I just want to make a note, two things that I wish that I had learned during my homeschool years, now that I am in college is Shorthand. I got a book from the library on Gregg shorthand and found a course online at Universal Class that I'm considering taking. http://www.universalclass.com/i/crn/33894.htm I did know how to type very easily. very quickly, so that is definitely a bonus that I have over a surprising number of my peers, especially freshman year but also a surprising number of 2nd year college students dont type well either. I know Shorthand seems like an "outdated" skill, but it would be very useful to me as someone who isn't used to taking extensive notes at the Teachers pace (where they wont slow down or repeat anything for you!) I'm only in my 2nd year at school and need to learn before I have to take upper level classes. I wish I would've learned before starting college. Yes, you can take a digital recorder to class, or a laptop and type notes but I can guarantee you it isn't the same. And yes, you can even succeed in classes without shorthand, but it would make my life a lot easier if I knew it. I also wish that I'd have known more about college and credit by exam options. It could have saved me a lot of time and money to just take certain CLEP tests, especially for subjects that I dont care to take a class in but are required by my school. I dont know if anyone cares, but I just thought someone with a Middle or High schooler might like to know what a homeschool student has found she lacks going into college. I spent most of highschool doing Self paced learning and so I've had to learn new study techniques and such for classes that are intensively teacher directed. I just wanted to make these notes incase they are of any use to anyone.
Thanks for your insights. I have been wondering what beyond the typical academics would help children entering college. In college I majored in secretary, which is probably not a major now days, and took Gregg shorthand. It was a fun class. I was going to teach my daughter shorthand but never did. She is a good typist and my son will be too if he ever wants to graduate from high school.
This isn't a skill I lack (I love math), but a lot of college kids have a hard time balancing a checkbook. I don't know if they just don't get it, or if they just don't think about all the money they are spending and forget to write it down. Another thing is learning that the world doesn't revolve around you. I've had some wake up calls in my life and had to realize that it is not the world's problem and I have to deal with it myself.
I never learned shorthand (although I did take Typing in high school), but I did develop a clear, fast cursive hand that served me well through grad school. People who sat near me were always asking to borrow my notes because they were both complete and legible. Before they graduate from high school, everybody ought to know (in no particular order): how to write a check and record it how to balance a checkbook, reconcile it with the bank statement how to say no to yourself instead of buying on impulse and emptying that checkbook how to sew on a button and mend a ripped hem or seam how to type a term paper, article, etc. how to do at least survival cooking and cleaning how to be alone safely - in car, in town, at mall, etc. - without a cell phone how to shop for groceries how to do their own laundry and ironing how to check the belts, hoses, tires, fluids, fuses, etc., on the car how to change a tire how to unplug a toilet and a sink/bathtub how to read various kinds of statements and bills how to read various kinds of meters (for electricity, gas) how to fill out a job application how to do a 1040 EZ tax form how to order from a catalog, both paper and online how to judge the sizes/fit of their own clothing and shoes how to judge what "goes with" what clothes and shoes for what occasions I'm sure I've forgotten a few things, but I've found all these to be important.
Wow, Gizzy. I did some research on Gregg, and coming upon this webpage... http://gregg.angelfishy.net/anunit01.shtml .. I have a new found appreciation for what we are expecting our 5 year olds to learn how to do! Lindina... I still know nothing about belts or hoses. I can check fluids and replace fuses though! Love your list!
With the exception of the two car items, I can do everything on you list. I learned to check the water, tires etc when I was about 9 or 10, but I haven't done it much at all, plus, now we have new cars and such, I dont know where to begin.
It's appreciated Gizzy. Yes, it does make you realize what we expect our children when we actually try to learn something new. I have taken to studying a couple foreign languages lately and it has given me great insight into the difficulty of mastering spoken and written language which is what we expect our 3-7 year old children to do.
Lindina, that is a good list. As far as shorthand goes, I took it in highschool. It was cool, but I have since forgotten it. I used my own symbols/abbreviations to help me (although I haven't needed to take lengthy notes for a while). I will just put the first letter of perhaps a country we are learning about. I use the greater/lesser than symbols. I also use plus/minus signs, etc. I think another good idea for anyone is to remember to keep a record of your jobs. I don't know how many times I have applied for a job only to realize I had no idea what the address of my job was from 15 years ago. So one day, I realized that I should find it out once and for all and write it down on one piece of paper and keep it permanately. I don't know if I still have it, because I haven't changed jobs in a long time.
