I picked what I am requiring based on what colleges are requiring for admission as a min. My son objects. I think that it too bad, he would have to take these to graduate elsewhere anyway. 4 English 4 Social studies 4 science 4 math 2 foreign language fine arts electives My son is half way through 9th grade. He is a bit of a slacker and wants to just do what he wants to do. He left public school recently. He only needs biology, world geography, and English 9 to finish out the year. I said it is time for him to take the foreign language. He is actually unhappy about this and wants to know why he cannot just play xbox and such. But he also claims to want to go to college. Anyway, so I am just curious as to what the rest of you are requiring?
I'll be requiring about the same, but with 2 to 4 Bible credits, only foreign language will depend on the ability of the student. WHICH 4 Englishes and maths and sciences and histories also will depend on the student. I believe in the "multiple diploma system" with some kids able to pursue an Academic (college-bound) program, some a General or regular program, and some a Vocational program. I have an 8th grader right now, for example, who may not get through algebra I because right now she's only doing the last units of 6th grade math. She likely won't be taking a foreign language. We'll likely be focusing on practical living type things like consumer math, maybe a little business math, perhaps recordkeeping, typing/keyboarding, and not doing Biology, Chemistry, Physics but more general sciences with some of each of these sprinkled in, along with health topics. I also have another student that we're calling 6th grade right now, but he's actually working on 2nd/3rd grade levels cademically - if he stays through high school, he'll likely be doing more vocational skills, horticulture/agriculture (since he wants to be a farmer/farmhand), some woodworking, some apprenticeship type things for credit, etc. Actually, in nine years of schooling Other People's Kids, I've only had one who would have done the Academic track, but she went back to public for high school. My own ds decided he was done and got his GED, finishing a year ahead of his former ps classmates. He decided on a vocational school (culinary).
That is what we required from our daughter. We also had PE, not thumb exercises , and health for half a semester. Perhaps if you took your son to a college fair, I don't know what they call it where you live but it is where the colleges come and show what they have to offer, he may be excited about working towards the goal of going to college. But he is a 9th grader and nothing may get him excited about school. Another idea is to let him choose an elective or two each year. He gets to do his fun elective but he also has to do his other required subjects. Many of those required subjects have a wide range of things that can be studied. For example English can be acting, journalism, etc. Maybe a unit study that tie some of those subjects together may interest him, though this will make recordkeeping more difficult. If you could some how incorporate XBox into his schooling. My son would sure like that idea. Mmmmm. Write a story line for a game (English). Draw the graphics (art). Surely after my coffee I can think of more. This has potential . I wrote more than what you asked, but I hope it helps.
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/graduation/advanced_studies.shtml That's what VA requires in the PS system for advanced studies. For a "Standard" Diploma they require: Foreign Language, Fine Arts, or Career & Technical Education - 2 credits
I am addding in PE credits, Drama, and Computer sciences credits... pretty much, According to the University requirements
Does he know why he wants to go to college? Does he know what he wants to do as an adult? What are his interests? Maybe if you figure that out and have him work backwards on how to get from 9th grade to becoming a _______________, he'll take ownership over his schoolwork and the classes he's taking.
One thing I have discovered is that many people suggest looking at requirements for the college your child is interested in versus the high school graduation requirements. There may be some differences.
I agree that it should be determined about what their future plans are. Our Community college here has dropped the high school transcript request. All you need to do is take the placement test as far as I know and if you place well enough you are in. I am figuring that a 4 year college would be different though.
He wants to major in computer science in college. He has a list of 2 colleges he wants to apply to for sure, and is considering others. He is very sure of this and has been for years. He has been teaching himself c++ for a while now and has made various small programs and would like to move on to some other languages. The 2 colleges on his list right now, that he is sure about, are Colorado College and Texas Tech. He actually has visited Colorado College and loves it.
That's great! Have him work it backwards then. Have him look up the requirements for Colorado College and Texas Tech... if you just give the requirements to him, he won't really be taking ownership of it. Then have him sit down and write out how he want's to fulfill those requirements over the next 3 1/2 years.
This is what is required in our state and we are for the most part following this. I do require a computer course and a 4th Social Study. I pretty much let my children choose their electives. Four (4) credits in Mathematics Four (4) credits in English/Language Arts Four (4) credits in Science Three (3) credits in Social Studies One (1) credit in Health/Physical Education Three (3) credits in Foreign Language** and/or Fine Arts and/or Career/Technical/Agricultural Education***. Four (4) electives ** Any student going to a University System of Georgia college or university must take at least two years of the same foreign language to meet admission requirements.
I plan on: 3 years of math, with Algebra I or Geometry being the highest (he is not a math fan) 4 years of history/government 2-3 years of science 4 years of English, but not too traditional-I plan of the last two years to be mostly taken from what he reads/writes in other classes to count as English. I do plan on more traditional for 9th and 10th (grammar worksheets-review on sentence structure, etc.) foreign language-we will see-I would like two years Bible-all 4 years, but some of that will simply be reading/discussing the Bible-I may do a more traditional type study later on electives: any thing hands on, as much as he wants and I can afford And some other stuff I may have to plan at a later date. I don't worry too much (much less than before) about going the same route as schools recommend. There are so many options that are out there. And so many people are really not college material. In fact, I think a great many people who force themselves to go to college could have been successful without it, IF the world was not college obsessed. That is the problem-we put too much emphasis on that type of intelligence when there are many other ways to be intelligent.
I like that idea, about writing a story line for a game, then doing the graphics for art class! WOW! And if your child is into programming, everything to create XBOX games is free from Microsoft. Download the XNA Game Studio, learn C++, and get to work! That is a really neat idea, and I may have to try that!!
Wow, I gotta say that y'all sound so organized...my oldest is in 9th grade, and due to financial constraints, I'm not able to do as much as I want to. She's taking Biology, but we don't have a microscope, so we're pretty limited on what we can do... But those are the requirements I came up with, 4 English, 4 Math, 4 History, 4 foreign languages (she's taking 2...not sure why, but that was her choice...Spanish & Italian) and electives. I may change it when my next one hits high school, because she's interested in different things.
Go to Lawrence Hall of Science web site and look up some of thier biology stuff, there is also a free frog disction somewhere on the web hatis awesome! And a Pig too! I did my labs via the internet with dd because we didnt have everything we needed.
I don't think a microscope really matters. I know people make a big deal of it, but it really does not matter.
I looked at what our local district requires and what several different colleges (ranging from community colleges to ive league) require. Then, I took into consideration that at least one of my kids will be doing more than 4 years of high school level work (my dd is already doing some high school courses & she's only in 6th grade). Here's what I eventually decided on: Math - at least 4 courses Science - at least 4 courses Health - 1 course Social Studies (Geography, History, Cultural Studies) - 6 courses English - at least 4 courses Foreign Lang. - at least 3 yrs or equivalent Art - at least 2 yrs Music - at least 2 yrs They do have some say in their classes, though. For Math & Science, I have certain courses I require. After they've finished the courses I require in the subject, they get to choose the rest of the courses to fill the requirements. For Social Studies, I require a year of Gov & Econ and one year of Geography. They get to choose what to study for History. My dd has chosen to do 1 yr in-depth, comparative study of Ancient Civs, a year focused on the Middle Ages & Renn, a year study of the cultures of the Native American tribes, and she's still finalizing the parts of American hist she wants to study for the other year. For Art & Music, they get to decide if they do History & Appreciation or Practical. I don't require electives, but they can add on whatever electives they want (as long as their required work is getting done & we can afford the electives). I also don't require P.E. because we are an active family. They get regular exercise without having to be told to do it for a class. Doing it this way allows me to make sure the kids get a well-rounded education & include their interests in it, as well.
