TheAttachedMama Posted January 31, 2022 Posted January 31, 2022 My oldest son, who is a rising 10th grader, has taken Cindy Lange's class at Integritas Academy in 8th grade (Intro to Persuasive Writing Through Literature) and in 9th grade (Literature and Composition for Underclassmen, Cycle B). He loves Mrs. Lange's class and says that it is his favorite class he has taken this year, and he has asked if he can take her class again next year in 10th grade (Literature and Composition for Underclassmen, Cycle A). I love how excited he is about an English and Literature class. However, it is really hard to justify the price point to my dear husband for a 3rd year in a row. Especially because my daughter will now be high school aged, and we plan to give her the opportunity to learn from Cindy Lange too. (Assuming she is accepted.). We could probably make two students in her class work (financially), but it would be a stretch. Plus, I ask myself if staying with one teacher for so many years in a row is really the best thing for my son. Would he benefit for some additional experience with other teachers and styles? Is he asking to take her class again because he is comfortable? So I guess I am looking for ideas on what he might take next as an alternative to next year. I've tried to sell him on the AP English classes by Maya Inspektor, but he is worried that the workload might be too much. (He will be also be taking AP Chemistry, Debate, Honors Pre-Calc , Latin III, and Psychology in addition to this "English" class--so maybe he has a point). Do you have any advice for me or ideas on what to look into? BTW---Teaching writing myself is not something I feel very comfortable with. I am not a strong writer myself, and I feel like my son has already surpassed my abilities. Quote
Lori D. Posted January 31, 2022 Posted January 31, 2022 (edited) Does he really *need* more writing instruction at this point? Can the English credit now be reading/discussing works of high interest at home with you & DH, and writing a few papers/essays of different types/lengths on the literature? (I get that the writing instruction is beyond you, but if he has gone through solid writing instruction for 2 years, is his writing ability good, so that all you would need to do is score those papers? Or hire a tutor to score the papers?) That would allow you and DS to build a Lit. course of works that would really be of high appeal to him, which might be a very exciting option to him... Edited January 31, 2022 by Lori D. 2 Quote
TheAttachedMama Posted January 31, 2022 Author Posted January 31, 2022 40 minutes ago, Lori D. said: Does he really *need* more writing instruction at this point? Can the English credit now be reading/discussing works of high interest at home with you & DH, and writing a few papers/essays of different types/lengths on the literature? (I get that the writing instruction is beyond you, but if he has gone through solid writing instruction for 2 years, is his writing ability good, so that all you would need to do is score those papers? Or hire a tutor to score the papers?) That would allow you and DS to build a Lit. course of works that would really be of high appeal to him, which might be a very exciting option to him... I know he would LOVE that option, Lori! He and I both love to read....and talk! Honestly, that is always how I imagined our homeschool looking like when my kids were tiny. I would pour over those Sonlight catalogs back in the early 2000s...and just imagine sitting out in a field of daisies on a blanket reading all day and talking to my kids in high school. (We never used Sonlight...but those pictures are just so quaint and dreamy...right?). Now I find myself in the trenches, and I am realizing that I have to accept help in some things. And sometimes accepting help in certain classes may be the best solution for our crazy family. 🙂 As an example, we are doing something similar to what you suggest with my 8th grade daughter this year, and I sometimes feel like I am doing a horrible job being consistent and giving her the time she needs and deserves in her "literature class" with mom to actually learn and grow! I end up feeling so guilty and like a total failure most of the time. My husband tells me that I am a perfectionist and have too high of expectations for myself. (And maybe he is right! I am a Meyers Briggs ENTJ...so there is probably some truth to what he says.) But I also determined that I have 21 different classes to keep track of this year between all of my kids. (Plus, my youngest is in 2nd grade, which is teacher intensive and he is a SLOW worker so that sucks up a lot of time.). On top of that, I have taken over children's ministry at my church. So then I realize that it is no wonder I am not able to find time to keep up with my daughter's literature discussions. I have also tried some of those "tutor graded" essay services when my kids were younger, and they just didn't grow the way they did in Cindy's classes as writers. So while I want to make your suggestion work, I just don't know if I am going to be able to do it. Quote
ScoutTN Posted February 1, 2022 Posted February 1, 2022 Could you use a low/no output online class like Center for Lit or Angelina Stanford to be a “spine” around which you build a lit class? Lighter load for you, but still reading and discussing together. Or something similar local to you? What does your Ds want to read? Quote
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