Yes, I looked into it on video for Ansley a few years ago. Abecka moves very fast so your kid has to be able to pick up very quickly. Also I had trouble understanding the teacher sometimes too. The camera was just put in the back of a classroom and it was taped. We didn't get them but borrowed a few from a friend who ordered them and used them for a while.
Are they still done where the camera is just in the back of the room? That is why you couldn't hear the teacher well.
You know Lorna the one I seen and watch for a few mintues the teacher was right up front and I could hear good. I really don't know. Need to look into it more.
I know what you guys mean. This highschool math thing has me a little nervous. Sara isn't there yet but hopefully will be soon. I plan on hiring a tutor when I start getting to a point I'm not sure of.Because of my CP math is a challenge for me. My Mr Wonderful is excellent in math and science.Just to be sure I am hiring a tutor when it is time.
We are still thinking about what we should do. I would love to keep her home. That way I know what she is learning. I have a friend that is thinking about homeschooling her daughter. She will be in the 10th grade. My dd doesn't want to go. High school is so important that I don't want to mess up by doing the wrong thing. The ps highschool here isn't all that bad. You do have your wild ones and that scares me to death. But you can't shelter them from those type of people forever. They will have to deal with them when they get to college and out in the real world. Some days I am ready to send her and other days I want to protect her. Maybe by the time we have to decide we will know what to do.
Vicky, I'm not sure what you mean by "isn't all that bad". That's so relative! Compared to what? What I would suggest is for you visit the school for a WHOLE DAY. Go to the classes, walk in the halls, eat in the cafeteria. Get an idea of what exactly IS and is NOT taking place. Listen to the conversations, see the attitudes of both teachers and students. Visit both the Honors classes and the "dumbed down" classes. I'd do this for one day on three or four different days, picking three days that weren't close to one another. Go one day, wait about two weeks and go again, etc. This way you might get a pretty good feel of the school to determine if it's what you want for her.
Also, homeschooling is actually more "the real world" than going to a highschool and interacting with only kids your own age. When you homeschool and go to certain things, maybe a class here or there, grocery shopping, etc., etc., you deal with people of all ages, just like kids who go to highschool do when they get "out in the real world". Highschool IS important, and with all that's available for homeschooling these days, I'm sure your dd would do GREAT, especially if she so wants to homeschool! The classes from A Beka, or Bob Jones, or wherever you get them are NOT any worse than ones she would take if she went to highschool, so they would prepare her for the real world just as well, or better, as going to highschool classes would! When your child learns at home, and learns to deal with conflict situations just by everyday things that happen, they learn a confidence in their abilities to handle different situations. They don't need other highschool kids to gain that knowledge. You're not sheltering them from the world, neccessarily, you're allowing them the time and ability to learn to handle situations with confidence, rather than by following the crowd and doing it cuz everybody else does. Peer pressure and "mob mentality" are prevalent in school, and that is NOT the Real World! I like Jackie's idea of going a few times for a full day and seeing what happens in the halls and in classes and what the teachers are like, all that when you go unannounced, so they don't plan for you to see all the good things and not see it how it really is day to day. You may see things you like or see things you don't like, but it'd certainly give you a clearer picture of what the school is really like.
I'm not sure it's possible to go into a high school unanounced, especially if you don't have a student there. You would probably have to arrange for it. Even so, you may be given some freedom as to classes, etc. It's really NOT easy for a teacher to change direction when a parent comes in. And the kids are going to behave pretty much as they always do. If it's an orderly class, the kids will still be orderly for the most part. If it's a class of cut-ups and trouble makers, they'll still be causing trouble. Now it's possible that, if there's one or two kids who cause trouble, that the teacher may figure out how to be rid of them on that day....
I have got to say that I think home school is better in my case because Sara has already been in such a negative enviornment. When she is here with me she does really well . When she goes to see her aunt she gets sucked into the negativity.Kids comming out of highschool don't have a clue to what the real world is all about. There are some really good programs out there to give her what she needs, without exposing her to that much stupid.... It is so easy to get sucked into a demon hole theese days.
I have never thought of going to the school and observing. That sounds like a plan. She has her first sweetheart. He too is homeschooled. They know eachother from soccer. They email and call eachother. Nothing major just a case of puppy love. His mom and I are planning to get them together so they can talk face to face. She is determined that she wants to stay at home. We are still praying about this. My dh is almost certain that she will be back in school next year. He thinks that will be the best for her. I am not that sure.
I think that sounds like a good idea. My question is , Have you been feeling burnout with teaching? Or could it just be a case of highschool jitters. I got my deploma in 83 through American School. They had instructors for me to call and talk to if I had a problem. I did fine. They have the regular get you by course if you are just planning trade school or they have colledge prep. Get on the internet and check out some of the programs. let your hubby look at them too. The instructors were really good. and they even called me from time to time to check on my progress. I am praying for you Vicky. I am a fan of homeschooling but, If you decide to go PS.I know that your daughter will be fine.
Oh Skippy that sounds wonderful. How much does that cost to take? I been looking into abeka and they do it for alittle over 900 a year with DVD program they grade and everything too.
Jackie, my hubby is a PS teacher. He just thinks that they can give her an education that we can't here at home. He knows what goes on at school and he understands that she doesn't want to go. But he also thinks that it will help her in the long run. His thinking is that since our son has so many learning disabilities along with other problems, that I need to spend more time with him than I do now. I am now spending more time with him than her except in math where she is the weakest. This we do at the same time so I can help both. So I am teaching Pre-Algebra and 4/5th grade math, at the same time. No I am not feeling burned out. When I do feel myself starting to loose it . I say ok its time for a break, we usually take about a 20 to 30 min break then. The we go outside or we just go into our own spaces, away from the school work. When we start back we are better able to focus. I don't want to send her back, but I really don't know if I can teach her the highschool subjects. I have never taught anything above 8th grade. We have really never thought about the online schools or even Abeka for highschool. I was thinking about using the Lifepacs if we did homeschool her. But now I might look into the different options. Please give me all the information you can about the different highschool programs that are out there. Thanks for the prayers. I feel the Lord working in this matter. I just would like him to spell it out for me whether or not we are to homeschool or send her back.
Christian Liberty Academy is one of the cheapest, and they do the grading, but it's all bookwork stuff---can get boring and not reach some kids. My son said he would have a hard time if we did his highschool classes that way. So we looked into A Beka and Bob Jones, since we wanted a Christian curriculum. They have DVD programs, and have it all set out, so the parent really doesn't have to do a whole lot. You can have them do the grading and record keeping also. If you used those programs, your dh or you could help her if she runs into a tough spot, but my ds who is doing Bob Jones, hardly ever needs our help. I go check on him, but he's got a schedule of his own made up and follows it and gets things done each day, even some projects and presentations he's working out on his own. That's one of the points of highschool--to get them to the point where they can do their assignments on their own pretty much, in other words, to become more independent, and my son is doing that! I help with studying for a test sometimes by asking him questions on terms, etc., but I have plenty of time for teaching my 7th grader and 4th grader as well. Plus the subjects are high quality and as good or better than those she'd get in highschool, because they are real subjects that are taught in school. Both A Beka and Bob Jones are accredited, so they can get a diploma. They even have graduation ceremonies that seniors can attend. Without the peer pressure and problems with highschool they also end up with a better education and stronger values, and usually do very well in college!
It's something you two have to decide. And I know I wouldn't feel quite as strongly if I didn't live in the (rotten) school district where I do. Some are better than others! All I know is what we feel is best for OUR family; that doesn't mean it's best for yours, too. I would still suggest you attending the school and getting a feel for it. Also, if you send her and it isn't working out for her, you can pull her home. I'm lucky in that we live in a high homeschooling area. That means there's LOTS available for high school kids, especially if you want to pay for it. Some of these options aren't available to people who are more isolated with their homeschooling.
Somewhere I have a packet from American School of Corespondence They aren't that expensive. You could do a search.
