My daughter has a language based learning disability that affects the speed with which she processes information. If given enough time, she has the ability to master complex material and with accommodations has earned A’s and B’s this year (her first in a mainstream school). In looking ahead to next year, I am wondering whether she should attempt Honors or AP work. Her school stipulates that Honors work must be completed without the aid of a tutor. She is not aiming for highly selective colleges or universities and will apply to less or somewhat selective schools that do not require standardized tests for admission.
Does your daughter attend regular public school. Does she have an IEP? Does she have accommodations in place?
I don’t understand why she would not be allowed to use a tutor to learn material. That makes no sense!
She is in a small private school. I’m not sure of the “no tutor” rationale but you have prompted me to ask about it!
You really need to ask at your daughter’s school/ teachers what the differences are between regular and honors for each class.
For example, my daughters English honors is more reading and writing than the non honors. Mostly though, the difference in that class has more to do with the depth of the discussion relating to what they read.
On the other hand, her Spanish 2 honors has decided (among other things) that for tests the teachers will read passages only once in Spanish listening exercises and the kids answer questions based on that. They say since these are honors kids, they think it’s fair. The honors French and German teachers do not do the same thing for listening exercises.
Her earth science honors class doesn’t have a big difference aside from going through material a little quicker and having more fun discussions about related science topics and there is one extra honors only quiz a term that is very difficult and has little weight.
Thanks, mom2twogirls - good advice
Agree with mom2twogirls–it depends upon the AP. DD has a language-based LD and is a slow reader but has normal processing speed. She was raised bi-literate, so AP Spanish was fairly easy and she didn’t have to take Spanish in college. However, AP Bio with all the reading, memorizing and high executive concepts sucked the life out of her. She passed with a score high enough to receive college credit, but she was stressed and anxious throughout the course. It wasn’t worth it. As to tutoring, DD tutored math from middle school on except for geometry, and was in honors math her last two years of HS. She’s a visual learner and most HS math classes aren’t taught visually–I’d have a real problem with a school that didn’t allow tutoring for honors math.
If your DD is not intending on going to an academically rigorous college, why stress her out with AP courses just as she is doing so great now! Let her enjoy the confidence that comes with getting good grades. Are there areas such as organization and time-management skills she needs to focus on? How about spending more time on a hobby or community activity? I know with my “twice exceptional” son, we get him to do a manageable academic load but not too demanding. There are people who think we should “push him to his potential” but my husband and I disagree. There has been times he overloaded himself so badly that he wanted to quit school and go to vocational school. We definitely set a reasonable standard of achievement that he can fulfill with some ease and confidence.