Keeping up with high schooler

[choirfarm]

My oldest is independent. Always has been. He likes working in quiet. That said, next year we need to get his writing up to level and I need to learn Geometry with him and I guess logic as well. We have our weekly TOG discussions. It seems like I should spend an hour or two with him a day, but how do you do that with life and helping your other children?? You can see my meeting all their needs post on K8 board for more info.

christine

[Jean in Wisc]

My oldest is independent. Always has been. He likes working in quiet. That said, next year we need to get his writing up to level and I need to learn Geometry with him and I guess logic as well. We have our weekly TOG discussions. It seems like I should spend an hour or two with him a day, but how do you do that with life and helping your other children?? You can see my meeting all their needs post on K8 board for more info.

christine

Can he do math with a DVD--Chalkdust or Teaching Textbooks? That has helped me a lot.

We used the Traditional Logic DVDs so that I could have a teacher--one does not need to buy them, but I found them helpful.

I'd work to have only one class that I was learning along side my child--which means either giving math to a DVD or waiting to do Logic for another year.

FWIW,
Jean

[Gwen in VA]

If it's financially possible, I'd recommend outsourcing a course or two.

Online classes have been a blessing to us -- the class helps keep the student on track, and the teachers usually have expertise that I do not have.

The online classes help provide my kids with an excellent education and allow me to focus on what *I* have to do -- Mom, wife, tax-driver, house-cleaner, counselor, mentor, etc. I can't outsource those jobs! I focus on doing my jobs well and try to outsource those jobs where *I* am less essential.

[choirfarm]

We also travel quite a bit. For example, we are taking a 2 week trip to Alaska next year. My dh takes off at least one week a quarter, sometimes 2 and we take a trip. I didn't know how that would work with outsourcing. We often go to distant places. For example, I've discovered that our cell phones won't even work in Alaska and our days will be pretty full doing national park programs, hikes, fishing, etc in the motor home so I'm not sure where traditional school would fit in.

He is doing TT Algebra II write now and enjoys it. I just worried with him being a math major and/or computer major that it wouldn't be hard enough to prepare him.

Christine

[choirfarm]

Ignore typos...right now...good grief. I'm off to my daughter and middle needs computer for math.

[choirfarm]

Can he do math with a DVD--Chalkdust or Teaching Textbooks? That has helped me a lot.

We used the Traditional Logic DVDs so that I could have a teacher--one does not need to buy them, but I found them helpful.

I'd work to have only one class that I was learning along side my child--which means either giving math to a DVD or waiting to do Logic for another year.

FWIW,
Jean

Yes, we will be doing Chalkdust on DVD..well actually VCR. But what if he has trouble, then I need to understand. I'll look into the Logic programs on DVD. Which program is that?

Christine

[choirfarm]

Are you sure this is all worth it? I see his peers about to take AP classes and winning UIL academic medals.. I just can't keep up.

[Cedarmom]

I agree with the posters who said outsource some or use DVD lectures. There are some good teaching DVD's on logic. Pick one or two subjects that you want to keep up on them with, and let him work more independently on the others.

[LoriM]

Are you sure this is all worth it? I see his peers about to take AP classes and winning UIL academic medals.. I just can't keep up.

My daughters and I have a great relationship that was fostered by homeschooling high school. Now, I certainly think we'd have been close, even if they'd gone to PS. (After all, I love my mom, and I went to PS! GRIN.) But hsing afforded us many opportunities to discuss values, beliefs, and decision-making strategies in a context of literature study, or history analysis, that removed any judgmental, "my mom is getting in my business and telling me how to live" feelings that could develop between teens and moms. :) It kept us connected.

It also removed a whole lot of artificially-induced stress! Those AP classes you mention? UIL medals? While a nice feature for students who desire to exceed and are self-motivated, they are not high school requirements. They aren't even life requirements. But what hsing allowed us to do is to focus on the *real* life requirements. My girls had time to read books they enjoyed, as well as books for our school. They had time to go to movies with friends, and watch TV piled up with us in the evening. We ate all our meals together. They learned to balance academics and laundry with life. :)

My girls had lots of time to do volunteer work, to stay actively involved in church, and to keep the quality of their studies strong. Now, I managed to do all that in high school, too--but I was harried and exhausted most of the time. I remember being frazzled, frantic, and fried at the end of the week. Since my older daughter has Crohn's Disease, I often wonder if the lowered stress of hsing kept her colon from exploding! GRIN.

Anyway, there are many non-academic benefits to homeschooling. I think it is worth the effort it takes to stay ahead of the reading, writing, and planning that being your student's fulltime instructor, guidance counselor, and curriculum director requires. Even with other students--maybe especially with other students.

It does require an not-so-small effort on the part of your student, of course. You say he is independent. Perhaps you should give him more responsibility with the little ones? Team-teaching could free up some of your day. I would think it could benefit his understanding of fable, metaphor, allegory, myth, etc. to read aloud to the younger children, and to ask them good quality questions about the material they study in history or science. Have him put together experiments for them to study together. Give him a chance to lead.

HTH,

Lori

[Michelle in AL]

:iagree:
It really can make your family closer. You do have time to explore who you are and especially what you believe in.

[Cedarmom]

Yes, it is definitely worth it! My son has time to develop his interests and grow as a young man. Our relationship has deepened because of the time we spent together. I get to see the fruits of my labor, all the stuff I taught him earlier, he is now understanding and applying it to his life (well o.k maybe not all!)