Help with placement

[Carrie]

I moved this post to the Main Board, so others can respond...

Carrie,

We are new to homeschooling. I am currently homeschooling my youngest son who is a freshman. We started homeschooling last year at the beginning of 8th grade. (per his request after he came home from a mission trip!) I am so thankful for the opportunity to homeschool. I just discovered HOD and WISH I could turn back time and homeschool ALL of my 5 children! I am also wishing I simply knew about HOD when we began homeschooling. As I am new to HOD and the discussion boards, I'm wondering if there is a specific board that addresses placement questions. We are planning on doing HOD next year. I'm VERY excited about it!

Thank you for creating such an amazing God centered curriculum. My husband and I are both public school graduates. As I look over your guides and supplemental materials, I am saddened that neither of us, or our older children, received this type of an education at public school.

I am INSPIRED!


Thank you,

Kris

[StephanieU]

Have you looked at the World Geography placement guide? (http://www.heartofdakota.com/placing-yo ... school.php) If he could place into that, then I think the question becomes what he needs for graduation requirements in your state. Some states have more specific science and history/social studies requirements than others. Since he will be starting in 10th grade, he will only be able to do 3 guides probably, which means skipping one.
If you don't htink he would be ready for World Geography, then see which of the previous gudies he places best in (RtR, Rev2Rev, or MtMM probably) Each of these can be "beefed up" for high school as well.

[psreit]

Welcome! I can't help you with placement. Looking at the placement chart, as the pp said, is the best place to start. Then ask questions if you are unsure about something. I'm sure someone will be able to guide you.

I just wanted to tell you that I understand how you feel about wishing you would have had HOD when you first started homeschooling. After some time in ps and Christian school, I was able to homeschool our three oldest. For the most part, they did more of a traditional approach in their homeschool years. I wish I would have had HOD when they were homeschooled. HOD is unique when it comes to homeschool curriculum. You can be sure that using HOD will be spiritually enriching for your son. I have appreciated that HOD has put the Bible in the center of all that is taught. You will be pleased.

[8arrows]

I too would look at the world geography guide. You could also look at the sneak peaks for the world history guide coming out in August. That is the one my daughter will be doing this coming year. What courses is he taking this year? That may make a difference in fulfilling your state requirements. Welcome to the board. The ladies here are wonderful!

[my3sons]

Hi Kris, and welcome to the HOD Board! How exciting ds asked to be homeschooled himself - that is quite special! I think the two of you would love HOD. If you could take a moment to look at the first page of the placement chart, especially for the reading, writing, grammar, and math columns about "Revival to Revolution," "Missions to Modern Marvels," and "World Geography" guides - and share here what your thoughts are, we'll all chime in with placement help. I look forward to hearing more about your ds when you get the chance!

In Christ,
Julie

[Tidbits of Learning]

It looks like you have had a great first few years of homeschooling. How neat that he has done DITHOR with co-op as well. I looked on Mystery of History's site and it looks like if you are doing MOH1 that would be a credit of World History. If I was looking at this and making a transcript for my child I would look at it as these credits from 8th and 9th grade...

8th Grade
Math ~ Life of Fred, Pre -A w/ Econ, Pre-A w/ Biology, Pre-A w/ Physics, Decimals and Percents, Fractions
Science ~ Apologia Physical Science-1 credit Physical Science
English ~ Abeka Grammar and Composition II
History ~ All American History Vol. 1
Logic ~ The Fallacy Detective
Penmanship ~ Getty -Dubay
Spelling ~ Top 100 words every 8th grader should know printed from web
Reading: Drawn Into the Heart of Reading ( in a co-op, I had NO idea of the rest of the HOD curriculum!)
Devos/Bible study: Devos from our church
( I may be forgetting something here as at this moment I can't find my record book of what we did last year!) : )

9th grade
Math ~ Life of Fred Algebra 1-1 credit Algebra 1
Science~ Apologia Biology, The Young Earth-1 credit Biology
English ~ Still working on Abeka Grammar and Comp II, Wordly Wise 9 and we just purchased LIFE of FRED Language Arts!-Possibly 1 credit English 1 (not familiar with LOF LA, but it sounds like it would count for English 1
History ~ The Mystery of History -1 credit World History
Penmanship ~ Getty Dubay book E
Reading: supplemental books that go w/ The Mystery of History ( LOVING this!) He loves to read and reads tons of books on his own
Writing ~ Excellence in Writing student Intensive A, The Elegant Essay, Vocabulary Cartoons.I would count this in the English 1 credit
Lego Robotics Class through local Co-op-depending on hours spent I would count this as a credit or 1/2 credit elective in Robotics
Spanish ~ Rosetta Stone-1 credit Spanish 1
Geography ~ some online quizzes, pulling maps when we talk about locations in History. -I would count this in the World History credit
Devos ~ again devos from our church for our students-depending on hours spent at home and at church-I would count this as a 1/2 credit or credit in Religion 1 or Bible 1 (whichever course title you prefer)

Looking at all that-I would say so far you have credits for high school-
Science-
1- Physical Science (designate with an * on transcript and note completed prior to 9th grade)
1- Biology
History-
1- World History
English-
1- English 1 including composition and literature or
1/2- English with composition and 1/2 literature
Math-
1- Algebra 1
Relgion-
1- Religion 1
Electives-
1- Spanish 1
1/2 or 1- Robotics

It sounds like one great year and you have a great start to your high school transcript. It also sounds like you could skip World History guide with these credits. As World History will cover World History, Biology, and Spanish 1. Looking at it, I would suggest starting with World Geography and calling the Religion-Religion 2 and using everything else as is except Spanish, Science, and Algebra. For me, if Apologia Science is working...I would move on to the next required science credit or use the science recommended in WG as the publisher says this for credits-

The complete course of 12 chapters earns 2 high school transcript credits. Students who complete 6 chapters earn 1 high school transcript credit in basic physics or basic chemistry as applicable based on completion of specific chapters.

So you could either move on to Apologia Chemistry or use WG's recommended science and count it for 1 credit chemistry and 1 credit physics.
For Spanish-I would continue Rosetta Stone for Spanish 2. You could also use the Art of Argument to tie in with the Fallacy Detective you did in 8th grade for the Logic credit in WG. For Math, I would probably not switch if LOF has Geometry and it is going well for your child.
For English 2 and Literature, you could just go with HOD's requirements and keep using Abeka for Grammar and comp if you really like it and just use BJU for Lit. or you could switch to R&S English. For me, this would just depend on how much we loved Abeka grammar.
Anyway, looking at what you have done and what the guides will cover...I would think WG would be a great starting point and then skip over World History then do the 2 remaining American History guides. I don't know your state requirements either so if it were me I would print out a list of the requirements and start checking off the credits you have already covered and will cover with WG and see where you stand credit wise for 11 and 12.
I hope this is helpful and not more confusing.

[my3sons]

Thank you for sharing more about your ds! Tidbits of Learning did such a wonderful job of digging in deeply here to help you! How nice - isn't this board a refreshingly encouraging place to visit!!! I think she came up with a good plan that I wholly second. We are currently doing the WG and thoroughly enjoying our time together in it. My ds really enjoys the Boy Lit Set / BJU combo, we clip through R & S English grammar mainly orally (reserving just 1 small section to be written), and I have loved the DVD's/guidance/structure of the lesson format for "Essentials in Writing Gr. 10." For these reasons, I'd encourage you to take a good look at WG's English credit. It is so well-planned in the guide, and a favorite of ours. If LOF is working well for math, by all means, I'd continue it. For Spanish, Rosetta Stone can easily just be continued. For science, well that has also been awesome this year for us! My ds really enjoys the science readings, and the lab kit is all inclusive and well planned, making my involvement in science labs minimal, and making his labs doable and a success each week (I know the labs often end up getting skipped in other curriculums due to either not having the supplies or needing too much parental involvement for them to work, so WG's science is a huge relief to me). However, you could certainly continue with the science you are using if you are having good success with the readings and labs already. I have written about our journey through the WG guide in the HOD Weekly Check-In's every week. It came out in Sept., so going full-speed we are now in Unit 20. I've shared pictures each week as well, and should you enjoy looking at those posts, you will quickly see we have loved every aspect of our time spent in the WG together. But, what are your thoughts now?

In Christ,
Julie