More homeschooling questions (beginner)

[Crazybean]

Sorry for my ignorance.
I am really interested in homeschooling and am trying to get out of the mainstream mentality.

For those who don't really "do" much school but visit science centers and things, how does that work? That counts as education? So me going to the zoo with a 5 year old and studying the animals counts? (If so, I might like this more than I thought)

When it is time for learning vocab, some say they just let it happen naturally. My DH and I are educated but we don't use fancy words in everyday conversation- wouldn't that effect the kid on the SAT score or in general composition? Does reading novels make up for it?

Do they earn a GED in 12th grade or is it something else? Do they even have "grades" to follow or can he go away to college at 16 if he is ahead in things?

Don't Universities require a transcript/grades from each subject area?

Sorry, I'm really new to this and hope I don't offend anyone with my questions.

[AJP]

Some of your questions will have different answers depending on the state, university, etc., in question. If you're an independent homeschooler, rather than using a home-study charter, distance learning or independent study program, then what counts as education is up to you. There's a broad spectrum of homeschooing methods, you can accept as much or as little outside guidance as is appropriate for your family (again, depending on the state).

My son, 9 yrs., has a great vocabulary, and we have put no intentional effort into it. I suppose my husband and I use a lot of "big words" in everyday conversation, that's just the way we roll, and so our kids tend to speak in a similar manner (the little one is 3 yrs., seems on the same track as his big brother with regard to vocab). He will ask what words mean when he encounters one he doesn't know, either while reading or listening to someone else speak. He has become an avid reader, and IMO stretching oneself in that area can go a long way towards building a good vocabulary, but even before he was reading he was doing well in that respect. I can see that we might want to direct him to some more specific vocabulary expansion a few years down the road, but at this point he can carry on a pretty impressive conversation for a 9 year old. We will both correct him in the course of conversation if he uses a word inappropriately, because the ability to communicate clearly is important to us, but it's just an on-the-spot kind of interaction, it's not like we ever sit down and "work on his vocabulary." It has evolved naturally.

[3momkmb]

For those who don't really "do" much school but visit science centers and things, how does that work? That counts as education? So me going to the zoo with a 5 year old and studying the animals counts? (If so, I might like this more than I thought)

IMO everything *counts*. A trip to the science center is educational, as is a trip to the zoo as is a trip to the grocery store for that matter. You can put them into boxes if you like (biology, hom ec) or you can just give up the school metality entirely and just call it life. Either way learning is happening.

When it is time for learning vocab, some say they just let it happen naturally. My DH and I are educated but we don't use fancy words in everyday conversation- wouldn't that effect the kid on the SAT score or in general composition? Does reading novels make up for it?

I might not use *fancy words* in my conversation, but those people on the Discovery and the History channel do, James Barrie did, so did Lemony Snickett for that matter. I find vocab to be the easiest thing to *teach*, because simply exposing your child to good literature and passionate and educated people (even if they are on TV) will do it for you.

Do they earn a GED in 12th grade or is it something else? Do they even have "grades" to follow or can he go away to college at 16 if he is ahead in things?

My DD is 15 and a freshman. I do not grade her as in giving her an A in biology. I only designate a grade at all for her because I have started building her transcript this year and also so that when it comes time for dual enrollment I can call her a *junior* and not hurt the brains of the nice people at the local community college She could attend college as soon as *I* graduate her, or sooner as a dual enrolled high school student. She can always take the GED if she chooses, but she does not have to as homeschooling is a legitimate form of education and she is not a dropout.

Don't Universities require a transcript/grades from each subject area?

They do, and I will make one for DD when the time comes. Most colleges will accept parent written transcripts these days as they are becoming more familiar with homeschooling. Just as an example her transcript for this year will include:

Paragraphs and Essays (outside class) 1/2 credit
Intro to Biology (apologia biology) 1 credit
General Math (teaching textbooks) 1 credit
Creative Writing (self taught) 1/2 credit
Early Childhood Ed (Working w/young children + volunteering) 1/2 credit
British Lit (sonlight) 1 credit
World History-Tudors and Stuarts (self taught) 1/2 credit
PE (dance, tumbling, outdoor winter sports) 1 credit

I will list more on the actual transcript like reading lists, writing samples, forms signed in the case of outside classes and texts/workbooks used.

[sapphire_chan]

As far as college, our plan, when the time comes if Lina has an interest, is to have her take courses at the community college (if you aren't degree seeking you only need to take an aptitude test to enroll) and then apply as a transfer student to universities. If she doesn't want to do college right away, I'll have her get her GED just because many jobs want a highschool equivalency.

Of course science museums and such count as learning. Things stick in your head better when you enjoy yourself so they count more as learning than sleeping through a class.

Reading novels will sufficiently enrich your LO's vocab. But if you've got worries come SAT time you can always have him/her take an SAT prep. course.

[Crazybean]

I'm getting really excited over this::::

[Leta]

None of the homeschoolers I know have bothered with the GED. In the event that you have a child who wants to join the military, or go to one of the military academies, you may have to take the GED and a semester's worth of college classes, but last I knew, the military was revising their GED policy regarding homeschoolers.

As well, if you have a child that wants to try for one of the military academies, you are going to have other things going on, like volunteer work or Scouting, etc., that will prove the child's intelligence and maturity.

Also, if a kid does well on the ASVAB (military standardized test), any recruiter will bend over backward to get him/her in boots.

This is true of everyone, public, private, parochial, or home schooled: you do not need a diploma to go to college. You do not, do not, do not. I know four people who have gone to college (two who have graduated already) who did not have a high school diploma or GED. Only one of those people was ever homeschooled.

So "what about college?" is a pretty unneccesary question for most situations.

[Lillian J]

For those who don't really "do" much school but visit science centers and things, how does that work? That counts as education? So me going to the zoo with a 5 year old and studying the animals counts? (If so, I might like this more than I thought)

It's not really a matter of "counting" - it just is what it is. Those things just are education - as are looking at the stars together, blowing bubbles, taking nature walks, reading lovely books aloud to him, listening to stories and other things in audio recordings, learning about weather, and many other fun and enjoyable natural activities in which your child is learning about the world at your side. Take a look at my article on preschool and kindergarten learning activities.

When it is time for learning vocab, some say they just let it happen naturally. My DH and I are educated but we don't use fancy words in everyday conversation - wouldn't that effect the kid on the SAT score or in general composition? Does reading novels make up for it?

Your child has been learning vocabulary since he was born . Read to him and help him develop a love for all the wonders that books can bring to his life. I read to my son till he was 12 and starting to take off in his own books to the point that it was too much to keep up with - before that, he read non-fiction books he was interested in getting information from, but the novels were things I read to him. We both loved the time we spent together in all those adventures and places we visited together in those books. Once your child is reading on his own, vocabulary will just keep building. Watch good films together, get out and around town, to museums and shows - it will come. And maybe you could make the building of more vocabulary words an ongoing fun hobby of your own - there are lots of little computer programs, recordings, and books for that.

Do they earn a GED in 12th grade or is it something else? Do they even have "grades" to follow or can he go away to college at 16 if he is ahead in things?

Some test for a GED in 12th grade; lots don't. There are lots of different ways of handling this. Some print up a diploma from their homeschool (which many colleges aren't particularly interested in); some get a diploma from some program they're enrolled in; and some just start taking classes at a local community college sometime in their teens and don't bother with the idea of a diploma at all - they just apply for a four year college at some point and send in the transcript from the community college. College admissions directors from four year colleges like to see some grades from outside the home, so taking some community college classes or some kind of AP (Advanced Placement) classes in the community is helpful at some point.

Don't Universities require a transcript/grades from each subject area?

No - not at all! It all depends on the college. Some might want to see a complete list of subjects and even ask you to add "grades" for them, even if "Mom" grades don't necessarily mean much to them, but just because it's their procedure - but another might not care at all. When my son was applying to three colleges, I just wrote up a simple one page essay that told a little about the kinds of things he had done over the years, and he attached a transcript for some classes he'd taken at the community college, although only a few of them were in core academic subjects. He also submitted his SAT scores, some personal letters of recommendation (one from a service organization he'd volunteered with for a year through AmeriCorps), and his own essay. The first two colleges had offered him scholarships before he even had a chance to get the one to the third college in. This wouldn't have worked at one of the big state universities in our state - they would have wanted a lot more in the way of specifics in regard to courses covered, but those were small private liberal arts colleges that especially welcomed students who had unusual backgrounds.

Sorry, I'm really new to this and hope I don't offend anyone with my questions.

Heavens, there's nothing even remotely offensive in anything you've asked! These are things everyone asks at some point. In fact, I'm going to add a link here to our other thread, so that all this can be saved together for a bookmark in case anyone else comes along soon with the same questions:
Considering homeschooling - so many questions

Lillian

[elizawill]

Originally Posted by Crazybean

Sorry for my ignorance.

no, you're fine! i wish i could show you what my first posts looked like when i started looking into homeschooling. i was like, what is a DH or a DS? and then my questions were not even valid ones...i was just freaking out, lol.

Originally Posted by Crazybean

For those who don't really "do" much school but visit science centers and things, how does that work? That counts as education? So me going to the zoo with a 5 year old and studying the animals counts? (If so, I might like this more than I thought)

in my state, i have to account for 180 days, and i do have to cover 5 subjects. however, *how* we cover those subjects is completely open. tuesday, we went to the raptor center. yesterday, we went to a bible study. today, i'm going to chick-fi-la to hang out with other homeschoolers. and tomorrow we're going to the zoo. even though my dd has done other school related things, i will also count all of these outings toward our records as well.

Originally Posted by Crazybean

When it is time for learning vocab, some say they just let it happen naturally. My DH and I are educated but we don't use fancy words in everyday conversation- wouldn't that effect the kid on the SAT score or in general composition? Does reading novels make up for it?

well, imo, most of us don't talk "fancy", lol. i think i have a well-rounded vocabulary, but it isn't something i learned in high school. vocabulary naturally grows through life experiences imo. we hear it through conversation, through television shows, and through using a thesaurus a lot in college. and yes, definitely through reading a lot!

Originally Posted by Crazybean

Do they earn a GED in 12th grade or is it something else? Do they even have "grades" to follow or can he go away to college at 16 if he is ahead in things?

Don't Universities require a transcript/grades from each subject area?

this was already answered well by others more experienced than myself

Originally Posted by Crazybean

Sorry, I'm really new to this and hope I don't offend anyone with my questions.

no offense at all. i'm sure you'll have a million more questions to ask. it's completely normal & we all have been in your shoes