College-Bound with TLP
I am often asked what titles a high school student should choose, but that answer depends on whether the student is seeking admission into a four-year university, a two-year junior college, a trade school or other option. This post is for college-bound young adults.
Communicate with the universities in which your student is interested.
My first recommendation is to ask admission counselors what their university is looking for, and tailor the titles of your courses to get their attention. You might be surprised, as I was, at their response. For example, none of the Christian universities we looked at were impressed with the fact that my students had studied Bible all four years. We made those studies relevant by titling them creatively. For example, a thorough study of Genesis was labeled "Ancient Civilizations" on the transcript.
College-Bound students have different educational needs from other young adults.
Most universities require four years of "English." Most want strong writing and literature analysis courses-for good reason. You want your student prepared to write those term papers and be able to analyze literature.
The following are our recommendations. Other options are just as valid, but this is a good starting place:
Ninth Grade (Title the course "Writing and Grammar.")
Study Guides:
(choose 3 if doing a focus guide, choose 4 if not)
The Hiding Place,
The Yearling,
The Trumpeter of Krakow,
Swiss Family Robinson,
Around the World in 80 Days (also listed with 10th grade options)
Focus Guide:
Dragon's Blood
Tenth Grade (Title the course "Great Literature.")
Study Guides:
(choose 3 if doing a focus guide, choose 4 if not)
To Kill a Mockingbird,
The Scarlet Pimpernel,
Treasure Island,
The Scarlet Letter (also listed with 11th grade options),
Around the World in 80 Days
Focus Guide:
Animal Farm
Eleventh Grade (Title the course "American Literature.")
Study Guides:
American Lit: nonfiction,
American Lit: short stories,
American Lit: poetry, The Scarlet Letter
Focus Guide:
The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck is considered an American author by Americans, a British author by the English, and a Chinese author by Chinese)
Twelfth Grade (Title the course "British Literature.")
Study Guides:
(choose 3 if doing a focus guide, choose 4 if not)
Oliver Twist,
A Christmas Carol,
Jane Eyre,
Pride and Prejudice,
Lord of the Flies
Focus Guide:
The Screwtape Letters
Option: World Literature
Study Guides:
Swiss Family Robinson,
Around the World in 80 Days,
The Scarlet Pimpernel
Focus Guide:
The Good Earth
Before you make your selections, pray for God's wisdom and guidance. Don't hesitate to choose different titles if you feel led in a different direction.
Gracious Father, we come before you, humbly kneeling before your throne, seeking your wisdom as we teach your children. We want to honor you through our homeschooling, and look to you to direct us. Thank you for promising us wisdom when we ask. Thank you for going with us on our homeschool journey. Because of Jesus, Amen
