Currently homeschooled, questions about public school?

Question

I am homeschooled and I am in 10th grade (my own levels) and I have been homeschooled since 2nd grade. My mom doesn't help me anymore because she doesn't know algerbra or anything like that, she doesn't know science and isn't really helpful. I can't do it by myself because I don't understand most of it, my friend said I should go to public school, but I havn't really learned anything new in almost 3-4 years cause I've been teaching myself and it's realllllly hard. I'm afraid I won't make it in public school, and I don't want to be in like 9th grade. I like being in 10th but I'm afraid I won't be smart enough. Any ideas?

Answer 1

Those are some difficult thoughts and feelings.  My heart goes out to you.

I have to tell you that I'd have given a lot to be homeschooled.   I'd have loved to be able to focus on the things I was interested in the way my kids do.  I believe I'd have done really well using the Charlotte Mason Method mixed in with some unschooling!

In some ways, I'm sure that enrolling in public school seems like the easy way out.  You wouldn't have to be responsible for teaching yourself anymore.  I'm sure that at first it would seem like a weight off of your shoulders.  I don't think it would be too long before you'd be chaffing at the silly, time wasting restrictions that you'd encounter.  In my humble opinion, you've been given a gift.  I hope you're able to take advantage of it.  

Before you do anything else, please, talk to your mom about how you're feeling.   As a homeschooling mom, I know what I'm saying when I tell you that, no one else in the world wants better for you, than your mom.  No teacher will ever feel the same way about you that your mom does.  Talk to her.  If necessary, write it down for her to read.  Be descriptive about your feelings.  Don't blame though.  Feelings just are.  After your mom understands how you feel, find out how she's been feeling about it and then ask her to help you find a solution.

These are the solutions I would try.

You may want to take a standardized test and see where you really are.  Here is a link to one of the cheaper ones.  

https://www.homeschools.org/class/itsfor...

You might look for a mentor.  A mentor could help you work on the subjects that you are struggling in.

The Link Homeschool Newspaper has a wonderful article on finding mentors. http://tinyurl.com/2ahxpd

You might also try looking at Math.com.

http://math.com/

http://www.math.com/homeworkhelp/PreAlge...

http://www.math.com/homeworkhelp/Algebra...

They take you step by step though each kind of problem and then have you answer questions at the end so you can see if you understand it.  I'd start with basic math and work up from there.  You might be surprised at how much you really know.  My older kids used math.com to check their understanding for years.  

You may want to read The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education by Grace Llewellyn.  Your library probably has a copy.  If they don't ask them to order it for you.  Check out some other homeschooling books.  They may spark other solutions to your problem.

I know, it's hard for you to believe but you're probably nearer to your grade level than you think.  Not everyone studies algebra.  Not everyone needs it.  Talk to your mom.  Try the testing.  Look for a mentor, that has experience in the subjects you need help in.  Check out the link at Math.com.  Read The Teenage Liberation Handbook and some other homeschooling books.

If nothing above works you might try looking for a homeschooling CO OP near you.  If your mom can't help out, maybe you have a skill you can pass on.  

You might want to check out your local Jr College.  Enroll in Math 101 and go from there.

You might also look for a public school at home program that you attend once a week.  They usually give you assignments to complete before you come back the following week.    Sometimes, they offer math and science classes as well as Art, History, Music, etc.

As an absolutely, last resort, you might check to see if you can enroll in school for just the classes that you need help in.  In the state, where we live, I could enroll my kids in just math or just science or a couple of classes, if I wanted to.

Do you plan to go to college?  If you're in 10th grade, you're old enough to have an idea of what you want to do with your life.  Start looking at the requirements of your chosen profession and see if you even need Algebra.  Study what interests you and what you need to get where you want to go.  People who are interested in what they are studying, actually remember what they've learned.  

I hope something here helps you.  Good luck with your journey.  I'm off to the Museum of Nature and Science for an afternoon of unschooling!

Seana

Answer 2

What do you currently use for curriculum?  My son, though in middle school, is highly gifted in math and science, and at points is already beyond me; for these subjects, I use DVD/CDRom curriculum that teaches him.  (They do include teacher's or solution manuals so that I can help him on anything he's stuck on.)  Some companies that carry these for math and science are Math U See, VideoText Interactive, Teaching Textbooks, and Apologia.

Pretty much every subject you could think of is now taught by DVD and/or CDRom; these are written so that a student of that grade level could complete the course independently.  Algebra, Geometry, Biology, Chem, Physics...these are all subjects that you can get interactive curricula for.

There are also curriculum companies such as BJU and A Beka that offer full curriculums on DVD and satellite download; BJU will even send you a hard drive with a year's curriculum, completely interactive, loaded onto it.

In 10th grade, you are also eligible to take concurrent enrollment at a community college.  You can take any math class (from basic, foundational math on up through calculus and statistics), any science course (with labs), and any other subject you could think of.  The courses aren't expensive, and you would get both high school and college credit for many of them.

Your mom does need to let you progress beyond what she knows; at this point, she should be finding you resources that you can work with.  A lot of parents can't fully teach upper-level courses - I know I couldn't teach algebra or physics - but parents can find resources that will teach their children.  They are all over the place, and it's your parents' responsiblity to get them for you.  They don't have to be expensive, but they do have to be available to you.

As for going to public school...depending on your school district, they may put you in 9th grade no matter where you test.  Many school districts don't accept homeschool credits, period...even though almost all colleges do.  I would really recommend either interactive curriculum choices or community college before I'd recommend public school.

Answer 3

that isnt home schooling. Thats stay at home playing school.

Try a tutor or some online class. My friend home schools through  a collage called BYU Brigham Young University  except she is in 9th grade

Answer 4

Your other recent question states that you have already finished all of your book work for 10th grade and are looking for more to do.

If you have finished all of your 10th grade work in the first semester, I bet you will have no problem doing just fine in public high school.

You might, however, want to consider the community college path as was suggested by someone in your previous question.

Answer 5

THIS is the reason for NOT being homeschooled! Your parents have doomed you to ignorance.

Answer 6

Personally I've never been to public school and am outwith the US anyway but just wanted to let you know you probably shouldn't freak too much about what you've managed to achieve at home compared to kids in public school.

I'm 15, home educated all my life and reckon I absolutely stink at maths. As far as I go, I consider myself to be barely functionally numerate, lol! Then I tried one of the online placement tests and, according to them, if I was in the US, I should be doing advanced high school maths!!

I *still* have absolutely no confidence in my own ability to add 2 and 2 though.

Anyway if the test results proved anything to me it is that the kids at public school are probably pushing themselves no harder (and prolly a lot less) than you're pushing yourself at home.

Answer 7

Well, in your years of homeschooling you have obviously learned to form decent sentence structures, which I cannot say for many high school students these days, sadly.

I am a homeschool mom too and I get very frustrated with moms not teaching their kids with *excellence*.  Why did your mom decide to homeschool you to begin with?  Is she is a support group so she can bounce ideas around with other moms of homeschooled highschoolers?  

What curricula do you use, may I ask?  Some have built-in evaluations that are to be administered periodically to ensure you are grasping the materials.

I use the Stanford 9 to test my children from time to time.  You could also order the ITBS and see how you measure up.  The laws on these tests being sold to private citizens vary from state to state.  

Look up Piedmont Educational Services online and see what they offer as as far as tests you could take at home.  It will probably cost around $40-$60 to get tested.  The laws govern who can test in some areas (some states allow any parents; others allow parents only if they have earned a bachelor's degree; others allow only certified teachers) but if you are just testing for your own self-enrichment I would not worry about that, since the test results would not be submitted to any government agency anyway.

It's a rare person who doesn't learn anything in three or four years.  You probably know a lot more than you think you do, unless you sit around all day watching stupid TV shows.  Best wishes!

You might also educate yourself about your state's laws; I included a link below.

Answer 8

I would ask your mom if you and her can go to the local public school and meet with the guidance counslers. They can tour you around the school and even let you sit in on some of the classes. The counslers can also let you take a few tests that will evaluate your ability and where you should be in public school.

That's awesome that you have been homeschooling yourself for that many years. But it might be time to get into public school.

Answer 9

If you want to go to public school then you should go.

You say you are 3 to 4 years behind? You need to get going before you fall further behind. Make an appointment with the high school to get started.. I do not know their procedures in placing a home schooled student...If you are placed in a lower grade-work your hardest to catch up.

Bottom line--when you go to public school you want to be in classes where you can do the work-- You would be miserable in a class that is "over your head".  GOOD LUCK!!!!@

Answer 10

I would not worry too much about your knowledge. The main reason you were home schooled is because the public schools do not perform like they should. Most schools simply care about the standardized tests. That's how they are paid by the state. I'm sure you have been required to pass the standardized test to stay home schooled so you should at least be at a normal level if not higher. I say, if you can't get a tutor, jump on in and see how you like public school. Don't worry so much, you'll do fine...Good luck to ya.