I. Homeschooling 101 – Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Angie opened the meeting with a prayer and general information:
Notification forms – These do not need to be done for e-schools. On the form for section #6 – 7, it indicates to include a brief outline of the courses and textbooks. Everyone doe these differently and a parent might just send the contents of the text books being used.
Handouts – Angie provided forms about achievement testing, assessments, and the Dayton home school conference.
Record keeping – Angie keeps a notification binder with her letters from the school district for each year. These should be sent close to the first week of school.
Angie has been home schooling for six years and had an eclectic style and recently changed to Seton. She likes their religious artwork throughout the books and learning more about the faith. Her children will say “Jesus is watching me” when they use the books with the art and this is a calming influence for the students and mom. Angie recommended a planning book that can be found in the home school catalogue provided.
Diane has been home schooling for eleven years and has been enrolled with Seton the entire time. She chose Seton because she was told “you can’t go wrong with Seton” and they seemed the most flexible of the Catholic programs. She indicated that while it is hard to describe a typical day, a “typical” (her experience) decade was fun with kindergarten, surprise at the learning to read process, and struggling with schooling preteens. She indicated that enrollment with Seton provides complete lesson plans, textbooks and workbooks, accountability, a second opinion on your student’s work, and affiliation with an accredited school. Her favorite Seton books are the health books which are very pro-life and talk about the systems studied in terms of the special considerations for the newborn and the elderly.
Emily spoke briefly about homeschooling as the antidote to the busyness of society and the ability to choose for your family and your children what is best. Her message was encouragement to all who attended to be open to the Holy Spirit concerning their time with their children and building their family identity.
Nancy has been home schooling for eighteen years and has eleven children. She did Our Lady of the Rosary, her own curriculum, Seton, Ohio Virtual Academy (OHVA), and Buckeye On-line. She found the OHVA program, when she used it, to have a lot of the history and science to be read on-line. Many tests and assessments were done on-line, though some were in the workbooks. They automatically updated your progress. The drawback is that they are not Catholic. They are using Buckeye On-line for high school. It is interactive starting in third grade. They have scheduled times to view a class from 8:00 a.m. until noon on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. These are interactive and thus a virtual classroom. Some benefits of this are that the student is accountable to a teacher other than Mom and they do have deadlines. In this program, there are curriculum options, as well as STEP, which are 6-week unit studies. There are once-a-month conferences with the teachers. Their family has done PSR at the parish. No other options besides home schooling were discussed.
Amy follows the Charlotte Mason philosophy. She has 4 girls and has been home schooling from the beginning. The philosophy of Charlotte Mason is to instill a love of learning. Charlotte Mason was a British educator in the late 1800’s who focused on the dignity of the child. She espoused the idea that education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life. It is intended to be habit-forming and what we live – a relevant part of everyday life. Amy was a text book editor for five years before having children and verified that textbooks met state education standards. Charlotte Mason encourages the use of living books, which means books which teach love. For history, they use a lot of novels or biographies, such as the Little House series. For nature study, they see and observe. This provides training ground not just for scientists but for disciples. On good days, they really focus and she presents ideas and lets the students make the connections. Mater Amabilis is Charlotte Mason curriculum using Catholic resources (it is a guidebook with book lists). For accountability, Amy blogs what is done for her husband. Her girls recite poetry and French for fun.
*** has six children and has been home schooling for eleven years. She talked about:
1. Why a family would choose to home school:
1. Family priorities – her husband has an unusual schedule and her kids know their dad (they would not if they were in traditional school). Her children have learned to step into the parents’ shoes with the kids helping in things that Dad or Mom do. To balance the scheduled, the kids get to do their one favorite activity.
2. For the whole child – Each does not know if they are gifted or behind. They do chores and have other types of learning beside their school work.
3. The wisdom of the church and God are imparted. They may be able to get this at a good traditional school, but these do not focus on the whole child.
2. Things she wish she had been told:
1. Set a routine.
2. Get friends – for the kids and mom.
3. Enjoy your family – don’t try to do too much.
4. Know that Satan works to discourage you.
5. School only four days a week and take summers off.
6. Bad days happen – keep an eternal focus.
Anna Marie has been home schooling for two years, with children in kindergarten and second grade. She encouraged all to identify their goal – hers was to just home school when she started but eventually it became to love to home school. They are using Catholic Heritage Curriculum and work to develop their Catholic identity. They consider religion to be the core subject and everything else enrichment. She had an Our Lady of Fatima crowning in her home and likes to do things with the community of home schoolers. Each day is done by grace and home schooling is a very special vocation to do for the lives of our children. She wants to love every day and prays unceasingly in order to create memories of a loving home and a God who loves them.
Sandra does a classical curriculum. This is her fourth year and she has a 3rd grader, one in kindergarten and two little ones. She felt called to home school when she was dating her husband and advised those present to ignore the negative comments that they will inevitably get. They are beginning to see the fruit of their choice and while it is the hardest, most exhausting work, it is the most important. She wants to raise saints first. She uses The Well-Trained Mind and Laura Berquist’s Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum. These teach the child how to think. Grades 1 – 6 focus on grammar, 7-8 focus on logic (the why and how to construct an argument), and high school focuses on rhetoric and writing. All knowledge is interrelated around history. One book has the Reformation in it and she uses the activity guides. They have a new Roman Catholic history book. The studies are chronological and cyclical (for example, the ancients and plants and animals are studied in grades 1, 5, and 9). They study the Renaissance and in second grade used Prima Latina. For the little ones, she has a list of materials that are used only during school time.
Shelly is home schooling a third grader and has two other children. She designs her own curriculum and has always home schooled using Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum. She feels this is a calling and the kids love to learn. Home schooling raises the best and brightest kids and the parent is forced to model virtue (the kids will learn what they see).
Erin uses Kolbe Academy. She can grade her own student’s work and has one in 2nd, K, and two other children. She talked about price – for grades 1-6, the enrollment is $245 plus book fees plus enhanced evaluation if you choose to have that. A repeat discount is given for those who use the program for multiple years. They have a 4 day school week and they keep your transcripts for you.
Maria’s children are 5 ½, 3, and one unborn. She was home schooled as a child and did Seton and Kolbe. She went to OSU for her bachelor’s degree. She got married at 20 and was a mom at 21 (she finished college after having her baby). She thinks that the “teaching myself” mentality that home schooling develops is a great benefit. There were not home school support groups when she was home schooling but now home schooling is in vogue.
Anne has three children at home, and one grown. Her 9-year-old has special needs and has four days a week of therapy. They tried K-12. She was trained in education but did not want to be a teacher. She said to do what works and consider each child as an individual.
Tiffany has four children and talked about Math- U-See, which her kids love. They did not like Abeka math or MCP (Modern Curriculum Press). They used a Steve Perry DVD and manual. Note that he and Elizabeth Foss will be at the CHEO (Christian Home Educators of Ohio) conference this year. You can do this program at your own pace. They will have calculus for 2010 and have on-line drills through pre-calculus. You can also create worksheets and answer keys.
Roxy wrapped up the presentation talking about how her son volunteers with COSI and her children’s Facebook friends are seminarians. She provided a playgroup handout with the summer schedule.
DEV 6-4-09
Homeschooling for Heaven
Panel Discussions Notes
II. Homeschooling 102 – Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Roxy opened the meeting with a prayer and passed out the summer playgroup schedule.
Nancy used many different curriculum sets including Our Lady of the Rosary, Seton, her own, and she started with OHVA when she had more kids. They track your records and the kids do have to take the proficiency test. They switched to Seton mid year one year – that was difficult. They are currently doing Buckeye On-line which is a virtual public school and they are doing grades 8, 10, and 12. In this program, the students have virtual classroom classes on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday during certain hours. The teachers work with the student if they miss a class session (there is a playback option). They organize the student’s OGT and SAT’s. They have a graduation ceremony at Franciscan University in Steubenville and the students get to meet their teachers in person there. There are scholarships available. OHVA did do placement tests for the younger kids. Buckeye On-line has some flexibility as far as various literature for classes and things that the student can select from. They did the PSEO option but paid for if (you have to be in a charter school or enrolled in the public school – in some fashion – for the district to pay for these classes). High school is an important age to keep at home. They home schooled the kids when they were younger so that they could home school for high school.
Kathi provided a copy of a transcript that they did at home. They used an outside tutor and did some Seton classes. She has three teens at home and told them she could change the curriculum but not the environment. They have eight children and have been home schooling since 1996. They used many options (Seton, OHVA, Buckeye On-line) and started doing e-schools when they had David, their special needs child who is now six years old. Buckeye On-line can be found at www.go2boss.com. They are currently doing OHVA, which is K through 12. It has more variety than when it was started – AP classes, more basic and more college prep classes (Buckeye Online had done this all along). They take advantage of the PSEO option by allowing their high school seniors to live with their grandparents in Steubenville where they can take their PSEO classes and then also get 50% off their tuition there for their actual college years. The classes are $100 per class during their senior year of high school. PSEO applications are due in March. Check with the college on their specific requirements – these vary with the college the high school senior will be attending. Kathi is very detail-oriented and found that the on-line option solved some of their problems with mom getting behind on grading and being the bottle neck for progress on school work. The kids then knew what they were supposed to be completing and enjoyed checking off what they had done. However, this also highlighted other problems. They are on someone else’s schedule and need to stay accountable. You have to weigh your options – during testing weeks they could not go to daily Mass. Every family is different, so what are concerns for one might not be for another. They have requested a teacher change while enrolled in this program and were given their request. AP testing is done in March (this is the same for schools, home schools, or any school). The PSAT is in October and also the testing for national merit scholarships.
Eve – Eve has six children from fifteen years to eighteen months old and this is her second year of home schooling high school (and eleventh year of home schooling). She does not do e-schools since she does not like to be on someone else’s schedule. She is both passionate and exasperated about home schooling high school and shared:
1. Why a family would choose to home school in high school:
1. High school is truly interesting learning.
2. Home schooling allows slots of time to discover each individual’s talents and prepare for life, not just college.
3. Traditional high schools treat the student like a child and so teens behave childishly. Home schooling allows you to encourage virtuous behavior as the student becomes an adult. Her 15-year-old will take over and do things that her husband would normally do.
4. The student will have a smaller circle of friends and the parent still has some control. A 14- or 15-year-old is in some ways more impressionable than a 9- or 10-year-old.
2. The things she wish she had known:
1. Plan in middle school.
2. Buy or pay for transcript software (NARS is accredited and info was provided). Some colleges are open to homemade transcripts – you need to know what they want to see. Start these before 8th grade. (The Seton program allows individual high school courses.)
3. Don’t be afraid to use out-of-the-box methods.
4. Give boys especially a physical outlet.
5. Help your student find high school home school friends and give them opportunities for adventures.
6. Give them independent options by the time they are 16 – be less involved when they are older.
7. Consider dual enrollment – can enroll in a public school to do PSEO but never had to walk through the doors of the high school. They student can also do an apprenticeship.
8. High school is harder and more intense.
9. Pray.
10. Choose your battles wisely.
11. Be brave, don’t give in, stand your ground, and offer it up!
Kimberly started to home school in 1995. She had worked in the public schools and has had her children in public, private, and home schools. People said she was depriving her kids when they had a rough family time, so she put them in public schools for 18 months. Her children were no longer close and their relationships were destroyed. A friend asked “Why don’t you bring them back home?” Putting them in public schools had exchanged one set of problems for another. She said there is no easy way to home school high school – it is hard. You will learn with your kids and they will find your weaknesses. You have to know why you are doing this – to grow in virtue and to put the faith first. Home schooling is not pioneer territory any more and you are not narrowing the future of your children. You will have hard years. But the faith is not a set of facts and figures – it must be lived. During the high school years, your children will question more than they will at any other time in their lives. Consider AP classes at a community college but be cautious about clepping out of too much and be aware that you will be sending your student into a class of teens and adults – this will expose them to things that you do not like.
Doug has been home schooling since 1992 and has always done Seton (K through high school). His oldest son is in college at Otterbein. Doug offered a father’s perspective. He said Seton has been very challenging but they did it because it was very organized and structured and focused on the faith. They had good days and bad days and have questioned their choice to stick with Seton but the kids never questioned the home schooling because the parents never presented anything else as an option. They go to daily Mass and say the chaplet and rosary daily. They did some classes at Columbus State Community College and Otterbein where they were offered a reduced rate for the junior year of high school.
Theresa provided a handout of web resources. They do co-op classes with Sunbury Home Educators, which offers enrichment classes for elementary and academic classes for high school. She said that sending her son to school felt like a divorce since the best hours of the day were with someone else and then when he was home he had homework to do. Theresa’s favorite home school book is The Imitation of Chris. She also quoted from the promised made to those with devotion to the Sacred Heart: “Tepid souls will grow strong” – home schooling makes one have to rely on God. She mentioned Paula Penn-Nabrit, author of Joy in the Morning and a home school mom in Westerville whose three sons went to Ivy League colleges. Tutoring In Your Home, LLC is an option for tutoring – they teach the Spanish class at the Sunbury Co-op. She found that the nice kids that she preferred her child to be around were the home school children. Theresa taught American Literature this past year and will be teaching British Literature at the co-op this fall. Theresa stated that 15 hours of college credit validates the high school diploma. Thoroughly document the student’s grade – you will need these for discounts for driver’s insurance. Don’t do the GED – this mean “drop out” in the minds of most people. Don’t skip religion on the transcript – it is a class they took. Put extra-circular activities on the transcript – turn a weekly babysitting job into a course on child development by reading a book or two. Eve noted here that her son went to Boy Scout summer camp and put his merit badge work on the transcript. Theresa indicated that you cannot use 4H as class work, but you can use their books to do class work.
Laura’s son graduated from high school at the same time he earned his associate’s degree.
Kathi combined some partial history classes which were related into a single course for credit. Her son did apprenticeships in auto body work and finishing a basement.
E-schools and Seton keep transcripts for their students and will send them to the colleges. They take test on-line and they grade them. Seton tests are balanced with a 25% home grade for the high school years. Eve did English with Seton. E-schools are flexible and will mix levels for a student.
If you are interested in starting a high school home school support group, please see Angie or Roxy.
