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I come from an area where homeschooling is common, and it can be a good option for young children. Most of the homeschooling families I know circulated through public and private schools, and the parents were very involved in them. It's always disappointing to see parents with a heavy volunteering presence at the school suddenly bow out and homeschool instead. But their children typically return for high school.
Now I've never seen a homeschooled child go all the way through high school and emerge with a normal life. Often they go to college and drop out, because the experience is overwhelming. Also, a parent has no business homeschooling if they are not sufficiently educated themselves. I know a lot of people say they can do it, but I think that's because they have no idea what they're doing. Also, there is no way a truly homeschooled high schooler is getting all the library and lab resources available to them to be well-rounded and ready for any program in college. Of course, if they are utilizing the community college, or other accredited outside resources, that is entirely different. Then again, I don't consider that strictly "homeschooling" any more.
CloudByDay, your research doesn't take into account number of years homeschooled or the grade level of the homeschooler, nor does it account for college graduation rates by degree type. I think that's crucial to the whole picture. I do think most people are familiar with the statistics on homeschooling in general, and how they are favorable in terms of standardized tests. You also have to consider the demographics; homeschool families are highly involved in their child's education. So the academic prospects for the child are high in that regard. I think the question is, can homeschooling through high school prepare a student the same way that an accredited school can? I have yet to see any research supporting that.
Out of curiosity, how did you homeschool your children? Did you follow an online school's curriculum, create your own, or what? And did they choose to homeschool? If they wished to attend school, could they have done so? I know kids who've flourished homeschooling and ones who've floundered with it.
I've been a competitive dancer since I was six and many kids at my dance studio homeschool in order to have more flexibility with their training (we train about 20-25 hours a week). Most go to school online, like CAVA, Stanford OHS, or OSG. I went to an online school partnered with my regular school last semester because I was really sick in January and couldn't attend school. I'm considering going to school online again for this upcoming school year to take advantage of some opportunities that have come my way.
What was their daily structure like? Did you actually stay at home with them every day? How did that work out?
How does online school function? Do you interact with other students, and your teachers? I assume, they grade, your assignments? Your courses, you shared, in the science education thread, they seem, very, very advanced. It does not seem to be the same, as home schooling, with parents teaching. Are your parents, involved, with teaching you?
Home schooling refers to anything that isn’t a conventional school, public or private. Few parents are qualified to teach all subjects themselves. In home schooling they are responsible for what is done, and are involved, but often they don't actually teach it.
Part or all of the teaching is often done in small groups, or online. Two kids in our church are home schooled because they’re bored with public school. They use an online school that is more challenging than the public schools.
How does online school function? Do you interact with other students, and your teachers? I assume, they grade, your assignments? Your courses, you shared, in the science education thread, they seem, very, very advanced. It does not seem to be the same, as home schooling, with parents teaching. Are your parents, involved, with teaching you?
Home schooling refers to anything that isnt a conventional school, public or private. Few parents are qualified to teach all subjects themselves. In home schooling they are responsible for what is done, and are involved, but often they don't actually teach it.
Part or all of the teaching is often done in small groups, or online. Two kids in our church are home schooled because theyre bored with public school. They use an online school that is more challenging than the public schools. The girl will be doing high school in one of the elite boarding schools. It seems to be common to switch between public school, private school and home schooling. It's also possible for someone being home schooled to do extra-curricular activities with the local public school. Someone who is home schooled but is active in church youth groups and with extra-curricular activities will not necessarily be lacking social experience. Particularly if their home school involves group projects, which they often do.
I don't have any direct experience with online education at the high school level, but I'm head of a group that supports partially and fully online instruction at a college level. Online instruction often involves more interaction among students and between students and the instructor than face to face instruction.
"Homeschooling" is a bit of a misnomer because of the significant variance in what it might entail. The majority of people I know who are "homeschooling" are actually fully enrolled in virtual schools that operate similarly to brick and mortar ones, with certified teachers providing all instruction and grading assignments and tests, and students simply taking the majority of their classes online from home or another location. There are public, tuition-free virtual schools such as CAVA (California Virtual Academy) that typically have curriculum and graduation requirements more aligned with those of public schools within their state, and private virtual schools such as the ones operated by Stanford and George Washington University for high schoolers who are seeking courses at a more advanced, collegiate level.
I probably shouldn't have revealed that I'm attending Stanford OHS but since I already did many months ago and nobody has kidnapped or stalked me out, I feel reasonably comfortable providing more information specifically for it. The majority of my classes are discussion seminars that meet twice a week (Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday) in real-time for 75 minute sessions. Since there are students from around the world, the school day is a bit unorthodox to accommodate those in various time zones. All of the classes are interactive with each student engaged and participating. We have special software on our computers that allow us to virtually raise our hands, draw on the board, and submit dialogue via text or vocally. We have webcams so that we can hear and see one another. I can wear pajamas and drink coffee throughout the class if I'd like but I can't just log on and then space out and not contribute. The teachers have actually be more prone to noticing inattentive or distracted students than in traditional class settings because they can see our faces up close and clearly, and lapses in involvement are more noticeable by all. Each person is expected to intelligently participate in the class discussions, providing our own insights and commentary. I've always attended private schools with smaller teacher to student ratios that created more dynamic class discussions, but some kids who've been to public schools have said that they are are far participatory in our online classes.
If you're curious to see the format of the classes you can watch one of the videos here: https://ohs.stanford.edu/virtual_classroom.html
Much of our work is done outside of the class settings, with extensive reading assignments and papers. We also collaborate on group projects using apps like VoiceThread to work together. There are class discussion boards that we are expected to provide responses to throughout the week outside of the class times.
We don't have classes on Fridays but most of us stay very active on that day. I am still taking some art and independent research classes with my local private school, I spend Fridays on campus to work in the studio, attend assembly, and stay tied in with the community I love.
Many students who go to Stanford OHS and other similar schools are very accomplished in extracurricular activities and the online classes online for more flexibility. One of my friends has already performed at Carnegie Hall and another is an actress. I switched to online school primarily so that I could have time to devote to dance training. Many of the dance classes I take meet during the school day and would conflict with normal school hours. I'm also able to travel more, and when I'm sick it's not as overwhelming because I don't miss out on as much that I then have to make up for when I'm well. Though attendance is mandatory at the classes, you can obtain excused absences when you're sick or there's another legitimate reason. The class sessions are recorded so you can simply view them at your convenience.
My parents are really not any more involved in my schooling than they were when I physically attended school. This isn't to say that they are inactive or indifferent,
because they are very passionate and devoted to my education. The school provides them with tools like an app that allows them to view my assignments and grades, and easily and directly contact teachers if they desire. They've been aware of virtually every quiz I've had and homework I've been assigned since I was in preschool, haha. Whereas in traditional homeschool environments many parents assume the responsibilities a teacher would in a school classroom, in a virtual school teachers and administrators are still fulfilling those roles. My parents are very educated and successful, but they don't have the same level of education and experience specific to all the subjects I'm taking. So they entrust my teachers - most of whom have Masters or PhDs from excellent universities in the subjects they are teaching - to provide the bulk of my classroom education for me. My parents have not designed my curriculum; selected textbooks, reading and other materials for my classes; provided any classroom instruction; or given or graded any assignments, quizzes, or exams. All work is submitted to the teachers directly and graded by them. Exams must be proctored by someone other than a parent or other family member. Some make arrangements to take the exams in front of their webcams. I just take my exams at my other school. The two schools coordinate everything with one another, and I just go in, take the exam in an empty classroom with a teacher either staying there with me doing things on her laptop or popping in periodically, and then the exam is taken by the teacher and submitted to the school.
Does anyone have middle or high schoolers in homeschool? If so, how are they doing academically and socially? I have a middle schooler since Feb and her grades have improved.
thanks
I never argued that home schooled kids get better grades.
Even when I was in public school the parents who re read and sometimes rewrite my essays and use words i never would use in elementary or middle school.
So Im sure home-schooled parents do the same but on a harder level.
What one of the previous posters said is correct, most homeschooling cases are controlled and children or parents are enrolled in a homeschooling program or follow a set-curriculum.
As a teacher, it is the whole 'unschooling' fad at the moment that has me a little worried about education. These parents let their children do what they want, when they want, without a balanced consideration of all curriculum areas. I hated Maths in school, and if I were in an unschooling home, I would not do any Maths at all because of my dislike for it. But I'm glad I HAD to do it because as an adult I appreciate the mathematical skills I learnt and use on a daily basis.
I would love to homeschool our children when hubby and I have kids, but we both have to work to keep up with our finances so it's just not an option. Plus, I'm pretty lucky that Australia's public schooling system here is not so bad and I would also be happy to see my kids mixing with a large variety and diversity of other children and families - I think this is definitely a part of life learning, too
More advanced History, for example, could continue to be pursued in this way by a motivated student, but Maths are unlikely to be learned sufficiently past a certain level.
Just want to add...advanced math can be pursued in the same ways by motivated students--if there is an interest in math. Though my brother and I were not homeschooled, we had a high interest in math. My brother taught himself Calculus from a textbook the summer between his 8th and 9th grades. I waited a little longer. Because neither of us had any interest in studying history more than we had to, we only did what the school required of us--and then no more.
Anyway, just wanted to put that out there...a motivated student can learn anything if he/she wants in a homeschooling environment--regardless of the subject.
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