Assessment 2020-21: Belle

 

Truly firm in her commitment to Christ, sweet Belle drifts too easily in other areas of her life.  With her world mostly shut down due to covid this past year, Belle found the extra time and lack of social interaction overwhelming.  She accomplished less this year than I think she could have and should have.  I struggle not to judge her unfairly--what really did the shut down do to the heart and mind of my girl?   

She's a quiet, private girl, not inclined to talk out her feelings the way her sisters do.  Of all my children, she is the greatest mystery to me, and I must work the hardest to know her.  

 

That being said, I think she is a more social learner than I would have guessed before.  She's the youngest of my oldest 4 girls--always a set of 4 through her whole life (the 4 of them are only separated by 3 1/2 years).  This year, she was alone as the oldest homeschool student and only high schooler in our family--her older sisters and best friends all off working or at college--with no one to work alongside or motivate her with the hilarious friendly competition that was always a part of our homeschool when the older girls were studying with us.

She was probably terribly, terribly lonely in our big, busy family.

 

Her academic plan was as follows:

 

Belle--11th/12th grade:

Finish Omnibus I readings and complete as many Omnibus II readings as reasonable, Veritas Press

Landmark History of the American People vols 1 and 2, Boorstin

Advanced US History-Based Writing Lessons, IEW

American Literature, Apologia (finish what she started last year)

British History, Master Books

Astronomy, Master Books

Fourth Form and Henle I Latin, Memoria Press

Advanced Mathematics, Saxon

 

Belle and I tried to meet each day to read together from her Omnibus I readings.  Used to the dynamic of a group, the one-on-one reading time felt a little flat, and when schedules got busy, it was very easy to let these meetings fall by the wayside.  We tried to add them to our Bedtime Read Aloud routine, but we were so tired that Plutarch and Virgil did us in.  

 

We dropped our efforts to complete this credit.  When I went back and counted pages/hours, I found I could give her 1/4 credit (our state allows that) for Ancient Literature/History. 

 

Combining the Boorstin History texts with the IEW writing (and reading) as well as the Beautiful Feet Modern World/American History read alouds she listened to at bedtime with the family, added up to 1.75  American History credits completed.

We started American Lit during the 2019-20 school year, but were unable to finish it.  Belle finished the text on her own--cover to cover--this school year, earning 1 American Lit credit in the process.

Belle earned 1 credit each for British History and Astronomy by Master Books.

She dropped Latin this year.  (It broke my heart, but the Latin light just went out of her eyes.)

She completed 42 of 125 lessons in the Saxon Advanced Mathematics text.  She's so bright and so good at math that I want her to study it deeply, but it's not a love for her.  I cannot make it be a love.  I am able to award 1/4 credit for what she did complete.

When all is said and done her transcript for this year looks like this:

2020-21

0.5--Religious Studies III--Morning Meeting content (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Book of Mormon, Memorizing the Restoration Proclamation), does not count seminary, personal studies, or Come, Follow Me

0.25--Omnibus I readings

1.0--American Literature--Apologia American Lit

1.0--Astronomy--Master Books High School Astronomy

1.0--British History--Master Books

1.75--American History--Boorstin text, IEW Advanced Writing/Lit course, evening reading

.25--Advanced Mathematics

______

5.75 credits

Belle had 17 credits earned prior to this year.  

 

17 + 5.75 = 22.75 credits

 

That puts her firmly in the final quarter of 12th grade on a college preparatory graduation schedule.

 

She took the ACT twice this year.  She scored respectably, but we expected her to score spectacularly, so her scores are actually a disappointment to us both. 

 

In addition to school, Belle worked one 8 hour shift per week at Freddy's.  

 

She was unable to attend seminary while it was virtual because the class majority voted for the only online meeting time slot she could not attend.  She faithfully kept in touch with the teacher and completed all of the online assignments as directed.  When seminary opened back up again (for the final 5 weeks), she attended every day and finished the year with a perfect score on the final evaluation and "attendance" in the high 90% range.

 

She served in her Young Women's class presidency in church as first a counselor, then secretary.   She also was a YCL for girls' camp this summer.  For each of these opportunities to serve, Belle attended meetings, fulfilled assignments, and developed leadership skills.  Over the course of the year, she transitioned from supporting the Young Women program virtually to in-person meetings and activities.  She is a truly beloved example to the other 26 young women in our ward (congregation).

 

Sweet Belle has the potential to do or be anything she wants in this life.  She is gifted with a brain that can remember and process information at a level of excellence.  She is kind, gentle, and inspiring.  She is a gifted writer, and she loves history and literature. 

 

This year she made the decision to pursue a liberal arts degree at SVU.

 

I support her fully in this pursuit, and I will guide and help her along the way, but it will ultimately be up to her to do the work to get there!