JK56, if you only wanted everyone to agree with you and not give an opinion then you should have just stated that at the start of your post. You're not looking for anyone to evaluate what you put forth, you're looking for everyone to just agree with you. You are being very closed minded and not even considering any of the suggestions given. Obviously you came to the wrong place, because no one has agreed with you. Personally, I think your son would do better in school. You have made it clear you it doesn't matter about what your son wants/needs. Homeschooling isn't about the parent, it's about the CHILD. And... I have a niece who although not homeschooled, had similar academic/extra curricular pressure put on her. My ex-SIL was making sure that she was going to not only go to college, but become a doctor. At 18 my niece refused to go to college, was thrown out of the house and became homeless. She came to live with ME when she became pregnant at 18. She is 26 now, has no relationship with her mother.
If you don't mind my asking, what level was your son working on in public school? I do have gifted children and the best way for them to excel is actually for them to take the initiative. Most kids that are strong in math and reading can excel in academics but a truly gifted child seeks out learning through trial and error. We kept an academically rigorous curriculum through the years, but my dd had plenty of time to explore her interests and taught herself so much through her own exploration. We didn't aim for AP exams and testing in the middle school years at all. She is working ahead and on high school credits this year even though she is technically 8th grade. However, she could not test for AP this year b/c of her age and grade level. You can only record so many classes in middle school as high school credit as well and they aren't history. I discovered that science, math and foreign language can be recorded from middle school but that you still have to have the 4x4 credits from them in high school. That is what everyone is trying to tell you. My child could do CLEP tests next year. That is a goal of ours instead of AP tests as public school has shifted with common core and exit exams you will find it harder and harder to test at the schools. In fact, they are not letting any students not enrolled in their classes take the exit exams for high school courses. You could do the AP work in middle school but not be able to test AP for several years after completing the work which would not make it easy for retention of details. That is if they will let you test at all. Even those of us that have been homeschooling for years have to check up on the changes in schools and what they allow homeschoolers to participate in at all levels. I found out this year that while we can test up to 8th grade with the local schools that they will not allow homeschoolers to take the exit exams that are now required for many high school classes (including AP courses) and you must be a certain age to take the PSAT on campus. Which means my daughter will have graduated high school by the time the public school deems her old enough to take the PSAT. I am just trying to point out that you might want to do more research at the local level with schools and districts in your area. You may be surprised at how unwelcome your homeschool student testing at the school is to the district.
4th grade US History-this is a pretty typical public school text used at this grade level. It is considered average and on par with public school. 5th grade World History-this is a bit out of the typical order as at some point in grammar school the student is working on state history and it is normally required specifically in lower grammar school and middle school level. This is another typical public school text that will give you facts and figures for the time periods. 6th grade European History-this is typically covered in World History at this level and not expanded upon even in high school courses. Classes taken prior to 7th and 8th grade may not be counted on high school transcripts that are not STEM classes. 7th grade Comparative Govt.-This is actually typically studied in public school at this level and on most state tests as well. This also would not be out of the ordinary compared to public school peers. 8th Grade US Govt. and Politics-Again this is actually on schedule with public school standards although I believe you will see that most Civics text combine these topics with your 7th grade Comparative Govt. and that it is required at some point in 6th-8th to cover in-depth your state history and govt. Most states have it in writing that you cover your states govt. and history in depth in middle school. I really don't see how this is any different of a scope and sequence that what public school accomplishes except you are aiming for AP classes which your child probably will not be able to test AP and AP is really only useful if you are outsourcing the classes and can prove AP level. Some AP classes would be permitted on a high school transcript, but AP classes at middle school level are only used to ascertain AP criteria for high school. If you are aiming to return to school for high school, then this is a typical course of study that is missing state history and government. I would still caution aiming for AP testing or getting your hopes up that the public or private school will allow your student working on a different syllabi to sit the AP tests. Also ancient history is more of a focus in 6th-8th than European History. European History would just be for your benefit and has no real merit since you have overlooked state history and government. I would suggest that you peruse a local schools web site and curricula and your state DOE site to ensure that you are covering all that you should be covering in scope and sequence.
Your course does not need to be approved in order to take the test. Anyone can sign up for the test. Your course and syllabi and curriculum does need to be approved if you want to put AP on your transcript. Most folks I know take the test and just put honors on the transcript.
Honors and AP are 2 different things as some colleges will give credit hours for "AP" courses and tests passed the same as CLEP hours. That is why we are going CLEP. Honors on the transcript doesn't transfer to college hours the same as an official "AP" course. http://www.collegeboard.com/html/apcourseaudit/ http://www.collegeboard.com/html/apcourseaudit/teacher.html ETA-I haven't found anywhere that will let a student sit the AP course unless they are taking an outsourced approved AP course. That is what I meant about official AP courses. CLEP is just simpler and achieves the same thing for home school students.
The "AP" on the transcript (even with an exceptional grade) means nothing. The credit is in the test score. The VAST MAJORITY of colleges will award college credit based solely on the official AP test score. (regardless of whether you call the class honors or AP on the transcript...or whether the child even takes a class at all) Ultimately, it's the test result that determines credit (for MOST colleges...again, it's up to the college) The difficulty...is finding a high school counselor who will sign off on allowing your child to sit for the exam. I know for certain that this is the case, because my daughter's best friend sat for the AP Psychology exam last year. Her parents are both psychologists, and have been tutoring her informally for years. Though they never designed a curriculum for their child (who attends a school that does not offer AP Psychology), they felt her knowledge base was adequate, and talked her counselor into allowing her to sit the test. She did very well on the test, got a 4....and was able to get college credit for it at Berkeley College of Engineering in California. So yes...you absolutely CAN call your class "Honors", and have your child take the AP test and receive the same college credit he/she would have received for taking a certified AP course. Getting credit is all about the test score. (assuming, of course, that you can find a cooperative school to let you take the tests)
But back to the OP... Here are reasons why I am concerned about your future as a home schooler: It doesn't seem like you particularly WANT to home school this kid, and you don't seem to particularly care how he feels or if you're overwhelming him. There's this weird aggressiveness in how you talk about him....like you're trying to make schooling a punishment. Are you? Is your plan to make home school so horrible that he WANTS to get away from you and go back to public school? That's certainly the impression you're giving. Are you being forced to home school him against your wishes? Is this your birth child? Have you had any recent issues with depression or anger management? If you're perfectly comfortable with him going to public school.... and you've made it pretty clear that his wishes about his schooling don't particularly matter to you... Why are you doing this? What's the back story? Something really doesn't add up. What made you decide to pull him from public school? You sound incredibly defensive...and you don't need to be. Just breathe. I get the feeling from reading your posts that you'd really LIKE some support and understanding....but you're not giving us much to work with. How about an introduction? Why did you decide to home school? What about it appeals to you? How's your relationship with your son? What's he like? What are his interests? What are yours? How long have you been home schooling? What parts do you like and what parts are a headache? There are a LOT of really cool parents here who can empathize with the whole process...who come from a lot of different backgrounds and perspectives. Some really GREAT folks with some really GREAT input. You can take what you like and leave the rest...that's a given (God knows we all do this...not everyone's advice is going to fit every time...but it's still worth considering, no?)...but try to understand that people are answering your posts are really trying to understand you. Can you give us more to work with?
To be honest, homeschooling is about balance- just like life. You don't have to a total authoritarian with no room for discussion. You don't have to be a total floor mat with no authority. There is an in between. Where is the perfect balance? It is VERY hard to find. You have to have authority, but you don't have to be a dictator. It doesn't have to "my way or the highway" in all situations. In fact, as your child grows older, it would be a good idea to let him make some more choices (even if the choices are wrong). I am not saying every choice or choices that would be very detrimental or dangerous. If you want a solely obedient child, then it might happen. However, that obedient child may not have a bond with you beyond obedience. Of course, we cannot see how your relationship is with your son. Outside of school (and maybe inside of your school) it might just be a very loving relationship. We are only going by your post and your reactions to other people's posts. Another thing to think about: Rigorous academics is NOT a guarantee of future success. Many college graduates do not find work in their area of study. Quite a few end up paying back loans for YEARS while at the same time not making much money. If a person has a love for learning, then they will be more willing to dive into learning of all types. If a person equates learning with ONLY drudgery, then any type of learning may just be another thing they want to escape from. I think a person who grows up being loved and loving life in general will most likely find success. Of course, success is a subjective idea.
"I think a person who grows up being loved and loving life in general will most likely find success. Of course, success is a subjective idea." ^Love this! So true
For most colleges the credits are based on the test results. You need to call around to find who is offering the test in your area. They are supposed to let you sit the test and if they do not you should be calling The College Board to complain. They should not be asking about the curriculum that is none of their business.
I'm going back to this because I'm new to the discussion. What is it you hope to gain with academic excellence and mastery? That's not an end goal, that's a means to an end. I'm no academic slouch, my oldest has to fit two instruments, Latin, two maths, Epistomology, Chemistry, history, writing and Literature into almost every day of the week but love of learning has been key to making that workload possible. It's been key to giving her the space to develop the discipline and skill to plan and manage that work. I'm not sure how academic excellence, in a meaningful context that will serve a child's life beyond the homeschooling environment, can be of much value absent love of learning. I don't think you need to make it your primary goal but it certainly should be something you consider. The other thing that would concern me is whether the academic mastery you're concerned with would be real or just illusory. That because there are subjects and topics within subjects (history certainly) that require some maturity and life experience. Without that a subject becomes an exercise in memorization rather then understanding and without understanding mastery doesn't exist. I frequent a Classical homeschooling board chock full of folks who are deep into rigorous approaches and many who are teaching very advanced subjects to their kids and I think even there, the idea that love of learning isn't key, would ring alarm bells. Addressing love of learning does not mean colourful workbooks and projects with toilet paper rolls and it certainly does not mean dumbing down or material, certainly in my daughter's case it's meant a college level Latin program and dry, black and white math texts that aren't filled with jokes, pictures and condescending text (which are hard to find if you want something later then the 50s or 60s with a solution guide, let me tell you). Anyhow, I think you've got some great things going for you: a student that wants to be homeschooled, an academic focus and a keen drive. Just don't settle there - aim even higher (as it sounds like you're the kind of person that does that. ) ETA: it just occured to me you may have a gifted child on your hands. If you suspect so then I'd urge testing to confirm and then just keep the house stuffed to the rafters with just the sort of academic stuff you're talking about.
