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High School Years and Beyond
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Angie Mc
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Posted: Jan 19 2010 at 12:39pm | IP Logged Quote Angie Mc

For those of us who have chosen to home educate through high school - regardless of how we are doing it - what support do you find most helpful?

I hope that because we've made it this far in our home educating work and feel called to tackle the High School years...that we have a natural empathy and respect for each other - a great place to come from to offer all kinds of support.

Love,

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Posted: Jan 19 2010 at 8:00pm | IP Logged Quote Angie Mc

My dd will graduate from our home this May. She is completely responsible for her education at this point - does all of her own scheduling, coursework, college paperwork requirements, scholarship applications, etc. Hers has been four years filled with books, books, and more books...writing, writing, and more writing. She is also well-rounded in her interests and skills (although she told me that she will be quite happy to never take another math class .) We really followed her lead and opportunities that found us. It has been (mostly ) a blast.

Angie Mc wrote:
   I'm especially interested in sharing support between those who design their own curriculum, do things outside of the norm, and trust in the process without too much undo worry.   


To expand on this...we really enjoyed this individualized approach and hope to continue with our next teen who will be a freshman in the fall. Yet, it will look different because he is different . Soooooooooooo........

I would like to brainstorm about reading lists for young men who enjoy reading but don't devour books. We'll need to go for quality and high interest over quantity here.

I'll eventually need to consider NCAA eligibility requirements - sort of unnerving if I think about it too much right now.

Anything on record-keeping is a help. Streamlined...efficient...easy...Oh, and how to get important dates/deadlines on the calendar.

Brainstorming about ways to engage in life learning...mentoring opportunities...internships.

Ways to increase knowledge outside of textbooks...movies, experiences, etc.

Thank goodness, I don't want to tackle any of this right now but it gives you an idea of where we're at and where we're going...

Where are you at and where are you going ?

Love,

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Martha
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Posted: Jan 19 2010 at 8:07pm | IP Logged Quote Martha

I'll bite!

I'm interested too. It is so unbelieveably hard to let go and let grow. It is so unbelievably easy to get caught up in the "college gotta dos" and the "the public high schools says".

Don't get me wrong, I too think some of that is important, but one of the awesome things I've been looking forward to through 9 years of homeschooling so far is seeing the individual man my son is going to be start to emerge. And so I want to make sure we have time for personal interests and the off the beaten path explorations that are so often missing from the brick and mortar schools.

I'll come back later to help brainstorm!

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Posted: Jan 19 2010 at 8:24pm | IP Logged Quote MarilynW

Angie Mc wrote:
For those of us who have chosen to home educate through high school - regardless of how we are doing it - what support do you find most helpful?

Love,


I guess I just like to be in the company of others who have chosen this route - It gets kind of hard being the "different ones" constantly and discussing things with kindred spirits is a great help.

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Posted: Jan 19 2010 at 8:28pm | IP Logged Quote lapazfarm

Martha wrote:
It is so unbelieveably hard to let go and let grow. It is so unbelievably easy to get caught up in the "college gotta dos" and the "the public high schools says".

I agree. I find it hard to find support for a more relaxed approach to high school.
Seems like there is a lot of stuff out there to help you structure your days, plan course loads, tally up credits, etc, but not much for those who might want to unschool high school.
Sometimes I feel pretty much like I am on my own.

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Posted: Jan 19 2010 at 9:04pm | IP Logged Quote Martha

yep. And I don't even think of myself as an unschooler!
People still look at me like I have 3 heads when I point out that one does not have to follow the public schools regiment or take the traditional college route to a degree or boot the kids to the curb at 18 or or or...

So I just quietly keep my alternate plans (which my dh and dc are thrilled with btw!) to myself and try to go our merry solidary way....

I even made that page on my blog private bc I didn't want to hear the litany of negativity.

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Posted: Jan 19 2010 at 9:15pm | IP Logged Quote Mackfam

I'm wading in. Though I have a student completing what I would consider a lot of *high school level* work this year, she won't officially be in high school until next year.

AngieMc wrote:
what support do you find most helpful?

The example and mentoring of those that have walked this road before me. Specifically, my mom. I'm very blessed in that she's my strongest ally behind my dh, and she has walked this EXACT road. I spent the weekend chatting with her about high school. She reminded me not to over-complicate this part of the journey, lest special moments be mowed right down for the sake of *process* and *procedure*...or my daughter's voice isn't heard...or a quiet moment is lost...or an ordinary joy is not uncovered...a connection is missed...an opportunity wasted...because I needed to obsess or over-complicate. Wise advice.

I don't feel too wound up about high school right now; my daughter and I are really excited to enter this new level of learning together. I can only attribute this to the grace of God, the steadying of my husband, and the wise counsel from my mom. Of course, I'm sort of on the wrong side of this equation to say that with much credibility.

I really do believe (and hope with all my heart) that high school for S. will be an extension of what we are already doing - just a little wider and a little deeper leaving lots of room to breathe and wide margins for my daughter to write in. I've already learned that it is not wise to shift who we are so that we fit in someone's idea of a box. My daughter is involved in every step of the planning process. She owns this plan, and she's responsible for living it. That's our plan so far.

I'm encouraged by Angie and Theresa and others following their high schooler's lead, taking cues from them, offering responsibility and the individual experience. That's my goal and hope.

My goals and challenges:

** Fitting a literature based learning experience on a state transcript that expects textbooks

** Fitting a lifestyle of learning on a transcript

** The sciences in particular are a challenge - we're not moving to a textbook approach now, but the more I look around the fewer I see doing this in high school. I suppose it is daunting in that like Theresa I feel a little alone. Fortunately, MacBeth has an opinion!! We'll continue our literature-based, experience-rich approach to science...I need to figure out how to fit that on a transcript.

** Continuing to offer the skills and arts of domesticity in a significant way.

** We're looking into all kinds of options from animal husbandry college programs to experiences on working ranches for her to pursue her interests. Researching options like crazy. She's not sure she's college bound, but it's an option she's keeping open.

So...that's where we're headed...or at least where our thoughts are on this today.

I'm grateful I can walk this with all of you!

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Posted: Jan 20 2010 at 3:10am | IP Logged Quote ALmom

Jennifer:

Maybe I'm not one to answer this because I'm one whose school looks more structured (at dc request) and we do more textbooky science not because we think it is best, but it is the best we are able to do with my limits and my older children's total lack of interest - but I don't understand the problem of transcript. It just includes the course title and date completed. The rest of the stuff is just if someone asks for more or for your own planning purposes of for the school to know that you are thinking about things.

If you do a lot of things related to living things - nature observation is part of lab, right? and especially if you draw nature; so is microscope work ....I'm sure somewhere in all that literature reading you'll do something on sturcture of living things and organ systems or how cells work or ... If you do a lot of this why can't you call it Biology. I know you, your science will be great - can we come learn at your house? If it is more narrow a focus, I'm sure there isn't a thing wrong with say, having Botany instead of Biology - it is after all a biological science. And if you did that, I bet somewhere down the line, you'd have the other side so you would end up with 2 courses that go deeper. Name your courses what you want to name them when the time comes - and if need be you can adjust the name as long as it is based on what you really did. Just my 2 cents coming from a structured, gotta have my plan type person.

No one lists books on a transcript. A few schools request booklists when you apply and if they do, you provide those as I'm sure you'll have a running list of what you have, in fact, used.

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Posted: Jan 20 2010 at 7:12am | IP Logged Quote Angel

lapazfarm wrote:
Martha wrote:


I agree. I find it hard to find support for a more relaxed approach to high school.
Seems like there is a lot of stuff out there to help you structure your days, plan course loads, tally up credits, etc, but not much for those who might want to unschool high school.
Sometimes I feel pretty much like I am on my own.


I feel like this, too. I wouldn't say we're unschoolers, but we are quite "interest-driven". How do you turn "interest-driven" into something that colleges can recognize? I don't want to stress out too much over the course of high school, don't want to put too much pressure on my son... but I know myself. I need to experiment with some way of keeping track of and organizing all of this now while he is not technically in high school so that I will not be running here and there at the last minute when he is 17 years old. I need to solidify our philosophy so that in the face of all the planning sheets available I can say, "No, that is not how we do things around here."

As far as support goes, we don't have anyone actively attacking our position, but... we also don't have the benefit of having anyone IRL experienced in homeschool high school, especially the way we are thinking about doing it. So I really appreciate hearing from those on this board who have BTDT.

I'd also like to hear from and share with those who are doing a more relaxed high school (or unschooling)... I seem to have a lot of questions about recordkeeping right now. And also, if your child doesn't want to study a subject (like, say, "biology") for an entire year, how do you handle that? Topics for more posts.

And then there are special needs in high school for us to deal with... social skills... intellectual giftedness combined with learning disabilities... it's nothing new for us, of course, but the spread seems a little more obvious at this point. I also have to think about testing situations... I just find that, when there are special needs to deal with, it's best to be prepared.

But it's also very helpful for me to see the questions that other people have that haven't really come up for me yet... like the current topics on money and doing high school with a large family. I also like the ability to ask very basic questions and for others to ask very basic questions, because often, in the replies, it becomes clear that the whole issue was probably less basic than it seemed. Generally something comes up that I haven't even considered.

Basically, though, it's just nice to be able to figure things out with other people who are trying to figure the same things out, too.

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Posted: Jan 20 2010 at 7:30am | IP Logged Quote Mackfam

ALmom wrote:
Jennifer:

Maybe I'm not one to answer this

Janet, thank you! Your answer is helpful...mainly because we record and maintain records through the same cover.

Part of my concern/angst came from the unknown. I've only seen examples of transcripts from varying places, all with varying degrees of detail - but never the transcript I need to record on. That's my fault for not asking before now. I need to call. Your answer reflects what I had planned to do...and confirms that it can be done. Thank you very much!

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Posted: Jan 20 2010 at 1:48pm | IP Logged Quote Kristie 4

Our homeschool has changed it's look dramatically with the introduction of the Highschool and grade 8 students I have. I am not really happy at all at how the change looks (except they are putting out some good work- BUT that margin (that Jennifer mentioned) of time where they have to think, explore, and pursue their great interests is at such a minimum!).

I am looking forward to having support for a more untraditional highschool route, something more individualized, taking into account my dc's strengths but also covering some areas that we feel are must dos. Zeeks! It seems like so much online makes my head spin in relation to the expected highschool workload!! (Can't imagine what it would do to my dc!!)

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Posted: Jan 20 2010 at 2:20pm | IP Logged Quote lapazfarm

Angel wrote:

I'd also like to hear from and share with those who are doing a more relaxed high school (or unschooling)... I seem to have a lot of questions about recordkeeping right now. And also, if your child doesn't want to study a subject (like, say, "biology") for an entire year, how do you handle that? Topics for more posts.

Yes, I have this issue also. Biology is easy for us, but other subjects such as history and literature--we are all over the place studying Shakespeare one minute and Orwell the next and then who knows what...How in the world do you pull that together into something that looks like a traditional transcript when, say, British lit is scattered over all 4 years in bits and pieces mixed in with American and World and everything else? I mean, I am certainly not going to change how ds learns at this point in the game just to make his transcript look pretty, you know, even though there is enormous pressure to do so.

Angel wrote:

Basically, though, it's just nice to be able to figure things out with other people who are trying to figure the same things out, too.

I agree. This is the biggest benefit. Just having someone to slog though it all with.

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Posted: Jan 20 2010 at 2:47pm | IP Logged Quote SallyT

We're doing this for the first time with a child planning to graduate next spring. Our approach is a sort of hodgepodge of school and unschool, with some textbooks, some outside classes, some life learning and independent reading . . .

I have no problem with collating stuff scattered over four years and calling it a class and putting it on a transcript at what looks like a logical time. I mean, we *were* doing a lot of life-sciency stuff that ninth-grade year, even if it bled over into biology the next year, and we're only just now doing a dissection lab.

In fact, one of the things I keep asking my daughter is, "What have you read? What have you done that we haven't thought about as a class? What experiences have you had?"And then I fit them into some course or other.

I'm a lousy recordkeeper, so the program I use is a blessing -- it's one we used through our umbrella school in TN, and then kept under an individual subscription when we moved: HomeschoolReporting.com This program will generate a transcript (with GPA and credits calculated); it also has a portfolio feature which I find handy for keeping track of all the bits and pieces. Otherwise I'd really be a mess.

I would really like to say more (and ask more!) about all this, but I'm on my way out the door to pick up said highschooler from her day on campus -- ballroom dancing, whee! I wish she'd teach me some steps.

Sally

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Posted: Jan 20 2010 at 3:15pm | IP Logged Quote jdostalik

Sally,

Thank you for the link to homeschoolreporting.com. They have a free 30 day trial...I signed up.      The portfolio feature sounded very nice!!



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Posted: Jan 20 2010 at 4:47pm | IP Logged Quote SallyT

We've used them for years, and found it to be well worth the $20/year subscription. Not as much planning stuff as HomeschoolTracker, but lots of handy features nonetheless. For example, I like that I can enter attendance for one child and click a box to have the same attendance recorded for all four. And you can do grades flexibly: I use E and S for grades up to 7, then switch to "real" letter grades.

As for actual support: I listen really, really hard to people who've been there and done that already, particularly in "out-of-the-box" ways. We are very college-prep oriented, but what we want our kids to come away with are more the habits of educated, thinking people, like talking about ideas at the dinner table (and then counting years and years of that as "Contemporary Issues" or something on a transcript!), than just a list of requirements to tick off, though some of that is unavoidable.

The umbrella school we used in Tennessee was very helpful, too: they have a whole high-school page at their site devoted to coming up with a plan for high-school. They are quite unschooler-friendly, but at the same time have drawn up clear parameters for graduation requirements (to receive their diploma, that is), with helpful descriptions of what knowledge the different courses should encompass. We're not enrolled with that school any more (it was a TN legal-requirement thing), but I do credit them with helping me to have a clearer picture of what we were doing and where we were going. I still keep that picture in my head, to keep us on track. (if anyone's interested in browsing their site, I think it's here.) They aren't Catholic, and we were only registered with them to fulfill the legal requirement, but they were a nice balance between an actual school program like Seton and totally winging it on our own. With them, we designed our own curriculum, but had recourse to counselors to help us sort things out. I really kind of miss that . . .

Sally

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Posted: Jan 20 2010 at 6:21pm | IP Logged Quote Erin

AngieMc wrote:
I would like to brainstorm about reading lists for young men who enjoy reading but don't devour books. We'll need to go for quality and high interest over quantity here.

I'm in, this is soo my son. So different to dd.
I have a list of select fantasy novels if interested.

lapazfarm wrote:
How in the world do you pull that together into something that looks like a traditional transcript when, say, British lit is scattered over all 4 years in bits and pieces mixed in with American and World and everything else? I mean, I am certainly not going to change how ds learns at this point in the game just to make his transcript look pretty, you know, even though there is enormous pressure to do so.


I can't see a problem, it's just all in how you write it up

Or perhaps I'm seeing a college requirement difference here? I've been wondering this for awhile, emphasis seems very different in the USA than we do here, or maybe I'm behind speed in my country too

AngieMc wrote:
Brainstorming about ways to engage in life learning...mentoring opportunities...internships.

Currently dd16, is filling in forms to start a volunteer position with Meals on Wheels, she will be out in the field (people skills) and also in the office (what a boon.) She is also planning on finding a part time job, and as she is showing an interest in a couple of areas (speech therapy or OT) we are going to approach some local teacher to do work experience. Plus she has requested a whole slew of study material. She is keen, we just have to finalise her literature study, but we (her and I) have come up with these resources. She has asked for textbooks buthas very definite opinions as to which ones

Oh last year she spent 6 months volunteering at our library's regional headquarters, one day a week.

Ds14 is very different in some ways. Yesterday he started a part time job! It just fell in his lap, he will be working about 6 hrs a week as groundsman assistant at a local Christian school (after hours). I hear tell the boss is happy with him Before that happened I had approached our plumber and asked him if Dominic could do some work experience with him, the plumber was happy for him to do one day a week for a year. Although dh thinks maybe a week's worth first.
He also has study plans but I'm afraid he is not as involved in the process, he would rather read all day, but how many time can we read LOTR?

AngieMc wrote:
Anything on record-keeping is a help. Streamlined...efficient...easy...Oh, and how to get important dates/deadlines on the calendar.

This is why I've been fairly faithful with my learning blog (links above) I tried all sorts of methods. One big help is dd now keeps a running list of books she is reading on her blog and emails it to me at the end of term. I LOVE that

AngieMc wrote:
Hers has been four years filled with books, books, and more books...writing, writing, and more writing.

Lots of books here too but would love to discuss lots of writing too.

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Posted: Jan 20 2010 at 7:48pm | IP Logged Quote MarilynW

lapazfarm wrote:
I agree. I find it hard to find support for a more relaxed approach to high school.
Seems like there is a lot of stuff out there to help you structure your days, plan course loads, tally up credits, etc, but not much for those who might want to unschool high school.
Sometimes I feel pretty much like I am on my own.


Actually I have an alternative point of view. I find it hard to find support for a more traditional point of view. You see - there is an assumption that if a pre-packaged curriculum is used that we are putting our child "in a box" or "stifling their creativity" or "killing their dreams". And I find that really tough. I will share our story:

I have always had an individual approach to educating each of my children. My dd fast-tracked seventh and eighth grade. Last year she sat with all my curriculum catalogs and made a comparison sheet of high school catalogs and drew up her own 4 year plan of study. She decided that she wanted to do Seton for Grade 9 - I was kind of surprised - but she wanted to have lesson plans and structure and a plan (without seeing me work all summer, nights and weekends). The cost was tough for us - but we decided to give it a go. It is tough work and not necessarily what I would have chosen - but she is doing well. She is very happy to get her work done and then do other things she enjoys - playing in a homeschool symphonic band, doing voluntary work in a nursing home, playing clarinet at Mass, volunteering with the homeless - and most of all playing with her younger siblings. She wants to be a writer, and still manages to find time to work on one of her many (unfinished!) novels.
We have used a traditional curriculum - but it has certainly not put her in a box. She has come a long way in learning time and work management skills (and still has a lot to learn!)

Now we are evaluating our next year and may not do such a structured approach - but it will be discussed and prayed about in the same way.

I want to also make the point that a high school education is indeed just an extension of our lives - that it is not an end to itself. Each family has to choose what is right for them and their children. Personally I would like to be Theresa - live in Alaska and unschool. Really (except for the winters). But that is not where God has placed our family and that is not how I am. So we work with what we have - spiritual, emotional and monetary - to ensure that our children receive the best education they can which is consistent with their goals and our family goals.

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Posted: Jan 20 2010 at 8:00pm | IP Logged Quote MarilynW

Angie Mc wrote:


Angie Mc wrote:
   I'm especially interested in sharing support between those who design their own curriculum, do things outside of the norm, and trust in the process without too much undo worry.   




Angie - I so want to do this too. It is hard though when you do not really know what the "norms" are - I have spent the last week researching the US high school and college system and just making notes on all the various deadlines and acronyms and tests - goodness me, PSAT, SAT, CLEP, SAT II, AP, ACT - makes the European system look easy. I am sure I will be so much more relaxed when I have one child who had done this.

I want to have flexibility and individuality but make sure I do not "miss the boat" so to speak - just through ignorance.

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Posted: Jan 20 2010 at 8:43pm | IP Logged Quote lapazfarm

MarilynW wrote:


Actually I have an alternative point of view. I find it hard to find support for a more traditional point of view. You see - there is an assumption that if a pre-packaged curriculum is used that we are putting our child "in a box" or "stifling their creativity" or "killing their dreams". And I find that really tough.

There's just no pleasing folks, is there? No matter what we do someone is going to look at us like we are crazy and ruining our children forever. Guess we just keep praying, trusting our own instincts and doing what we think is best and let the chips fall where they may.
MarilynW wrote:

Personally I would like to be Theresa - live in Alaska and unschool. Really (except for the winters).

I don't know. Something tells me she's a real nut case, for sure.

MarilynW wrote:

So we work with what we have - spiritual, emotional and monetary - to ensure that our children receive the best education they can which is consistent with their goals and our family goals.


Absolutely agree! See, we have more in common than you thought!

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Martha
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Posted: Jan 20 2010 at 9:06pm | IP Logged Quote Martha

So I never fully fit in with any of the above.

I vote for a playdate with Theresa and Laura!



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