My oldest graduated high school in May. My next oldest, “K”, is a senior this year. Do I feel older and wiser and ready for this time around? Feeling just a tad older, maybe a bit wiser, but I am not ready. My goal for her senior year of high school is to not only finish the few credits that she still needs for her transcript but set her up for success in college while still allowing her time to do all of the senior year things that she wants to.
At home, “K” is only taking PE and Marine Biology. Since she only needs a half credit of PE, I am planning on her taking PE with her younger sister three times a week. Last week, with the new routine and multiple appointments, we did not meet our goal. It usually takes a few weeks for us to find our groove and the best time of day for each class, so I am not trying to stress about it too much. It will get done.
For science, we are starting with Apologia Marine Biology, 1st edition. I am not thrilled so far. The experiments in the first chapter are pretty lame, like freezing water to observe how it expands. I am on the fence about this one. She already has 5 credits of science on her high school transcript, so she really does not need a science course this year. We may change have to change this plan, which is one of the great things about homeschooling- if it isn’t working, change it!
She will be technically be taking three classes through the dual credit program at ACC this fall, although it is really just two subjects. One of them is English Composition 1. The professor that her older sister took for Eng. Comp. 1 and 2 was not teaching at this campus this fall, so I found another professor with good reviews on RateMeProfessors.com.
For her last math credit, “K” will be taking College Algebra for Pre-calculus, a 4-hour course, along with a separate 2-hour college algebra support course. She has always felt intimidated by math, and with the health stuff and stress last year, she fell behind a little of where she wanted to be. These math classes will not count toward a degree plan, but are needed to get her prepared for the calculus classes that she will need to take for her degree plan if she pursues a degree in Marine Biology. Plus, she wanted the extra support class to help prepare her for her SAT exam this fall.
She is not sure what dual credit classes she will take at ACC in the spring yet. I am encouraging her to continue with dual credit math by taking pre-calculus as well as two other classes, such as US history and humanities, to round out her transcript for the year. She will have more than enough credits to graduate, but dual credit classes are free and might help with scholarships.
During the summer, “K” participated in two Shakespeare camps with multiple free public performances for each and a musical theater camp.
This fall, she is a director for the library’s Teen Drama Club fall performance of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. Each semester the kids put together a play themselves, including directing, sets, props, costumes, and rehearsing. The teen librarian lines up multiple public performances for the end of the semester such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and the library. She will probably be involved with the club’s spring production as well, but the teens rotate the director duties, so she will get to be a performer in that one. As she will be learning, directing, and performing theater much more than 120 hours this year, I feel she has more than earned a theater credit for her transcript this year.
My high school senior is also our 4-H Club president, secretary for the 4-H County Council, a 4-H State Water Ambassador, and starting a monthly project group in our county for high school 4-Hers interested in fashion, costumes, and cosplay. She has a lot on her plate as a senior, but she is an intelligent, creative, driven young person capable of so much. I cannot wait to see all of the wonderous things that happen for her this year!
North Star Homeschool Resources 