Does anyone have a 9th grader taking AP Human Geography?

[Longsx3]

My DD will be a HS Freshman next year and it is time for class selection, AP Human Geography is a possibility and are looking for other's experience with the course?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Never heard of Human Geography. Run up to Borders and check out the study guide to see what the class is over.
Generally they have guides for most AP classes.

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

My dd is in AP Global History. They may be the same, just different names. She enjoys it - just had her midterm. It is alot of work since it is an actual college course (that she does get credit for yeah!). If you have any questions, just ask.

 

[clh2]

At my DD's high school - only juniors and seniors can take AP classes.

I know at some other schools - sophomores can take AP classes, but they can't earn the college credit (I'm not sure if they even take the AP exam in as a sophomore. They can take different AP classes in Junior and Senior years with the AP exams.

My DD is very bright, and as a junior next year, she will be taking 2 AP classes and 1 honors class. She took 3 honors classes as a freshman, and 3 honors classes this year.

I would not have wanted her to take an AP class either freshman or sophomore year. In our high school - it seems like EVERY class has a big project every quarter, my DD isn't lacking for things to do.

 

[taximomfor4]

never heard of Human Geography. I know dd's school had an AP Geography, but don't remember the word "human " being in the name. She did take it -- she took quite a few AP courses, although she didn't take a single AP exam. (She is a senior now, and in 2 AP courses .... or 3??)

 

[The Mystery Machine]

At my DD's high school - only juniors and seniors can take AP classes.

I know at some other schools - sophomores can take AP classes, but they can't earn the college credit (I'm not sure if they even take the AP exam in as a sophomore. They can take different AP classes in Junior and Senior years with the AP exams.

My DD is very bright, and as a junior next year, she will be taking 2 AP classes and 1 honors class. She took 3 honors classes as a freshman, and 3 honors classes this year.

I would not have wanted her to take an AP class either freshman or sophomore year. In our high school - it seems like EVERY class has a big project every quarter, my DD isn't lacking for things to do.

My dd took AP classes starting her freshman year in TX. You can take the AP tests and it does count, that is if your score is good. You need a 5 or some colleges accept a 4.

It depends on what the school has to offer. Her school in TX was very competitive with AP classes all over the place open to all students. I miss that curriculum.

AHA...found it.
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/sub_humangeo.html?humangeo

 

[PirateSnowmen]

My dd took AP classes starting her freshman year in TX. You can take the AP tests and it does count, that is if your score is good. You need a 5 or some colleges accept a 4.

A "passing grade" is a 3, 4, or a 5 (5 being the best). It depends on if the college will take the grade or not. Some colleges only accept 5's for college credit, some accept 4's and 5's, and some accept all three passing grades. I got a 3 on my AP Statistics test and I'm getting credit for it now in college. I don't know of any colleges that accept 1's or 2's.

As for the AP Geography, I can't help you there. They didn't start offering AP Geography at my high school until I was a Junior.

 

[krcit]

My dd is in AP Global History. They may be the same, just different names. She enjoys it - just had her midterm. It is alot of work since it is an actual college course (that she does get credit for yeah!). If you have any questions, just ask.

My dd is in global history honors(9th grade) It is a college level course and it keeps her on her toes, lol.

 

[laurie31]

I had never heard of Human Geography either. I had to google out of curiosity. It sounds interesting!

The purpose of the AP course in Human Geography is to introduce students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth's surface. Students employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human social organization and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their science and practice.

The particular topics studied in an AP Human Geography course should be judged in light of the following five college-level goals that build on the National Geography Standards developed in 1994. On successful completion of the course, the student should be able to:

Use and think about maps and spatial data
Understand and interpret the implications of associations among phenomena in places
Recognize and interpret at different scales the relationships among patterns and processes
Define regions and evaluate the regionalization process
Characterize and analyze changing interconnections among places

From: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/sub_humangeo.html

 

[SandiH]

My son is taking AP Human Geography right now. He LOVES it and is doing very well in it. There is a lot of reading and nightly homework. I know that it is a challenge for some as it is college level. His teacher is awesome as well and that of course helps. I think if your daughter like history/social studies type of classes and is strong in her reading and writing skills, she will probably enjoy the class and do well. If history/social studies aren't her thing or if she struggles at all in reading and writing, this might not be the course for her.

 

[Longsx3]

Thanks everyone for the info. SandiH one of the things that has me concerned is the writing, DD has maxed out the Lexile test for reading for years so that is not a problem but I worry about her writing. Her 8th Grade English Honors teacher assures me that she will be fine, the HS Guidance Counselor wants her in the class to be challenged and I know that she will like the subject material but I still worry.

 

[SandiH]

Thanks everyone for the info. SandiH one of the things that has me concerned is the writing, DD has maxed out the Lexile test for reading for years so that is not a problem but I worry about her writing. Her 8th Grade English Honors teacher assures me that she will be fine, the HS Guidance Counselor wants her in the class to be challenged and I know that she will like the subject material but I still worry.

I think liking the subject matter is huge. I think some people sign up for AP just because it's AP. I also believe that if you are going to challenge yourself, you need to like the subject matter so that you are happy with the challenge and not dreading it.

I don't think the writing is too bad. My son needs to outline the chapters and then on the tests there are some essay questions. If the Honors teacher and guidance counselor are recommending it and she would enjoy the subject, I would let her sign up. My son has really enjoyed the class. He's always talking about what they discussed in Human Geography.

Good luck with the decision.

 

[minniecarousel]

Freshmen can't take AP Human Geography at the school I work at. But, if her current teachers think she can handle it, I say go for it. The description below is from our school's course guide.

AP Human Geography (Grade 11 – 12)
The purpose of this course is to introduce qualified students to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped
human understanding, use, and alteration of the Earth’s surface. Major content areas to be studied are as follows: the nature of
perspectives of geography, population, cultural patterns and processes, political organization of space, agricultural and rural
land use, industrialization and economic development, and cities and urban land use. Students will employ spatial concepts and
landscape analysis to analyze human social organization and its environmental consequences.
Prerequisite: Teacher recommendations and pass screening test.

 

[SandiH]

My son just told me that in his class the tests are mostly multiple choice with some essay questions. He said to get the full credit on essay questions is hard, most people in his class get B's on the essay portion. Other than the essay questions, in his class, the writing involved is just outlining the chapter and taking notes.

In our school, it is a freshman class (I thought it was nationwide but maybe not) and the only AP class our freshman can take.

 

[pigletgirl]

We had that in our high school, and they didn't allow any freshman into the class. Freshman really didn't have the time to take the class due to other required things.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thanks everyone for the info. SandiH one of the things that has me concerned is the writing, DD has maxed out the Lexile test for reading for years so that is not a problem but I worry about her writing. Her 8th Grade English Honors teacher assures me that she will be fine, the HS Guidance Counselor wants her in the class to be challenged and I know that she will like the subject material but I still worry.

If the teachers think she will be fine, she will be fine. Don't be scared off. Yes, it is a lot of writing however it is time for her to come up to par.
My older dd loved AP and would not do anything else. Granted she pulled 3's on the test and did not get credit but overall she love taking the classes.

 

[golfgal]

At my DD's high school - only juniors and seniors can take AP classes.

I know at some other schools - sophomores can take AP classes, but they can't earn the college credit (I'm not sure if they even take the AP exam in as a sophomore. They can take different AP classes in Junior and Senior years with the AP exams.

My DD is very bright, and as a junior next year, she will be taking 2 AP classes and 1 honors class. She took 3 honors classes as a freshman, and 3 honors classes this year.

I would not have wanted her to take an AP class either freshman or sophomore year. In our high school - it seems like EVERY class has a big project every quarter, my DD isn't lacking for things to do.

Kids at our high school can take AP classes as sophomores and take the test in those classes. Most of the honor students take AP classes in social, English, Science and Math as sophomores and add more as juniors and seniors.

We had that in our high school, and they didn't allow any freshman into the class. Freshman really didn't have the time to take the class due to other required things.

Same here. We have 7 periods/day and 5 of those are taken up with required courses. If you are in band or choir that leaves you with one hour for electives and generally kids are taking a foreign language so that fills up that spot. Same in 10th grade.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

My son took AP Human Geography (Hug). I remember lots of index cards. Hundreds and hundreds of index cards with definitions on them. It is one of the easier AP classes at our school.

Not sure if DD will take it. She can't as a freshman this year, but could next year. I think she will pick something else though. Freshman can only take AP World History at our HS. "AP choice" is the freshman route to go if taking AP the last 3 years.

 

[taximomfor4]

Kids at our high school can take AP classes as sophomores and take the test in those classes. Most of the honor students take AP classes in social, English, Science and Math as sophomores and add more as juniors and seniors.



Same here. We have 7 periods/day and 5 of those are taken up with required courses. If you are in band or choir that leaves you with one hour for electives and generally kids are taking a foreign language so that fills up that spot. Same in 10th grade.

dd's school just substitues the AP class for the required class in the same area of study. So AP Human Geo would just replace whatever the social studies was in that grade.

DD carefully chose the AP courses she wanted, and took the ones that sounded really interesting to her. For the ones that were less interesting, she stayed in Honors instead. SHe hasn't chosen to take a single AP exam yet, by choice.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

SHe hasn't chosen to take a single AP exam yet, by choice.

So many of you have said that. You are REQUIRED to take the AP exam here, the school even pays for it. Part of your grade too! Of course our HS tries to (and does) get National ranking for AP every year. AP is really pushed down the kids throats.

AP classes are also in place of the regular or honors class here too. AP English counts as an English.