welcome I'm sure there are some moms here with kids your age, (I don't) that could give you a run down of what they teach their kids. Read books you like, learn a hobby you like such as cookig, photograpy, painting etc.... and that can open lots of fields of learning. You might want to see if there are any homeschool groups in your town.
Welcome, Cecily! See if you can find the scope and sequence for your state. It will help you to know what to know and when. Here is an example of Colorado's http://www.ckcolorado.org/stdardsdocs.asp#eight Here are also some lesson plan ideas http://www.ckcolorado.org/lessons/8thgrade.asp
Where are you from? We are in a smaller town in Indiana and we don't have any hs groups either. We have finally met another famly that hs's, but their kids are younger than mine, so they don't have a lot in common. Are your parents ok with you looking for online courses to study? I know there are alot of options for books you can order (workbooks, etc) to get you on a more structured path of learning. But it usually costs money, so I just wondered if your parents want that? What subjects do you study right now? Do you have any favorite subjects? Have you thought about learning spanish?
Have you discussed this with your mom? You and her need to sit down together and get an idea of what exactly you need to learn. What is required for your state? What kind of paperwork does your mom send in? What text books are you using? Can she give you a schedule for them? For example, my 12YO daughter will be doing a science text on her own (pretty much). But I will be giving her a schedule in order for her to finish each unit every two weeks. I will be keeping track to see that she finishes on time.
So are you more un-schooled---you find what interests you and work at it on your own? My oldest ds is 15 and was taking French, but is now taking German. I say taking, but he's learning it from one of the "German in 10 Minutes a Day" books, and finding people to ask questions from and talk to. DS-12 is doing Greek. He started in the middle of last school year, and will continue it this year. The year after this coming one he wants to start Hebrew, or maybe sooner if we feel he's ready. It looks hard to me! My dd-9 is working on Spanish. Anyway, I think learning languages is great! I agree with Jackie. Talk to your mom and let her know what you're thinking. That way at least she knows, and maybe can help you find something that will work for you!
Since you have to take this on all by yourself because your parents don't have the time, you could go to your library and do searches for what you need. A search for 'math' will bring up textbooks and related materials. A search for 'language arts' will bring up textbooks, studyguides and things like that. Most libraries have a thing where you can loan from other libraries in the state, so even if your library doesn't have something they can get it for you. Here, our local colleges are part of our library, so we can get things from the college libraries. What grade are you in? You can google- for example- 'ninth grade math lesson plans'. You'll get real lesson plans that you can easily follow. I would add the words 'sequenced'- 'Ninth grade sequenced math lesson plans'- and you might be able to get a year's worth of curriculum to follow. You might even be able to get a scope and sequence table that will tell you what you'll cover and in what order.
Can I be honest? It is your parents job to make the time to homeschool you. I agree about sitting with your parents and telling them how you feel. They should still be your teachers and guide you in what you need to learn. Not to sound rude, but you should not be the one to be going out and finding your own curriculum at 13 years old. It's one thing to tell your parents what interests you and then THEM, or together, go out and find suitable curriculum, but you should not be the one to hunt for your own material. Not having the time with your child, is not an excuse. If they really don't, then they need to find someone who does. PLEASE, sit down and talk to them. It's great to do the work on your own and have your own independence, but it seems you are doing EVERYTHING alone from what you explained. Please tell me if I'm wrong. I hope I am, but reading it sounded like your parents don't help you with anything and are completely uninvolved with your schooling. I'm sorry I can't be more of a help, as I only have a 4 year old, but reading this kind of disturbed me. You have too much responsibility on your shoulders with your schooling, un-schooling or not. Your parents need to MAKE the time, regardless of their excuses. I'm sure raising a large family isn't easy, but it doesn't make it fair to you, a 13 year old. Sorry to sound so harsh. I hope you can talk to them and reason with them. Many prayers.
I had a similar homeschooling experience... my mom had to work all day, so I was left home with my siblings and daughter. Yes, I was a teenage mom, but I stuck with school (I was homeschooled even before I got pregnant) and even completed 3 years of college before taking a break. The way I did it was, I found a list of the subjects required by my state for graduation & a list of extra-curricular activities that would look good on a college application or were required by some colleges. Then I would set up a month or 2 worth of loose lesson plans for myself (I had to keep them loose, dealing with a 5-yr-old for half a day, and a 1 year old all day) and work towards completing each subject. For my books, because we didn't have the money to buy curriculum, I went to the public library and checked out what books they had on the subjects I was studying... In this way, I studied Genetics, Physics, and a couple other college classes in only 10th and 11th grade. My mom didn't really grade my work, or even keep up with it in any way. She trusted me to have done the work that I claimed to have done. That's the way she's hs'ing my younger siblings, they are 14 and 15 now and neither do their schoolwork. And mom doesn't make them. But I can't do anything about it right now, public school doesn't start here until the 18th so calling the school board or child protective services wouldn't do any good.
Phoenyx, you must have be incredible! I can't imagine teaching yourself while being saddled with 2 little ones, plus being responsible for teaching one of them. What a good example your daughter has to look up to!
Awww, You guys are making me blush, I didn't think I was anything special at the time. Still don't, even though hubby says I am.
You may find it "unnecessary", but it may be needed to get into college, if you are thinking about that. Also, it helps to be "well-rounded". For example, you are talking three different languages. How "necessary" is that? Good, yes, but probably not something you will need in the long run. So I would encourage you to study those things anyway. What are the laws for HS'ing in Maine?
There's another thread around here by a teen who was h.s.'d, but very ill prepared due to his parent's negligence. I forget how far behind he posted he was. Please get sure about what you need to learn- maybe by going to your school system's website and searching for the curriculum standards for your grade- and begin with that. There will be legal issues for your parents if you are not being taught properly. Children's Services won't be impressed that you can speak three languages, they will be dismayed at the basics that you don't know because your parents didn't take responsibility for you. May I ask why they don't want you and your siblings in school?
