preparing homeschoolers for higher ed?

[fahawk]

Anyone here who homeschools or knows of someone who does....and what do you feel are some of the important things kids should learn/ study at home.., in the higher grades....if they are planning to go to college ( or in whatever they pursue)
What has worked..? Or what do you think might be a plan? Should I worry...

I know of families in areas other then mine, who have homeschool groups etc..that teach sciences, languages, english, math ..
but we dont have anything like that here..

My 2 oldest homeschooled till 7th- then started at a small indep. school- which teaches 7th- 12th grades/ and has some fairly intensive classes... ..but I dont know what I want for the 2 youngest... options??

If they stay home instead..??

[Faol-chù]

Hello there!!!

I am going to put my 2 cents worth in here. My daughter is 12 years old and in her "7th grade" year, as far as the local school board is concerned. (What is on paper is there to make the school board happy and not necessarily a full reflection of what is going on!)

Here are a few things that my family (and others) are doing:

1. I am teaching math, for now. My daughter is doing a 'pre-Algebra' curriculum (Algebra 1/2 by Saxon). I think I can get her all the way through Algebra I, although time will tell...:)

2. In lieu of history...We read and discuss history of all sorts. (In addition, I, personally have helped my daughter find the relevance of folklore in history, and the study of various cultures!) Eventually, we will work into her doing reports for me about various historical cultures, individuals, and/or events, which bring me to my next topic:

3. I, personally, have been getting my daughter to write book reports. After she's mastered those (along with the art of "summary"), I intend to start using a program called "Writeshop", which is an intensive writing curriculum.

4. In lieu of Science...Myself and a homeschooling mother down the road have started a "Nature Enthusiasts Club" for various kids. Although I would like to see more kids my daughter's age in the group (and hopefully, soon, I will!) we have been working on going out in nature, field guide in hand, and identfying various animals and plants witch which we come in contact. Also, we contacted a local store where rocks and fossils are sold, and the owner offered a 'talk'. He talked to them about plate tectonics, various kinds of rocks, his own experience rock hunting, among other things. We back this up will good library books...:)
Also, in lieu of science, there is a science museum in a city close to us that has offered (for a price) to give 4 week lab classes on various science topics, including chemistry, biology, earth science, and astronomy.

5. Foreign language - I have some Gaelic, and am working to acquire more. Although I have *been* speaking to them in Gaelic (and sometimes they will answer in it), I recently started working with them (my son is *) out of a book to acquire it.
I *do*, though, still think that they will need, at least Spanish. And, although we have not participated in it, there are some local people offering Spanish classes for cheap for homeschoolers.

6. Music - both of my children are taking music classes. At the moment, I have a barter thing going on with the teachers (who are actually married, and happen to have a son my son's age who is also homeschooled) whereas my husband and do various things in exchange for lessons for the kids. (For example, I babysit with their children while they go to orchestra practice, and my husband does things for them like clean out their chimney.)



Are you absolutely CERTAIN that there are no groups around you that do co-ops? I will say that everything I have found related to homeschooling, I had the opportunity to find because of the internet...Not that some of it I did not learn of by talking to people...but even the homeschool group that we are involved in, we found by using the internet.

ALSO...This is something that I intend to utilize in the future...
More "formal" classes can be taken at a local community college.
My daughter is entertaining the notion of going to high school, for the simple fact that she wants to be in a marching band, and that is hard to come by for a homeschooler. If she does not attend high school, I fully expect that she will be taking some college courses, particularly math, science, and writing, if not others at a community college.


Le meas,

Anyone here who homeschools or knows of someone who does....and what do you feel are some of the important things kids should learn/ study at home.., in the higher grades....if they are planning to go to college ( or in whatever they pursue)
What has worked..? Or what do you think might be a plan? Should I worry...

I know of families in areas other then mine, who have homeschool groups etc..that teach sciences, languages, english, math ..
but we dont have anything like that here..

My 2 oldest homeschooled till 7th- then started at a small indep. school- which teaches 7th- 12th grades/ and has some fairly intensive classes... ..but I dont know what I want for the 2 youngest... options??

If they stay home instead..??

[Ceres]

Hey there! My daughter is in what would be grade eight. She is a big reader and very academically inclined. For about a year now we have been talking together about her long term plans. Its going to be a bit different depending where you live, but there are ALWAYS options, even when kids are unschooled and their level of understanding is sometimes hard to gauge.

The most important thing to remember is if the child wants it enough, he or she will find a way to get the education they need to do what they want. The trick, whether kids are homeschooled or public school or even private schooled, is for the child to have had enough time for self exploration that they *KNOW* what they want. That is what has kept me homeschooling my kids - I always wanted them to have a passion for what they do in life so they would choose to work for it, instead of my pushing them to do it. Inner motivation is so important.

For us, keeping things broad right now, I have in mind what the universities and colleges in the area require and we are considering that with everything we do. We have the benefit of a local watchdog for homeschoolers that keeps track of the entry requirements for homeschoolers. I dont see why you couldnt call the registrars office of a selection of various levels of post secondary schools near you to find out what they require so you know what to shoot for. Some studies done showing the academic and social benefits of homeschooling have encouraged schools to give preiously homeschooled children serious consideration. Harvard has led the way in this and others are following.

My daughter is starting a portfolio of projects, volunteer work, and academic, artistic and equestrian acheivements so that during the next four or five years she will have an impressive compilation to show how she has spent her time. In addition, she will likely take some high school courses either online or by correspondence the year before she applies to any post secondary schools as well.

I know it seems overwhelming when you look so far ahead and wonder how they will cope, how you will help them pay for it and how it all will come about, but do try to relax and put your energy into the present. They will put their own energy into the future because they will want it more than anything.

It might help both of you to read The Teenage Liberation Handbook, by Grace Llewellyn, which has just been newly revised. There is so much tweens and teens can do while being homeschooled to work towards doing what they want to do in life and this book helps both them and you to implement it.

[fahawk]

Thanks both of you for the great ideas.. community college/ writing/write reports...

--
Radikalwomyn,
yeah it does seem very 'overwhelming' ..and starting a portfolio is a great idea!

I guess I have that "anxiety" that I wont be able to provide them with what they need...or - they wont have/ learn what they may need...

but your right..that is one reason I like homeschool...because they dont lose the passion
we do live in a rural area..and there is not a huge amount of homeschoolers..makes it hard (er).... so that there arent alot of "free" classes..or group classes..and then the cost of lessons at times is/ seems overwhelming.. ( and I / we've have hooked up with a homeschool book club just recently.)
since I have done the "grade" school ages/ lessons with 4 kids....that seems do-able..:) but the worry is higher grades which I havent had expereince with homeschooling..

[Mera_mera]

My daughter is entertaining the notion of going to high school, for the simple fact that she wants to be in a marching band, and that is hard to come by for a homeschooler. If she does not attend high school, I fully expect that she will be taking some college courses, particularly math, science, and writing, if not others at a community college.


Le meas,

I am really late on this, but in a lot of places homeschooled kids can attend a program in the public schools, such as marching bands, extracurricular activities and certain in school programs/classes. You could certainly ask around at the schools near you if they would admit her in the marching band program without her actually attending the school.