Help with 7th grade electives

[Anonymous]

LCPS has 3 choices for 7th grade elective course:
- World Language(French, Spanish, German, Latin)
- Communications
- Coding at the Middle School

Any parents out there who have made these choices in the past and can weigh in on their experiences on any of these choices? I understand that coding a new elective this year but considering that the world language elective will count towards high school GPA, trying to understand why one would not want to take it. I am new to this, so trying to understand what choice makes the most strategically/logical sense in addition to personal choice. Thank you in advance.

[Anonymous]

One wouldn't want to take it precisely for the reason you listed. It is counted on the HS diploma; if the child doesn't understand the impact, then it's better to hold off a year.

[Anonymous]

That makes sense, but also wondering if taking the language course now (if the kid is upto it) will free up a course selection for another elective next year. Are kids done with the language course in one year, that is, if they elect it in 7th grade, will they be done with language course and thus, free to elect another elective, say, communications, in 8th grade?

[Anonymous]

Language builds on each year and kids will need at least 3 years of a language so if you start in 7th grade, expect to be taking it in 8th-9th too. Better to take a different elective in 7th because otherwise it will be a while before schedule space frees up.

[Anonymous]

I suppose it depends on your child. Mine took a language in 8th grade and got a B. He didn't quite get that it mattered at that age and didn't put as much effort in as he could've. He's a much more serious student now in high school. Not that a B is bad, but he's disappointed when he doesn't get an A now because, for him, if he puts in the work, it's entirely possible and that class wasn't that difficult for him.

[Anonymous]

Great suggestions and responses. Thank you so much for the helpful insights.

[Anonymous]

We decided not to take foreign language in 7th grade because:

1- 7th grade foreign language class does not count toward HS, it does in 8th grade
2- DD is proficient in that language and one year would be enough
3- DD was interested in other electives

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We decided not to take foreign language in 7th grade because:

1- 7th grade foreign language class does not count toward HS, it does in 8th grade
2- DD is proficient in that language and one year would be enough
3- DD was interested in other electives

Not true. Our daughter's 7th grade Latin 1 and honors Algebra classes count as a HS class. She has one credit for each.

[Anonymous]

Any recommendations on the choice of language? All four languages are new to my DC and would start at the same level. Would love to hear thoughts on which language offers what benefits to the student in addition to learning a new language of course

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any recommendations on the choice of language? All four languages are new to my DC and would start at the same level. Would love to hear thoughts on which language offers what benefits to the student in addition to learning a new language of course

If your kid is a reader/writer, defintely Latin. Because you also learn so much more about English (and other languages) in the process. It's worth 100 extra SAT points, easily. However, some Latin teachers are better than others. My kid has a great one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We decided not to take foreign language in 7th grade because:

1- 7th grade foreign language class does not count toward HS, it does in 8th grade
2- DD is proficient in that language and one year would be enough
3- DD was interested in other electives

WE decided? When do you people start lettig your kids make their own choices?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We decided not to take foreign language in 7th grade because:

1- 7th grade foreign language class does not count toward HS, it does in 8th grade
2- DD is proficient in that language and one year would be enough
3- DD was interested in other electives

WE decided? When do you people start lettig your kids make their own choices?

NP. Not sure, but certainly not at age 12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We decided not to take foreign language in 7th grade because:

1- 7th grade foreign language class does not count toward HS, it does in 8th grade
2- DD is proficient in that language and one year would be enough
3- DD was interested in other electives

WE decided? When do you people start lettig your kids make their own choices?

Ha ha. Good one.

Kid: Mom, can I play video games all day?
Mom: Sure, son. That's your choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
If your kid is a reader/writer, defintely Latin. Because you also learn so much more about English (and other languages) in the process. It's worth 100 extra SAT points, easily. However, some Latin teachers are better than others. My kid has a great one.

Thank you. My Dc is a vorarious reader but a lazy writer. I am leaning towards Latin, expecially for the part that kids will learn the root of the languages. Any idea what colleges look for? Do they value proficiency in any particular language?

[Anonymous]

For my children, I told them that they HAD to take a language, but they could choose whatever else they wanted to do for the other electives.