It would be lovely if every child wanted to specialize in something reasonable.  Something that made money, provided income, or was valuable for family harmony.  Sadly, most teenagers are still children, at least some of the time, and they may want to specialize in the most unusual things!  Instead of worrying, try to translate their interests into something reasonable.  In other words, if they DID specialize in that one seemingly – bizarre thing, what would that look like?

Loralee wrote to me because her child loves only legos.  If you took that interest and added a few years, what would it look like?

I just read one of your articles about encouraging your child’s passions. I wish my 15 yr old son had a passion like chess or piano or fiddle playing! While he does read a lot (like your son, I assume), and has hobbies such as leathercraft, and biking, the thing he’s passionate about is LEGOs! He loves them and wants to be a LEGO designer. My husband feels that’s a childish thing to be doing all the time (and so do I to a lesser degree). He’s has upper average grades, and we don’t live in Sweden, and there are a million other kids who want to do the same thing, so it doesn’t seem likely he’ll get very far in his desired field.  So, how do I encourage his passion when I feel he should be growing out of it?  Thank you very much for your time! ~ Loralee

Lego needs engineers. Engineers begin their careers with Legos. Legos are the cornerstone of many science and engineering programs, leagues, and clubs.  For that reason, it looks like Legos are a GREAT way to ignite passion!  Check out these links for more information:

Perhaps your child would like to compete in a science and engineering fair. To find one in your area, Google Science & Engineering Fair with the name of your state, or start by look at  ISEF: Intel International Science and Engineering Fair

For a “degree in Legos” working at the LEGO company, to create something knew a person might need a chemical or mechanical engineering degree. If you urge your child in that direction, you can’t go wrong. He’ll be prepared for anything! During high school, he’ll need math each year, plus biology, chemistry, and physics. By the time he is done with high school, he may have modified his goals slightly, but this preparation will give him maximum flexibility.

Interesting Lee. One area my daughter did well in was in our local Community College.

Our successful method was — talking to students about the professors; getting recommendations about them in conjunction with RateMyProfessor.com. I found the latter to be highly accurate.

One course was full already because it was known she was excellent.I emailed to ask if she would take one more student as I heard she was excellent, and not an easy A. My daughter couldn’t take an easy A course as writing was related to her career choice and she needed to develop in that area. So I told this prof that and she let one more in. By the end, she was impressed with my daughter’s above average writing skills and helpful critiques on other students work the she offered this glowing letter for colleges and scholarships as well as signatures to enter the Scholastic Writing Contest.

My daughter had one bad experience, but it was incompetence by the teacher not an affront to our values. An abstract expressionist was teaching a classical drawing class  (Representational art aka realism) and she felt like she didn’t learn what she wanted since she chose the course based on the description. It was the one teacher we were not able to bet any information on before enrolling.

Did you know some local public schools will allow a homeschooler to enroll for one or two classes only? Well, I did that for Physics because I couldn’t deliver that let alone supervise it. Nor did I have a lab. I could not find a tutor for it either. I did not think my daughter would do well using Virtual School Online as she needed a person when there was any math being done.

However, that turned out to be a horrific class. Most of the kids got Fs during the year, the teacher could not lecture well at all and spent most of his time talking about his stint in Vietnam. He was in his 70′s. She however, got 95′s because she was a good reader and it turned out she learned most of it on her own reading the book and using You Tube for some real world demonstrations.  But the other kids learned hardly anything, but in the end he gave them As and Bs to pass them. Just terrible.

She at least got to see what a public school was like and her other peers. She thought a lot of them were unethical. Cheating and forging parental signatures even. She never was in a school with a bell system either and her reaction to that was pretty funny when the bells went off. So she got some exposure to public school.

Anyhow, hope my tips can help you or anyone out about how to use your CC. BTW I taught as an adjunct at the college level in the past.

Lois

Sometimes as homeschool parents we panic, and wonder if the grass is greener in another school or classroom.  Sometimes other classes ARE good.  But you know what?  Sometimes your homeschool classes are great too!  The grass is NOT greener on the other side.

If you would like some encouragement on facing high school physics, please see my YouTube tip here: Teaching Physics in Homeschool
For more information and stories about Community College read my article here: Facing the Community College Fad

I would love for you to share your stories about community college too!  Please leave a comment and let me know your opinion.

Subscribe to my YouTube channel. You’ll  get notified when I create new videos on homeschool high school topics!

Hi Lee,

Thanks for the e-mail. Even though I’m a few years away from high school yet I know it will come before I know it. I don’t know if you can offer any help but I thought I’d ask any way. My oldest is 11 and technically will be entering 6th grade next year which is middle school as you know, my concern is that I’m at a point where I no longer am comfortable or competent to teach him and was considering enrolling him in public school for math only. I can’t afford a tutor and I really don’t want him to suffer because of my lack of knowledge in this area. I was never a math wiz and it’s been a tough year for me helping him get through this year. My husband does two days a week and he grew up in a foreign country where they learned quite differently than here, so any tips you can offer would be helpful.

Thanks,
Sharyn

At the high school level, sometimes it can see like math takes FOREVER!  It can simply take a LONG time to complete math when you are working at a high school level.  Kids get slower after they have worked for an hour or more, so it makes sense to break it up into two pieces.  Some kids need more practice and some need less.  Each child only NEEDS to do the number of problems necessary in order to learn. Perhaps you can try to do odds or evens in math for a while, and see how the chapter tests go.  If a student doing well, that may be all the practice that is needed.

The Comprehensive Record Solution provides the training and templates and real life examples of successful high school records.

1. Jobs requiring math are increasing four times faster than overall job growth
2. American children rank 13th in the world when it comes to basic math skills
3. Less that 1/3 of American 8th graders are at least proficient in math
4. 93% of American 6th to 8th graders realize they need math skills later in life, but few directly link math to their dream jobs.

The survey was conducted by Raytheon.  They have a lot of great math information on their website, MathMovesU.com, with the goal of making middle school math fun.

Math is important.  We can do better than the public schools.  We can be consistent with math, choose curriculum that fits our children, and teach for mastery each step of the way.   America needs Americans to work at American jobs to support the American economy.  That’s going to require us to teach math.  Even if we feel uncomfortable doing it.

For more information about how to teach math, please see my article, For the Love of Math .

Homeschooling is NOT the same as doing schoolwork at home.  There is LOTS of freedom!  My Gold Care Club will give you all the help you need to succeed!

Tracie wrote on Facebook: “Lee, When is the best time to start applying for scholarships, of any kind? What about the essays, any tips/hints? How many should you apply for?”

Tracie, many private scholarships like this are available junior year, but most are for senior year in high school, starting the summer before senior year. Scholarships from colleges are something you apply to when you apply to the college. For tips, see this DVD: http://www.thehomescholar.com/getting-the-big-scholarships-dvd.php

Special Scholarship Tip!  I mention scholarships on my Facebook Fan Page. Check out my page and click “Like.”  Make sure you visit regularly to find the college scholarships I suggest.  By the way, if your child likes cars, and is interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math, I recently mentioned a scholarship that could be a great fit! This scholarship is due March 31, so get started today!

Buick Achievers Scholarship

The Buick Achievers Scholarship is available to high school seniors and high school graduates who are first-time college students in the fall of 2011. You must plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited four-year college or university for the entire 2011-12 academic year, be majoring in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering or Math) field and demonstrate an interest in pursuing a career in the automotive or related industries to qualify for this award. Selection is also based on academic achievement, financial need, participation and leadership in community and school activities, work experiences, educational and career goals and unusual circumstances. Special consideration will be given to first generation college students, female students, minority students, military veterans and dependents of military veterans.

Homeschooling is NOT the same as doing schoolwork at home.  There is LOTS of freedom!  My Gold Care Club will give you all the help you need to succeed!

Hi, Lee.  I read your article on math choices for high school students (and parents) and I would like to add another option which isn’t well-known amongst homeschooling circles (yet) but is highly touted and becoming increasingly used by public high schools and many colleges (all levels). Both are available to homeschoolers; they are online programs such as PLATO http://www.plato.com/ and MyMathLab (Pearson) http://www.mymathlab.com/.

PLATO is a completely online-line program which works wonders for those students who 1) need a self-paced program  2) want a “just the facts, ma’am ” type of program  and c) are impatient with poor explanations by sub-par instructors.  While in public school my daughter used PLATO for the last part of her junior year; for the first time in her high school career she felt as if she were actually learning math in a clear, coherent, systematic manner.  Her grades and enthusiasm for math soared. [ PLATO is also used by colleges for students to review math (remedial math) as well as take advanced courses, on up Calculus level.  Recently the program added a component for AP Calc preparation.  [I purchased a subscription through the Kentucky Virtual Campus]

Because PLATO is very similar to the nationwide number #1 college Math program, Pearson’s MyMathLab/Course Compass, it is extremely easy for a student to transition from one program to another.  In my daughter’s case, I had her utilize PLATO (Algebra 2) in the first half of her senior high school year.  PLATO prepared her so well in just a few short months that when she took her SAT in December 2010 she scored high enough to go directly into College Algebra.  Now she in enrolled in an online College Algebra Course using Pearson’s MyMathLab (as I said, a smooth transition) and she is getting straight As in College Algebra.  Because she is doing so well she is now going to pursue her dream (the sciences) because she knows online college Math courses using MyMathLab are available up through Calc III.  No more incomprehensible professors with mediocre teaching abilities for her!

Thus, I would encourage students (and parents) to look into PLATO and online college courses (for credit, no less!) utilizing Pearson’s MyMathLab.

Kim in Florida

PS.  When you are applying for colleges, you will need a great homeschool transcript.  The good news is you can “do-it-yourself” and save thousands.  Discover the Total Transcript Solution.

Free Magazine

Grab this free magazine from Heart of the Matter Online, January 2011. Read my article on page 42, “You CAN Teach High School Science Labs.”  Focus on Science Issue

Free Magazine Article

My article on record keeping was published in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, then carried by Christianbook .com Read  Homeschool Record Keeping: The Cure for Homeschool Dementia”

Free Articles for YOUR Homeschool Group

I really believe that all homeschool groups should include articles about homeschooling high school each time they are published.  Parents get anxious in high school, and there isn’t as much support.  By providing articles, you can support other parents so they don’t panic and bail during the high school years.

You have permission to reprint my articles as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below each article, including the link back to my website.  Here is my list of article for you to use:  Free Homeschool Newsletter Articles.

When you are applying for colleges, you will need a great homeschool transcript.  The good news is you can “do-it-yourself” and save thousands.  Discover the Total Transcript Solution.

Ha!  If only they knew you were hanging on by a thread!

The truth is that often the STUDENT is a math geek, and the parent would rather be ANYWHERE else but studying math, even hanging off a cliff!  For that reason, I’ve located some free resources for calculus.  These are free or free for a short trial period.  Some may fit your family and others not, but check them out.  Hey, at least the price is right – and it may be just the encouragement that your little Einstein needs right now!

http://www.khanacademy.org/#Calculus

http://www.brightstorm.com/math

http://www.themathpage.com/index.html

http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/

http://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?method=cResource.dspChildrenForCourse&CourseID=131

http://www.quickmath.com/

http://www.sosmath.com/calculus/calculus.html

http://www.sosmath.com/cyberexam/cyber.html

http://cow.math.temple.edu/

http://www.midnighttutor.com/

Library resources are always free.  Ask your librarian about AP Calculus resources you can use, and the Teaching Company course called “Calculus Made Clear.”

Finally, for a $30 hotmath.com membership you receive access to Thinkwell pre-calculus when you look under “videos”

Get a Free 20 minute weekly phone consultation with me as part of your Gold Care Club membership. http://www.thehomescholar.com/gold-care.php

My 7th grade daughter is looking for some FUN science – not just busy work. I wondered what you would suggest to whet her appetite more than I am doing now. We have been using a science experiment kit which cost a lot and came complete with 50 different ‘FUN’ (or “easy to fail”) experiments, all based around earth science, biology and a bit of physics. It seemed to be a good year’s worth of interest. How spectacular are our failures…. I am open to ideas….
~ Paula

Dear Paula,

It depends on what your daughter thinks is fun!  I don’t know her, so I can’t even begin to guess what she would like, but I do have an idea where to start.   It may be as easy as switching curriculum.

Why don’t you look through the HomeTrainingTools website, and have her choose something?

Or look at TOPS.

Or Rainbow Science.

Instead of buying a curriculum, you can draw outside the box.  Science can be learned in many ways:  doing experiments, reading, watching, and writing.  When my children were younger, I was very inconsistent with experiments, because they didn’t seem to enjoy them.  But they did learn a lot about science by reading books.

Group together things that interest her and call it a unit study.  For example, if she is vaguely interested in going to the beach, you could create a marine biology unit study.  Read books about the ocean, some literature about the ocean, go to the Aquarium a few times, and visit the beach a few time.

Instead of thinking about science in terms of experiments, think about science in terms of books.  She may prefer to learn about science through reading.  You might tell her to go to the library and choose 1 science book per week, on the topic of her choice.  Read about science topics, general science books like Usborne books,  or read about scientists:  Marie Curie, Thomas Edison, Da Vinci, etc.

Instead of reading about science, consider writing about science.  A child who like research may want to write their own notebook about different science topics.  You could have her research 1 page per week of any science topic of her choosing.  Keep a journal of what she learns.

Some visual learners do very well by watching videos about science.  Nature shows and science movies can make science very fun and exciting for visual learners.   After you complete a video series in a topic, you might find a hands-on experience at a zoo, or bird-watching or something.

Don’t think science is just biology, chemistry and physics.  Particularly in middle school, there is no limit on the topics.  Nature study, birds, bugs, astronomy, horses, 4H, volcanoes, computers, marine biology, ecology, botany, and microscopes.  (I’m just brainstorming here, and I can certainly tell I’m a nurse, because most of this is biology-related!) Chemistry kits, creation science, first aid, and geology.

Mostly, it’s about getting her input, trying to find something relatively fun.  Your goal is for her to think science is OK, not hateful, boring, or hard.  Junior high is a time to create a positive attitude about science, and then they can be more successful in high school.   She is still young, so content doesn’t matter as much.  Right now it’s about teaching her to like it!

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