Posted on 10/29/2011 12:48:22 PM PDT by STD
K12 is a program designed by Bill Bennet, many school use it through their virtual schools program which makes it free to you. Excellent program.
FYI. If he has any interest of going into the military, they do not like computer based education for a diploma, even though that it is what the military uses for most of there training.
Our community college welcomed both of my home-schooled kiddos with open arms. They do quite well compared to their public (un)educated peers.
And others are quite right, once in the high school curriculum, they should be able to self direct their learning. After all, once you send the kiddos off to college, they need to be able to hit the ground running. College professors don’t have patience with non-performance.
Doesn’t Wisconsin have an online alternative HS?
Also, if you're a member of a church, ask some of your friends if they have info on homeschooling and other educational alternatives.
My son is not homeschooled, but because of scheduling and availability of classes, he is on his second class with Aventa. I think they just merged with K12. His is a bit different because there is a coordinator at the high school who also oversses his progress.
He did health in the summer (did not fit in the schedule) and is doing AP Physics now (school did not offer it). There are three of them in the physics class. The nice thing is that it is certified as a schooling alternative in our state (and in many states), so we do not have to pay for it.
Our daughter is likely to do K12 starting in September for middle school (she has already skipped a grade and is 1-4 grade levels ahead in all her subjects). I love their curriculum ... it’s better than our school’s. I also love that they pre-test the kids so they start them at the right level for each subject area. Their math program is great, science is completely amazing, and the language is very good ... lots of classics and very rigorous.
Our son is loving his AP Physics. I can only say good things about K12/Aventa.
http://www.robinsoncurriculum.com/
I’ve never used it, but I would strongly recommend a detailed review of it, as IMHO it looks like the developer knows what they’re talking about and the program has had quite successful clients according to the website.
This would be the start of my search if I was in need of a homeschool program.
Be sure to join the Home School Legal Defense Association, HSLDA. It will intercede on your behalf when the local authoritives attempt to intervene. You need to have the HSLDA in place before such a thing happens.
Check to see if your state university offers an on-line or self directed high school.
This might be a good alternative.
I see you are in WI. I did exactly what you did, and regularly get comments on how exemplary my kids turned out, when I had the same problems as you.
Number one, get in touch with a WI co-op or HS group. They are filled with moms experienced in WI (HS is very individual to the state) and they will guide you. Some states have all kids of alternatives for HS, there are clubs, virtual learning etc. Most moms I know did a combo. Almost all the kids are in college.
I would recommend strongly that you not use a pagan curriculum. Otherwise, you are just doing government school at home.
CLASS (from Christian Liberty Academy) is Christian and academically very sound. CLASS provides various forms of assistance (not just a pile of books)and is also inexpensive.
Switched-On Schoolhouse is something else that is affordable that you might use to supplement CLASS.
http://www.homeeducator.com/HEFS/
we use these guys to keep track of our credits. You can do their designed curiculumn or design your own. They have a graduation if you want one. Nice people and I respect them totally.
Wow, how do I get signed up?
Hi, I’ve homeschooled three teen boys and all went on to college with no problem. One has a BS in Physics (UCLA), one got an EMT certificate, and one is currently a math major.
15 years old - Sophomore?
Foreign Language: the Learnables. If he’s already well versed in a foreign language, Power Glide.
Science: Biology or Chemistry as appropriate; Apologia, publisher.
PE: Do get him in a sport of some kind.
Art: If interested, the Art History course by Barry Stebbins is very good.
Math: Algebra 1 or 2, as appropriate, by Saxon. Get a DIVE CD to accompany it if you are uncertain about your ability to teach this level of math.
History: American History by Bob Jones University Press. If he knows his American History well, do World History by A Beka. If he knows both well, have him read biographies of important historical figures of his choice and write book reports upon them. Geography is a rarely taught subject in the public schools. If that’s true in his cas, have him pick a continent at a time from the Evan-Moor series of workbooks which are one continent per book. Yes, it says grades 4-6, but, my high school teen is getting plenty out of it. And have him read and know the Constitution, the Declaration, the Pledge and the Star Spangled Banner!
English: English skills can vary so widely. Does he spell well? If not, use Spelling Power. Does he write grammatically? If not, get Winston Grammer. American Literature by A Beka, or if well versed in American Literature, An Introduction to British Literature by Bob Jones University Press. If he’s good at grammar and spelling, start him in on proofreading with the You Be The Editor series.
Economics: Have him read such classics as Economics in One Lesson, the Clipper Ship Strategy, and Whatever Happened to Penny Candy. Read with him and discuss afterwards.
Let us know how it goes!
I’m late to the discussion here, but here’s a link you will find helpful. Click on the following link for a thread that we homeschool parents on Free Republic put together. At the top of the thread, there’s advice on how to start homeschooling. Scroll down for a compilation of books and curricula recommended by homeschool parents here on Free Republic:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2346553/posts
The link is also on my profile page. Btw, my eldest son is 15, is homeschooled, and he is considered “black”, and our predominately white school district is plagued with the same problems - drugs, etc. Remove your son from school and look into homeschool support groups and cooperatives, where he can meet and learn together with other nice teens, and community college courses. Good luck.
Illinois, or Wisconsin whomever has the better. We own homes in either state.
Happy for your son....Sounds like he knew what he wanted, and did it!! Great!!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.