Choral Performance

Links:

Don Gato

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTpibuaapQg

Yonder Come Day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeOmvainvfc

Transcript - lets get started

Work in progress - the transcript

A few nights ago I attended a seminar on how to do the high-school transcript.  Creating this document is the cornerstone of the homeschooling parents duty!!  It is important to plan the high-school curriculum, and the advice we received was to look up what the local public schools are doing and see if you can make your own homeschooling curriculum "fit."

So I looked up the TEA website, saw the requirements for a diploma in Texas to be only 22 credits.  Haley is taking 8 credits each year - so that's 32 (almost 2 extra years of school!!).  Some consolation is that the "distinguished" diploma from the State of TX is 26 credits.  So she won't be TOO far above her public school counterparts.  I didn't want her to be so much in the stratosphere on *this* document because admissions counselors may not know what to think of that.  And in "not knowing," it may be dismissed.

One major advantage the homeschooling student has is:  everything they do can be "for credit."  For instance, if Haley attended public school and took afterschool private piano lessons, she wouldn't be able to get "school credit" for all that work unless she ALSO took piano at school.  But in taking piano AT school, she has less spots to fill with OTHER classes, like fencing for PE, or orchestra.  As a homeschooler, she can get a credit for piano, orchestra, fencing, AND still have "room" in her schedule for all the 4x4 (4 years of English, 4 years of Social Studies, 4 years of Math, and 4 years of science).  Fine art and PE are covered as mentioned.  That's 18 credits right there.  Remember she needs only 22 to graduate!!

Then she does speech and debate.  Speech is a credit.  She has to take some elective.  Well, all those extra music classes can serve as elective (AP music theory, orchestra, harp, piano).  That's 23 credits if she only does each of her musical endeavors for one year for a single credit (which she's NOT going to do, she'll do them for 4 years).

Additionally, Haley is taking many AP classes, extra classes in humanities.  Because colleges require foreign language, she is taking 3 years of American Sign Language, and 3 years of Spanish.  Now you can see how she's at 32+ credits!!

Nonetheless, I did look at what our local public school system offers and the course descriptions, so when things can match (when it makes sense for her to try to 'match') we can do that (such as with American Sign Language being a foreign language).  The freedom of homeschooling comes from not being obligated to engage in coursework if it doesn't fit in the larger picture of her life.  It also (and primarily) allows her to spend her valuable time engaging in activities that play to her strengths and interests while minimizing those activities that serve as "busy work."

The transcript is also serving as a road-map for high-school.  This road map is allowing me to plan this upcoming year (as Haley begins taking high-school classes like geometry and possibly a science).  Even IF she goes back to public school, or private school, the transcript will help make the transition a tiny bit easier.  It will demonstrate her level of education, and while I'm sure there will be exams and what-not to confirm the proper placement, I am not concerned because the coursework she's doing is actually more rigorous than that in public school....so she'll do fine.

People frequently ask me how the kids are able to find the time to do all the activities that they do.  The answer is, they don't *waste* time at school 40 hours each week doing stuff just because that's what everyone else is doing.  FORTY hours a week is a TON of time.  Time enough to explore and develop almost anything.

Science fair (prep)...

...begins, for real.  

Tests and cover photo

The many aspects of Haley:  Fencer, pianist, public speaker and debater, orchestral harpist, mathelete...

Algebra and Math

As I continue reading, researching, and learning about homeschooling to college, I realize that I had some basic work to do:  start her transcript.

Although she is technically only in the 7th grade, and I do have another year to get it all together before high-school, it is important to realize that preparing for high-school HAS to begin in 6th grade!!  In 6th grade, I made it a point to accelerate Haley through math so she would be in a position to take algebra as a 7th grader.  So the summer before 7th grade, spent the entire summer (with the help of a local community college math teacher who offers tutoring) we hammered through pre-algebra.  Now she's on the home-stretch of a very successful algebra year!!

This year (algebra) I started with myself supplementing the 2 day/week teacher, videos, and book work (with solutions).  However, after the 1st semester, I realized that I was spending way too much time relearning algebra to teach it to Haley.  Haley likes human interaction, so having her simply watch a video and study a book to teach herself isn't as effective as a real-live person.  And since algebra for a 12 yo isn't the easiest subject in the world, I decided to hire a 2 day a week tutor to supplement the 2 day per week teacher.  This has been WONDERFUL for Haley.  Tutor comes Monday and Wednesday.  She goes to Hybrid school and take over an hour of algebra on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

This is the result:

and many others just like it!!

Haley continues to go math club.  This math club is a very prestigious club with university professors as faculty.  The topics range from geometry to algebra, to trig and number theory.  The children there are excited about math, and the teachers are excellent.  The conversation is actually designed to help the child become fluent in the language of math.  Learn how to THINK math.

Additionally, Haley will be attending their 3 week residential summer camp: Awesome Math Academy.  The camp intakes students as young as 12, so she's right on time.  Because it is local to us on the campus of University Texas at Dallas, it is the perfect segue into other residential academic camps that are on our radar.

Final Team Policy Debate Tournament

Anyone who knows about team policy debate KNOWS its a tremendous amount of work.  It is not possible to gather too much evidence.  And you have to try to prepare to not only defend you OWN position on a topic that you choose, but to also defend your position against unknown opposing teams topics that THEY chose.  If you think about it, it almost seems impossible to really prepare for a match.  

On top of that, add a very complicated and controversial topic with many nuances and various "correct" points of view, and you can begin to realize how difficult team policy debate can be - even for advanced students!!  

Working in a team situation requires coordination and cooperation - again, not always a simple thing to do.  Especially when the parents get involved.  Just like in other competitive situations, in debate the parents will have very aggressive attitudes and take the entire thing way too seriously.  This ruin even the most enthusiastic debaters.  

Haley and her partner did very well.  TWO FULL DAYS (12+ hour days) of debate and researching, modifying their strategy, and working cooperatively.   Look at how professional they appear.

mad science

After her last debate match, Haley was so excited to join her younger siblings with Jack and Jill at the Mad Scientist Convention.  This was an awesome demonstration showing the "magical" side of science.  The best part was mixing some chemicals in a cup producing her own slime!!

Music Theory - Gold Medalist with Texas Music Teachers Association

Haley decided to take a 2nd Music Theory Exam this year to put her ahead of her grade level.  She ACED it (100% with the bonus question).  This is a great segue into pre-AP Music theory that she's taking next year, or the following year (we'll see how much she has on her plate and adjust as necessary).

Fencing sabre

Fencing tournament:  Day one was 14 and younger.  Haley placed last in this group.  She did get in a few great hits, but some of the girls were VERY good - having traveled as far away as California, fencing 5+ years.  A great opportunity to fence UP and learn.  

Day 2 was the 12 and younger group.  Haley came in 8th place - just well enough to stand on the winners podium and earn a medal!!  Not too shabby for a first [real, nationally qualifying] tournament!!

Video:  Fencing Sabre - an overview!!  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqinvvppLk8

Concert at Bass Performance Hall