Homeschooling Teens
by Isabel Shaw
The Whys, and the Must-Haves
The idea of homeschooling through high school can be scary. Parents tell me,
"I could never homeschool my teen - I barely got through some of my own high
school classes!" But homeschool advocates are discovering there's a better way
for teens to learn, and homeschooling your high-schooler may be easier than you
think.
Why Homeschool?
It's not uncommon for homeschooled teens to
complete four years of traditional high-school studies in 24 months or less. How
can that be? Teens who learn at home are able to focus their energy and
resources on the task at hand. With no distractions, it's amazing how
efficiently kids learn. This principle is illustrated by the requirements for
schooled kids who are unable to attend classes due to illness. Most schools
require 1-1/2 to 5
hours of at-home instruction for each
week of
missed classroom learning.
Cafi Cohen -- author of
And What About College? How Homeschooling Leads to
Admission to the Best Colleges and Universities -- spent two full days
observing public school classes. During those days, she kept track of
administrative time versus on-task time. On-task time is roughly defined as
students really doing something - reading, writing, listening to lectures, etc.
Cohen discovered that less than one hour out of each six-hour school day was
spent on-task. The bulk of the day was spent on administrative duties: taking
attendance, collecting homework and reports, making announcements, passing out
supplies, preparing for activities, cleaning up, and discipline - perhaps the
biggest time-waster of all.
Many teens are also overwhelmed by the prospect of spending an hour or more a
day on the school bus getting to and from school, only to be faced with three or
more hours of homework in the evening. In the teen group I facilitate, teens
stress wasted time as a major reason for homeschooling along with problems in
the school environment: peer pressure, negative influences (drugs and sex),
bullying, and even personal safety.
Can Anyone Homeschool?
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states.
Many states have no specific requirements regarding the educational background
of parents who homeschool. Studies have shown that homeschooled students
repeatedly outperform their schooled peers on standardized tests, regardless of
a parent's level of formal education.
With a little planning, a little cooperation from your teen, (yes, sometimes
they actually do cooperate!), and creative record keeping, you'll be packing
your homeschooled kids off to college -- or wherever life's path will take them
-- before you know it!
How Do I Start?
Investigate your homeschooling options, and then
set up a workable plan with your teen. This should be an individualized program,
based on your teen's strengths and weaknesses, passions, and learning style.
Successful homeschoolers are those who break away from the "one-size-fits-all"
curriculum, that most of us remember. Aim for a course of study that allows your
kids the freedom to pursue their interests, cover the basics, and become a
lifelong learner. The following books will show you exactly how to do this.
Must-Have Books for Homeschooling Teens
Homeschooling: The Teen Years -- Your Complete Guide to Successfully
Homeschooling the 13- to 18-Year Old by Cafi Cohen. If you can buy only one
homeschooling book, this is it.
Homeschoolers' College Admissions Handbook -- Preparing 12- to
18-Year-Olds for Success in the College of Their Choiceby Cafi Cohen . For
kids with college in their future, Cohen provides valuable information and
resources for both parents and teens.
The Teenage Liberation Handbook (a classic among homeschool families)
and Real Lives: Eleven Teenagers Who Don't Go to School, both by Grace
Llewellyn. These books will inspire and guide your teen with real stories about
kids who learn in freedom.
The Big Book of Home Learning: Junior High Through College by Mary
Pride. An enormous collection of resources and advice from a homechooling
veteran.
The Homeschooling Book of Answers: The 88 Most Important Questions
Answered by Homeschooling's Most Respected Voices by Linda Dobson. The best
book for those new to homeschooling. Intelligent answers to just about every
homeschooling question.
The Homeschooler's Guide to Portfolios and Transcripts by Loretta
Heuer. Covers the most difficult aspect of homeschooling teens: maintaining
accurate records.
Teaching and Record Keeping
What Subjects Do I Teach?
Homeschooling: The Teen Years by
Cafi Cohen outlines how to set up and follow a high school curriculum. If your
child plans to attend college, Cohen advises you to begin your studies with the
following subjects:
Four years of language arts (English)
Three years of math (usually through Geometry or Algebra II)
Two to three years of science
Three to four years of social studies (History and Geography)
Two years of foreign language
Two years of electives (Music and Drama, for example)
Covering Difficult or Unfamiliar Subjects
Covering difficult or
unfamiliar subjects is not as hard as it seems. Parents can:
Purchase a curriculum from a homeschool curriculum provider.
Use a correspondence or online school.
Use educational video courses (check with your library).
Hire a tutor.
Take an online class.
Use educational computer software.
Take a class at a community college.
Learn the material along with your teen.
Start your own class
Homeschoolers are often able to team up with
other parents and create the classes their kids need. My girls wanted a French
class, but private sessions were too costly. Group lessons (10 or more kids)
were reasonable. I contacted homeschool support groups in my area and sent email
messages to local homeschooling families to see if anyone was interested. In two
days, I had 15 respondents, and eventually a waiting list!
You can often find resources right in your community — all you have to do is
ask. Several parents of teens persuaded a retired chemistry teacher to teach
their kids. Another group enlisted the help of a former English teacher, now a
full-time mom, who set up a homeschool writing club in her home. And little
persuasion was needed to convince an enthusiastic chess coach to start an
official chess club for homeschoolers.
Record Keeping - It's wise to keep track of your teen's activities.
Loretta Heuer's The Homeschooler's Guide to Portfolios and Transcripts
will show you how. You may need to maintain accurate records to comply with your
state's statutes, or to submit them if your child must reenter high school.
Independent study programs also require record keeping. For college-bound kids,
remember: The records you keep today will be used tomorrow to create a portfolio
for college admissions.
Record keeping can be as simple as a daily journal, or filling in each
activity on a large calendar. The level of detail shown in your records will
depend on both your teen's goals and your homeschooling style.
Diplomas and College
High School Diploma
Do homeschoolers need a high school diploma?
Sometimes. Do they need a diploma from an accredited school? According to Cafi
Cohen, "The experience of thousands of families indicates that the answer is
'almost never.'"
Cohen elaborates: "Every homeschooler can have a document verifying
graduation from high school because -- as the principals and administrators of
small private schools -- all homeschool parents can create their own diplomas."
Are these diplomas recognized? "College admissions officers rely primarily on
transcripts, test scores, and letters of recommendation. Most never ask about
diplomas because typical applicants, high-school seniors, do not yet have them."
What about job applications? Cohen advises parents: "Employers care mostly
about experience. By granting your own diploma, your teenager can answer "yes"
to the diploma question on most job applications. And, interestingly, employers
never seem to phrase the question this way: 'Do you have a diploma from an
accredited high school?'"
The only exception may be the military. If you know your son or daughter
plans to enlist in the Army, Navy, Marines, or Air Force, consider using an
accredited diploma-granting independent-study program like Clonlara School or
American School (1-800-228-5600). Check with your local recruiter about current
regulations for homeschool students.
GED High School Equivalency Diploma
The initials GED stand for
General Education Development. The GED test measures how well someone has
mastered the skills and general knowledge that are acquired in a four-year high
school education. GED online is a special website dedicated to helping students
prepare online for the GED High School Equivalency Test. For homeschool students
desiring a formal diploma, the GED is another option.
College-Bound-HomeschoolersIf you're looking for a comprehensive
guide covering just about every known approach to earning a college degree,
Bear's Guide to Earning College Degrees Nontraditionally by John and
Mariah Bear is for you. Read this book early - before you make your teen's
college plans - it may change the way you homeschool!
Homeschoolers are accepted and welcomed at most colleges. Admissions policies
vary, so plan ahead to meet the requirements of colleges that interest you.
Generally speaking, testing requirements (ACT/SAT I & SAT II) are the same
for homeschoolers and schooled kids. Click here for detailed information on
admissions testing.
Most parents of teens who learn at home are motivated, resourceful, and
determined to provide the best educational resources for their kids. When I ask
parents of older homeschooled kids what they would change if they could do it
over again, their replies are often the same: I would worry less, and enjoy my
kids more. Sounds like good advice to me.
