<p>Just for the purpose of course schedules comparison, my D’s schedule for rest of three years(just a plan, probably need adjust when we move forward, but we need to sketch first):</p>
<p>2nd year
10th LA, Chemistry H, PreCalculus H,
Spanish 3 H, AP World History, AP Statistics </p>
<p>3rd year (tentative)
11th LA, US History(??), AP Calculus(AB or BC),
Spanish 4 H, AP Chemistry, AP Biology</p>
<p>4th year (tentative)
depending on interests choices are:
AP Spanish, AP Economics,AP Physics B, AP Psychology
Introduction to Art/Drawing and Painting I,
Human Anatomy and Physiology,
College English, College Calculus</p>
<p>Our district does not allow more than 6 classes per semester. I don’t think this is very aggressive schedule at all comparing to it some of the schedule in this forum. She is at middle-up level group. In my opinion, US History is not as important as World History, so take AP for world history and take regular US history is enough, and save time for other important stuff since kid’s time is better used.</p>
<p>Louisiana established its “Core 4” program beginning with the Class of 2012: 4 years each of English (I-IV), Math, Science & Social Studies, plus 2 years of same foreign language, 1-1/2 PE, and 1/2 health. To qualify for the Academic Endorsement Diploma, math and science courses are to be all college prep, i.e. no financial math or environmental science in your first four courses of each.</p>
<p>It’s so nice to touch base with all of you again., so busy getting S’11 going with his college stuff…my kids start school on Wednesday and it feels like we should have gotten more done this summer.</p>
<p>Wow, after reading your kids’ schedules, my DD looks like a slacker…</p>
<p>Her schedule is
Physical Education
Chemistry
Honors English 2
Honors World History/MUN
Algebra II/Trig
Spanish 2</p>
<p>Her school does not allow AP’s until her junior year. A normal school load is 6 classes. For ECs, she is doing Quiz Bowl and continuing with the local cat adoption agency.</p>
<p>And for those following her progress…
My daughter is currently fostering a 2.5 week old kitten. It was found abandoned (by the mom cat) in a backyard. The family found it and brought it to the cat adoption place. My daughter has to bottle feed it every 4-6 hours, even getting up at night to do so. It’s adorable and gets a lot of love at my house. Even my son gets in on it…</p>
<p>She still adores working with the cat adoption agency. I don’t think any person has had as much fun as she has, working towards her vet school hours.</p>
<p>shillyshally…we are stuck in the same crazy world of the virginian advanced diploma…What is with the obsession of VA history? At our school the kid takes the full IB they get a pass on US/VA history if they take AP GOvernment in 10th grade. Otherwise it would be nearly impossible to do the IB program. But, if you drop out you have to take the US/VA history so poor sucker (my S) who changes his mind after 10th grade ends up with an overload of VA history in hs…as if we didn’t have enough of this in elementary and middle school! The best thing in this district is that we have enough native speakers to have IB spanish at HL1 level so they do the same as kids in Spain or Argentina. Normal load here is 7 classes. </p>
<p>So D '13 will take
Adv. Chemistry
Adv. English 10
Adv. Algebra II/Trig
Photography II
PE/Health
AP US GOvernment (pre-IB requirement)
AP Spanish for Native Speakers (end of series so goes to IB HL1 spanish after this even if she drops out of full IB). She was lucky to get 3 teachers that my son had and they are all great. </p>
<p>Personally, I think the restriction on APs is not a bad idea. Most kids do well easing into the full IB or AP by 11th grade. They used not allow freshman to take APs and caved this past year. I didn’t let D take AP World History like some of the advanced freshman and was very glad. Adjusting to HS was enough. This year two APs for her but the native spanish one is pretty easy and is not really a college level course–just treading water and reinforcing grammar (the weak link for native speakers in the US) until they can take the IB series which leaves the kids writing and reading spanish at a college level.</p>
<p>I didn’t realize they could get a pass on US/VA by taking the Government option in 10th as part of pre-IB. Only D1 went to an IB option school and she was as far from an IB type kid as there could be so we never knew. I agree on the Virginia History - every year and a lot of it! :)</p>
<p>Our normal class load is 7 classes - is was 6 when I was in HS (same district) but I think they changed it right before my senior year). Also, if students take any HS qualifying classes in MS they count towards the diploma and GPA so D1 entered with 4 credits and D2 ('13) entered with 5 so in the grand scheme of things she could graduate with 33 credits. The advantage for D1 ('10) was she entered HS with a 4.0, for my '13 D she’s got to know keep/improve the 3.0 but then again, completely different students. I think S ('15) will also be more like D’13 as he shares a similar lack of motivation. </p>
<p>One week to classes starting! D had a meeting this morning with her GC, I think because she tried to switch to another GC so now the GC is taking notice and wants to pay attention. D didn’t want to go but I told her it would be good because they may be able to make it work and if not she can show she did try even if she still tries later to switch GCs. i do hope it gets worked out because they usually place siblings with the same GC as an older sibling and I don’t want S to get this GC if things don’t work out better. We’ll see!</p>
<p>Today I am thankful that older D has moved on to college. Both kids are performing arts kids (musical theatre) and attended the same arts magnet last year. While S’13 had a good year last year, he was in his sister’s shadow. She was the big star on campus and he was little brother. Well, today, S got male lead in fall play! He was so excited. And guess what the first thing he did was? Texted his sister. And she replied with a very hearty congratulations. It is so cool to see both of them succeeding (D was also cast in fall show at college already) but in separate worlds and supporting each other so much. These are the sibling moments I always wait for!</p>
<p>I fought with my big B for years and we became close much, much later when he had a career, family and no longer felt like he was always the “loser” in the family…he never realized how much I admired his rebellious break away from the family expectations … ANyway, I hope my kids will be like yours…admire and support one another from the early days. So far, it seems to be so…DS bought lady gaga tickets months ago for his little sis and is coming back from college for the concert…she is the envy of all her friends…tickets to the hottest concert in town and going with big shot older brother. He didn’t choose to take GF, Best friend, just his little sis. Means the world to her.</p>
<p>It is really great to hear something like that megpmom!
My kids are two years apart and I do feel sometimes for the younger one as she really does have big shoes do feel. But she is doing really well on her own, too! So nice to read stories like that.</p>
<p>As far as debate and crew are concerned here, DS has decided to wait it out till the end of October, when crew season ends. At this point he is thinking he will drop debate and stick with crew till the end of HS, but he really wants to experience the full season of comp. crew to make that decision. I am still a little heartbroken, but you just can’t do it all.
He has just asked me to do some Spanish flashcards for him, so I guess I will help
He is a really busy kid this year.</p>
<p>I will be looking into purchasing some books/study aides for AP exams. DS has asked me to do it now, not in the spring just before the exams. Do you have any recommendations? The subjects we are looking at are Biology, Statistics, US History, Music and Physics C.</p>
<p>DD’15 will be entering HS next year and I am already wondering what to do about foreign languages for her. Gee…</p>
<p>WOW!!! I may be in the wrong room… all of you have really smart and talented children; just really great parents or a combination of both.</p>
<p>I am happy to be a part of a group that focus and care about the education of their children; a place that I can ask for help and possible get it. </p>
<p>My son is in the 10th grade this yr. He attends a Catholic high school here in Milw, WI.</p>
<p>About my S, I will start with the areas that he’'s struggling.
Spanish - Last year he earned a final grade of a C in Spanish. Does anyone knows rather Rosetta Stone really works or have other suggestions?</p>
<p>These are the classes he’s taking this semester.</p>
<ul>
<li>Spanish II</li>
<li>Foundations of American Gov.</li>
<li>Church History</li>
<li>Accelerated Geometry</li>
<li>Accelerated American Lit</li>
<li>Health</li>
<li>Chemistry I</li>
<li>Principles of Engineering (Project Lead the Way)</li>
</ul>
<p>He’s normally involved with a sport but chose not to participate this year. He is, however, a member of the school Pep Band (He didn’t have room in his schedule to participate in regular band this year) Civil Air Patrol, Urban Underground and the YMCA Teen Achievers program. He works part-time as a Teen Health Promoter and volunteers as a Teen Helper for the local college (UWM) Saturday Academy. </p>
<p>I always question rather I have him moving in the right direction. I read a posting regarding the SAT II test… I once asked a teacher about him taking that and they didn’t suggest it - do you all think it is a good idea? </p>
<p>Well I am glad to be a new addition to this group. I originally joined because of the College Admission Assistants letter that my son and I got in the mail, I just received another one and when I GOGGLED it this website came up again so I thought I’d begin posting this time.</p>
<p>Welcome, crysyk. Don’t worry - your kid is just like ours. I think the big differences are due to the school districts, private v. public, etc. And regarding the language issue - some kids just can’t “get” languages. My 2 kids attended bilingual Spanish/English schools (D from 3rd grade on, and S from K). D never did really catch on with the speaking part and switched to Latin in 7th grade. She struggled to get the minimum state required 3 years. S picked Spanish up with no effort at all and is now completely bilingual (although his current teacher says he speaks with an Argentinian accent - what ever that means!).</p>
<p>And SAT IIs - in our part of the world (Texas, urban public schools) they are unheard of. And D got into a well-respected private university without them.</p>
<p>crysyk, we live in an area where most students take the SAT and our state flagship, which is a very competitive top public, recommends two SAT II’s. We have learned from our counselors that if a school recommends them to treat them like a requirement. I have learned that after trig/precalc is a good time to take the math 2 SAT II, so my D will be taking it at the end of this year. Language SAT II’s are better taken when your child finishes the sequence in his/her chosen language. I have also read on cc that the US history SAT II matches up really nicely with APUSH. I hope this helps some.</p>
<p>Just joining this site today and the mom of a D graduating in 2013. She’ll be taking the first SAT this year and the second as a junior. D attends a Catholic college prep high school and will probably attend an in state college. Classes are: Alg II; Chem; Amer Lit; Religion; History; Spanish II. She doesn’t qualify for the AP classes but currently is holding current grades at the B and above level. She needs to pull up the freshman GPA of 2.6.</p>
<p>Sign of things to come?
Last week, I had my son give me a list of the items he needed for school. It was just the basics: filler paper, pens, pencils erasers. He primarily uses a laptop so his binder was still in great shape. School starts Tuesday so I checked his backpack today. The packet of paper was just sitting in his bag, not inserted in his binder. I take out his binder and it’s full of last year’s work. Really??</p>
<p>S is actually starting to show a tiny bit of interest in college selection process. His schedule this year:</p>
<p>Honors Spanish II
Religion
Honors Chemistry
Honors Humanities English II
Honors Humanities History II
Honors Geometry
Honors Algebra II</p>
<p>He finished last year with an UW 3.75 and realizes that he needs to do better. My only concern is that football takes up so much time and energy. He is a very good player so there is no way he would give it up but there just isn’t much time for ECs.</p>
<p>Welcome newcomers - and no worries, your kids sound just like my '13er She too has a lackluster 9th grade GPA to bring up a bit, but mainly I just hope she gets the drive to do her best now that she was fully involved in selecting her classes (she put her foot down on which honors she wanted and which she didn’t, despite recommendations). On the SAT IIs, I may have her take one or 2 but I’m not sure yet, it will likely depend on how she tests on the practice PSAT this year. She will not likely be aiming for schools that recommend or require the SAT II but they could bolster an app either way and in the past she’s been a good test taker.</p>
<p>WOW - a 3.75 GarnetTide - that’s very impressive. I heard that having a sport and other activities is a good thing, makes them well-rounded children. I wish him the best this year. I am sure he will do just fine.</p>
She too has a lackluster 9th grade GPA to bring up a bit, but mainly I just hope she gets the drive to do her best now that she was fully involved in selecting her classes (she put her foot down on which honors she wanted and which she didn’t, despite recommendations). On the SAT IIs, I may have her take one or 2 but I’m not sure yet, it will likely depend on how she tests on the practice PSAT this year. She will not likely be aiming for schools that recommend or require the SAT II but they could bolster an app either way and in the past she’s been a good test taker.</p>