Considering it for one of my early teens, something to combine with home schooling. (Just beginning to explore this, so I know very little about it.)

Have any of you used this option, or ruled it out after researching? Any pointers on what to expect?

Thanks for any info!

I've used with my kids, either to re-do a class they didn't do so well in or as part a a supplement to school. All I can tell you is that all 3 of my kids prefer the traditional classroom environment. They found that it was hard to get ahold of the teacher at some times, and that the curriculum and assignments seemed to be harder. They all passed these classes with A's but it took some teeth pulling if you know what I mean.

Thanks. Just exploring possibilities for my 13 yr old, who hate, hate, hates middle school. He's really bright, but the focus here is on writing all the time, and it is a really difficult skill for him. Lots of ideas, great difficulty articulating them on paper, and it impacts every subject. We're working hard with the school to help him with this, but keeping an eye on other measures.

Been through middle school with two already, and it is my least favorite school period.

See if there is a LIFE SKILLS in your area. They are like home schooling but there is still structure as they are required to go to "school" 4 hours a day.

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GO TONY!!!!!!!!!!! # 20!!!

what is home school? my boys go home when they were done with school for the day.

Online schooling is basically home schooling.

Similar to home schooling, I think success hinges on the child and how he/she learns.
I think it also depends on structure: will they do the work without being pushed and prodded? If you are already homeschooling, I assume you are helping your child, instructing them, making sure they get the work done on a schedule. IMO, online schooling is essentially the same.

You'll get access to the school portal. From there, you're able to access the courses. Usually there will be assignments and quizzes. The child will work as fast as they can or at a pace they are comfortable with.
Midterms and finals must be taken on site or you can choose a proctor. That can be a teacher, policeman, librarian - gosh I can't remember who else. The parent cannot be a proctor.

Pros:
They can work day or night. They can also pick which classes they will work on, in whatever order they please.
Depending on home structure, child can learn with little distractions.
Parent can see what their child is doing, and guide appropriately.
Fast tracking of grades.

Cons:
If child is not familiar or understanding of the work and neither is parent, it can be frustrating. Since a teacher is not there, it can somewhat set the course back.

I think it's great option for kids that are more independent and have parents that are on hand, willing the help and assist.

__________________
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l/ l/ l/
Dont go through life,
GROW through life

Real eyes...realize...real lies.

This makes no sense, why wouldn't you go to school? How do you play on the football team if you don't go to school?

I don't know much about the home schooling process. I know I would never have been able to provide my kids with the level of understanding they needed to succeed after high school. I am not disciplined enough. Good luck if you go with home schooling. It might be just what he needs right now.

In my area, home schooled kids have an organized sports program. It is actually pretty darn good. The kids are generally well coached and show great sportsmanship. I don't know how it works, but if the OP is considering a home school type option, sports may still be an option if that is a potential concern for your son.

I worry that an online program for a kid who doesn't enjoy writing would be an issue because I would think most of the program would be based on handing in written work. I suppose some might accept pictures of projects ???


I feel for the OP. My middle son is more visual than verbal and the transition from elementary to middle (where there is much more dependence on the written word) was a challenge for him in the beginning.

Would love to hear more on this topic. My SIL home schools her 6 children and I think this would really help her with subjects that are hard to teacher.

First of all, not everybody wants to play football. Is that your only reason for sending children to school?
Secondly, most school districts now allow home school and cyber school students to particpate in extra curricular activies.

ETA In Pennsylvania the school district is responsible to pay for the cyber schooling....which is actually more expensive per capita than a traditional student. I don't know about other states.

I have NOT but I did research one briefly and was very, very impressed with one - I think I may have even gotten the link from here. I checked out the website, registered for more information, and within minutes a gentleman called me (and it was a Friday, 4pm-ish my time - which was actually 7 pm-ish his time, EST). If I could have gotten my husband on board, I would have been checking them out more thoroughly.

In case you have not seen this website, here it is: K12: K12 Inc. - Home schooling curriculum, public school options, virtual academy schools, virtual charter, distance learning programs for elementary & high school grades, in Science, Math, History, English, Language Arts and more!

Here's the thread I read about it on:

Homeschooling?? Anyone??

It won't hurt to check it out.

Good luck!

Thanks everyone for all the great information! Gives me a good bit of help in researching.

Not sure whether we'll do this in conjunction with homeschooling, or keep him in a more traditional setting, but I always like to know my options.

Again, thank you.

ok now that we are on this subject,,

Can someone please tell me how long can a child be home schooled? like all the way through high school ? or is it only to 8th grade? and then if they want to further their education like say trade school or college won't they need diplomas to prove they finished HS? or will they just have to say they were homeschooled?

Sorry I am really confused on this

I've been using a dvd series to home school my 2 ds from ABeka Academy. They each take 3 courses with them. They seem to reasonably enjoy them. The 7th grader takes pre-algebra, history and science. The 10th grader takes biology, geometry and spanish. I do the english, religion, etc. ( my younger one talked about being a chef so we had a cooking class this year) myself do I can tailor to their interests.
Judy

I briefly checked out a new K12 school in GA called Georgia Virtual Academy. I was impressed by what I read, but homeschooling is really not for us. If it was, I would probably go with this one or one of the many hybirds (traditional classroom a few days a week and home the rest) that are popping up all over around here.

Sarah........mom to Jason & Devin

We have friends that homeschooled their children all the way through high school graduation. Not something *I* could do.

Don't feed the trolls folks........

my bambino played quarterback, all the girls flocked to him. can you say the same?

I homeschooled both of my kids through HS. My daughter we awarded a diploma to. She and I sat down a made a transcript for her for college. My DS was a different story entirely. By the time he was in about 10th grade I had some problems with our relationship (ahem.....to say the least ) but we were not willing at that point to put him back in public school. We really felt that he was at a very impressionable stage and were concerned what choices he would make. SO....he did what he did and when it came time for him to "graduate" we made him take and pay for his own GED class and he did FABULOUSLY!! I was so proud of him! All the time I fretted that he wasn't getting an education...
He is in his first year at a Bible College and in the Fall plans to attend a local community college.



"my bambino played quarterback, all the girls flocked to him. can you say the same?" qupte from proudusamama.....

for some reason I'm completely grossed out by this comment.........

From my experience with schooling kids and homeschooling........ You can be home schooled and still participate in sports at the local school in your county. I have a lot of kids that I talk to and they are home schooled and do play sports. They just don't go to the school but are allowed to play sports. Its not all about Football or girls.... I feel it is about education.

Even though I do not have children I am around them all day. I am a child psychologist and I have talked to kids from all walks of life. It depends on the child and the parents, on the schooling. Some kids do better in a group of their peers, some dont. I respect any parent who home school's but I don't think I could do it.

Tim Tebow (quarterback for the Fl. Gators) goes to my grandparents church and he was home schooled so I don't know the exact way his parents set it up. But no one can deny it worked for them!!

My soon to be sixth grader will be doing the virtual home school program in addition to some courses that we will do here and into the community. My cousin is a teacher in the middle school that my daughter would be going to and he says if we can do it, DO IT! He says the hormones and the ones who have no decent adults in their own lives ruin the whole experience. He says he spends more time "managing" than actual teaching. (we live in a good area so "supposedly" we should have good kids right?)

I think the key for these types of programs is balance. My cousin and an independent consulting group will be evaluating my daughter once every three months, she is on a running team (girls on the run, GREAT PROGRAM!!) and she is very active in church so not likely that she will be in the house all the time or out of touch with kids who are her own age. She will also being working in the community (volunteering) to support her goal of receiving a Bright Futures scholarship.

By the way, just a bragging moment for me, my daughter won the spelling bee at her school yesterday and she is moving onto the district written spelling test!! Sorry I just HAD to brag!!

Good Luck OP. Don't let ppl online who you don't know and don't have anything to do with your beliefs or convictions bring you down. These ppl could be sitting online just making crap up!! Oh and for anyone who wants to slam or flame me, feel free to bring it! But you will have to do it through Pming b/c I won't be back on this topic!!

GOOD LUCK OP!!

__________________
Vicki


TLJ Women united in Spirit!

Are you forgetting what you post here?
Homeschooling is what you did for your kids until they went to high school.
Remember?
"How young is too young for birth control"

__________________
@@@
l/ l/ l/
Dont go through life,
GROW through life

Real eyes...realize...real lies.

For whoever posted about the K-12 program, we use K-12 and it is wonderful! feel free to pm me if you would like more information or encouragement or anything