8th grade: Trying to decide on Honors or Regular Freshman English.

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I am currently trying to decide on whether to take Honors or Regular Freshman English.

Honors Pros and Cons:

PROS:

Prepares you well if you want to take Honors and AP English courses in the future.
Students have said that they learn a lot, however this info comes from ratemyteacher.

CONS:

Teacher is an extremely hard grader, getting a B is very good in her class.
Teacher has a slight bias (from what I’ve heard) towards females (I’m male)

Regular Pros and Cons:

PROS:

Relatively easy class compared to Honors ( It still is a hard course)
Higher chance of getting an A or a B

CONS:

Might not be challenging
Won’t prepare as well for more advanced classes
Colleges won’t like???

Any advice would be appreciated :slight_smile:

2

To add on:

I’m not much of an English person. I enjoy only some types of writing, but I love reading.

Is it important for colleges to see an AP English class?

I plan on doing some type of Engineering.

3

What does your 8th grade English teacher recommend? If you start in honors and it’s too much, can you drop down a level?

Generally it is easier to drop down than to convince the school to bump you up later.

FWIW, DD’s freshman honors English class moved at a quick pace. In week three she spoke to a friend who was on-level, and they were doing the same stuff in week three that honors had completed in week one. Every school is different, however.

4

If you are on CC and you care about college, then take honors classes. And when the time comes, take AP, IB and/or DE classes as well.

5

If your teacher recommends Honors, take honors.

Do however, go to the extra help hours that your new teacher has and get help early on your essays.

6

I wouldn’t put much stock into ratemyteachers. I don’t know how much it is really used by high school students. Also you may love a teacher another doesn’t etc. I know with my own daughters my current 9th grader doesn’t care for her math teacher who her older sister had and really liked - both do about the same in math. Also some students wiz through assignments others find difficult etc.

I would listen to your 8th grade teacher or whoever your school uses to help pick 9th grade levels. If honors is suggested I would go with that. If it isn’t honors it may be a wise choice not to take honors.