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High School Matters
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Please note that |
From
ninth grade on a student’s goal is to acquire credits called
Carnegie Units. One credit is issued for 180 hours of instruction
for passing students. Our Private School System recognizes and
honors the public school systems’ means for issuing credits.
However, we do not restrict our teachers who wish to offer a broader
approach to their students’ ability to earn credits as student
accomplishment is the main focus.
Because accomplishment varies depending on the situation we must remain flexible. This is even more apparent in the private sector as students have more opportunity to work at their own pace. An ambitious student can often complete a course in less than 180 hours. As an example a previous student took a course which is the equivalent of a year of conversational Spanish I. This is the same course offered through our school and mail order company. After only three weeks she more than aptly demonstrated mastery of skills taught in speaking, listening, reading and writing. After Spanish I was completed, Spanish II, III and IV followed. In the span of four months the equivalent of four years of college level conversational Spanish was completed. L-CIPSSI awarded her four credits. |
Specific Areas of Interest:
New High School Health & Physical Fitness
Because this required subject, typically worth ½ credit, is covered in one semester utilizing a 700+ page textbook designed for two semesters most of the text must be sacrificed. We, however have taken a more practical approach by offering a comprehensive one credit course scheduled to cover both semesters. Our new health course is a hybrid health and physical fitness course which provides ½ credit each in Health and Physical Fitness. Course materials consists of a full color 400 page write-in text, test book, teacher’s manual and companion website offering a wealth of resources.
This course demonstrates that physical activity and health are inseparable. This is not a traditional health text, typically providing multiple chapters on health and one or two chapters on fitness nor is it a traditional fitness texts which does likewise. This interactive hybrid course focuses on the interconnectedness of health and physical activity. It is both the author’s and our opinion that the two cannot be separated.
In addition to the ½ credit in PE, the following activities, whether given as formal lessons or just active participation, can provide additional credits: swimming, tennis, gymnastics, plus numerous other activities. Since their validity could be challenged we recommend that the P.E. log book be maintained. Keep in mind that record keeping is the teacher’s responsibility. When this task is delegated to students instructors need to review it once a week to insure that it’s not being neglected. Because teenagers, typically, are not ready for the responsibility of record keeping, as this is a maturing process, expecting too much from them only sets the stage for failure. A weekly school meeting can help you maintain student records together. An article in our Teacher’s Resource Book, which comes with each program provides more information.
Religious Instruction
Refer to the guidelines under Public Speaking and Reading below. Florida teachers can insure due credit is recognized by including the correct course code numbers on student records.
Life Management Skills
The contents of this credited course varies from family to family. It includes tasks performed by the student, under supervision, where the student is learning to be self sufficient. A learning process must take place rather than the assigning of chores. Tasks may include, but are not limited to: keyboarding/computer skills, food preparation, bookkeeping, banking, gardening, farming, mechanics, vocational skills, etc. While you are not required to maintain this log it is required in order to issue credit in Life Management Skills.
Language Arts
English and Literature
New English - We have replaced our present 10th and 11th grade English with truly unique and exciting courses. At their core are two worktexts, “married” together with a 36 week schedule, test book, teacher’s manual and a language reference book. (See sidebar.) All include answer keys.
The first worktext, a two color literature anthology, includes approximately 30 of the choices selections from the latest edition of one of the finest literature series on the market. It offers a full range of literature from every genre utilizing the latest teaching strategies. In addition is a worktext that teaches grammar and composition skills through proofreading and editing activities. Together these provide the most comprehensive and engaging English courses offered anywhere!
These literature anthologies are not separate literature courses but are part of our new English. Since the literature worktexts that are offered under OPTIONAL have always been offered as separate courses for extra credit they could be included for work load in literature.
9th and 12th Grade - To wet the ‘appetite’ both worktexts utilize brief excepts from classic literature to cover: composition, grammar, usage, mechanics, reading comprehension, literary style, and a review of spelling. By not overwhelming students these brief passages have successfully ignited a love for reading in many students who previously dreaded it.
While not available as of this printing our new 12th grade English, featuring British literature, should be available very soon. For now we recommend that, except for the struggling student, additional literature be included because of the benefits that good literature provides. Literature creates a passion for reading, teaches deeper thinking skills and enriches ourselves and our lives. It also teaches us about science, history, the arts, and ourselves, plus it improves our vocabulary, and our reading and writing skills.
Reading
We often find that our students are engaged in serious outside reading. This may be assigned from their place of worship or could spring from any number of outside interests. A log book is provided to insure recognition for auxiliary reading as a course. Typically a ½ credit is issued by the semester. Because the optional text based courses Reading & Composition are full year courses each is worth one credit.
Public Speaking
This ½ credit high school course is generally offered once for one semester. However, some students receive the equivalent of a high school or college level public speaking course by being enrolled in a Ministry School offered at their place of worship. We feel that their hard work should be recognized. Again, it is the value of a course and the student’s accomplishments that are considered determining factors in how much credit is issued. With documentation our school administration allows instructors to issue up to one credit for each high school year the student is enrolled in the Ministry School.
New! Our Public Speaking course has the same great features as our new college level computer based science and math courses described on pages 9 and 11. These include video tutorials utilizing interactive, audio, video and animation technology, plus printable quizzes and notes, automatic scoring, and complete solutions explaining answers. It includes a set of four disks, a textbook, and the companion website. See this symbol: C, under Optional on the high school order form. System requirements are on page 11.
Please Note: Articles on our website art taken from our printed catalog and page notes may not apply.
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Curriculum Services
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