My son is going to HS this fall and he is now picking up his courses. He is great in Math (99%) and so-so in reading 70%. He wants to pick English honors and we are a little bit afraid that he might not be able to get a A. We suggest he enroll the regular English class. If he does well, he can take English honors in Grade 10. What do you think?
I’m the parent of a current 9th grader. I think this is something that should be asked of the English teachers at your child’s school. If you email them asking about the differences between honors and nonhonors English, they should be able to give you some specifics. I did that last year when my daughter was deciding which social studies class to take.
Our English experience has been that at our school, there is a great deal of heavy reading. My daughter has done well, even though she prefers math. She was a high 90% kid in middle school though. Other kids do struggle with the required reading.
That said, our school lets kids try honors and they have a period of time at the beginning of the year in which they can drop to non honors without repercussion. If your school has that, it won’t hurt your son to try the honors option to see how it goes.
I am a freshman and if you don’t do well in 8th grade English, then Honors English in 9th is not gonna be easy. It’s VERY reading and writing intensive and requires hard work regardless of your aptitude for English, moreso if you struggle with it. I would suggest that your son take regular english at first, and, like the above parent stated, if his school has a period of time (1 month at my school) where he can take a class and then drop out if he doesn’t like it, then do that.
I would suggest that your son takes the Honors class; at the very least, he will be challenging himself and he’ll know his abilities. Getting one B freshman year will not be the end of the world; colleges also look at growth. I got B+s both semesters of Honors English my freshman year (although this was due more to missed homework assignments than anything else), yet I have managed to get As in 10th grade Honors English and the first semester of my 11th grade Honors English (with the most difficult Honors teacher) as well. The jump from regular English to Honors English can also be extremely difficult, since the expectations for both courses are vastly different.
I agree with mom2twogirls, it is harder to move up a level than it is to drop down.
If your school allows students to drop courses after the beginning of the school year, have your kid sign up for honors and drop down to regular if he feels as if he cannot handle the workload.
There is usually a very small difference between honors and regular classes and oftentimes the most significant difference is the environment. From my experience, students in honors classes seem to care more and are less disruptive than those in regular classes. It may not be that way at your son’s school, but keep that in mind when selecting classes.
Ask your English teache and ask to see 9th grade regular English/Honors English syllabi. However, a 70% in reading in the 8th grade doesn’t bode well for Honors English. There’s a difference between challenging yourself and being hopelessly overwhelmed. On the other hand, the peer group in Honors English will be more conducive to studying and learning. Your child’s and the HS’s English teachers will know what’s best for him.
I would not recommend Honors English if your son has a 70% in eighth grade.
At my high school, Honors English 9 is regarded as one of the most difficult classes to take as a freshman. Even my friends who took all honors classes said so. Someone who is getting a C in middle school English would definitely struggle in high school. Standard seems like the better choice.
I don’t know if this is an option at your son’s school, but I did have a friend who took standard English for quarter one and then moved up to honors the next. Maybe if he finds standard too easy, he could do something like that.