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mom2mpr
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| Posted: Aug 18 2009 at 9:41pm | IP Logged
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Ds is in 6th grade. I am pretty sure he will go to high school. We have had a pretty relaxed schooling experience. I am wondering how to prepare him. What subjects? Of course, we do math, LA, some writing, he reads a lot of books. What about foreign languages? Should he do algebra before? I guess my question is what are the prerequisites?
Then there is the cultural stuff. How to study for tests. Time management. Being more independent.
Anyone prepared kids for high school? How did it go?
Anne
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guitarnan
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My son has done high school at home, but I would suggest that you check into high school math this year. Many school districts now teach algebra I in 8th grade, not 9th.
Note-taking, time management and study skills are useful to anyone...if he hasn't taken standardized tests yet, perhaps a little test prep would also be useful.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Moni
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| Posted: Sept 15 2009 at 12:15pm | IP Logged
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I own these two books have haven't read either one.
Maybe someone can comment on them?
Study Is Hard Work, by William H. Armstrong
The Ctaholic Book of Character and Success, by Garesche
As far as academics
I would focus on
Vocabulary.
Daily study, weekly comprehensive review. Get through an awful lot of vocab, more than the typical list per week.
Writing
Copywork Dictation Written Narration.
And the Essay course from www.AnalyticalGrammar.com
Maybe a month or to of Www.WriteGuide.com
Math - Begin with the end in mind and work backwards.
What course do you want him taking in 12th, 11th, 10th? and so on and work backwards. I would do Math six days a week, and in the summer also. Make sure he is working his own problems, making his own corrections.
I think vocabulary and math are most important as far as prep. A few months of www.WriteGuide.com or the AG Essay course would be important so he gets accustomed to the academic writing. And make sure he is writing daily.
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Paula in MN
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My friend's daughter (not homeschooled) is currently in 8th grade. Over the summer the two of them sat down and picked out her current interests, then matched those interests to potential colleges. They looked at the requirements for entering freshmen, and then made sure her classes this year are on track for those interests.
I think this is a great way to plan, but maybe not in 8th grade!
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 Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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guitarnan
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That is exactly what we did with ds. In 8th grade.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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fsuadamson
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guitarnan wrote:
| Note-taking, time management and study skills are useful to anyone...if he hasn't taken standardized tests yet, perhaps a little test prep would also be useful. |
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These are topics we want to address in our homeschool too  I'm think as a possible 9th/10th grade block study. Other than PSAT & SAT books can anyone make specific recommendations?
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Leslie
dh Dave; dd19; dd17; ds14; dd12; ds9; dd7
Knotty Pines Academy
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guitarnan
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We used the one from the College Board - they administer the tests, after all.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Paula in MN
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guitarnan wrote:
| That is exactly what we did with ds. In 8th grade. |
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Really? In 8th grade? I guess I'm remembering myself in 8th grade...I didn't know what I "wanted to be" when I grew up. I know I changed my mind several times in High School, too.
I look at my kids right now (2nd and 5th) and it's hard for me to imagine my dd10 deciding on a course of study for college in 3 years. Unless it had to do with horses... 
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Paula
A Catholic Harvest
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Kristie 4
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DItto for me...just talking about this with a mom who sent her daughter to college a couple of weeks ago. Said daughter was not college bound, but that mid way through the summer decided to go. Mom made transcript, daughter is in University of Manitoba now. I think it is important to keep the options open (I changed majors at least once in U.!)
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Kristie in Canada
Mom to 3 boys and one spunky princess!!
A Walk in the Woods
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guitarnan
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No, my son didn't know what he wanted to do exactly - maybe military, maybe not - but I checked state schools' admissions criteria, all the service academies and a couple of aviation/engineering schools. At the time, he loved airplanes, drawing, all things military, and history.
It's worked out - he is still wavering on a school, but is definitely thinking about engineering or architecture. He still loves history, though. He has enough math, English, science and social studies credits to apply to all the schools he's considering.
Ironically, I went through several phases of wanting to be a teacher or principal, studied accounting, had ten different jobs in a variety of fields (including accounting and substitute teaching) and...here I am.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: Preparing for high school...
