Ash shopped around for another school, both public and private, before deciding that homeschooling was the best option. A series of discriminatory instances at his public school (damaging incidents that no child should have to endure), led to his removal from public school. They were sending his work home for Ash to ‘make him do’ anyway, so why bother making him endure such a hate-filled, negative environment, when she was doing all the teaching?

The options for other schools were slim around here. With public school, he could face similar, negative environments (the school had a special ed trailer parked in the school lot for crap’s sake!). The private schools in the area wanted Ash to sign waivers allowing them to physically discipline CT in any way they saw fit. With a child who has mental health problems, and most educators unsure how to deal with these children, we saw daily beatings in his future. That does not help kids like CT. It just makes them mad and they act out worse than they do when they are misunderstood. Ash realized the travesty of such a situation and wisely declined enrolling him at one of these establishments.

So, back to my comment.

Here is what I said: “I homeschool my son to give him a better education.”

In his situation, the best education he can receive is at home. He does a lot more work, work that challenges him and work that does not assume he will never make something of himself. He’s reading classic literature, taking high school level courses, and taking part in college prep. He’s not spelling cat, because his teacher assumes he is a moron simply because he’s socially awkward. He is expected to perform on a level befitting his intelligence, and it may not always be easy to get him to do so, but when he does, knowing we didn’t give up on him is worth it.

Well, this simple little statement set off a hail storm. The teachers on my friends’ list and those related to teachers vehemently disagreed. There were cries of, “who said homeschool was better than public or private education in a school?” I guess I can understand that. If I’d have spent years in college to get a degree, I’d hate for others to assume it was worthless. I tried to explain I was not saying homeschool was better than public school. I was saying it was better for my son. While I believe homeschool has the potential to offer so much more than an in school education can, I also realize some parents SHOULD NOT homeschool. Some parents cannot homeschool. Their children need public school and in these instances, public school is the better option.

The discussion spiraled out to discuss how unsocialized homeschool kids are (proven to be not true except when kids are kept locked up/sheltered by parents). Some who were homeschooled themselves spoke out positively towards their experiences. Others took my stance, that it depended on the parents, children and the school environment in the area. I am just amazed at how polarizing a topic like homeschooling children can make people. It just adds to my belief that people find it hard to get along with those with whom they have differing opinions; a trend becoming more and more common with these new, later generations.

That brings me to the point of WHY I am writing this blog post. My little Facebook comment explosion made me reflect upon all of the problems with public education. I wasn’t hurt, but I was disappointed that some people felt Ash and I were making the wrong decision with home educating. It is our job as parents to determine what is best for our child and to be told that isn’t right is insulting. So, I began to think about all of the problems with educating in a classroom and this made me realize, our children aren’t safe anywhere.

This really has nothing to do with home education. I was just led down this path in a very twisted way by my comment on home education. This is about the safety of children and how that has changed since when I was a kid. At school, kids are not safe. It is less of a risk to imagine a child being kidnapped by a stranger or another, demented parent, at the school, especially since so many schools have police on campus, metal detectors, etc. The real concern is with those working at the school. Not all teachers, but some, and you never know which ones until it is too late, party with their students, have sex with their students, and do other crude and lascivious things with their students.

I was browsing the web recently and I saw a blog post (with pictures) of the Top 50 Most Infamous Female Teachers Involved in Sex Scandals. There are so many sex scandals in schools that they are able to make a Top 50 list. All of these teachers were semi-recent (90s and beyond). These were just the female teachers. There is no count out on the males, especially since male teachers who engage in such acts with their students get far less press than the females. We are shocked when a female teacher does such things, but apparently, it should be expected of the males. Why would I want to send my teenage son who has no ability to say no, even when he knows he should, into such an environment?

The sad truth is that our kids aren’t safe anywhere. They’ve been kidnapped and harmed from within their home. They’ve been snatched up on their way home from school or during recreational activities proceeding school. Playing in their yards with no parent watching every single second can mean a child could be snatched. Stores, restaurants, and other public places are just as vulnerable as neighborhood hangouts. So, where are our kids safe?

It is amazing the way my mind works. It is crazy that my brain got to this place and this question from where it started…on the benefits of homeschooling. That being said, it is a valid question. I would love to say kids are the safest at home with their parents. In most cases, they are. In some cases, it is the parent the child fears most, because they are the abusers. For those of us who aren’t abusing our kids, we cannot be with our children 24/7. We have to sleep. We cannot keep them locked up forever and not let them experience life. These things can happen in a split second, and they do happen.

So, where are our children safe? In this world…nowhere. We just have to hope that in the event something does happen, we did the best we could as parents to prepare them to fend for themselves.

Technorati Tags: homeschool, child safety, abuse, parenting, education, children, home education, thoughts, family, environment

Last year, at the beginning of CT’s 7th Grade year, he read excerpts in his Literature book from the novels, “The Call of the Wild,” “White Fang,” and “Flowers for Algernon.” When CT gets it in his mind he wants to do something, it can be hard to persuade him to do something else. Well CT decided he wanted to read all three novels. Let’s forget the money spent on all his school books, including the reading books we have him read each year. He wanted to read them now!

So, I made him a deal. I felt the books were important enough that I wanted to make sure he read them in a classroom setting. That way, if he had any questions, they could be discussed. CT is very literal so sometimes, figurative literature concepts confuse him. While he reads a lot of books (like the Pendragon series), in his free time, I had already planned to allow him to read two of the three books in 8th Grade, anyway, so I switched some books around on the list and added the third.

The 7th Grade year was long during reading class. The first book (okay, all the books) he read, he didn’t want to read. Our conversation went something like this:

CT: “Anne of Green Gables?” I don’t want to read this! I want to read “Flowers for Algernon!”

Me: You can’t this year. Remember? You’re scheduled to read them in 8th Grade.

CT: But I want to read “The Call of the Wild” or “White Fang” first!

Me: I know. I already bought, “Anne of Green Gables” for this year. Remember? You helped your mother and I make the list of books.

CT: I know, but I want to change it.

Me: Okay, well we can’t today. Read this and I’ll see what we can do.

So, CT read “Anne of Green Gables,” and really ended up liking it. He now has it as a part of his book collection. The next few books, the same thing happened.

CT: Where’s “Flowers for Algernon?” I want to read “Flowers for Algernon!” Don’t you know I read an excerpt of it and I really liked it?

Me: Yes, CT. I remember. In fact, I made “Flowers for Algernon” the first book you’ll read in 8th Grade. Today we have to read “A Wrinkle in Time.”

CT: I don’t want to read that! You could have at least got me “White Fang.”

Me: Well try this first. I think you’ll like it.

So, CT read “A Wrinkle in Time” and he really liked it. He liked it so much he requested the sequel books as a part of his summer reading program. It took no prodding to get him to read those books!

So, then the next book he read was of historical importance and connected to the chapter he was studying in his Social Studies/History class.

CT: Why do I have to read “Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl?” Don’t you know it’s time to read “Flowers for Algernon?”

Ashtyn: This is my very favorite book, CT. Won’t you read it for me?

CT: No. I want to read the books I read excerpts from. C’mon! Get me those books!

Ashtyn: We will. It’s almost the end of the school year now. You’ll get to read all three stories next year.

CT: I want to read them now!

CT read Anne Frank’s diary and he thought it was a good story. I’m not sure he completely understood the horrific situation, merely because he’s not exactly socially conscious of others, but he knew what happened to Anne was bad.

That brings us to his 8th Grade year. He spent the WHOLE summer talking about how he wanted to read “Flowers for Algernon”, so I thought it’d be easy to get him to read the book come September.

I will admit, he didn’t argue much, at all, about reading the book. The first few days he read, he was into it hardcore. As the book went on, his interest waned occasionally, but by the end, he was back in it again.

That brings me to “The Call of the Wild” and “White Fang.” CT is supposed to begin homeschool tomorrow. Due to some issues with not wanting to listen or find himself something to occupy his time, we decided to start some of his schoolwork this weekend. I thought giving him “The Call of the Wild” to read would be a fun way to begin the new year. He’d only been asking to read it for an entire year.

Well, yesterday the conversation went something like this.

Ashtyn: Come on CT. Time to start school. You need to read “The Call of the Wild” pg. 1-43.

CT: Oh. I don’t want to read that.

Me: Seriously?!

CT: Nope

Ashtyn: Why not?

CT: Because I don’t want to.

Me: Oh my God. You’ve been BEGGING to read this book since last year.

CT: No, I haven’t.

Me: You haven’t?

CT: Nope.

Ashtyn: Yes, you have!

CT: I don’t remember this. Can you prove this?

Me: Arrrrrrrggggghhhhh. (Perhaps there was some swearing in here, or perhaps not. I’m not admitting to anything!)

The moral of the story? If your Asperger’s teen says they want to read something, consider letting them read it that year. Otherwise, don’t take them at their word, because they’re bound to change their mind once you get the book in their hands!

Technorati Tags: The Call of the Wild, White Fang, Flowers for Algernon, Books, Reading, Homeschool, Aspergers, teenager, adventure

I’ve found that many parents who are doing secular homeschooling have limited resources, so I thought I’d share what we use to homeschool CT (Cool Teen – his online moniker). Here is a list of the classes he’s taking and the books he’s using this year.

For reference, CT turns 14 on November 5. He’s in 8th Grade.

History/Social Studies – American History
Book Used: The Americans – McDougal Littell
The Americans Workbook – Used Sporadically
The Presidential Elections Handbook
Online – The Americans Book Activities @ Classzone

Movies: The Adams Chronicles
Gods and Generals
Schoolhouse Rock: Election Edition
Gettysburg
Hilter: The Last Ten Days

Science – Life Science
Middle School Life Science – McDougal Littell
Problem Solving and Critical Thinking, Workbook Grade 8
Standard Test Practice Workbook Grade 8
Online – Life Science Book Activities @ Classzone

Movies: Evolution: Darwin’s Dangerous Idea
Wolves (Blu-Ray)
Bears (Blu-Ray)
Planet Earth
The Blue Planet

Math – Algebra
Algebra I – McDougal Littell
Algebra I Workbook
Benchmark Tests for Algebra I
Algebra Manipulative Kit
Online – Algebra I Book Activities @ Classzone

English – Language Arts
Language Network Grade 8 – McDougal Littell
Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Workbook
Vocabulary & Spelling Workbook
Online – Language Activities @ Classzone

Health & Sex Education Add On Unit
Pearson/Prentice Hall Health
Pearson/Prentice Hall Health & Human Sexuality Unit – Extended Unit for Teens (Stresses Abstinence)
Teen Talk Video Series (Excellent!)
Online – Health Activities @ Pearson/Prentice Hall

Reading & Literature
Flowers for Algernon
Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl
Where the Red Fern Grows
Anne of Avonlea
The Call of the Wild & White Fang
Dicey’s Song
The Miracle Worker
Peter Pan
The Neverending Story
Jason and the Golden Fleece
My Brother Sam Is Dead
The Princess Bride

Reading Worksheets, Projects, & Tests – Hand Designed to accompany each book. He also watches the movie version of the book if it’s available (after reading, of course)!

CT has to do one major paper per quarter. His first paper was for Science. It discussed genetic diseases. He decided to do his paper on Spinal Muscular Atrophy (his choice!). He also has a paper in History (pick a Famous Civil War Figure), Health (Research a Particular Drug), and Language/Literature (Choose your favorite Literary Period you’ve studied – Compare/Contrast Literature from that Period).

So, that’s pretty much what we use. He also has a Graphing Calculator for Graphing Calculator activities in his Algebra book. There are several activities and investigations that he does for each subject. We buy craft products needed for these on an as-needed basis.

CT has four subjects a day on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. We handle any appointments and group activities/field trips/etc. on Wednesdays and Saturdays, which are his days off.

So, do you homeschool? What’s your homeschool schedule like?

Technorati Tags: Homeschool, Algebra I, Life Science, American History, Language Arts, Middle School, Curriculum, Reading, Literature, Health

Of course, CT’s solution was to not do the work. He knew how to spell cat, so why should he have to prove it over and over in these stupid worksheets? At home, he was already exploring his mom’s Shakespeare books. The easy work made him bored, but the on-level work meant he wouldn’t do it because he didn’t have the supervision to keep him focused. Needless to say, the school system was mean and abusive about it, so for his own safety and well being, he’s been homeschooled.

I started dating my girlfriend in 2002. I’ve been through part of 3rd grade and onward homeschool-wise. I also grew up in a household with a teacher, so I’ve graded papers, kind of knew how to do lesson plans, and I spent my senior year of high school working at the elementary during free class periods as both a tutor and a teacher’s aide. Still, none of that could have prepared me for planning an entire year of school. I can see why (sadly) some public school teachers just brush over school lessons. It is a lot of hard work when you have to plan out a curriculum.

Unlike public schools, CT uses his entire book. I remember the teachers in my school skipping over lessons and doing what they wanted. Our theory is, if it is in a school book, the lesson is there for a reason. I’d hate to skim over something that might help him better understand future lessons. Besides, I find that completing a book fits in well with his schedule. Sure, we’ve had to make a few tweaks and change around a few classes here and there, but the planning process is imperative, to make sure CT learns everything we want him to learn.

This year, things are going to be different for CT. When it is all said and done, we’ll have paid around $1000 for everything he has needed for the year. Granted, this is the year he received his graphing calculator, but we’ve also decided to do a lot more hands-on activities. Usually, we’ve just had him do book work. With him being so visual and sensory, we’re hoping a more hands-on curriculum will make his school year run more smoothly. Yes, he’ll still have to complete book work, but with some internet activities and hands-on experiments it should balance things out to where he’ll start to realize school can be fun.

Because of his schedule, we have to plan CT’s curriculum out for the entire year. I know many teachers just do it by quarters or another, smaller group of time. We can’t do that simply because we have to make sure everything we want to teach is included. This involves counting days, putting certain subjects on certain days (and sometimes not on others), and splitting up his curriculum into parts. The hardest subjects we’ve had to schedule have been math and social studies/history. That is simply because there are just so many lessons to teach this year.

A lot of people who don’t *get* homeschool do not realize how similar to public school curriculum some of us teach. The difference is in how we teach. We go more in depth, allow for field trips to accompany lessons, play interactive DVDs, offer a smattering of online supplementations and make sure he truly understands and is getting the concepts. Just so you can see how *normal* CT’s curriculum is, let me give you a break down of his year.

CT is taking the following classes:

Algebra I
Life Science for Middle Schoolers
Language Arts for 8th Grade
Health & Human Sexuality
The Americans (American History) & a Political Process Book
Reading/Literature

For Reading/Lit, I’m having him read the following books. He has worksheets for each group of pages he reads and he has tests after each book:

Flowers for Algernon
Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl
Where the Red Fern Grows
Anne of Avonlea
The Call of the Wild & White Fang
Dicey’s Song
The Miracle Worker
Peter Pan
The Neverending Story
Jason and the Golden Fleece
My Brother Sam Is Dead

CT will have a midterm and final exam in every subject but Reading/Lit. He’ll go to school for 189 days and get off most of the same holidays that kids going to public school get off. For example, he gets from Tuesday-Sunday off, the week of Thanksgiving. On Halloween, he doesn’t have school, but we substituted his classes for that Saturday instead. He has from Dec. 13-Jan. 4 off for Christmas break. He has an entire week off for Spring Break. We give him a four day break for Memorial Day and he also gets off one day in February (the 16th). For a homeschooler, he really can’t complain!

See, the thing is, planning everything is hard work. CT’s books came late. He starts school tomorrow and Ash and I are scrambling to finish up his last subject.Then I have to make sure his first week of reading worksheets are printed out. I hand design all his reading worksheets and his tests. He also watches the movies for those books that were adapted into movies. I hope that this helps him to see how a book’s vision can be changed by a movie. Reading is always so much better than the movie version.

So, right now, I feel like a chicken with my head cut off. Last minute things are happening so he can start school tomorrow. We’re trying a new behavioral chart. We’re hoping the visual aspect to it will help him see when he is doing something wrong. We’re also starting a new thing where he receives grade cards every quarter. I’ve designed a template for a grade card. It’s pretty awesome! I also will be inputting all his grades into this new grading software I found. He’ll be able to check his progress with it online. Check out Engrade for the free software. So far, it seems to work quite well.

Planning a homeschool curriculum isn’t hard. It’s just time consuming. My son is worth it though, so I’ll go to whatever lengths I must to ensure he has a great year all while receiving an amazing education.

Technorati Tags: Homeschool, 8th Grade, Curriculum, education, Engrade, software, report card, Algebra, American History, Language Arts, Health, Human Sexuality