I know we have talked about this before. I know some of you teach your High schooler. I don't know if I can do it. My dd is so bright, that I am afraid that Iam not able to challenge her. She really wants to be a teacher. I would love for her to attend a good high school, the one in our county is a level 3. We have talked about this with her and she doesn't want to go. She really wants to be homeschooled through out high school. Again I don't know if I am able to challenge her. I have never taught anything above the 8th grade. If we do decide to hs her through out highschool. What type of programs do I have to choose from? I know Abeka and Life Pacs offer highschool subjects. But does anyone have any other products we can look into? What is a charter school? Do they offer highschool subjects? Is there any other schools like that that don't cost an arm and a leg?
Hey Vicky.... How are things in beautiful Ms? We visited my family there recently..... Oh well, it may seem like far off for me but in reality I will be dealing with it sooner than I think... One basic decision that has to be made is: Do you want to provide her transcript or would you prefer that it come from some place else? That usually gets you heading in one direction or another..and eliminates some other options that don't need to be considered. You have TONS of options..the good side to you issuing the diploma and keeping the transcript is that it can be very detailed and personalized......Basically you continue as you are now, hand selecting the programs..There are so many good ones that continue through high school like Tapestry of Grace as well as you individually picking each book for the subject. Too, you can do a combination of distance learning which is basically not attending the campus, but learning either by computer,Tv or some other way the campus/high school and/or college approves of. There are also ramifications with it because some colleges only allow distance learning for the upper junior and seniors. But I'm basically talking about a college that allows both high school and college courses, limited as they may be. However, I know some hsers want a diploma issued from an *accredited school*. Others I know of are Keystone, Laurel Springs and Core Curriculum of America.. My sister in law uses Core Curriculum of America because it is extremely inexpensive and you get a diploma from an accredited school. They are out of Florida. They don't have a lot of *fluff* and you grade your own work from what I understand, but each subject is hand selected for you after an interview I think by phone or email. Core curriculum is suppose to be a company that gets huge discounts from all the education suppliers so it sales cheaply. I figured when I get there, my sons will have a little more input to me as to what they are wanting to do, or at least I hope that:wink: I don't what we will do..One the one hand, I like putting everything together, but I don't know if want to keep up with 3 transcripts over a period of years,kwim? Each way has advantages vs. disadvantages...
My sister ended up homeschooling her 10th grade dd this year. (It's funny, cuz years ago she thought I was crazy to homeschool! She's been supportive for some time now though...) She's using Thompson Education Direct. I don't know much about it, but she says her dd likes it so far and is doing well. I would just Google the name and see if you can get to their site that way, since I don't have their site address. There is also Bob Jones University. That's what my son is doing. The settings for the class are very interesting. Not in a classroom, but they go over the problems, answer a lot of questions, do some dramas, have guest speakers, and little vignette's or whatever they're called. which makes it much more interesting than listening to a bunch of lectures! He likes it. If we continue homeschooling him through his senior year of highschool (which we are planning to do now, at least at this point), we will probably continue with this. Their site is www.bjup.com I know what you mean about not knowing if you have the skills. But this program we're using covers most everything. Thankfully my husband is good in math skills. My ds is taking geometry, which I never did learn well, so if there are questions, he is able to help out. Could your dh do that with some classes? Or maybe someone in your church or community can help out/tutor your dd in things she may have a hard time with or get stuck on. My ds has become pretty independent from needing me to help him. I'm more in a supervisory mode with him now, which I guess is how it should be. I hand out tests and some quizzes, organize a loose schedule that goes with the rest of the family's schedule and he does most of the rest. When a test is coming up, I help quiz him to help him learn the materials also. It's really not that bad as long as you can find someone or some people who can help when/if she gets stuck on something or needs more explanations. There is an older guy in our church who is amazing in science. I may ask him to come give a presentation to the kids when they cover certain subjects that this guy is good at. It just gives a clearer perspective, and a different voice than mom's! I think you can do it. If she wants to be homeschooled, I'm guessing you could find a way to do an outstanding job, and she would be more than ready to be a great teacher when the time comes! Best wishes!
Deena my dh is a teacher. He has his Masters in Secondary Education. So I know he will be able to help me out. My dd had the best advise for us. She said," Lets pray about it." So that is what we are going to do. The Lord will provide the answer in his time. And if it is meant for us to hs her then He will give me the knowledge. If it is not meant for us to hs her then He will give her the knowledge to go forward. I am going to put this into His hands. I am going to continue to be looking at my options.
Vicky~ It sounds like your daughter is a very smart girl~ you should be very proud~ and I'm sure you are! That's such a good attitude for a 13 year old girl~ to be wanting to approach the matter with prayer! Wow~ I'm impressed! I know that you will find a way to make homeschooling work for her! May God bless you as you seek to serve Him,
Yes, that IS impressive, and what great advice!!! I just have one comment. You mentioned that if you are supposed to homeschool that God will give you the knowledge. Do you mean the knowledge that you should homeschool, or the knowledge that you are afraid you don't have enough of? I know that God will guide you either way. He may not give YOU the knowledge that you do not possess right now (but He also might, God works in amazing ways!!!), but he can give you ideas of who could help, or how things can work out by using OTHERS. I just say that wo it's something you think about. Be willing to accept His leading, even if it means asking others for help, or STILL not undertanding everything! Like I said, and I know you know, He WILL guide you in the way that is best for your daughter! He just doesn't always answer or lead in the way that we humans think He should! We're praying for you here too!
My husband was listening to a person on Homeschooling. They said to hs up until they got into high school. Then they need to attend hs just so they could learn how to deal with the different types of people. Also so they could enjoy the high school life with friends and football games along with other events that high school has to offer. Also they can join a club. My dh and I have talked again with our dd, and she has made up her mind. She says that she don't care about all that stuff, and that she don't want to go to high school. She has been praying about it. We still have a few months before we will have to sign her up for high school. They start in April.
As homeschoolers our children meet, interact and have association with more different kids of people than going to highschool! If they get a job, they have that contact. If they go to church, they have those contacts. If they play sports, they have those contacts, if they go with you to buy groceries, get the car fixed, have music lessons, etc., they have a lot of interactions WITH PEOPLE OF ALL AGES! When they graduate from school, they won't be around only people of their own age, they'll be around all different ages. So highscool isn't really the place the iss the answer for learning interaction with other people, because it's so limited age-wise! In fact, studies have shown (and I don't have any quotes right off hand, sorry. Maybe omeone else does?) that homeschoolers get more "normal" association with others, and are better able to interact with people of all ages because they have the experience! So, based on all this, I would have to side with your dd on this one! We'll keep praying also for your situation and will pray that God will lead in this. If your dd has been praying, and she is so adamant, then maybe that is God's answer? She seems very sure God has answered in that way. Maybe you could pray that if God wants you to homeschool He would give you that conviction also! Hang in there!
Whoa, nice typing me! NOT! This is what I meant: .......So highschool isn't really the place THAT IS the answer.... Also, in the quote I obviously meant SOMEONE, not omeone!
Hubby and I have been talking about this a lot. We have decided to bathe the matter in prayer. We are still looking at different material and other things we can use if we do homeschool her next year. We really wanted to expose her to the life of highschool. But if she really doesn't want to go then all we are doing is making her miserable. She is convinced that the Lord is telling her that He wants her homeschooled. I just want to what is right. So I am asking all of you to pray so that we want make a mistake, and we can do what the Lord would have us to do. This is such an important time in her school life. I know that school isn't everything. But she needs a good solid education to be the teacher that she wants to be. The college that she wants to go caters to homeschooled students and they even give scholarships. I would love to homeschool her. My parents are against us homeschooling the highschool years. They are all in favor of putting her back regardless of what is the right thing to do. It doesn't matter what we say our reason will be they will never agree to it. I know it shouldn't matter what they want its what the Lord wants. Its hard to talk to someone that doesn't believe that the Lord will tell you the path you should take. They believe in God and Jesus and even go to church. But they have this thing of the Lord leading you to do something. They believe that you make your own destiny and everything. You just don't question them about these things. We just want to make sure that we do what the Lord wants us to do, not what we want to do. Again I ask you to pray that we make the right choice. May the Lord be glorified in our decision.
I'm just curious, what is it about highschool, aside from the prom, that you want to expose her to? From what I've heard, there's a lot of "stuff" going on right in the hallways that is quite inappropriate, drugs are rampant, teenagers are getting pregnant, etc. That's what highschool is like nowadays pretty much everywhere. Your dd may be on to something--the preservation of her purity and a place where she can work hard and do well, and be where she wants to be, and feels SURE God has led her to that.......and that's homeschooling with you! She has a great faith in God, and seems to have faith that you and she will do just fine homeschooling. Everyone won't understand your reasons for homeschooling, but you don't have to please them! I think homescoholing someone who soooo wants to homeschool will very much prepare her for whatever she wants to be. Even if she changes her mind and decides to be a brain surgeon or a rocket scientist, I still feel homeschooling will prepare her very well! I don't mean to be pushy, but to me it looks like the answer is already right there, and you're not seeing it yet somehow! It's a big decision, so keep praying, but be open to the answer!
Vicky, you are absolutely right in not making an assumptions on what is "right" or "wrong". She has a firm opinion, and prayer is the wisest thing to do. God can either make you more open about keeping her home, or her more open about going to a school. Don't worry about what your parents have to say about it; it's not thier decision. I think, for now, you're making the wisest choice possible!
We had a bad day yesterday. We went shopping and my dd wanted a magazine that cost almost $5. And 90%of it was ads. I told her no that I was not going to buy it, she could pick out a book that was educational or was christian based. She got mad and stormed off. I let her stew off by herself. When we were ready to leave the store, I asked her if she was going to get a book she just scowled at me. My ds was very happy to get a book that was educational. He didn't get the book that he really wanted either. Anyway, we went into several more stores and she acted like a brat she threw things on to the floor, and even knocked down a whole stack of towels. Then while we were at Sam's club she threw a paper ball at the clerk. Which she blamed her brother for. She was made to tell the manager of the store and the clerk that she was sorry, and was made (by me) to pick up the things that she threw and knocked over. She got a tongue lashing because of the way she acted on the way home. Then when we got home she had to explain everything to her daddy and he let her have it. She was grounded from her horse and she couldn't go trick or treating. She was also told that if she ever did this again that she would be put back into school and would never be homeschooled again. She had a little comment to say about that too. "That she would fail, and that would make mama look bad." That was the actual words that came out of her mouth. Her daddy had a few words for her too. "No matter how long it takes you to get out of a grade you will sit there until you do." "And no it want make mama look bad, it will her." Then we asked her way was she acting this way and her answer was," Because mama wouldn't buy me that magazine". "If she would have bought it for me, I wouldn't have acted that way." I left to take our ds trick or treating. So I don't know what she and her daddy talked about while we were gone for those 2 1/2 hours but what ever it was must have made some impact on her because when I came home she immediately apologized for the words and for her actions. She was in tears as she said it too. The one person that she never wants to make upset with her has always been her daddy. They have such a special bond that she tries her best to never make him upset with her. Today she has had a totally different attitude.
Wow, Vicky, What a day! It's tough being a teenager, but they don't know how hard it is to be a parent also!!! It's great that she has a special bond with her dad, and they could talk about it and work things out! I think you did the right things--not buying the magazine and having her apologize! I have my kids tell their dad what they did during the day also---it's great when it's good stuff, but they also have to tell him that they got in trouble and why. It's good for them to admit the problem, and actually hear themselves say it! My 14yo ds has been correcting everyone's faults lately. He obviously is very wise, so he needs to help other unfortunate people like us who know nothing!!! One frustrating thing about it is that many times he's right on the mark. if it gets too much we'll remind him that he makes mistakes sometimes, and he needs to allow others to do that also. If he is helping it's one thing, but if he's being critical, then he needs to stop. Lately he and his now 12-yo brother have been getting along sooo much better than they used to, for which I am truly happy and grateful! Now the 12-yo is starting to try some teen-age type actions, and is treating his little sister poorly. They used to be very close....not really anymore. Hopefully it's a stage he'll get over soon!!! I can always hope, can't I?! Isn't it amazing how these kids that are so grown up (in their eyes) can suddenly throw tantrums when they don't get their way?! That's one of the things my 12-yo ds is doing. If he doesn't get something he wants, he'll say, very whinely (how's that for a word?!), "But I WANT it!" and pout! The first time he did that was just a few weeks ago, and it was in front of one of his friends. My jaw probably dropped all the way to the floor! He's done that quite a few times since, and I haven't quite figured out how to rid him of that habit, which it has become now. I think I'll have him take a nap or something, just like if he was 3 or 4 and did that! But, life goes on.... Anyway, glad your situation was worked out. I bet she learned something from it!
Yes she did. I am so glad. She still has the TEENAGE ATTITUDE. She will argue with a brick wall, that it wasn't standing there yesterday. :roll: :roll: Her soccer coach said it perfectly. "This is the age that they know everything, and the grownups know nothing." He also said that we were the same way at this age. He has 2 teenage dd's, a 12 yo ds, and a 21 yo dd. He said the only words of encouragement was, that when they get about 18 or 19 they get out of that attitude. These words came after a team member smarted off to her mom.
Vicki, Homeschooling is a very scary subject.Expecially when you are talking about subjects that you are not familliar with. My sis has a degree in special ed. She goes twice a week to the library to teach a family in the subjects that they are not familliar with. In some areas they have a homeschool coop. The parents still do the teaching but they teach the subject they are familliar with. They even have a homeschool band. I will pray for you. The Homeschool Alert byHSLDA Home School Legal Defense Assn.had a report by I think it was H A REY that gave the stats on homeschooled children. The article burned in my house, but, I am sure they would have it in their back issue. This was published several years ago. 1998? I am sure someone has more current info... I don't think your sweet daughter will miss out on anything. Oh yeah.. she is missing out on the drug scene,the vanity of my dress is better than yours,and So and so was with so and so. Maybe some of us are protective of our kids, but last time I heard, that was a good thing.If she doesn't feel she is missing out,she isn't.I guess it is like Rabbi Zimmerman said. If you have never had ham, you don't miss it. I say If it ain't broke don't fix it. Follow your heart, God will provide the way.That is what faith is all about.Sounds like you have done an awesome job with your daughter thus far. good luck.
I take it year by year here but I do think unless something really major happens. Ansley will be home thru high school. I don't feel she is missing anything important at all. Prom and sex night! What a thing to miss! Ok with me if she does miss it. Actually she will be in 8th next year and I am trying to decide what materials to use. I know I am changing 3rd option groups to another who offers a diploma at graduation time. Lorna
My little Sara is a wild child.I am having to show her a different life than what she has had.It isn't easy.I am working on getting help for all the illiterate people on her side of town. Since I started HSing Sara, I have had many adults ask me for help.I am only one person.I am praying that God will help me with this need. If things are going to change for the better , we have to have the courage to be different. When Sara graduates, We are going to put on our ball gowns and go out to a 5 star restarant. We are going to send out invitations and I will hand Sara her diploma with her grandma and grandpa watching.I know her Daddy is going to looking down JUMPING FOR JOY. She might not be getting the highschool experience, She is getting a family experience. That is something we don't get enough of in this day and age.
Vicky: I am looking into a DVD program that I seen at a ladies house the other day through ABeka has anyone here seen it. It looked pretty good to me. Just want to see what everyone else is thinking about it.
