Home Schooling; Part 2

High school football games, the hustle and bustle in school hallways, and the prom; for home schooled high schoolers these things are usually replaced by a solitary session in front of a video tutor.

But Elisabeth, age 16, said she didn’t feel like she was missing much, “those things don’t appeal to me. . .it might be fun, but the rewards of home schooling are so much greater in my opinion.”

The rewards of conventional schools are hard to resist for many home schooled kids and their parents. Home schooling peaks in the eighth grade and by the tenth grade there is a 50% decline.

Much of the reasoning for the abrupt decline in the high school years is related to the social and athletic activities available in a regular high school.

“The one thing that we have been hard pressed to provide in the home school atmosphere is far, is high level athletics for the high school boys, there’re some high school boys who wind up going back to school simply for the athletics,” said Mary Hood, Doctor and supplemental daycare teacher.

Many home schooled kids head back to school to satisfy their social cravings as well.

What Parents Should Know

Social life is a big part of growing up. Through peer interaction kids learn how to deal with other people their age, cope with similar issues and experiences, and learn how to handle the hurdles of high school.

Parents of home schooled children need to make an extra effort to seek out situations where a child can connect with other children and adults. Extra curricular activities are critical, authorities claimed.

Many home school networks have gym classes and outside the home classes or tutor sessions, allowing home schoolers to interact with other kids.

These classes also adapt the kid to dealing another teacher. Traditional school kids learn from up to six teachers a day. This alone teaches them how to deal with different authorities.

If the parent and child later decide that it is time to enroll in a traditional school, the child will likely feel more comfortable in the classroom if he or she has experienced a similar situation, such as an “outside the home” home school class.

“The one thing that we have been hard pressed to provide in the home school atmosphere is far, is high level athletics for the high school boys, there’re some high school boys who wind up going back to school simply for the athletics,”

--Dr. Mary Hood, Supplemental Daycare Teacher.

Keeping Track

Some veteran home schoolers recommend keeping a portfolio and log book of their work. By doing this they will be able to see their progress and steps taken along the way. Also, some turn their portfolio in to a certified teacher at the end of the year for review. By doing so, they will be able to compliment parental feedback with feedback from a certified teacher. These teachers will tell them if they passed or failed for the year.

Home Room; Literally

There’s a pencil sharpener in the bathroom and a blackboard in the den. What is this all about? Home schooling is on the rise. It can work for many families, but experts claimed that the home and the classroom must be separated.

When the home and the school collide kids need to have boundaries. Designating one room as the classroom is suggested. When the child walks in that particular room, he will know that class is in session. It isn’t play time. Conversely, when he is in the kitchen or den, he will be able to relax and separate himself from the classroom.

A schedule with detailed start, break and finish times is recommended. This implements structure and helps develop time management skills.

Resources
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