Summer School: Hon World History?

[Anonymous]

Our summer vacation is unexpectedly shortenned and DS wants to do Hon World History in the two summer sessions at Central High (online) rather than AP World History in junior year. Is this a good idea in terms of the speed at which the summer sessions progress? He plans to take band all four years so was hoping to complete some of the requirements in the summer to open up other classes during the school year. Is there a downside to how the summer sessions are viewed/done versus taking the AP version during the school year?

[Anonymous]

You can take the class whenever you want. That said you are choosing between an Hons class vs an AP class which is inherently different. What is your DS trying to put in place of AP World? What are their goals?

[Anonymous]

Some central summer school classes can only be taken for replacement credit, not original credit. I’d double check to make sure history can be taken for original credit. I can’t remember from last year.

[Anonymous]

Better to do health and tech over the summer, rather than core courses. He should definitely talk with his counselor before planning to do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Better to do health and tech over the summer, rather than core courses. He should definitely talk with his counselor before planning to do this.

He's done both Health in summers of 8th and 9th. As I said, he is taking band all four years and want to take other classes like AP Econ in 11th rather than World History. Is there a downside to doing a World History class in the summer? Is it viewed poorly somehow?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some central summer school classes can only be taken for replacement credit, not original credit. I’d double check to make sure history can be taken for original credit. I can’t remember from last year.

He checked and said that in the past it can be taken as both replacement credit or as a new class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some central summer school classes can only be taken for replacement credit, not original credit. I’d double check to make sure history can be taken for original credit. I can’t remember from last year.

He checked and said that in the past it can be taken as both replacement credit or as a new class.

Keep in mind that what was true last summer may not be true this summer. There is less funding available this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some central summer school classes can only be taken for replacement credit, not original credit. I’d double check to make sure history can be taken for original credit. I can’t remember from last year.

He checked and said that in the past it can be taken as both replacement credit or as a new class.

Keep in mind that what was true last summer may not be true this summer. There is less funding available this year.

You'll definitely have to pay for it this year, at least.

[Anonymous]

I would worry it would be a lot of content for seven weeks. I think most people agree there is barely enough health content to justify two semesters. I don’t hear that so much about honors world history.

The challenges of summer school are obvious. It is so short that it can be hard to course correct if you aren’t doing well because the class can be 1/3 over before you get your first feedback. And of course there isn’t the benefit of averaging two quarters together.

If it was my kid I’d be nervous that the class would feel like it could be a lot of work and not set up for success. Like he would need to be very very committed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would worry it would be a lot of content for seven weeks. I think most people agree there is barely enough health content to justify two semesters. I don’t hear that so much about honors world history.

The challenges of summer school are obvious. It is so short that it can be hard to course correct if you aren’t doing well because the class can be 1/3 over before you get your first feedback. And of course there isn’t the benefit of averaging two quarters together.

If it was my kid I’d be nervous that the class would feel like it could be a lot of work and not set up for success. Like he would need to be very very committed.

Thank you for this. It makes lots of sense to consider the pace, the inability to get timely feedback for self-corrections, as well as not be able to average two quarters together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better to do health and tech over the summer, rather than core courses. He should definitely talk with his counselor before planning to do this.

He's done both Health in summers of 8th and 9th. As I said, he is taking band all four years and want to take other classes like AP Econ in 11th rather than World History. Is there a downside to doing a World History class in the summer? Is it viewed poorly somehow?

This is hard to answer without knowing what other classes your DS has taken or plans to take. As others noted it’s a lot of content in a short amount of time. If your DS has already taken Health over the summer, that frees up space for AP Econ. By Junior year, most students have 3 spaces for electives and that’s with a History class. Including Band and maybe a double period science class your DS still has time for AP Econ.