any classes outside of home/both or do it all at home?

[Holly IN]

Hello

 

A little background information and then questions below:

 

I am so relieved!! We decided for this year we will save our money and not do the formal classes which will cost us $650 for 2 classes. The drive is about 45 min away. It is really formal like a public/private school. We were very skeptical about it. Last minute we decided not to do it after reading a lot of Lee Binz's articles on her blog/website (http://www.thehomescholar.com) Lots of great information about high school and college prep. We are actually relieved over this. So we will be doing everything at home except Biology 2 labwork which is done with several friends of mine at a local church as a meeting place.

 

I want to really buckle down and do things my way. I did get the Teaching Company DVDs while on sale to help train my oldest for lecture note taking in prep for college. :)

 

So I am wondering how many of you are doing the co-op route for all or some of your student's classes or doing it all at home? Also tell me why.

 

Thanks!

 

Holly (I am excited to be home a lot more!!)

[jibaker103]

I'm doing it all at home! I see no reason to spend money for someone else to teach my child when I chose to homeschool for the very reason of teaching my own child. I know him better than anyone else and therefore can gear subjects, lessons, activities, etc. to suit his needs while growing closer as a family, stimulating his intellectual needs, and having fun while doing it!!!!

 

I do plan for him to take dual enrollment classes at the local cc when he turns 16 if he shows he is open to it and ready academically as well as mature enough. The only reason I'm considering this is due to the rising cost of higher education. I am a single mother trying to support my household and sock away some money for his college but sadly I'm not making much headway with only 5 years left and loosing a 1/3 of the money due to the economy. I would love to limit the amount of loans he will be forced to accept to get his degree (I'm still paying off mine with no end in sight:glare:). He will also take CLEP and AP tests for this reason as well.

 

Jennifer

Mother to Noah Age 13

[AngelaNYC]

We do classes with the homeschool group that cost between $5 and $10 each. These include (anywhere from one time to maybe a 5-week series) classes and workshops at environmental centers, the botanical garden, Central Park Urban Rangers, park learning centers, Zoo School, science centers, various museums, art galleries, the planetarium, local historical societies, libraries, farms, and art or science co-ops at local community centers. We do these classes maybe 2 or 3 times a month (along with other various field trips, tours, and activities). The kids love them, they learn a lot since it's usually all hands-on, everything is within a 15 min drive (or 20 min subway ride), and the price is right. I don't rely on these as the bulk of their academics. Not sure if this is what you're talking about, though.

[abcinnc]

We do most of our classes at home, but do choir with a group. Also, my middle daughter is doing a one afternoon a week co-op. She is much more motivated to complete the co-op teachers assignments plus it gives me a little break. My oldest daughter is signed up for one on-line class although I may consider a writing class if I can find a good one.

[Laura Corin]

We are doing one high school course on line this year. It leads towards an exam (roughly equivalent to a SAT II subject exam) in Classical Civilisation. I'm not teaching it myself because the curriculum is very specific and there's no one text book that would cover it. On the other hand, I'm teaching the equivalent Geography course myself at home.

 

The on line course has been a good experience for Calvin - he's learning a) that his mother is not mad in her requirements and b) that it's fun to get good grades from an outside source.

 

Laura

[MomsintheGarden]

I'm doing it all at home! I see no reason to spend money for someone else to teach my child when I chose to homeschool for the very reason of teaching my own child. I know him better than anyone else and therefore can gear subjects, lessons, activities, etc. to suit his needs while growing closer as a family, stimulating his intellectual needs, and having fun while doing it!!!!

 

:iagree:

 

We are doing all of our classes at home, with some limited outside activities. I have found it to be more cost and time effective to be home. We do not do music, though, so if we were more musical, I'd consider doing lessons outside the home. We don't do team sports.

 

We are the oddballs in our community. Most homeschooling folks here are involved in one of several co-ops or small schools, as well as drama, sports, choir, orchestra, etc.

 

It helps to consider what works for your family, with your spouse's input, and not worry about what others are doing. We prefer to be home, so that is how we've set up our lifestyle.

 

GardenMom

[Laurie4b]

Hello

 

A little background information and then questions below:

 

I am so relieved!! We decided for this year we will save our money and not do the formal classes which will cost us $650 for 2 classes. The drive is about 45 min away. It is really formal like a public/private school. We were very skeptical about it. Last minute we decided not to do it after reading a lot of Lee Binz's articles on her blog/website (http://www.thehomescholar.com) Lots of great information about high school and college prep. We are actually relieved over this. So we will be doing everything at home except Biology 2 labwork which is done with several friends of mine at a local church as a meeting place.

 

I want to really buckle down and do things my way. I did get the Teaching Company DVDs while on sale to help train my oldest for lecture note taking in prep for college. :)

 

So I am wondering how many of you are doing the co-op route for all or some of your student's classes or doing it all at home? Also tell me why.

 

Thanks!

 

Holly (I am excited to be home a lot more!!)

 

We do more outside classes than classes at home. At this point in our homeschooling journey, I am more the general contractor than the direct provider of the education. We, as parents, are still in charge of our kids' education and can tailor it to their exact needs. I am able to meet their exact needs better through many outside classes than through doing it all at home.

 

Reasons: 1) I cannot teach everything to the quality that they get outside the home. My part-time job commitment contributes to this to some degree--but there are some things I couldn't teach well even if I could devote full-time to it 2) I think the social life they have through selections of outside classes is very important to my kids. 3) Outside classes ease the dynamic in mother-son interactions in our house. 4) Getting college credit for community college courses will greatly ease our college expenses. Though outside courses in prep for an AP test are generally expensive, they are less expensive than those same courses at a college and there is no room and board to pay. 5) We need a way to document a rigorous education with colleges--cc courses and AP tests help with this.

 

More power to moms who can do it all themselves. That is not the best choice in our situation.

[dkholland]

I'm doing it all at home! I see no reason to spend money for someone else to teach my child when I chose to homeschool for the very reason of teaching my own child. I know him better than anyone else and therefore can gear subjects, lessons, activities, etc. to suit his needs while growing closer as a family, stimulating his intellectual needs, and having fun while doing it!!!!

 

 

 

 

:iagree: Although, when you get into high school courses, i think out-sourcing some classes will keep you sane! Having four different levels of students, I didn't want to waste time driving around to different co-ops.

 

Although, for this year, i am involved in 4 different co=ops!!! I know I will be looney by October, but for this year it just has to be. My older ds will be in a co-op and taking a class at the local cc, next son is taking Alg. II at a co-op because that is a class I am not comfortable teaching. He also is taking a foreign lang. course online (online is a great way to out-source without driving anywhere!) Ds #3 really needs an art class since its his passion right now. So, all the thing we are doing we felt were important and needed.

 

Look at your family schedule and see what will really work. I have always said that every year is different and flexibility and grace will get us through.

[TravelingChris]

With our first, he did almost all at home. He did do art in the community, one science credit through an intensive summer program, another half credit through another summer program, and music through church youth choir activities.

 

My older daughter has done home school academy work, cc, online course, summer programs, and this next year will do co-op and cc. FOr us it is a matter of what our daughter wants and needs. She had social anxiety and wanted to start out having small classes of homeschoolers for discussion. Then she moved on to CC class which was an honors class and also small. Her goal is to be able to function well at college and not have her anxieties overwhelm her. SHe also found that she tends to work harder for outside teachers. She will do ALgebra 2, Biology, British Lit, and US history part 2 at home. SHe will do writing and US Govt/Econ at co-op but I will be teaching the GOvt/Econ class.

 

The youngest we will have to see when she get older. She likes things very structured but will need high level of classes that are often not available at onsite co-ops. With her, we will probably depend more on online and local colleges for that area (science). She will definitely want discussion classes for literature.

 

FOr us, it is a matter of what the child needs or prefers, what is available at the time in the place we are residing (note my screenname), and do we have the funds.

[Mommyfaithe]

Hello

 

A little background information and then questions below:

 

I am so relieved!! We decided for this year we will save our money and not do the formal classes which will cost us $650 for 2 classes. The drive is about 45 min away. It is really formal like a public/private school. We were very skeptical about it. Last minute we decided not to do it after reading a lot of Lee Binz's articles on her blog/website (http://www.thehomescholar.com) Lots of great information about high school and college prep. We are actually relieved over this. So we will be doing everything at home except Biology 2 labwork which is done with several friends of mine at a local church as a meeting place.

 

I want to really buckle down and do things my way. I did get the Teaching Company DVDs while on sale to help train my oldest for lecture note taking in prep for college. :)

 

So I am wondering how many of you are doing the co-op route for all or some of your student's classes or doing it all at home? Also tell me why.

 

Thanks!

 

Holly (I am excited to be home a lot more!!)

 

My oldest 3 did all their classes at home....except for a few online writing classes.

 

last year ds (#4) did mostly online classes so that I could focus on my younger bunch...

NEVER AGAIN!!!!

 

I plan on using Online writing and Logic...but other than that, Mom will be in the drivers seat. I found out, I actually DO provide my children a better education than they will get elsewhere. i DO actually know what they need if I stay sensitive to their needs.

 

So for us..this year...Mommy School once again.

 

~~Faithe

[Pamela H in Texas]

We mixed and matched with dd. Each year, she'd have a class or two outside the home. We co-op'd for some, used the local private school, then moved to the community college.

 

With ds--he has an online writing class at least for these first 6 weeks of this school year. He might do something with the free virtual homeschool group at some time (we were most interested in their biology class). But mostly I think he'll end up waiting til he can take math at the comm. college (I don't expect him to take other courses there like his sister did).

[G5052]

My oldest will get his subjects other than math, some literature, and Bible all in one day, in one place. I've known the teacher for about a decade, she also teaches online with Veritas Press, and has published homeschooling materials that are in all the major catalogs. I'm teaching 6th-7th grade with the same group.

 

I never thought I'd "hire out" but as time went on, I'm thankful we've been able to do this. The group dynamic has always been good for my kids, and we've been blessed with groups that were pretty close to our values. With my part-time work, a disabled husband, and my mother's medical issues (she has vascular dementia), the outside classes are a huge help to us as a family. It's truly kept us homeschooling at times when I didn't think I could keep going.

[jibaker103]

:iagree: Although, when you get into high school courses, i think out-sourcing some classes will keep you sane!

I am a mother of one and just pulled ds from ps last Jan. so maybe I'm a little possessive, lol!!!:tongue_smilie:

 

We will definitely do book club, teen advisory board, and volunteer at the public library as well as cc. We might add art and/or piano/guitar at a fine arts academy. Ds has no desire for team sports so we do weight lifting, eliptical, swimming, and aerobics at home.

 

Jennifer

Mother to Noah Age 13

[jibaker103]

He might do something with the free virtual homeschool group at some time (we were most interested in their biology class).

 

I live in TX too (Austin Area) what is this? I am always open to free, lol!!:D

 

Jennifer

Mother to Noah Age 13

[Peela]

We go to a great science class and its worth the day out for us. Both kids are in different classes at different times, but get to play/chat with their friends while their sibling is in class. I can come and go- I usually use the time to do a bit of shopping, but also socialising with other mums.

I will actually be glad when we dont do it any more but its worth it to get science covered for us. Its my weak area. Also, we get 3 hours schoolwork in before we leave so its not a whole day.

Other than that the classes they do are all extra curricula now. I like doing as much school at home as possible.

[Cheryl B in VA]

There are different reasons for the amount of outside classes each year and for each student.

 

Rising senior ds: Freshman year he went to the public school. He was not taking my deadlines serious AT ALL. He was given the option to come back home sophomore year and he did. That year at home was better but still a bit of a stuggle. The only outsourced class that year was chemistry but I hosted the class in our home. Oh, almost forgot that we also outsourced Spanish 3 that year. Junior year he had a math class at the public school (our county allows homeschoolers to take up to two classes at the school), British literature in a homeschool class, AP US History online with PA Homeschoolers, and all his electives were at home. This was a good balance for my very bright son. He liked the discussion that occured in the BL class and in the math class he liked seeing the teacher teach the lesson and then doing the lesson problems in class with the teacher available. Next year he will be doing a lot of dual credit classes. Last week we enrolled him at the community college. He tested into the calculus class and will take that in the fall and biology in the spring. Through local homeschool classes he is taking American Literature and he may take the CLEP in the spring. He is taking AP Economics through PA Homeschoolers. He will participate in two choirs so I will give him a full credit for that. Bible and government will be at home. I recently added up his projected college credits that he will enter college with and he will have 21-30 credits depending on what CLEP tests he takes.

 

Now, my rising freshman's plans just changed this week. I had planned to do everything at home except for science. When he returned from a missions trip last week he expressed a strong interest in seeing what public school is like. He is very social and thrives in large groups. But he also said that he liked the classes we had planned for next year and did not want to go to ps until sophomore year. Well, logistically that would be difficult and I do not want him to go to ps full time because that is against my education beliefs. So, we decided that he will take two classes at the ps - English and an elective. He will be able to participate socially by attending games and joining a club. AND he still gets to do the homeschool courses that he is excited about. So, at home he will do 20th century history, TT geometry, Christian Light Publications Car Care, Bible, and still do the homeschool science class using Apologia with a teacher that he likes.

 

So, each student is different. Very bright ds needs to be challenged by a variety of teachers and likes lively discussions. Very social ds desires a balance between being in a group and doing courses that interest him and are tailored to him. I want them to be taught with a Christian worldview and be prepared for college and beyond.

 

Whew! Writing all that down took a lot of time. I hope that helps someone!

[dirty ethel rackham]

At this point in our homeschooling journey, I am more the general contractor than the direct provider of the education. We, as parents, are still in charge of our kids' education and can tailor it to their exact needs. I am able to meet their exact needs better through many outside classes than through doing it all at home.

 

Reasons: 1) I cannot teach everything to the quality that they get outside the home. My part-time job commitment contributes to this to some degree--but there are some things I couldn't teach well even if I could devote full-time to it 2) I think the social life they have through selections of outside classes is very important to my kids. 3) Outside classes ease the dynamic in mother-son interactions in our house. 4) Getting college credit for community college courses will greatly ease our college expenses. Though outside courses in prep for an AP test are generally expensive, they are less expensive than those same courses at a college and there is no room and board to pay. 5) We need a way to document a rigorous education with colleges--cc courses and AP tests help with this.

 

More power to moms who can do it all themselves. That is not the best choice in our situation.

:iagree:

My oldest son does Math, Religion, and writing/comp at home, History and Lit in a small co-op (three families and the mom's take turns leading) and Latin and

science courses through online classes. The online classes are not cheap, but they provide something I just can't do at home. My oldest is very advanced in science and I cannot provide AP classes and still have anything left to homeschool the younger ones. History and Literature are definitely weaknesses for me so I like having the other moms there to fill in the gaps. They make me a better teacher.

 

With my younger kids, we have a science co-op with other families to help make it more fun, provide social time, and actually do the hands-on stuff that we might not get around to on our own.

[kpupg]

Laurie4b said: At this point in our homeschooling journey, I am more the general contractor than the direct provider of the education.

 

Love the way you said this Laurie! I am beginning to reach this point for my kids.

 

FWIW

 

DS14 will be going to the public high school for AP Bio and German I this school year. Well, we'll see how it goes. I'm sending him out for those classes for the following reasons:

 

(1) It will save me tons of time. :hurray: I can see the school from my house, so commuting will not be a problem.

(2) I will not have to learn a foreign language 2 lessons ahead of him, phew! Or rely on his self-study -- great for math & science, not so reliable for other subjects.

(3) It will make him accountable to someone else -- and someone else serious, not just "someone else's mom." Both his teachers will be male -- and he needs that at this point :)

(4) It will put him in an institutional setting, forcing him to hone his time management/study skills for that environment. This is important because 2 years from now, if not before, he will be attending the local college for a couple of courses. I want him to have that institution-comfort before hitting the college campus!

(5) Worst case, he won't learn much ... but he WILL get those boxes checked for college admissions purposes. Frankly, I don't care that much about these two areas for this particular student. He will certainly absorb enough biology to meet his needs for Personal Life Knowledge. And he can always take a language sequence when he gets to college, if needed.

 

Future plans for this student: if this high school experiment works out, do a similar thing next year. Then switch to local college for math and science in his "junior" year. Don't know yet where we're heading with foreign language ....

 

I also have a younger dd, for whom I am beginning to consider these issues, but she is currently entirely at home, except for her youth theater class, which isn't academic, anyway.

 

ETA: We don't do coop stuff. What's available in our area is mostly elementary-oriented. The little that is aimed at older kids is so namby-pamby it's not worth the time, in my opinion. We are looking for academic rigor in most subjects, and that is not the culture of the area we currently live in, sadly.

 

FWIW,

Karen

Edited July 27, 2009 by kpupg

[AngieW in Texas]

My kids will all take classes at the community college as soon as they are able. Where I live, dual credit classes are free for kids who have finished 10th grade and haven't graduated high school yet.

 

My oldest is 16yo and is taking Introduction to Psychology this summer. In the fall she will take Japanese I (not something I could teach her) and Drawing I (also not something I could teach her).

 

My other two kids are in a science co-op, but this year is the last year that my middle dd will be involved. I've kept her in it strictly because of the social aspect.

 

I plan to start teaching high school science and math classes in my home next schoolyear. I think I should have enough bandwidth by then to do it. There are NO secular science classes in my area, so I think there will be a demand. All the math classes in my area are based on Saxon, but I will be using Jacobs, so I think that will have a demand also.

[Pamela H in Texas]

The free virtual homeschool co-op isn't just Tx; anyone can join :)

 

its at http://www.virtualhomeschoolgroup.com

[AnitaMcC]

Hello

 

So I am wondering how many of you are doing the co-op route for all or some of your student's classes or doing it all at home? Also tell me why.

 

Thanks!

 

Holly (I am excited to be home a lot more!!)

 

 

Our twins are 9th grade this year and we are going it at home mostly. We are wanting Ds to take chemistry at jr college, Dd to take biology (blended course) and music history (on-line course), and two instrumental classes at the jr college.

 

The reason is that I really don't want to do science labs at home. We figure why take their area of major type courses in "high school" and then again in college when they can just do it in college? Next year they definitely will take courses at the jr college and junior/senior years they may attend jr college full time. They want to earn their associate degree with their high school diploma.

 

For Ds he is needing much more knowledgable/experienced teacher for science than I can provide for him. He needs someone who knows the subjects down deep, someone who pretty much eats, sleep, breathes the sciences like he does-LOL.

 

But it is costly to send them to the jr college so I don't know for sure yet if we can go that route for this year. Probably not this year... I just don't know how I will meet Ds's need for the science challenges.

[mcconnellboys]

I stopped "cooping" a few years ago. It was really just a lot of wasted time for my children and a lot of my money and personal time went into teaching classes for it, too. This year, for the first time in a while now, I am going to teach a couple of classes again. I still won't make any money, but at least I can control the quality of the class and amount of time spent out of house a little better.

 

We have been participating in a once weekly Spanish class for the past couple of years now and it has been good, so we will continue that. Also, this year, my son will do algebra with a math teacher in her home once per week.

 

So I've been home, but am now moving back toward some outside classes as my son gears up for high school work. I like the idea of having some outside corroboration of the grades I'll be giving.

[dcwest40]

Faithe,

What online writing course do you plan to use? I'm looking for one.

Thanks!

De An

[anissarobert]

I would dearly love to teach all of my rising sophmore's classes myself. It is so much easier to stay home, and not drag the younger two around. However, I work 20-25 hours per week, and I'm teaching 10th, 4th and K this year. I just do not have the time to learn all the high school level material. So my dd15 will take Latin 2 online with Artesian Wells tutorials, and it looks like she is going to do a chemistry co-op as well. These are a bit hit to our budget, but I just can't learn these subjects quickly enough to stay ahead of her. I am hoping to learn Latin with/ahead off the younger two.

 

We also do a great books group, that I lead. This takes me at least 10 hours a week to prep. This has been a great experience even though it is hard work.

 

My ds also is in a small co-op for writing and maybe Greek/Art/Geography. The younger two have a PE co-op as well. I really would like to be home more, because we go somewhere almost every day, but everyone has something they need, and in my family there is no overlap because of the age gaps.

[tjo]

My children are beginning 6th and 9th grade. We school at home Monday thru Thursday. Spanish and science are taken outside of the home every Friday. I have always outsourced for spanish because I speak little spanish and they surpassed me after 6 months. :tongue_smilie:

 

I began outsourcing for science this past year and it has been a very good thing. DS is very good at science and deserves a teacher as passionate about it as he. DD isn't thrilled with it (like her mother) and deserves a teacher that makes it interesting.

[Kathie in VA]

My 14yo dd will take a Bio class outside the home. She will take one online course with CW and she might take an art class outside at a local co-op. I hope to get a piano teacher for the kids and she will continue with her soccer team.

 

My 13yo ds will take a science class at a local co-op and maybe an art class there (or maybe a homeschool karate class). He will also take the online CW tutorial. Hopefully he will also take piano. He does Boy Scouts too.

 

My 9yo ds will be in Classical Conversation-Foundations prgm, Weblos, and piano class.

 

My 4yo dd will be in my CC-Foundations class.

 

All the rest is with me.

 

hth

Edited July 28, 2009 by Kathie in VA

[jibaker103]

The free virtual homeschool co-op isn't just Tx; anyone can join :)

 

its at www.virtualhomeschoolgroup.com

Thank you!

 

Jennifer

Mother to Noah Age 13

[Blue Hen]

He is taking AP Economics through PA Homeschoolers.

 

My son is in this class too. :seeya:

 

Carole

[creekland]

We are doing it all at home except for a cc English/writing class for my oldest (a senior). Writing was his lowest score on the SAT, and it's not exactly hubby or my expertise - hence we opted to pay the $600 for him to take it at cc.

 

We also figure the credits will count at college allowing him to take a different class. Finally, if he gets even one $1000 scholarship that he otherwise wouldn't have gotten the course will pay for itself. If not, there's still the other benefit.

 

We also plan to have my other two take one or two cc classes to suit their needs when they become seniors. For my middle son I already know that will be microbio. He's already a superb writer and wants microbio research for a career. We simply don't have the kind of lab they have there and I'd like him to have a basic course even if they won't count it where he goes to college (since it will be a course in his major).

 

For my youngest it might be writing again... He's very similar to my oldest.

[Alyce]

First because I took my kids out of public school because I didn't want someone else teaching them and Secondly there are enough curriculum choices that you can find something for even those subjects you are weak in. We tried co-op but we are 20min away from the nearest one and it was much more disruptive to our school day to pack up, go, and come back. When my Dd got into high school she did take some courses at the CC. She has told me it helped her a lot once she got to college. She had already seen what college classes required and still had us to fall back on. She said a lot of her friends who had come from ps were too used to being spoon fed and reminded to do something over and over that they were struggling because the college professors were treating them like "adults' and didn't hold their hands. Ds is a senior this year and we will use one on-line class (German). He drags his feet too much with a foreign language because he's such a perfectionist so I though having someone push him along might help. He took a CC course last year but didn't do well. He just wasn't mature enough to handle it yet so we're not doing any this year. He's a little younger than most people in his grade so he doesn't want to immediately go to college anyway. He'll stay home for a year after he graduates and take 3-4 classes at CC and then he's working to get his 2nd degree black belt and his instructors certificate so he'll be spending a lot of time at his dojo.

[outtamyshell]

Since I work full-time, we knew we'd be doing a lot of outsourcing when we started homeschooling. I was surprised to find the most successful classes have been the ones we've spent the most money on. I guess you pay in either time or money.

 

In my dream universe I would be home all day to do nothing but school. The few days I've taken off work to school have been fabulous - dd and I both enjoy learning together. But that's not the world we live in. DD has taken classes at Classical Conversations, the community college, the university, online and home-study with me. We've also had a weekly tutor for science for the last two years. The beauty of homeschooling is that we decide what fits our needs and which classes are needed for graduation. And I still pay less than I would have for a private school.

 

Here's an example of how outsourcing with the flexibily of homeschooling can provide a perfectly customized education... Today I found a studio where dd can learn to paint and draw and prepare for the AP Art & AP Art History exams. Woo hoo! It's not an accredited course - it's tutoring from an artist who also teaches in the public schools. I will make sure we complete the curriculum enough for it to qualify for high school credit, DD will learn a skill that I could never teach her, and she just may end up with college credit. It's a perfect fit for us.

 

I just think homeschooling is a great manifestation of the American spirit. Freedom to pursue what you want and the responsibility to make it happen. What works for us might not be what works for someone else. In our case, DD is learning that you can't do everything on your own, and there are resources available. You've got to make the best use of your resources and pursue your goals.