Music In Our Schools Month on March, 2024: Do you think that schooling year-round has advantages over the 9-month schedule?

March, 2024 is Music In Our Schools Month 2024.

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Do you think that schooling year-round has advantages over the 9-month schedule?

I've HS'ed for over four years and we've always done year-round schooling. It just makes way more sense for our family. I'm the one that has the hardest time in the fall getting back into the swing of things. ;-) DS goes nuts when he doesn't have "formal" work to do year-round.

We do have a lighter summer - generally just spelling and math. This year we're adding music for the summer rather than trying to fit it in during the year (DS's courses are getting harder).

We typically block out our curriculum schedule from Thanksgiving to New Years. That's not to say we don't do any curriculum work; we just do it as we have time. The holidays are so busy that it's really nice. We also take off a week or so here and there if we need it.

In the summer, DS has a track & field and camps, so many of the weeks are taken up with that. We also take a 12-day family vacation. Generally vacation has a LOT of education worked in ;-). It's hours we can count.

My DD is in PS and goes to summer school, so we do a lot of work during the time she's there. Then we cut back a bit the rest of the summer.

Our curriculum is scheduled for a 180-day school year. Doing it throughout the year takes *a lot* of pressure off. We also do modified block scheduling, and so our year-round schedule helps this.

It's so hot in the summer we don't want to be outside anyway. We'd rather "save up" those days and stay in and work and then "take them off" in the spring and fall when the weather is lovely!

Oh, and another benefit is this. My DS is a quick learner anyway, but when we start a new year of math or grammar, we shoot right through the first few units because they're typically review. Since his mind has been "used" all summer, he doesn't lose a lot of the info.

Before my DD was old enough for school, we loved taking family vacations when PS kids were in school. Now that she is in school we have to take them in the summer and it's for the birds: too hot, more expensive, and vacation areas are too crowded.

Some year-round schools (and HSers) do a "three on, one off" schedule. Our former church's school had a Mon-Thur school week. There are many options. The great thing about HS'ing is you do what's best for your family and change it as needed.

Berklee Music College in Boston question?

Berklee Music College in Boston question?

Because Berklee is an elite level school in contemporary music, one of the real benefits of going there (in addition to the obvious benefits of their music education) are the connections you'll make with faculty and students, and in the music scene. So yes, I think you should apply there, and then see where it all takes you. Boston itself has a strong music scene, so you'll have opportunities there as well.

I see no reason why you can't keep your band, or a band, going while you're at Berklee. It'd be pretty normal there. So while at Berklee, you can continue to try to pursue your music career. Again, see where it all takes you.

At least apply. See how the next year goes re: your album, then decide what's next for you.

hi!all school going children of USA :)?

hi!all school going children of USA :)?

Well, I'm a teacher, but I'll try to help you out.

Our students start school, formally, at the age of 5 in kindergarten. It is a fun year of learning shapes, numbers, colors and letters. Some are half-day (say three hours) and some are full day (say 8-3).

Then the next year is First grade, which begins "grade school". Elementary school is typically seen as grades first through sixth, with each grade being a year, normally from august or September to June. Most students have vacation from June through August.

A typical day begins between 7:30 and 8:30, and ends between 2:30 and 3:00. The school week is in most places Monday through Friday. You normally have just one or two teachers for a year, and study Math, reading, writing and spelling. You may do little units on science or social studies (history/geography), but not too much in first, second or third grade. Normally once a week you have physical education class (gym or P.E.), where you exercise and learn healthy habits. you also tend to have weekly lessons in art and music. You normally get to play outside twice during the day, and before one of those "recess" times, you eat lunch. Homework varies during these grades, but you will typically have half an hour to an hour at this point every night.

Fourth grade normally introduces you to multiple teachers for multiple subjects, and science and social studies become part of your regular daily curriculum. A typical fourth grader is nine going on ten. By this point they can read just about everything put in front of them, and they can write multiple pages that are relatively well organized. They normally are reduced to one "recess", after lunch, at this point. They typically have a day divided into five subjects: math, science, social studies, reading, spelling/grammar. They still have the weekly gym, art and music classes. Normally a computer class is added on a weekly basis. Students who wish to play a musical instrument normally pick it up between third and fifth grade. Day is the same length as the younger grades. (in fact, they doesn't change)

Grading at these grades varies greatly. Some schools use a scale of A,B,C,D,F, with A being excellent and F being failing. Other schools grade according to a proficiency scale, with "advanced proficiency" being good, and "below minimum standards of proficiency" being bad.

There are a lot of changes happening in grade school grading right now.

Students are expected to take standardized tests that are identical for every student in their state in grades 3,5,8 and 11. They are graded on a proficiency scale.

In either sixth grade or seventh grade, most students shift to "middle school." They have a different teacher for every subject and they normally get their first "locker," or a metal box in a hallway to hold all their belongings. Students may begin to take a foreign language at this point, and maybe an "elective" or a subject they enjoy, like advanced computers or cooking or woodworking or photography. Instead of having "recess" where they run around outside after lunch, they will have a "study hall" where they have quiet time to study and do homework at some point during the day. A typical class length is about 45 min, though that varies for a reason I'm about to explai

High school is typically grades 9-12, and the students are 14-18. It is still nine months long (180 days of class) and it is still mostly 7:30-2:45 or so.

Some high schools have four classes per day of 90 min. Others have 8 classes per day of 45 min. It depends on where you live.

Most high schools are on a quarter schedule, which is typically 10 weeks. In a 90 min. school, called a "block schedule", you will have a major class, like math, history, science and english, for two quarters. In a 45 min. school, you will have them for four quarters.

Oh, a word about what we call each year. I know most foreign countries will say "grade nine," while in the States we tend to say "ninth grade." The preferred way of referring to each high school year is as such:

Ninth grade - freshmen (thought we have a vice principal at my school who consistently calls them "freshpersons" to avoid calling a group that includes females "men")

Tenth grade - sophomore

Eleventh grade - junior

Twelfth grade - senior

Classes tend to be the four big ones: math, science, social studies, and english. Most high school students take 2-4 years of a foreign language. Students still average out to having gym once or twice a week, but various schools have different schedules. Most schools have you take a quarter of driving lessons, and classes in art and music for at least a quarter. Computer classes are standard at most schools.

The most popular foreign language offered is Spanish, followed by French. Larger schools are able to offer German and some schools offer Latin. I have heard of schools offering Italian, Russian, Japanese and Mandarin, but they are few and far between.

A typical high school student will study Biology, Chemistry and Physics in science, with Anatomy and advanced courses for those that want it. Math includes Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics and perhaps Calculus if they excel at math. Social studies typically includes American history, World history, economics, Government and maybe international relations, psychology or sociology.

Our English classes in high school tend to blend writing and literature with vocabulary skills. There is some work done on grammar, but not as much as at the elementary and middle school levels.

Music/band/chorus classes tend to be very popular at high school, as do art classes.

Students will normally take a test in class every two weeks. Every quarter, a report card is sent home. Most high schools grade on a percentile basis. anything above a 90 is considered excellent. Most schools consider failing between a 60 and a 70, depending on the school. Grades are based on tests, homework and, to a lesser extent, participation.

Once your grades are computed, you will then have your overall average changed into a GPA (or QPA), which normally is a scale of 0-5. 4-5 mean the students is really excelling and taking lots of advanced and AP classes. 3-4 mean the students is excellent. 2.5-3.0 means the students is a good students. 2.0-2.5 means the students is just okay. 1.5-2.0 means the student really struggles. 1.0-1.5 means the student is barely passing. below 1.0 means the student is failing just about everything.

Advanced students are normally very obsessed with their class rank. At graduation from high school, the top two students are recognized as valedictorian(1) and salutatorian(2) and they normally get to give a speech.

Students take several standardized tests. In addition to the grade eleven proficiency tests, most high school students take mid-terms, normally administered in December or January, and finals, normally administered in May or June. These are course specific tests meant to see how much knowledge of the last semester (which is two quarters) the student has retained.

Additionally, students wishing to go to college should take a series of college (most Americans call university "college") aptitude tests. Juniors take a PSAT/NMSQT, which can qualify them for scholarship money for college. Juniors and seniors take the either the SAT or the ACT.

Colleges normally look at a students grades and their scores on the SAT or ACT to determine enrollment. There is no "entrance exam" into most colleges.

Most schools in the USA are public, meaning they are free. Everyone must attend until they are at least 16.

There are a handful of private schools, which parents can opt to send their children to for the cost of tuition.

You can normally tell which school a student attends because, in most cases, public school students wear regular clothes to school while private school students wear uniforms, which are like school uniforms across the globe with plaid skirts and button down blouses and sweaters with school logos for girls and pants and ties for boys.

A typical high school class normally begins with some work to get the students brain working about the subject, then a little bit of note-taking and lecturing, then perhaps an activity to reinforce what was learned, and then a quick review. Homework for a high school student varies, but it normally takes about two hours/night.

High school courses are typically offered at three different levels. You can be taking a "fundamental" or "basic" class, which means you struggle with that subject. An "academic" or "college-prep" class means you do average to somewhat above average work in that subject. "Honors" means you typically achieve a 90 or so above in that subject and are taking a course with more content.

American high schools also offer college level courses to high school students. These are called AP, and are meant to be challenging. Only the brave take those!

Oh, I'm aware that in some countries, you have the same students with you for every class. This isn't the case in American high schools. You will normally have a class of 20-35 students, and then, when class is over, you get up and go your separate ways to different classes. Every student's schedule is unique.

Lunch is normally served in a cafeteria. Who to eat lunch with seems to be a big deal for students. Students tend to eat within their own group of friends, and, despite schools being overwhelmingly co-ed in the US, students normally eat with just males or females at their table, unless two people are dating.

Very few schools in the US are

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