QUESTIONS FOR HOMESCHOOLERS!!!!!!! please help, thanks.?

Question

I'm starting with CAVA- my first year. And I have some questions....

1. What time should I wake up and begin my studies? (I am in 9th grade)

2. What can I do for exercise daily? I live in an apartment and there's a local park, but I don't know if I can walk to it during the day cause I don't want people to think I am ditching school (I look young and don't want to get stopped by cops- you know?)

3. I have friends, but we moved a lot so I don't see any of them that much. How can I socialize with others my age? How can I find classes such as music and sports to join to meet with kids my age?

4. Any general tips you can give me?

5. What is your schedule like? What time do you wake up and teach your kids/or get taught?

Thanks sooo much. I am super nervous. :)

Answer 1

I used to be homeschooled and I loved it!! I was always started by about 9am, some ppl think thats late but honestly, if you work and not play, you will get your work done so much faster!!! For exercise, walk the park if you want, if a cop stops you, just tell him, i'm homeschooled, he can't do anything!! Are you interested in playing sports?? public schools can't denie homeschooled students if they want to play sports!!! Go join a team!! Another thing for exercise and meeting ppl, get a job!! I would work from 9am till about 12 or 1pm. and guess what?? i still finished and graduated before the public school kids did, and then I would go to work, when i was younger I'd work at Sonic or Subway, as I got older I went to retail like in the mall. Its a great way to meet ppl, get exercise, and make money!!!  

Answer 2

Since you are in 9th grade, it is time to really start taking school seriously to prepare you for adulthood and college.  I would recommend starting your studies no later than 9:00.  This means be up, showered, dressed and eat breakfast by 9:00.  

For excercise and socialization, you can see if your parents will sign you up for a gym membership, or if you like sports, go visit your local recreation center for community teams you can join.  You could also go for a walk or bike ride after 2 or 3 when you are less likely to be questioned.  You shouldn't be walking in the park alone anyway, no matter what time of day.  Does your apartment complex have a basketball court or tennis court?  Really, any kind of excercise will count as "P.E", so be creative!

For socialization, as I mentioned before, check out your local rec center for community activities (art classes, sports, etc.)  Or join a church youth group, 4-H club, or find somewhere you can volunteer your time.  These things will also help you on your college applications.  Also you can find other groups of homeschooled kids your age that get together for support, activities, study groups, and field trips.  

I teach my son starting at 9:00 and he is usually done with every thing around anywhere between noon and 2:00.  I recommend being as structured as possible on your schedule, though part of the bonus of homeschooling is  the flexibility of your time.  If you can, you can work ahead to get extra days off.  

Good luck!  I think you will enjoy it.

Answer 3

This is my first year doing virtual school, too. If I were you, I'd start by doing a sort of test-week. Start waking up around nine-ish and see how long it takes you to do your work. I live in Florida, and my friend does virtual school with me, and she wanted to take a photography class that they offer at the actual high school. All she had to do was go to the school and talk to her old guidance counselor about it, and she goes to the school for one class period a day. If you want to take a music class, that's a good way to do it, and sports are always offered to home schooled kids. A big tip I can give you, something that I didn't do the first week or two and it came back to bite me, plan ahead. Virtual Schools usually tell you exactly what work you're going to be doing for each class that week. I actually took the time to write it all out, what I'm going to be doing Monday, Tuesday, etc. I'm taking five classes and it really helps. Especially with reading. I have an online textbook and it pays off to plan out six pages or so a day. Check to see if in the beginning of each lesson it tells you how time consuming the assignments are, and plan around that, too.

Don't be nervous, I actually like it a lot better than regular schooling, and if you make the effort you won't be just sitting around at home all day.

Answer 4

1.  That depends on your schedule and on when you are most productive.  I like for my kids to get up early and get the bookwork out of the way so that we have afternoons available for other things, but I know some families who actually don't start homeschooling until around 3pm, and then spend most of the evening on it.

2. Go to the park, have your mom and dad get a homeschool I.D. for you, if you get stopped show the I.D.  Also, you might consider going to a community pool, joining a gym, and buying some exercise DVDs to use at home.  You also might qualify for participating in sports with your Public School, I am not sure about CA schools though.

3. Try to hook up with a homeschool co-op, if you can't find one then you and your parents can start one.  Advertise in the paper.  Also, check with CAVA about participating with Public School sports, from a legal standpoint, CAVA is a Public Virtual school, and they might have all the information you need right there.  There are also classes at community centers, there are boys and girls clubs, Youth Groups, book discussion groups (check at your library), chess clubs, dance troups, community theater, etc, etc, etc.

4. Just focus on your studies and do the best you can.  Remember that you can make friends as a homeschooler, but you might have to make a conscious effort to meet people.  Also remember that not all friends have to be exactly your age, its okay to have friendships with adults in your neighborhood (check with your parents first), many elderly people would be thrilled to have a teen come along and play a game of checkers with them occasionally.  Its also fine to have friendships with younger kids.  Of course, be sure you have a few friends your age too!

5.  I have three kids.  Beginning next week they will be in grades 1, 3, and 10th. Our schedule is pretty full, I try to get up at five so I can drink 3 cups of coffee and take a shower before beginning homeschool.  While my kids all get breaks throughout the day, I am pretty busy all day long until we are done, for example, while I am helping my son with math, my daughter might be playing outside, then they switch, so they both had free time, but I was busy the entire time!  Thats okay, because I love it and wouldn't change it for the world.