Physics Festival at Texas A&M - Homeschool Fieldtrip

Ian discusses worm-holes, space-time, and atom entanglement with Caltech's Dr. Sean Carroll

End of year exam with CTY

College visit - never too early

Juilliard School.

 Columbia University

Field Trip to St. Louis, Missouri

Field trip to St. Louis, Missouri

 Dinner at Sweetie Pie's Upper Crust - the "famous" Soul Food Restaurant featured on Oprah's OWN.

 Networking and socializing with the St. Louis women of Artemis Medical Society.

Pit-stop at the University of Oklahoma for a college peek.  

Great times!! 

Moving College Preparatory Conversations to a New Blog

As I go deeper into the "College Prep" rabbit hole, I realize that this topic alone warrants its own distint blog.  Trying to 'keep everything in order' (which was the purpose of the blog in the first place) has become 'disorderly' for me in trying to focus on acquiring knowledge and resources for myself, the family, and Haley as she prepares to apply and attend college.

Haley is 12 years old.  Likely "rightfully"a 6th grader with a very 'borderline' birthday that would either render her the OLDEST in the 6th grade, or the youngest in the 7th.  When she was little, we opted for *moving her forward* and pushed for her to start kindergarten at age 4.  

Books and 'experts' agree that the path to college begins LONG before the applications arrive.  Many suggest starting a planned, diligent, organized strategy starting in 7th grade.  

Well, Haley is *technically* in 7th grade (although she is considered an 8th grader so she has access to algebra and more advanced music theory.  Next year, she'll be considered a high-schooler, which further opens doors that would not otherwise be accessible to a 12 year old.  #strategy

Nonetheless, our goal (currently) is to have her graduate in 2020 - so she's a 7th grader.  

And as a 7th grader, things get 'real.'  So we're going to move over to a brand new 'college prep' blog to help keep the 'development' (of talent) separate from the 'demonstration' (talent).  

The new blog that will highlight, feature, and help organize and prepare Haley for college (and the other 2 children when they are ready in a few years) is:

THE PATH HOME TO COLLEGE

http://tayloredcurriculumtocollege.blogspot.com/  

From now on, things that are more exclusive to Haley's college prep will go there.

Everything else, will continue to go here on this blog, Taylored Curriculum  

Haley's days - lots of algebra. (Sample days)

We are frequently asked "how much time does Haley spend doing school on home-study days?"

Haley's schedule this past semester has been somewhat as posted above*.  
Monday - Fencing
Tuesday - Hybrid school
Wednesday - Piano lesson, local choir rehearsal, regional choir rehearsal, fencing in the evening
Thursday - Hybrid school, after school speech and debate
Friday - Harp lesson 
Saturday - Fencing
Sunday - Cotillion and orchestra rehearsal.

• Spring semester a few changes will take place:
• Regional choir and Cotillion ends February.
• Harp is changing from Friday to Mondays.
• Friday (or maybe Saturday) we're adding Math club.
• Wednesday evening we're adding algebra session with additional teacher so Mommy can spend less time doing this.

Next semester we will try to make algebra more effiecient (with the tutor and better study habits, better study environment, and transitioning to "thinking in Math."

We will make US History more structured.  It was difficult this semester to do that because of the amount of time algebra and debate occupied.

* It is noteworthy to mention that she also practices piano at the end of the day (or before the day begins) and that's not represented on the particular index card schedules posted.

Our Mathlete; Skipping a grade (meaning what?)

We met with a premier area competitive math teacher and coach today.  People drive for HOURS from all of North and mid-Texas to participate in this prestigious program - Awesome Math Academy.  There are programs at UT Dallas, Cornell, and UC Berkeley.  There is an application, an exam, interview, and fees due in order to participate.

I've realized that supplemental math courses/exposure is critical to math success.  This program begins at age 12, and being that Haley got an A in algebra, and is excited to learn more, I sought additional opportunities for her in this area.  I scratched the surface of this whole new world, with the help of a couple of books:

What High Schools Don't Tell You (and other parents don't want you to know).

Countdown to College:  21 'To Do' Lists for High School.

I spent all of yesterday reading (cover to cover) these 2 books, taking notes, and implementing some of the advice.  Once piece of such advice was, the math club.  Math has its own international competitions.  Being able to compete is a GREAT advantage for any student.

Did you know that its better to take algebra in 7th grade such that the student has completed calculus by 11th in order to really understand and possibly master AP Physics as a senior?  Do you realize that, at the time of standardized testing, the more math and science a child has completed, the more competitive they are?  And that competitiveness begins in 7th grade?  Did you know that national talent searches (think scholarships, college admissions, and more opportunities to learn and excel in general) are a "7th grade thing?"  Pre-official-talent searches begin in 2nd grade?  If you wait until your child is in high-school (9th grade) you are already behind the 8 ball!!

So we are thinking:  Haley is in "8th grade" because many doors open in 8th grade that are closed in 7th.  And many more doors (particually community/socially) are open to "high-schoolers" (i.e. 9th grade) than to middle schoolers.  What you do well, matters more in "9th grade."  Therefore, as it serves her (for access and opportunity) we will have her portrayed as an 8th grader this year (9th grader next year - think hospital volunteer that cannot be an 8th grader but CAN be a 9th grader).  But really, it is our plan to have her graduate in 2020.

As a bonafide 12yo 7th grader, she is way ahead of the curve, and in-line with most expected accelerated programs (on course to take math beyond calculus, AP science, and spend significant time on personal development, interests, and making an impact in an area of interest - thereby maximizing her chances of being accepted to a university of her choice).


References:
http://books.google.com/books/about/What_High_Schools_Don_t_Tell_You.html?id=kRyoPAAACAAJ

https://www.awesomemath.org/

End of Semester Evaluation

Haley ended the semester strong.  One low quiz grade in Language Arts really pulled her overall grade down such that she now (hopefully) realizes that you can't blow off even one "little" quiz and expect to get an A in the class.

US HISTORY:  You may recall, we made adjustments to Haley's history curriculum.  That was a great move.  Not having the group projects has freed up her time.  Now she just reads a chapter, or a few, and discuss it with Hubby.  During their debate discussion and research, history is incorporated in the arguments and evidence.  In Language Arts, there is also historical overlap in essay writing, book reading, and discussion.  She does not yet have a grade in US History as she started the semester late, and she's been quite busy and has not had the time to "make it up."

PHYSICAL SCIENCE is a class Haley LOVES.  There is lab, and experiments.  The reading is "easy" and interesting, she claims.  Honestly we don't spend too much time outside of school on Physical Science.

ALGEBRA is a class that has required the most time and study.  Sometimes up to 4 hours a day she'll study, do problems, and watch videos.  I'll spend over half of that time sitting beside her, helping to guide her and showing her how to recognize key information, take notes, study, and learn.  For the Winter break (as she studied for her semester 'final' I hired a university student to help her study - which is more efficient since I do not have the time to consistently learn, then teach, algebra.  He has been great, and she still has her Hybrid school teacher.

Starting next month she will participate in more in-depth study of math.  This prestigeous program will require some additional math study, so the tutor, the teacher, and the math club, should provide plenty of math and set her up to excel.

LANGUAGE ARTS:  Haley did not enter into LA with a strong foundation.  The public school failed to really teach the subject, and her writing organization needed some remediation.  This semester, after writing many papers with direct help from me, hubby, and input and corrections by the teacher, she is likely at grade level - she is 12, consistent with 6th or 7th grade (if she's advanced/early).

Its important to remember that "skipping a grade" opens so many doors and unlocks a myriad of opportunities that are only 'available' to the older student.  While Haley now has *access* to these opportunities (learning algebra, mathclub, volunteer, cotillion, youth talent search) we are not sure she should (or will) GRADUATE early.  The more we learn, the more we realize that her being "only" a 7th grader allows more time (many more years) to demonstrate excellence and earn a spot into a college of her choice while also being mature and ready to delve into college as a young woman.

Etiquette:  Cotillion
Performing Arts:  HARP - Fort Worth Philharmonic Orchestra, Harp at the University (more information forthcoming - Haley has been accepted into the TCU Harp Studio of Dr. Logan Brandenburg which is an awesome opportunity to get on a university campus and take classes there, with the training with, and endorsement of a professor.  Also attractive, TCU does have full-ride harp scholarships which could be a motivational carrot for Haley if she likes the campus, the program (and they, her), and decides she wants to pursue joining.

PIANO - Haley is taking the 8th grade Music Theory and World of Music Exams.  Again, it would be nice to get "done" with the curriculum "early" and have the credit and honor of completion as a senior without having to worry about something else to do.

CHOIR - is enjoyable and hasn't required any excessive study or practice (at this level).  She also is in the Regional North Texas Children's Choir.  She enjoys the performances, and the final regional performance is in January.

Sport:  FENCING.  Haley has shown steady progress and the sport seems to play to all of her natural talents - quickness, mental speed, aggressiveness, fearlessness, and competitiveness.  She won her first club tournament.  The rate-limiting factor this semester has been conflict with higher priority activities - such as algebra, piano, and debate.

DEBATE:  Haley is doing Team Policy with Daddy.  It has been a fantastic learning experience, and Haley loves public speaking.  We have one more tournament in the Spring.  She will do the summer camp (if it doesn't conflict with the Math Camp).  Next year we are thinking that Extemporaneous debate/speech will be our event of choice - something she can do without so much hand-holding, and doesn't require schedule coordination with a team-mate.  Busy people have trouble coordinating schedules.

Foreign language:  Holding Latin because Haley is finding it more difficult to learn concurrently with Spanish.  And Spanish is more important.  She is not taking Spanish this year as the school couldn't find a teacher.  The college foreign language requirement includes 2 (preferably 3) years of the same foreign language.  It is recommended that this be taken the last 2 or 3 years of high-school so the student can either test out at the college level for credit, or take the class and do well because its all still fresh.  Since Haley isn't scheduled to graduate until 2020 (right now) 2017, 2018, and 2019 are the ideal times to take Spanish "for real."  It is only 2015,

College Prep initiation - As mentioned in the last post, I have books, check-lists, and a game-plan is forming.  Haley is scheduled to take the ACT vs SAT (which one is best for you?) test in May.  I have printed materials.  I am familiarizing myself with requirements, and working on 'merit badges' and exposing the children as the geniuses that they are.  :)

We have SAT vocab flash-cards.  It is my intent to initiate these slowing into the curriculum this semester.

We also have to decide on SAT II Subject test topics - and get ready for those.

College fair, college considerations

One of the perks of being in the company of great and talented people is, the assumption is made that YOU, too, are great and talented.  The universities present at the college fair at the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra were excited to share with Haley the opportunity to join their music program.  As a 12 year old, harpist, on the orchestra, they see a bright future for her at their respective institutions!!

Very soon, we begin our 'college prep' program for Haley.  Working on the details of that as we speak....