A+ Job Skills for Generation Y
My teens recently toured backstage at a Broadway theater. A lead actor from the play Wicked gave this advice to aspiring young actors,”Work hard. If you can get in your mind that the world doesn’t owe you a job or money, you will be ahead in the job hunt.” He went on to tell about his disappointment with the new generation’s lack of motivation to put in extra effort. “They want high salaries without the long hours of work.”
Our teens are part of Generation Y, or the Millennial Generation. They are defined as young people born between 1979 and 1994. They are digitally savvy and used to constant contact and instant feedback. Whether we agree or not, today’s younger generation has a reputation of believing they are entitled to high salaries and interesting jobs that won’t interfere with their personal lives. They are also characterized as having a lack of respect for the older generation.
Although generation gaps have always existed, today’s gap is so wide that the young people are called Technical Natives while those in the older generation are known as Technical Immigrants. Most middle-aged adults can text and e-mail, but if they want to do much else, they must find a teenager to help. Computer lingo seems to be the native tongue of our youth.
These differences impact teenagers as they seek to enter the work force. Strengths in the younger generation can become liabilities without job skill training. Never has this teaching been so important. The unemployment rate is over 10% for adults. In some places, it is double that for teens. Competition for after school jobs is steep. The jobs will go to those who know how to conduct themselves in an interview and how to interact with older employers.
I recently spoke with an area McDonald’s upper-level manager. She agreed that today’s youth come to the job with certain gaps in their skills. “They are very technically savvy, but they’re not used to manual labor. I have to teach them how to work hard. This generation requires more motivation than the young people of the past.”
I asked her if she had advice for teens as they go out on a job interview. “They need to remember that presentation is everything. How they dress, speak, and fill out the application are still as important as ever. The younger generation does not care about appearances, but they need to remember that they’re interviewing with an older generation that does value professional attire and behavior.”
What we consider basic common sense for on-the-job behavior still needs to be taught to our children. We will do our children a huge favor by reviewing job search skills while addressing specific problem areas pertaining to the Generation Y mentality.
Search the Internet for desirable employee traits and you will find promptness, reliability, honesty, and friendliness mentioned often. What do these qualities look like in the interview and early weeks on the job? Following is a list of pointers to go over with your young adult:
Talking Point for Teens:
- Dress professionally when you go out and apply for jobs. Different jobs require different attire. You would look odd applying at a food service job wearing a suit. The best rule to follow is to dress a little better for the interview than you would for a day on the job. Make sure your clothes are neat and clean. Do not wear t-shirts with offensive slogans. Flip-flops and tattered jeans are cool but not for interviews or work.
- Be prepared to fill out applications. Have a list of references and their contact information. It is best to discuss this with the references beforehand and have their approval before listing their names. If you have worked previously, have the employer’s address and phone number. Don’t sell yourself short. If you have experience through scouts or volunteer projects, list those under experience. You want to have your social security card with you when you apply.
- Practice interviewing. Hold a practice interview with your parents so you will be more prepared. Many Websites offer typical interview questions that you can use. Several teens and their parents could get together for mock interviews.
- Be on time. Be a little early, but do not be late.
- Turn off your cell phone during the interview or better yet, leave it in the car. Although your peers perceive phone calls or texts as acceptable interruptions when you talk, it is a job interview killer.
- Good old fashioned manners never go out of style. A firm hand shake while looking the potential employer in the eye are rare among young people. Thank the interviewer and consider a follow-up thank you note. Remember, they have done you a favor by taking time to interview you. You are not doing them a favor by coming in to apply.
- Follow up with a polite phone call if you have not heard from them in the time they stated. If you are turned down, thank them for the chance to apply and interview. Don’t burn any bridges; you don’t know what opportunities may open up in the future.
You’ve landed a job, now what? Certain skills will help you keep it.
- Always arrive on time with an attitude that says, “I am ready to work.”
- Remember that employers have paid for your full attention during work hours. It is not time to talk on the phone or text. You are hired to work, not visit with other employees.
- Never complain about your job, boss, or employer in front of customers or other employees. It will usually come back to haunt you.
- Use sick days sparingly. You don’t want to gain a reputation as being undependable.
- Address customers with friendliness and respect and look them in the eye.
- Be willing to work hard at your job and learn new skills. Be a self-starter and one who can finish projects without constant oversight.
With pointers from parents, practice interviews, and a warning list of job taboos, I believe our teens will be in high demand in the workplace.
What experiences have you had in your family with working teens from Generation Y? What advice would you add?
Resource List:
Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris
Young Person’s Career Skills Handbook
Websites:
therebelution.com – Alex and Brett Harris
About.com – Career Planning – Teen Job Skills
Jist Publishing – America’s Career Publishers
Job Interview Strategies for Teens Part I
Job Interview Strategies for Teens Part II
Rhodema lives the parenting adventure with Calvin, her college sweetheart. They have two adult daughters and two teenagers still at home, a girl and a boy. Their homeschool style is eclectic with a great love of living history books. Rhodema teaches women’s Bible studies and is a MOPS speaker. Her blog for moms is Herding Worms.
Great Homeschools have Socratic Dialogue…or Maybe Not
I always believed that great homeschools practiced great Socratic dialogue. After reading, families would enjoy deep and rich conversations about the nuances of famous literary works. They would have meaningful discussions about historical perspective and relevant insights contrasting classical and modern literature.
Meanwhile, I got comments like “Great book, mom…. What’s next?”
True confession: I really admire people who do literary analysis, but I simply wasn’t capable. I used a literature-based curriculum, so it seems strange to say, but I hate literary analysis.
We read books all the time. I used Sonlight Curriculum which requires a lot of reading, and I fed my book-hungry children even more literature from The Well-Trained Mind, and other reading lists for the college bound. Much to my chagrin, we didn’t do any “literature analysis” we just enjoyed the books.
The truth is I always felt guilty about not doing literary analysis. Every homeschool mom has her “thing” that keeps her awake at night, and literature analysis was mine. On tests and worksheets my children seemed to do terrible in reading comprehension, and yet they were reading all the time. They read all day long and late into the night. The laughed and cried and gasped when they read silently to themselves. They begged me to continue when I was reading aloud to them. How could they do so poorly in reading comprehension questions when they seemed to understand what they were reading?
How do you know when you have succeeded in teaching your child English? I knew my kids loved reading but still I was stressed. Every year, I spent an inordinate amount of time looking at Progeny Press, Learning Language Arts Through Literature, and other curriculum choices. Why was I failing? Why couldn’t I teach literature analysis? Every time I asked my kids “how did you like the book?” all I ever got was: “it was great” or “it sucked.” So much for insightful dialog about the deeper meanings of literature.
I finally decided that my goal for literature would be the same as my goal for Bible study. I decided that my goal in teaching the Bible was for the kids to LOVE their Bible, not analyze their Bible. Therefore I would teach them to LOVE literature instead of analyze it. I didn’t want to “beat the love of books out of them” by analyzing everything.
In retrospect, it all ended up great. Ironically, they both ended up in a “Great Books” honors program, analyzing literature at a college level by their own choice! They are able to do college literary analysis in their honors class without a problem, getting great grades. Their only frustration with the class is reading the occasional book synopsis. “I would rather read the whole thing – they miss the best parts!”
I failed at teaching literary analysis, so in that sense I may have lost that battle. But I won the war. My children LOVE reading. When the kids came home from college, I felt like I could finally say I had succeeded in my goal. “For fun” they went to the library to get some reading material. My son Alex read the entire Shakespeare collection, my son Kevin read CS Lewis and some Dostoevsky. I may have been stressed out when they were in high school, but I can honestly say that I achieved my goal: they LOVE reading.
With my hard-earned 20/20 hindsight, I look at my college children and feel successful, but at the time I stressed over “reading comprehension” more than almost anything else. Keeping the focus on “love of learning” is hard though, when you are faced with a kid who may only answer “fine” when you ask them about their reading. Remember, it is the love of reading that matters, not literary analysis.
Lee Binz is a veteran homeschooling mom of two and the owner of The HomeScholar. Her mission is “Helping parents homeschool high school.” Her DVD Preparing to Homeschool High School will remove your fear and teach you what you need to succeed in homeschooling high school. She has a free mini-course called “The 5 Biggest Mistakes Parents Make When Homeschooling High School.”
Homeschoolers Can Earn Their Diploma from a University?
February 8, 2010 by Tracy
This is how my family is doing it!
Expanding the Options for Home Schooled High School Students: Dare to Compare High School Diploma Programs from Excellent Colleges and Universities Nationwide
Students can broaden their prospects of acceptance into college after graduation from high school through support available from the National College Counseling Center and earn their high school diploma from a regionally accredited college or university.
Home schooling of children has occurred since this nation first began, yet has become a growing practice over the past few years to levels never before seen in America. Societal acceptance of home schooling has also increased, as it has become more common for people with children in public or private school settings to have friends, co-workers, or others in their congregation in church that home school their children. There are many reasons why parents choose to home school their children: For some, it is because of their remote location, especially in remote farm areas. Others who live in heavily populated areas realize that their children are not getting the attention that they need in overcrowded classrooms where the student-to-teacher ratios essentially eliminate any possibility of individual support to students. In other cases, it is to provide a safer environment for their children, Regardless of the reasons, students typically do quite well in academic achievement when taught in a home school environment. Most states require that students take standardized academic achievement tests to ensure they are meeting or exceeding the expectations for the grade levels completed. Research in the past revealed that home school students scored exceptionally high (in the 70th to 80th percentile) on standardized academic achievement testing and that 25% of home school students were enrolled in courses one or more grades above their age-associated public and private school peers. What an excellent testimony to the success of home schooling in this nation. However, some high school graduates who were home schooled face obstacles in entering into the college or university of their choice – barriers that can be easily overcome, as will be described in this article.
Let’s face it … the entire nation is currently facing economically difficult times, which is impacting both large and small businesses, as well as government agencies. Anyone who has watched the news this past year has seen the reverberations of the economic downturn; however, what many do not realize is how this is impacting higher education across this nation. Education and employment are intrinsically related – the more education one has attained, the better the prospects of employment, retention, and promotion in the workplace. Enrollment at degree-granting institutions has actually increased over the past few years, even in these tough times. For example, the State of Tennessee reports that they have experienced a 6 percent increase in enrollments at State Colleges and a 15 percent increase at Community Colleges for Fall Semester of 2009. Although it may at first seem illogical, when the economy turns downward, enrollment in degree granting institutions turns upward. Similar results to the example in Tennessee can be seen across the nation. When economic downturns occur, as we have experienced over the past year, many organizations downsize and those employees remaining may need to sharpen their skills academically to carry the additional workload. Many are seeking to earn a degree when they are away from work in case they do later become a casualty of the downsizing and closures that have been all too common in America this past year or more. Take a look at the nationwide results that are reflected on this graph:
Notice the sharp upward line that presents the unprecedented growth in attendance at degree-granting institutions that has occurred over the past five years. As you can see by the lower green line, when the Department of Education projected growth over a ten-year period from 2002-2012, they expected an additional 900,000 to 1 million students to be attending college at the half-way point. When they received the statistics from the mid-point, the 2007-2008 academic year, they discovered a growth rate 5 times that which they had previously forecast. We now have more than 18.2 million students pursuing degrees in America.
What does this have to do with High School students? It means that the competition is tougher than ever to get into the college or university of their choice, as institutions of higher learning are being stretched to the limits with the new students seeking enrollment. How can high school students, particularly those that are home schooled, sharpen their competitive edge to help them get into the college or university of their choice after graduation? By not getting a home school high school diploma. Whoa, now! Don’t stop reading.
We’re not saying high school students should stop being homeschooled. On the contrary, the superior academic achievement of home schooled students testifies to the effectiveness of the process, as we stated in the beginning of this article. What we are saying is that high school students may be better served when they have their high school diploma is conferred from a regionally accredited college or university, rather than through their home school program of study, if they intend to compete for acceptance in top ranked colleges and universities across the nation. Read on to find out how easy this can be:
Although research has shown that home school students typically outperform students at public and private schools across the nation, many colleges and universities are hesitant to accept a home schooled high school graduate into their student body, even though academic achievement tests are required by most states throughout their secondary education. Some institutions of higher learning even require home schooled high school graduates to pass a GED for admission into their college. This can be very discouraging to students and can place students at a competitive disadvantage when seeking admission into a very selective college or university. There are numerous regionally accredited high school programs offered at a distance from higher education institutions across the nation. These include the University of Nebraska, the University of Alabama, Indiana University at Bloomington, the University of Missouri and many more. Students are typically required to complete just a few courses from the institution online to meet their academic residency requirement. The remaining credit may be completed through the student’s home school program of study, as long as it aligns with the curriculum requirements of their high school diploma program. The National College Counseling Center has created the most technologically advanced degree exploration program in the nation, Degree Quest, which, in addition to thousands of degrees from hundreds of colleges, also includes the curricula of high school programs of study from regionally accredited institutions of higher learning. They are able to empower students and their parents to compare where the student should stand toward these programs of study and provide them with a detailed plan to take them from where they currently are to the finish line – graduation and conferral of the high school diploma from one of the participating colleges or universities.
Take for example, Anna R. – a high school student in Central Georgia who aspired to attend the university in another state that her father graduated from many years ago: After reviewing several high school plans created in Degree Quest by the National College Counseling Center, Anna selected the University of Oklahoma to earn her high school diploma through. The university required her to complete five courses through them online, allowing the rest to be completed through the home school program taught by her mother using A Beka courses that aligned with their curriculum requirements. When she graduated from high school, she actually received her high school diploma from the University of Oklahoma, which helped fast-track her into the university she desired to enter to pursue her degree.
Parents of home schooled high school students are encouraged to check into these excellent opportunities for their children to earn a high school diploma from regionally accredited colleges and universities nationwide, especially with the support of the National College Counseling Center serving as advocates for their students. These opportunities also can serve as a means of having experts provide instruction in those subjects in which the parent feels least prepared to teach their high school student, while allowing them the liberty of teaching the other subjects they enjoy sharing with their children as they follow their trek to high school completion. In addition, the National College Counseling Center provides students with access to their student support website, HERC – the Higher Education Resource Connection. On HERC, students will be able to access hundreds and hundreds of resources to help them succeed in their educational endeavors, including nearly 300 semester hours of tuition-free college courses that may be used to prepare them for national college examinations. These may not only be used to help students complete requirements for their high school diploma, but can also give them a jump-start on earning a college degree.
The upward trend in college enrollments is not expected to subside, so the time to sharpen the competitive edge of your high school student is now. As we pointed out above, the surge in attendance that occurred between 2002 and 2008 is continuing, as evidenced in the 6 to 15 percent increase in enrollments that occurred in this 2009-2010 academic year. The National College Counseling Center can provide assistance to home schooled high school students across the nation and offers a significant discount on their one-time administrative fee to home school families.
(This article was presented by Tim N. Scoggins, a retired Lieutenant Commander and former head of the US Coast Guard Voluntary Education Programs from 1994 to 1998, and the founder and president of the National College Counseling Center.)
*Visit www.NC3degrees.info or call 850-819-3891 and use the support code: Tango35 if you decide to register! My family who is enrolled gets referral credit!*
Tracy is first and foremost a Christian, a military wife and mother. She grew up as a military brat all over the USA and is married to her Air Force, pastor husband of 15 years. They have 2 beautiful teenage children that they home school. She is photographer, and owns Shots From the Heart Photography and loves to do what she calls “Capturing the Fingerprints of God!” in her images. Tracy also created a workshop called Mommytography, where she teaches Mom’s how to take better pictures. You can visit her at her blog: Lighthouse Academy Home & School
9 Homeschool Resolutions for Parents of High School Students
January 25, 2010 by Lee
Work on these easy resolutions and in only a few minutes you can feel confident in your ability to homeschool high school!
1. Start Record Keeping!
You can initiate a record keeping system in 5 minutes or less. Just grab box, and put it in an out of the way corner. You can use the box as a record keeping system, just by remembering to put things in it. Sure there are better and fancier ways to keep records, but ANYTHING is better than nothing.
2. Mark your Calendar!
Mark your calendar with important dates now, while this year’s calendar is still looking empty! Find the dates for important tests on the College Board website. Most high school kids take the PSAT in fall of 10th grade and again in 11th grade. The SAT or ACT test is taken in the spring of junior year.
3. Have a Parent-Teacher Meeting!
Go ahead, talk to yourself! Review your high school plan with your spouse and students. Every college has different requirements, so check with a possible college to see what is required. Usual requirements are: English 4 years, Math 3-4 years, Science 3 years,Social Studies 3-4 years,Foreign Language 2-3 years, PE 2 years,Fine Arts 1 year, Electives enough to make 24 credits.
4. Adjust Curriculum!
While you are looking at your high school plan, think about what is working for you. If it doesn’t work, throw it out! Try a different strategy that may work better. It doesn’t matter how wonderful the curriculum is, what matter is if you children are learning. Out with the old, and in with the new!
5. Try a Transcript!
You don’t have to finish, your goal is to just START your transcript. The way to make your transcript accurate and professional-looking is to work on it regularly. Spend just a few minutes writing down what you have already done.
6. Identify Specialization!
Check your annoy-o-meter and in 5 minutes or less you can determine your child’s area of specialization. What is your student most likely doing when you say “Will you PLEASE put that down?” Is it possible that is your child’s specialization? Their interests may be annoying, so look closely at what they are doing when you feel frustrated.
7. Estimate SAT score!
Quickly estimate an SAT score from PSAT results. In each subject area on the test, add a “zero” to the end of their score. For example, a 50 on the PSAT math section would be approximately a 500 on the SAT math. Knowing this number can help you determine what college would be a good fit, and if SAT preparation is important.
8. Make a Reading List!
On a piece of paper, print “Reading list.” Then have your students collect books they have read in the past 3 months. They can practice typing skills while listing the name and author of each book.
9. Sip Tea!
Each of these resolutions is is very quick and easy, and you could get through this list in a few hours. Once you have accomplished these resolutions, and now it’s time to take a break. Your job is to sip some herbal tea and relax.
Lee Binz is a veteran homeschooling mom of two and the owner of The HomeScholar, “Helping parents homeschool through high school.” She has a new free minicourse called “The 5 Biggest Mistakes Parents Make When Homeschooling High School”. You can sign up for her free email homeschool newsletter, The HomeScholar Record and get your daily dose of wisdom via e-mail from her homeschool blog, The HomeScholar Helper.
Does Homeschool High School Terrify You?
January 19, 2010 by Lori
Lee Binz has become a mentor and a friend to me. I can’t say enough about the advice she has given to me and to have an opportunity to share with you my review of her new book, Setting the Records Straight, thrills me! Lee’s website, The HomeScholar is a treasure trove of resources for any homeschooler and I highly recommend that you visit it IF you have a highschooler or the thought of homeschooling through highschool terrifies you, as it did me.
Lee’s new book, Setting the Records Straight is set to debut in February! I was thrilled to review it early! Be on the lookout for it on Lee’s site, The HomeScholar as well as Amazon.com.
Setting the Records Straight
6 years ago when our family made the decision to home school, high school was tucked in the back of my mind. It seems that one day I woke up to find that I had a highschooler! Home school through high school? Then at just the right moment Lee Binz came into our life! Among the first words of her book, Setting the Records Straight, she reminded us, “You will be successful. Do not be afraid. Take it one step at a time.”
Lee’s practical approach and her own success in homeschooling high school students into the colleges of their choice (with scholarships!) is encouraging and reassuring. In Setting the Records Straight she outlines the fundamentals for successful transcripts and home school course classes and descriptions to help guide the college bound student to the college of their choice. The chapters include answers to many of the questions that home school families ask, the very questions I myself was asking.
Why make a home school transcript?
What should it look like?
How can we determine and calculate high school credit?
How should grades be assigned?
For each question, Lee has a thorough and detailed answer. She speaks from experience and from speaking to college admission offices all over the country. In Setting the Records Straight, Lee offers samples of academic records by year, subject and in the case of Dual Enrollment. These transcript samples are invaluable!
In the final section of the book, Lee tackles the subject of course descriptions. As homeschoolers the world of course descriptions can be an overwhelming one. She clearly outlines the three steps in compiling course descriptions into language that makes sense. Tackling the core subjects as well as electives and even outlining courses without records, are helpful in making this section of the book worth its weight in gold.
This is not just a book for home school families educating through high school, this is truly a resource. There are extensive appendixes that detail course descriptions so that a home school parent has a reliable guide with which to work from.
This book was the most VALUABLE tool I’ve seen on the nuts and bolts of transcripts and course descriptions! EVERY question that came to mind was answered in such thorough detail. It’s given me the confidence to move into the high school years unafraid. This is certainly a book that I will refer to often. This book is a practical resource for the home school community and one that will alleviate fear in many a home school parent.
I encourage you to head over to Lee’s site, The HomeScholar for up to date information on her new book as well as all a host of other invaluable resources.
Lori is a 6th year homeschool mom to 3. Currently she homeschools a 9th grader, a 7th grader and a 5th grader. Lori hopes to impart peace and inspiration amidst the daily chaos. It’s in the daily details of life that she is continually inspired! Be sure to visit her blog at All You Have to Give and at Internet Cafe Devotions.
How To Live as a Completely Socialized Homeschooler
January 13, 2010 by Guest
Welcome to “How To Live as a Completely Socialized Homeschooler”!
This is a guide for all those seventh and eighth graders out there who are educated at home, but still want to be part of the rest of the world. I know from experience that if you lock yourself away inside your house, you are going to feel very awkward when your parents make you go to some social event. Therefore, I am creating this guide to help reduce that feeling of discomfort than many homeschoolers might feel. So let’s begin.
To start out, do not jump into the world of the public school, even part time, thinking that you are ten times smarter than the rest of the kids your age. I am not saying that every homeschooler will do this, but I know I did. It may be that you are smarter than the whole class, but if you go in with that attitude, you aren’t going to make friends very fast. On the same note, don’t go in thinking that you are going to be in the bottom of the class. I highly doubt that is true, but if you act like it is, than other people will assume it’s true.
In my public school career, I have gotten many questions about where I go to school, why I’m homeschooled and if I like it. My answers are I’m homeschooled because I can’t learn well in a public school environment and yes I like it, otherwise I would be in school with you because my parents are just that awesome.
Now that we have the psychological part out of the way, let’s think about how to start to integrate you into the school system. I can’t help if you want to enroll in the school full time, but I can give you some pointers on how to do it part time.
One of the best ways to start is to get involved in a sport. If you’re a boy, this probably won’t be too hard for you, but for all the non-athletic girls I know, this could be a problem. Now I’m not talking about your home school group’s sports group that you might already be in. I’m talking about the school track, cross country, or basketball team. This can get you into the school system without involving your education. If you aren’t really a sports person, another good option is the music or drama department. The band and choral programs are great ways for you to become part of a group, seeing as you have to sing/play with other people as part of the program. The same thing goes for the drama program.
You can also take some sort of class at your local public school. At our school, homeschooled middle school students are allowed to take one curricular class and one co- curricular class. This means that you could take, say, an English class and a sport of some kind. I took an art class in sixth grade and the first half of seventh grade and enjoyed it very much.
Next thing on the list is figuring out how to get you into the school system.
First, talk to your parents and ask them what they think. They almost certainly have more information on the subject than you have. One good idea is to just to visit the administrator of you school. They will listen to your parents and probably give you some information and rules to look at. The reaction we got when we went to the principal of our school was “I don’t know but I’ll look at the rules and see what we can do”.
One thing to watch out for is that, if you choose to take a sport, there might be rules on whether you can compete or not. The state of Wisconsin does not allow homeschooled high school students to compete in any official sports, but other states might have other rules. In Wisconsin middle schools, it is up to the school to decide if homeschoolers can compete or not.
Another thing you can do to integrate yourself into the world of the public school without having to deal with state laws is to join groups at your local library or take a dance class outside of the school system. I take a dance class, am part of a group at my local library and I also am part of my church’s youth group. If you attend a church that has a youth group, I highly recommend you try and go sometime. It is a good way to connect with people your age and, if your parents don’t want you to go to the public school, to find people to hang out with.
Once you are involved in a group, you need to be social in some way. I would not recommend raising your hand for every question you know, especially in middle school. Some kids take that the wrong way. If your teacher/instructor/leader tells you to split into groups, do not just sit around waiting for someone to ask you to join their group. Eight times out of ten, this method works, but the other two times, the teacher/instructor /leader will have to find you a group. This can be embarrassing, so ask someone who you sit next to if you can join their group.
Another thing to do is to respond to people. I have found it gives a much better impression then staying quiet. So if someone asks you something, answer them as best you can and don’t just shrug. If you just ignore them, they have a tendency to think that A: you don’t like them, B: you don’t care or, C: you are just a weird person. This doesn’t help either. What I’m trying to say is “Be you”. What you show on the outside is what people will assume is on the inside.
I have compiled this guide out of my own experience of trying to be homeschooled and still be part of my local community. I am in my freshman year of high school and am still trying to assimilate myself into the school environment, and I wish I had done more when I was in middle school.
I strongly encourage becoming part of a group of people your own age who you feel comfortable with and not to hide away in your room and become the stereotypical homeschooler. Many people see us as kids who are fluent in three languages, play two instruments and wear jean jumpers day in day out. I’m trying to prove to my town that that’s not true. I can’t even master Spanish, I play the piano and that’s it. You would not see me in a jean jumper, ever. I hope you have found this helpful.
written by Miss Martin, age 14, daughter of Patrick Martin
www.getmathtools.com
Free Webinar: Credits and Grades and Transcripts
December 4, 2009 by Lee
Lee Binz, The HomeScholar, held her first ever webinar on Thursday and it was a HUGE hit! A number of people, however, wrote to say they were unable to attend because of last minute interruptions.
Good news! They have decided to hold this webinar again on Saturday from 9 – 10 AM (Pacific Time). “Credits and Grades and Transcripts, Oh My!” will be repeated this weekend at this time:
9:00-10:00 Pacific
10:00 – 11:00 Mountain
11:00 – 12:00 Central
12:00 – 1:00 Eastern
Find your time zone
The HomeScholar Total Transcript Solution is available for purchase online! http://www.thehomescholar.com/easy-truth.php
High School without Tests
October 15, 2009 by Lee
Does everything change when you start the high school years? Will homeschooling look completely different in 9th grade then it did in 8th? What about grades? Do you have to “do grades” when you start high school? Here is how one anxious mom said it;
“This is the first year of homeschooling for my 4th and 8th graders. I really do not want to do grades. I want them to master and move on. We had to really deschool from the public school system and I needed these boys to know it wasn’t just about grades but learning and understanding. My questions is this: Do I need to show a grading system for a portfolio?” ~Karen
What a great question! When it comes to high school, there are a few key lessons that lead you to homeschooling freedom. You do NOT have to do things differently! Here is what you need to know:
1. Whatever has been working before, keep doing it.
Since you have been successfully homeschooling all this time without grading, don’t start now. Like you, mastery was important to me. I did grade a few classes, but only math, science, and foreign language – and only because my curriculum choices included tests! My boys had a great-looking transcript even without “grading” and they were admitted to every college they applied to.
2. A grade on a transcript is not the same as “grading” with a test.
The grade on your transcript should represent all of the different ways you EVALUATE your children. Evaluation may have nothing to do with tests, or it might include some tests. Testing is optional! But providing a grade on your high school transcript is a good idea. Just remember that your transcript grade doesn’t have to include tests. It may be just a function of other ways you evaluate: papers, oral presentations, completed assignments, etc.
3. Homeschooling is not the same as a “school system.”
Because we have that great one-to-one tutoring system, we don’t NEED graded tests and quizzes. In a classroom setting, those things are necessary, because it’s the only way to evaluate large numbers of children all at once. Homeschoolers are aware (possibly even “too aware”) of how our children are doing, so tests may be redundant. That’s why it’s a good idea to get homeschool information from veteran homeschoolers, so they can encourage you in freedom rather than tie you up in a school system.
4. Invest in yourself
As a homeschooler, it’s important to remember that record keeping in high school is part of your job. You are the “High school registrar and office staff” you know! Record keeping is not the same thing as grading, but it’s important to get the information that you need about homeschooling high school so you feel confident. Preparing to homeschool high school is a big part of your job!
I wrote an article called “How to Assign Grades without Grading” that may help to calm nerves.
http://www.thehomescholar.com/how-to-assign-grades-without-grading.php
Have fun homeschooling high school the way you know will work for your children!
Lee Binz is a veteran homeschooling mom of two and the owner of The HomeScholar, “Helping parents homeschool through high school.” She has a new free minicourse called “The 5 Biggest Mistakes Parents Make When Homeschooling High School”. You can sign up for her free email homeschool newsletter, The HomeScholar Record and get your daily dose of wisdom via e-mail from her homeschool blog, The HomeScholar Helper.
News Flash! Teenagers Will Change Their Mind!
October 8, 2009 by Lee
Why bother with getting your kids ready for college when you feel certain they won’t go?
Because sometimes, when you least expect it, teenagers will change their minds. Stop laughing! You know it’s true!
College preparation makes a lot of sense for students who plan on going to college. College-bound students need course work that will prepare them for their college studies. Students need to take college admission tests, and parents need to learn about grades and credits. College-bound students need a homeschool diploma and a homeschool transcript. College preparation for college bound students is expected.
But have you ever considered what a college preparatory home education could provide for students who will not go to college?
College preparation for the non-college bound
Rigorous academics can benefit children even if they are not heading to college. Without college, a homeschool education may be the only formal education a student will receive, and you should try to make it the best education possible. By focusing on requirements for the college bound, you will ensure your children aren’t doing the minimum, but are instead striving for excellence. They don’t have to achieve a certain prescribed level of excellence, because excellence boils down to keeping your children challenged, and giving them a wide body of knowledge and experience. Calculus does not make the difference between a college-bound and non college-bound teen. Instead, it is striving to learn that will ultimately prepare a child for college and for life.
Teenagers can be moving targets, and it’s hard to know exactly where they will end up in their lives. My good friend was convinced that her child was not college bound. Her child experienced some learning challenges, hated math, and loved working with anything mechanical. She thought it was a slam dunk that he would become a mechanic. That is, until the day he changed his mind. “Mom,” he declared, “I‘ve decided to be an engineer!”
Life would be much easier if our children would just make up their minds once and for all. Unlike changing dinner plans from enchiladas to spaghetti, changing from “vocational training” to “college preparation” is a little more challenging. By planning a college prep high school, you don’t have to worry so much about changing plans. You and your student will be ready for anything.
Ready to engage the culture
Some people wonder if Christians should go to college. After all, college is filled with faulty humans. Then again, somebody will need to build the airplanes we rely on, and care for us in the hospital – and I hope those people are Christians with integrity, values, and knowledge. College education is a requirement for some careers. For many people and for many reasons, college is the next step after high school.
We spend much of our homeschool years explaining to people the reasons we keep our children safe at home. Those reasons don’t change when our children grow up – it’s our children that change. In fact, they become adults. The Bible says:
“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.”
1 Corinthians 13: 11
Adults must interact with a fallen world on a regular basis. Firm in their faith, adult Christians are able to negotiate the contrasting world views with their own beliefs intact. At some point, your child will be ready to “become a man” (or woman) and move on into adult life – and that may include college.
Train up your children in the way they should go, and when they become adults, encourage them to engage the culture and change the world. Jesus said:
“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”
Mark 16:15
This is a command, directly from the Lord. That verse just screams for our attention. He doesn’t say, “Go into all the world, but not college.” If college is in your child’s future, prepare them to face it as a mature adult. Of course, you don’t have to throw your children into the lion’s den either. Responsible Christians don’t generally choose to hang out in bars or clubs for fun. So work with your students to choose their college carefully, weighing the options.
Our academic history vs. their academic future
College plans can materialize out of nowhere. As parents, we know what we know, and sometimes we forget that our children may have their own plans for the future. If college didn’t make sense for us, it’s natural to think it won’t be a fit for our child. But if college suddenly becomes the next step, you’ll be thankful their high school years prepared them. Instead of focusing on your academic history, focus on providing flexibility for your student’s academic future.
There is one trick I learned over the years. At some point along the way, teenagers will usually stumble on some career idea that might require some college. When they mention an idea like that, try to grab on to it. “You want to work in Finance? That’s a great idea!” Then explain how their goal might require some college. Even if they change their mind, you can still encourage them, “Honey, just in case you decide to work in Finance again, let’s get prepared for that.” Encouraging teenagers to focus on their loftiest career goals can keep them focused on college planning.
For maximum flexibility, always be prepared
Preparing your students for college can help them if they go to college; but it can also help them if they don’t. Some children waffle back and forth before deciding about future plans, and rigorous academics can help you be prepared. You can prepare your children for college as part of your homeschool, taking to heart the Boy Scout motto, “Always be prepared.”
Providing a college prep education is not terribly complicated. You can continue to homeschool the same way you always have, learning with reckless abandon. You don’t have to change your curriculum, or give tests in every subject, or chain your student to a desk. Homeschoolers of every stripe have been successful with college admission. Don’t change what has always worked for you, just set your eyes on colleges, so you have the ultimate flexibility when your student graduates.
Academic preparation can’t hurt!
Plan for college and provide rigorous high school academics. If they use it to go to college – great! If they don’t use it for college, does the hard work go to waste? Not at all! College preparation can help your child be a better employee or entrepreneur, a wiser citizen and a more confident homeschool parent. Preparing for college can’t hurt your child, and it can provide flexibility for the future.
Lee Binz is a veteran homeschooling mom of two and the owner of The HomeScholar, “Helping parents homeschool through high school.” She has a new free minicourse called “The 5 Biggest Mistakes Parents Make When Homeschooling High School”. You can sign up for her free email homeschool newsletter, The HomeScholar Record and get your daily dose of wisdom via e-mail from her homeschool blog, The HomeScholar Helper.
Tired of Debating Your Teens? Join the Club!
September 4, 2009 by Lee
One of the advantages about homeschooling high school is the ability to tailor your school to meet the needs and interests of your students. To do that, you may need to think creatively, especially about topics that require some careful planning. One such area is speech and debate. There are some great homeschool groups and clubs that offer speech or debate classes, but sometimes you might not know how to find them. I have some ideas that may help you overcome this obstacle for your high school student!
Speech and debate can be done in group settings through some of the following national organizations. You may want to check out these groups on the internet:
• American Legion Boys State
• TeenPact
• YMCA Youth & Government
• National High School Mock Trial
• National Christian Forensics and Communications Association
• Awana, Bible Quiz, or Bible Bowl Clubs
You may find great opportunities for public speaking when your child applies for some college scholarships. Check out the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Elks Club college scholarships.
Your student may be able to have a speech experience with adults, by being part of an adult group like Toastmasters. Some Toastmasters clubs will offer a Toastmasters Junior group for teenagers, but the adult groups are great as well.
You may want to provide the opportunity for public speaking as a part of regular homeschool activities. Perhaps your child will teach a class to younger students, or teach Sunday School, or lead a larger group. Kids will often be happy to do this kind of speaking if they are teaching something they truly love.
You may be able to find a local debate group that you haven’t heard about. Give it a try, and Google your city, and the words “homeschool debate.” Even if there isn’t a group, you may be able to create one yourself. Advertise it within your own local area and see if there is any interest. Even if the group of teens doesn’t want to develop a formal “Debate Team”, you may be able to establish a group to meet and discuss current events. It may be as easy as having the group all listening to the same talk radio program prior to meetings, and then discuss their views.
You can also read and study about debate during the “down time” when not actively involved in a group. Some of the more popular programs include these curriculum options:
- Institute for Excellence in Writing Advanced Communication Series
- Secrets of the Great Communicators
- Or their more advanced, meant for adults, The Best-Kept Secrets of Great Communicators SYSTEM on Audio CD
Public speaking practice can be achieved by regularly memorizing and presenting prepared speeches to friends and family. Perhaps you could have your student to memorize scripture, poetry, or famous speeches from the past. They can present this each week to family or friends, or within a group of other teens.
You can memorize famous poems to tie in with your study of American or British Literature. My favorite source is: A Treasury of Poetry for Young People. Memorizing poetry is a great fit for teenagers who love reading and literature.
Teenagers might like to memorize famous American speeches to tie in with your study of American History or American Government
Famous American Speeches: A Multimedia History, 1850 To The Present (CD-ROM). That’s a great fit for the politically-minded teens.
You can memorize scripture as well. You may be able to find a local Awana Club, and have your children memorize scripture with that group – or even become a group leader. There are many other scripture memory clubs, as well as free memorization helps online. But you know, the Bible has always been memorized by believers, so all you really need is a Bible.
Have fun homeschooling high school!
Lee Binz is a veteran homeschooling mom of two and the owner of The HomeScholar, “Helping parents homeschool through high school.” She has a new free minicourse called “The 5 Biggest Mistakes Parents Make When Homeschooling High School”. You can sign up for her free email homeschool newsletter, The HomeScholar Record and get your daily dose of wisdom via e-mail from her homeschool blog, The HomeScholar Helper.
