We have schooled our girls at home their whole entire lives. I am considering sending them to a Christian school for their last few years. One would be a junior and the other a freshman. Have any of you done this before? I realize the schedule would be totally different than what we've had but have found that the math is more than I can handle and haven't gotten adequate help from other families.(they are also very busy) It will be quite a change for them but believe they can handle it! I just have felt like I am not able to give them the kind of education they deserve at this level. For myself, I am having to look for a part-time job and would have to drive them to school as the bus will not deliver them there. We are going to the "open house" at the school tomorrow night and will find out all the information needed. If all else fails - maybe one of the teachers there can toutor my kids in math. I know it doesn't come cheap but will only consider this route. What do the rest of you parents do when teaching your kids gets too hard for you to do? Thanks in advance for your help!

-- Pat (pmikul@pcpros.net), August 13, 2000

Answers

Pat, I think you are making a good choice for your family. Your children are well grounded in your faith and can take the generic brand of Christianity available at Christian schools and receive more one on one help from there than they would a public school.

For my family, the nearest Christian or any private school is more than 60 miles away. My daughter asked me to homeschool her in second grade. If we had a Christian school available, I would probably get a part-time job to pay to send them there.

-- Laura (gsend@hotmail.com), August 13, 2000.

I don't have your problem yet, mine is only 3rd grade, but I have figured that if I get to that point I would try the video school offered by Abeka, where a teacher (that knows what they're talking about) would instruct, & they can call someone if they need help. If the video school didn't work then I would think a christian school is also a good option. I haven't personally seen these tapes but wanted to make sure you know about them, we know a famiy that uses them for their 6 kids & they love it.

-- Lenore (archambo@winco.net), August 13, 2000.

thanks for reminding me about those video tapes - I forgot about them. I'm not sure where we would start though - guess calling and talking to someone about it won't hurt that could be an alternative for the more difficult courses

-- Pat (pmikul@pcpros.net), August 13, 2000.

We have friends that used Abeka videos for their two older daughters who have both graduated high school now. They were pleased with them and are using them now with their middle schooler.

The tutor option is a good idea for math. Surely it is not as expensive as Christian school.

-- Vaughn (vdcjm5@juno.com), August 13, 2000.

Pat, homeschool catalog has a program for the year that you use on your computer for 250.00 for the year from Alpha Omega. It has every- thing all the subjects plus Bible. Also, you may use it for another child at another time. This is also more economical then a private school. I put my son and daughter in a christian school for a year and regretted it. I'm glad there back home. They started getting to wrapped up in the social scene, plus materialism. They like it at home but there are times they say they miss being with kids at school. Good luck with your decision and God bless.

-- Judy (allsmile@ctnet.net), August 13, 2000.

Pat, I am the product of a small private school that was much more like being home schooled than going to a private school. There was 2 teachers and 8-12 kids, and they were like my second parents. I know that the areas that they were weak teachers in, I was a weak student. In this "home-school type" teaching method, I had some areas that were unprepared for college. If I had spent a high school year at a larger private school with very qualified teachers I think I would have been better prepared. Please note, I think parents are the most qualified teachers for their children, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they can fullfill all of their educational needs. On another note, I used the Abeka videos for my second grader. THe videos themselves are of excellent quality. However, they were not appropriate for my childs learning style and were a waste of almost $900.00. I would highly recommend them for the VERY independant learner, especially in harder subjects that I couldn't teach. You may be able to test your kids to see where they would fit into the program so you weren't paying for something you couldn't use. Good Luck!

-- Julie Capasso (julieamc@excite.com), August 13, 2000.

Ask the school if they have a Homeschool Co-op program where your girls could take a couple of the harder courses without having to enroll full time. That way you get help with math, science, foreign language (whatever?) and they get to stay home under your guidance.

-- Vaughn (vdcjm5@juno.com), August 13, 2000.

Pat, do you have a local junior college or community college? When my kids got to a level beyond my expertise (chemistry!) we enrolled them at the local comm. college as visiting students. My recommendation and an ACT score were the only enrollment requirements. I, of course, gave them high school credit for the course, and they got college credit as well. It was also a way for them to experience college type classes and not get overwhelmed by a full schedule. Good luck, whatever you choose.

-- glynnis in KY (gabbycab@msn.com), August 15, 2000.

I used the ABeka Video for High School and loved it. My oldest gets a free ride to the State University based on her ACT, they didn't question homeschooling at all. My youngest is finishing ABeka this year and will start Nursing School the following Fall. I feel ABeka is why they test so well. Also, using ABeka English and Math through High School, my oldest does not have to take 12 units of college, she tested out of 6 units of English and 6 units of Math. There are wonderful highschool curriculums out there, but if you are burned out as I was and still wanted my babies home with me the Video course is the only way to go. They didn't need me for anything, they had their Video Teacher, Teacher guides, Books and Tests. We went to Pensacola this last summer for the oldest graduation and met the teachers. Wonderful Experience, consider it. Debbie (I am not trying to brag on my girls, I want to all to know you can do high school right and not worry if you can teach the subjects or not, the schools will make you think they can only teach your sons and daughters). Debbie

-- Debbie Wolcott (bwolcott@cwis.net), August 15, 2000.

I second the Community College idea. Not only for all the good reasons listed but it also makes it easier to get into a four year college.

Your kids can take community college courses, get college credits for them, then when they are ready they just transfer to a four year school. This is very common for homeschooled high schoolers in my area.

By the way, I wouldn't fret the math unless they are sure they will need it. I would work more on needed life skills math like credit card compounded interest, how to do taxes, balance a check book, buying a house, budgeting. Have them start a small business, think of all the math they would learn and maybe even make some money on the side. It could be their homework. That kind of learning would have been much more practical for me than precalculus. Good Luck- you've done it this far.

-- Amy Richards (tiggerwife@aol.com), August 15, 2000.

We homeschooled our girls for seven and a half years, then I had to start working because we'd moved and my husband was out of work. So I put them in the school at our little church. They did well, and had no problems adjusting, even though they went in in January, with the oldest girl going right into the middle of geometry, which she'd never had before. It was a good thing for them on another level, because their father isn't very strong spiritually, and their teachers were almost all men who are strong in the Lord, so they got some male role models that were faithful, Godly men. However, our church is perhaps rare, as is our little school. There are no cliques, materialism is discouraged, the emphasis is on learning to know God through the Bible, and working on Christian character. It is not a *generic* Christian school (as someone put it so aptly) -- which is why a lot of people who were seeking a *generic* Christianity have come and gone, sadly for their children. If all you have available is a *generic* Christian school, then I really believe you would be much better off as a family to get the A-Beka videos for the harder subjects. The quality is good, it will be much less expensive than most private schools, and you won't be exposing your children to types of *culture* that you don't want them exposed to. Academically, A-Beka is a high-quality curriculum, too. Best wishes, and let us know what you decide to do.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), August 15, 2000.

Sorry I haven't gotten back any sooner on this but my computer has been throwing fits!! We did go to the open house last night for the school. It has alot of positive things about it but see that it will be alot of running back and forth and causing more stress. Have decided to check into the videos for math & biology. Am re-thinking on a part-time job at this point until I can get my act together as a homeschool Mom. Thanks to all of you who understand and have offered advice!

-- Pat (pmikul@pcpros.net), August 15, 2000.

Pat, we put our ninth grader into Christian school after 6 years of homeschooling. It was a disaster and we pulled him out on Christmas break. He was so disappointed in the school and so were we. There were many cliques, so he never did make a good friend, even though he was friendly. And we were seeing him change from a nice young man to a snotty rebellious teenager. Now he is entering 11th grade and we have our nice young man back. Please reconsider. You have what it takes to raise a son or daughter into a productive caring person who can learn on his own. We can teach our children how to learn, not just pack them full of facts, so that when they need to study, they can do it on their own. Consider tutors, or online classes, or local colleges if you need to, but I would not let them go until they show maturity in standing alone in hard circumstances. God bless, Mary

-- Mary Fraley (kmfraley@orwell.net), August 15, 2000.

I have used Abeka Video School for the past 5 years. This is a high paced ,excellent program. It has allowed me to return to the work force in the medical field parttime, and has allowed my daughter the freedom to work parttime and do so much that she would not otherwise be able to do. She is 17, teaches gymnastics to ages 4-8 at a local gymnastic/dance studio where she continues her own private classes for the 14th year.She works parttime at an ice cream parlor and at a local restaurant. She takes private piano classes,participates in church activities and community work as well. She has no desire to return to Public School or to the local Christian School. Her plans are to continue with Abeka Video School for her senior year, graduate,attend college; fulfilling her dream of becoming a registered physical therapist and specializing with children who have Down's Syndrome. I might add, in her spare time she enjoys reading, the telephone,cooking, visiting nursing homes/shut-ins,and running cross country to "clear her mind". We wouldn't have it any other way at our house; Abeka is #1. Good luck in your decision, and let prayer be your guide. janet

-- Janet L. Glascock (tweety_2_54@yahoo.com), December 01, 2000.