Homeschooler's i need your advice on if homeschooling is the right choice?

Question

i am a sophomore attending a private school in the northeast and i feel that homeschooling is right for me. not because i am not smart.. i am enrolled in honors and ap classes with mostly a's and a few b's. i love the idea of teaching yourself subjects that you want to learn at your own pace. this is the definition of learning.. not taking tests, stressing out and staying up really late (all which i have done a plethora of times) for some teacher just for the grade and then forgetting it all the next day, but for the love of learning. basically i want to know what u think of home schooling

and how to approach parents about homeschooling. my parents are sending me to private school with a high tution, so i do not think they are going to be easy to budge.

also how do colleges look at homeschoolers

thanks

Answer 1

I was the first officially homeschooled middle-schooler in New York State back in the 80s. My mom had to write a 20 page paper and go to court to fight for her right to teach us at home. Homeschooling is only right for those families that are committed to doing it well. It sounds like you are.

Homeschooling is gaining more and more respect from colleges all the time. They have found that homeschooled students make excellent college students. One place you can look to as a resource is your local community college to see if they will allow you to take courses inexpensively for college credit. (It depends on the state and college) Many of these courses are available online as well. If you are going to try to convince your parents to give this a go, then you need to do your research, call some community colleges, and write up a proposal. If you act mature and come up with a plan it will be much better received than if it sounds like a whim.

Former home-schooler and presently a teacher

Answer 2

I think homeschooling is a great choice for many families, but only you can decide if it is right for you. It sounds like you have some good reasons for considering it.

I think you should approach your parents with factual information, along with a list of reasons you want to homeschool.  

Here are some statistics:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

Here's some additional info that may help:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

As far as college, homeschoolers can get accepted to college and many Universities are now recruiting homeschoolers.  Here's an article about a homeschooled teen who was accepted to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, etc.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-h...

Good luck making a decision!

Answer 3

I don't know where you live, but check with the home school representative for your school system.  S/he can tell you everything that you need to know, including the laws for your state.  I don't think any state allows kids to home schoold themselves; most states allow a parent; some require that the home school program be 'run' through a church or that the parent that is home schooling have a degree.  

The home school rep in your school system would definitely be the best place to start.  Sadly, even home schoolers in your area can give you the wrong information, sometimes accidentally - sometimes on purpose.  You just need the facts, not opinions.

Answer 4

OK, well I'm not in home schooling or anything but my Best friend is.

I asked him if he liked home schooling and he said he did at first.

now he hates it.

I wanted to do homeschooling to, but then I started to realize how my friend started turning out.

now that he's in home schooling (3 years of home schooling) he doesn't even have social skills anymore.

Answer 5

my name is stacey, im 14 and i have home education and i think it's brill!

Answer 6

I basically homeschooled for the same reasons - I was advanced, wanted to work at my own pace, and didn't want to deal with teachers pushing their own agendas.

The best way to approach your parents about it is to do your research first and not get emotional about it.  Tell them you want to sit down and talk with them.  Explain why you think homeschooling would be beneficial to you (and cheaper for them!) and what's involved in it.

Also, yes, colleges love homeschoolers because they have learned to be self-motivated and are therefore less likely to drop out.  They also tend to have high GPAs.

Good luck!  The only things you really need to get through homeschooling are dedication and motivation, and it sounds like you have both.

Answer 7

I am 13 And am homeschooled and I love it but I thin that it may be to late for you when you get older and have kids then you can homescool your kids.

Answer 8

This is my second year in a home school program that is basically half home half school so i am not fully home schooled. But I also want to get into a more home schooled program so that i can learn about what I'm interested in. With kids that are home schooled you really need to make sure it is something you really wanna do because you could end up doing more work but for me if its something i am interested in and love doing i don't mind putting in the extra hours. The only problem i have and my dad is the social aspect is not there but being home schooled leaves you more time to join clubs and volunteer in the community and travel and meet new people. So you really need to take into consideration what you would be sacrificing and what you would be gaining before choosing whether or not to home school.

Answer 9

My children were home schooled for a time. My view is that IF the kid really wants to learn all they can then home schooling is superior to public schools (US). If on the other hand the kid rebels and resists every step of the way then the results in public school will be better. Comes down to what the kid wants out of life really and not so much what homeschooling itself is or isn't.

Answer 10

Hi,

Colleges look very favorably on homeschoolers because most are self-motivated and know how to learn.

Your parents may not know much about homeschooling and will probably ask a lot of questions. You will want to know the homeschooling laws and requirements for your state.

You can easily find that by going to hslda.org and finding your state.

They may doubt whether they can do it, but assure them many parents feel unsure and unqualified at first. But homeschooling isn't that difficult.

You will find lots of support and many resources available to you through local and state homeschool groups - both online and offline.

Making a list of all the benefits of homeschooling may help them in their decision process.

Your parents may like that you will be saving them money. Depending on the programs or curriculum you choose, most homeschooling options cost far less than private school.

Since you sound very motivated and can learn independently, you may want to tell them about dual enrollment. As you work on your high school diploma, you can earn credit toward your college degree at the same time.

If you have an idea of where you want to go to college, credit by examination will also save you money on college tuition.

Try not to get upset if they don't see your side yet. They may come around once they see your determination or do some research on their own.

I applaud your initiative and diligence and wish you much success!

Answer 11

I was homeschooled from my 7th to 9th grades. Since I am smart and was in all the AP/Advanced classes too, I think I can answer your question well.

One of the major problems with homeshooling is that unless you have really strong ties with your friends you will become alienated. This really is the only con about the homeschooling that I can think of. I mean, (at least according to my homeschool) You get all your work done for the week in 3 days and take the rest of the time off if you want to, you can even get out of bed when you feel like it.

If you have the ability to teach yourself something by all means do it. Your progress will most likely go much faster because you dont have to wait for the rest of the class to catch up.

Also, if you *do* decide to homeschool, make sure to get your work done on time and not procrastinate. Otherwise you will be up until 4 in the morning racing to get the last weeks work done in one night. So, if you can keep in contact with your friends through your home schooling progress by all means do it.

A little word of advice, home school for the next 3 semesters, but take the last one at school so you can take advantage of the school's graduation ceremony.

In regards to the College question, I am not so sure about it. I am in my Senior year at HS so I wouldnt know much about it. Also the only reason that I changed back to Normal school is because of the whole friend thing. Also make sure you have something to do when you ARE done with your work. When I was enrolled I didnt have TV or a computer so I just read books, which is fun and all, but not as much as a computer. :)

Answer 12

I go to keystone national high school. It is a private online school based in PA, but you do not have to live in PA to go there. You have a year to complete all of your courses. There are clubs you can join. You can have one on one conversation with your teachers over the phone or in email. This is an accredited high school and you get a real high school diploma. There is a pretty high tuition. AP classes are offered at an additional cost. This is my senior year of high school and my first year going to an online high school. I love it!!! There are no due dates on work (well you have to get all your work done in a year) so you do not have to stay up all night (I used to do that in school ... I was 2nd in my class). They let you know what textbooks you have to buy. I agree with you on what learning is all about. That is why I am going to this school. It really is great. The teachers are wonderful. They answer all of you questions in 24 hours. They have a large variety of classes, including different languages. If you have already started high school they can transfer your credits. Progress reports are sent to your parents and they can also set it up where they can see your grades every day and see what assignments you still have to turn in and at what times you submitted your completed assignments. The website is keystonehighschool.com. As far as talking to your parents, I would go to the website yourself first, make a list of the benefits, and then explain them to your parents and show them the website. I would stress more the benefits of online schooling instead of what you don't like about your school now. Then they might be more likely to tell you to stay at the school you are at now because it will teach you to deal with things you do not like or something like that. And as far as colleges look at homeschooling ... they are absolutely fine with it. That was one of my main concerns when deciding to home school, so I did a lot of research. Many require a GED, which is an equivalent of a high school diploma. With keystone though, you get an actual diploma, so you do not have to worry about that. Also, the teachers can give you recommendations for colleges or jobs. You can enroll in this school at any time of the year.

Answer 13

I love being homeschooled (I'm in 11th grade and started in 9th) for all the reasons you WANT to be homeschooled. You sound like you'd really enjoy it and make the most of it. Here's a bit of information about homeschooling that I've been reposting that may give you a good idea of what it's like and the ways you can do it. Share it with your parents and see what they think. As for colleges, the most selective universities in the United States are welcoming to homeschoolers and even actively recruit them because of their high achieements, self-motivation, maturity, and well-roundedness (among other things) so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

It is different for every family that does it, and often even for every individual child. As stated above, some people do online school which means you have teachers you corespond with over the internet. The online school sends you your materials and you complete the work and get a grade, just like regular school, only done on the computer from home or the library or the road if you travel a lot.

Some people homeschool through a private school or school of corespondance that sends them their books and materials for assignments, labs, projects, etc through the mail. With this type of home schooling, you usually send a report to the base school at set intervals.

Some people attend charter schools that let them go in to school once or twice a week, collect work, turn in work, and get help if they need it, though this isn't really what most consider to be homeschooling. Neither is online school to some people.

Some people take full responsibility for their own/their child's education by doing more traditional homeschooling. The parents and children choose their own curriculumk, text books, work books, lab equipment, videos, software, and any other materials they wish to use. They also choose their own subjects based on the child's individual interests and goals, for example, if the child wishes to go on to university, they will study the important core subjects that universities look for on transcripts as well as a variety of electives based on individual interests, needs, and goals. I personally am interested in robotics, animation, creative writing, and music, so this year I've been studying Programming and Robotics with various books and robotics/electronics kits for labs, 3D Animation with computer software, and creative writing with a textbook and books frokm the library. I also takek music lessons in the community and I am a member of a band. In this form of homeschooling, the state may require that you take a yearly standardized test to show that you are performing at or above grade level. In the states that are a bit more strict about homeschooling, your parents may need to send in a quarterly report, just like a report card in a way. Your parents may also give you tests at home if you all agree that this is what will be best for you, but it isn't required.You may also get grades like you do in school, or you may be on a Pass/Fail system, or you may have a totally unique grading system, or no grades at all. I take tests, but not for grades. When I take a test in a subject it is only to determine how far along I've come in that subject. The "grade" is never final because I homeschool to learn, not to just get by with a passing grade. If, for example, I took a test on a chapter I did in Algebra and I didn't do well on a few questions, instead of just going on to the next chapter, I go back and review the stuff I didn't get right on the test and then take the test again before moving on. For me, all tests are for is to tell me when I can move on to something more challenging. For me, and many others, tests aren't always in the same format as they are in public school. Sometimes in certain subjects, I'm tested by being given an extensive project or presentation to do to show my understanding of the topic cover, or asked to write a paper on it, or give a mock lesson on it as if I were the teacher. You know you truly understand something when you can accurately and confidently teach it to someone else. Often my mother, adult friends, or friends closer to my age who are in college or who have already mastered te subject will act as audience durring presentations or re-teaching activities, checking me if I don't seem to understand something. I only do this for certain subjects and topics though.

Homeschoolers sometimes do a lot of the things you may do in public school, but sometimes they do more as well. Many homeschoolers do a lot of hands-on activities like labs in science. This year, I am taking Chemistry, and I have all the same lab equipment you would use in a public high school chemistry class, just on a smaller scale, and with lab instructions specific to homeschooling (not requiring large groups of students, or very-hard-to-obtain chemicals). It was the same in Biology and in Physical Science. I have homeschooled friends who take thier science classes in a co-op group (kind of a homeschool class where parents and community volunteers act as teachers for each subject), and still other homeschool friends who take all of their highschool science classes (and some other classes) at the local community college as duel-enrollment students (just like regular highschool duel enrollment).

Homeschoolers don't miss out on the social aspects of school either. They certainly do not spend all of their time inside the house. Homeschoolers spend a lot of their time is spent out in the community, learning and experiencing life in the real world instead of in a house or in a classroom alone. Many homeschoolers take classes offered in the community such as art classes at an art studio or museum, musical instrument or voice lessons as well as band or chorus classes for homeschoolers at local music stores or schools, fencing lessons, swimming lessons, horseback riding lessons, classes and programs offered through local childrens museums, science museums, or history museums, classes or programs offered through the library, community/youth center, YMCA, or other Parks and Rec programs, dance class, and so on. Naturally, these are great opportnities for homeschoolers to interact with others of all ages, homeschoolers and public schoolers alike. There are also clubs outside of the regular public schools such as riding clubs, clubs offered through libraries and community centers, drama clubs at local theaters, boy scouts, girl scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs, youth group for those who are into the church scene, OM, academic teams, community sports, individual sports like martial arts, tennis, fencing, swimming, etc, and much much more. Many cities or counties also have homeschool organizations or co-ops where, as stated above, homeschoolers can take classes with other homeschoolers as well as go on frequent feild trips (though any homeschool parent or group of parents can arrange a feild trip when they want to), join clubs sponsored by the group (as many as can be thought of and started by the members), work on a yearbook or newspaper staff, attend dances or holiday parties (most groups have something along the lines of a Not-Back-To-School party each fall where the homeschoolers may go to a theme park or some other sort of outing) volunteer service projects, prom and graduation ceremonies for older students, outings on weekends, park days where younger kids meet up to spend an afternoon playing and pic-nicking in the park (uwsually weekly or monthly) and so on. Some even participate in private school sports competitions as well as regional and state science fairs and spelling/geography bee. There is no lack of social interaction.

The last form of homeschooling I can think of is unschooling. In this kind of home education, there is no structured school day, no tests (unless the child wants them), no grades. All of the learning and "school work" is directed by the child. This is usually best when started at an early age so that the child's natural desire to learn remains in tact and the child doesn't just become lazy or unmotivated. I am what I like to call a homeschool/unschooler because my schooling is all self-directed, but I still choose to do the book work and testing along with the creative hands-on stuff because I feel it is in my own, individual best interest.

I hope this answers your questions