What is your Payment Policy?
The class fee for Personal Finance includes the cost of instruction and the student workbook. The class fee for Physics includes the cost of instruction, all classroom lab materials and handouts. Students will need to purchase their own textbook for Physics.
Payment, or a signed authorization to direct bill your program, must be made before or on the first day of class. If you choose to cancel your enrollment, you must do so before the second week in order to receive a refund, and a deduction will be made if the workbook (Personal Finance) is written in.
Please make checks payable to: “907 Education.” A receipt will be provided.
Direct billing to your homeschool program may be provided as a service to you, but, ultimately, payment is the parent’s responsibility. If you plan to pay for this class using allotment from your homeschool program, please be sure that this class is covered by your learning plan, meets the guidelines of your program, and that you have sufficient funds set aside in your allotment to cover the fee.
What is your Drop-off Policy?
Please plan drop-off and pick-up times to be within fifteen minutes of class time. Crosspoint does not allow students to hang out in their building when not in class.
What is your policy for Absences?
Classroom activities are a vital part of the learning experience. Students taking the course for graded credit will be allowed only two absences per semester. Additional absences will require the student and parent to meet with the teacher for tutoring billed at $35 per hour, for a minimum of one hour. Workshop students are exempt from this requirement, but can request paid tutoring if needed.
How will I know if my child has come to class?
Attendance will be taken at each class. If your child misses a class, and I have not received a message explaining a reason for the absense, I will send the parent an email. Punctuality is also expected. Parents will be notified after two tardies. Class participation will contribute to the course grade.
I already own a workbook for Personal Finance. Can I get a discount?
Yes, as long as it is unused. The "homeschool edition" of the workbook is similar enough to the "classroom edition" that it should not make much difference. However, it may not be reimbursable. See my comments on that below.
What is the difference between the homeschool edition of Foundations and your class?
Both curricula cover the same basic topics and have elements in common. However, the homeschool edition contains just enough religious content to keep it from being reimbureable by state funded programs. The "Classroom Pack" that I use is secular, and contains lots of additional teaching materials including ideas for group activities. Foundation recently became available as an online course. Working independently can be positive for some students, but I believe that classroom discussion helps the student apply the information to their own circumstances.
How will parents be involved in the Personal Finance class?
This class is about money, and that can be a very personal subject. Each family has their own values about how they save and spend money, and I hope you will partner with me in sharing your views. Students will receive a homework assignment each week with topics to discuss with their parents or a "financial mentor." Some assignments will be much more meaningful if they are worked with real numbers from your family instead of hypotheticals. I would encourage you to be open with your children about your family finances in these cases. Your child will also require your support to take some step towards financial independence such as opening a bank account, having a debit card, etc.. These steps are not a class requirement, and are at your discretion, but will help them put into practice what they have learned.
Why did you select the "Conceptual Physics" textbook? Isn't it an EASY book?
Homeschool students use their textbook as the primary source of instruction, so I like that “Conceptual Physics” explains concepts clearly and has useful examples and illustrations. It also makes an effort to connect Physics concepts with real world phenomenon. This includes interesting sections on Sound, Light, and Nuclear Physics that are often neglected by other texts. (for example, Apologia)
The author of “Conceptual Physics”, Paul Hewitt, says “Comprehension of concepts before calculation is the key to understanding.” This is a different approach compared to some Physics curricula that would even assert that the value of learning Physics is that it reinforces Math concepts.
But, at the high school level, I’m ok with letting the Math take a back seat. Sir Isaac Newton was the “father” of both Calculus and Physics. If you remove Calculus from a Physics class, a little more or less Trigonometry in the class doesn’t make a lot of difference.
“Conceptual Physics” does include vector math, and I am a big advocate of having correct units and significant digits. There are also additional problems in an appendix that are more challenging mathematically. Homework and tests will include both basic and "honors" questions. Students will be asked to work at the level of their capability.
For a student who wants to pursue a college degree in a STEM field, and will take Physics-with-Calculus again in college, “Conceptual Physics” will give them a good base to build on. For any student, I hope it will give them skills and knowledge to tackle complex problems that require critical thinking.
As a homeschooler for many years, I am all about doing what works for you. If you register as a "workshop" student, you could use a more mathematically challenging textbook, and still come to my class for the added lab experience and reinforcement of concepts. I will have a syllabus worked out sometime in the summer, so it shouldn’t be too hard to correlate the materials.
The IDEA resource room has a copy of “Conceptual Physics” that you can review. I would encourage you to not only look at the way topics are covered, but also the “Think and Explain” and “Think and Solve” questions at the end of each chapter. They require the student to apply critical thinking skills using the principles they have learned - and some of them are very challenging.
I am a Boy Scout. Can I use the Personal Finance class to help complete my Personal Management merit badge?
Many of the requirements of the Personal Management merit badge (Eagle required) are covered in the Personal Finance class. I am happy to adjust your homework assignments so that they align with the merit badge requirements. If your Scoutmaster approves (gives you a bluecard), I could also be your merit badge counselor. As a volunteer, I would meet with you on a few occassions outside of class to complete the requirements (time management, project planning) that are not covered in class.