9th grade outside courses

[choirfarm]

I think I will need to outsource some of my oldest's courses next year when he starts high school. Can you recommend some? He got Duke state recognized for his ACT score in the TIP program and is working ahead of schedule right now in math and science. He is doing TT Algebra II ( finished up I and not II for me to count as Algebra I on a transcript for this 8th grade year. I want him to take a more rigorous Algebra II course in 10th grade) So for 9th I need a Geometry course. I have an old version of Chalkdust on VCR. He seems to be like me, geometric problems give him more trouble (I aced Algebra, but Geometry/Trig gave me fits.) So, he will probably need more handholding for this/ good explanations. Would I have to watch it with him??? (See my post on how am I going to do this on K-8 curriculum to see what else is on my plate.) He is doing Biology this year with labs in a co-op. If I don't do co-op and do Chemistry in 9th grade, what online/independent work that would include labs could you recommend?? He is also VERY computer minded and is completing an Alice textbook/course on his own this semester. He is so light years beyond me as he does all my ipod and other things I don't really understand. So a computer course? He is doing Rosetta Stone Spanish and will finish level I this year, should we continue or should he do a more traditional route with some kind of online course. (I do not speak Spanish and grading even the worksheets is tough for me.) Any suggestions for online/ independent work. He likes science, but not lab reports and was really coasting on those until hi co-op teacher decided to take a grade and so then he took it seriously. So I think the time has truly come for outside grading if possible. Oh, we will also be doing TOG redesigned year 3.
Christine

Christine

[mcconnellboys]

If you have a community or other smaller college in your area, and if he'd like to do classes with other people, then you might consider those for science and math. That way, he'd be able to do science labs, too.

If you want something that's offered via correspondence or online, my older son took some courses in his ninth grade year through Indiana University and he loved them (so did I)! Taking a science course for non-majors would be more equivalent to high school level work in a science he's never done before at the high school level.

I'm just responding to bump this up as there are others on the high school board who have done much more along these lines than I have. My son elected to go back into a private school during his sophomore year, so I have limited experience with hs level coursework.

[Michelle in AL]

My dd has really enjoyed The Potter's School. She's taking Computer Assisted Design. They seem to have a lot of computer classes. I've really never heard anything negative about Potters except for a comment about the Lego class being a little chaotic. I would consider them for science too, if you like Apologia.

I outsource the classes I feel least competent in. Next yr I'll have to outsource math too, even though dd doesn't want me too.

To answer your question about Chalkdust Geometry, yes, you'll probably have to watch along too unless your son is very attentive and takes notes to refer back on.