HELP! Resources for Homeschooling an At-Risk Teen!!

[ramama]

So, a neighbor and friend has decided to homeschool her 14yo son. He is really at-risk. He is bipolar, has PTSD (his bio-dad was very abusive to him and his mother), as well as learning disabilities. He recently spent 7 days in jail. He has attempted suicide twice. He is reading on a 3rd grade level.

I am the only friend of hers who is supportive of homeschooling. I am a homeschooler at heart who doesn't homeschool (long story). I'd like to be able to offer her resources as well as emotional support to her.

What resources can I give her that would help?
Does anyone know of an online support group for parents of at-risk teens who homeschool, or something similar?
What curriculum can she use to catch him up that is high-interest for older children reading far below grade level?

Homeschooling is not something that she ever thought she would be doing, and needs all the help she can get! What outside activities do you recommend that would help him (I like the idea of some sort of community service, but need more ideas!)

Thanks for any help that you can give me! I have two young girls, so the thoughts and needs of a 14yo boy are foreign to me!

[SagMom]

Are his mental health issues and past abuse being addressed? I'd address that and the reason he was in jail first while working on strengthening (or maintaining) a supportive relationship. ("At Risk Teen" is a pretty all-encompassing label--I'm not sure if the issues you've listed are or aren't beign addressed currently.)

I'd focus on things he likes to do, or does well and give him many opportunites to succeed. If he's interested in working or volunteering, that could be great for him--personally, I'd put his reading level pretty low on the list of priorities at this point. I'd want to build on his strengths.

The Teenage Liberation Handbook is a great resource for teens and their parents.

If there is a homeschool group in the area he might find activities or be able to cultivate new friendships through that, provided there are older kids involved.

[Callimom]

Not really a resource but maybe some inspiration.

The Film Club


Its about a father who basically allows his son to "drop out" as long as he watches 3 movies a week with him and discusses them. (There are other stipulations as well).

Along the lines of the PP Real Lives 11 Teenagers Who Don't Go to School is another good book to read.

good luck to her!

[Madame Pomfrey]

A highly interactive deschooling phase would likely help to move him into a new state of mind. You might choose field trips around his interests - sports arena tour if he's into sports, science museum iuf that interests him, zoo if he likes - or ever liked - animals, a music studio if he enjoys music, etc. You might find that such places will waive fees or allow special tours if you explain that you're trying to pull a child back onto a positive path. Self-guided learning or "web quests" might also help him transition to a sort of "homeschooling state of mind."

As SagMom already pointed out, the Teenage Liberation Handbook will help him get there...but a troubled kid will need an adult to just help him stay engaged as he transitions. Too much unstructured time can lead to his falling back into old habits or reaching out to the friends who helped put him in jail. The counselor could advise you on the right balance of structure and free time.

To improve reading try taking him to your local library and meeting up with the teen librarian. Pleasure reading is THE strongest factor in transitioning to higher lever reading skills. Librarians are trained to help a child find interesting books that fit their reading level. With his current troubles and the lower skill level, he might especially benefit from fiction as an escape. He might even want to start with some manga or American graphic novels. The pages look like comic strips and they now have loads of books in graphic novel form. They're the height of reading cool with most teens right now.

We met a local family a while back who's in a similar situation. They wanted to add a touch of academics to help with structure, and because the counsellor - and the courts - required it. They found a Summer Bridge Workbook to be helpful. Each day for the first month or so their daughter did a 2-page spread that included bits of math, grammar, science, and geography. It was really basic stuff and just boosted confidence plus allowed them to get a basic feeling for her skill level in different areas. It also satisfied the judge. They didn't even finish the book, just used it until they developed their own style.

Wishing you the very best,

Lucie

[ramama]

Ah, thanks ladies!! I will pass on all the books recommended here to my friend. I think they'll help a lot. I also really really really like the idea of deschooling. I'll talk to her about that, as right now she seems to be trying to hit the ground running, and it's very likely he does need time to deschool.

Regarding his mental health issues, they are being taken care of, but he tends to be a bit non-compliant, as I imagine is not that uncommon for troubled teens, or even teens who are not troubled His mental health is the highest priority (and fear) for her.

His "jail stint" was absolutely unfounded from what I understand, but is more importantly a symptom of falling in with the wrong crowd. Two of his friends were found with weapons in school, and they blamed my friend's son. He had no weapons on him, and there was absolutely zero evidence, but he was still detained for 7 days. I am fully aware that I don't have the whole story, but knowing my friend as I do...

[AAK]

I would def. let him help create his "curriculum". But, I would help with the reading too. I agree that pleasure reading helps increase reading skill, however, reading at a low level can kinda ruin the pleasure of reading as well. Additionally, it may be hard to get material that is interesting to him that is at his current reading level. If there is any chance that he is an undiagnosed dyslexic, I would check this out: http://www.bartonreading.com/ Get a list of tutors in the area and just talk to them. They are very helpful.


ETA: Until his reading is better, I would use video courses or hands on learning for the rest of his curriculum. Just because his reading is poor doesn't mean his intelligence is low. Just present the material in a different way.

Amy

[Lillian J]

The Teenage Liberation Handbook is a wonderful, but just be aware that it used to recommended Saxon math, so it still might, and that can be really miserable for some. And on the other hand, I know a couple of real math lovers who basically hate Saxon but found it did work well used as a tutoring tool with a few kids who are so math phobic that it was a relief to them to at least they could manage to get through some rote stuff with it. And take a look at the FUN-Books site - they have all sorts of interesting and unusual materials that can keep learning fun.

And tell her not to underestimate the crucial importance of some nourishing decompression/deschooling time - it won't be a waste of time, but skipping it can be a waste of time.

Also take a look at this information vision skill problems that are quite often unnoticed, undiagnosed, or misdiagnosed.
Reading with vision challenges, and an article I wrote about my son's experience with vision therapy (it has links to organizations' websites where you can find out more about what the symptoms are, etc.). If you do a Search here in MDC, you'll find other threads were vision skills/vision therapy are discussed.

Lillian