New Plan: High School Math
Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 7:52AM JellyMan and I are not happy with his performance in Saxon Advanced Math, and neither one of us feels that he’s ready to move on to calculus. We’ve decided to go ahead and finish the Advanced Math book by the end of October, but instead of moving on to Saxon Calculus 2nd edition, he’ll spend November and December going through The Teaching Company’s Understanding Calculus: Problems, Solutions, and Tips. There won’t be a huge focus on correct answers or any expectation of real understanding; I want him to simply relax, have some fun, and get a feel for where he’s going in math. In January he’ll start over with Saxon Advanced Math. I’ll have him take tests until he scores <80%. When that happens, I’ll back him up five lessons and have him work from there until the end. Even if he has to start on lesson 1, he should be able to finish by the end of next August. Then he’ll move on to Saxon Calculus in September of his junior year.
Reasonable? Never mind, don’t tell me. I don’t care if I’m being reasonable or not. I’m so sick of fighting with this kid—he’s at the point where he wants to specialize, but I don’t think it’s time yet. How do you deal with this in your homeschool? When do you think it’s “safe” to drop math in favor of Hebrew? Latin in favor of dance? Sooner? Later? Never?
Reader Comments (7)
I think it is completely reasonable. I do think that he should have 3 complete years of high school math regardless of what his specialty is. It is that stupid check off the box thing that colleges like to see.
It is crazy, but I am starting to see my oldest specialize. Didn't think it would happen, but it is. Now what do I do with it?
I think it's reasonable. I have never yet dropped a subject without wanting to wring their necks a month or two later when they can't remember any of it.....generally in front of a critical visitor or a grandparent.
Besides, reasonable doesn't apply - ever- where teenagers are involved. :)
That's true, Eddie. Reason probably won't be a big part of my life for the next several years!
Tressa, here's the thing--I don't think I should do much of anything with it ("it" being his special interest). I think it's great that my kids have interests, but I don't see how those interests are my responsibility, and I don't see how learning more math could possibly be detrimental to those interests. I mean, it isn't as if their brains will get full. And if JM were all THAT interested in learning Hebrew, he'd be willing to devote some free time to the project. Right? If Anemone were all THAT fired up about cake decorating, she'd give up a few episodes of Frasier to practice, right?
I don't know. I'll just be glad when they're grown and I won't have to be so wrapped up in their daily activities.
I haven't had that problem yet, but I agree with you. If the kiddos are THAT interested in cooking or Hebrew, they will give up some free time for study time.
Besides, you'd better cram all the math you can into their heads now, because once they get to college they won't learn anything, since most of it has been dumb down to pass students. The Son is taking College Trig. and is acing it without cracking the book. He finishes three weeks of homework in 20 minutes. His professor has decided it is much easier to understand math with symbols instead of letters. Square + Circle = Triangle no A+B=C . Weird, huh?
Oh yes. That is the truth. How many times have I heard, "But I tried sooo hard!" Whatever. How much time did you spend on your ipod? Am I right?
Speaking of apple products, I think husband is going to buy me an iPad. Oh my! Oh my!
I scheduled special interest classes last in the day so the kids could spend as much time as they wanted to spend on them. That is how I handled it. Special interest classes for them were English, art, and computer science and really easy to work in. Especially the English class, that was like a no brainer to work in. =)
I hope the other thing works out, the Math Plan. It sounds okay to me. =)
Oh. That's a really good idea, Donna! I think I'll try that, for JM at least. (Anemone hates all subjects equally!)