High School Homeschooling And Athletics

Many parents are under the wrong assumption when it comes to high school sports. They may have been told that their high school homeschooling teens will not have access to sports. That is simply not true. While teens may not play on the public high school teams, there are many outlets for athletic teens who homeschool.

Are you debating as to whether you should continue to pursue high school homeschooling? If so, here is a list of the top reasons that many parents choose to continue homeschooling their teens through highschool:

• Families who travel prefer to homeschool through high school.
  Teens can learn a lot about geography, history, customs and life by
  traveling with their parents.
• Teens that homeschool are more
  likely to garner work experience in their desired fields of study
  during high school. This could include paying jobs, internships or
  volunteer positions.
• Generally speaking, teens that homeschool tend to grow closer to their parents than teens who attend public school.
• Parents can save money by homeschooling their teenagers. When you take
  into account clothes, lunches, transportation, tuition for private or
  Christian schools -- homeschooling wins hands down.
• Homeschooling teens develop very strong study habits and can
  work independently. This is important for students who plan to go to
  college.
• Homeschooling teens have more time to pursue their interests over teens who attend school every day.
• Homeschooling teens can graduate earlier than teens who attend regular school.

Develop Your High School Homeschooling Teen's Interests

Here are some practical tips which can help you develop your high school homeschooling teen's interests:

• If your teens are a computers geeks let them volunteer their computer skills at a local church, public library or parks and recreation organization. Geneaological societies will also welcome your teens help.
• If your teens are into politics and social science let them participate in local political campaigns.  
• If your teens are interested in science let them volunteer at your local science museum or college science department.
• If your teens are into writing, encourage them to keep journals. You can also find a local writing club for them to join where their fiction works or poems can be critiqued.
• If your teens are into acting enroll them in acting classes or let them try out for community plays.
• If your teens are into music make sure they have access to teen friendly music cafes. Encourage them to write their own music and participate.

Weather: NASA Lightning Detection from Space

Searching for ways to make your home school science environment more fun? The Internet has a wide variety of resources on just about any topic that you can use to supplement your teaching. For instance, if you were studying weather with your child it would be cool to show them images and videos relating to weather research on the computer.

NASA has investigated the phenomena of lightning from aircraft and the Space Shuttle. This "Lightning Primer" explores the characteristics, the history, and the on-going research about nature's most capricious and deadly member. While you are here, make sure you check out the picture of lightning taken from Columbian crew cabin!

This web site is available at: http://www.ghcc.msfc.nasa.gov/lisotd_old.html

A Rubric For Writing

Here is a sample rubric for writing:

Criteria - Title
Excellent - Title piquest the reader´s curiosity by using unique vocabulary
Acceptable - Title is based on the vocabulary of essay´s content
Not Too Good - Title reiterates name of book or assignment
Starting Over Again - No Title

Criteria - First and Final Paragraphs
Excellent - Strong engagement, and sense of closure
Acceptable - Avoids the template, but doesn´t grab the reader
Not Too Good - Flat, template-like beginning and closure
Starting Over Again - Not distinguishable as beginning and ending paragraphs

Criteria - Paragraph Sequence
Excellent - Uses tect to effect transition from one pargraph to the next
Acceptable - Transition achieved, but by an overuse of traditional words (likewise, so, therefore, et al)
Not Too Good - Paragraphs ordered, but no sense of transition
Starting Over Again - No logical sequence to paragraphs, disjointed

Criteria - Sentence Contruction
Excellent - Variety of sentence forms used to achieve balance
Acceptable - Complex sentences, but too much prose
Not Too Good - Declarative and compound sentences
Starting Over Again - Short declarative sentences

You can easily apply a letter grade to this rubric if that is your preference. It is always handy to word the rubric in such a way that you can hand it to your student in advance and let him know what you are looking for.

Getting Into College, Part 1

In order for your child to get into college, you should keep good records, develop your own transcripts, and have your child take the college entrance exams (SAT, ACT, and CEB). You can obtain information about these tests from your statewide homeschool organization.

Every major college and university accepts homeschooled students; some even seek out college-bound homeschoolers because they are typically serious about learning and do not attend college to party. Recently, a university rejected a homeschooled student on the grounds that the student had not attended an accredited high school, despite the fact that his transcripts and SAT scores would have gained him admission to Harvard. The applicant took the school to court and won admission.

Check into the colleges your child wishes to apply to and obtain their specific requirements. Many private colleges in the US rely on interviews as well as written recommendations to determine the student´s ability to shoulder the school´s workload. Homeschoolers are welcome at these institutions and they do well in college.

Giving Others Homeschool Information

Parents who homeschoolers get asked a lot of questions about the process and procedure. Here are a list of the most frequently asked questions of homeschooling families.

• What will your children do for socialization?
• How can you teach your children if you are not certified?
• Will your children be able to get a diploma?
• Will your child be accepted into college?
• Do you not get tired of being around your children all day?
• What is so wrong about the public school system?
• How will your children ever learn about life?

It is not just parents who get asked a lot of questions about homeschooling. Homeschooled children also find they are asked many questions about homeschooling from their peers. Here is a list of questions that homeschooling children may be asked. Teach them how to give homeschooling information that is informative and positive.

• Don’t you get lonely?
• Don’t you have friends?
• How do you play sports?
• Do you have a social life?
• Why do you homeschool?
• Don’t you think you’d like public school? 
• Do you take tests?
• Do you get a grade card?
• Do you get to sleep late?
• Do you get an “A” in all your subjects?
• How long does it take you to homeschool?
• Will you be able to go to college?
• Do you have homework?