The party is over. Or is it?
Jun 9th, 2009 by lapazfarm
Turn out the light, folks, the party is over. 8th grade is done. 9th grade begins. It’s now High school! And everyone knows this means it’s time to finally get serious once-and-for-all.
Let me just start off by saying I kind of resent that someone, somewhere got to arbitrarily decide a start/end point for when school is suddenly “Official” and “Important.” That here, now, at this randomly appointed time I have to keep a “Transcript” to prove that my child is learning exactly what all of the other kids are learning. Or he won’t get into college. And his life will be ruined. And just about everyone else sort of collectively goes along with it. But most of all I resent that I am feeling pressure (mostly internal) to go along with it, too.
Why?
I’ll tell you. Better yet, I’ll show you. Have a listen to my internal conversation. It sounds something like this:
Me: There should not be a randomly designated deadline after which all learning is vitally important and before which none of it is. That is just wacky.
Me: But the world we live in is wacky, isn’t it?
Me: Yes, but that’s no reason for me to buy into the wackiness. My son should be able to keep learning just as he always has. If it’s working so far, why should we change now?
Me: Because of college. He needs to be able to get into college. Even if he doesn’t end up going, he needs to at least have that option available. He needs a transcript with 4 years of English, 4 years math, 2 years foreign language, etc, etc, etc. How can you do that unschooling? You can’t.
Me: That’s just your fear talking. You know what you are doing here is right and good. There is no reason why he should have to learn exactly the same thing at the same time as every other kid his age. You can free him from mediocrity, from the pressure to conform. Let him choose his own path. You can do this!
Me: It’ll be too hard! (insert whiny voice here) It would be so much easier to just sign him up for online classes, or enroll him in a school-at-home school with lesson plans all written out for you.There are some really nice ones out there, aren’t there?
Me: Like what?
Me: You know, the Classical Academies, the Great Books courses. Those types of things. Rigorous, solid, respected.
Me: He will hate it. I’ll hate it. He will hate me.
Me: Well, life can’t always be fun and games. He needs to learn how to study, how to achieve goals.He needs to buckle down.
Me: But he does study! His interests. He does achieve goals. His goals. Wait…Buckle down???!!! Did you just say that? Is this really me saying that??? Ok, hold on!!! Who ARE you???
Me: …
Me: That’s what I thought. I would never cave in to such thinking! I would never give up my dearly-held principles simply due to fear of the unknown! I know what we are doing works. I trust my child and his natural capacity for learning. I trust myself to guide and support him in his endeavors. Now get out of here you impostor and don’t ever come back!
Me: Ok…but… what if you ruin his life???
Me:…*sigh* …
Ooooooh yesssss, this is what I sometimes hear inside of my mind, too. (Then I take the dog and go out running)
Owen is only eight and I’ve already begun to worry about high school and homeschooling.
Surely there must be a way to incorporate some of your son’s interests into the necessary subjects???
I have confidence in your ability to make this work and make it fun!!
I’m two years behind you, and SO glad you’re doing this first so I can watch!! I have a lot of fear of the high school thing.
Oh, Theresa, this is priceless.
Yes, and yes, and ummm, no, and yes, I should, and no, I shouldn’t … and, uh, yeah, I’m with you.
This was so me when I started my daughter’s 9th grade homeschooling year last fall. We have started transcripts because she does want to attend college and HAS TO HAVE THEM, but I always wonder, is this really what homeschooling high school is all about? Does my child really have to “grow up” at the age of only 14? I miss our fun lessons and so does she. I have read numerous homeschool books and visited hundreds of homeschool sites and it is all the same, “They have to “buckle down” during those high school years. I have only one word for that…. Phooey! Please, if you find a more creative way to teach a homeschooling high school student, let me know. If anyone can come up with some ideas, it would be you. :0) Hmmm I’m not putting any pressure on you am I? =P Hugs to you for this post Theresa!
This goes on in my head with my third grader-I can only imagine what it will be like when she’s going into 9th grade! You are so creative that I know you will make learning fun and meaningful no matter how you approach it!
My friend Teri has a daughter in college in Oregon, and she was always unschooled….
I’m pretty sure they didn’t have transcripts.
???
Theresa, this is hysterical and scary all at the same time. We’re a year behind you and I’m already having all the same doubts and fears, we never want to give up the freedom and the fun! You can do it sweetie, it’s going to be a great year!!!
LOL! Been there, done that!
My oldest naturally took to a classical curriculum, so his leanings and the rigorous stuff totally coincided.
My daughter pretty much unschooled though and it hasn’t kept her from doing anything she wants to do. In fact, the reverse…. she has a good sense of where she’s going and how to get there.
Honestly, I think there are things you learn from unschooling that it’s hard to learn any other way — and the things you learn are important things. Like self-direction, thinking outside the box, etc. I have no doubt you and Superboy will do beautifully, how could you not?
OK, let me share a bit about my own homeschooled high school experience. My parents just stopped paying attention, and I kept a journal. I had a list of things you “have to” study in high school, and I just did them as I wanted. I was done in 2 years, and no one noticed! When it came time to apply to college, I admit my transcripts were created after-the-fact. Memory, a bit of reference to the journals, and some creative course titles for things I had done were enough to create a transcript, which I sent in with a letter from my mother explaining our “method”. With my “official” grades from community college and letters of recommendation from teachers there and commanding officers in the National Guard, I’ve never had anyone sneeze at the high school records (or maybe even look at them – I’ve never had anyone even ask me about them).
I’m in the create after the fact category – not all at once at the end so much as as you go along after you do things. A hundred and eighty hours on a subject is a credit. That’s the carnegie unit that all the schools use. Keep a daily log and you’lll find you have far more credits than you need. If you want a proper diploma look at Clonlara.
You may want to check out this book:
http://www.homeschooloasis.com/shop.cfm?page=list.cfm&action=list&criteria=173
It addresses the very issue of your post!
Also, if you have time/money to check out “Transcript Bootcamp” (website: http://www.homeschooltranscripts.com/Products/Transcript-Boot-Camp-DVD.aspx ), it is another good item that helped me put together my high schooler’s transcript.
Keep doing what you’ve been doing to keep the love of learning alive for your children! You are an inspiration!! God bless!
You know I have the same feelings as well. I write about the round and round world of what we are *supposed* to do, in contrast to the reality that our family is made up of individuals with individual interests and strengths. Sigh. You have to come up with a touchstone.
This week I am struggling with the sequence of *normal* high school science…you know…..biology, chemistry, and physics. My son has no interest in chemistry and wants to take physics. I am going to let him pursue his physics and if we come upon some sort of stumbling block, well we will just deal with it.
I am keeping copious notes with “extra” books and activities and I am hoping at some point they will gel into some sort of high school class that I can give credit for.
Thanks for sharing your self talk, loved it.
Barb-Harmony Art Mom
*sigh* I’m sort of glad I’m not the only one with a “parent-teacher conference” going on in my head right now. But I’m sort of infuriated that we have to even think about it.
Barb,
don’t worry about that sequence. All of the sciences are related. Those who teach them have had discussions over the years about the sequence. One of the big reasons for the sequence as they are taught in our schools has to do with the math level of the students. Physics requires at least algebra – though it could be learned at the same time.
Don’t overlook other sciences if you need more than one science course to meet requirements. Earth science, geology, astronomy, oceanology, environmental science…. Unless you’ve got state requirements that are very specific, usually it’s just a matter of how many science courses. Typically the requirement is for at least one to be a lab course.
Theresa, thanks for sharing. I’m with you on trying to balance our natural tendencies with outside influences. My boyo just turned 14 on Sunday.
I am right there too, looking at/for some high school curriculum choices that support a project based interest led schooling style.
I know you weren’t asking for curriculum advice- and I am sure you will find exactly the right materials for Superboy but …
One of the math resources that looks promising is Key Curriculums Interactive Math Program. Have you seen it? When I saw the unit based on Poe’s The Pit and the Pendulum I immediately thought of Superboy.
The 4 year program combines Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Statistics in each unit- rather than teaching them separate- so it works best for homeschoolers who are sure they plan to homeschool all the way through highschool.
Here’s a link if you are interested:
http://www.mathimp.org/general_info/inside_imp.html
I look forward to seeing how you and Superboy choose to approach High School. I am sure I will continue to find you inspirational.
LOL and yet,
I’d love to know how you are planning for high school/college? I personally love your plans and think they are great. If anything, I think having students that don’t quite fill out the little bubble circles for college can be a good thing – it can make them stand out from the herd and maybe give them a chance to have a better grasp of what they want by the time they are ready to leave the nest too.
You’re enthusiasm shines through and makes everyone in my house want to ditch what we are doing to do whatever your house is doing!
I see I’m not the only one. I am so glad that my fear and misgivings aren’t anomalous. I feel a litte nostalgic about the “fun” years being over also. I just recognize that I have to do what I have to do. The next phase of their lives is college and career and they need to be prepared. I will sacrifice “creative” for preparedness. Well, not all creativity.
Sigh…a breath of fresh air! I love this! My two older boys are graduated from homeschool high school and we are homeschooling 3 more! Reading through your blog and loving it. I so agree with your above post. It’s too bad I haven’t stuck to my inner convictions at times. But then, at least we’ve had those beautiful moments as a family! But today I will sit back, take my pencil write a note to myself about why we really homeschool, about what we really WANT our children to learn, and mostly what are we doing to help them to become who they really are! So happy to have found your blog. I came from the 4Real Forum!
Blessings,