what happens when you have a child

[dancer67]

start high school level courses at a young age? My child will be 12 years old and has already tackled some high school courses for *fun*. But what if we actually DID some high school classes seriously? She would be public school Gr "6" in Sept.
Would she have to do ALL high school classes in order to gain credit? Do you have to be a certain age?

[KAR120C]

start high school level courses at a young age? My child will be 12 years old and has already tackled some high school courses for *fun*. But what if we actually DID some high school classes seriously? She would be public school Gr "6" in Sept.
Would she have to do ALL high school classes in order to gain credit? Do you have to be a certain age?
Whether it "counts" or not is going to be up to the college when we get to that point, so it's hard to say ahead of time. Age might be a factor, what specific materials you used and what work samples (or test scores) you can produce to show that the work was done to their satisfaction might be a factor, or even just the date finished -- some colleges really don't want to hear about anything more than four years previous to the application.

I'm not really that worried about it. We're not planning to slack off later, so we'll have plenty of credits that do count without worrying about the early ones. And if a college really wants to see everything back to Algebra 1 and Spanish 1, I'll have it. I think the only time it's likely to be an issue is if you were to say "Oh we finished four years of high school math in 5th-8th grades, so we're done and we aren't going to do any more." That wouldn't work. But if you say, "We did Algebra 1 and 2 and Geometry before high school, so our high school math is Statistics, Number Theory, Precalculus and Calculus and if you want records of what we did for the earlier stuff I have it here," that shouldn't be an issue.

[Mommyfaithe]

Whether it "counts" or not is going to be up to the college when we get to that point, so it's hard to say ahead of time. Age might be a factor, what specific materials you used and what work samples (or test scores) you can produce to show that the work was done to their satisfaction might be a factor, or even just the date finished -- some colleges really don't want to hear about anything more than four years previous to the application.

I'm not really that worried about it. We're not planning to slack off later, so we'll have plenty of credits that do count without worrying about the early ones. And if a college really wants to see everything back to Algebra 1 and Spanish 1, I'll have it. I think the only time it's likely to be an issue is if you were to say "Oh we finished four years of high school math in 5th-8th grades, so we're done and we aren't going to do any more." That wouldn't work. But if you say, "We did Algebra 1 and 2 and Geometry before high school, so our high school math is Statistics, Number Theory, Precalculus and Calculus and if you want records of what we did for the earlier stuff I have it here," that shouldn't be an issue.

:iagree: I just keep on keeping on. More advvanced classes are fine for high school.

Faithe

[dancer67]

Thank you! I didn't think to just keep trucking along. :D

[Gratia271]

start high school level courses at a young age? My child will be 12 years old and has already tackled some high school courses for *fun*. But what if we actually DID some high school classes seriously? She would be public school Gr "6" in Sept.
Would she have to do ALL high school classes in order to gain credit? Do you have to be a certain age?

My daughter began HS level work at grade 4 with two subjects on a formal basis. This fall (age 11) she will do predominantly HS level work. I intend to let her proceed at her level with the understanding that there are AP classes as well as CC classes for the official HS years.

[Ester Maria]

My "6th grader" and "7th grader" are predominately on high school level work (probably even post in a few areas) too by what they actually do. I solve the issue by making them take yearly exams at their "school", for all the subjects they would have if they actually attended it, but most of the year, we do other things, or those things they should study but from a totally different perspective, with extra materials, etc. I just raised the bar accordingly for the areas they're more advanced in, even if it meant speeding up or just plain jumping into higher areas, while not forcing that speed onto the areas they want to take more slowly (as long as it's not below "grade level").

In any case, don't hold the kid back. I had my younger one crying hysterically in about 4rd grade that the Chemistry textbook is "lying" and that "what do they think, that I'm buying that nucleus consists of protons and neutrons and nothing to keep them together when they logically shouldn't be together" and such things, so I decided it wasn't worth it, she'll be getting "the real thing" without "kid science" first. Don't frustrate your child, if she needs a more advanced level :), now regarding the "formalities", that will depend on universities, just make sure to keep clear check of all things you did. Shouldn't be a problem.

[Dulcimeramy]

In any case, don't hold the kid back. I had my younger one crying hysterically in about 4rd grade that the Chemistry textbook is "lying" and that "what do they think, that I'm buying that nucleus consists of protons and neutrons and nothing to keep them together when they logically shouldn't be together" and such things, so I decided it wasn't worth it, she'll be getting "the real thing" without "kid science" first. Don't frustrate your child, if she needs a more advanced level :), now regarding the "formalities", that will depend on universities, just make sure to keep clear check of all things you did. Shouldn't be a problem.

My son can be the same way. Only he likes to take notes of the "lies" I am teaching his little brothers, so that he can lecture us all at the dinner table. I've caught him pulling the 5yo aside to tell him that Mama was wrong about chlorophyll...he even drawn a cartoon illustration to teach Toby better.

He's doing upper level science now, and seems to have less time for teaching everybody else. Or maybe his brain is finally getting full with the meatier materials and his science itch is scratched. Either way, its an improvement.

If you don't let your child be thoroughly challenged at his own level, he'll become bored and/or obnoxious.

[Gratia271]

If you don't let your child be thoroughly challenged at his own level, he'll become bored and/or obnoxious.

:iagree: particularly with boys... (the obnoxious part, that is). ;)

[Brindee]

:iagree: with the others, just keep on keeping on! There are lots of ways to go "wide" as they get older and have "eaten up" all the regular highschool work! Keep their interest level high and do the work that helps them intellectually, not an arbitrary level someone else has set (such as what exact things should be done in 6th grade, or 7th grade, etc.).

[LibraryLover]

You encourge them! Maybe you find mentors.

Maybe this is regional? I live in an area with lots of unis and colleges, and some of the opportunities are quite surprising. .

The New England Aquarium fi, has some extrememly challenging scienc programs for older kids, and not of the 'touch a starfish' -type stuff.

My oldest dd has also been able to take some challenging art classes where she is usually the youngest. I've also heard of parents taking continuing ed classes with their children. This allows a child to study deeply, and hear honest to goodness excellent lecturers, but not be sent off to a night adult class before they are emotionally ready. We've taken our children to various lectures at museums, and they are often tremendous.

[Ester Maria]

He's doing upper level science now, and seems to have less time for teaching everybody else. Or maybe his brain is finally getting full with the meatier materials and his science itch is scratched. Either way, its an improvement.

If you don't let your child be thoroughly challenged at his own level, he'll become bored and/or obnoxious.
I've noticed that my girls tend to get pretty impossible if they don't get their daily dose of "intellectual outperforming themselves". :D Exactly what you describe - on their level, not doing boring repetitive work.

In the past I really tried keeping them "balanced", with regards to their emotional maturity, and not exposing them to things they might have a hard time to cope with (i.e. the ideas of the lack of objectivity, crazy modern physics, existentialism, you name it), i.e. I tried to work more on quantity of the things we were doing (by adding new fields, new information) than on the depth of things. That exposed them to a variety, but they were thirsty for the depth they needed, so I gave in and remained totally shocked at how much they managed to "skip", and I decided to stay there as an emotional support, but allowing them to work at their pace. So far so good, challenged kids are a lot calmer and easy-going kids. ;)

[justamouse]

every time this thread comes up and I read the title:

What happens when you have a child?

I want to answer, "You lose all of your brain cells. They just leak right out of your ears."

[Jen in PA]

every time this thread comes up and I read the title:

What happens when you have a child?

I want to answer, "You lose all of your brain cells. They just leak right out of your ears."

:lol:

[LibraryLover]

every time this thread comes up and I read the title:

What happens when you have a child?

I want to answer, "You lose all of your brain cells. They just leak right out of your ears."


:lol:Sometimes I think brain cells leaked out with my breast milk.

[Ester Maria]

every time this thread comes up and I read the title:

What happens when you have a child?

I want to answer, "You lose all of your brain cells. They just leak right out of your ears."
Actually, don't take my word for it, but I think there might a scientific basis for that; not that you lose all brain cells of course, but I do vaguely recall reading something about women losing some of brains when having kids.

Can't wait to lose some more for the third time, all these brain cells hurt. :D

[justamouse]

:lol:Sometimes I think brain cells leaked out with my breast milk.

:lol: Yup!!

Actually, don't take my word for it, but I think there might a scientific basis for that; not that you lose all brain cells of course, but I do vaguely recall reading something about women losing some of brains when having kids.

Can't wait to lose some more for the third time, all these brain cells hurt. :D


See? I knew it. No wonder I've only got one banging around up there.