How to Finish High School in Half the Time - Homeschool.com

How to Finish High School in
Half the Time

How to Finish High School in Half the Time
by
Homeschool.com’s Senior Editor, Rebecca Kochenderfer
Homeschooling is where my heart is and I have been homeschooling for over 14 years
now. This year however, my 14-year-old son said he wanted to see what school was like,
so we enrolled him as a freshman at our local public high school. When I asked him what
he thought of the experience he said he enjoyed it, but described it as “So much busyness,
for so little learning.” When I heard that I thought to myself, “Out of the mouths of
babes comes profound truths.”
Homeschooling IS a lot faster and more efficient than classroom learning. Most
homeschooling teens are able to do a thorough job on their studies in just four hours per
day. Teens in school, however, spend 6-7 hours a day at school and then another 1-2
hours at night on homework. So in this article I’d like to pass on to you some
homeschooling secrets I have learned over the years that I hope will make homeschooling
your high school student easier, faster and more effective.
Secret #1 :
Instead of spending 4 hours a day on your studies, spend 6 -7 h o u r s a d a y .
And don’t be afraid to focus on one subject at a time.
I recently had the honor of interviewing Christopher Paolini, the author of Eragon and
Eldest. Christopher’s books have sold millions of copies and Eragon will soon be
released as a major motion picture. Christopher attributes his success to the fact that he
was homeschooled. He used the American School correspondence curriculum and was
able to finish his studies and receive his diploma at age 15. He then used his time to
write and promote E r a g o n , which resulted in a lucrative three-book deal with Random
House when he was only 18. I asked Christopher how he was able to finish high school
so quickly and I also asked him what a typical homeschooling day was like for him. He
said that he liked to study one subject at a time for about 6-7 hours a day. By doing this
he was able to finish an Algebra or Science textbook in about 2-3 weeks. In this way he
worked his way through his high school requirements and was able to earn his diploma at
age 15 -- three years earlier than traditional high school students.
So, Secret #1, if you want to finish high school in half the time, is to spend more time on
your studies and don’t be afraid to do them in the way that works best for you.
TIP: Christopher Paolini has an excellent eNewsletter that he writes himself. You can
subscribe to it at: http://www.alagaesia.com/signup.htm
TIP: If you would like to have a recording of Homeschool.com’s interview with
Christopher Paolini, it is available at: http://www.homeschool.com/PreOrder/default.asp
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Secret #2
Take advantage of “dual enrollment” credits.
Secret #2 has to do with the power of “dual enrollment” credits. Dual Enrollment is
where a high school student takes a college course (in place of a high school course) and
receives both high school and college credit for the class. Many junior colleges offer
dual enrollment and sometimes there are even special cost concessions for
homeschoolers. In addition to junior colleges, some universities (like Texas Tech
University, which has the largest distance learning program in the U.S.) also offer the
dual enrollment option. To find out if the colleges in your area allows dual enrollment,
contact your high school, community college and university admissions offices and ask if
they offer dual enrollment. No two colleges are the same and each region has its own
rules for dual enrollment, so you will have to do your homework.
TIP: Many colleges, like Texas Tech University, BYU, and Excelsior College, offer
“dual enrollment” courses that count towards high school and college. For a complete list
of these types of colleges, look through the College section of Homeschool.com’s
Resource Guide at: http://www.homeschool.com/resources01/college.asp
Secret #3
CLEP out of as many classes as you can!
Another great time and money saver is the CLEP exam. CLEP exams are the most
popular credit-by-examination tests in the U.S.
The benefits of testing out of a class are:
• You don’t have to pay for the class (And CLEP exams are generally less than
$100).
• You get credit for what you already know.
• It takes a lot less time.
• You can test out of general ed classes that you may not be as interested in so that
you can use your time and money on classes that are in your major (or that you
are more interested in).
Each individual college has its own credit-by-examination policy so you will have to
contact your college’s admissions office to find out specific details. To see which
subjects are covered by CLEP exams, go to
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html
The second most popular credit-by-exam test is the DANTES. The DANTES covers
some subjects not covered by the CLEP exam. DANTES is particularly strong in business
and science classes. The DANTES web site is:
http://www.dantes.doded.mil/dantes_web/examinations/DSST.htm
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Tip: Before you select which colleges your child will apply to, you may want to research
their dual enrollment and credit-by-exam policies. These can save you a lot of time and a
lot of tuition money.
Tip: Did you know that pubic school students can test out of high school classes too
Your 8 th grader or high school student may be able to study a textbook at home (like
algebra or biology) and then test out of that class. This can help them free up a class
period that they can then use for an elective class like shop or music.
TIP: Gateway Prep is a homeschool program that specializes in speed learning techniques
and CLEP testing, and many of their grads finish high school with a year’s worth of
college credits already under their belt. They also graduate with a knowledge of speed
reading, speed math, and speed writing techniques. To learn more visit:
http://www.gatewayprep.com/
Secret #4:
Teach your children how to be good test takers.
We live in a test-crazy world and no matter how or where your child learns, they are
going to have to become a good test taker if they are going to do well in their classes and
in college entrance exams. Homeschoolers tend to be good test takers. For example,
homeschool students score highest on the ACT and SAT college exams – higher than
private and public school students. You can help your child be a good test-taker too. And
you’d be surprised how simple it is.
1) Find out if the test is timed or untimed. If the test is timed, have them look over
the entire test before they begin. Do the easiest questions first and then the harder
questions.
2) Find out beforehand if you are penalized for guessing. If you are, then only
answer the questions you are sure of.
3) Eliminate test-taking anxiety. Find out where the test will be given and try to
study for the test at that location (if you can). That way you will be comfortable in
that room.
4) Give yourself as much time as possible to prepare for the test. Don’t rush
preparation.
Secret #5:
Encourage your high school student to do some “job shadowing”
before they graduate.
Homeschooled teens have more time during the day to devote to job shadowing,
internships and volunteering. This is a real advantage because it gives the teen a chance
to see what careers are really like.
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How many people do you know who spent years getting a degree in something, only to
discover that they hated it Law school students who can’t stand being a lawyer.
Education majors who discover that they don’t like teaching. Don’t let this happen to
your child. There are some simple things you can still do to give your child a taste of the
real world before they go on to college or start their careers.
If your child has a particular career in mind, try to find someone who is already in that
field and ask them to share some time with your child. For example, if your child wants
to be a doctor, have them spend a day behind the scenes in a doctor’s office, have them
interview the doctor and ask what type of education is required to become a doctor, what
does the job pay, how many hours do you work This is the essence of job shadowing.
If your child has a gift for mathematics, explore together some of the careers where
people use their math skills. For example, you might arrange for your child to spend
some time in a laboratory, at an engineering firm, or at a government office like NASA.
If your child says he/she wants to be a writer, find an author who is willing to tell them
what their typical day is like – someone who will explain to them that not only do writers
write, but that writer’s also have to be good at marketing and PR. Perhaps you can even
help your teen self-publish one of their own books so that they can experience the entire
process.
The goal is to give your child a taste for what a typical day is REALLY like for different
careers. This is the main purpose and biggest benefit of job shadowing. Your child may
discover that they don’t really want to be a police officer or fireman after all and they can
now explore other options. Or your child may discover that their dream job is even better
than they thought and this experience will serve as the fuel they need to move along their
career path with a clear vision of what lies ahead.
TIP: Try to find time to set up some job shadowing experiences for your child. They will
thank you in the end and the experience may be pivotal in helping them find their path in
life.
TIP: If your child is busy with school or after school activities, you can still give them a
sampling of different careers by having people with different careers over as dinner
guests. Your guest will feel valued and honored by your interest and your entire family
will benefit by having a peek into a world they may not have considered before.
Rebecca Kochenderfer is Senior Editor and co-founder of Homeschool.com. She is
also co-author of H o m e s c h o o l i n g f o r S u c c e s s : H o w t o G i v e Y o u r Ch i l d A S u p e r i o r
E d u c a t i o n . Homeschool.com is the #1 homeschooling site on the Internet, according to
F o r b e s magazine, with over 2 million visits a year. She lives in Northern California
with her husband and three children and can be reached at:
Rebecca@Homeschool.com.
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Homeschool.com Fact Sheet:
High School Credit Requirements
High School credit requirements vary from state to state and school to school, however
there are some basic guidelines that you can follow to assure that your homeschooled
high school student will meet the basic requirements of learning. Schools and states
vary, requiring between 20 and 23 credits to graduate.
Use the following chart to determine your child’s high school course of study! Most
experts recommend a minimum of 23 credits for your child to graduate.
SUBJECT
CREDITS
REQUIRED
COURSES
RECOMMENDE
D COURSES
OTHER COURSE
OPTIONS
Language
Arts
4
Grammar &
Composition
English 1
English 2
English 3
English 4
Business Writing
Creative Writing
World Literature
Journalism
Mathematics 3 Algebra 1
Algebra 2
Geometry
Consumer Math
Pre-Algebra
Trigonometry
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Science 3
Physical Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Life Science
Earth Science
Environmental Science
Social
Studies
4
U.S. History
Government
World History
Civics
Economics
Geography
Psychology
Sociology
Arts 2
Fine Art
Art/Music Appreciation
Art History
PE / Health 1
½ Physical Ed
½ Health
Phsyical Ed (1 credit)
Health (1 credit)
Nutrition
Fitness
Foreign
Language
2 Any Language
Spanish 1
Spanish 2
French 1 & 2
German 1 & 2
Latin 1 & 2
Any Foreign Language
Electives 4
TOTAL: 23
Driver Education
Computer Literacy
Computer Programming
Marketing
Religion
(Or choose from other
disciplines & courses)