How do you get the high school diploma required for a job?
backtocebu
I had never heard of unschooling before. I was just searching yahoo
groups for home schooling and there it was.
Can someone explain how a graduated teenager proves to a prospective
employer that he/she has the equivalent education required?
What about college? There certain skills and knowledge expectations
that colleges expect.
groups for home schooling and there it was.
Can someone explain how a graduated teenager proves to a prospective
employer that he/she has the equivalent education required?
What about college? There certain skills and knowledge expectations
that colleges expect.
Joyce Fetteroll
On Jan 12, 2008, at 8:40 PM, backtocebu wrote:
*doesn't* have an equivalent education. What they have is life
experience which is even better.
School is a way of artificially dividing up the world into pieces so
it can be fed efficiently to a room full of kids by one person in a
way it can be tested. School was designed as a way to raise the
education level of the masses when the US had a huge influx of
untrained immigrants who didn't speak English. It was never designed
to raise every person up to college material. But schools have been
trying to use a system that wasn't designed for that task to do that
for decades.
Unschooling is learning naturally, organically, what you need to do
what interests you.
Which is a long way of saying that a unschooled person, like a
homeschooled person, fills in the "Level of Education" with
homeschool graduate and then "Experience" with volunteer and paying
jobs and projects related to the job that they've had.
by grades because that's what they have to work with.
That doesn't mean that's what they want. They really don't want a
herd of applicants who have sat in chairs doing what they're told for
12 years who will expect to continue the same for the next 4 years.
Colleges really like older students who have been out in the work
force and are in college not because it's what you do after high
school but because they want to be there to further their knowledge
in a particular field that they already know they like.
Unschooled kids can also take community college courses in subjects
that interest them. That's a good way of showing someone is capable
of college level work.
It's ironic but the Ivy League and top tier colleges are more likely
know what to do with a homeschooled application than the lower tier
colleges just because they're more likely to see them. Ivy Leagues
like unschoolers because they're hungry for knowledge and haven't
been burdened down by classes for the past 12 years.
Here's a booklet you might want to look into:
Opportunities After "High School": Thoughts, Documents, Resources, by
Wes Beach. Includes a number of transcripts Beach has written for his
students; these transcripts can be used as models for homeschool
transcripts. Also discusses community college enrollment; preparing
for, choosing, and applying to four-year colleges; and opportunities
other than formal academic study. A number of resource books are
described. Available from HSC: $10 to HSC Book Order, 5520 Old San
Jose Road, Soquel, CA 95073. His talks can be arranged through HSC by
emailing the teen adviser or at (831) 462-5867.
And you might also want to check out the book:
"The Uncollege Alternative" by Danielle Wood.
Publisher description:
Want to think out of the box? Want to change your perspective on your
future? Feeling ambivalent about going to college and going into
debt? Then join the world of alternative thinking, risk-taking,
adventure seeking, and change. Join the Uncollege revolution and
learn that you can create a profitable, exciting, creative, and
amazingly successful future without a college degree.
Whether you're a high school student considering your next step, a
college student seeking change, or even a college graduate looking
for creative alternatives to the conventional path, this is up-to-
date guide will provide a wealth of life-changing ideas and
resources, including advice on:
Great careers without a college degree
Taking time off before or during college
Opportunities for adventures around the world
Internships, apprenticeships, and training programs
Community service projects that pay
Starting your own business
You are living the most exciting time in history! Seize the day! Take
the Uncollege Alternative!
Joyce
> Can someone explain how a graduated teenager proves to a prospectiveIt's easier to approach that by knowing that an unschooled person
> employer that he/she has the equivalent education required?
>
*doesn't* have an equivalent education. What they have is life
experience which is even better.
School is a way of artificially dividing up the world into pieces so
it can be fed efficiently to a room full of kids by one person in a
way it can be tested. School was designed as a way to raise the
education level of the masses when the US had a huge influx of
untrained immigrants who didn't speak English. It was never designed
to raise every person up to college material. But schools have been
trying to use a system that wasn't designed for that task to do that
for decades.
Unschooling is learning naturally, organically, what you need to do
what interests you.
Which is a long way of saying that a unschooled person, like a
homeschooled person, fills in the "Level of Education" with
homeschool graduate and then "Experience" with volunteer and paying
jobs and projects related to the job that they've had.
> What about college? There certain skills and knowledge expectationsColleges work with what they're given. They sort high school students
> that colleges expect.
by grades because that's what they have to work with.
That doesn't mean that's what they want. They really don't want a
herd of applicants who have sat in chairs doing what they're told for
12 years who will expect to continue the same for the next 4 years.
Colleges really like older students who have been out in the work
force and are in college not because it's what you do after high
school but because they want to be there to further their knowledge
in a particular field that they already know they like.
Unschooled kids can also take community college courses in subjects
that interest them. That's a good way of showing someone is capable
of college level work.
It's ironic but the Ivy League and top tier colleges are more likely
know what to do with a homeschooled application than the lower tier
colleges just because they're more likely to see them. Ivy Leagues
like unschoolers because they're hungry for knowledge and haven't
been burdened down by classes for the past 12 years.
Here's a booklet you might want to look into:
Opportunities After "High School": Thoughts, Documents, Resources, by
Wes Beach. Includes a number of transcripts Beach has written for his
students; these transcripts can be used as models for homeschool
transcripts. Also discusses community college enrollment; preparing
for, choosing, and applying to four-year colleges; and opportunities
other than formal academic study. A number of resource books are
described. Available from HSC: $10 to HSC Book Order, 5520 Old San
Jose Road, Soquel, CA 95073. His talks can be arranged through HSC by
emailing the teen adviser or at (831) 462-5867.
And you might also want to check out the book:
"The Uncollege Alternative" by Danielle Wood.
Publisher description:
Want to think out of the box? Want to change your perspective on your
future? Feeling ambivalent about going to college and going into
debt? Then join the world of alternative thinking, risk-taking,
adventure seeking, and change. Join the Uncollege revolution and
learn that you can create a profitable, exciting, creative, and
amazingly successful future without a college degree.
Whether you're a high school student considering your next step, a
college student seeking change, or even a college graduate looking
for creative alternatives to the conventional path, this is up-to-
date guide will provide a wealth of life-changing ideas and
resources, including advice on:
Great careers without a college degree
Taking time off before or during college
Opportunities for adventures around the world
Internships, apprenticeships, and training programs
Community service projects that pay
Starting your own business
You are living the most exciting time in history! Seize the day! Take
the Uncollege Alternative!
Joyce
Melissa
I wanted to add on to this, because I just read a journal article stating that 35% of high
school graduates who attend college are capable of attending college classes. 70% of
those will attempt college, but those who aren't prepared are taking remedial classes. And
over 50% of THOSE students will drop out of college.
Someone was arguing with me that to attend college you have to have all sorts of high
classes, like Calculus I and II, advanced forms of physics, years and years of foreign
languge etc. Basically all the stuff that high schools sell as part of their curriculum. But
that's not true. Or else why would colleges offer beginning math, basic chemistry,
beginning foreign language. I never understood that, and don't get me started on
freshman english, with few exceptions that was the biggest waste of my time. lol!
Now compare that to homeschooling.70% of homeschool graduates will go to college, and
the drop out rate is so minimal, that the article didn't even have a number. Unschoolers, as
well, will do better in college for all the reasons that Joyce enumerated. If they go to
college, they WANT to go. They spend the time getting ready. And then, if they take
remedial classes, there is no stigma attached as there is for public school kids, because
they are there to LEARN...it's what they wanted.
unschooled kids who want to go to college will self study to take the ACT. They'll start
community college at 16. They'll mentor under a occupation that they love. A dozen ways
to get started into tertiary education, and in a society in which every single high school
grad comes in with the same transcript, something new and different like an unschoolers
portfolio is going to catch attention in the admissions department.
Melissa
school graduates who attend college are capable of attending college classes. 70% of
those will attempt college, but those who aren't prepared are taking remedial classes. And
over 50% of THOSE students will drop out of college.
Someone was arguing with me that to attend college you have to have all sorts of high
classes, like Calculus I and II, advanced forms of physics, years and years of foreign
languge etc. Basically all the stuff that high schools sell as part of their curriculum. But
that's not true. Or else why would colleges offer beginning math, basic chemistry,
beginning foreign language. I never understood that, and don't get me started on
freshman english, with few exceptions that was the biggest waste of my time. lol!
Now compare that to homeschooling.70% of homeschool graduates will go to college, and
the drop out rate is so minimal, that the article didn't even have a number. Unschoolers, as
well, will do better in college for all the reasons that Joyce enumerated. If they go to
college, they WANT to go. They spend the time getting ready. And then, if they take
remedial classes, there is no stigma attached as there is for public school kids, because
they are there to LEARN...it's what they wanted.
unschooled kids who want to go to college will self study to take the ACT. They'll start
community college at 16. They'll mentor under a occupation that they love. A dozen ways
to get started into tertiary education, and in a society in which every single high school
grad comes in with the same transcript, something new and different like an unschoolers
portfolio is going to catch attention in the admissions department.
Melissa
> On Jan 12, 2008, at 8:40 PM, backtocebu wrote:
> > What about college? There certain skills and knowledge expectations
> > that colleges expect.
kfsirotkin
>expectations
> > What about college? There certain skills and knowledge
> > that colleges expect.students
>
> Colleges work with what they're given. They sort high school
> by grades because that's what they have to work with.I read this really great article that was dated a few years back in
Stanford U's alumni magazine. The article was about the increase of
homeschoolers attending Stanford. They interviewed the admissions
director (I think that was his title) and he said that it has become
clearer and clearer to colleges across the nation that things like
SAT scores are not great predictors of how well a student will do in
college. He said that there is something that admissions directors
look for in prospective students that is not easily discribed or
quantified, but that it was like a spark--an independence toward
their learning. He said that when he saw that, he knew that student
would be successful in college. He also said that few high school
students had it, but that every homeschooled student he ever met
with had it!
As more and more colleges open themselves up to homeschooled
students and stop requiring tests to get in, I think we are going to
see a change in our higher education systems (for the better)--and
hopefully that will cause systematic change in how our society views
education (all kinds of education--not just that which comes from a
school building).
Karen
backtocebu
How do you convince an employer?
>
>
> On Jan 12, 2008, at 8:40 PM, backtocebu wrote:
>
> > Can someone explain how a graduated teenager proves to a prospective
> > employer that he/she has the equivalent education required?
> >
>
> It's easier to approach that by knowing that an unschooled person
> *doesn't* have an equivalent education. What they have is life
> experience which is even better.
>
> School is a way of artificially dividing up the world into pieces so
> it can be fed efficiently to a room full of kids by one person in a
> way it can be tested. School was designed as a way to raise the
> education level of the masses when the US had a huge influx of
> untrained immigrants who didn't speak English. It was never designed
> to raise every person up to college material. But schools have been
> trying to use a system that wasn't designed for that task to do that
> for decades.
>
> Unschooling is learning naturally, organically, what you need to do
> what interests you.
>
> Which is a long way of saying that a unschooled person, like a
> homeschooled person, fills in the "Level of Education" with
> homeschool graduate and then "Experience" with volunteer and paying
> jobs and projects related to the job that they've had.
>
> > What about college? There certain skills and knowledge expectations
> > that colleges expect.
>
> Colleges work with what they're given. They sort high school students
> by grades because that's what they have to work with.
>
> That doesn't mean that's what they want. They really don't want a
> herd of applicants who have sat in chairs doing what they're told for
> 12 years who will expect to continue the same for the next 4 years.
>
> Colleges really like older students who have been out in the work
> force and are in college not because it's what you do after high
> school but because they want to be there to further their knowledge
> in a particular field that they already know they like.
>
> Unschooled kids can also take community college courses in subjects
> that interest them. That's a good way of showing someone is capable
> of college level work.
>
> It's ironic but the Ivy League and top tier colleges are more likely
> know what to do with a homeschooled application than the lower tier
> colleges just because they're more likely to see them. Ivy Leagues
> like unschoolers because they're hungry for knowledge and haven't
> been burdened down by classes for the past 12 years.
>
> Here's a booklet you might want to look into:
>
> Opportunities After "High School": Thoughts, Documents, Resources, by
> Wes Beach. Includes a number of transcripts Beach has written for his
> students; these transcripts can be used as models for homeschool
> transcripts. Also discusses community college enrollment; preparing
> for, choosing, and applying to four-year colleges; and opportunities
> other than formal academic study. A number of resource books are
> described. Available from HSC: $10 to HSC Book Order, 5520 Old San
> Jose Road, Soquel, CA 95073. His talks can be arranged through HSC by
> emailing the teen adviser or at (831) 462-5867.
>
>
> And you might also want to check out the book:
>
> "The Uncollege Alternative" by Danielle Wood.
>
> Publisher description:
> Want to think out of the box? Want to change your perspective on your
> future? Feeling ambivalent about going to college and going into
> debt? Then join the world of alternative thinking, risk-taking,
> adventure seeking, and change. Join the Uncollege revolution and
> learn that you can create a profitable, exciting, creative, and
> amazingly successful future without a college degree.
>
> Whether you're a high school student considering your next step, a
> college student seeking change, or even a college graduate looking
> for creative alternatives to the conventional path, this is up-to-
> date guide will provide a wealth of life-changing ideas and
> resources, including advice on:
>
> Great careers without a college degree
> Taking time off before or during college
> Opportunities for adventures around the world
> Internships, apprenticeships, and training programs
> Community service projects that pay
> Starting your own business
> You are living the most exciting time in history! Seize the day! Take
> the Uncollege Alternative!
>
> Joyce
>
carenkh
Before I started unschooling, I read a lot about Sudbury Valley School
in Sudbury, MA. (http://www.sudval.org/index.html ) This is a free or
democratic school, where kids are free to choose what they do every
day. They do go to the school itself, and are expected to spend a
minimum number of hours there each week. The school does not provide
any kind of transcript or evaluation of its students. No letters of
recommendation.
It is up to the students to do what's necessary to get into college,
if that's something they want to pursue. No graduate of Sudbury has
failed to get into the college of their choice. The school has been in
operation for 40 years now, and they have tons of data about their
graduates, surveys and statistics, etc. Sudbury is NOT unschooling -
parents are minimally involved in the school - but their research and
work always reassured me in my early days.
Here's an article written about college, from the Sudbury perspective:
http://www.sudval.org/05_alumni.html#04 It's quite long, but there's
a lot of great stuff to consider in the article.
peace,
Caren
in Sudbury, MA. (http://www.sudval.org/index.html ) This is a free or
democratic school, where kids are free to choose what they do every
day. They do go to the school itself, and are expected to spend a
minimum number of hours there each week. The school does not provide
any kind of transcript or evaluation of its students. No letters of
recommendation.
It is up to the students to do what's necessary to get into college,
if that's something they want to pursue. No graduate of Sudbury has
failed to get into the college of their choice. The school has been in
operation for 40 years now, and they have tons of data about their
graduates, surveys and statistics, etc. Sudbury is NOT unschooling -
parents are minimally involved in the school - but their research and
work always reassured me in my early days.
Here's an article written about college, from the Sudbury perspective:
http://www.sudval.org/05_alumni.html#04 It's quite long, but there's
a lot of great stuff to consider in the article.
peace,
Caren
Ren Allen
~~How do you convince an employer?~~
By being the most employable. Seriously...what do companies want? A
person with good grades or a person with real life experience that
helps them do the job? I've beat out degreed candidates at many jobs.
Unschoolers are DOING the things that interest them. People that DO
are much more employable in my opinion. I could list all the
unschoolers I know that are doing work in a job they love, but would
that even convince anyone? I could list the jobs I've worked where
I've been employed over people with degrees (over 50 of them in one
case) but would that convince anyone?
I think you have to shift your thinking in order for this to make
sense. Convincing people that college and jobs are able to be pursued
is so far from my thinking I can't even spend time doing it. If
someone thinks an unschooler can't go to college or get a job, then
they shouldn't do it.
Once you see that learning is a lifelong process, then college or jobs
are not even relevant discussion material. It all depends on the
individual. I know unschooling families where the parents don't have
jobs. I know an unschooler who chose to be homeless for several months
as part of his learning experiences. Are they any more or less
successful than someone like Laurie Chancey, a grown unschooler who
will have her PHD shortly? I think not.
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
By being the most employable. Seriously...what do companies want? A
person with good grades or a person with real life experience that
helps them do the job? I've beat out degreed candidates at many jobs.
Unschoolers are DOING the things that interest them. People that DO
are much more employable in my opinion. I could list all the
unschoolers I know that are doing work in a job they love, but would
that even convince anyone? I could list the jobs I've worked where
I've been employed over people with degrees (over 50 of them in one
case) but would that convince anyone?
I think you have to shift your thinking in order for this to make
sense. Convincing people that college and jobs are able to be pursued
is so far from my thinking I can't even spend time doing it. If
someone thinks an unschooler can't go to college or get a job, then
they shouldn't do it.
Once you see that learning is a lifelong process, then college or jobs
are not even relevant discussion material. It all depends on the
individual. I know unschooling families where the parents don't have
jobs. I know an unschooler who chose to be homeless for several months
as part of his learning experiences. Are they any more or less
successful than someone like Laurie Chancey, a grown unschooler who
will have her PHD shortly? I think not.
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
trektheory
--- In [email protected], "Melissa" <autismhelp@...>
wrote:
wants to attend DOES require at least 2 years of a foreign language.
We are meeting that by having done intense study (with a tutor) to
prepare for the second semester at the local college (in their
high-schoolers at college type of program that so many schools now
seem to have) to prove he has had those years. (One semester of
college language is considered the equivalent of a year of high school
language.) The reason that even at schools where foreign language is
a requirement that beginning foreign languages are offered is that
some students will want to take more than one language. Just because
you had Spanish in high school doesn't mean that's all you want!
For some colleges - especially techy-oriented ones like MIT and
CalTech -- they DO require some calc before admission. No remedial
math there. But remedial math courses in college (which, btw, do not
count towards graduation credits usually) are more apt to be taken by
those who are planning on majoring in something other than math or
science. And generally don't need boatloads of math and science.
Linda, who has a techy kind of kid who thought that the SAT-II Math2
was FUN.
wrote:
>all sorts of high
>
> Someone was arguing with me that to attend college you have to have
> classes, like Calculus I and II, advanced forms of physics, yearsand years of foreign
> languge etc. Basically all the stuff that high schools sell as partof their curriculum. But
> that's not true. Or else why would colleges offer beginning math,basic chemistry,
> beginning foreign language. I never understood that, and don't getme started on
> freshman english, with few exceptions that was the biggest waste ofmy time. lol!
>Yes and no -- depends on the college, of course! The college my ds
wants to attend DOES require at least 2 years of a foreign language.
We are meeting that by having done intense study (with a tutor) to
prepare for the second semester at the local college (in their
high-schoolers at college type of program that so many schools now
seem to have) to prove he has had those years. (One semester of
college language is considered the equivalent of a year of high school
language.) The reason that even at schools where foreign language is
a requirement that beginning foreign languages are offered is that
some students will want to take more than one language. Just because
you had Spanish in high school doesn't mean that's all you want!
For some colleges - especially techy-oriented ones like MIT and
CalTech -- they DO require some calc before admission. No remedial
math there. But remedial math courses in college (which, btw, do not
count towards graduation credits usually) are more apt to be taken by
those who are planning on majoring in something other than math or
science. And generally don't need boatloads of math and science.
Linda, who has a techy kind of kid who thought that the SAT-II Math2
was FUN.
trektheory
One option is always to, once you consider your child "graduated" --
just make your own diploma.
Linda
--- In [email protected], "backtocebu"
<backtocebu@...> wrote:
just make your own diploma.
Linda
--- In [email protected], "backtocebu"
<backtocebu@...> wrote:
>
> How do you convince an employer?
> >
>
Joyce Fetteroll
> The college my dsIt's also helpful to ask yourself what the college's reasons are for
> wants to attend DOES require at least 2 years of a foreign language.
the requirement.
What percentage of people who attended a college requiring 2 years of
a foreign language ever needed that foreign language for the classes
in their field? Spanish was useless to me. (Though Chinese or Hindi
might have helped so I could understand the Teaching Assistants! ;-)
I asked the woman who worked in admissions at Smith College. She said
it was to broaden the student and expose them to a culture.
A pretty prestigious school and a pretty lame answer, I thought. They
require it just because they always have and at one time it probably
made sense. Latin and Greek did make sense when classical education
was the rule.
So think about the equivalent of 2 years of high school Spanish. I
can think of way better ways to learn about a culture than sitting in
a class room declining Spanish verbs.
Joyce
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
trektheory
--- In [email protected], Joyce Fetteroll
<jfetteroll@...> wrote:
dh and I think it is a rather idiotic requirement -- and if we could
get away with letting him study it on his own and counting that good
enough, we would. We know he is unlikely to use it later in life --
though you never know. But they require it, and require that the
level be verified, either by SAT-II, AP, or having the second semester
college course work. The first two, from what I've read/researched,
are far harder -- so he is learning the first semester's worth with a
tutor, almost ready now, and will take the second semester at the
local U starting in a week.
What a computer programmer will need with two semesters of French, I
dunno... but he wants this particular college, and that is the ONLY
impediment. So, he will learn it to be able to go where he wants.
Linda, who had 4 years of high school German, and doesn't remember
more than a few words!
<jfetteroll@...> wrote:
>I could ask all I want, but it wouldn't change their requirements. My
> > The college my ds
> > wants to attend DOES require at least 2 years of a foreign language.
>
> It's also helpful to ask yourself what the college's reasons are for
> the requirement.
>
dh and I think it is a rather idiotic requirement -- and if we could
get away with letting him study it on his own and counting that good
enough, we would. We know he is unlikely to use it later in life --
though you never know. But they require it, and require that the
level be verified, either by SAT-II, AP, or having the second semester
college course work. The first two, from what I've read/researched,
are far harder -- so he is learning the first semester's worth with a
tutor, almost ready now, and will take the second semester at the
local U starting in a week.
What a computer programmer will need with two semesters of French, I
dunno... but he wants this particular college, and that is the ONLY
impediment. So, he will learn it to be able to go where he wants.
Linda, who had 4 years of high school German, and doesn't remember
more than a few words!
Ren Allen
~~
I could ask all I want, but it wouldn't change their requirements. ~~
Another myth.
One thing that I learned from John Taylor Gatto, is that most EVERY
college will let you prove "requirements" in a number of creative
ways. Also, something most people don't even realize (and colleges
don't want you to know) is that you can "uncollege" in a sense.
Rather than going to the required courses, you can find out all the
required classes for a certain degree or program and come up with your
OWN plan for learning those required topics. Most colleges will accept
your plan, in lieu of showing up to classes and you save a LOT of
money. It takes determination, creativity and the ability to
self-direct. But it's been done many times.
How you choose to learn the material is up to you...then just take the
final tests to prove you've learned what they want you to learn. Saves
money and time and lets a person learn in the method that best works
for them. Plus you have the benefit of not showing up to class.:)
Finding out what they require, the books they use, what is on the test
is all you really need to create your own college experience.
Getting out of entry "requirements" happens all the time too. It's not
as cut and dry as people seem to believe.
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
I could ask all I want, but it wouldn't change their requirements. ~~
Another myth.
One thing that I learned from John Taylor Gatto, is that most EVERY
college will let you prove "requirements" in a number of creative
ways. Also, something most people don't even realize (and colleges
don't want you to know) is that you can "uncollege" in a sense.
Rather than going to the required courses, you can find out all the
required classes for a certain degree or program and come up with your
OWN plan for learning those required topics. Most colleges will accept
your plan, in lieu of showing up to classes and you save a LOT of
money. It takes determination, creativity and the ability to
self-direct. But it's been done many times.
How you choose to learn the material is up to you...then just take the
final tests to prove you've learned what they want you to learn. Saves
money and time and lets a person learn in the method that best works
for them. Plus you have the benefit of not showing up to class.:)
Finding out what they require, the books they use, what is on the test
is all you really need to create your own college experience.
Getting out of entry "requirements" happens all the time too. It's not
as cut and dry as people seem to believe.
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
Deb
> Getting out of entry "requirements" happens all the time too. It's notAnd it's possible to bone up on your own and test out of up to 1 1/2
> as cut and dry as people seem to believe.
>
semesters worth of work - the CLEP exams. DH took them when he started
college (at age 27) in order to get out of the tedious 101 classes
(math, science, composition, history, fine arts, etc). He said it was
about like answering Jeopardy questions. He took his ACT exam *after*
he was accepted, just because they needed it to check a checkbox (if he
had taken it ahead of time, he might've gotten scholarship money he did
so well - who knew? lol) So, without an ACT exam, with barely passable
high school grades 10 years old (high school counselors said he
wasn't "college material"), he was accepted into a private university
and graduated in 4 yrs with a 3.00 GPA. He had found something he
loved, wanted to pursue, and a university setting put all the resources
he wanted right at hand. Not only did he get to skip those 101 classes,
save money on classes (the tests cost way less than a semester's worth
of tuition, fees, and books) but the space it left timewise in his
schedule allowed him to take other stuff entirely unrelated just
because it was interesting (like a radio broadcasting class).
--Deb
trektheory
--- In [email protected], "Ren Allen"
<starsuncloud@...> wrote:
be able to defer that requirement, and satisfy it by taking foreign
language once he was there.
would accept test scores or college course work. Or, of course, two
years of actual high school transcripted work.
local U, my ds could EASILY get in, and DID get to avoid their idiotic
COMPASS exams to show he can handle the coursework he signed up for.
However, as a place for a good fit for him, it won't work long-term.
I'd love it if it would, since it would be a lot cheaper, and he could
stay home. But I have to look at his best interests, not my wants.
And he wants a good computer science school. (That's a degree that
generally going beyond a BS is not valuable. If he was interested in
a field where he needed a masters or better, where he got his
bachelors wouldn't matter so much.)
As it was, for this one school, we had a hard time filling in their
computerized application -- too many boxes that didn't fit. I ended
up calling for help there, too. (And figured out a way to fudge to
fit. While still maintaining the spirit of what he has done.)
Linda
<starsuncloud@...> wrote:
>Well, I don't know on this school -- I DID call, hoping that he would
> ~~
> I could ask all I want, but it wouldn't change their requirements. ~~
>
> Another myth.
be able to defer that requirement, and satisfy it by taking foreign
language once he was there.
>I did talk to them about that -- and that is why I know they only
> One thing that I learned from John Taylor Gatto, is that most EVERY
> college will let you prove "requirements" in a number of creative
> ways.
would accept test scores or college course work. Or, of course, two
years of actual high school transcripted work.
>I suspect there is a lot of variance depending on the school. At the
> Getting out of entry "requirements" happens all the time too. It's not
> as cut and dry as people seem to believe.
local U, my ds could EASILY get in, and DID get to avoid their idiotic
COMPASS exams to show he can handle the coursework he signed up for.
However, as a place for a good fit for him, it won't work long-term.
I'd love it if it would, since it would be a lot cheaper, and he could
stay home. But I have to look at his best interests, not my wants.
And he wants a good computer science school. (That's a degree that
generally going beyond a BS is not valuable. If he was interested in
a field where he needed a masters or better, where he got his
bachelors wouldn't matter so much.)
As it was, for this one school, we had a hard time filling in their
computerized application -- too many boxes that didn't fit. I ended
up calling for help there, too. (And figured out a way to fudge to
fit. While still maintaining the spirit of what he has done.)
Linda
Ren Allen
~~I did talk to them about that -- and that is why I know they only
would accept test scores or college course work. Or, of course, two
years of actual high school transcripted work.~~
I think it can take more than just talking to someone to deal with
some of the creative methods of bypassing standard requirements. It
might take talking to many people, it might take an appointment with
the dean it might take more than that. It might not be worth it but
just because someone parrots back the requirement, it doesn't mean
there aren't other options.
Colleges in the end, are about making money. As any good business
knows, you've got to keep the customers happy in order to make money.
The other factor here, is how set a person is on a certain college. If
the goal is to learn what you need, or gain a tool that you need, then
WHERE seems a bit less important. If the WHERE is very important to a
person, then they are probably ready to deal with whatever
requirements they need in order to get in.
Attaining the requirements in the pre-described manner is rarely
necessary.
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
would accept test scores or college course work. Or, of course, two
years of actual high school transcripted work.~~
I think it can take more than just talking to someone to deal with
some of the creative methods of bypassing standard requirements. It
might take talking to many people, it might take an appointment with
the dean it might take more than that. It might not be worth it but
just because someone parrots back the requirement, it doesn't mean
there aren't other options.
Colleges in the end, are about making money. As any good business
knows, you've got to keep the customers happy in order to make money.
The other factor here, is how set a person is on a certain college. If
the goal is to learn what you need, or gain a tool that you need, then
WHERE seems a bit less important. If the WHERE is very important to a
person, then they are probably ready to deal with whatever
requirements they need in order to get in.
Attaining the requirements in the pre-described manner is rarely
necessary.
Ren
learninginfreedom.com
trektheory
--- In [email protected], "Deb" <debra.rossing@...> wrote:
great. But some do not. (They might allow it for placement, might
not.) Local U, accepts CLEP. U of preference, doesn't.
However, it DOES accept AP, so ds will have AP credit of nearly 1-2
semesters. With other courses he has taken, probably will have credit
enough to be a sophomore shortly after starting.
than easterly -- otherwise, it is more likely you would mention the
SAT! (Seems to be a regional preference.)
I'm hoping ds will get some scholarship money. Out of state tuition
is much heftier than instate, but we aren't moving for that!
have a different sense of what they are there for.
Linda
>Again, depends on the school. If the school accepts CLEP for credit,
> > Getting out of entry "requirements" happens all the time too. It's not
> > as cut and dry as people seem to believe.
> >
> And it's possible to bone up on your own and test out of up to 1 1/2
> semesters worth of work - the CLEP exams.
great. But some do not. (They might allow it for placement, might
not.) Local U, accepts CLEP. U of preference, doesn't.
However, it DOES accept AP, so ds will have AP credit of nearly 1-2
semesters. With other courses he has taken, probably will have credit
enough to be a sophomore shortly after starting.
> He took his ACT exam *after*Yeah, gotta check that box, eh? I'm guessing you are more westerly
> he was accepted, just because they needed it to check a checkbox (if he
> had taken it ahead of time, he might've gotten scholarship money he did
> so well - who knew? lol)
than easterly -- otherwise, it is more likely you would mention the
SAT! (Seems to be a regional preference.)
I'm hoping ds will get some scholarship money. Out of state tuition
is much heftier than instate, but we aren't moving for that!
> So, without an ACT exam, with barely passableGood for him! I often think that those who meander and then go back
> high school grades 10 years old (high school counselors said he
> wasn't "college material"), he was accepted into a private university
> and graduated in 4 yrs with a 3.00 GPA. He had found something he
> loved, wanted to pursue, and a university setting put all the resources
> he wanted right at hand.
have a different sense of what they are there for.
Linda
One of the Wechts
I may have missed this in another post but just in case...
The SAT (right or wrong) is considered a predictor of how well kids do in
their first year of college.
So many colleges will wave this if your child has a year of Community
College courses.
Getting into the local community college and spending a year or two there
getting some core work
done with plenty of "fun stuff" too at a fraction of the cost of a 4 year
program is a very popular thing here in MD. Then once you have 30 or in the
case of a few selective colleges 60 hours,
many requirements (like SAT) will be waved.
Beth
in MD (of course)
The SAT (right or wrong) is considered a predictor of how well kids do in
their first year of college.
So many colleges will wave this if your child has a year of Community
College courses.
Getting into the local community college and spending a year or two there
getting some core work
done with plenty of "fun stuff" too at a fraction of the cost of a 4 year
program is a very popular thing here in MD. Then once you have 30 or in the
case of a few selective colleges 60 hours,
many requirements (like SAT) will be waved.
Beth
in MD (of course)
>> > Getting out of entry "requirements" happens all the time too. It's not
>> > as cut and dry as people seem to believe.
David Johnson
Ooh, where in MD are you, Beth! We�re in western Anne Arundel Co. :-)
~Melissa
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of One of the
Wechts
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 10:09 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [unschoolingbasics] Re: How do you get the high school
diploma required for a job?
I may have missed this in another post but just in case...
The SAT (right or wrong) is considered a predictor of how well kids do
in
their first year of college.
So many colleges will wave this if your child has a year of Community
College courses.
Getting into the local community college and spending a year or two
there
getting some core work
done with plenty of "fun stuff" too at a fraction of the cost of a 4
year
program is a very popular thing here in MD. Then once you have 30 or in
the
case of a few selective colleges 60 hours,
many requirements (like SAT) will be waved.
Beth
in MD (of course)
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1/14/2008 5:39 PM
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Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.2/1224 - Release Date:
1/14/2008 5:39 PM
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
~Melissa
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of One of the
Wechts
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2008 10:09 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [unschoolingbasics] Re: How do you get the high school
diploma required for a job?
I may have missed this in another post but just in case...
The SAT (right or wrong) is considered a predictor of how well kids do
in
their first year of college.
So many colleges will wave this if your child has a year of Community
College courses.
Getting into the local community college and spending a year or two
there
getting some core work
done with plenty of "fun stuff" too at a fraction of the cost of a 4
year
program is a very popular thing here in MD. Then once you have 30 or in
the
case of a few selective colleges 60 hours,
many requirements (like SAT) will be waved.
Beth
in MD (of course)
>> > Getting out of entry "requirements" happens all the time too. It'snot
>> > as cut and dry as people seem to believe.No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.2/1224 - Release Date:
1/14/2008 5:39 PM
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.2/1224 - Release Date:
1/14/2008 5:39 PM
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
One of the Wechts
Very very south Carroll Co(on the Howard county line) off of 70.
I practically live on the road running to Howard Community College and
homeschool events in that area. How close are you to Columbia?
Feel free to contact me off-list erw@...
Beth
Ooh, where in MD are you, Beth! We're in western Anne Arundel Co. :-)
~Melissa
I practically live on the road running to Howard Community College and
homeschool events in that area. How close are you to Columbia?
Feel free to contact me off-list erw@...
Beth
Ooh, where in MD are you, Beth! We're in western Anne Arundel Co. :-)
~Melissa
[email protected]
We live in Missouri.? This is my question too?? Any help on putting together a grad portfolio? or transcript? or what???? Mine is 16, done with school (per se) but we don't know how to document this stuff.? Also, where to get an actual diploma-we don't want to do a GED.? In Mo I am required to keep track of 1000 hours per year, divided into core and non-core hours.? Core hours are defined as math, reading, soc.studies, sci and language arts.? I have always done this but don't know what "school labels" to apply to what she's done as far as a class/grade/transcript that someone else would look at (ie employer, college etc)? Her main interest has always been animals and she's read and studied so many hours and resources on animals of all kinds.? Researched jobs related to animals, participated in animal rescues from shelters and volunteered at a boarding/grooming place for a year, then apprenticed directly with the groomer in the shop and then on to the mobile grooming van for a year and now is a paid employee-grooming, office work, scheduling-anything the owner does she can do.? (To buy this education would have cost $4000-then it would be "real" but she earned hers through grunt work and talent so its not as recognized as "school" or an "education!")? She has studied extensively in the areas of holistic pet care and holistic health (for people), aromatherapy, nutrition, vegetarian & vegan lifestyles, organic food and industry (clothing, etc)? She does creative writing and poetry-but none of it has been "graded" and in fact rarely shared with anyone-but does that decrease the value of the hours she has put into it (hundreds!)? She has had a poem published.? In conjuction with her creative writing she has always enjoyed doing this "fictional budget" thing thatt she came up with.? She invents people and lifestyles/careers and then figures all of these budgets from it.? that is where the majority of her math hours come from-but she used my husbands paycheck to figure % of pay for taxes, insurance etc and then used that % for her fictional paychecks, pays fictional bills, ran a fictional horse farm with employee paychecks and everything-very involved and detailed and I don't have a CLUE what to call it to give her "school credit"..? She is able to run a household, care for siblings and cousins, cook, she spent a week alone last summer and worked and did just fine while we were out of town and numerous times has babysat over night for people.? She's competent, mature, intelligent and it aggravates me that b/c she's unschooled we have so few tools to define how awesome she is.? Any help from someone who has done this before?? or just has any ideas?? Thanks so much for your time.? ~Graduating my first unschooler in Missouri
-----Original Message-----
From: One of the Wechts <erw@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 3:51 pm
Subject: Re: [unschoolingbasics] Re: How do you get the high school diploma required for a job?
Very very south Carroll Co(on the Howard county line) off of 70.
I practically live on the road running to Howard Community College and
homeschool events in that area. How close are you to Columbia?
Feel free to contact me off-list erw@...
Beth
Ooh, where in MD are you, Beth! We're in western Anne Arundel Co. :-)
~Melissa
________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AIM(R) Mail ! - http://webmail.aim.com
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
-----Original Message-----
From: One of the Wechts <erw@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 3:51 pm
Subject: Re: [unschoolingbasics] Re: How do you get the high school diploma required for a job?
Very very south Carroll Co(on the Howard county line) off of 70.
I practically live on the road running to Howard Community College and
homeschool events in that area. How close are you to Columbia?
Feel free to contact me off-list erw@...
Beth
Ooh, where in MD are you, Beth! We're in western Anne Arundel Co. :-)
~Melissa
________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AIM(R) Mail ! - http://webmail.aim.com
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Janet
A very good book for this is "The Homeschooler's Guide to Portfolio's
and Transcripts" by Loretta Heuer, M. Ed. Very helpful in
translating unschooling into "educationese" for record keeping and
college purposes.
Janet in MN
At 09:08 AM 1/17/2008, you wrote:
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.6/1230 - Release Date: 1/17/2008 4:59 PM
and Transcripts" by Loretta Heuer, M. Ed. Very helpful in
translating unschooling into "educationese" for record keeping and
college purposes.
Janet in MN
At 09:08 AM 1/17/2008, you wrote:
>We live in Missouri.? This is my question too?? Any help on putting--
>together a grad portfolio? or transcript? or what???? Mine is 16,
>done with school (per se) but we don't know how to document this stuff.? SNIP
> ~Graduating my first unschooler in Missouri
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[email protected]
-----Original Message-----
From: momzlove@...
We live in Missouri.? This is my question too?? Any help on putting
together a
grad portfolio? or transcript? or what???? Mine is 16, done with school
(per se)
but we don't know how to document this stuff.? Also, where to get an
actual
diploma-we don't want to do a GED.?
-=-=-=-=-
Where do you think schools get actual diplomas?
They *make* them!
You can buy them at school supply stores. You can find them online. You
can design your own on your computer. You can buy parchment and
calligraphy it yourself.
It's up to you. It's *your* school. Make it as plain or fancy as you'd
like.
-=-=-=-=-
In Mo I am required to keep track of 1000
hours per year, divided into core and non-core hours.? Core hours are
defined as
math, reading, soc.studies, sci and language arts.? I have always done
this but
don't know what "school labels" to apply to what she's done as far as a
class/grade/transcript that someone else would look at (ie employer,
college
etc)?
-=-=-=-
So....if you've done this, what does it look like?
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Her main interest has always been animals and she's read and studied
so
many hours and resources on animals of all kinds.? Researched jobs
related to
animals, participated in animal rescues from shelters and volunteered
at a
boarding/grooming place for a year, then apprenticed directly with the
groomer
in the shop and then on to the mobile grooming van for a year and now
is a paid
employee-grooming, office work, scheduling-anything the owner does she
can do.?
-=-=-=-=-=-
A girl after my own heart. <g> I owned a salon and a mobile grooming
unit---LOVED the mobile!!! I still do a handful of hand-stripped
terriers and some poodles, but I've whittled my client base down
considerably. I love doing it, but I don't like to be tied-down on
their schedules.
-=-=-=-=-
(To buy this education would have cost $4000-then it would be "real"
but she
earned hers through grunt work and talent so its not as recognized as
"school"
or an "education!")?
-=-=-=-=-
Not true. It IS recognized as education. My guess is that she could
study a tiny bit and get her certification as a Master Groomer. If she
has the AKC handbook, it's simply a memorization process. Well, and the
practical side of grooming four dogs for them.
But even so, you don't need that MG certificate. If you would sit down
and discuss all that she has learned---just from grooming (not to
mention all the other things she's done), it would look a bit like this:
History & Science & Social Studies:
Breeds and their origins. Form follows function: why were they
developed, so why they look as they do. (I know a lot about different
countries because of what breeds they developed where, when, and why. I
even knew where Afghanistan was when I was in fifth grade because I
adored the Afghan hound! <G> I also won a trivia question recently
because I knew where Ibiza was---and how to pronounce it---because of
the Ibizan hound.)
Math:
Proportion, Balance, Geometry
Accounting and keeping books
-=-=-=-=-
She has studied extensively in the areas of holistic pet
care and holistic health (for people), aromatherapy, nutrition,
vegetarian &
vegan lifestyles, organic food and industry (clothing, etc)?
-=-=-=-=-=-
All Health/Life Sciences/Biology related
-=-=-=-=-=-
She does creative
writing and poetry-but none of it has been "graded" and in fact rarely
shared
with anyone-but does that decrease the value of the hours she has put
into it
(hundreds!)? She has had a poem published.?
-=-=-=-
Not at all. Nothing needs to be graded. Grades are for meat and eggs,
not children!
Give her "credit" for writing/composition---you don't need to give it a
letter grade.
-=-=-=-==-
In conjuction with her creative
writing she has always enjoyed doing this "fictional budget" thing
thatt she
came up with.? She invents people and lifestyles/careers and then
figures all of
these budgets from it.?
-=-=-=-=-=-
I'm guessing that would fall under Social Studies as ell as math. Pam,
could you label that in some way? Certainly Budgeting.
-=-=-=-=-=-
that is where the majority of her math hours come
from-but she used my husbands paycheck to figure % of pay for taxes,
insurance
etc and then used that % for her fictional paychecks, pays fictional
bills, ran
a fictional horse farm with employee paychecks and everything-very
involved and
detailed and I don't have a CLUE what to call it to give her "school
credit"..?
-=-=-=-=-=-
Math. Percentages. Book keeping. Accounting. Role Playing.
School children NEVER do REAL accounting. It's ALL fictional. You
honestly can't penalize her simply because it wasn't a real horse farm.
-=-=-=-=-=-
She is able to run a household, care for siblings and cousins, cook,
she spent a
week alone last summer and worked and did just fine while we were out
of town
and numerous times has babysat over night for people.?
-=-=-=-=-
Social Studies. Life Sciences. Home Economics. Economics. Fractions.
Approximations.
-=-=-=-=-=-
She's competent, mature,
intelligent and it aggravates me that b/c she's unschooled we have so
few tools
to define how awesome she is.
-=-=-=-=-=-
Honestly, you don't need to break it down. She seems fine. You could
easily make her a diploma.
Below is a copy my sons' curriculum. It is W-I-D-E open! You could
write something similar with *her* interests/hobbies/experiences in a
narrative if you feel the need.
But if she's already employed, where's the necessity?
~Kelly
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://www.LiveandLearnConference.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~The World is Our Classroom~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LifeWorks School for Boys
Course of Study
Secondary Grades
LifeWorks School for Boys is a private full-time homeschool established
in compliance with the Education Code of the State of South Carolina.
Because we believe that the family is the most fundamental social
institution and the preferred means of caring for, preparing, and
enabling children to be productive members of society, LifeWorks School
promotes and supports a family-centered education through our
independent study program.
At LifeWorks School, we believe in independent study. Duncan will learn
primarily under the immediate direction, guidance, and support of his
parents and other caring and involved adults. We will offer an
outstanding educational opportunity by providing a natural learning
environment, extensive real-world experience, flexibility of schedule,
and the ability to respond to Duncan’s specific needs and inclinations.
Duncan’s program is developmentally appropriate, integrated and fully
individualized, and continually built upon his personal strengths and
interests throughout the year.
English: Duncan will develop knowledge of, and appreciation for
literature and the language, as well as the skills of speaking,
reading, listening, spelling, handwriting, and composition.
He will read from self-chosen and parent-chosen literature on a regular
basis and will engage in reflection on those literature pieces in a
variety of ways, such as: journal writing, book reviews, conversations,
drama based on the books, book clubs. Our educational goal is for
Duncan to read for pleasure, to gain exposure to a wide variety of
genres, and to be able to reflect critically on what he reads.
Duncan will read content-related non-fiction materials to support his
chosen areas of interest. He will reflect on these pieces in a variety
of ways, such as: journal writing, writing articles for submission to
magazines or newspapers, discussions, or development of a scrapbook in
an area of interest. Our goal is for Duncan to learn to read critically
for information, to understand and be able to reflect on materials
read, to be able to compare them to other sources of information, and
to learn how and where to find written resources as needed.
Writing, spelling and grammar will be covered as part of Duncan’s
natural writing processes. He will develop his ability to write
creatively, to write letters and lists, to create and write drama
pieces, informational essays, persuasive articles, etc. Our goal is for
Duncan to enjoy writing, to gain expertise in both the writing process
and in technical writing and editing skills, and to develop a sense of
power over the written word.
Science: Duncan will develop his scientific knowledge with emphasis on
basic concepts, theories, and processes of scientific investigation and
on the place of humans in ecological systems, and with appropriate
applications of the interrelation and interdependence of the sciences.
These will be related to areas of his personal interest by engaging in
hands-on activities, watching science videos, reading related written
materials, conducting scientific experiments, keeping journals, making
and recording observations, visiting scientists in their work places,
visiting local science museums, participating in science fairs and
workshops, or through cooperative learning. Our goal is for Duncan to
experience a wide range of scientific exposure in his areas of
interest, to develop a positive interest in science, to learn to think
scientifically, to develop a respect for the work scientists do, and to
understand the importance science has in daily life.
Social Studies: Duncan will develop his understanding of the social
sciences and humanities by reading and discussing fiction and
non-fiction materials, participating in field trips to historic and
politically or culturally significant sites, or through discussion and
debate. Anthropology, economics, psychology, geography, history,
political science, and sociology are fully integrated into the his
studies in a wide variety of ways, such as: the use of time lines and
maps, discussion, journal writing, cooking, plays, road trips,
invention building, field trips, and art. Our goal is for Duncan to
develop a foundation for understanding the history, resources,
development, and government of South Carolina and the United States of
America; the American legal system; the operation of the juvenile and
adult criminal justice systems and the rights and duties of citizens
under the criminal and civil law and the State and Federal
constitutions; the development of the American economic system
including the role of the entrepreneur and labor; the relations of
persons to their human and natural environment; eastern and western
cultures and civilizations; human rights issues, with particular
attention to the study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery, and the
Holocaust; and contemporary issues including the wise use of natural
resources.
Health and Physical Education: Health and physical education will be
fully integrated as a part of daily living skills and participation in
the wider community. Duncan will learn to care for his health and
physical environment in a variety of ways, such as: shopping for and
preparing food, discussing the necessity of a healthy diet,
participation in fire drills and other emergency preparedness
activities, exercise both as play and as part of a structured group
experience and through camping, hiking, and other outdoor activity. Our
goal is for Duncan to appreciate the necessity of a healthy body and to
develop lifelong habits of regular exercise and good nutrition.
Applied Arts and Vocation/Technical Education: Consumer and homemaker
education, industrial arts, general business education, and general
agriculture will be offered in a variety of ways. Duncan’s interests
will determine the direction of his applied arts and vocation projects,
which may include apprenticeships, mentorships, or specific training.
Our goal is for Duncan to develop skills and knowledge to meet his own
future vocational and avocational requirements.
Visual and Performing Arts: Duncan will develop his knowledge of art,
music, and drama through informal and structured methods in a variety
of ways, such as: art classes, instrumental lessons, choral singing,
listening to various styles of music, learning about the people who
have influenced music through history, or working on individualized or
group projects that relate to music, art, and drama, including acting
and performing in a variety of venues and genres. Our goal is for
Duncan to enjoy a wide variety of art, music, and drama experiences,
including performance, while developing an understanding and
appreciation of the importance of art, music, and drama as creative
expressions of human life experiences.
Mathematics: Duncan will develop mathematical concepts, operational
skills, and problem solving through participation in daily real-world
activities such as cooking, building, shopping, budgeting, computing,
etc. Mathematics materials will be chosen to support his individual
learning style in order to achieve competency in operational skills and
insight into problem-solving procedures. Our goal is for Duncan to
gain a strong conceptual knowledge of mathematics as well as an
appreciation for the daily applications of mathematics in his life.
Automobile Driver Education: Duncan will be offered the opportunity to
develop the knowledge and skills necessary to become a safe driver.
Foreign Language: Duncan will have the opportunity to develop
understanding, speaking, reading, and writing skills in a foreign
language(s) of his choice.
Parenting Skills: Duncan will acquire parenting skills primarily
through first-hand interaction with and observation of young children
and through direct adult instruction in skills and knowledge including:
effective parenting, prevention of child abuse, nutrition, household
finances and budgeting, personal and family interactions and relations,
methods to promote self-esteem, effective decision-making skills,
family and individual health, child growth and development, parental
responsibilities, personal hygiene, maintenance of healthy
relationships, and teen-parenting issues.
________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! -
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From: momzlove@...
We live in Missouri.? This is my question too?? Any help on putting
together a
grad portfolio? or transcript? or what???? Mine is 16, done with school
(per se)
but we don't know how to document this stuff.? Also, where to get an
actual
diploma-we don't want to do a GED.?
-=-=-=-=-
Where do you think schools get actual diplomas?
They *make* them!
You can buy them at school supply stores. You can find them online. You
can design your own on your computer. You can buy parchment and
calligraphy it yourself.
It's up to you. It's *your* school. Make it as plain or fancy as you'd
like.
-=-=-=-=-
In Mo I am required to keep track of 1000
hours per year, divided into core and non-core hours.? Core hours are
defined as
math, reading, soc.studies, sci and language arts.? I have always done
this but
don't know what "school labels" to apply to what she's done as far as a
class/grade/transcript that someone else would look at (ie employer,
college
etc)?
-=-=-=-
So....if you've done this, what does it look like?
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Her main interest has always been animals and she's read and studied
so
many hours and resources on animals of all kinds.? Researched jobs
related to
animals, participated in animal rescues from shelters and volunteered
at a
boarding/grooming place for a year, then apprenticed directly with the
groomer
in the shop and then on to the mobile grooming van for a year and now
is a paid
employee-grooming, office work, scheduling-anything the owner does she
can do.?
-=-=-=-=-=-
A girl after my own heart. <g> I owned a salon and a mobile grooming
unit---LOVED the mobile!!! I still do a handful of hand-stripped
terriers and some poodles, but I've whittled my client base down
considerably. I love doing it, but I don't like to be tied-down on
their schedules.
-=-=-=-=-
(To buy this education would have cost $4000-then it would be "real"
but she
earned hers through grunt work and talent so its not as recognized as
"school"
or an "education!")?
-=-=-=-=-
Not true. It IS recognized as education. My guess is that she could
study a tiny bit and get her certification as a Master Groomer. If she
has the AKC handbook, it's simply a memorization process. Well, and the
practical side of grooming four dogs for them.
But even so, you don't need that MG certificate. If you would sit down
and discuss all that she has learned---just from grooming (not to
mention all the other things she's done), it would look a bit like this:
History & Science & Social Studies:
Breeds and their origins. Form follows function: why were they
developed, so why they look as they do. (I know a lot about different
countries because of what breeds they developed where, when, and why. I
even knew where Afghanistan was when I was in fifth grade because I
adored the Afghan hound! <G> I also won a trivia question recently
because I knew where Ibiza was---and how to pronounce it---because of
the Ibizan hound.)
Math:
Proportion, Balance, Geometry
Accounting and keeping books
-=-=-=-=-
She has studied extensively in the areas of holistic pet
care and holistic health (for people), aromatherapy, nutrition,
vegetarian &
vegan lifestyles, organic food and industry (clothing, etc)?
-=-=-=-=-=-
All Health/Life Sciences/Biology related
-=-=-=-=-=-
She does creative
writing and poetry-but none of it has been "graded" and in fact rarely
shared
with anyone-but does that decrease the value of the hours she has put
into it
(hundreds!)? She has had a poem published.?
-=-=-=-
Not at all. Nothing needs to be graded. Grades are for meat and eggs,
not children!
Give her "credit" for writing/composition---you don't need to give it a
letter grade.
-=-=-=-==-
In conjuction with her creative
writing she has always enjoyed doing this "fictional budget" thing
thatt she
came up with.? She invents people and lifestyles/careers and then
figures all of
these budgets from it.?
-=-=-=-=-=-
I'm guessing that would fall under Social Studies as ell as math. Pam,
could you label that in some way? Certainly Budgeting.
-=-=-=-=-=-
that is where the majority of her math hours come
from-but she used my husbands paycheck to figure % of pay for taxes,
insurance
etc and then used that % for her fictional paychecks, pays fictional
bills, ran
a fictional horse farm with employee paychecks and everything-very
involved and
detailed and I don't have a CLUE what to call it to give her "school
credit"..?
-=-=-=-=-=-
Math. Percentages. Book keeping. Accounting. Role Playing.
School children NEVER do REAL accounting. It's ALL fictional. You
honestly can't penalize her simply because it wasn't a real horse farm.
-=-=-=-=-=-
She is able to run a household, care for siblings and cousins, cook,
she spent a
week alone last summer and worked and did just fine while we were out
of town
and numerous times has babysat over night for people.?
-=-=-=-=-
Social Studies. Life Sciences. Home Economics. Economics. Fractions.
Approximations.
-=-=-=-=-=-
She's competent, mature,
intelligent and it aggravates me that b/c she's unschooled we have so
few tools
to define how awesome she is.
-=-=-=-=-=-
Honestly, you don't need to break it down. She seems fine. You could
easily make her a diploma.
Below is a copy my sons' curriculum. It is W-I-D-E open! You could
write something similar with *her* interests/hobbies/experiences in a
narrative if you feel the need.
But if she's already employed, where's the necessity?
~Kelly
Kelly Lovejoy
Conference Coordinator
Live and Learn Unschooling Conference
http://www.LiveandLearnConference.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~The World is Our Classroom~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LifeWorks School for Boys
Course of Study
Secondary Grades
LifeWorks School for Boys is a private full-time homeschool established
in compliance with the Education Code of the State of South Carolina.
Because we believe that the family is the most fundamental social
institution and the preferred means of caring for, preparing, and
enabling children to be productive members of society, LifeWorks School
promotes and supports a family-centered education through our
independent study program.
At LifeWorks School, we believe in independent study. Duncan will learn
primarily under the immediate direction, guidance, and support of his
parents and other caring and involved adults. We will offer an
outstanding educational opportunity by providing a natural learning
environment, extensive real-world experience, flexibility of schedule,
and the ability to respond to Duncan’s specific needs and inclinations.
Duncan’s program is developmentally appropriate, integrated and fully
individualized, and continually built upon his personal strengths and
interests throughout the year.
English: Duncan will develop knowledge of, and appreciation for
literature and the language, as well as the skills of speaking,
reading, listening, spelling, handwriting, and composition.
He will read from self-chosen and parent-chosen literature on a regular
basis and will engage in reflection on those literature pieces in a
variety of ways, such as: journal writing, book reviews, conversations,
drama based on the books, book clubs. Our educational goal is for
Duncan to read for pleasure, to gain exposure to a wide variety of
genres, and to be able to reflect critically on what he reads.
Duncan will read content-related non-fiction materials to support his
chosen areas of interest. He will reflect on these pieces in a variety
of ways, such as: journal writing, writing articles for submission to
magazines or newspapers, discussions, or development of a scrapbook in
an area of interest. Our goal is for Duncan to learn to read critically
for information, to understand and be able to reflect on materials
read, to be able to compare them to other sources of information, and
to learn how and where to find written resources as needed.
Writing, spelling and grammar will be covered as part of Duncan’s
natural writing processes. He will develop his ability to write
creatively, to write letters and lists, to create and write drama
pieces, informational essays, persuasive articles, etc. Our goal is for
Duncan to enjoy writing, to gain expertise in both the writing process
and in technical writing and editing skills, and to develop a sense of
power over the written word.
Science: Duncan will develop his scientific knowledge with emphasis on
basic concepts, theories, and processes of scientific investigation and
on the place of humans in ecological systems, and with appropriate
applications of the interrelation and interdependence of the sciences.
These will be related to areas of his personal interest by engaging in
hands-on activities, watching science videos, reading related written
materials, conducting scientific experiments, keeping journals, making
and recording observations, visiting scientists in their work places,
visiting local science museums, participating in science fairs and
workshops, or through cooperative learning. Our goal is for Duncan to
experience a wide range of scientific exposure in his areas of
interest, to develop a positive interest in science, to learn to think
scientifically, to develop a respect for the work scientists do, and to
understand the importance science has in daily life.
Social Studies: Duncan will develop his understanding of the social
sciences and humanities by reading and discussing fiction and
non-fiction materials, participating in field trips to historic and
politically or culturally significant sites, or through discussion and
debate. Anthropology, economics, psychology, geography, history,
political science, and sociology are fully integrated into the his
studies in a wide variety of ways, such as: the use of time lines and
maps, discussion, journal writing, cooking, plays, road trips,
invention building, field trips, and art. Our goal is for Duncan to
develop a foundation for understanding the history, resources,
development, and government of South Carolina and the United States of
America; the American legal system; the operation of the juvenile and
adult criminal justice systems and the rights and duties of citizens
under the criminal and civil law and the State and Federal
constitutions; the development of the American economic system
including the role of the entrepreneur and labor; the relations of
persons to their human and natural environment; eastern and western
cultures and civilizations; human rights issues, with particular
attention to the study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery, and the
Holocaust; and contemporary issues including the wise use of natural
resources.
Health and Physical Education: Health and physical education will be
fully integrated as a part of daily living skills and participation in
the wider community. Duncan will learn to care for his health and
physical environment in a variety of ways, such as: shopping for and
preparing food, discussing the necessity of a healthy diet,
participation in fire drills and other emergency preparedness
activities, exercise both as play and as part of a structured group
experience and through camping, hiking, and other outdoor activity. Our
goal is for Duncan to appreciate the necessity of a healthy body and to
develop lifelong habits of regular exercise and good nutrition.
Applied Arts and Vocation/Technical Education: Consumer and homemaker
education, industrial arts, general business education, and general
agriculture will be offered in a variety of ways. Duncan’s interests
will determine the direction of his applied arts and vocation projects,
which may include apprenticeships, mentorships, or specific training.
Our goal is for Duncan to develop skills and knowledge to meet his own
future vocational and avocational requirements.
Visual and Performing Arts: Duncan will develop his knowledge of art,
music, and drama through informal and structured methods in a variety
of ways, such as: art classes, instrumental lessons, choral singing,
listening to various styles of music, learning about the people who
have influenced music through history, or working on individualized or
group projects that relate to music, art, and drama, including acting
and performing in a variety of venues and genres. Our goal is for
Duncan to enjoy a wide variety of art, music, and drama experiences,
including performance, while developing an understanding and
appreciation of the importance of art, music, and drama as creative
expressions of human life experiences.
Mathematics: Duncan will develop mathematical concepts, operational
skills, and problem solving through participation in daily real-world
activities such as cooking, building, shopping, budgeting, computing,
etc. Mathematics materials will be chosen to support his individual
learning style in order to achieve competency in operational skills and
insight into problem-solving procedures. Our goal is for Duncan to
gain a strong conceptual knowledge of mathematics as well as an
appreciation for the daily applications of mathematics in his life.
Automobile Driver Education: Duncan will be offered the opportunity to
develop the knowledge and skills necessary to become a safe driver.
Foreign Language: Duncan will have the opportunity to develop
understanding, speaking, reading, and writing skills in a foreign
language(s) of his choice.
Parenting Skills: Duncan will acquire parenting skills primarily
through first-hand interaction with and observation of young children
and through direct adult instruction in skills and knowledge including:
effective parenting, prevention of child abuse, nutrition, household
finances and budgeting, personal and family interactions and relations,
methods to promote self-esteem, effective decision-making skills,
family and individual health, child growth and development, parental
responsibilities, personal hygiene, maintenance of healthy
relationships, and teen-parenting issues.
________________________________________________________________________
More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! -
http://webmail.aol.com
mimiphilomena
From: momzlove@...
We live in Missouri.? This is my question too?? Any help on putting
together a
grad portfolio? or transcript? or what???? Mine is 16, done with school
(per se)
but we don't know how to document this stuff.? Also, where to get an
actual
diploma-we don't want to do a GED.?
I am going with this option to graduate my 16 year old. It is a bit of
an expense, but for our family, it is worth it.
http://www2.cruzio.com/~beachhi/home.html
Mary
San Francisco
We live in Missouri.? This is my question too?? Any help on putting
together a
grad portfolio? or transcript? or what???? Mine is 16, done with school
(per se)
but we don't know how to document this stuff.? Also, where to get an
actual
diploma-we don't want to do a GED.?
I am going with this option to graduate my 16 year old. It is a bit of
an expense, but for our family, it is worth it.
http://www2.cruzio.com/~beachhi/home.html
Mary
San Francisco