How much do you prepare your kids for life before they leave home?

[mnrose]

Some of you may want to check your school's course handbook, you may find these types of classes are offered.
In our district all middle school students take clothing (sewing), foods, computer, and tech classes. These are required.
When the students get to HS they can choose to take electives that focus on those things. My ds has chosen the culinary electives, last year he took food prep which taught the basics like food safety, knife skills, etc. He also took gourmet foods where he actually learned to cook all kinds of different foods, this year he is taking baking.
Under the business education electives there are classes for money management, and financial math.
These aren't mandatory in HS but they are offered to all student regardless of whether or not they are focusing on a business education or family and consumer science (that is where culinary classes fit).

Something like this was offered in my kids' high school. However, there was literally NO TIME left in the day to take such a class if (a) you took a foreign language class, which is pretty much required by any reputable 4 year college and (b) wanted to take ANY sort of music or art class in high school. Indeed, because my son took both music AND a foreign language, he had to take the required health and PE classes during the summer in order to graduate. I kid you not. So, while these were offered, basically with all the other REQUIRED classes if you are college bound, there was no period ever to take them. Only non-college bound students ended up in these classes. Dumb. Our school had 6 periods a day. 4 had required "core" subjects (math, social science, science and English), and the other two were filled with music, foreign language. Done.

 

[disykat]

My kids also had the problem with not enough electives and having to take PE in the summer. However I STILL think they should have a required class with an option available to test out of it. Easy peasy. Your child knows the basics, they test out and don't have to take it. If my kids hadn't been able to test out, I would hope they would have it available in the summer and they could take it when they took PE.

 

[cabanafrau]

It was incredibly frustrating to me that you could get the PE credit fulfilled by participating in a sport, in or out of school, by playing one season. My daughter danced all the way from kindergarten through senior year of high school for ten to 12 months every year, for several years on the competitive track danced 11 classes per week during the entire school year and it wasn't sufficient to fulfill the PE credit. Head of the athletic department ended up being her PE teacher in a weight conditioning class she took to fulfill the requirement. The football team was required to take the class. She either outlifted or matched the lifting capabilities of even the biggest defensive guys on the team.

She was already taking an extra class every trimester beyond her classmates because she split her days between her home HS and another where she followed a STEM program. Getting that PE credit fulfilled with her dancing would have sure been a boost.

 

[mjkacmom]

It was incredibly frustrating to me that you could get the PE credit fulfilled by participating in a sport, in or out of school, by playing one season. My daughter danced all the way from kindergarten through senior year of high school for ten to 12 months every year, for several years on the competitive track danced 11 classes per week during the entire school year and it wasn't sufficient to fulfill the PE credit. Head of the athletic department ended up being her PE teacher in a weight conditioning class she took to fulfill the requirement. The football team was required to take the class. She either outlifted or matched the lifting capabilities of even the biggest defensive guys on the team.

She was already taking an extra class every trimester beyond her classmates because she split her days between her home HS and another where she followed a STEM program. Getting that PE credit fulfilled with her dancing would have sure been a boost.

Here PE is required all four years of HS, no opt out, dd17 dances 5 days a week, plus runs xc and track for the HS (dd15 plays soccer/runs track, ds15 plays soccer (plus club)/basketball/track). They have to have a certain curriculum. Financial Literacy is a state requirement, plus a practical art (like culinary or electrical).

 

[Hikergirl]

Something like this was offered in my kids' high school. However, there was literally NO TIME left in the day to take such a class if (a) you took a foreign language class, which is pretty much required by any reputable 4 year college and (b) wanted to take ANY sort of music or art class in high school. Indeed, because my son took both music AND a foreign language, he had to take the required health and PE classes during the summer in order to graduate. I kid you not. So, while these were offered, basically with all the other REQUIRED classes if you are college bound, there was no period ever to take them. Only non-college bound students ended up in these classes. Dumb. Our school had 6 periods a day. 4 had required "core" subjects (math, social science, science and English), and the other two were filled with music, foreign language. Done.

You definitely have to make room in your schedule, but one of the requirements for graduation here are a certain amount of elective credits, and you have 4 years to do it. PE is every other day, so usually an elective is scheduled on the other days. We have 8 periods a day. Also, many electives are half year courses. My kids all gave up their lunches every year to take more electives. Some students wait until Senior year and fill their schedule with them since the only required classes that year are ELA, Social Studies and PE (assuming they took and passed all the other required ones). 2 of my kids had already had their electives and required classes so the opted for early dismissal.
We have several types of diplomas so there are ways students can incorporate their electives in without risking any other classes.

 

[cabanafrau]

You definitely have to make room in your schedule, but one of the requirements for graduation here are a certain amount of elective credits, and you have 4 years to do it. PE is every other day, so usually an elective is scheduled on the other days. We have 8 periods a day. Also, many electives are half year courses. My kids all gave up their lunches every year to take more electives. Some students wait until Senior year and fill their schedule with them since the only required classes that year are ELA, Social Studies and PE (assuming they took and passed all the other required ones). 2 of my kids had already had their electives and required classes so the opted for early dismissal.
We have several types of diplomas so there are ways students can incorporate their electives in without risking any other classes.

My daughter already had no lunch period because of the transport time involved moving from one school to the other. As I said, she already took an extra class every single day in comparison to the other students at her home HS. Home HS utilized block scheduling, with 5 classes per day. She took 6 classes per day all 4 years of HS. I'm reasonably sure the problem wasn't my daughter's slacking. You're of course free to attempt to make that assertion all day long.

ETA She also knew when she agreed to pursue the STEM program that participating in HS choir would always be out of the question because she would never be able to physically be in the building during choir classes. Then again, I suppose she could have "made room in her schedule" there, too.

 

[Hikergirl]

My daughter already had no lunch period because of the transport time involved moving from one school to the other. As I said, she already took an extra class every single day in comparison to the other students at her home HS. Home HS utilized block scheduling, with 5 classes per day. She took 6 classes per day all 4 years of HS. I'm reasonably sure the problem wasn't my daughter's slacking. You're of course free to attempt to make that assertion all day long.

ETA She also knew when she agreed to pursue the STEM program that participating in HS choir would always be out of the question because she would never be able to physically be in the building during choir classes. Then again, I suppose she could have "made room in her schedule" there, too.

I think it is wonderful that schools offer these kids so many options for programs and electives but it comes at a price. The kids find out they have to sacrifice things in order to do them.

 

[cabanafrau]

I think it is wonderful that schools offer these kids so many options for programs and electives but it comes at a price. The kids find out they have to sacrifice things in order to do them.

Kind of like life itself.

 

[tvguy]

My kids also had the problem with not enough electives and having to take PE in the summer. However I STILL think they should have a required class with an option available to test out of it. Easy peasy. Your child knows the basics, they test out and don't have to take it. If my kids hadn't been able to test out, I would hope they would have it available in the summer and they could take it when they took PE.

Both my kids went to Catholic High School and summer school was REQUIRED 2 of their 4 years. That's how they squeezed 5 years of math and 5 years of English in 4 years. And they also had required summer reading. But it was disclosed all before you even applied to the school.
I never had summer reading, but I took summer school 2 of my 4 years in High School, Chemistry and Biology so I would have just one class to worry about and hopefully get a better grade. Also allowed me to take fun classes like woodshop, auto shop and "bachelor living" (cooking for boys) during the regular year as electives.

But I took summer school most summers from elementary school through Junior high school just for something to do. 3 weeks out of the 12 or so I was off during the summer was no big deal.

 

[cabanafrau]

Here PE is required all four years of HS, no opt out, dd17 dances 5 days a week, plus runs xc and track for the HS (dd15 plays soccer/runs track, ds15 plays soccer (plus club)/basketball/track). They have to have a certain curriculum. Financial Literacy is a state requirement, plus a practical art (like culinary or electrical).

If she could fulfill the PE requirement with XC or track, would she have liked the option? If she only danced and did not participate in the xc or track, wanted the extra room in her sched for pursuing other classes and the policies would not allow it -- yet would waive the requirement if she bowled in a league or played on a softball team outside of school, do you think that might be frustrating?

During the years mine was competing in dance she was dancing 11 classes a week, which was six days a week, year round -- did not suffice for PE requirement. 3-1/2 months of softball in an outside league would satisfy the PE requirement. Bowling for one day a week in a league for 3-4 months would satisfy the requirement. Dance was even a part of the PE curriculum, with square dancing still being a unit in some classes. Yet verified dance classes and participation would not satisfy the requirement for reasons no one could explain.

 

[jaybirdsmommy]

Freshmen at my oldest's school are required to take a "career prep" class that is 2 semesters long. Among the things you would think career prep should cover (interview skills, job research, presentations, etc) they covered banking (writing checks), investments, budgeting, and other life skills.

 

[sk!mom]

It was incredibly frustrating to me that you could get the PE credit fulfilled by participating in a sport, in or out of school, by playing one season. My daughter danced all the way from kindergarten through senior year of high school for ten to 12 months every year, for several years on the competitive track danced 11 classes per week during the entire school year and it wasn't sufficient to fulfill the PE credit. Head of the athletic department ended up being her PE teacher in a weight conditioning class she took to fulfill the requirement. The football team was required to take the class. She either outlifted or matched the lifting capabilities of even the biggest defensive guys on the team.

She was already taking an extra class every trimester beyond her classmates because she split her days between her home HS and another where she followed a STEM program. Getting that PE credit fulfilled with her dancing would have sure been a boost.

If she could fulfill the PE requirement with XC or track, would she have liked the option? If she only danced and did not participate in the xc or track, wanted the extra room in her sched for pursuing other classes and the policies would not allow it -- yet would waive the requirement if she bowled in a league or played on a softball team outside of school, do you think that might be frustrating?

During the years mine was competing in dance she was dancing 11 classes a week, which was six days a week, year round -- did not suffice for PE requirement. 3-1/2 months of softball in an outside league would satisfy the PE requirement. Bowling for one day a week in a league for 3-4 months would satisfy the requirement. Dance was even a part of the PE curriculum, with square dancing still being a unit in some classes. Yet verified dance classes and participation would not satisfy the requirement for reasons no one could explain.

My DD22 was a dancer, as well. She took classes 2-3 hours a day with the local Civic Ballet. Plus rehearsals many evenings and most Saturdays during the season. Productions were never rehearsed during class time. The Ballet director worked with our local school district to get approval as an off site PE option. She had to provide the curriculum for each level and once approved maintain records of attendance and progress. Beginning in middle school, DD got a grade on her report card just like she would have for any PE class. The schools are very good about scheduling the students for last period PE so that they can leave and head to the studio. Getting to leave early was a big win that took years (DD was in high school by then) since it allowed the students to start class sooner and finish earlier.

The Civic Ballet is the only dance school here that has approval. Since they have a set, printed curriculum and present a full season of productions so it was easy to show the results of that curriculum.

Did your DD's dance school seek approval?

 

[PollyannaMom]

My DS is a senior this year, so we have definitely been checking to make sure he's picked things up along the way. He's long had to clean his room, help take out trash...things like that, and we started money-management early, but we've added things like making sure he can actually run the washing machine, jump start his car...

He can do some simple cooking, but I also think it's fine if a lot of that comes later, too. After basic kitchen skills, following recipes you are motivated to try is a great way to learn!

As people have noted you can google all kinds of things these days - so the real skill is knowing when to trust yourself, when to look something up and when to ask for help.

Excellent point. YouTube is a wonderful filler-of-gaps, and the ability to text home for advice takes a lot of the "did I tell him ____?" pressure off.