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| Date: From: Subject: | 4/7/2011 9:46:31 AM Home School Legal Defense Association HSLDA's Homeschooling Thru High School Newsletter -- April 2011 |
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#=====---------------------------------------------------------------- HSLDA's Homeschooling Thru High School Newsletter April 2011--Expanding Teaching Options through Outside Courses ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---[ Christ-Centered Online Classes and Summer Camps ]---------------- Summer Camps in NC - civil war, biology, latin, mock trial / pre-law, politics, Christian music jam, ballet, art, architecture, german, violin, handbells, etc. Online Classes - math, science, history, english, web design, MBA, radio, psychology, Bible pre-law / mock trial, latin, maritime military history, etc. http://www.hslda.org/alink.asp?ID=344 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Friends, Many of you are making plans to attend homeschool conferences and curriculum fairs (or already have) where you will be deciding on curricula for your next school year. If your plan includes signing up for courses taught by others, we want to give you some ideas to think about and tools to use. At first glance, the high school years can appear scary because of all the courses you deem necessary to offer your teens. Looking at the whole mountain range of high school subjects is enough to make you feel weary - or worse yet, inept! If you need help in certain subject areas, courses taught by others may be a lifeline for you. However, we are not advocating that you outsource all of your teen's courses. Being "old school" homeschoolers, we taught the majority of the courses our own children completed during high school and enjoyed learning right along with them. With the abundance of homeschool high school curriculum, teacher's guides, answer keys, and lots of other helpful materials, we encourage you to also teach as many subjects at home as your time, energy, and circumstances allow. With that in mind, let's evaluate the benefits of outside courses, factors to consider, and options available. Benefits It is not unusual for students in high school to lose motivation to complete upper level courses, especially if they do not have a clear vision of their post high school plans. Taking a high school class in a group setting can energize them to study and complete the assignments so they will be prepared to take part in class discussions and compete well with their classmates. These groups may also be sources for finding friends who are also homeschooled and of like mind. Another benefit is the types of courses you will be able to offer to your teens. If they are advanced students, then you won't be hesitant to suggest challenging courses or subjects not normally studied in a public or private school. The side benefit may be possible careers that come to light to pursue. Taking classes from someone other than Mom or Dad will give teens practice in relating to other teachers, their teaching styles, their deadlines, and their class requirements. These teachers can often provide letters of recommendation for students when applying for post high school studies or employment. Such situations are a natural setting in which the student will learn time management skills as he juggles the various schedules of the outside course, home studies and responsibilities, church activities, and friends. If you feel your teen needs to hone these skills, we've gathered helpful resources on the HSLDA high school website, http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10790 , including a course you can use as an elective for your high school program, http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10791 . Some outside classes will earn your students both high school and college credit. Having college credit will strengthen the teens' applications and transcripts. The college will recognize the teens' academic abilities, maturity, and focus which may give your teen a favorable advantage in the eyes of admission officers and scholarship committees. Don't neglect to recognize that outside courses can also give parents a respite from teaching all the subjects. Many of you are teaching more than one child and more than one grade level, so having a break can make the difference between feeling bogged down and staying upbeat. Considerations Whoa horsey! Before jumping on the bandwagon and planning to sign up for a multitude of course options, take time to evaluate your teen in terms of academic skills and emotional maturity. Is he ready for the rigors of the course? Will she take the class seriously and follow through with the assignments? Can he manage his time well without nagging from you? Does she want to consider this option? It's important to be aware of any prerequisites which may be required for the class. For example, if you are considering a chemistry class, has your teen completed the necessary levels of math? You want to choose courses where your teens will enjoy a good experience and succeed. The interest of your teen will help in deciding what classes to consider. If a student has a particular desire to learn more about archeology, then a course in that discipline may be worthwhile to investigate whether archeology will be his major in college, or his career, or merely a hobby. Of course, your family's financial budget and schedule will be factors as to the possibility of outside courses. Course costs vary widely, so it merits looking at what is available in your area. Another issue will be the location of the class. Will driving back and forth be necessary, especially at an inconvenient time for the rest of your children? Or can the course be taken at home? If so, how much computer time will be required? Sources With this information in hand, the next step is to locate available courses. Homeschool co-ops usually are an inexpensive option that can provide benefits for both Mom and teen. If moms decide to co-teach a course, it lessens each individual mom's investment of time and energy in teaching and overseeing the material. You will also enjoy the camaraderie of the other moms. However, you may choose to engage the help of an outside teacher who is either paid or is a volunteer. A teacher might be another homeschool mom, a church member, a relative, a retired teacher, or a tutor. Another source for classes is CD or DVD courses where an instructor teaches the lesson and gives assignments. The parent becomes the overseer of the course and "go to" person should the teen have questions. That means the parent should be aware of the progress of the course in order to be able to help the student. Many times these course formats will provide additional assistance by phone or email should both of you become stumped. Online courses are very popular, and becoming familiar with the logistics of these courses will be helpful for post high school studies. You will discover there are an array of course offerings at both the high school and college levels. The classes are structured by each teacher so some will be more interactive than others. There is a partial listing of sources for these courses in both the online http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10792 and individual subject curriculum http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10793 sections of our high school website. If your teen is interested in taking advanced placement courses, http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10794, we also list providers to consider. Dual enrollment has advantages of earning both college and high school credit simultaneously as well as providing an introduction to a college setting while still living at home. Some community college systems require applicants to take placement tests in English and math to insure the student registers for the appropriate level of courses. It's a good idea to review these subject areas with your teen before she takes the tests. A general rule of thumb is that a one semester college course is equivalent to one year of high school credit for your teen's high school transcript. Since local policies may differ, it's best to check with your school of choice. Some families have enjoyed engaging the services of a tutor to teach a portion of a course or the complete course. This suggestion may take some of the burden off of parents since someone else is stepping in to ease the load. Sources for tutors can include your local high school (which often keeps tutor lists), agencies, homeschool moms or graduates, retirees in your church or community, or extended family members. If finances are really tight, check out the internet for many free sites. Our website has some of these educational resources, http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10795, listed to give you a flavor of the quality and quantity available at the click of a mouse. As you consider the many options for outside classes, please keep in mind that all courses included on your teen's high school transcript must use resources written at the high school level or above. If you are in doubt as to the level of materials used, do not hesitate to contact the curriculum provider or check out a homeschool curriculum reviewer such as Cathy Duffy, http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10796, and others. Words of Encouragement In light of all the information we've provided this month, we want you to know that you can homeschool high school with or without these choices. Even when courses are being taken from others, schedule time to stay involved in a supervisory role. Remember, you are not raising Lone Rangers, but students who are moving towards independent learning with your help. Next month we will discuss how working part time during high school reaps rewards. Until then we're... Surfing the internet to find you more resources, Becky Cooke and Diane Kummer HSLDA High School Consultants HSLDA High School at Home Teacher Training Sessions Join Becky and Diane in 2011 as they equip you to teach your teens http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10484. Spots are filling up quickly so grab yours while you can! Becky & Diane's Speaking Engagements April 14-16, 2011--MACHE, Duluth, MN (Becky and Diane) http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8761 April 29-30, 2011--MassHOPE, Worcester, MA (Diane) http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8762 May 11, 2011 - Bolling Area Home Educators, Washington, D.C. (Becky) http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10797 June 3-4, 2011--LEAH, Rochester, NY (Becky) http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10798 June 10-11, 2011--TEACH, Bloomfield, CT (Diane) http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10799 September 17, 2011--HSLDA High School at Home: The Basics (Diane) Purcellville, VA http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10484 October 1, 2011 - GRHE, Roanoke, VA (Becky & Diane) http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10800 October 29, 2011--High School at Home: The Next Step (Becky) Purcellville, VA http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=10484 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Will your children's inheritance retain its value? If you pass on a legacy of freedom, your children and their children's children will thank you. But freedom is never secure; it must always be guarded. Membership with HSLDA is an investment in the future that can be passed on to future generations of families wanting to teach their children at home. 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