HIGH SCHOOL EDITION #13
By Heather Idoni
Added Monday, October 26, 2009
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The Homeschooler's Notebook
***SPECIAL SERIES - High School Homeschooling***
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Vol. 10 No 79 October 26, 2009
ISSN: 1536-2035
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Copyright (c) 2009 - Heather Idoni, FamilyClassroom.net
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Welcome to The Homeschooler's Notebook!
If you like this newsletter, please recommend it to a friend!
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Notes from Heather
-- Music Lessons at Home
Feature Article
-- Homeschool Apprenticeships
Helpful Tip for High School
-- High School Lapbooking
Answers to Reader Question
-- Equine Science Resources?
Additional Notes
-- Newsletter Archives
-- Sponsorship Information
-- Reprint Information
-- Subscriber Information
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Notes from Heather
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Apprenticeships for Teens
---
In our featured article this issue, Maggie Hogan shares the stories
of 2 homeschooled teens who were blessed with career training through
apprenticeship opportunities. She also tells us how parents can be
proactive in procuring situations that provide for a student to learn
while volunteering (or in some cases even working for pay) in areas
that fit their individualized interests.
I'd love to read more REAL LIFE stories from those of you who know
homeschooled students in unique apprenticeship-style arrangements!
True accounts like these educate and inspire all of us. :-)
Please write! Send your email to: heather@familyclassroom.net
with "Apprenticeship Story" in the subject line.
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Considering Music Lessons?
---
My friend Mary Ann, from www.TheHomeschoolMom.com, recently received
an email from a reader who was very pleased to be introduced to one
of our mutual sponsors, Legacy Learning Systems.
Tina writes...
"Thank you so much for recommending the Legacy Homeschool Curriculum.
I rarely if ever buy any curriculum, but I recently purchased the
'Learn and Master Guitar' for me to teach my nine year old son. I am
so impressed with the integrity of the program. Not to mention it
arrived via USPS only a few short days after I ordered it. We have
already begun the first session and I know enough about the guitar
to at least feel like I'm playing. I can tell this is going to be a
very productive year. Thanks for help finding the good stuff that's
out there. It's nice to know that I can trust your judgment."
P.S. -- Mary Ann also wanted me to let our readers know that her
husband has just started the guitar program and he LOVES it so far!
She said he is impressed with how much material it includes and he's
been practicing every day. :-)
If you are interested in music lessons for your children but know
that you can't afford a private teacher (or your schedule just won't
accommodate it), I would really encourage you to take the time to
read and research at our sponsor's site in the ad section below.
-- Heather
---
Do you have comments to share? Please do!
Send your emails to: mailto:heather@familyclassroom.net
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Feature Article
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High School Apprenticeship at Home
by Maggie S. Hogan
There are a great number of ways to creatively gain high school
credit at home besides using a curriculum bought from a publisher.
At this age, volunteer work, as well as paid employment, can be
counted as a work experience elective. For example, a student
with an interest in nursing can volunteer at a local hospital,
nursing home, crisis pregnancy center, or other health care
facility. A student interested in wildlife management may
want to volunteer at a state park, nature center, or wildlife
preserve. Even just a "plain old job" has much value in teaching
responsibility, time management, work ethics, accountability,
and much more. It is perfectly reasonable to award a credit for
a part-time job held throughout the school year.
What about apprenticeship? Apprenticeship by definition is
"training in an art, trade, or craft, under a legal agreement
defining the relationship between master and learner and the
duration and conditions of their relationship". This kind of
mentoring goes a step further than just a job. It's a well-
thought-out plan of action. The key to successful apprenticeship
is a blend of instruction and "hands-on" experience supervised
by an expert in the field. This has gained much popularity among
homeschoolers for several reasons:
-- It's practical. What better way to learn a business than under
the tutelage of a "master" in the field?
-- It's do-able. Within our circle of family, church, and friends,
it is quite likely we could find the right match for our student.
-- It's good preparation. Wouldn't we all like our young people
prepared for "real life"?
Two True Tales
"Is it my imagination, or is Flossie standing exactly where and how
she was last night?" Janice asked her family aloud. Her 11 year
old daughter, Lauren, assured her that it was not her imagination
and that she had been trying to tell her mom that Flossie looked
sick! Their two acres out in the country filled with all description
of animals was exactly to this middle child's liking. She willingly
worked hard on the property and had earned the title, "Farm Manager".
They called the vet, who came out and examined the pregnant cow,
Flossie. It was a good thing they called her when they had, because
it turned out that Flossie was in pretty bad shape.
Thus began their relationship with a large animal vet. Being the
child who always loved animals, Lauren was extremely interested in
all the procedures that this doctor performed on her many visits.
One visit prompted the inevitable "Why are your children home during
the day?" question and the answer, question, answer, question, answer
type conversation that inevitably follows that particular inquiry.
(The doctor was intrigued enough by homeschooling that she attended
our state conference that year.)
Lauren was so very interested in learning more about how people
help sick animals that eventually the vet was asked if Lauren
could possibly accompany her on her rounds one day. The answer
was positive, and sure enough, the day came when Lauren was invited
to go along. She loved it. Then, unexpectedly, she was invited to
go again, and again, and again! Lauren treasured those experiences
and longed for more.
A friend suggested that Janice should try to establish a relationship
with the vet where Lauren could accompany her once each week in
exchange for Lauren volunteering her labor once each week. The
labor would be the "dirty work" that needs to be done but that no
one relishes. The doctor instantly agreed to the arrangement, and
the following year was a very happy one for the "Farm Manager".
During this time she learned all kinds of things and was functioning
as a nurse-assistant. Her expertise grew to where she could anticipate
what tool was needed during surgery and was invited to tag along
whenever there was something particularly interesting happening.
She even looked forward to doing the work on her volunteer evening.
Sometimes she washed the trucks, sometimes she did paper work,
sometimes she filled pill bottles, and sometimes she cleaned the
office. She worked hard and enthusiastically. The arrangement
worked out great for everyone involved and was continued into the
next year. This shy, middle child grew into a self-confident,
knowledgeable young lady.
The following year it became apparent to the veterinarian that the
business had grown to the point where she needed to hire part-time
help. To whom do you suppose she offered the position? Of course,
Lauren was exceedingly pleased. It not only was her first paying
job; it was a job at which she was skilled and one she dearly loved.
When it came time to figure out her high school science requirements,
it was easy assigning her a credit for science after the many hours
of labor and incredible knowledge she had gained during those years.
Now, ten years later, we find Lauren has earned her nursing degree!
BJ was a quiet kid like his dad. He enjoyed playing the piano and
messing around with his friends. There was one thing that really
got him excited, though, and that was computers. As soon as he
finished his studies each day, he would spend whatever time he could
on the computer. His mom got him books on programming, and he pored
over them. What he read, he put into action on their Mac. Over the
years, his interest grew. He really wasn't sure he was interested in
going to college; he really *was* sure he was interested in computers!
His parents took the money they had saved up for his college
education and bought him a state-of-the-art computer, printer, and
many peripherals. He had learned so much about computers and
programming over the years, they believed he would learn what he
needed to know to be a valuable employee or entrepreneur if just
given exposure to the right equipment.
At about this time, BJ began volunteering in the TV studio at their
church. He started out sweeping the floors and emptying wastecans.
Just by being there, he was learning much. Folks began to notice
that he had an incredible amount of interest and aptitude in the
use of computers in television and movie production and was even
able to help them through various difficulties which arose. Soon a
paying position opened up and BJ applied for and got the job. Then
the homeschool graduate was making good money doing what he loved.
Now, several years later, his reputation in his city for being the
fellow who knows how to handle problems that arise in computer and
film production is well established. BJ is in demand for this type
of consulting and is happily occupied in his life's work.
Experience is the best teacher... so the saying goes. Many young
people are taking advantage of the enormous opportunities available
to them as home educated students. The flexible schedules they
usually possess, as well as the ability to take the time to really
focus on an area of interest, are very valuable and envied by many
of their non-homeschooled peers.
However, these opportunities don't usually just jump into your lap. It
takes an alert, caring, tuned-in adult to search out the possibilities,
to turn occurrences into opportunities, and then to encourage the
student to actively participate in them. There are many adults who
would be pleased and honored to share their vocation with an interested
young person. Pray, look, and be prepared for amazing opportunities!
---
Maggie and Bob Hogan live in Dover, DE where they began homeschooling
their two (now grown) sons in 1991. Maggie is a nationally known
speaker and co-author of The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide,
Gifted Children at Home, Young Scholar's Guide to Classical Composers
and other resource books. She and Bob are also owners of Bright Ideas
Press, publishers of the all new Illuminations curriculum as well as
the award winning: Mystery of History series, Christian Kids Explore
series and All American History series. When not reading or writing,
Maggie can be found playing with her granddaughter and drooling over
travel brochures.
Copyright, 2009. All rights reserved by author.
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Helpful Tip
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Lap Books for High School Level Science
"Live and Learn Press offers some AWESOME lap books. I had
previously tried some from another source and was overwhelmed.
These lap books are complete except for the paper! My 13 year
old has used the ones for Apologia Science and I give the lap
book half the credit for her 'A'. It broke down the information
in smaller pieces and she has done so well in General and Physical
Science." -- Jackie, member of the Homeschool Share Yahoo Group
Homeschool Share is an amazing website with free resources for
unit studies, lap books and more -- all shared freely by its
members. While most of the units and helps are for children
younger than high school level, take a look around and I'm sure
you will find lots of ideas you can use for high school, too!
---
Do you have an idea, experience, or tip to share? Please write!
Send to: mailto:HN-ideas@familyclassroom.net
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High School Question
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"Hi -- I enjoyed the issue I read today about the stages of
homeschooling. My daughter will be a senior next year and would
like her last year of science to be equine studies. Our cover school
said it would be okay if we focus on anatomical studies. She needs a
fourth science for her advanced diploma -- she has taken physical
science, biology and now chemistry. We need help locating resources
to meet this level of course material. We actually raise horses; she
already has 8 on the farm. Please -- any suggestions?" -- Pam
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Reader Responses
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"Many of our large animal vets welcome youth to ride with them.
The youth learns and the vet has an extra pair of hands! If I
were you, I would be asking the local large animal vets about
letting her assist them. Then you could also cover anatomical
studies and give her a great foundation, plus it would be a hands-on
experience she could not duplicate in the classroom." -- Debbie
[Editor's note: I found it to be an interesting coincidence that
our featured article was planned well before the question from Pam
-- and Debbie's answer! I, too, would recommend the apprenticeship
idea for your daughter, Pam. Also -- has she ever watched the old
BBC series 'All Creatures Great and Small'? Some of the episodes
involve horses, but I think she'd really enjoy the whole idea of
watching country vets in action. Great material for discussion!]
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"Ask your vet to recommend books or resources that might be helpful.
Visit a local veterinary college and ask for suggestions. You might
search the web and see what you find.
A quick search on the web found these resources below." -- Liz
Equine Anatomy Website (might be a good supplement to a curriculum)
http://www.eec-equine-therapy.com/Equine-Anatomy.html
Essential Equine Studies - Anatomy and Physiology:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0851318932?ie=UTF8&tag=hsaudio-20
[Editor's note: I found a great horse anatomy coloring book, too!]
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1577790219?ie=UTF8&tag=hsaudio-20
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"In Olds, Alberta, Canada (population 7200), Olds College offers
an equine science class by video conferencing.
http://www.oldscollege.ca/programs/Equine/index.htm
Not sure if it would be accepted for credit in the U.S. or not, but
you could contact Olds College." -- G.G.
[Editor's note: One of our readers, a homeschool dad, does equine
massage for a living, which is a specialty offered by the college
above! You could also go into equine dentistry! Dig deeper and
you may find an opportunity in one of these specialty fields. The
dad I know does quite well and is in high demand. -- Heather]
---
"You may have to compile multiple smaller units to make up her year
of equine studies. Amanda Bennett has a great unit study on horses
that would make a wonderful introduction to a full year course.
You may also want to check around your area for trainers/breeders...
they can be a wealth of information. There is actually one near
us who offers an equine anatomy course for a full semester for
homeschoolers. Also, my daughter (15) does volunteer work with a
therapeutic stable that offers hippo-therapy for disabled children.
Organizations like that are always looking for volunteers. Perhaps
that, as well as caring for your own horses, could count as 'lab
work' for a course that you create yourself, or that she creates!
You could check with your local universities that offer equine
studies to see what their courses look like and use that as a guide.
Good luck!" -- Bonnie
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New Reader Question for Next Regular Issue
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"I have been home educating my son (14) and daughter (12) for 2
years now and I enjoy it. I'm not sure where to start, so I'll
just begin. My son becomes easily frustrated while trying to read.
He mis-pronounces or puts letters that don't belong in the word
while he reads. He doesn't comprehend what we he reads unless I
read it -- and then he understands it. He speeds through reading
without realizing that he is missing 1 or 2 words in each sentence.
My question is, is this a type of reading disorder that I need to
be concerned about or is it that he's just not into reading? Or
maybe I'm being too picky about it? This has been a concern since
he could independently read. Do you have any advice/suggestions
to help us get through this? Thanks in advance." -- Hawaiian Mom
---
Would you like to respond to this plea for help?
Please send your email to: mailto:HN-answers@familyclassroom.net
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Ask YOUR Question
=====================
Do you have a question about homeschooling high school?
Send it to mailto:HN-questions@familyclassroom.net and we'll see
if we can help you out in a future issue!
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