Homeschooling the Teen Years - Prepping a Personal Signature and Preparing for Forms

I know I've mentioned the importance of teaching children to write their signatures before, but once they reach the teen years it's time to really polish those signatures off and prepare them for use.  High school and life beyond is filled with forms - forms that need to be filled out, and signed.

Teens are self-conscience enough, and homeschool teens can be even more so.  There's no need to set them up for embarrassment when a little bit of prep and practice will have them ready to go.

While you're at it too, you might consider going over basic form facts in the privacy of your own home (rather than in front of the bank teller, or college admissions clerk).

• Forms are filled out in black or blue ink (usually in black, but never in pencil)
• There are various date formats mm/dd/yyyy (for instance)
•  Neatness counts
• How to use "N/A" or "same as above"
• Read the questions carefully, and pay attention to where you are supposed to fill in the answers.
• Small mistakes can be crossed out (with a single line) and re-written.
• Know your basic facts (address - including zip code, phone number - with area code (but not the preceding "1", social security number, etc.)

Most of it's self explanatory, and all of us have learned by practice - assure your teens of that.  We all start out (and ultimately end up) slow at filling out forms, but get better with practice - and there will be plenty of practice ahead.

It's great to be a homeschooler.

Homeschooling the Teen Years - When College is Not a Fit

I've always said that one of the goals of our homeschooling is to have the children college ready by their graduation, so that if they want to go on into college they'll be able to without any problems.  But really, in the back of my mind it's never been an "if they want to" but a "when they want to".

Of course, as a housewife, I haven't seen much financial return from my own degree (though I'd still argue it's been of use to me) - and the children have seen that.

And the Man of the House, who has supported all of us, and whose hard work enables me to be able to stay home and homeschool the children, did not go to college, and has never regretted that decision - and the children have seen that.

So really, it shouldn't be a huge surprise to me if one or two decide to jump straight into the workforce...it's just not something I planned for.

But a couple of summers ago, when we received a care package full of t-shirts from the college where one of my older sisters works, and I snapped a picture of the kids wearing them for her, gazing hopefully into their collegiate futures...

… it was already becoming clear that college was not really going to be a good fit for G and her then boyfriend (known to us now as "the Son-in-Law").

Besides the facts I've already mentioned, that I'm a housewife, and haven't really used my degree, and that the Man of the House has succeeded without a degree, there was also the fact that from the time G was tiny she has always said she wanted to be a housewife, and she's never been one to easily give up on a goal.  So, when it became clear that things were moving forward with their relationship...

… and her goal of "housewife" was within her sights, I had a pretty good idea that college was not going to be in their plans.  And although it shouldn't have been a surprise, it was still a shock.

I went through a definite mourning process complete with all five stages of grief.

Denial

At this point I was "keeping the doors open" for her (and for him to if he would have let me).

I had her take the HiSet early in her senior year, before things had gotten too serious between them, when I thought she might still be willing to put off marriage plans for a few years (and yes, you can still go to college after your married, I just didn't think she would).

I had her take the SAT.

I even got her agree to apply (or let me apply for her) to a university that she had admitted she might be interested in if it weren't so expensive, and I helped her fill out scholarship and financial aid forms - just in case.

Anger

She didn't qualify for much in the way of financial aid, and while she received some scholarship offers, her SAT scores were lackluster and didn't produce as much as they could have.

I was angry that she hadn't tried harder.

I was angry she wouldn't agree to take the test more than once, so she could up her scores.

I was angry with myself for homeschooling her and ruining her future, because surely, if she'd been properly motivated she would have cared more about the whole process.

I was angry with myself for not being able to trust her.  For wanting my dreams to be her dreams.

I was angry with the Man of the House for not being worried.

I was angry with the boyfriend for planting subversive, anti-educational ideas in her head (even if I knew he hadn't).

Bargaining

I offered her a free class of her choice at the college as a high school graduation gift.  She was working at a school for the deaf and blind, and so I offered to pay for a sign language class at the community college in the hope that a little taste of college might lead to a desire for more.  When she completed that course I offered to pay for another - a drawing class...no pressure.  But, while she enjoyed learning sign language, she didn't like the college format, and didn't care to take any more classes.

I also offered to help her fiancé (as he was by then) fill out financial aid forms, talk to the career counseling center at the college, look into online degree programs, or find a job that paid tuition costs - he had other plans.

Depression

I felt like I'd failed her.  I worried I might be failing the others.  I considered going back to work full-time and putting them all into public school.

Acceptance 

At the end of the day though, the kids have a good plan.  It might not be my plan, but it isn't bad.

While I was worried about the doors that would be closed to them without college degrees, they were walking through the doors that were already open.

M (the son-in-law) found an entry level position that pays well enough to get them started, with lots of potential for moving up and into a career (actually in the same line of work as the Man of the House, but for the competition). G found a job she enjoys that keeps her busy, and adds to their income enough to let them build a savings toward the day when she can stay home.  They're staying true to their faith. They're pursuing hobbies and friendships that add to their growth. They have a cute apartment, with plans toward a little house, and a puppy...

… and I can accept that (even if I would have preferred that they had college degrees to fall back on...and a kitten).

It's great to be a homeschooler.

Homeschooling the Teen Years - Friday Fun: Educational Mugs

My teens aren't big coffee drinkers, but many of their friends are, and when they're over for a game day or movie night, I love serving up a little lesson to spark conversation with the coffee.  Over the last year or so, I've been gradually replacing our ho-hum, unassuming coffee cups with educational mugs - ones covered in Shakespearean insults, or quotes from Jane Austin.

My favorite mugs come from The Unemployed Philosophers Guild (non-affiliate link), because they are good sturdy mugs, and I like their shape and thickness.  In fact, I just put in an order for their "First Lines of Literature" mug, that has the first lines from famous works of fiction all over it...

... with the matching titles listed on the bottom.

They have a "Last Lines of Literature" mug too, but I'm not sure if the that one has the titles on the bottom, or not.  The only mugs I avoid are the color changing ones.  They can't go in the dishwasher, and sooner or later I forget and run one through.  I ruined our constellation mug that way already, which is too bad...

...because I really liked it, and otherwise there was a "Supreme Court Winners and Losers" mug I would have loved to have added to our set (the losers disappear when the cup is warm).

Hand-wash only or dishwasher safe - the biggest problem of all is trying not to get carried away, from literature to science, math to fine art, tongue-in-cheek to serious - there are so many to choose from!

It's great to be a homeschooler.

Travel Agent to Traffic Cop the Changing Role of an Unschooling Parent of Teens

When the children were younger, I thought of myself as an educational tour guide leading tours through text books, pointing out interesting subjects, and finding fun activities.

Drawing by E(age14)

These days, my teens don't need me to point the way so much as keep things moving, and I find now that they've jumped off the tour bus and behind the wheels of their own cars (literally and metaphorically speaking) I've become a traffic cop rather than a travel agent. 

According to a  job description for a traffic officer from careertrend.com:

• Traffic officers help keep roads and walkways free of congestion so regular traffic, emergency vehicles and pedestrians can move about safely. I try to keep a clear environment, decluttering our spaces as much as possible, and keeping books and supplies weeded down and as easily accessible as I can.  I also find a good deal of my day is spent keeping things flowing - making sure schedules don't conflict, everyone has a ride to where they need to go, and helping the kids juggle computers and books (and bathrooms) so that everyone has what they need to proceed through the day.
• Traffic officers typically need a high school diploma or the equivalent, along with a valid driver's license, and they also receive on-the-job training and class instruction. A valid driver's license is helpful for homeschooling too, since I'm running the younger teens everywhere, and on-the-job training or continuing education has been a must. There's always something new to know, and I want to be sure to stay at least one step ahead of the kids if I can.  Helping students stuck on multiplication and fractions was easy, but remembering factorials has required review.

• Sometimes traffic officers issue a warning before issuing a citation. They also check vehicles that are parked in metered parking spots to see if they have been there beyond the time limit. If so, they issue a warning or citation, or in extreme cases, impound the vehicle. Traffic officers are also responsible for impounding vehicles that are illegally parked or abandoned.  Change "in metered parking spots" to "on the couch" and "impound the vehicle" to "Impound the Nintendo Switch" and you get the gist.

• Traffic officers are responsible for directing traffic during parades, road work or accidents. They may assume the responsibility of the crossing guard if one is not present. I might not function as a crossing guard, but in my newly assumed role as school guidance counselor, I'm often clearing paths and cutting through red-tape to make way for our little parade.
• Traffic officers may also control crowds during emergencies to make sure fire and rescue workers can get to the scene safely.  Anyone with a house full of teens together...all day...everyday (or at least pretty often) knows what it is to be on crowd and safety patrol.

Oh! And I just thought of one more this morning.

• Traffic officers may provide roadside assistance.  Just like that kindly officer stopping to ask if everything is okay when you're stalled on the side of the road, or trying to change a flat tire, I pull up beside my teens when they are stalled out, stuck, or in distress on an assignment, and offer assistance if it is needed - whether that is helping them myself (just enough to get them moving aging), or calling ahead for help, but instead of a tow-truck it's an expert YouTuber working out a sample problem, complete with answers, or even just with an encouraging word (like that, "You can't park here!  It's best to keep moving" you get when you try to pull over on an off-ramp).

It's great to be a homeschooler.

Homeschooling the Teen Years - New Drivers

Every parent has to deal with new drivers, but for homeschool parents dealing with driver's tests, driver's education, and well all things terrifying teen driver related can be one of the first steps back into the mainstream world of parenting - sort of the first little speed bump on the road out of homeschooling and into adulthood.

Drawing by E (age 14)

We currently have four licensed drivers - two with full blown diver's licenses, two with learner's permits, and one more standing by hoping to take driver's ed. this summer.  The process is slightly different from state to state, and I'm sure even more so from country to country, but some of the headaches and hassles are the same.  So, this is another topic I thought I'd hit while it's still fresh in my mind.

Things have changed from when we learned to drive.

• Kids start out earlier, but often don't drive on their own until later.

It used to be you dropped in at the DMV on your 15th birthday (or as soon after it as you could manage) to take the written test (on a computer with pictures if you were lucky) to get your learner's license.  Then you spent the next year driving with your parents, or any other licensed driver (or a driver's ed. instructor, if you wanted a discount on your insurance) until you turned 16, when you returned to the DMV to take your driving test and receive your license.

• Now if you're enrolled in a state sanctioned driver's education program you can earn your permit at the age of 14 and half (in Montana, in other states it varies between 14 and 16), and graduated (meaning restricted) license by the time you're 15!

That being said, many new driver's aren't even trying for their licenses until they are older (a fact taken from personal observation, rather than hard data).

• With a graduated license it is the number of practice hours that matter (50 in Montana) as well as the number of months (6 months) that you hold a permit.  Younger drivers have to keep a driving log to show the number of hours they've driven, as well as the time of day (some of the hours have to be at night), and various weather conditions encountered.  This doesn't matter so much for older driver's who simply take the driving test 6 months after their permit test, and move on.

It's convoluted

The graduated licenses have more restrictions and rules than the old permits and licenses.  Suffice it to say if you're unfamiliar with the "new" licensing process, you'll want to check into your state regulations sometime around the time your children turn 14, just to give yourself time to wrap your mind around all the rules and regulations.

Driver's Education

Not all homeschool students take driver's education classes, but keep in mind if you're planning on it, that they are often run through the local high schools.  Since we're out of the public school loop, homeschool have to be on the ball (and on the high school websites) to catch registration and class dates.

My kids were less than thrilled to head into a big high school on their own - cold turkey.  My oldest two opted to take driver's education together, so they could buddy-up.  They were the only homeschoolers in their class, but not the only siblings.  It ended up being a good thing, since the class started afterschool, meaning they had to head in against the flow of 1000 or more high schoolers leaving classes for the day.   It also allowed them to tag team the endless questions about homeschooling from their curious classmates.

The downside of their taking class together was that it meant practice driving with two at once for the Man of the House and me, instead of just one at a time.  That was a lot of "in the car" hours to add into our schedule.  

Few insurances offer discounts for driver's ed. anymore, and driver's ed. is expensive ($150/student in our area), so many homeschool families opt out of the program.  In that case, they wait until their children are old enough to earn a standard permit (16 years old in Montana), and then just teach their students themselves.  We've tried both ways, but prefer having the extra help even if it is a hassle.

It's great to be a homeschooler.

Homeschooling the Teen Years - Taking the Next-Gen Accuplacer Math Test

Drawing by E(age 14)

I've mentioned, in passing, already a few of the tests we've encountered during our teens' high school years.  D (age 16) took the Accuplacer (college placement) math test today, and I thought I'd share the steps of the process we walked through while they're still fresh in my mind.  The details of each step might vary slightly depending on the testing center, but the general idea will be the same.

The Timing 

Taking the test today was a last minute decision (we decided on it yesterday), but not completely random.

• Dual-enrollment registration for the summer term at our nearest community college is in April, so if D decides he wants to take a class this summer, he will need to have a high enough Accuplacer or SAT score to meet the class prerequisites (this is information you can find in your college's course catalogue), and he doesn't want to take the SAT until next spring, or the following fall.
• You have to have a picture ID.  He just earned his driving permit - so now has a picture ID.
• By taking the test early we could see where he's at, and give him time to improve anything that needed improving before trying again (only the latest test score matters for placement).

The Process

• On our college website we clicked into the testing center's page (our college has its own testing center - some will send you elsewhere, but that information should be in their admissions information).
• On the testing center page we clicked "Test Request" from the menu.
• That put us into a new menu where we clicked on "Schedule Test"
• Then we had to create a login for D with an email and password (I recorded the email and password we used for him on a sheet of paper that will go in our high school file - aka the old crayon drawer)
• Finally, we were able to choose the test we wanted.  For the Accuplacer there were three choices:  Math (90 min), Reading & Writing (180 min), or Math, Reading & Writing (240 min) - those are average times the tests take, there is no time limit other than the hours of the testing center (so you don't want to schedule the test for right before they close).
• We picked just the math (we'll go back later for the reading and writing)
• We were asked to choose a date and time (a pop-up showed us available times on each date).  Our center requires a 24 hour notice for test (usually) so we scheduled for the next day.
• We were sent a confirmation email, and prompted to click on a link to create a test ID for D (I copied that down on a sticky note to take along to the testing center).
• Today we showed up about 15 minutes early to the testing center to sign in (which consisted of showing his picture ID, signing a sheet of paper, and handing over the test ID I had copied from the link, paying $5.00 by debit or credit card - no cash or checks, showing the proctor his water bottle - they like them to have lids, and his bag of candy - they don't normally allow snacks, but if they are quiet and non-distracting they'll usually let it slide, and handing his coat off to me)  The test has a pop-up calculator when needed, and the testing center provides scratch paper and pencils, and a locker to put any of your stuff in that you can't take into the room.
• He took the test (it took him about 2 hours) - and he needed to type in our phone number and zip code at the beginning. I waited in the waiting room and read a book.
• When he was finished we received his score sheet with a list of the college level math classes he is now eligible to take (most colleges have a flow sheet that will explain the scores and compare them with equivalent SAT and ACT scores - but it might take some digging to find).

Questions D had before the Test

• Is it a timed test? No.
• Is it on paper or a computer? Computer.
• How is the testing room set up?  Ours is a classroom sized room with rows of computers at desks with little cubicle type dividers around them.  D ended up being alone in the room.
• How many questions are there? It varies depending on how far you get into the test.
• How does the test work? It is multiple choice. The questions gradually get harder until you can't do them anymore (basically).  

What's Next? 

D did well enough today, that he will not need to take the math portion of the test again.  He can register for the math classes he wants when April roles around.  When A (age 17) took the test, she took the entire thing at once, and petered out before the end of the math section.  She was not pleased with her score, and went back to retake it a couple of times until she liked the score she received. We will probably wait a week or so and then schedule the writing and reading portion of the test for D.

Did he study?

This is an assessment test that checks to see whether or not a student is ready for college level work, so while you can study (there are practice questions and tests on the College Board website) D did not.  I wanted to see where he was at first, and wanted to keep everything as low pressure as possible.  We don't take many tests at home (basically none) so trying to make the first "out of the house" tests as simple and enjoyable as possible is very important to me.

Your student's experiences might end up being a bit different, but all the same, I hope this glimpse into our day helps you plan yours.

It's great to be a homeschooler.

Homeschooling the Teen Years - Trust the Process

T (age 21) had a half dozen haiku to write, this weekend, for one of his college classes.  I was worried.

"Do you know how to write a haiku?"

"Of course I do," he snorted. "Do you think you taught me nothing, woman?"

I glanced at his sister across the room.

"VeggieTales?"

She shook her head thoughtfully, "Avatar: The Last Airbender."

Naturally.

It's great to be a homeschooler.