Carol | Heart of the Matter

July 2, 2010 By Carol 2 Comments

“At first Andrew didn’t want to take your Career Exploration class, but it turned out to be one of his favorites,” the enthusiastic mother told me. I had just completed teaching a semester long class for 8th-12th graders at our home school co-op. The 17 teenagers relished studying themselves!

My experience teaching Career Exploration several times has been rewarding for both my students and me. I shared with the students my own experiences of searching for a career that used both my talents and skills, but fit my priorities. I tried to impress on them the joy they would experience when they found a plan for their future. You, too, can guide your high school student to discover hisreal self – what he was created to be. Here are some ideas, resources, and curricula that you can use to develop a Career Exploration plan for your student.

Career Exploration is a Process, Not a Point
Learning the process is the goal in teaching a Career Exploration class. Express to your student that he or she may not know specifically what they want to be, but the class will teach them a process that allows them to search and plan better.

My hope in teaching Career Exploration was that each student would finish my class with three possible careers they could pursue, or at least have a general idea of a path to follow. My own life has had several career explorations. During high school, I decided on a college major. I considered my skills and abilities in choosing Engineering, but since I wasn’t a parent I didn’t consider priorities, like time with my family. After I became a mother, my priorities changed and I had another period of career investigation. I found accounting both to my liking and very flexible. I retrained, became a CPA (Certified Public Accountant), and now work part-time as a self-employed accountant. As a result, my career choice is an excellent fit of career and family for me. So my personal experiences, mistakes and all, were helpful in teaching my class the process of career exploration.

The 4 Step Career Exploration Process:

Investigate-Discover your personality, abilities, skills and priorities
Match possible careers to your personality
Research potential careers to see if there is a fit
Prepare a plan to pursue your career choice

By way of example, my 14 year-old daughter, Emily, learned from the class that she was organized, encouraging, and detailed-oriented. Personality tests matched her traits to several careers. She researched about six careers in detail. She rejected some upon learning more about them, but settled on pharmacy, teaching, and accounting. Her plan is to take biology and chemistry classes in the next two years. If Emily likes those subjects, she may pursue pharmacy. If not, she may become an accountant. She also volunteers her time teaching a children’s Sunday school class to see if she would like being a teacher.

Helpful Resources
The most helpful tools for teaching the Career Exploration process are a collection of several on-line interest surveys and personality quizzes (see Resources). Many are free or charge only a small amount. These surveys will direct your student to several career choices to research further. We used the least expensive and quickest quizzes in class, the Jung Typology Test from Humanmetrics.com and the CareerKey.org test for $9.95. Some students took the longer tests, such as Career Direct and The Call. Each costs around $80 and is very thorough.

After picking four to six possible careers, a student should carefully research them. They should investigate the working conditions, skills needed, pay rates and future outlook for their chosen fields. For conducting research on-line, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has a valuable site (see Resources). The students also had to interview someone in their chosen field. Most students were challenged by this assignment, but benefited from it greatly. The interviews either changed their minds significantly, or confirmed their career choices. One student, Heather, decided she didn’t want to be a doctor after interviewing a physician, but since she is still interested in human anatomy, she is thinking about studying nursing.

The students also had to pick one book from topics that included career exploration, high school planning, college preparation, or study habits. Two books that were very popular were Do What You Are and What Color is Your Parachute? In Do What You Are the reader takes a personality test and then researches matching career choices. Parachute is a classic career search guide that provides practical advice on looking for a job or changing careers.

Having a Goal
The last step for students in the Career Exploration process is creating an education and experience plan to meet their goals. Students need to think about what classes and part-time jobs they can pursue today to prepare them for their futures. If a student has a goal in sight, schoolwork and part-time jobs become more meaningful. Information can be found in several home schooling books on high school planning. I found that High School: A Home Designed Form + U + La by Barbara Shelton was very helpful. It covers designing a class and how to record accomplishments and experiences.

Your student should also learn the graduation requirements in your state, and also what most colleges expect. All of this information is on-line, and the College Board web site is also helpful. After undertaking these steps, your student can create a high school plan that is unique to him or her. In my class, David was a student considering engineering. His plan includes a full load of math and science classes. In contrast, Sarah is interested in acting as a career, so she was encouraged to participate in a summer drama camp.

Life is an Adventure
The Career Exploration experience may trigger something dynamic for your student. It did in my class. A metamorphosis occurred as the students began to chart a career path with manageable steps to get there. Encourage your high school student to consider carefully how they manage their time, what kind of classes they select and what kind of part-time jobs they work. Each decision in life can open doors that will lead them on the path to their goals and dreams. Life is an exciting adventure for teenagers. I was so fortunate to be a part of the process of seeing them grow up. I hope you, too, will enjoy guiding your students to investigate their personalities, match them with potential careers, research occupations to find a good fit, and then execute a plan to reach their goals.

Resources for Career Exploration

Books:

Do What You Are by Paul Tieger
What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Bolles
High School: A Home Designed Form + U + La by Barbara Shelton

Web Sites:

www.humanmetrics.com Personality tests, some free.
www.careerkey.org Personality related to occupations ($9.95)
www.careerdirectonline.org Career Direct assessment from Crown Financial Ministries ($80)
www.thecallonline.com The Call Vocational and Life Purpose Guide from Focus on the Family (Approximately $79)
www.stats.bls.gov/oco Occupational Outlook Handbook on-line
www.myroad.collegeboard.com College and career planning website

Carol Topp (CarolToppCPA.com) has had several careers including wife, mother, Industrial Engineer and now Accountant. She is currently enjoying a season of home schooling and running a home-based accounting practice. She encourages teenagers to investigate careers though starting a micro business at MicroBusinessForTeens.com

May 31, 2010 By Carol Leave a Comment

There are many benefits of being a part of a homeschool co-op. I have been a member of a homeschool co-op for five years, and my most valued benefits have been the friends that I have made and their support of my homeschooling efforts. However, a homeschool co-op can be very beneficial for a high school student also.

1. Socialization
The most apparent benefit of a homeschool co-op is socialization. For years the homeschool movement has been criticized for the lack of opportunity to socialize. There are homeschoolers who are concerned about social interaction, and they seek out opportunities for their teenagers to be a part of group activities. Thus we see the growth of homeschool sports leagues, classes, clubs, and, of course, our focus, homeschool co-ops. These group activities balance the time spent learning alone or with the family. Most co-ops meet once or twice a week, therefore giving students a “taste” of group learning without being overwhelming.

2. Friends
My neighbor and fellow homeschooler, Kirsten, was concerned about her oldest daughter making friends. I was so pleased to tell Kirsten about our homeschool co-op and the wonderful group of friendly high school students we had there. They visited the next week and joined immediately. I was thrilled when two weeks later, I saw Kirsten’s daughter being hugged good-bye by other teenage girls. I looked over at my friend and said, “It’s working!” and she wholeheartedly agreed.

3. Learning from Another Adult
The other parents who volunteer as teachers and helpers in our co-op serve as role models, mentors, and teachers. I think it is very healthy for children to have adults they respect outside their own family. Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders serve this role, and so can co-op teachers. I realize that I am not my teenager’s only teacher. Some day soon, my children will learn from college professors, and they will be exposed to trainers in the workplace. I want them to appreciate the different personalities that teachers possess. I also want my children to understand that they can learn from different types of people.

4. Group Interaction
When my daughter approached high school, she wanted to discuss literature with someone other than me. She was right; it is awfully difficult to have group discussions without a decent-sized gathering! Co-ops provide a wonderful opportunity for your student to engage in group discussions and other classes. Our co-op has held several classes that work best in a group setting, including literature discussion, public speaking, gym games, and team building. These types of learning opportunities cannot be done as well in a home setting, but they work beautifully in a homeschool co-op.

5. Special Skills
When I joined our co-op, I found a blessing in the Spanish teacher, Mrs. Tann, who majored in Spanish in college and is a volunteer teacher at our co-op. My daughter, Emily, had been learning Spanish from a computer program. Although she was doing well and making good grades on the quizzes, her Spanish greatly improved after starting Mrs. Tann’s class. I noticed that she started speaking a few phrases and naming objects in Spanish. Mrs. Tann has Spanish skills that neither my husband nor I possess.

6. Encouragement to Continue Homeschooling
One co-op director that I know believes that if a co-op helps even one mother to continue homeschooling, then all the work has been worthwhile. Specifically, she tries to support parents of high school students, many of whom drop out of homeschooling because the subject material grows more difficult at the high school level. Our co-op tries to help these families by offering high school classes in foreign language, upper math, and advanced lab science. Other co-ops in our area offer fun subjects such as photography, yearbook, drama, and art to keep kids interested.

7. Mothers share burdens
Of course, it is not just the students who benefit from a co-op; their mothers need encouragement also. Emulating another homeschool co-op, my co-op offers a room for mothers to “Chew and Chat,” where we can eat and talk. More importantly, we share each other’s burdens there. Although we sometimes offer suggestions and new ideas, we often are just a sounding board. Mothers feel free to share their homeschooling struggles in our Chew and Chat room, because this group understands them without condemnation.

8. Exchange information
While co-op mothers may share burdens, they also exchange information. One of the best things about a co-op is the wonderful exchange of ideas. I loaned my calculus books and videos to another family after my daughter had finished with them. The books were very expensive and I was blessed to be a blessing to a cash-strapped family.

9. Fun
In addition to the educational benefits of group learning, shared experience, and encouragement, co-ops can be a lot of fun! Your students should have creative teachers and see co-op learning as enjoyable! Even though my daughter, Sarah, dislikes snakes and bugs, she admits that her biology dissection teacher makes the class interesting. Sarah is learning that a trouble shared is a troubled halved. She also seems to have exciting stories to tell about class each day.

10. Special Events
Many co-ops offer fun activities such as field trips and special events. I have seen co-ops offer talent shows, plays, and recitals. One co-op is starting a 4-H club, while another has an American Heritage Girls troop and a Boy Scout troop. Going beyond these activities, some co-ops offer days at the beach, pool, park, or ski slopes! The list is endless, and all in the name of fun and learning.

The benefits of belonging to a homeschool co-op include, among others, group learning, experienced teachers, encouragement, and fun. I hope you gain all these advantages and more.

This article is an excerpt from Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out by Carol Topp (Aventine Press, 2008).

Carol L. Topp, CPA (www.HomeschoolCPA.com) is a homeschooling mother of two daughters and is the author of Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Then and Not Burn Out. She enjoys using her accounting skills helping homeschool organizations as well as serving on her homeschool co-op board.

April 7, 2009 By Carol 1 Comment

Conflict is very common in families, churches, and communities and it can arise in a homeschool group also. Disagreements may stem from a variety of sources including unmet expectations, differing goals and views, misunderstandings, or hurt feelings. Fortunately, conflicts can be resolved in several ways.

Ken Sande, author of The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict points out that there are three ways to respond to conflict. Two of the methods, escape and attack, are inappropriate, leading to heartache and trouble. Escape involves denial or avoidance because some people prefer to avoid conflict rather than face it. They may believe conflict is wrong or dangerous. Conversely, attackers are more interested in winning than in restoring a relationship because they see conflict as a competition, a contest, or a control issue. Attacking is frequently used by strong, confident people. Only the third method of conflict resolution, peacemaking, is the proper way to settle disputes. Peacemaking – which includes Overlooking, Reconciliation, Mediation, Arbitration, and Accountability – is the resolution method commanded by God. The goal of peacemaking is to preserve relationships and find a mutually agreeable solution.

Overlooking an Offense
Mr. Sande points out that simply overlooking an offense is actually a healthy response to problems. Proverbs 19:11 says that “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense,” and confirms that quickly forgiving an offense is a wise move. Overlooking, which is a type of forgiveness, is a deliberate attempt not to dwell on an offense, talk about it, or grow bitter over it. You may ask yourself, “Is it really worth fighting over?” and decide it is not. Homeschool leaders should encourage members to overlook slight offensives as a proper method of handling disagreements.

Larger Offenses: Confession and Reconciliation
Some offenses are too large to be overlooked, perhaps because a relationship has been painfully damaged. In this case, confession and reconciliation between parties is needed. Reconciliation is gently restoring the relationship and it may involve confession on someone’s part. Each party needing reconciliation should ask herself,

• Have I said something unkind?
• Have I gossiped about the person or problem?
• Have I tried to control others?

Confession to the other party may be necessary in order to restore a relationship. Reconciliation is not merely confrontation; it is restoring a relationship. Remind members to ask for God’s wisdom and a gentle spirit before they approach the other party. Each party should aim to be clear and specific.

Merely complaining about another’s behavior rarely helps a situation. The goal is restoring a relationship, not blaming or accusing others. Members should use “I feel” statements such as “I feel like a scolded child,” to explain the hurt feelings a member may suffer.

Using creativity through stories to make your point can be very helpful. An excellent example of using stories comes from the Old Testament prophet Nathan in 2 Samuel, chapter 12. He had the unpleasant task of confronting King David with his sins of adultery and murder. Nathan wisely used a story of a poor man with only one lamb to help David see his own greed.

Bring in Help: Mediation
The next step, mediation, should only be used when Overlooking and Confession have been attempted and failed. Mediation occurs when an objective, outside person is invited into a conflict. The goal of the mediator is to facilitate better communication and to explore possible solutions. Matthew 18:15-16 provides guidance for mediation: “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” In homeschool groups this could mean bringing the issue to the board or to an unbiased third party.

Last Resort: Arbitration and Accountability
Arbitration is another form of public peacemaking similar to mediation. In this case, however, the arbitrator acts like a judge making a decision that is binding upon both parties. If your conflict has not been resolved through mediation, I would recommend you read The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict before attempting arbitration. Contact Peacemaker Ministries (http://www.Peacemaker.net or http://www.HisPeace.org) which has volunteers who will act as arbitrators.

The final type of conflict resolution using peacemaking is Accountability which involves following the commands of Matthew 18:17: “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church.” This method should only be used when a professing Christian refuses to be reconciled. In homeschool groups this could mean deferring the conflict to the member’s local pastor or church. Ultimately, the homeschool group may consider asking the offender to leave the group if the conflict cannot be resolved. It is sometimes better for one member to be asked to leave than for the entire group to suffer.

In conclusion, managing conflicts can be exhausting to a homeschool group leader. Encourage your members to settle disputes by Overlooking an offense and reconciling their differences. Use Mediation carefully as a final step to resolve conflicts. Read The Peacemaker by Ken Sande to understand how to deal with conflicts and to guide you through arbitration and accountability.

Sande, Ken. The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict, (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2004)

Check out my article on page 10 of the funky flipbook edition of Heart of the Matter Magazine.

Carol L. Topp, CPA author of Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out is a homeschooling mother and Certified Public Accountant who uses her accounting skills to help homeschool organizations. She has served as treasurer of her own homeschool co-op. She and her family live in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her website is www.HomeschoolCPA.com

January 25, 2009 By Carol 7 Comments

There are so many advantages to belonging to a homeschool co-op such as socialization, shared teaching, support, encouragement and fun! But perhaps you are asking, “Are there disadvantages to belonging to a co-op?”

Joining a co-op is a little like getting married.

After the wedding and the honeymoon comes the marriage. Marriage is indeed a blessing, but it is best if you are well prepared and approach it with your eyes wide open. The same is true with homeschool co-ops. Life may be great for a while in your co-op with a harmonious group meeting all your expectations. Great! At this point you’re on your honeymoon. Soon little annoyances may creep up, or things may not go the way you had expected. You may become disappointed. The honeymoon is over, with only the hard work of marriage (or co-oping) there to greet you!

Never fear. Like being married, the problems of co-oping can be resolved if you know what to expect. As a matter of fact, having unmet expectations is the number one complaint of dissatisfied former co-op members.

Unrealistic or Unmet Expectations

Like a spouse, no co-op will meet all your expectations. Before joining a homeschool co-op, you should examine your motivations and desires in joining a co-op. Ask yourself, “What is most important to me and my family? What do I want most out of this co-op experience?” Perhaps you most desire social relationships for your children. Then when you are dissatisfied about the start time, the amount of homework or the lack of singing for preschoolers, focus on your strongest desire. Is that expectation being met? If so, release the other, lesser expectations.

When I joined a homeschool co-op, I wanted group interaction for my children as well as classes that I was not teaching at home, like art and speech. Since the co-op met those expectations, I was happy. On the other hand, some co-op members were not as satisfied with the experience. Among co-op members’ varied expectations, some may be obvious and clear, while some of our hopes go unstated and often misunderstood.

Surrendering Control

Ironically, surrendering control may seem like an advantage to some people who will gladly hand over certain subjects like algebra, biology dissection or foreign language. Of course, turning over teaching responsibility for difficult subjects can be a relief. In fact, access to advanced classes may be the reason you sought out a co-op to begin with!

While granting teaching responsibility to others may seem beneficial, turning over control is another matter. Face it: homeschoolers like control! We like to direct our children’s environments, their exposure to the world, and their friendships. We pick carefully the curriculum they use. I once met a woman who really wanted every subject her child studied to be firmly grounded and rooted in Scripture including Bible verses for every chapter of science, etc. While this woman may have found her perfect curriculum for use at home (there are several to choose from), she would not have enjoyed a co-op because she would have had to relinquish some control.

If releasing control over certain subjects is an issue for you, then you can do one of two things: Release your hold, praying frequently, or find a co-op that will use the curriculum you desire.

Too Much Like School

Some co-ops have a very school-like structure. My co-op met in a building owned by a small Christian college. The rooms had chalkboards and desks, giving a very school-like feel. Many of our parents and teachers liked the building and classrooms because it was efficient to conduct classes in a schoolroom. If you are a free spirit or an unschooler, you may not feel comfortable in a classroom setting. Before joining, visit the co-op in action to get a sense of the surroundings and the environment. You may decide that the benefits outweigh the negative feelings of a structured environment, or you may conclude that you can live with a little structure once a week.

In a co-op class you might not be able to spend as much time on a subject as you might like. New York teacher John Taylor Gatto said it best in Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling:

The third lesson I teach is indifference….When the bell rings I insist they drop whatever it is we have been doing and proceed quickly to the next work station. They must turn on and off like a light switch….Bells inoculate each undertaking with indifference.

Homeschool co-ops like Mr. Gatto’s public school are frequently structured around the almighty clock. We move kids to the next class on schedule so that they get the most out of their experience that day. When dealing with large groups, a co-op must rely on structure and timetables to keep things running smoothly. A small co-op or single subject co-op can be more flexible and free form. Decide for yourself how strongly you feel about being under a time constraint. The structure may even be a benefit to you or your children. In cases like this you can see how even potential challenges can ultimately benefit you and your children in your co-op experience.

Belonging to a homeschool co-op can have some challenges, but challenges can bring benefits. What is a disadvantage to co-oping for some people such as surrendering control, can be a benefit for another homeschooling mother. Some co-ops may seem too structured for one family, while another family could benefit from more organization in their lives. Joining a homeschool co-op will take commitment, but hopefully it will be time and money well spent.

i. Gatto, John Taylor, Dumbing Us Down, (New Society Publishers, 2002)

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