mo2 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 In stripe's thread about ensuring your child gets a good education, some of you mentioned starting with your final goals and then working backwards from there. So, what are your final goals of hsing? :bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 For us, it is to prepare our girls to be able to attend college, should they choose to go. Those goals include: Being grounded in their faith. Making a decent SAT/ACT score. Knowing how to write well. Knowing how to manage on their own when they choose to move out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Aside from general goals about developing character, work ethic, learning skills, interests, our academic goal is to provide the kids with an education that is similar to the public school education we parents received in Germany - an education that meets the entrance requirements of the most selective universities in the US. My DD is very ambitious - attending a selective school is her goal. So we need to make sure she has the academics to do so. This means for us: four years of rigorous sciences (including calculus based physics in 12th if not earlier) four years of math (through calculus) four years of English (we follow WTM, so that's easy) four years of history four or more years of the same foreign language proficiency in their native language plus electives to round out their education and to reflect special interests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer3141 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 College and graduate school for us. I expect all of us to work hard so that they can pursue any passion they find along the way. I have an inkling for both kids. We'll see if that's true someday. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Dominion Heather Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 They are different based on each kid's goals. For example, ds12 knows (and has known for years) that he wants to be an engineer. The only debate in his head is whether it will be nuclear, mechanical, or medical. So, my end goal for him is: admission to a top 25 engineering school and advanced skills in logic, rhetoric and writing. Add to that that I want him to love literature and love learning. Ds9 has been pretty much set with marine geographer for a while now. We are still at the everything with rigor stage for him, though. Ds6 is a whole different sort of kid. My goals for him are more open-ended. He is more like his dad; artistic, musical, creative. I want to make sure he has a rigorous education, but I also want to be certain that he has the chance to develop his skills to the top of his potential. So, I guess you could say that my goals for myself are to tailor each kid's education to their strengths and weaknesses so that they end up with their own IEP. While there are similarities in each kids education plan, all are individualized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I honestly don't have a final goal. I want my kids to aim for whatever they want to aim for in life and to be happy. I don't even care if they choose college or not- that's up to them. I just want them to follow their interests, to be close to their family, to be happy, to feel fulfilled in whatever it is they choose for themselves. So right now we are trying to be well-rounded, having fun, learning what we can from our curriculum and our own interests and from life, and as their interests and life goals grow and develop, I will do my best to help them to whatever extent I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mo2 Posted August 30, 2011 Author Share Posted August 30, 2011 four years of rigorous sciences (including calculus based physics in 12th if not earlier) four years of math (through calculus) four years of English (we follow WTM, so that's easy) four years of history four or more years of the same foreign language proficiency in their native language plus electives to round out their education and to reflect special interests. Is this what most colleges are looking for? I haven't really looked at college requirements yet, although I probably should. (Is the fact that my oldest is only 9 an excuse?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beatusduo Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Make it out alive! And, Finish with the same amount of children that I started with. It's been one of those days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 My oldest has some learning delays in language arts so as much as I would love to say that my goal is above average writing skills, it most likely will not happen with him. I do expect all of them to make it to college, although we are not aiming for Ivy League, I just don't have those kinds of kids. I do want them to have the option to pursue their interests in college and not feel that it is beyond their reach. Dawn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiller Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 My daughter is only 5 and right now her interests don't evolve around much more then ponys, dancing, and being "fancy" :001_smile: my only goals at this point are to get her through highschool and let her know that her family loves her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratford Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I've been thinking about this. We're on week 2 of homeschool. DS#1 is in 2nd grade, so he's had 2 years of PS. Initially the homeschool journey was about moving away from public school. I'm now entering the "moving toward something else" phase of thinking. And I need to figure out what that is. Obviously, we want to provide our kids with an excellent education that will allow them to pursue whatever educational/career goals they have. I'm still a little hazy on how to do this....thankfully, I have a few years to figure it out and a whole lotta help from this board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T'smom Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 My goal is that they have all the tools they need to pursue whatever goals they want to pursue! (That's a lot of tools!) I certainly want them to be able to get into whatever college they desire, but it goes beyond that.....I want them to have skills in athletics, music, art.....I want them to 'catch' references that go over the heads of most people. I want them to be able to manage their lives- their finances, their households, etc. Sorry I'm rambling....my kids are still very young and while I've thought about this (even before they were born!) I haven't put it into words yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Nothing but to get my kid into college. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I want my kids to be well-read, interesting people able to be admitted to a selective university if they choose. Which means I've looked at the entrance requirements for that kind of school so I won't be surprised when they're seniors with no chance of admittance. In addition to that, I foster a love of reading and an atmosphere of creative exploration. Right now my older dd either wants to go to Mars by way of the Air Force Academy or travel with the Renaissance festival reciting Shakespeare and selling medieval weapons. I think her current goals align well with mine. No matter what path she ultimately chooses a good education now will benefit her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth in WA Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Well, on some basic level, my dad put me through an excellent private school education, college, and a masters degree always with the understanding that that was his obligation because his parents had done so for him (and their parents had for them on back for several generation) and so my obligation would be to do the same for my children. Now, while I went to a day school, my dad went to the Phillips Academy at Andover (and boy is there some rivalry there with the Phillips Academy at Exeter!) so that school and the school I attended set the standard for high school from which I work backwards as best I can. My ds15 is an aspie and does not write even close to that standard, but we work on that and use discussion to keep his other subjects as unaffected as possible by that issue. My ds13 seems to have a memory like Swiss cheese, but we have developed study techniques to handle that tendency. As mentioned elsewhere, my kids need a lot more drill and practice than I ever did, but as that is the case, that is what we do. Lots of my friends growing up had tutors to help them with exactly that so it must not be that uncommon. I suspect I was the uncommon one there, and just had no idea how fortunate I was until I was confronted with teaching my own children who do not tend to have excellent memories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ria Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 You know, it's funny. I would have said to prepare for college, and that's what we certainly aimed for while homeschooling. And then our son, bright kid that he is, hated it, dropped out of a very good college, and enlisted. Go figure. I learned from that experience that our goals are not always our children's goals. So now my answer, in retrospect, is that I gave my children a solid academic foundation. It's funny...the ones who are still at home (and who are now in public school) all agree that they have a very broad and solid academic foundation. TWTM is to thank for that, believe me. As an aside, my college dropout has told his twin sister that he plans to complete his degree. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Not only to get into a college but to get into one they will be happy to attend and that we can afford to send him or her to. So far we have done well with the first two. Now we have one more to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyD Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 (1) reach their academic potential, whatever that is; and (2) have some dim notion about the extraordinary vastness and complexity of human knowledge, and hopefully a vague sense of the much, much more vast areas of human ignorance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennyD Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 (sorry, double post) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Sold-out Christ Followers Independent Thinkers Persons of deep moral conviction. Leaders in their community and church Not afraid to try and fail and try again. Lifelong self-learners I don't really care about what they DO. I only care about what they ARE. Of course I believe a solid spiritual and academic foundation is necessary to creating the people I pray they become. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 1st goal- I want them to feel truely educated. Not just knowing what everyone else knows, but the little details that made learning fun. 2nd goal- They will want to go to college because after all learning is fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoforjoy Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I want my kids to love God and love others, and to develop their skills and talents so that they can serve others in whatever way they are called. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 (edited) First I should give a defense of goals in general: I believe that everyone has goals for their dc, whether they want to think about it or not. I'm sure some disagree, and that is fine. :) I think it's better to think about them, talk about them, and to have them firm in mind to keep you on course as the winds blow about you. Some of the worst parenting and homeschooling I have seen has come from people who just follow what others around them or the latest book they are reading tell them to do without any concept of a long-term plan. Their dc end up with mental whiplash, and they end up exhausted and frustrated. Goals don't have to be about what career they will have, whether they will go to college, etc. They don't have to depend on the specific child. And as a Christian mother, they don't have to stop at a relationship with Christ, because that is the foundation of all else, not a goal of mine. Okay, now our specifics: We have different levels of goals. There are character goals, there are general goals, there are academic goals. Some are more flexible (academic) than others (character.) I have always avoided posting our specific list, because they are what work for our family, and they really aren't open to comment. :001_smile: I will give some examples, though: One of our goals is to have our dc embrace one of our family philosophies: people before things. Another is to have dc who value obedience to God above self. We take tangible, concrete steps to meet those, because we have them in mind as we make decisions and live our lives as examples. But the other thread was about goals in education, and that is what you asked about, so... One academic goal is to have each dc play an instrument and learn a form of visual artistic expression. That is flexible enough to have each of them choose what fits their personality, while still honoring things that we personally think are important to a well-rounded, happy person (self expression.) We have a goal that each learn to enjoy one sport that can be pursued independently for life (running, swimming, biking, etc.) Same thing. Other examples include having dc understand our economic system, be able to write and speak correctly and effectively, be capable of interacting with the Great Conversation, etc. Edited August 30, 2011 by angela in ohio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sputterduck Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I think my homeschooling endeavor ends in my child taking over the world. Am I aiming too high? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenangelcat Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I don't have a final goal but I hope they skip the wishy washy college phase and go straight into an apprenticeship for a skilled trade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whereneverever Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Literate, responsible, happy kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 For me: to survive with my sanity For my children: to survive with their sanity Along with that college and a loving relationship with my dh, siblings, and me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I think my homeschooling endeavor ends in my child taking over the world. Am I aiming too high? Admirable goal. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMD Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I think my homeschooling endeavor ends in my child taking over the world. Am I aiming too high? :lol: love it. DH said something similar the other day - revolutionaries! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy in NJ Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 persistence in overcoming challenges, a loving and supporting family, and, oh yeah, academics to reach their potential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 I think my homeschooling endeavor ends in my child taking over the world. Am I aiming too high? :D:D I decided the other day that if I get grilled about homeschooling I will reply as such: We homeschool so ds has enough free time to develop his plan for global domination. I tease him that he is set to take over the world with his computer arrangement in his room. He just smiles. Goals? To be able to write a college paper correctly. To be able to think for himself and articulate his thoughts clearly. To be able to understand a little of how the world works, and how people work. To be able to have a chance to achieve his own goals in life, whatever they may become. To live with conviction and understand those convictions thoroughly, or at least understand how to investigate his "side" of an argument. To be strong enough (morally, physically, emotionally) to live HIS life, not a life others might try to impose on him. ( for instance, not getting caught up in consumerism) to learn to enjoy books and the conversation they can create. to have a base understanding of many subjects including history, science, and technology, so he can have vision for the future by looking into the past. to feel comfortable in his own skin. to know how to fail and get back up again. to understand his strengths and weaknesses (currently this is playing out in homework. We start school at 10am. Sometimes he wants to hold off and do his homework before school the next day. He is not yet at the point of understanding that he won't do it. He doesn't get out of bed and wake up in time to concentrate well. I'm letting him fall a few times before I impose different regulations for homework.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ariston Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 I suppose if I were to answer honestly (and what's the point of any other kind...) I'd say that if my kids do not enjoy discussing Aristotle, Newton and Tolstoy, then I'll consider my homeschool a failure. Elena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucyStoner Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Happy, productive adults who able to live life in a way that they find personally meaningful and who make a positive impact on the people and/or community around them. I plan to send them to college and assume the older son will go to college young but I honestly don't care what field they enter or if they work in a professional field after college. Running a window business, working as a handyman or whatever would be just as reasonable to be as becoming an engineer or physics professor to me provided they were happy and able to feed themselves and their families. I do hope they have families! But obviously, that is their choice. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 It seems right to me. It's pretty much what was listed as required in the college track when I was in high school (50,000 years ago so take that with a grain of salt). but do you sparkle? To have the foundation of a classic education that will get them into the college of their choice, and to be a lifelong learner, constantly adding to that classical foundation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam Wilhelm Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Goal? The same as it would be whether they are homeschooled/public schooled/whatever...... To be kind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Lulu* Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 When DS#1 was 4 or 5, DH and I sat down and wrote out our goals for him. We have done this for each child since. (Although it gets easier with each one since our goals are broad. :) ) When I am feeling overwhelmed, or struggling with which direction to turn in an educational matter I revisit this list. These are the things he should know and have mastery of by the time he reaches adulthood: In his character- Established in his faith Confidence in beliefs Confidence in himself Honesty Integrity In his social skills- Able to use proper etiquette for various situations In his academic abilities- Ability to utilize library Able to complete college level coursework Able to create a resume In his practical knowledge- Manage personal finances Understand/perform basic car maintenance Basic survival skills Basic housekeeping skills Perform basic home repairs Utilize common technologies Understand basics of federal, state, and local government Beyond that we simply want our children to have a strong foundation. Our hope is that they will love to read, love music or find something that feeds their soul as music feeds ours, that they will have contentment and peace in their lives, and that they will be equipped to follow their own paths as they grow into adulthood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Survival. Some days, its mine or theirs, but I'd really like both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Lulu* Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Survival. Some days, its mine or theirs, but I'd really like both. :tongue_smilie: It is always good to know that those days aren't just happening at our house! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieH Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Well, it's late and I'm feeling loopy but after the day I had, my final goal of homeschooling is to survive the next 180 days. My major goals for this year are: character training math reading and spelling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfunnybunch Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 (edited) My final goals are college entrance and the skills to be successful at university and in life. A solid foundation in mathematics and the sciences. When I say "solid foundation" I mean a genuine understanding of the basics and how they work, not just textbook proficiency. A thorough understanding of the English language. A solid foundation in a foreign language. Fluency on at least one musical instrument and an solid understanding of music theory. Understanding of basic home care tasks, such as cleaning the bathroom, doing the laundry, mowing the lawn. (I just say I'm teaching them life skills. I really don't want to do any of these things so I make them do it. ;) Maybe I shouldn't be so keen on this college thing after all.) And just as important: The ability to prioritize tasks, to meet deadlines, to follow directions, to work with others and to solve problems. We want them to have a sense of personal responsibility and a sense of responsiblity to their families and communities. Dh suggests at least one physical skill that they can use to earn money while they go to college or if they can't. His example was house painting, indoor or out. One of my boys already has dreams of opening a fruit and veggie stand, so we're talking to him about how to start a business and what that entails. Cat Edited August 31, 2011 by myfunnybunch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chepyl Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 For us, it is to prepare our girls to be able to attend college, should they choose to go. Those goals include: Being grounded in their faith. Making a decent SAT/ACT score. Knowing how to write well. Knowing how to manage on their own when they choose to move out. DS is already talking about college - if he wants to go to college, I want him to be prepared to succeed in college after getting into the school of his choice, with some scholarship money.:) Make it out alive!And, Finish with the same amount of children that I started with. It's been one of those days! :iagree:I only have two right now, but this is a real concern! :willy_nilly: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mo2 Posted August 31, 2011 Author Share Posted August 31, 2011 I started to multiquote all the great responses, but there were just too many! Believe me, they are all appreciated. I think my homeschooling endeavor ends in my child taking over the world. Am I aiming too high? Not at all. :lol: First I should give a defense of goals in general: I believe that everyone has goals for their dc, whether they want to think about it or not. I'm sure some disagree, and that is fine. :) I think it's better to think about them, talk about them, and to have them firm in mind to keep you on course as the winds blow about you. Some of the worst parenting and homeschooling I have seen has come from people who just follow what others around them or the latest book they are reading tell them to do without any concept of a long-term plan. Their dc end up with mental whiplash, and they end up exhausted and frustrated. Goals don't have to be about what career they will have, whether they will go to college, etc. They don't have to depend on the specific child. And as a Christian mother, they don't have to stop at a relationship with Christ, because that is the foundation of all else, not a goal of mine. Okay, now our specifics: We have different levels of goals. There are character goals, there are general goals, there are academic goals. Some are more flexible (academic) than others (character.) I have always avoided posting our specific list, because they are what work for our family, and they really aren't open to comment. :001_smile: I will give some examples, though: One of our goals is to have our dc embrace one of our family philosophies: people before things. Another is to have dc who value obedience to God above self. We take tangible, concrete steps to meet those, because we have them in mind as we make decisions and live our lives as examples. But the other thread was about goals in education, and that is what you asked about, so... One academic goal is to have each dc play an instrument and learn a form of visual artistic expression. That is flexible enough to have each of them choose what fits their personality, while still honoring things that we personally think are important to a well-rounded, happy person (self expression.) We have a goal that each learn to enjoy one sport that can be pursued independently for life (running, swimming, biking, etc.) Same thing. Other examples include having dc understand our economic system, be able to write and speak correctly and effectively, be capable of interacting with the Great Conversation, etc. This whole post was great, thank you. :D:D I decided the other day that if I get grilled about homeschooling I will reply as such: We homeschool so ds has enough free time to develop his plan for global domination. I tease him that he is set to take over the world with his computer arrangement in his room. He just smiles. Goals? To be able to write a college paper correctly. To be able to think for himself and articulate his thoughts clearly. To be able to understand a little of how the world works, and how people work. To be able to have a chance to achieve his own goals in life, whatever they may become. To live with conviction and understand those convictions thoroughly, or at least understand how to investigate his "side" of an argument. To be strong enough (morally, physically, emotionally) to live HIS life, not a life others might try to impose on him. ( for instance, not getting caught up in consumerism) to learn to enjoy books and the conversation they can create. to have a base understanding of many subjects including history, science, and technology, so he can have vision for the future by looking into the past. to feel comfortable in his own skin. to know how to fail and get back up again. to understand his strengths and weaknesses (currently this is playing out in homework. We start school at 10am. Sometimes he wants to hold off and do his homework before school the next day. He is not yet at the point of understanding that he won't do it. He doesn't get out of bed and wake up in time to concentrate well. I'm letting him fall a few times before I impose different regulations for homework.) Again, great. I always enjoy your posts. :) Survival. Some days, its mine or theirs, but I'd really like both. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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