A home for their hearts Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 (edited) I posted this in the high school/self education forum and someone there thought I might get some ideas here as well. I had a very poor education. I went to public school and was labeled LD in first grade, I was actually held back in Kindergarten. Since I had this label I was put in a special class and where not a lot was ever really expected of me or my class mates. When I entered high school I was mainstreamed and went to tutoring everyday. High School is where I really felt the horror of how far behind I was. Since I was behind I never made to any higher level classes. I need manage to do well in the classes I was placed in receiving A's and B's in many of them. I was accepted into college but never really felt like I could keep up so I dropped out after a semester. As my dc get older I fear being able to teach them the higher level courses. What curriculum would you recommend/books would you recommend for myself to prepare for my dc's high school, as well as feeling the large gaps of my own education? Edited November 12, 2012 by A home for their hearts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 :lurk5: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 This isn't something short and easy to answer. Have you ever looked at American School Correspondence School? It is nonprofit, based on an average but quality public school curriculum, and has been around for a LONG time. There are a wide variety of courses that meet students where they are at, whether remedial or college prep. You might want to use this for the older children. My oldest son graduated from American School and has done very well for himself at community college, and later on in adulthood. Prices have gone up, but is still far more affordable that most people would ever guess. Right now I'm reading through the 1st edition of What Your Grader Needs to Know series. There is a revised edition, but I chose the older one, because it's complete within the 6 volumes (1-6), instead of unfinished after 8 volumes (preschool-6 with plans but no books for 7-8). I believe that 1st generation homeschoolers need to build a strong foundation, and plan on their children teaching their children the more advanced stuff. I think it's very rare to repair ruins in one generation. I also believe that culture hopping is VERY hard for both homeschoolers and public school families. Last year there were a bunch or articles on the myth of upward mobility. Upward mobility and a "quality" education are so entwined. "Quality" that is primarily designed to attempt upward mobility is tricky and often fails and/or disrupts quality family life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edeemarie Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 If you have an idea of what you are going to be teaching them, maybe you could go through the books yourself the year before they start. I have really debated doing this when my kids get older, even if it is just a refresher. I would feel much more comfortable teaching something I completely understood myself (especially with a subject like math). I have been working this year on some teacher self education, mostly dealing with reading and analyzing literature (something I feel was completely lacking in my own education). I purchased some cheap books from Amazon and will read through those to try to help me understand how to teach that to my kids. So basically I would read, read, read. There are some great threads on here dealing with teacher education and if I can find them I will edit my post to add them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A home for their hearts Posted November 12, 2012 Author Share Posted November 12, 2012 This isn't something short and easy to answer. Have you ever looked at American School Correspondence School? It is nonprofit, based on an average but quality public school curriculum, and has been around for a LONG time. There are a wide variety of courses that meet students where they are at, whether remedial or college prep. You might want to use this for the older children. My oldest son graduated from American School and has done very well for himself at community college, and later on in adulthood. Prices have gone up, but is still far more affordable that most people would ever guess. Right now I'm reading through the 1st edition of What Your Grader Needs to Know series. There is a revised edition, but I chose the older one, because it's complete within the 6 volumes (1-6), instead of unfinished after 8 volumes (preschool-6 with plans but no books for 7-8). I believe that 1st generation homeschoolers need to build a strong foundation, and plan on their children teaching their children the more advanced stuff. I think it's very rare to repair ruins in one generation. I also believe that culture hopping is VERY hard for both homeschoolers and public school families. Last year there were a bunch or articles on the myth of upward mobility. Upward mobility and a "quality" education are so entwined. "Quality" that is primarily designed to attempt upward mobility is tricky and often fails and/or disrupts quality family life. I haven't heard of American School Correspondence School I will have to look into this. Could you explain further your last paragraph? This seems like an interesting topic. If you have an idea of what you are going to be teaching them, maybe you could go through the books yourself the year before they start. I have really debated doing this when my kids get older, even if it is just a refresher. I would feel much more comfortable teaching something I completely understood myself (especially with a subject like math). I have been working this year on some teacher self education, mostly dealing with reading and analyzing literature (something I feel was completely lacking in my own education). I purchased some cheap books from Amazon and will read through those to try to help me understand how to teach that to my kids. So basically I would read, read, read. There are some great threads on here dealing with teacher education and if I can find them I will edit my post to add them. What books have you purchased on Amazon for reading and analyzing literature? I've been buying a lot of books on how to teach to help but it is very time consuming! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edeemarie Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 What books have you purchased on Amazon for reading and analyzing literature? I've been buying a lot of books on how to teach to help but it is very time consuming! I started with Deconstructing Penguins (which I was able to borrow from the library), I have How to Read a Book to read from the library also, and I purchased How to Read Literature Like a Professor and Reading Strands used from Amazon for only a couple of dollars each. I have only read one, but I am still debating buying Teaching the Classics for next year since it is more of a teaching seminar on literature analysis. It is very time consuming- which is why I only have one book read so far:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDoe Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 As my dc get older I fear being able to teach them the higher level courses. What curriculum would you recommend/books would you recommend for myself to prepare for my dc's high school, as well as feeling the large gaps of my own education? Maybe consider study WITH your children as opposed to teaching them? Struggle though the same material together, and even let them teach you at points. They are likely to learn as much, or more, from that as from a teacher that has all the answers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 Maybe consider study WITH your children as opposed to teaching them? Struggle though the same material together, and even let them teach you at points. They are likely to learn as much, or more, from that as from a teacher that has all the answers. OP, might this work for you? I am a former PS teacher. I agree that kids learn best by engaging themselves in the material (vs. being fed information from a teacher) and better yet in teaching it to others. I can see a lot of value in learning together. Perhaps it would be possible to outsource some topics when the time comes too if it seems like too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 Maybe consider study WITH your children as opposed to teaching them? Struggle though the same material together, and even let them teach you at points. They are likely to learn as much, or more, from that as from a teacher that has all the answers. I've learned alongside a child, and I have self-eduated and then taught. Self-education followed by teaching is more efficient and less frustrating. Having a child fidget next to you while you try to figure something out is uncomfortable and time wasting. Sometimes we have no choice but to learn alongside a child. If the child is as motivated as you about the subject, it's easier. But if you are trying to force feed or spoon feed something while the student is mildly and passively resisting you, it's pure torture. I haven't heard of American School Correspondence School I will have to look into this. Could you explain further your last paragraph? This seems like an interesting topic. Definitely check out American School. You might not choose to use it, but it's something that all lower income and/or poorly educated parents should check out. It's a very underused resource in the homeschooling community. It was more popular years ago, when parents were less secure about their ability to teach high school and less likely to use junior colleges for underage students. Many families have found AS to be more accommodating about religion than using a school of your same religion, but a different denomination. AS isn't for everyone, but it's a rock solid OPTION, that I only have good things to say about. It does EXACTLY what it promises to do. There are NO surprises, or hidden costs, or games. I started homeschooling about 20 years ago, and now I self-educate and tutor. I've seen a lot, and I've seen a lot of changes over the years. It's much harder to homeschool now, even though there are so many more resources available. Parents are continually shamed into spreading themselves and their children too thin, and to strive for goals they cannot meet. There is so much shame and guilt being slung around. Seldom in history were parents shamed into trying to prepare their children for a life in a different subculture than their own. Historically parents trained their children for a life in THEIR community. Parents were able to teach what they were strong in, and had the resources to teach. Now the government is pushing preparation for more tech jobs, not because that is best for students but is best for the country. And that push is accompanied by fear. Fear that has trickled down into the homeschooling community. I was born on an island and watched the disintegration of the school system as they tried to produce more home grown doctors and scientists. The island is a tax shelter and more accountants need to be imported that doctors and scientist and any other job. The island is uniquely qualified, as they were in the past, to raise up accountants, but the parents continue to bemoan the lack of science in the schools, despite the general falling test scores and lack of science majors returning to work after college, as well as the increased need to import accountants. Also, there is idea that the only "good" curriculum is one that prepares for a COMPETITIVE college. The winners of that competition are usually being prepared by people in a subculture many of us don't live in. The rules change as the underdogs find ways to compete, and the rules will forever keep changing. The power holders are not going to give up their power. And more than any other country in the world, it is education that divides the classes in the USA. I don't believe that "quality" always means copying a private prep school education. Okay, so my extreme lack of competitive spirit is influenced by my time spent in the Mennonite church, but still...I don't believe quality and competition are the same thing at all. I'm rambling here, but I'm not in the mood to debate or to try and defend my ideas, that I am well aware are controversial. I'm not going to even try to pretend I'm more educated than I am, or qualified in any way to have this opinion. I just think we need to be REALISTIC about what WE can accomplish with OUR STUDENTS. We need to work hard, but not to exhaustion and despair and debt. We need to bloom where we are planted, or make a slow and steady plan to move elsewhere--a plan that might take 2 or 3 or even 4 generations to be fully realized. And I'm tired of the "streets of gold" stories being continually retold over and over, that are more myth than reality. Studies show that upward mobility is less frequent here in the USA than in class ridden European countries. And I don't believe that homeschooling is the INSTANT cure all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebacabunch Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 I work a year ahead of my kids in all of their curriculum. I had a decent education, but I am amazed at how much I didn't learn or have forgotten. I think that self education can't help but happen as you teach your kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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