[ High School and Self-Education Board ]
Posted by LoriM on 6:37 Jul 29
In Reply to: Grades 11/ 12: still trying to work out my son's program of study, and it looks like too much at once...(m) posted by StaceyL in Canada (who can't believe it's already almost August....)
I'm wondering how much Algebra 1 he completed last year? What book are you using, and how far are you into it? If possible, I'd just pick up the Geometry, and do it intensively for one semester so you can actually complete the course (blocked) then move to Algebra 2, picking up where you left off in Algebra 1 second semester. You could switch that if you think he didn't do enough math last year.
But my kids who are block-scheduled spend 1.5 hours per day in four subjects. FOUR at a time. That's it. IMO, that would mean something like this:
First semester:
Geometry
French
Literature
History
Second Semester:
Vocabulary/Trad. Logic I
Chemistry
Analytical Grammar
Drama
Now, unless these co-ops are one semester long, he's going to be able to move more quickly at your pace and individually than he will be able to move while meeting once a week with other kids. The exception is drama, of course, which is enhanced by other students.
You might be surprised about how he'll benefit from having breaks from certain courses. Geometry is so stand-alone anyway that if you'd just do a concentrated course of Geometry, then you can save your Algebra review for next year when he's ready for Algebra 2.
Besides, think how relieved he'll be to see a schedule that looks like that. ROFL. I do think block-scheduling is deceptively simple, but it really gives a kid who needs more time to read and digest concepts less distraction of many topics. I use a similar method with my dd (16yo) who is a writer that churns out hundreds of pages of dialogue and story ideas each week. I had to go to a block schedule to allow her that much time at the computer...and decided I'd be foolish not to give her the freedom to explore these writing ideas when she's actually synthesizing all of the skills I've spent years teaching her. GRIN. My younger dd is a musician, and I can see giving her similar amounts of time to play her guitar when she's 16yo and has accomplished 90% of the real work of home schooling I expect before college.
Lori