Driver's Ed. anyone?

[Guest classedmom]

Well, we're finally ready to look into driver's ed. here in CA. What are others doing? Working with the local HS are out of the question as the local Super. is homeschool-hostile, unless you're part of the public ISP. Any recommendations for online or other services?

Blessings,

Karin in Fillmore

[Pamela H in Texas]

We use Drivers Ed in a Box. Very happy with it.

[Bev in B'ville]

a local technical college. They offered a 6-week class (all day on Saturday for six weeks) or a 1-week full-time class during the summer (8-5, M-F for a whole week). The class was good overall, and the cost will be more than made up for by the discount we'll get with our insurance company. Make sure you get a certificate with the course to submit to your insurance.

[Zoraida]

Drivers Ed in a Box and lots of country road practice.

 

Blessings

 

Zoraida

[Nan in Mass]

So it is easy for homeschoolers. We wound up waiting until our son was 18 and just skipping the whole thing, though, and teaching him ourselves. The one problem with that is that we are now scrambling to get him enough practice that he doesn't kill himself and his friends (he'll automatically be the designated driver if his older brother has anything to do with it sigh) when he goes off to college. And waiting until 18 means you have less control than you do with a 16yo, even though you can say, "It is my car; I set the rules." My 18yo is cooperative, but I might get the youngest his license earier just to save arguments. My advice is to warn them before they even begin that there will be a long apprenticeship during which they are only allowed to drive during daylight and with radio and no friends in the car, even after they get their license. Think about and set the ground rules before the first lesson. My other advice is to set ground rules that will work for any child, in case you wind up with a wilder one later. That way you won't be dealing with the but-you-let-him problem. This is truly one of the scariest things about having teenagers, convenient, but scary.

-Nan

[Brilliant]

We are LOVING the class offered through our AAA office. It was $388 which includes 30 hours of classroom time, plus 6 hrs of behind-the-wheel. That's about $100 more than the other options in our area (on-line ed + separate behind-the-wheel). But now that my dd is halfway through it, I honestly believe the AAA hype that their class is superior! She is learning so much. (she points out mistakes I didn't know I was making while driving!). Of course, this will vary for each office, but we also LOVE the instructor. She has been so helpful, patient, encouraging, yet firm.

 

If anyone is within a reasonable driving distance of the Anaheim Hills, CA AAA office...sign up for the next class with Torry. :) And if you're within a reasonable distance of any other AAA office, I can still highly recommend the curriculum.

[CAMom]

We are LOVING the class offered through our AAA office.

 

If anyone is within a reasonable driving distance of the Anaheim Hills, CA AAA office...sign up for the next class with Torry. :) And if you're within a reasonable distance of any other AAA office, I can still highly recommend the curriculum.

 

Hey!! My teen took that class with Torry last fall!:D I was so incredibly happy with it!

 

I would seriously recommend AAA driver's ed to anyone!

[AngieW in Texas]

We're using Driver's Ed in a Box. It's one of the approved programs in Texas.

 

I really like that it requires 50 hours of actual driving practice.

 

My dd has had 18.5 hours of actual practice so far. The classroom stuff is all done on the computer with automatic grading, so I don't have to mess with it at all. There's also a DVD that we watch together whenever the computer program tells her to go watch it.

 

The hardest parts of Driver Ed in a Box are finding places to practice that fit the requirements for the lesson (large, empty parking lots are harder to find than I thought) and trying not to go into a panic while your kid is driving.

[Guest driverstest]

I recently stumbled across this fantastic resource for helping your kids pass their permit test. They offer totally free, fully customizable tests. It's cool because you do not need to sign up, you can just start taking practice questions immediately and get the results to your permit practice test questions right away. I really suggest you check it out, Drivers Test Practice.

[choirfarm]

 

The hardest parts of Driver Ed in a Box are finding places to practice that fit the requirements for the lesson (large, empty parking lots are harder to find than I thought) and trying not to go into a panic while your kid is driving.

 

Hi Angie,

 

Yep, we are doing that, too. My son and I did quiet neighborhoods today. Look at large churches in your area. We did the parking lot at my church. Dh drops me off for praise team and then spends the hour driving around before Sunday School.

 

I really like Driver's Ed in a Box.

Christine

[Pamela H in Texas]

Major Holidays are a great time. Of course, it helps that we don't celebrate them. But my daughter's first lesson was on Thanksgiving day at an outlet mall.

[Ellie]

There are two parts to acquire a driver's license in California (for people under 18yo): driver education (classroom) and driver training (behind-the-wheel). There is a certificate of completion for each one; there is also one form that is a certificate of completion for both.

 

Theoretically, you can acquire a requisition form from the DMV and order your own certificates. There's no cost for that. In the past, however, it was difficult to acquire that requisition form. I don't know if that has changed or not. If you're a member of HSDLA, you can call and ask how to go about that. You might also try CHN or HSC.

 

Driver's Ed in a Box might be a good course, but you still have to have those certificates from the DMV. According to Driver's Ed in a Box, you can get the Driver Ed Certificate from them when your dc completes the course. The web site says your dc must enroll in a commercial behind-the-wheel class to get the driver license, but this is not so. You only need a certificate of completion; you sign it veryifying that your dc has done the required number of hours--IOW, your dc does NOT have to enroll in an outside class.

 

Anyway, check with HSLDA, CHN, or HSC about the requisition form.

[choirfarm]

Yes, Driver's Ed in a Box you have to do classroom and behind the wheel. And they will send you a certificate of completion. They have a curriculum for each state, I think. They send you all the forms and everything. It is great. They have a Texas parental supplement with all the forms and such. So see if they have one for California. If so, it will take you through step by step.

 

Christine

[Ellie]

Yes, Driver's Ed in a Box you have to do classroom and behind the wheel. And they will send you a certificate of completion. They have a curriculum for each state, I think. They send you all the forms and everything. It is great. They have a Texas parental supplement with all the forms and such. So see if they have one for California. If so, it will take you through step by step.

 

Christine

There is one for California, but its information as far as the second part of the process isn't completely accurate, as I mentioned above. :-)

[Ellie]

I recently stumbled across this fantastic resource for helping your kids pass their permit test. They offer totally free, fully customizable tests. It's cool because you do not need to sign up, you can just start taking practice questions immediately and get the results to your permit practice test questions right away. I really suggest you check it out, Drivers Test Practice.

You didn't just "stumble across" this resource. Sheesh.