Meeting the Needs of the Homeschool Teen
By Mimi Rothschild
For many years, it was common for parents who chose to homeschool their children to do so through the elementary and middle school years. When it came time for high school, however, the homeschool students made the transition to local public and private schools. This decision was often based, in part, on the homeschool parents’ concerns that they could not adequately teach more advanced subjects, such as physics, calculus, algebra and chemistry. We are now seeing a new trend in homeschooling, however. Parents are choosing to homeschool their teenagers, and they are finding many helpful options to fulfill their children’s learning needs.
Why are more and more parents choosing to homeschool their teenagers? One reason is the increase in incidence of school violence. Homeschool parents are also concerned that their children will lose their love of learning if subjects are not presented in a way which stimulates and fosters their interest. With this in mind, homeschool parents are finding creative ways to ensure their children are receiving a well-rounded education which includes a broad range of academic subjects, as well as sports, clubs, social and other activities. One of the major benefits for the homeschool student is that instruction can be tailored to fit their own learning style.
A great resource for homeschool students who do well with traditional learning is distance learning. With distance learning, homeschool students can learn online or via correspondence courses at their own pace. This allows them the ability to move quickly through subjects that are easy for them, and also to spend more time exploring subjects that truly interest them. This also enables homeschool parents to gain some peace of mind knowing their children are receiving a quality education and not missing out in the areas that they don’t feel qualified to teach themselves. Distance learning allows the homeschool student to receive their diploma from an accredited institution without any of the drawbacks of the traditional school setting. Parents who are concerned about this type of program may be interested in knowing that many homeschool students who earn their high school diploma through distance learning graduate sooner than their public school counterparts.
There are some great options for homeschool students who find traditional learning doesn’t work as well for them. One approach to homeschooling, called un-schooling, relies on life experience and the students own interests to teach lessons. An eclectic approach to teaching allows the homeschool student to use a variety of materials and methods to learn. Community colleges are also a wonderful resource for families who decide to homeschool. Students are often able to take classes at the local colleges which open the doors to many opportunities.
No matter your homeschool student’s learning style, there is a method of homeschooling that will work well for them. The homeschool parent no longer has to be nervous about teaching their children through their teen years. With the wide variety of resources available to homeschool students, there is no limit to the things they can see, do and learn.
 E-Mail to a Friend
|