Summer's over

[Hrhpd]

I think maybe the OP was just surprised by it, that's all. Not that she was complaining or saying they shouldn't assign it.

Saying the school crossed the line in assigning the amount of homework sure sounds like complaining and saying they shouldn't have assigned that much.

Really, just have her drop the AP history class. If it is anything like our AP history classes, this assignment is nothing compared to the amount of work that will follow during the semester. Our AP History classes have the most homework and the most assignments of any class. Many, many kids opt to not take it unless it is beneficial to their future college major.

Many of my kid's friends are preparing for science and engineering majors. While they take all the math, science and lit AP classes, they avoid AP History like the plague just because it has an enormous work load.

 

[carissa1970]

Saying the school crossed the line in assigning the amount of homework sure sounds like complaining and saying they shouldn't have assigned that much.

I had to go back and look...I missed where she said that. Okay, I agree then, she is complaining, but its okay. Her daughter will do it anyhow and next summer they won't be surprised.

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[jrmasm]

I don't know if its reasonable but it's normal. Our Honors level classes have summer work too.

 

[debster812]

I really don't think it's anything new. I spent the summer between my Junior & Senior year of HS (1983) as a foreign exchange student. I had summer assignments for AP English & AP European History that I took with me, and had to complete lots of reading, and do some worksheets & summaries as well.

DS is taking 3 APs next year, and I expect he'll be busy, but he's an early riser, and most of his friends sleep VERY late, so he's got a few hours in the morning before things start happening that he can get his work done. At least on the days he has no Captain's Practice for soccer.

 

[dogluva]

If schools weren't so concerned with testing, then there wouldn't be a need to play "catch-up." Personally, that's a pretty light load. I was in high school ten years ago, and I had to read 5 books every summer.

Your daughter hopefully isn't being forced into doing that other stuff. Education is so important throughout life. (I agree with the AP stuff- it's good to take those classes, but there's no need to take those exams.) Complaining that there's too much work just instills in your daughter that if it's too hard, it's not worth doing. Hey, she's learning how to multitask- something she needs to learn in college! (Unless she's getting her Bachelor's in Partying...)

To the other posters that are complaining that school breaks are meant for doing nothing, I feel bad for your kids. They need to enjoy life, but they also need to be shown that there is more to life than video games and binge drinking on the weekends (I'm sure your kids don't do that stuff, but I know plenty of high schoolers who prefer to drink and smoke instead of doing something productive). That being said, if you don't like the school, just homeschool your kids. I'm sure you know more than the educators who are paid to teach it.

Wow, this post is both insulting to both students not in AP courses and teachers! Students who take regular courses just party and the teachers don't know the course material! Nice generalizations!

 

[Aliceacc]

If schools weren't so concerned with testing, then there wouldn't be a need to play "catch-up." Again, AP has nothing to do with high stakes testing. You're mixing up your arguments. And I don't know a single teacher who is in favor of all the emphasis on the high stakes testing. Those requirements come down from on high, as states adopt Common Core. It's the politicians and state administrators who are "so concerned with testing" and not the teachers. But the AP is an exam that high school kids take to receive college credit for courses they take in high school. It's not "catching up", it's getting ahead.Personally, that's a pretty light load. I was in high school ten years ago, and I had to read 5 books every summer. Ten years ago, there was no high stakes testing. So I'm a bit confused as to your point. Are you saying that, even with all the high stakes testing, you had to work harder 10 years ago than kids today?? So YOU were the ones who had to "play 'catch-up' ????"

Your daughter hopefully isn't being forced into doing that other stuff. Education is so important throughout life. (I agree with the AP stuff- it's good to take those classes, but there's no need to take those exams.While I happen to agree that they're not for everyone, they do save a lot of money for a lot of peole.Why on earth would you sit through the course and NOT take the exam??? (And where did the OP mention the exam?? She's concerned with the summer workload, not the AP exam.) Perhaps more important, AP credits open up the opportunity for college kids to take classes they're interested in,or that will help them professionally, having gotten the more basic courses out of the way in high school. ) Complaining that there's too much work just instills in your daughter that if it's too hard, it's not worth doing. The OP was posting on a message board, not suggesting that her daughter not do the work. Hey, she's learning how to multitask- something she needs to learn in college! (Unless she's getting her Bachelor's in Partying...From all indications, her daughter is a hard working student in honors courses who has been accepted into an AP course... why on earth would you read that into it????)

To the other posters that are complaining that school breaks are meant for doing nothing, I feel bad for your kids. Insulting other posters, particularly in an area in which you have no experience, doesn't lend any credibility to your point.They need to enjoy life, but they also need to be shown that there is more to life than video games and binge drinking on the weekends (I'm sure your kids don't do that stuff, but I know plenty of high schoolers who prefer to drink and smoke instead of doing something productiveAnd I know several thousand who are not; I teach in a large high school. Our kids, regardless of their academic track, do so much for the community!!! The fact that the teens you know make remarkably bad choices is not the determinant of policy. Sure, some troll message boards, making bad arguments and looking to insult peole. The vast majority of teens, however, are wondeful kids who are trying to make their way in a diificult world. They're volunteering, they're giving their all to sports, they're concerned about their families and friends. ). That being said, if you don't like the school, where did the OP say that??? She was unhappy about the summer workloadjust homeschool your kidsSure, because it's all that easy.. I'm sure you know more than the educators who are paid to teach it. Whether that' s meant to be sarcastic or not, it's intended to insult someone. Either it's people like me, with 28 years of experience teaching high school, or the OP, whose academic background we're absolutely unaware of. Perhaps she has her PhD in history, and would be very well qualified to teach her daughter that AP course.

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[aprilgail2]

At least it seems so to my DD (rising HS sophomore).

She went to the school website today (last day of school was Friday) to see if the summer assignments were posted. She got her assignment for English (read a book, keep a journal for 20 consecutive days, test on the book when school starts again), AND for AP World History... complete 13(!) worksheets... 1-12 are due the first day of school, #13 on the 3rd day. Each worksheet is 5 pages long. No certain book to get the information from, use the internet, library, whatever. Oh, and there will be a test on #1-12 in the first week.

There are less than 12 weeks until school starts back up. DD has a weeklong church camp and is going to the Junior Classical League convention in Las Vegas for 4-5 days.

I get having a reading project due, but this seems extreme to me. She said nothing was mentioned before school let out.

No, I'm not looking for suggestions on what to do. All I want to know is if this seems reasonable for HS.

Is this just for AP classes? I've never heard of having work to do over summer break... Other than "recommended" summer reading.

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EVERYONE here has summer work- some just more than others. From K-6 they just have to read 2 books, take an internet test on them and write a report and a summer math packet. After that it gets more and more.
For 7th going into 8th my daughter had this social studies packet with projects due certain times throughout the summer. Plus reading and math.
This coming summer its read two books, internet test and reports. Summer Math and a Social Studies project. We already had the meeting with the science and english depts for next year and they gave them their textbooks for next year along with summer projects- for English its reading another book and report and the only issue we have is with the Biology homework- it must be turned in between certain dates via the internet the entire summer long. Its all 10 day intervals and my daughter is going away to sleep away camp with no internet access for a few weeks. I am still waiting to hear back from them what she is supposed to do for that! Her friend is going to poland for a month and is going to have to pack these textbooks to take with her.
Some summer reading work isn't bad but to give projects due every 10 days is insane--people do actually go on vacation during the summer and yes, some go for more than 10 days!!

 

[mhsjax]

Very normal and reasonable for AP classes. That is why they are AP.

DS is taking AP Chem, AP Lit and AP Calc next year. Has summer assignments in all. AP Chem has a test on the first day based on the summer assignment.

I disagree, mine has never had this much work over the summer, even with his AP classes, and yet he somehow has managed to pass, with flying colors, his AP tests for college credit.

NOw he hasn't taken all AP classes, but has taken 3. Only one had a huge summer project.

 

[sam_gordon]

Just to clear up some incorrect assumptions...

1) I'm a 'he', not a 'she'.
2) I'm not against summer work. DD has had it for the last 3-4 years. It's the AMOUNT of summer work I was asking about.
3) And if anyone would be complaining, it would be DD. She's not. She's going to start on it today as a matter of fact. I do think there is such a thing as "too much", like aprilgail2's example of needing internet access throughout the summer. A book report on the other hand can be done (or at least worked on) during vacation. You need the book, some paper, and a pencil. Does DD's assignments qualify as "too much"? Based on answers here, no.

 

[luvsJack]

Sam I am with you, there is a point of too much even if it is an ap class. And I would wonder from some of the posters here, what would you consider too much?

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Not only is school not over, my high schooler won't even know what her schedule is until sometime in August. So she doesn't get work over the summer.

Unless you count marching band.

 

[FireDancer]

I did not have a single assignment I had to do over the summer when I was a kid. Not one from Kindergarten through high school. I also only remember one assignment I was supposed to do over Christmas break but that ended up being canceled because the last two days before break were snow days. I find the whole concept strange.

 

[Colleen27]

EVERYONE here has summer work- some just more than others. From K-6 they just have to read 2 books, take an internet test on them and write a report and a summer math packet. After that it gets more and more.
For 7th going into 8th my daughter had this social studies packet with projects due certain times throughout the summer. Plus reading and math.

We haven't gotten our summer packets for my girls yet and knowing the school I'm sure there won't be any hard-and-fast due dates attached because they're exceedingly flexible even during the school year about balancing school with family and other interests, but all the kids (including incoming kindergartners if they're registered by the end of the previous academic year) have summer assignments.

I do think summer break is supposed to be a time for having nothing to do... because that's how kids figure out what it is that they want to be doing. Loading the kids down with academic work (esp. with deadlines or a requirement of being present online/in person at set times) gets in the way of the things kids should be doing over the summer IMO - traveling, going to camp, playing sports, and generally exploring non-academic interests. Our summer schedule is pretty loaded down with football, band, 4H, community garden, scout camp, horseback riding lessons, mini-trips, swim team, 5ks, etc. because there's no time during the school year to do those things. I'm not against summer reading lists or small amounts of work but it shouldn't be so much that kids are pressured not to go to camp or have to worry about how they'll keep up with their work while on vacation with the family.

 

[pyrxtc]

Totally unreasonable.

Its summer BREAK

School is out and she should be free. I equate this to working weekends with out pay.

My kids will not be doing school work this summer and if the school has a problem with that they can deal with me.

My thoughts exactly. School is not during summer unless you are failing a class and have to make it up. Summer is for fun.

 

[laura.anne]

My daughter had a similar workload for AP classes in high school.

My daughter also felt she was at a disadvantage vis a vis AP exams because we live in NY, where public school doesn't begin until after Labor Day, yet she had to take the exams at the same time as students whose AP classes had been meeting since mid August.

She put in the work, however, and started her freshman year at [a prominent Jesuit university] with 15 credits. [and I'll add the gratuitous brag that she made Dean's List this year].

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This reminds me of when I was in high school, sort of. Our classes always started the last week of July (!) but we were on a block schedule, so for example my senior year I took AP European History fall semester and then AP Macro, AP Latin, AP Lit, and AP American Gov spring semester. I still got a 4 on the Euro exam but it sucked having to take it a semester after we were done with the course.

 

[HM]

My DD is graduating this year. This is the first summer in three years that she doesn't have anything to do other than go to her job (that is only 20-30 hours week). She's not quite sure what to do with herself.

Last summer she took Pre-Calculus online, did AP English and AP Biology summer work, took care of a neighbors dog at lunch each day, and volunteered 102 hours for the Mayors award.

The summer before she took Spanish 3 online, did AP Psych and AP Environmental summer work, and babysat.

 

[mjkacmom]

In elementary, they have to read 3 books and write summaries. In middle and high school, 3 books they get tested on, different books for honor students. AP classes require a pretty large paper handed in on the first day of school. I think it's pretty light for more than two months off from school! Ds15 will have daily soccer practice for the last month, so no going away then. Dd16 works anyway.

 

[mjkacmom]

Totally unreasonable.

Its summer BREAK

School is out and she should be free. I equate this to working weekends with out pay.

My kids will not be doing school work this summer and if the school has a problem with that they can deal with me.

So you would have your children's grades lowered, and GPA lowered, to make this point? They are graded on summer work.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

This reminds me of when I was in high school, sort of. Our classes always started the last week of July (!) but we were on a block schedule, so for example my senior year I took AP European History fall semester and then AP Macro, AP Latin, AP Lit, and AP American Gov spring semester. I still got a 4 on the Euro exam but it sucked having to take it a semester after we were done with the course.

Must have been "fun" to prep for that.

The other issue we have -- the school year goes until the end of June. The last two weeks are set aside for finals and NYS Regents exams. But the AP classes complete the curriculum by early May, in time for exams. Lots of classroom time from mid-May until mid-June. What do they do with all that time?

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[Lorelei Lee]

So you would have your children's grades lowered, and GPA lowered, to make this point? They are graded on summer work.

As I said, if she wants to take that stance she and her children must be prepared to accept the consequences.

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