Homeschool question...not sure it's working for my nephews..?

Question

My nephews are 11 and 12, and they have always been homeschooled, but I am concerned their not learning properly. I could be wrong but at that age shouldn't they be writing good and know their multiplication tables? They get ALOT of their letters mixed up. Like their Z's and E's are backwards..it really looks like a 2nd graders writing, and they don't know most of their multiplication tables. My question is...is their some sort of testing or something that has to be done at the end of the year to ensure everything is being taught or what? I don't want to say anything to my sister-in-law that would hurt her feelings, but I really don't think their learning properly. Any advice..please.

Answer 1

You would need to look into the requirements for the state that they reside in.  In Pennsylvania, all students, including homeschooled students are required to take a competency exam yearly.  I would talk to your nephews, they may be advanced in other areas such as history or science.  My children all have particular likes and dislikes in school, they excel if they are interested and involved.   The school program is not the issue necessarily.  If they do have some delays academically it could be detrimental to their future success if they are overlooked.

Answer 2

First of all, it depends on the state and the district.  But in Oregon, if a family member is homeschooling, I'm not sure they are required to take the state tests.

Some kids go to  a learning center like Sylvan to fine tune a few skills.  They have very clear testing that tells what level a student is at.

Also, some public schools and ESDs (Educational Service Districts) are more helpful in assisting homeschooling parents with assessment and other things like that.

You know, a place to start might be a homeschooling co-op or support center and just make some general inquiries.

Another idea could be to advertise or find a tutor that teaches that grade level during the day.

And yes, you have reason to be concerned, but your relationship with your sister is also very important and you will have to keep that in mind as you try to help her and her kids.

Answer 3

They're definitely not getting the education they'll need to survive in the educational world. As far as college goes, there are standards that need to be met. Kids by this age in public schools are writing book reports and beginning pre-algebra. That's what's expected to move on to higher education, or to get decent jobs. It's time to take action and get these kids up to par--whether that means putting them in remedial classes or getting a tutor. The parent homeschooling is probably just ill-equipt, but something needs to be fixed SOON, or it may have serious ramifications on their futures.  

Answer 4

There are home schooling groups that exist so that this doesn't happen. It ensures that they stay at a standard level because I'm aware of kids who are home schooled and are very bright. Make sure she enrolls her children in these group classes.

Answer 5

You are a kind aunt to be concerned.

Kids who are in the "middle years" often develop their own handwriting styles, and it sounds as though your nephews might be doing this.  

There are many ways to homeschool, and many speeds at which kids learn. I'll be willing to be that, although your nephews aren't up on their multiplication tables, they would wow you their knowledge in other areas.  

Depending on the state in which your nephews reside, there may or may not be testing.  But what does this testing show?  It shows that kids have been crammed with knowledge (which they soon forget) in order to fulfill what some state committee says kids need to know.

Instead of worrying, how about asking your nephews about their interests?  I'll bet they're doing some marvelous stuff.

All the best.

Answer 6

Not necessarily.  In a classroom, a teacher is pretty much forced to move everyone along at the same pace, regardless of their developmental abilities, because otherwise they would have chaos on their hands.  So, in a classroom, kids won't get passed to the next grade if they don't have their multiplication tables memorized, etc.

In homeschooling, education is really more of what you could call "organic" - it is tailored to the child's needs.  Honestly, my almost-11yo boy doesn't write with beautiful handwriting, and he sometimes has to think about multiplication problems; however, he's dyslexic, and getting things from his brain to his pencil is often difficult for him.  If I let him dictate, however, he formulates high school-level papers and is currently in algebra.  We're working, steadily, on bringing info from brain to pencil, but academically, he's far above where he is developmentally.

In a classroom, he'd probably be in remediation because of this; at home, I'm able to work on his skills at developmental level while challenging him academically.  I mean, seriously, he did algebraic functions in his head at 6 and read The Hobbit at 9.  He only needs remediation for the actual physical act of writing, which we're working on.  Your nephews may be in the same boat.

They'll get there, they will just get there on a different timetable - and that's perfectly ok.  It doesn't seem to quite do it when you look at it through eyes that are used to the public school system, but I promise it works.  It's just a different philosophy of education.

I really wouldn't say anything, as it will hurt her feelings and probably cause a family rift.  Instead, you could offer to take your nephews on educational field trips (museums, concerts, nature center, zoo, whatever) to get involved.  As you get involved, she'll likely confide in you more about how she's teaching the boys, and perhaps allow you to contribute advice.  Please know, though, that many homeschool moms and dads are battered from all sides with "you can't possibly do this, you're doing it wrong, they'll end up as idiots, they won't have a future, etc".  Please be sensitive to this and find out all of the info before you say anything.  :)

Answer 7

"shouldn't they be writing good"? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!

My advice is to say nothing and mine your own business.

Answer 8

Different kids learn at different paces.  It is good that you care about your nephews enough to be concerned.  Perhaps you could help by offering to take them to museums, or other learning field trips.  

We are in our second year, and things seem to be going along, but my neighbor home schooled from the beginning, and her daughter didn't read or write til she was 11, then was reading Tolkien within a year and making very astute observations on plot and character, etc.  She chose to go to the public high school around that time, and was a mostly A, few B's star athlete (actually I know 2 girls with this same story) and she is set to graduate from college with honors after 4 years.  The other girl is deaf, and is going to art school on a scholarship this year. Neither one could read or write very well at this age, but both entered public school a few years later and excelled.

Try hard to be patient and encouraging.  If you are really concerned, ask your Sister in law privately (not in front of the kids) about your concerns.  We are lucky to have a wonderful aunt and uncle near by as well.

Answer 9

Not necessarily. It all depends on the jurisdiction in which they live, the precise details of your sister-in-law's registration (if any) and her chosen method & philosophy of education.

As a lifelong homeschooler, I can name you at least 20 different methods of home-education, all officially recognised, all valid and all legal but not all placing the same emphasis on literacy, numeracy etc. Typically boys tend to be slower than girls anyway owing to gender differences even if both are following the exact same methods. And increasingly teachers in the public sector are complaining that kids are going up to high school at 13 not knowing their times tables (multiplication tables).

It's impossible to know what (if anything) they might be expected to know at their ages because you don't say in which jurisdiction they live. However methinks you've fallen into the trap of viewing home-education as something that ought to be comparable with a school-based education and in many jurisdictions that simply is not so; where we live I've certainly known Educational Welfare Officers agree that homeschooled kids of 14 and 15 who can neither read nor write are still, nonetheless, receiving 'an appropriate education'.

The likelihood, in law, is that your nephews' education has to be 'appropriate to their circumstances' but what 'appropriate' means may or may not be defined (depending on the jurisdiction).

Similarly, depending on the jurisdiction, there may or may not be an expectation that their home education ought to bear any resemblance to the equivalent school-type education.