<p>Okay, I have asked and answered quite a bit of questions on here. But this one is probably going to be my most important one. </p>
<p>So my 9th grade year was okay. I did the basics in our curriculum, but somehow, we've fallen behind. Not many EC's or test prep either. Well, I've been asking questions, researching, checking out books, ect. I've came up with a good plan and organized information to make the rest of my high school years great. </p>
<p>Just one thing: my parents. They are not negligent at all, but this is only their second year of home-schooling, and they're kinda...out there. I want to show them this information without being, the following:</p>
<p>Immature
Unresponsible
Looking like I don't know what I'm talking about
Whiny
or anything else bad....</p>
<p>How do I do this effectively? I want to show them that they can do this, not get them discouraged.
When should I do this? Right after this year? During the summer? Right before 10th grade?
Should I go with subject by subject, year by year, or some other format?</p>
<p>If you are a home-schooling parent, PLEASE answer this!</p>
<p>Thank You in Advance!</p>
<p>I expect this depends on the parent and her/his control needs, but personally, I would appreciate my kid’s taking the bit between her teeth and figuring out her program for herself. Of course, you would need to be positive, to listen carefully to other points of view, and to revise the plan with their input. I only homeschooled one year, but I found it both exciting to see all the possibilities, and challenging to interest my kid in the things I found interesting (she was younger than you are). </p>
<p>You might want to start by bringing the subject up before your Big Presentation, so they know you’ve been thinking about it; talk about your concerns in a way that is not complaining, but let them know you’re starting to get worried, so that if you can present a good plan it will come as a relief to them, rather than as a correction of their current path–especially if they’re homeschooling you as an alternative to overly pressured high schools, in which case their being “out there” might be a deliberate path they’ve taken for your benefit, and you’ll need to let them know that being freeform can be just as stressful. You should think about them and their motives, like any salesman or politician, so they perceive your actions as helpful rather than threatening or negative. If you’re planning to go to college, are you going to need financial aid? Have they thought about it? Have you? To get good FA, you’ll need to have a good plan, and you’ve made a start now–they may or may not have thought of it, but it’s definitely a lever for most parents. One starting point, then, may be the need to take the PSATs for NM scholarships, and they’re coming right up next fall.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I agree that PSAT prep for this fall would be a good place to start.
The homeschool math team in our area is amazing and does very well in competitions. Do you have any homeschool resources in your community?</p>
<p>Thank you for both answers. I have definitely told them that I would like to talk to them one day, but I didn’t do it in a way where it was complaining-ish. I want it to go over smoothly, and I understand one big talk is not going to make it perfect. It’s a process, and I just want to let them in on, on what I’ve found out. PSAT prep sounds like a good place to begin, but I have just one question: when? I just don’t know when’s the best time to talk to them.</p>
<p>@siliconvalleymom: I’m sure they’re some co-ops in my area. I have some homeschooled friends, but none of them really want to do college. Sometimes I feel like I’m on my own, and I know talking with my parents will get us on the same page. Researching local co-ops sound good also.</p>
<p>tofugirl-</p>
<p>Speaking as the parent of a homeschooled kid, since 7th grade, I think the fact that you are taking the initiative shows you are not immature. Homeschooling can be a very difficult thing to navigate, as we know too well, and having a child that is self motivated makes it a lot easier. I have known parents who home schooled, and some of them complain about having to keep the kid focused, do everything to get them to do the work. Having a child think about the future like that should be received warmly IMO.</p>
<p>In terms of talking to your parents, the best way IMO, speaking as a parent, would be to make it a positive, something like “I really like homeschooling like this, I like the flexibility it has and the ability for us as a family to decide what we do, rather then being told what to do. Wnat I wanted to talk to you about is my goals for the next three years, and what I think I need to do to achieve them, and what I am hoping to do is get your feedback/help in putting together the plan to do this”. At this point, tell them what your goal is (I want to be able to get into a good school, hopefully doing well enough to get scholarships, whatever it is, and then show them what you have come up with, and ask them for their feedback.</p>
<p>My other suggestion might be that since you are not part of a co-op or other program, have you looked into possibly using one of the online homeschool programs? There are a lot of them out there, and many of them provide a structure to doing a course, you get the textbook and assignments and such and can work at your own pace, but still have the structure of a program, many of which are accredited as well. Keystone is a well known one, but there are others, you may want to think of that as an alternative…</p>
<p>Wish you luck!</p>
<p>Thank you! Yes, I am in a umbrella school that sends me curriculum(CLASS). I love the way you suggested it!</p>
<p>I am not a home-schooling mom…but I have a kid who seizes the bit and rides out! I’ve been ‘persuaded’ enough to know what she does and how she does it.</p>
<p>Speaking as an older parent, it isn’t easy to keep enthusiasm for a new way of doing things up when you get into the day-to-day drudgery of it all. This is why most New Year’s Resolutions peter out by Valentine’s Day!</p>
<p>You might remind your folks why you started homeschooling in the first place. That you knew it would be difficult and that you feel it’s time to start taking some of the planning and organizing burden off their shoulders. Spin it into making their lives easier, as well as improving your chances at a strong and self-supporting future. </p>
<p>I suggest you analyze the specifics of where you feel you are falling short right now…is it Math, Lit, Science? At the end of this year’s ‘grade’, plan a meeting to discuss what you think the strengths and weaknesses of the program are. Start with compliments on the strengths, then segue into how to shore up the weaknesses. Make it about how you feel as if you are falling behind your peers but keep watch for any pitfalls that might make it seem as if you are criticizing your folks’ handling of the situation. You don’t want to get into personalities…focus on the specifics of the program. </p>
<p>There’s a test called the SSAT which is given to kids looking to go to boarding school or other competitive grade schools. There are practice tests on line. It could give you a metric to show whether you are <em>really</em> falling behind or whether the program you are doing isn’t feeding your mind enough. You sound very bright and articulate. Your program may not be ‘gifted’ enough for you. </p>
<p>It’s a Parent-Teacher Conference where the parents are the teachers too! Good luck.</p>