I have just started home schooling my 13 year old daughter.?

Question

I would like to hear from parents that are home schooling their middle school children. Please tell me all the pros and cons.

Answer 1

What ever you do, do NOT let her slip from her work.

Answer 2

I don't know if darcy will see this, but since emailing darcy is impossible, I'll try:

"not sure what makes you think you have the ability to teach some one?"

Well, would you be able to teach someone how to tie their shoelaces? Have you had the necessary training? Do you have a teaching certificate for that? What about teaching a child what different objects are? You know, like teaching a baby different things like books, shoes, fingers, etc.? Do you have a teaching certificate for that? Do you need a teaching certificate to be able to teach a child what 2+2 is? Do you need a teaching certificate to use a math program designed for the student to use on their own and to use to the teacher guide to check the answers? Do you need a teaching certificate so that your child can read a textbook on their own?

--

To Maddie:

My children are still young, but I have met many homeschooled teens. The pros for them aren't really any different than the pros for other ages: better social/emotional/psychological environment (meaning, less peer focus, less negative influence, better sense of self since not comparing self to those around them all the time, etc.), a chance at better academics since the child can get assistance when needed and can go their own pace. The cons of pulling a child out at 13 aren't really cons, just difficulties: child may be resistant, it might take longer to get the 'school system' out of the child than if the child had been pulled earlier, there may be a huge adjustment to not being around a lot of people all the time. Make sure to not confuse any possible rejection to change as a rejection of being 'alone'.

Another difficulty might be finding enough outside activities to satisfy the teen's social need. Again, this isn't a con, just a potential difficulty. Those who seem to think that social skills will suffer--I have to wonder if they think that 3 months of summer causes social skills to suffer, too. Your daughter will be fine if you are a good model and guide and if you make sure to do stuff outside the home.

Answer 3

I don't home school anyone but I know two large families of home schooled children and have found them to be the nicest, most well-adjusted, responsible, mature young people I have ever met. They are very self-motivated and participate in a lot of social activities with other home schooled children and teenagers. Good luck!!

Answer 4

My son finished the 8th grade in public school with straight F's and went from that to straight A's and B's being home schooled. Online charter schools are considered the same as public schooling. My son graduated an online charter school and now attends University of Dayton ( a private university ) with scholarships.

Home schooling can work for some. The student needs to be self disciplined enough to do the work and care. Generally there is less work to do at an online school than there is at regular school since the work is targeted and does not repeat itself over and over as in regular school does.

This is the school my other children are now attending,

http://www2.k12.com/getk12/index.html...

Depending on where you live they may be a help, if not, there are online charter schools all over.

They will provide you with the computer, printer, supplies and books that you need as well as teachers and academic advisors. This is the same as a public school but ONLINE at home.

Currently my son who is 12 goes to a k12 school and it is working out great for him as well. He was a little behind in math so they customized his curriculum so that he doesn't keep slipping behind.

If you need to know anything else please feel free to email me

Answer 5

Pros: they get to learn at their pace

Cons: They lost out on interaction with other teens

Answer 6

I homeschool all my kids.  My son is 14 and grade 9.  He loves being at home.  As for all the uninformed people who say that your dd will lose out on friends, well that's just plain silly.

If you get involved in the hs community and your community at large you will never lack opportunities for interaction.   A few of the things my son is involved in THIS year are:

-fencing

-band (sr and jr bands)

-swim lessons

-film school

-extra in a movie

-CSI (crime scene investigations) workshops

  

I know there will be more to come as well as we keep track of what is offered.  

There are so many ways to be involved.

You can choose the curriculum that suits your child rather then trying to make the kids learn from texts that just don't work for them.   Since the point is to learn this is a huge pro!   We don't used a boxed curriculum because of this.

As for the con - this is the age when hormones/testosterone are raging and they get moody.  Very moody.  Some days - very, very moody.  *grin*   I find some days we get more work done then others.  LOL     Sometimes I'd like to lock him in his room and feed him under the door.  

However, the pros - the freedom, the fun, family fun, the traveling we can do together as a family far outweigh the frustrations that can pop up once in a while.

Answer 7

We started homeschooling 2 years ago when our son was 13.  It has worked out fine.  I think one advantage of waiting is that you KNOW you can do as well as the school did in educating.  Your daughter has her network of friends and is old enough to make arrangements for social activity without your help...except for approval and transportation.  You can still meet other homeschool students but it is not as necessary as it would have been had she been younger when you started.  

So, I think homeschool is great.  My son thinks so too.

I have no idea what these people who answer that children are socially deprived if they do their learning at home.  I am guessing that these people who answer in this way are living in last century where people did not have phones, cars, and internet.

Answer 8

That was a BAD IDEA.  She will grow slower emotionally, and be separated from people she can look up to.

Answer 9

I predict that I will get eleven thumbs down, and one up.

Answer 10

I'm not a parent, but I was homeschooled throughout junior high and for the last two years of my high school career.

My mother and I made the decision together and found it to be an excellent choice. I loved having the independence and being able to take the time I needed on subjects that I found to be difficult. I had always been a decent student but home-schooling definately allowed me to excel.

The biggest problem is that your daughter won't have that regular day-to-day interaction with the other students. Just make sure to keep her involved in extracurricular activities (i.e. dance, soccer, acting classes) so she can have interaction with similar age groups!

Get her involved with volunteering and things that will compliment her college applications....

And, once she is of high school age she can take community college courses (which are usually offered for free to anyone under 18) which will supplement her learning!

And to all of the non-believers: I graduated with a 4.0 GPA and in the top 5% of my "class" within my home-school community. Also, after graduating high school six months early I was accepted straight into a prestigious university.

Answer 11

i'm a high school kid (not a parent) and i think it'd be a good perspective to hear what comes after middle school. i think to home school her would be great in some ways. i.e. not so much social stress, no mixed gender issues, that sort of thing. but if you're not planning on home schooling her through high school she may become social isolated. it may be a good thing, that way she'd work on homework more and study harder but most classes see how well you work as a team so it might be a bit harder for her to adjust. well good luck!

Answer 12

My daughter is 4 yrs old, and I will not be home schooling her.  I want her to have the social aspect of school with other children.

Some pros I can think of are that your child will not be influenced by drugs, alcohol, swearing, etc...unless you allow certain TV shows/people in your life.  There are more cons in my opinion though- your child will most likely recieve a biased point of view on alot of subjects such as evolution, etc.  She will not get to decide her own opinion.  Also, she won't get to participate in school sports/clubs, unless you sign her up for tennis classes from YMCA or for ballet, etc.  Also, your daughter wouldn't get to be with her friends- just with you.  I'm sure she loves you, but every 13 yr old girl just wants to be with her friends during the day.

Some of my cousins grew up in a very, very conservative home and were homeschooled for all of their schooling.  The eldest, now 35, has the same life as her parents.  Four children (ages 8, 10, 12, 13), all homeschooled, all very conservative.  She never got a chance to find out what life was like outside of her home.  She even took college courses at home!

Choosing to homeschool your child or not is your decision- just take into consideration my opinion. And my opinion is, don't do it.

Good luck.

Answer 13

no, its a very bad idea

maybe ask yourself, do you want her to turn out like you?

if not, send her to a proper school instead.

Answer 14

Umm Well i'm 14 and I just want to say if she is resisting homeschooling I feel her pain.  I'm not being home schooled but I jsted started high school and I cant tell you how much fun it is to be able to exspirence something as great as that.  Its really a great way for socializing and being with kids your own age and being able to connect with them.  No offence but if I was stuck with my mom 7 days a week all day I would go stirr crazy, and me and my mom are really close but you need to be able to have your peers to relate to.  And also being a 13 year old girl....... that has to be hard.  If my mom pulled me out of school now to home school me I would be so mad and resisntent to the whole thing.  I accually look foward to school every morning to see my friends and peers.  I hope you sse this in a diffrent perspective now.  And even if you do choose to continue homeschooling, maybe let her go to school in the morning fo a couple subjects so she still get that interaction with other kids her age.  A girl at my school does that and she seems to really like it.

Answer 15

If shes motivated and you supervise correctly (not too much, not too little) and use the right materials it can be very good.

If you are looking at College you need to get her through

Algebra

Geometry

Trig

Pre-Calcu or Calc itself

Statistics

Economics

Civics

Biology

Math Chemistry

Math Physics

Georgraphy

World History

English Literature

English Grammar and Comp

Elements of Writing style (APA, MLA and Chicago, at least)

Arts (music, drawing, dance, singning, acting)

If she's motivated and you use the right materials and you supervise she might be ready to start doing college applications and essays at age 16 or 17

Answer 16

do you have any training in teaching? not sure what makes you think you have the ability to teach some one? its not like baking a cake you cant just try again after you mess up your child....sigh ...get real people