doing too much. In all honesty, her sudden desire to take Physics really threw me.

 

At least I have 3 months to work on it.  

Edited June 2, 2016 by LisaK in VA is in IT

[Sebastian (a lady)]

Cost/availability of materials or outside classes, technique instruction that I can't give her? She doodles on her tablet program and does animae (because it's easy). I have some things, but hardly enough of anything (other then tempura paints, crayons and crayola markers) to do much of anything substantive. I have my papercrafting supplies, and I have some paintable ceramics, but that's it. I could teach her how to make canvas books, paper bag albums, re-do/repurpose a baby board book, geneology, jewelry making, card making, rubber-stamping techniques, refinish a piece of furniture. She has a set of drawing pencils, charcoal, and I get her a new sketch book every year -- but right now, I'd hardly call what she does credit-worthy.

 

Unschooling art well? I don't think she's passionate enough about it. She finds it fun or interesting, but not enough to follow through beyond what's easy to doodle between assignments. I guess I feel to unschool a subject well, it has to be driven by the student (if she pushed art the way she attacks swimming, it would be different).

 

She's dog sitting right now. I'll be FB chatting some of this.

Is art a credit she needs or are you looking for access to something she enjoys that you don't have materials for?

 

Does the base do craft classes? I've seen watercolor, drawing, and glass working at various bases.

[LisaKinVA]

Is art a credit she needs or are you looking for access to something she enjoys that you don't have materials for?

 

Does the base do craft classes? I've seen watercolor, drawing, and glass working at various bases.

 

I'm looking for something she enjoys, that she could explore further than she could with me.  She has a FA credit with "Fundamentals of Art" (she took with special permission from the instructor this past year).

 

Classes on base? Yes and no... most of the painting classes offered are "I'm going to show you how to paint this" social classes, not about learning how to create your own paintings.  The kind they do are for enjoyment, but you leave the classes without any real idea of how to start/create your own painting.  We took a tile mosaic class together our first fall here (one day -- a 2 hour drive. $30 class).  Or, they are during the school year -- during school time OR in the evenings during swim practice time (she would never agree to miss a swim session for a painting session ;)  I haven't seen any drawing or glass working.  Only painting.  Currently it's a "painting & wine" night.

 

Around town, I know there is a guy who teaches pottery. I know of another lady in town who teaches oil painting.  Finding time to do these courses in various locations and in competition with her swim practice/competition schedule and her school schedule would be challenging (to say the least).  They are fine to do here and there, but we couldn't commit to a series of classes except for during the summer time.

[8filltheheart]

Physical Science, Biology and Physics were all virtual labs.  Adv. Chem was his first hands-on lab.  This would be his second, and AP Physics C would be his 3rd. I believe most schools he was looking at wanted at least 3 lab sciences.  

 

Whatever he does has to be structured out completely.  He is not a "have at it kid." We've gotten into all kinds of problems trying to let him pace himself.  He's much better than he was 2 years ago (he blew off several real on-line courses in 8th), but even his English teacher (online course) said his biggest challenge is managing his time/workload.  He prioritizes things this way:  

 

• At the school gets top priority (meaning, it's always in on-time, I never have to remind or cajole him -- even assignments he doesn't want to do, like his final project for Adv. Chorus, which was putting a poem of his choice to an original music composition).
• Online course, gets done at the last minute, or late -- but still turned in just in time for credit.
• At home (with me, MOOC, or other "unofficial" online course), what? I have home school work, too? Oh yeah, I'll get to it...just need to check my email first. :p (a bit hyperbolic).

 

Pushing Italian (maybe -- depends upon his test at the end of the summer, I may have to continue Italian at home), English and Science outside means I only have to worry about History, Robotics (which is his carrot), math (which he DOES do), and art history (which will focus on architecture, per his request).  

 

I agree with AP courses being a bit confining.  We did the equivalent of an AP US History course this year (content-wise), but we did not follow the AP guidelines, or take the exam.  Similarly, he'll do a solid Western Civ course, but we are self-studying for the AP Euro exam not following the outline for the course. 

 

The one home course he's taking next year which he is wants to help design is Robotics 2.  He's given me input in Art History as well, but beyond "yeah, looks good to me" there's no interest.  This 16yo boy would spend all day playing with LEGO, designing stop-motion photography shorts with either LEGO or Halo figures, or busying himself with scoutwork or LEGO chatboards.  Robotics is the "nod" to his LEGO passions.  He had the opportunity to take Digital Photography, but felt his photography skills were already beyond the course.  I suggested he take a course in Adobe Photoshop, nope...and I'm kind of a little disappointed he elected to take Adv. Chorus again over Architectural Design (mainly because he says he's interested in Architectural design as a major, and I don't see it in him -- because that's not where he puts his time).

 

How he would he respond to going to the school full-time?

[LisaKinVA]

Great idea. Ds owns just about every TC astronomy and physics lecture. He loved them. There are some great options.

 

I have to be kind of choosy about which TC things we use.  Our streaming isn't fast enough at 1.5 mbps for TGC Plus to be reliable (I tried).  And the courses we purchase get expensive.  I'm thinking about buying my dad a gift subscription for Father's Day (because I know he'd love it), then using his subscription to get my videos at 70% off (it would cost me extra shipping, because they'd go to him and then he'd send them onto me). The streaming speed also limits how many courses (total, across 5 kids) can be done online (only one person at a time, and sometimes not even that).

 

I keep hoping our internet will be upgraded soon, but I've been hoping that for 2 years now.  The average for Italy is 6.1mbps.  But I guarantee you that southern Italy drags that number down by quite a bit.  The biggest complaints you hear about all the time are the crappy internet speeds/outages here.  It has made online courses (live, anyhow) impossible, and streaming can really only be done effectively overnight.  Our cellular internet is faster...but too expensive to use (and we have to be outdoors or next to the windows for it to work really well (concrete buildings).

 

Ah, the challenges of Bella Napolli (at least I have a pretty view!)

[LisaKinVA]

How he would he respond to going to the school full-time?

 

Negatively.  He has already been very open about not wanting to attend full time. He also couldn't graduate from the school, unless he was willing to start over as a freshman, as the school won't accept any of his HS credits (they'd take math if he passed the end of year math exams, assuming he passed all of them, he'd be able to start as a sophomore).

 

His biggest complaints about the school have been being stuck at the same pace of others (I know, sounds funny -- as he's fairly fly by the seat of his pants).  He's been actively engaged in courses he was very interested in, he was able to complete the work in two of the courses well ahead of the rest of the class (4-6 weeks). Initially, he was allowed to work on other things after he was finished, but because some in his classroom were not doing their best work and cutting his course short in order to finish other classwork that was due, that option was eliminated.  Thankfully, he was able to pursue other related activities vs. being stuck twiddling his thumbs (special assignments of his own creation, working with the 3-D printer, and things like that).

 

Next year will be his first year at the school with more academic coursework.  I think his biggest problem will be that of boredom (the pace of the courses moving s.l.o.w.).  He is quite efficient with his school work when he's not self-distracting.  But, the biggest life skill he needs to master before college is managing his time on his own --- despite distractions.  When he gets to university, there won't be people holding his hand telling him to get off Facebook or Instagram, because he needs to study.  I could easily see him being one of those incredibly bright kids who fail out, because they "forget" to study, become overwhelmed and just can't get caught up.

 

He *is* improving (he is so not the same kid that he was 2 years ago, but it's been a lot of stress for me, going through college requirements, costs of schools he was interested in attending, available scholarship money really helped in that regard. College has been "far off" before now, but things are getting real.  He has friends graduating from high school for the first time.  He has kids he respects (intellectual peers, graduating this year), who have openly stressed about getting accepted to competitive colleges (incredibly bright, perfect score on the SAT kind of kid).  

 

Beyond that, he is also running out of courses he wants/can take at the high school (next year he'll only have AP English Lit, maybe Italian 4 or AP Italian, and one or two electives -- all depending upon what's available at the time.  He would lose any flexibility of studying things he really enjoys (Robotics & apparently, Architecture), because they aren't offered beyond an introductory level.  AP Physics C would be taken half at the school and half at home anyway (because it's not offered as an in-person course).  On a side-note, DD will run out of options for most of courses she wants to take at the school next year after AP Bio, as she will be past all of the math, science, and most of the electives that interest her.  She'll finish AP German next year as well.

 

The DoD school has it's advantages -- but it isn't a top-tier high school by any measure.  It's mediocre at best, offering what it can based upon a very small population size.  There are no DE agreements for military kids through DoDEA and the available online CCs (so we pay full freight), so advanced kids graduate early, that is their only option (I think I've mentioned I've been shocked by the number of grade-skipped kids here -- well outside the norm, which makes it a bit suspect to me).

[Alte Veste Academy]

I don't know if your streaming is too slow, although you can also download videos, but we have been very happy with TheVirtualInstructor.com for art. DD also uses Adobe Creative Cloud, Craftsy, Lynda, CreativeLive...and one more I can't remember right now.

[LisaKinVA]

I don't know if your streaming is too slow, although you can also download videos, but we have been very happy with TheVirtualInstructor.com for art. DD also uses Adobe Creative Cloud, Craftsy, Lynda, CreativeLive...and one more I can't remember right now.

 

Thank you, I'll check it out.  If we can download, I'm sure it will work (we can set our computer to download between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. -- it works, because most people are in bed.  Peak times, we've clocked our speed at an underwhelming 0.17 mbps.

[Laurel-in-CA]

Cost/availability of materials or outside classes, technique instruction that I can't give her?  She doodles on her tablet program and does animae (because it's easy).  I have some things, but hardly enough of anything (other then tempura paints, crayons and crayola markers) to do much of anything substantive. I have my papercrafting supplies, and I have some paintable ceramics, but that's it.  I could teach her how to make canvas books, paper bag albums, re-do/repurpose a baby board book, geneology, jewelry making, card making, rubber-stamping techniques, refinish a piece of furniture.  She has a set of drawing pencils, charcoal, and I get her a new sketch book every year -- but right now, I'd hardly call what she does credit-worthy.  

 

Unschooling art well?  I don't think she's passionate enough about it.  She finds it fun or interesting, but not enough to follow through beyond what's easy to doodle between assignments.  I guess I feel to unschool a subject well, it has to be driven by the student (if she pushed art the way she attacks swimming, it would be different).

 

She's dog sitting right now.  I'll be FB chatting some of this.

 

What about art history and portfolio building? We made an art credit one year out of a 1.5 hour/week group art class, monthly museum visits and reviews of a work of art or artist, plus a 2-hour weekly community oil painting class through the senior center. Another thing I had dd do was portfolio all of her work every year in a powerpoint, sorted by type of media or theme. Great foundation for a college scholarship portfolio. And lots of online art tutorials available, materials through dickblick.com or utrecht.com.