Places to Chat
*breathesOka
Chatterbox: Down to Earth
*breathesOka
*breathes
Okay. So. Urm. Ugh.
I want desperatly to homeschool high-school. I've planned out my curriculum (right now I'm 7th, going into 8th) and I want to present it to my parents.
But I'm worried.
If they don't accept it, I'll struggle with 4 years in my public high school. I'd rather die. But this way, I'm giving myself a great education. They won't have to do much other than grade my work, because I have actually planned an independent curriculum.
I'm terrified to present it to them. I think I'll wait until next year. But, I really think that this will be better for me. Since so many of you homeschool, I was wondering if any of you had to ask your parents. If so... how did you do it?
I already know what I want to say, but when?
And where?
And how?
I really need to homeschool.
Because after next year, it'll be back to that place. That they call school.
Where
I'll
Be
Miserable.
Anyone from MA especially, please comment!
submitted by S.E.
(March 18, 2016 - 6:13 pm)
(March 18, 2016 - 6:13 pm)
Oh... I see your problem. I know that MA has very high standards. But... Why are you miserable? Is it because of the standards? Are there bullies?
(March 18, 2016 - 8:29 pm)
Right... this is before everyone who's new came on here...
So, I have had trouble in school often because I am apparently accelerated 4 or 5 grade levels above mine... so I had severe issues with boredom and behavior in school. This year, we found an amazing private school that I'm going to this year and next year, but then it ends and I'm going to public HS.
But I think that I'll die if I do that.
(March 19, 2016 - 6:35 am)
Hi! I homeschool and it is great. What I would do is present all the pros of homeschooling to them. Like, homeschooling kids get better grades, etc. Name all the cons of public schooling, outline why you don't want to go back, tell them your curriculum plan, have them approve it, tell them you'll work really hard. I would also recommend a curriculam that has some stuff graded by graders. I do Seton homeschooling and it has been a wonderful experience. Hope this helps!
(March 19, 2016 - 7:18 am)
My problem? My parents believe I won't be socialized because I don't socialize myself in public school or private school. If I homeschooled, though... I know I would.
(March 19, 2016 - 1:50 pm)
Socialization? I agree, it is hard, but I join all the sports I can. Also, I find that going to a park in your neighborhood helps. I do have trouble socializing too, so I feel your pain!
(March 20, 2016 - 7:31 am)
I've never ever been to regular school. Kids would make fun of me because, for example, I don't even know what Social Studies are, and I had to ask someone what "Home room" was because I hear it in books all the time.
I'd be a mess in regular school because I wouldn't know what I was doing.
(March 19, 2016 - 7:23 am)
What is homeroom anyway?
I'd love to be homeschooled because I can't stand being around and communicating actively with other people. But I go to public school and try to live through every day because I know that if I don't go to school then my parents will disown me. Also, my conscience wouldn't be able to bear not going to school.
Homeroom is the classroom where pupils report, especially at the beginning of each school day, for attendance, announcements, etc., before beginning classes, which may be in different rooms of the school with different teachers.
Admin
(March 19, 2016 - 10:13 am)
Totally agree, Rosebud. I had a friend tht was trying to explain it to me, and i was like uh, what?
(March 20, 2016 - 7:34 am)
Wow! 4-5 grades higher! That's amazing! But I still don't quite understand your problem.
Rose bud: lol, I don't know what a home room is, either.
(March 19, 2016 - 9:42 am)
I homeschool and it's awesome! I'm middle-school age, but I get to take high school-level courses and arrange my own schedule and do all sorts of extracurriculers public schoolers would never be able to do. I'm sure I would die in public school-- I see your point. Unfortunately I don't know if I can be of any help because I never had to ask my parents.
Good for you making your own curriculum! My parents, at least, always want to know details, so it might help if you told your parents some details of your plans. Also if you got the support of another teacher or adult they might be convinced.
I live in PA, and in our system my parents don't have to grade my work. All we have to do is have me take an incredibly easy test every few years, and have a certified teacher tell the state every year that I'm actually learning something.
What do you have to do in MA when you're a homeschooler?
Of course there's always online schooling but I'm sure you've already considered that and it's something else entirely.
(March 19, 2016 - 11:38 am)
You planned your own curriculum? Wow - kudos to you! That must have taken some serious work.
As for convincing your parents . . . let's see.
First off, I think you should be prepared for any questions they'll have. You're already showing responsibility by creating an entire curriculumn and trying to do it in a way that would make their work as little as possible, and that is great. But if you aren't prepared with any of their concerns, that only goes so far - it makes your look responsible and prepared to have an answer for (at least) most of the questions they'll ask. For instance - will there be a problem of you being home alone? Have you covered the required subjects in your curriculum? (MA is a hard state to homeschool, I know - they have a lot of tests and formal red tape and a lot of subjects you have to teach.) If you plan to go to college, will this curriculum equip you with what you need? Do you have plans for dual credit (if it's possible and affordable) or something that might help you with college? If you are stuck in a subject and can't understand it, do you know how you'll try and understand it?
You mentioned that the social aspect is an important one for your parents. I suppose they mean face to face interactions . . . this one is one that I also struggle with. Depending on where you're located and the transportation issue, extracurricular activities aren't limited to school. The local theater, sports, dance, etc. If you go to church, they may have something if you're not already in it. Volunteering at an animal shelter or library may bring you some social interaction and also count as volunteering hours on a college resume.
As for how and when to talk to your parents -
If you have younger siblings, maybe find a time when you can talk to both of your parents alone - sometime when they can listen to you (over a shopping trip probably isn't the best, or during a car trip). Explain how miserable you are at public school and state specific reasons why, how homeschooling has its benifits, how you'd be willing to work, etc. Show them how much this means to you.
Are they used to the idea of you wanting to homeschool? (I assume they
are.) What kind of attitude do they have towards it? I think sometimes
this year would be a good idea to approach them about it, so it won't be
last minute and if they do accept it, they'll have time to review your
plans and modify it if necessary. Are their plans for your high school
existant? Set in stone? Flexible? Is there any way that if they completely veto the homeschooling, that you could find a private school that would satisfy the both of you? Could you try a trial period of homeschooling, say, over the summer if you have to, to try and put some of the plan into work and give both of you a chance to see how it would go?
(March 19, 2016 - 7:43 pm)
Funny story... the document that had everything on it got deleted, so I had to redo the entire thing! It was horrible! But, yeah.
I've prepared for most questions, done hours of research, etc, but I'm still working on transportation. I know I can bike everywhere within like 5 miles, but they don't trust me to take the T alone or anything to go into Boston (I don't blame them).
One huge part (not huge, but important) part of the curriculum is dual enrolling, cuz I want to take some college courses for things I can't do at home like Lab and stuff like that.
Still, socialization is the issue. I can prove I can do it, though... idea!
Their plans for high school aren't positive either, so I'm not worried about having to change. I'm more worried about explaining socialization.
(March 20, 2016 - 6:23 am)
I really wish I was homeschooled. But, lucky me, both my parents work full time. And my mom said she wouldn't be a very good teacher. I mean, cyber school would be theoretically possible, but then I'd be home alone for about 8 hours every day, which is not happening. But even though they said no, I most certainly did ask to be homeschooled, and this is how it went. I came home from school and did my homework. Very quickly. And then made a few comments on how it was too easy. Then I said that I was reading a book where a girl was homeschooled (I actually was. There are SO many homeschoolers in books) and talked a bit about how much BookCharacter liked it. And how I thought it was cool. Then I just plain asked. Stated some facts. Told 'em my plan. Begged a bit. Complained some. You know, the typical "I want that" signs for a child. But, no. It didn't work, obviously, but I wish it did. Oh yeah, and I also told her about how loads of CBers were homeschooled.
(March 20, 2016 - 8:41 am)
S.E, is your school really that easy? I have trouble at my school because it's hard. :(
(March 20, 2016 - 1:40 pm)
Which one? Right now, it's super challenging, but not unconquerably hard. Just stuff like Trig and all that loverly ness.
If you mean high school... I just work fast. I was evaluated at one point, and I hate talking about this, but I was classified as a "genius." I see myself as an idiot, but that's another story.
Anyway... Yay! (sarcasm)
(March 20, 2016 - 7:09 pm)