momto2Cs Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 (edited) Update in post #20 Background: Ds14 is very bright, and spends hours working on the things he is interested in. Except for math and writing, which I consider to be foundational skills, we've had a fairly relaxed approach to homeschooling over the years. He has had decent exposure to history and the sciences, is a self taught artist (definitely a passion of his), and is most interested in mechanics. His current plan is to become a car mechanic, specializing in rehabbing older automobiles, with custom paint work, upholstery, engine modifications, etc., and he wants to own his own business someday doing so. Honestly, he is at his happiest when he's working on something practical, like our car, or rebuilding our rototiller motor. He has adored cars since he was an infant, and knows a tremendous amount about them. He's also interested in engineering in general. Other (in which he is less involved) interests include physics/quantum physics. That said, I do not wish to shortchange him, in case he changes his mind later on. I am trying to decide how much will be enough for his high school years. He plans on doing dual enrollment throughout high school, at the local cc. He is starting with art this fall, and will then possibly start on automotive training as soon as next spring (probably welding to begin). He wants to take engineering courses as well, German, and plenty of art, including photography. We've also talked about him taking chemistry and physics there at some point, as well as higher math. While we've "unschooled" history and science the last couple of years, I am not sure if we should continue this into high school. As he's going to the cc, I don't know that I need to worry as much about hitting the standard "requirements" in history, science, etc., but I don't want him to end up below potential either. Sorry for rambling on...I guess my main question is, should I allow him to be fairly single-minded/to specialize this early on, or should I have him complete a broader education? Should I have him do the standard approach to high school in our area/for college, with a year each of world and American history, 2-3 years lab sciences, etc.? I keep reading and rereading the posts on how to educate the child you have, and doing high school outside the box, but I still don't know where to go with this. I want him to have time still to explore interests as they pop up, to skim over something or delve deply into it as desired, but still have a solid education. Thanks for your patience in reading this! Edited January 15, 2016 by momto2Cs 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 I'm sure the outside-the-box, high-ability-student, experienced parents will be along shortly to advise. From what you have written, it sounds as though it's possible that he could become more intellectually interested in, say, physics or engineering once he's older and has more math under his belt and more exposure to such subjects. FWIW, in the big picture, I would make an effort to keep doors open for such a bright student should he later decide to apply to competitive college programs as a freshman. Accordingly, I would want certain relatively standardized courses obviously for math and also for high-school-level lab sciences (bio, chem, physics). I would plan some APs and/or DE for later years, if appropriate, for the purpose of demonstrating achievement. I would also strongly consider planning for a couple of SAT2 subject tests in case they are needed for application to competitive colleges. I get the sense that history and English might have more flexibility though there may be some specific requirements (there's probably a Lori D post somewhere on that :) ) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Usually for DE purposes you're going to convert 1 semester of college work to 1 year of high school. So by that parameter, if he does a semester of chem at the CC he has *done* his chem for the year. So pretty much to the degree he's able to handle anything he tries there, he's golden, done, no problem. I'd just let him do what he wants and see where it gets you. Give him the normal graduation requirements in a list and discuss lots of ways he could meet them. Then meet mid-year and at the end of the year to see whether he's on track. There's no need to change how you were working (with him leading), so long as his choices result in him getting enough credits to convert over to high school units to meet the requirements. Maybe then have a couple diploma tracks (standard and more college prep) so he can make the choice himself how far he wants to go with that. As you say, IQ does not correlate to profession in this. There are some EXTREMELY bright hands-on people in this world. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobeatenpath Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 I can't speak for what you need re. accreditation wise but from a lifelong learning perspective - from personal experience and that of many people I know, Science and maths are a LOT harder to pick up later in life than History (and I say this as someone who has a double major in History for her undergraduate degree). If you were looking to 'firm up' some subjects, I would say Science over History, and with a focus on Physics and Chemistry, or an Engineering Science course if you have access to one. My husband is a Civil Engineer (and also knows all about cars :lol: ) and for Senior Highschool he did lots of Maths, Physics and Chemistry, and English but only because that was necessary. At age 41 he is actually a well rounded individual who can talk outside those areas - he has learned a lot about art, history, politics etc. outside of formal schooling. I rebelled after winning the Junior Highschool Science prize and took no Science, focussing on humanities instead. While I am not stupid I still to this day feel I have never been able to learn enough about Science without that highschool foundation. As for specialising at a young age - usually I am really against it. BUT we have to remember that until very recently a lot of people would start their apprenticeship in a specialised field at 15, including mechanics. What you are suggesting seems very well rounded, and if he can manage the load of practical skills courses along with the academics you are suggesting he will have a really firm foundation that will place him in good stead when it comes time to choose whether to go for a university education or to continue the 'skills' path. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quark Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 May I PM you? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted June 12, 2015 Author Share Posted June 12, 2015 May I PM you? Of course! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 I would recommend working to complete a college prep set of high school credits, some of which could be done with the dual enrollment, OR, could be done at home and the dual enrollment could be used for Vocational Tech work towards an AAS in mechanics, and further apprenticing and specialization in mechanics after high school. That helps you fulfill your goal of keeping future options open as much as possible, and prepares DS for the math, reading, and study skills he will need to succeed in dual enrollment courses. It also takes into consideration the fact that your DS is still young and will be doing a LOT of maturing and gaining skills in the next 4 years, and the fact that you don't list any specific LDs or other issues -- so neither of those are a factor that would prevent you from accomplishing a college prep set of high school credits. 4 credits = English 4 credits = Math* 3 credits = Science**, with labs 3 credits = Social Science*** (1 credit Amer. History, 0.5 credit each Gov't and Econ) 2 credits = Foreign Language**** 1 credit = Fine Arts (Art) 7+ credits = Electives***** (more Art, Photography, Welding, Mechanics, courses leading toward a possible Vo-Tech AAS) 24 credits = total ****** * = Math I suggest completing Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and a Business Math or Accounting (geared towards running a small business). The first three maths in that list complete enough Math so that DS meets some university admission requirements (although many require a math beyond Alg. 2 as well), but would also provide DS enough of a math knowledge-base in case he needs to take a further math credit for college admissions, or a college-level math at a later date. The fourth math in that list gives DS specific Math skills for running his own business. For a more self-directed approach to the Math, you might check out ALEKS (which also has Business Math and Accounting courses). Or, if DS needs more incremental instruction, consider Teaching Textbooks (although, you would need to go up through the TT Pre-Calc level, as the TT scope and sequence has the second half of Alg. 2 in the Pre-Calc program). One thought: both ALEKS and TT allow the student to be a bit more "out-of-box" in pacing -- so DS could plug away diligently at home and complete 4 years of traditional Math sequence in 3 years, and still have a year to complete Business Math -- so he'd definitely have all the Math needed for his future! :) ** = Science, with labs Physics would be a good one to compliment the Mechanics. Engineering would be another good science credit; since DS has a high interest in Mechanics, I would work hard to find an Engineering course he could take as one of his sciences. Chemistry… maybe yes, maybe not -- an Advanced Physics might be more useful. Or Advanced Engineering. Either way, that's 3 credits of science, which would fulfill DSs' requirements for college admission, and they would all be in science areas that would be useful to DS. One thing you might look into is if you have a university in your town with an Engineering department; DS might be able to volunteer to be a high school intern with one of the Engineering clubs (university clubs are open to all college students to participate in, regardless of their major). Our local university has a SAE formula Baja Racer club, which competes at a national level; the club has offered to let high school students from our homeschool group to work alongside the college club students as volunteer interns. :) That would make a SUPER extracurricular activity for your DS's high school list, AND it is an opportunity to learn (and to do some networking!) in an out-of-the-box way. *** = Social Science I'd go for the bare minimum of what is required most everywhere (1 year U.S. history, 1 year Gov't/Econ). I'd include a unit on Personal Finance in the Economics 0.5 credit for real life working with DS. For part of the Gov't credit, and for out-of-the-box learning, I'd consider participation in a mock legislative group such as Youth & Government, Mock Trial, Model U.N., etc. (which also make super extracurriculars -- not to mention it's so much more interesting to learn about Gov't by DOING it ;) .) For the third year/credit of Social Science, I'd make a DIY credit as a combo of World History/Geography, Current Events, Comparative Religions etc. so that DS had a good grasp on world events and why they are happening so that he will be able to make informed decisions as a voter or involvement in issues of importance to him as an adult. **** = Foreign Language If done as dual enrollment at the CC, then 1 semester = 1 credit, so Foreign Language would be knocked out in 1 year. To really keep options open for a possible future 4-year school, consider doing 4 semesters of the same foreign language, which would take care of any future foreign language requirements for a Bachelor's degree. And, of course, the language is more likely to "stick" the more semesters of it the student takes… But this is an area you can be flexible on, depending on DS's level of interest. ***** = Electives Looks like a lot of these will come from dual enrollment, allowing DS to pursue interests. I would plan on about 8 Electives for lots of flexibility to either try lots of different things, or to more deeply pursue an interest that becomes a passion. This allows you to schedule 2 Electives per year, alongside 4 "required academic" credits per year of high school -- that's a third of high school opened up for pursuing interests. Some Electives could also be accomplished in a more out-of-the-box way -- through extracurricular involvement, personal projects, online tutorials, "apprenticing" or working with a mentor to learn specific skills, etc. One Elective through the CC that might be very useful to your DS: CAD (computer-aided drafting) -- which would help with blueprint reading and any electronics that are a bit part of autos these days. Another Elective he might pursue on his own is Electronics. An out-of-the-box / DIY way of doing a Photography elective might be through some of the resources suggested by others in these past threads: Photography credit Photography elective course... what to use? Photography class resources What can my DD use for a photography elective? Digital Photography...suggestions please Photography questions (looking for a good book resource) Also, not everything has to be a credit or formalized study. A schedule of 6 credits a year should still leave DS plenty of time to pursue personal interests, projects, extracurriculars, learning "life skills" and accomplishing specific goals you want to make sure he has in place before graduation, and out-of-the-box informal learning. :) ****** = Total Credits This set of credits is the bare minimum to also be "college prep", and gives you a load of 6 credits a year (which is very reasonable). It sounds like a number of the credits will be done through dual enrollment, and 1-semester 4-unit community college courses typically are equivalent to 1-credit (full year) high school courses, so DS may end up with more like 30 credits total, if he takes a lot of dual enrollment. I didn't say anything about English because it looks like you are making sure DS is solid in Writing. Perhaps use high school to branch out and cover a range of types of writing he might find esp. useful later on -- types of Business writing, persuasive writing, etc. Maybe include a unit on Public Speaking to get comfortable in speaking to a group -- giving presentations, explaining a process, "teaching" a skill, giving a report, debate an issue, etc. For the Literature portion of the English credit, I'd cover some of the works most frequently covered in high school and that are referenced in movies and culture to give him some solid "Literature literacy". Maybe do a year of sci-fi and have fun discussing the ethical issues that modern science and technology bring up. Maybe enjoy Movies as Literature as an out-of-the box way to introduce analysis of Literature (not to mention of movies!). You could easily do your English credits as "DIY" courses and be very out-of-the-box in the way you accomplish these credits. :) For 9th grade, based on needs/goals/concerns listed in your post, I'd suggest doing: - 1 credit = English (Writing and Literature) - 1 credit = Math (Algebra 1) - 1 credit = Science (Physics??) - 1 credit = Social Science (American History??) - 2 credits = Electives (2-4 dual enrollment courses: Art, Photography, Welding, etc.) That allows plenty of exploration of interests through the Electives, and gives you several "formal" subjects at home to get solid with foundational skills of math and writing, but also to start practicing study skills that DS will need if he ends up taking academic subjects such as Math, Foreign Language, Science, or History as dual enrollment. Use 9th grade as your gradual transition year. Reassess at the end of 9th grade. - What worked/didn't work? Why? - What should be done differently? How? - Should some things be done more/less formally? - Should more/less be outsourced? - Does DS need more/less direct supervision or instruction to succeed in some areas? - Have DSs' interests shifted? Or intensified in an area? - Have new opportunities (summer programs, internships, volunteering, extracurricular groups, etc.) become options to consider? - Have family circumstances changed in some way, which require a change in the way homeschool high school needs to happen? BEST of luck as you move into high school homeschooling! ENJOY these exciting years! :) Warmest regards, Lori D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted June 12, 2015 Share Posted June 12, 2015 Background: Ds14 is very bright, and spends hours working on the things he is interested in. Except for math and writing, which I consider to be foundational skills, we've had a fairly relaxed approach to homeschooling over the years. He has had decent exposure to history and the sciences, is a self taught artist (definitely a passion of his), and is most interested in mechanics. His current plan is to become a car mechanic, specializing in rehabbing older automobiles, with custom paint work, upholstery, engine modifications, etc., and he wants to own his own business someday doing so. Honestly, he is at his happiest when he's working on something practical, like our car, or rebuilding our rototiller motor. He has adored cars since he was an infant, and knows a tremendous amount about them. He's also interested in engineering in general. Other (in which he is less involved) interests include physics/quantum physics. That said, I do not wish to shortchange him, in case he changes his mind later on. I am trying to decide how much will be enough for his high school years. He plans on doing dual enrollment throughout high school, at the local cc. He is starting with art this fall, and will then possibly start on automotive training as soon as next spring (probably welding to begin). He wants to take engineering courses as well, German, and plenty of art, including photography. We've also talked about him taking chemistry and physics there at some point, as well as higher math. While we've "unschooled" history and science the last couple of years, I am not sure if we should continue this into high school. As he's going to the cc, I don't know that I need to worry as much about hitting the standard "requirements" in history, science, etc., but I don't want him to end up below potential either. Sorry for rambling on...I guess my main question is, should I allow him to be fairly single-minded/to specialize this early on, or should I have him complete a broader education? Should I have him do the standard approach to high school in our area/for college, with a year each of world and American history, 2-3 years lab sciences, etc.? I keep reading and rereading the posts on how to educate the child you have, and doing high school outside the box, but I still don't know where to go with this. I want him to have time still to explore interests as they pop up, to skim over something or delve deply into it as desired, but still have a solid education. Thanks for your patience in reading this! Your description of your son reminds me of my dad. My dad is an amazing artist and he has his own Body Shop. He spends all of his free time either restoring old cars (had one featured in Hot Rod Magazine), weaving baskets, building cobblestone bridges, creating cartoony clay figurines, or building furniture. He's one of the most talented and smartest people I know. I agree that while we want to foster a passion in our children we also don't want to hinder them in their choices. My own DS is most interested in Environmental Science as a career path. So I think this year we'll do Earth Science and Geography. We'll focus on the Environment part of the science, biomes, resources, Geological features that effect the environment etc... and the Human Impact on our environment for Geography. We'll still have to eventually get to Chemistry, but we can do soil and water tests for some of the labs learn about pollution, and chemical erosion/acid rain, and focus on the Environment (migration, habitat, all the other stuff I can't remember) for Biology. He'd skip Physics for Environmental Science in 12th grade(Don't judge me, real Physics is so beyond my capabilities and interest that I'd just screw it up and ruin his year). With US History,required by most Universities we'd consider, we can again spend extra time on the creation of National Parks and on the impact of Humanity on the American Environment, including Clean Water/Air acts, oil spills in the Gulf, strip mining, etc..... We won't be doing World History again, Instead we'll do Government and Economics which can easily have an Environmental focus while still staying within the standard definition of the course. That's a total of 3 Soc. Studies credits and 4 Sciences. If he changes his mind nothing has been lost and I can re-figure the next year's coursework to reflect his new interests inside of the traditional framework. We'll also do a Political Sci/Current Events type class for an additional Soc. Stu. credit. ETA:punctuation/Grammar.... no more kitten zombies. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted June 13, 2015 Share Posted June 13, 2015 ETA:punctuation/Grammar.... no more kitten zombies. :zombiechase: :zombiechase: :zombie: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennW in SoCal Posted June 13, 2015 Share Posted June 13, 2015 Some kids, like one of mine, just know early on what they want to do and it can work out wonderfully well. I had one of those kids who graduated high school with the barest minimum of required high school courses -- far less than Lori just outlined above. And much of what we did was rather unschooly and non-traditional. It was not an easy decision, but it worked for him. He was going to just do community college and transfer to a state school until we found a unique college program with a major that suited him. He did that, graduated, and is working full time in his dream job -- the job he wanted from the time he was 12. He still reads, still enjoys history and has never once regretted not taking Algebra II or physics or chemistry. A friend's son was obsessed with cars from a young age. He wasn't homeschooled but through a program unique to California, started community college in 10th grade, mostly taking auto mechanics classes. He settled on a professional auto mechanic school where he was one of the top students. Mercedes Benz courted him, sent him tuition free to their own specialized school and now he is working at a Mercedes Benze dealership full time. Both these boys (young men!), whose high school paths were so very untraditional, whose high school paths most posters on this board would warn against, are 23, making excellent salaries with health benefits, and most importantly, are just as happy as they can be, and are valued by their supervisors at work. A college prep high school may sound sensible, but clearly it is not the ONLY path to a successful adulthood. 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted June 13, 2015 Share Posted June 13, 2015 Sorry for rambling on...I guess my main question is, should I allow him to be fairly single-minded/to specialize this early on, or should I have him complete a broader education? Should I have him do the standard approach to high school in our area/for college, with a year each of world and American history, 2-3 years lab sciences, etc.? I keep reading and rereading the posts on how to educate the child you have, and doing high school outside the box, but I still don't know where to go with this. I want him to have time still to explore interests as they pop up, to skim over something or delve deply into it as desired, but still have a solid education. If he takes math and science at the CC, 1 semester = 1 yr HS credit, so that leaves plenty of time for courses that interest him. It seems like the main question is what to do for history and English? You can always do interest-led versions of US and World History at home, such as studying World History through the history of technology. There are plenty of books on the subject, as well as documentary series like Connections and The Day the Universe Changed. Instead of a standard US History survey, you could do 20th Century American History & Culture, focused on various aspects of art and design: product design, advertising, car design & "car culture," the WPA arts programs, how various movements in American art & design reflected the culture of the times, etc. For English he can choose themes or topics of interest: steampunk literature, science fiction, techno-dystopian literature, or whatever interests him. English Comp 101 or a Technical Writing course at the CC would give a full year's English credit, too. I wouldn't worry too much about replicating a standard PS HS transcript. He sounds like he has a great career plan, and the passion and talent to make it work. And if, in a few years, he decides he wants to pursue a 4 yr degree after all, he'll have an interesting transcript that will stand out from the pack, and he can always fill in any minor gaps with CC courses in 12th grade. FWIW, one of my brothers was a mechanic. He traveled all over the globe, including spending 3 years hitchhiking around the world, starting in Australia and ending in the UK. He worked on everything from rusty old tractors in Africa to prop planes in NZ and research equipment in Antarctica. He also owned his home and shop outright — no mortgage, no car payment, no credit cards. He knew what he wanted to do from the time he was little, and he never regretted it. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted June 14, 2015 Author Share Posted June 14, 2015 Thank you all very much for chiming in on this! I actually feel much, much better after reading through the responses. I think my tendency to overthink/over-worry comes out full force when I see the intensive plans others have for their students, I realize once again that my child doesn't have plans like that. Overall, the message I am getting loud and clear is that there are a multitude of ways I can support my son in following his passions. Usually for DE purposes you're going to convert 1 semester of college work to 1 year of high school. So by that parameter, if he does a semester of chem at the CC he has *done* his chem for the year. So pretty much to the degree he's able to handle anything he tries there, he's golden, done, no problem. I'd just let him do what he wants and see where it gets you. Give him the normal graduation requirements in a list and discuss lots of ways he could meet them. Then meet mid-year and at the end of the year to see whether he's on track. There's no need to change how you were working (with him leading), so long as his choices result in him getting enough credits to convert over to high school units to meet the requirements. Maybe then have a couple diploma tracks (standard and more college prep) so he can make the choice himself how far he wants to go with that. As you say, IQ does not correlate to profession in this. There are some EXTREMELY bright hands-on people in this world. I like the idea of reassessing at mid and end-of-year. I am working with him later today in looking at what the standard requirements are for gradation, so he can give some input on how HE wants to work towards that. I can't speak for what you need re. accreditation wise but from a lifelong learning perspective - from personal experience and that of many people I know, Science and maths are a LOT harder to pick up later in life than History (and I say this as someone who has a double major in History for her undergraduate degree). If you were looking to 'firm up' some subjects, I would say Science over History, and with a focus on Physics and Chemistry, or an Engineering Science course if you have access to one. My husband is a Civil Engineer (and also knows all about cars :lol: ) and for Senior Highschool he did lots of Maths, Physics and Chemistry, and English but only because that was necessary. At age 41 he is actually a well rounded individual who can talk outside those areas - he has learned a lot about art, history, politics etc. outside of formal schooling. I rebelled after winning the Junior Highschool Science prize and took no Science, focussing on humanities instead. While I am not stupid I still to this day feel I have never been able to learn enough about Science without that highschool foundation. As for specialising at a young age - usually I am really against it. BUT we have to remember that until very recently a lot of people would start their apprenticeship in a specialised field at 15, including mechanics. What you are suggesting seems very well rounded, and if he can manage the load of practical skills courses along with the academics you are suggesting he will have a really firm foundation that will place him in good stead when it comes time to choose whether to go for a university education or to continue the 'skills' path. Good point! I would recommend working to complete a college prep set of high school credits, some of which could be done with the dual enrollment, OR, could be done at home and the dual enrollment could be used for Vocational Tech work towards an AAS in mechanics, and further apprenticing and specialization in mechanics after high school. One thing you might look into is if you have a university in your town with an Engineering department; DS might be able to volunteer to be a high school intern with one of the Engineering clubs (university clubs are open to all college students to participate in, regardless of their major). Our local university has a SAE formula Baja Racer club, which competes at a national level; the club has offered to let high school students from our homeschool group to work alongside the college club students as volunteer interns. :) That would make a SUPER extracurricular activity for your DS's high school list, AND it is an opportunity to learn (and to do some networking!) in an out-of-the-box way. Some Electives could also be accomplished in a more out-of-the-box way -- through extracurricular involvement, personal projects, online tutorials, "apprenticing" or working with a mentor to learn specific skills, etc. One Elective through the CC that might be very useful to your DS: CAD (computer-aided drafting) -- which would help with blueprint reading and any electronics that are a bit part of autos these days. Another Elective he might pursue on his own is Electronics. I didn't say anything about English because it looks like you are making sure DS is solid in Writing. Perhaps use high school to branch out and cover a range of types of writing he might find esp. useful later on -- types of Business writing, persuasive writing, etc. Maybe include a unit on Public Speaking to get comfortable in speaking to a group -- giving presentations, explaining a process, "teaching" a skill, giving a report, debate an issue, etc. For the Literature portion of the English credit, I'd cover some of the works most frequently covered in high school and that are referenced in movies and culture to give him some solid "Literature literacy". Maybe do a year of sci-fi and have fun discussing the ethical issues that modern science and technology bring up. Maybe enjoy Movies as Literature as an out-of-the box way to introduce analysis of Literature (not to mention of movies!). You could easily do your English credits as "DIY" courses and be very out-of-the-box in the way you accomplish these credits. :) For 9th grade, based on needs/goals/concerns listed in your post, I'd suggest doing: - 1 credit = English (Writing and Literature) - 1 credit = Math (Algebra 1) - 1 credit = Science (Physics??) - 1 credit = Social Science (American History??) - 2 credits = Electives (2-4 dual enrollment courses: Art, Photography, Welding, etc.) That allows plenty of exploration of interests through the Electives, and gives you several "formal" subjects at home to get solid with foundational skills of math and writing, but also to start practicing study skills that DS will need if he ends up taking academic subjects such as Math, Foreign Language, Science, or History as dual enrollment. Use 9th grade as your gradual transition year. Reassess at the end of 9th grade. - What worked/didn't work? Why? - What should be done differently? How? - Should some things be done more/less formally? - Should more/less be outsourced? - Does DS need more/less direct supervision or instruction to succeed in some areas? - Have DSs' interests shifted? Or intensified in an area? - Have new opportunities (summer programs, internships, volunteering, extracurricular groups, etc.) become options to consider? - Have family circumstances changed in some way, which require a change in the way homeschool high school needs to happen? BEST of luck as you move into high school homeschooling! ENJOY these exciting years! :) Warmest regards, Lori D. Lori, thank you SO much for all the advice! He loves the idea of interning with an engineering group, and will pursue that. I think overall you made some excellent suggestions about possible ways to approach a solid high school plan while allowing a great deal of flexibility. Your description of your son reminds me of my dad. My dad is an amazing artist and he has his own Body Shop. He spends all of his free time either restoring old cars (had one featured in Hot Rod Magazine), weaving baskets, building cobblestone bridges, creating cartoony clay figurines, or building furniture. He's one of the most talented and smartest people I know. I agree that while we want to foster a passion in our children we also don't want to hinder them in their choices. My own DS is most interested in Environmental Science as a career path. So I think this year we'll do Earth Science and Geography. We'll focus on the Environment part of the science, biomes, resources, Geological features that effect the environment etc... and the Human Impact on our environment for Geography. We'll still have to eventually get to Chemistry, but we can do soil and water tests for some of the labs learn about pollution, and chemical erosion/acid rain, and focus on the Environment (migration, habitat, all the other stuff I can't remember) for Biology. He'd skip Physics for Environmental Science in 12th grade(Don't judge me, real Physics is so beyond my capabilities and interest that I'd just screw it up and ruin his year). With US History,required by most Universities we'd consider, we can again spend extra time on the creation of National Parks and on the impact of Humanity on the American Environment, including Clean Water/Air acts, oil spills in the Gulf, strip mining, etc..... We won't be doing World History again, Instead we'll do Government and Economics which can easily have an Environmental focus while still staying within the standard definition of the course. That's a total of 3 Soc. Studies credits and 4 Sciences. If he changes his mind nothing has been lost and I can re-figure the next year's coursework to reflect his new interests inside of the traditional framework. We'll also do a Political Sci/Current Events type class for an additional Soc. Stu. credit. ETA:punctuation/Grammar.... no more kitten zombies. I love the unique approach to history/social sciences here! Gives me some good ideas. Some kids, like one of mine, just know early on what they want to do and it can work out wonderfully well. I had one of those kids who graduated high school with the barest minimum of required high school courses -- far less than Lori just outlined above. And much of what we did was rather unschooly and non-traditional. It was not an easy decision, but it worked for him. He was going to just do community college and transfer to a state school until we found a unique college program with a major that suited him. He did that, graduated, and is working full time in his dream job -- the job he wanted from the time he was 12. He still reads, still enjoys history and has never once regretted not taking Algebra II or physics or chemistry. A friend's son was obsessed with cars from a young age. He wasn't homeschooled but through a program unique to California, started community college in 10th grade, mostly taking auto mechanics classes. He settled on a professional auto mechanic school where he was one of the top students. Mercedes Benz courted him, sent him tuition free to their own specialized school and now he is working at a Mercedes Benze dealership full time. Both these boys (young men!), whose high school paths were so very untraditional, whose high school paths most posters on this board would warn against, are 23, making excellent salaries with health benefits, and most importantly, are just as happy as they can be, and are valued by their supervisors at work. A college prep high school may sound sensible, but clearly it is not the ONLY path to a successful adulthood. I love to hear that those with less traditional paths still succeed. I think my son's career choice is a pretty solid one - mechanics are always needed for something! If he takes math and science at the CC, 1 semester = 1 yr HS credit, so that leaves plenty of time for courses that interest him. It seems like the main question is what to do for history and English? You can always do interest-led versions of US and World History at home, such as studying World History through the history of technology. There are plenty of books on the subject, as well as documentary series like Connections and The Day the Universe Changed. Instead of a standard US History survey, you could do 20th Century American History & Culture, focused on various aspects of art and design: product design, advertising, car design & "car culture," the WPA arts programs, how various movements in American art & design reflected the culture of the times, etc. For English he can choose themes or topics of interest: steampunk literature, science fiction, techno-dystopian literature, or whatever interests him. English Comp 101 or a Technical Writing course at the CC would give a full year's English credit, too. I wouldn't worry too much about replicating a standard PS HS transcript. He sounds like he has a great career plan, and the passion and talent to make it work. And if, in a few years, he decides he wants to pursue a 4 yr degree after all, he'll have an interesting transcript that will stand out from the pack, and he can always fill in any minor gaps with CC courses in 12th grade. FWIW, one of my brothers was a mechanic. He traveled all over the globe, including spending 3 years hitchhiking around the world, starting in Australia and ending in the UK. He worked on everything from rusty old tractors in Africa to prop planes in NZ and research equipment in Antarctica. He also owned his home and shop outright — no mortgage, no car payment, no credit cards. He knew what he wanted to do from the time he was little, and he never regretted it. Excellent points and ideas! I have a lot to think about now, and a lot to discuss with my ds! Thank you all again so much -- I feel more comfortable embracing our own path. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 Some kids, like one of mine, just know early on what they want to do and it can work out wonderfully well. <snip> He did that, graduated, and is working full time in his dream job -- the job he wanted from the time he was 12. <snip> Don't leave us hanging - what is it? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JennW in SoCal Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 Don't leave us hanging - what is it? My ds is a stage technician for Disney. Basically the man behind the curtain (one of many men and women, actually) that makes all the magic happen -- sound and/or lights for various rides and events and shows. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodland Mist Academy Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 From my in the trenches, completely short sighted view... (in other words, take this with a grain of salt as I have no earthly idea what I'm doing...) It seems to me that either path can lead to disaster. How's that for hope? :tongue_smilie: I had a friend whose son wanted to work a trade, but she insisted on a college path. Well that was an expensive lesson. $$$.... He didn't make it far. He had zero desire to be there. On the other hand, there are friends who regret not pushing more of a college prep path. The kid shifted from trade to wanting to go to college. It took some backtracking and regret over lost time... I honestly don't know how one is to know ahead of time, though. Life changes all of us. How can we know who we will become? It seems "keep your eye on the child" is the best advice. What appears to be the best step at this very moment, given all the possible outcomes of the path this step leads to? Is there any sort of fork in the road or U turn to allow for future changes (there usually are). We make the best decision for each step and have the compass in hand, ready to change directions when the wind blows and storms rise. (Or the grass is just greener elsewhere...) So, yeah. I'm with you. This is tough!! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted June 15, 2015 Share Posted June 15, 2015 My ds is a stage technician for Disney. Basically the man behind the curtain (one of many men and women, actually) that makes all the magic happen -- sound and/or lights for various rides and events and shows. Disney! Good for him. We're closer to Disney World than Disneyland, so we'll probably never see 'his' shows, but we do marvel on every visit at the work that must go on behind the scenes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted June 16, 2015 Author Share Posted June 16, 2015 UPDATE... What we've decided... He is taking more control of his own education for high school. He wants to work toward both a professional certificate (automotive technology) and an associate's degree. He figures this will give him a good background for future employment, and a fairly well rounded education. His current goal is to finish at least the first by the age of 18. The second he plans on completing with IGETC in mind, as it opens up more opportunities for transfer. He believes that having a good position as a mechanic would help him pay for any college he plans on attending past dual enrollment. So what that looks like at the moment is this: he will continue, for now, to work on math and English at home, with an eventual goal of doing well on both placement tests at the cc. He will also be studying science, TDB -- most likely finishing up Conceptual Physics (has over 3/4 of the book to go as he went off on a number of rabbit trails in the last year). History will be unschooled for the most part this year, though we've talked a bit about reading through a world history or American history overview type of book (K12's Our Human Story or American Odyssey, for example). He will be taking an art class (Drawing & Compostion) and Beginning Welding at the local cc this fall, which is a total of 5 units. I don't want to overload him at home during this transition to cc classes. My only other requirement at this point is that he read at least one fiction AND one nonfiction book every month. I feel very fortunate, after reading through a lot of the cc threads on this board, that ours is considered to be pretty darn rigorous, academically speaking, and is highly regarded by other college systems in our state. I know that when I transferred from there to a 4 year university, I was fairly frequently disappointed by the classes at the university -- they were not as challenging (some were, many not). And I still think it is interesting , after all these years, that when I attended the cc, I could not test out of algebra 2, but tested right into statistics at the university. Anyhow, he is very excited about his high school years right now, and I think he has set some good goals for himself! Thank you again for all the feedback and assistance! 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 He is taking more control of his own education for high school. He wants to work toward both a professional certificate (automotive technology) and an associate's degree. He figures this will give him a good background for future employment, and a fairly well rounded education. His current goal is to finish at least the first by the age of 18. The second he plans on completing with IGETC in mind, as it opens up more opportunities for transfer. He believes that having a good position as a mechanic would help him pay for any college he plans on attending past dual enrollment. Smart! :thumbup1: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted June 16, 2015 Share Posted June 16, 2015 Excellent plan; solid, smart goals to work towards, and good balance and not overloaded for 9th grade so DS also has the ability to also look into extracurriculars and opportunities for personal interest and/or that play into his career interests. Thanks for sharing -- it's always nice to hear what the final decision is when we've all contributed ideas and thoughts. ;) Go and enjoy -- and relax, knowing you have a great plan AND the flexibility to make adjustments as needed! :) Warmest regards, Lori D. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted January 15, 2016 Author Share Posted January 15, 2016 (edited) Since we're about halfway through the year, I thought I would update with how it is going! During the fall, ds took two cc classes, one in Three Dimensional Art, and the other in Machine Tool Technology. He loved both, and did very well (straight A's). He worked on plenty of free writing, as well as some more structured writing, and read voraciously (books of his own choosing). He's doing very well with Teaching Textbooks Algebra. As for history and science, we watched documentaries, read a few books... kind of a hands-off, easygoing approach. This spring, he's taking just one class at the cc, Intro to Engineering. He'll continue with his math program, and we've added in The Lively Art of Writing. He still reads like crazy, and we're reading some lit aloud, as a family. For science, we're doing some hands-on suggestions from HHMI, and he's doing an online robotics course from Coursera (at a slightly relaxed pace). For history, we're using Downton Abbey as a launching point for modern history. SO MUCH FUN! He studies German on his own, off and on. And, he'll be spending one day a week working with his best buddy and a gentleman who restores cars/trucks. They will be first rebuilding a 1940 Ford pickup. While it does not follow a WTM approach, I think it is working beautifully for him. We're covering all our bases, some in a much more relaxed way than others; he's building strong basic skills (writing, math); and he's getting to explore options through the cc and this awesome hands-on opportunity. I want to thank each and every one of you for your feedback to my original post! Edited January 15, 2016 by momto2Cs 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 Thanks for the update! Sounds like a great 9th grade year, and it is super-fun hearing about unique choices! Your line-up reminds me a bit of the homeschooling style in the book Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit High School and Get a Real Life and Education! :) You might also find Cindy LaJoy's website, Blue Collar Homeschool, to have some tips and info that might be of interest. Hope you all continue to have a fantastic first year of high school! Warmest regards, Lori D. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted January 15, 2016 Author Share Posted January 15, 2016 Thanks for the update! Sounds like a great 9th grade year, and it is super-fun hearing about unique choices! Your line-up reminds me a bit of the homeschooling style in the book Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit High School and Get a Real Life and Education! :) You might also find Cindy LaJoy's website, Blue Collar Homeschool, to have some tips and info that might be of interest. Hope you all continue to have a fantastic first year of high school! Warmest regards, Lori D. Both ds and I read that book! Very inspiring. And I'll check out that website -- thanks! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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