HIGH SCHOOL EDITION #14
By Heather Idoni
Added Monday, November 16, 2009
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The Homeschooler's Notebook
***SPECIAL SERIES - High School Homeschooling***
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Vol. 10 No 84 November 16, 2009
ISSN: 1536-2035
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Copyright (c) 2009 - Heather Idoni, FamilyClassroom.net
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Welcome to The Homeschooler's Notebook!
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Notes from Heather
-- An Apprenticeship Story
Feature Article
-- Useful Learning for Teens
Helpful Tip for High School
-- Online Classes Guide
Answers to Reader Question
-- Exchange Students?
Additional Notes
-- Newsletter Archives
-- Sponsorship Information
-- Reprint Information
-- Subscriber Information
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Notes from Heather
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Last special issue I asked our readers to send in apprenticeship
stories. I was delighted to receive this one from Andrea! Not
only would learning this trade be a benefit for anyone in life,
but it is my dream that one of my own boys would follow this path;
I think it would be a bigger plus than having even a doctor or
accountant in the family! :-)
---
"My son, Jesse, is fortunate to have an Uncle who has an Auto
Repair business. Jesse has been working with him for a year, and
is currently in 9th grade. His uncle is keeping track of the skills
he is learning and Jesse keeps track of his hours. It will be a
great asset to have this for his transcripts at the end of the year.
It also counts as an elective! And the skills he is learning will
be beneficial to him for the rest of his life, even if he does not
go into auto repair.
I urge homeschoolers to seek out apprenticeships in their towns.
They can be truly rewarding. We have a career class at our home-
school co-op right now. We are introducing careers to these kids
that they may not have otherwise had a chance to learn about. One
of the speakers, a chef with her own business, offered to take on
any students that wanted to do an apprenticeship with her. (Wish
I could go do that!!) What an opportunity for someone with a dream
of becoming a chef, or even just a student who wants to learn how
to cook!
I think most local business owners would be willing to teach someone
their trade. It never hurts to ask!"
-- Andrea in PA
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Are you doing something unusual or out-of-the-ordinary with your
teen for high school? PLEASE write and tell us all about it! :-)
Send your email to: mailto:heather@familyclassroom.net
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"I'd like to thank Lee for helping me gain the confidence I
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I cannot stress enough how empowering it is to have this
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Read more testimonials and get more information here!
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Feature Article
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Useful Learning for Teens
by Barbara Frank
This week our local paper published an article about the increase
in truancy rates among students of all ages in the local schools.
What interested me the most is that the rate of truancy increases
as children get older, so that by the time they reach 12th grade,
well over 40% of them miss at least ten days of school per 176-day
school year, and a quarter of them miss 20 days or more per school
year.
Some of this can be explained by the fact that 12th graders often
have cars and can easily take the day off, drive around town, and
no one will notice because they look like the young adults they are,
not students. It's a lot easier for them to play hooky than it is
for your average first-grader.
But I wonder if there isn't another reason so many teens skip school.
My memory of the last two years of high school can be mostly summed
up by the phrase 'relentlessly boring'. Each semester, when I set
up my schedule, I squeezed my class requirements into the tightest
time period possible, skipping lunch and putting study hall at the
end of the day, so I could be out of there as early as possible.
However, I didn't spend that extra free time loafing. During my
junior year, I had a job in a hardware store, working from 2:30 to
9 most days. So I needed to get out of school early. But I also had
a life, one that extended beyond what was going on in my high school.
Most of my classes were dull, not very useful for the future, or both.
Some useful classes were offered, such as typing, home economics and
industrial arts, but those of us who were college-bound knew better
than to court the possibility of wrecking our GPAs by risking a B
or C in those subjects. So I did my best to stay awake through
classes that were not very interesting or not very useful: World
History via lectures and textbooks, Literature via lectures and
textbooks, Sociology via silly games and fake wedding ceremonies.
Snore.
However, I took one class during my senior year that was excellent,
and I loved it. It was designed and run by one of the school's
social studies teachers, and it was called Public Service Practicum.
The teacher, a highly regarded educator named Richard Chierico,
designed the course to help students understand what goes on in
local government. He worked out agreements with local government
entities, including the village board, the public library board,
public works, etc., to allow each of us to work within the system
as volunteers, and to shadow various employees so that we would get
a firsthand look at how local government operates.
I worked with the public library board, which meant I had the chance
to work at all the stations in the library so that I understood just
what went on. Then I attended library board meetings after being
filled in on the issues by the head librarian. I even attended a
gathering of head librarians from all over the region. Having long
been a bookworm and regular visitor to the library, I found it all
fascinating.
As much as I enjoyed the course, I think what made it extra special
is that Mr. Chierico treated us as young adults. He trusted us to
go out during the school day to our different posts in local government
and to arrange future appointments with our supervisors. He didn't
treat us as other teachers did, as students in need of repetitive
instructions and orders. He just expected that we would do what we
needed to, and so we did.
I think that's the problem with high schools, and why there's such
a high truancy rate among older students. What teens do in school
is not relevant, it's not interesting, and it's too much of what
they've been doing for all their lives: sit still, raise your hand,
you need a pass to go to the bathroom, no you can't leave campus for
lunch. We all know the drill.
Teens are too old for that kind of school. They need to be challenged,
trusted and freed. Will some of them bolt if given freedom? Sure,
but you can't imprison everyone because some will run.
Teens are smart enough to know when something's useful or of value.
They're also smart enough to know when they're being warehoused.
Instead of trying to figure out how to reduce the truancy rate by
imprisoning teens further, parents and teachers need to consider
other alternatives.
I think this is why so many teens have done well in homeschooling.
It gives them the time and the freedom to explore their interests
and to consider what they need for their futures. Not to mention,
they never need a pass to go to the bathroom.
---
Copyright 2009 Barbara Frank/Cardamom Publishers
Barbara Frank is the mother of four homeschooled-from-birth children
ages 16-26, a freelance writer/editor, and the author of "Life Prep
for Homeschooled Teenagers", "The Imperfect Homeschooler's Guide to
Homeschooling", and "Homeschooling Your Teenagers". You'll find her
at http://www.cardamompublishers.com and http://barbarafrankonline.com
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Helpful Tip
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A few years ago I remember getting the news that the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) had started an "open courseware"
offering -- posting their course outlines, notes, videos and exams online
for anyone to use free of charge. I also remember thinking it was a
great opportunity for those interested in high level math and science
to work these online university courses at home -- what a magnanimous
undertaking!
Well, it has recently been brought to my attention that this "open
courseware" concept has come full circle to involve dozens more
colleges -- and MIT is now offering a full buffet of free online
courses! They have everything from Dance Theory and Composition
to Advanced Kitchen Chemistry! At MIT? Sure! Beginning Japanese,
Artificial Intelligence, or a Hands-On Intro Nuclear Magnetic
Resonance? You got it!
Have fun browsing the different topics and specialized courses --
and find something new to add some spice to the high school years
and beyond! :-)
-- Heather
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Do you have an idea, experience, or tip to share? Please write!
Send to: mailto:HN-ideas@familyclassroom.net
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High School Question
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"Do any of you know of an agency which would place foreign exchange
students with homeschool families? We would love to host a foreign
student, but would want them to do their academic work at home,
just like we do." -- Mary Beth
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Reader Responses
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"Mary Beth -- I applaud your desire to reach out to a foreign
exchange student and think the idea is wonderful and could bring
some tremendous benefits to your family. However, I would warn
you to be cautious by way of a life example.
When my family was ministering in PA we had some friends there who
were also in ministry and who had adopted a young girl from Russia.
They homeschooled her and were pleased to sign up to host a foreign
exchange student from St. Petersburg, in hopes that they would both
gain some obvious mutual benefits. The Russian teen who came to
live in their home seemed fine early on (their child was about 8-9).
However, they soon saw their daughter begin to withdraw and behave
fearfully around this young lady. Both our families took a field
trip to Philadelphia, and our two teenagers tried all day to open
up to and befriend the young lady, but she would have none of it
and seemed to barely tolerate our presence. The family soon learned
that this girl was hitting and threatening their daughter, and
when they learned about the behavior and confronted her she became
openly hostile to all in the house and they found themselves in
the regrettable position of having to have her placed with another
family in the States.
Although I am certain you will find many, many stories of host
families who had wonderful experiences and developed long-lasting,
cherished relationships, please make certain to investigate every
aspect you can of the program you choose and the visiting student
before diving in." -- R.G.
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Question for Our Next Regular Issue
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"I have 7 year old boy in 2nd grade. We are currently using Abeka
and he is at grade level for reading. The problem is that he cannot
spell and does not even try. We have stopped doing spelling tests,
but continue to do language arts and grammar. We are currently in
our 3rd month of vision therapy, but that is not helping his spelling.
Do you have any suggestions for us? Thank you." -- Ely
---
Would you like to share your thoughts on this issue with Ely?
Please send your answer to: mailto:HN-answers@familyclassroom.net
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Ask YOUR Question
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Do you have a question about homeschooling high school?
Send it to mailto:HN-questions@familyclassroom.net and we'll see
if we can help you out in a future issue!
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