Placement Help - High School

[empokorski]

I am creating a specific post for my son who is 14. I have four other children (17, 11, 9 and 2) plus a baby coming in December. This last year was quite challenging for us as we had a family medical situation which caused some additional family to be using our home temporarily. For a mom who struggles to organize and execute a day on a normal basis, this proved to be distracting and challenging. Despite that, here is what my son accomplished:


DS(14) SC7/8 plus MPOA (Dyselxia/Dysgraphia/Math delays)

This son has started turning a corner slightly and is trying to work harder. He still doesn't quite have the concept that sometimes you have to put in longer amounts of “time”. He wants to be done quickly and when frustrated, his biggest complaint is that it “will take forever”. He also still wants to play in the AM. He wakes up early and takes care of ducks and geese every morning. He seems to resist working with me. He would much rather do all things on his own. I am wondering if he feels like he is being treated like a baby or possibly that it takes longer when he has to do a lesson with me.

• Latina Christiana 1-yr pace (MPOA) He really enjoyed this class and ended up with an A. He did tell me he is enjoying Latin and wants to continue with it. He asked me when he could read or speak fluent Latin! One step at a time,son.
• Spelling - we came from years of Barton tutoring. We made it through Level 7. We did not do a formal spelling program this year. His spelling is OK. Not awesome, but ok.
• Cursive - I wasn’t consistent enough with this so we only did a few pages. Wondering if it would serve us better to focus on typing more so he can utilize that for school more? He prefers to print.
• Lit - Moffats and Homer Price with his sister. I did have him use the workbook and I did give quizzes and tests. Some of the sentences were still a little choppy when he had to write them on his own. Sometimes that was more due to hurrying. He does not seem to struggle with comprehension. I do believe he can handle harder books in more of a discussion format. I am unsure where to place him as he has already done The Door in the Wall and The Bronze Bow (with me the year prior). We did our best, but we bumped him back this year to be a bit more consistent and really get to know the process. Sometimes being with his sister worked well and other times not. She has a tendency to be obstinate at times.
• Comp/Grammar (R7S4) - He did fine with this. The grammar portions were helpful as they solidified many things he had already learned and added some new details to them. We are only at Lesson 73 so a little more than halfway. Unsure what to do about next year. I did have him go back and do a couple of lessons from Fable which he had started last year.
• MathUSee Epsilon - we are almost done with this level of Fractions. We have one more level to go (decimals/percents) before he can enter into PreAlgebra/Algebra. I had hoped to be through this level and most of the next one, but it didn't work out that way. I am trying to encourage myself that he just needs to keep going at his pace even if he is technically entering High School.
• Middle School Science 2 (MPOA) - He really enjoyed this class and he got an A. I am struggling with the higher level science selections because of his math skills at this time.
• Greek Myths - I tried doing this as a group and my youngest kiddo wasn't into it and struggled, so I switched to just my 14yo nd his sister. We didn't make it super far. We got to maybe Lesson 7? My daughter memorizes these things easily and it was harder for my son. I had a very hard time finding a way to fit this in as I just wanted to make sure core work was getting done.
• Geography 1 did not get done.

So, it was a struggle of a year and I find that the classes that go the best are the ones that don't rely on me for schedule or teaching. When we are forced to keep a schedule we do a little better. However, that also can sometimes mean kiddos get "dropped" and not enough time with me. I am supposed to be figuring out a high school plan for this child and I will admit, I am very tempted to put him in a school where I don't have to think about it or mess it up. I'm actually terrified. I am not super organized and I this will be my first time with high school.

Here are my thoughts about possibilities for next year:

Lit - 8TH GRADE Books I am considering this because I actually already read and discussed The Door in the Wall and The Bronze Bow with him. He did one of those for a class at another co-op. I have him signed up for Vita Beata right now to use as a second discussion session to help me deepen this.
Latin - 1st Form Latin (MPOA)
Classical/Christian - I might combine Christian Studies with the rest of us as do CS3. Otherwise, an online Faith course.
Math (MUSEE) - He needs to finish through Zeta to be ready for Pre-Algebra/Algebra 1. I wish I had a tutor for this.
Writing - CC Narrative - I was thinking this would give him the ability to review briefly Fable and then learn a new level.
Science - I am struggling with this one because he needs math for Phys Science. Unsure if he could possibly do Biology as it wouldn't have the same Math Requirement?
Grammar/Logic - I know EGR2 is included in MPOA Comp. Logic? Unsure if we can add that to the load this year or not? I don't know anything about it.
History - Unsure what to do here!
Geography - Also wondering if he should just do Geo1

Any tips on the above would be great. I can provide samples if needed. Thanks!

[cherylswope]

This looks good, Erika! Your son has come a long way. Here are some thoughts below yours, starting with all caps:

Here are my thoughts about possibilities for next year:

Lit - 8TH GRADE Books I am considering this because I actually already read and discussed The Door in the Wall and The Bronze Bow with him. He did one of those for a class at another co-op. I have him signed up for Vita Beata right now to use as a second discussion session to help me deepen this.

*YES, this could be a good choice.*


Latin - 1st Form Latin (MPOA)

*YES, excellent.*


Classical/Christian - I might combine Christian Studies with the rest of us as do CS3. Otherwise, an online Faith course.

*YES, CS3 could be perfect. He could read through the readings independently and complete the work on his own in the mornings after feeding the animals. If he turns them in completed, this is his "ticket" to not needing to join the group. This might be preferable to more online/screen time and could form the discipline of daily morning readings and reflections. His desire to rise early and to work independently might make this work. Tip: Place the burden on him to show you the dated page(s) of work. In other words, assume he is required to join you unless he has taken the initiative to present his completed work. (Then the burden is not on you to chase after him. He is high school age now.)*


Math (MUSEE) - He needs to finish through Zeta to be ready for Pre-Algebra/Algebra 1. I wish I had a tutor for this.

*COULD you teach math daily now through the end of summer to help him progress more swiftly? In the meantime, maybe you could find a math tutor for fall through a local homeschool group?*

Writing - CC Narrative - I was thinking this would give him the ability to review briefly Fable and then learn a new level.

*YES, this could work well! Consider the streaming or DVDs to assist you if needed.*

Science - I am struggling with this one because he needs math for Phys Science. Unsure if he could possibly do Biology as it wouldn't have the same Math Requirement?

*WOULD this be through MPOA? If yes, you might check with Mr. Schaeffer for suggestions on this.*


Grammar/Logic - I know EGR2 is included in MPOA Comp. Logic? Unsure if we can add that to the load this year or not? I don't know anything about it.

*EGR 2 is quick, efficient, and will complement his Latin. You could add this easily.*

History - Unsure what to do here!
Geography - Also wondering if he should just do Geo1

*DOES he have a particular interest area? What has he enjoyed in history so far? Could he accomplish Geo 1 mostly independently? All of these can inform your selections.*

Any tips on the above would be great. I can provide samples if needed. Thanks!

Also, you mentioned typing. Has he learned to type well? If not, set him up with a typing program and require daily practice over the summer. Start immediately. (MPOA suggests a program on its website.) If he balks, "Teach Yourself Cursive" from MP is a fine alternative.

[DiannaKennedy]

For Physical Science, you're going to need PreAlgebra at the minimum. The math doesn't kick in until the latter half of the class, but I know my daughter fussed mightily about it. (she was in Prealgrebra at the time). The concepts melded together nicely, but she was frustrated because of 'so much math' between the two classes.

I know you listed Bio as an option, but there's quite a bit of reading with that.

What about a focused study, like Insects or Astronomy? I know Chris Hall is teaching in the MPOA for both of those classes and he gets glowing reviews.

[empokorski]

For Physical Science, you're going to need PreAlgebra at the minimum. The math doesn't kick in until the latter half of the class, but I know my daughter fussed mightily about it. (she was in Prealgrebra at the time). The concepts melded together nicely, but she was frustrated because of 'so much math' between the two classes.

I know you listed Bio as an option, but there's quite a bit of reading with that.

What about a focused study, like Insects or Astronomy? I know Chris Hall is teaching in the MPOA for both of those classes and he gets glowing reviews.

Thanks, Dianna. I did reach out to Mrs. Peterson as she was his science teacher this past year. She mentioned those same things. I'm wondering if he could do a program like Journey Homeschool Academy's Biology which has video instruction, reading componenet and at-home lab. Unsure. If we did go with a science like Insects (he has done a higher level Astronomy already), how would I capture that on a transcript? This is where I'll admit I have zero clue what I am doing. I read another post where someone said you should only count 8th grade literature if you are doing all the poetry included. I haven't had a year where I was able to get to all the books. I'm going to try this year as I signed him up for VitaBeata, but I am struggling to make time for it all.

I am trying to lay out a "rough draft" high school plan, but I have no experience in assigning credits or high school level work and materials. I, myself, lack focus and so I am sure I haven't helped set the expectations that are going to be fully necessary for high school level work. He did great with filling in the Latin workbooks and such, but his writing is not great. We are working "still" on writing a good sentence. I am trying to decide if he is hurrying through his stuff or if he is actually struggling. I am trying to figure out how to set the expectations for this coming year as he will have to work a lot harder than he has ever had to. He is my first to be at this level and I do not yet know what I am doing. I'll admit I'm jumping into this completely terrified and I need him to try and work as Independently as possible as I have a baby coming in Dec.

Thanks for the tips!

2022-2023
DS(17) SC5/6
DS(14) MP8 (modified Math, Composition...)
DD(12) MP5
DS(9) MP3
DS(2) Playful mess maker
(???) Arriving: December!