College counselors already warning kids to not write their common app essay about this.
@3kids2dogs our jrs are lucky in that way they can push off their AP exams till next year. I see the Calc BC exam will not give a subscoreā¦That could potentially pose a problem.
I guess I meant it more in terms of the little things kids did to cope and to gain perspective, and life lessons on priorities that may have changed, NOT another bragging competition.
Little activities ā¦like finally learning to do some simple chores or skills (that kids in other generations may have taken for granted), taking up an instrument the student may have stopped doing years ago, or little things like my daughter getting pleasure from learning to make origami butterflies and spinning off a broader story from that vignette that shows something about her personality. NOT about creating a vaccine in the basement or some new social media platform that creates world peace! But, whateverā¦
I just read the full page on the College Boardās website regarding the AP test changes for this year. Only 45 minutes long, just FRQ. And based on an abbreiviated syllabus that presumes some students would only have covered about 75% of material. For each courase the CB lists the specific units that will and wonāt be included on each test. Supposedly colleges have bought in.
I guessā¦if college credit is the goal, this might do it. However, for a course like Calcā¦or Chemā¦or Econā¦anything with a body of material that should be at least covered (if not mastered) to move onā¦I will be in the position of telling my S21 that he should NOT necessarily take the credit, but rather retake the course in college. I already had reservations as to whether some AP courses were sufficiently rigorous to be substituted for the comparable course in college, but unless his HS teachers are able to cover the material fully (regardless of what the CB allows), I would hesitate. For example, S21 has AP Stats now. He will need stats in his future work. I WANT him to cover those last 2 units.
My fear is that teachers might need to change gears based on the revamped tests and wonāt have time to deal with that plus the material originally plannedplus remote instruction.What do yāall think?
Good point @sammijo As far as credit, most likely our non flagship will take them. D has always self studied the material she wanted to get a firmer grasp on. She already had plans to self study for calculus II and physics both Mechanics and electricity and magnetism for preparation for engineering major. The AP credit will allow her to start courses in her major earlier with more room for electives specific to her major. Now if she finds she does not want to cover the material on her own despite what is taught or not taught. Then certainly she will not use the AP credit. Gives her an options
Spring Break officially ends for us today. No school until April 3rd. Today our school board had a special Vivid-19 response meetingā¦I watched online and hereās where weāre at:
The VERY first thing they discussed was the mental health of students and Maslowās hierarchy of need.
Not attendance, not grades, not sports.
They also addressed third party vendors like bus drivers. Custodians and long term subs were also discussed.
There is a plan for student learning and is well thought out and will be goodā¦students first contact with school will be a personal phone call (routed thru district phones) to each and every student and parent to assess what they needā¦foodā¦child care groceriesā¦Internet etc.
Students will not be working next week. Campus teachers are basically off on Monday/Tuesday and will meet with principals Wednesday (Either staggered times in person or virtually). We will be using Cisco Webex for phone and virtual meetingsā¦we will get email communication laying out what happens next this weekend. At the elementary level, teachers will be given full lesson plans provided by the district so that they donāt have to juggle that as well.
@nichols51 I didnāt actually see that about APSUH; itās what I was told by my niece who attends a private school in NYC. I assume her teacher told them, but iām Not sure.
Thatās really amazing, @Momof3B. Really functioning like a social service agency as well as a school. Our school district is supplying bagged breakfast, lunch and a snacks to students who need it, but it has to be picked up at a school every day. So far the plans/online assignments seem scattershot, some teachers doing more and some doing less, but I donāt blame them. Itās a lot to deal with.
My D said sheās confused, as some assignments have due dates even though there will be no recorded grades, it seems, or penalties. I told her the point is learning and she is to treat it the same as any other assignment (she would anywayā¦ sheās a rule-follower by nature).
My husband has been on spring break this week, but went in today to set up and learn how to use the technology to teach his virtual classes and labs (I didnāt ask him how the labs workā¦maybe he just demonstrates). Heās relieved to have figured out and practiced how itās going to workā¦this is stressful for teachers and professors too!
Our spring break is officially over today. I have a daughter in Elementary school and her teacher said they are meeting next week to discuss a plan if schools do not open on 4/6, but thatās 3 weeks without instruction for district even if they open in April.
S21 has a combined class for APUSH and AP English, I will have to ask him what material they have covered so far, should be a lot since our school yr ends end of May.
@Momof3B , I love that my old high school (although new building) and district are doing that. Makes my heart happy.
@inthegarden our school district is planning to provide meals and take them to each bus stop at specific times.
@Momof3B - I love hearing that about your school. When the e learning first started, I was unimpressed with our grade school districtās offerings (I have two high schoolers and a 4th grader) and while Iām sure that they will ramp up in the coming weeks, I now think they knew what they were doing when they gave such small amounts of work.
Itās been fascinating (in a bad way) to follow my Facebook feed as the uber-moms around town photo document (read: pat themselves on the back for) all of their high level family bonding and unique educational experiences they are providing to their children during this past week. Posting links of āliveā experiences at zoos, museums and aquariums, pages and pages of crafts, labor intensive recipes and even Friday night dinners at home in formal wear (floor length gowns and updos and full suits/ties). None of these things are bad in isolation - in fact, they are each great ways to bond, beat boredom, provide educational opportunities to kids.
But then Iām texting with one of my younger mom friends and sheās sinking with the weight of these posts. Sheās an attorney - now working from home, but also watching three smallish children (preschool through 4th grade). Her childcare provider is in her 60ās and normally is a godsend, but she canāt keep her on in good conscience (yes, she is paying her), so now itās just her - a 50-60 hour a week job and three kids 10 and under. Sheās desperate to keep her head above water - doing the e learning that was sent home but otherwise juggling, juggling, juggling. She says every time she reads about āanother fun idea to beat the boredomā when sheās pretty much given the kids carte blanche on the disney plus app the entire afternoon while the youngest naps and she tries to work is like another rock being tied to her ankles in the pool of life. Just the thought of doing 5 hours of school with children in various primary grades, let alone scheduling in time to catch the zooās livestream about camoflauge, start a vegetable garden from seed, or planning a formal dinner - just because - is enough to send her over the edge.
For me, with two high schoolers who need no supervision and a 4th grader that (as most youngest kids are) is both very mature and go with the flow, this has been a piece of cake. For others though - even those who are well educated, living in high performing districts who value education - itās definitely not. I can only imagine what itās like when you are in a situation where your income is drying up and you are worried more about the rent and food, let alone education.
Please tell your friend there is absolutely nothing wrong with letting kids be kids, especially at this time.
@1Lotus I would flat out ask how they handled COVID-19. Before this we would ask how they handled hurricane evacuations at schools- where relevant. Iāll be honest- any school in FL or along the southern east or gulf coast, I would want my child to have a car. We were thankful D18 was able to have her car freshman year and beyond. It has made things so much easier being OOS.
I will tell you how UCF handled it- since itās on your list. UCF is very lenient with kids being in the dorm, they can stay through breaks. So many kids work at theme parks, they donāt have the ability to leave. UCF was on Spring break when they decided to go online. They asked people to go home if they could or not come back to campus unless they had a reason and asked them to just fill out a form and let them know where they would be for 2 weeks. Now that things have all kind of shut down, they are asking those that remained to move out and then leave if possible. D18 left on Monday without moving out. We will get to choose a designated time to go back and pack up.
UCF also had to stop classes for the non-hurricane in the fall. The kids are kind of used to it, but it is something to consider if you arenāt near the coast and havenāt dealt with it.
You can google any college and coronavirus and find their FAQ page for students as well as updates that were sent to parents and the rest of the college community.
Question about meritā¦ Iām reading that itās sometimes tied to maintaining a certain GPA. Does anyone know if you miss the GPA one semester can you āregainā the merit if you bring the GPA back inline?
School rules vary, you would have to check each policy. Often a student will be placed on āprobationā and have a semester to get things in line, but not always.
Yes, very important to know what each schoolās requirement is to keep merit scholarship. Google EACH school and really understand what will happen if requirements are met. I can not stress this enough. If merit is needed (Huge need in our family).
@eb23282 I vaguely recall, 30 yrs ago, that yes, there would be a probationary semester for bringing up grades. Presumably rules vary by college and scholarship.
We just got word from the IBO that the Spring IB exams have been cancelled.
D21 came down with a very sore throat Friday into Saturday morning, no fever or other symptoms. She was no better yesterday so we took her to urgent care facility and they confirmed the suspected strep diagnosis. Started on antibiotics. So we had additional quarantine within our houseā¦
This morning she was up to sign in for her online classes that started at 9:00AM. Our HS giving them attendance/completion points this week with no class allowed to give more than 10 points. Next week Itās back to regular grading. Hopefully this new method of schooling will not cost her the 4.0 UW GPA she has worked for 2 3/4 years to maintain
D18 starts her online Clemson classes today as well. They are following college schedule for the most part so her first class is until 1:00PM.