Homeschooling Senior year for DC with v. low grades?

[sphinxie]

I posted here about my DSS's academic situation: http://mothering.com/discussions/sho....php?p=5480089

In brief, he's a very smart, talented and pleasant kid, but withdrawn and only proactive about music and his two bands. His grades have been rock bottom for the past few years, and his school is really atrociously unchallenging and unhelpful and backwards.

Now he'll be going into Senior year, after some summer school. We're talking more about the future, what his grades really mean, and what to do. Although it would technically be easy for him to pull his grades up, I don't think he's willing to put in the effort on principle. Also, I don't think he's comfortable with the approaching adulthood yet.

His mom is interested in homeschooling his 11 yr old sister and has asked me for information about that. However, I had assumed that homeschooling DSS now that his grades are already clearly low and there's just one year left would look like a copout and not help. But in the thread on the teens forum it occurred to me that maybe if he relies on community college and anything that leaves a paper trail, universities would ultimately take that more seriously. I wanted to ask homeschoolers, does anyone have any idea about this?

We are in Canada by the way, which may affect the law & university situation...

In the first thread I put a postscript about why it really is best for him to go to college unless a good concrete alternative comes along... because I know it's so tempting to say "college isn't necessary" but that doesn't solve the problem by itself...

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by sphinxie

Although it would technically be easy for him to pull his grades up, I don't think he's willing to put in the effort on principle. Also, I don't think he's comfortable with the approaching adulthood yet.

I'm not sure if you mean he's equating graduation with adulthood, but I'd work on adjusting that notion - that's more pressure than a kid that age needs to face.

However, I had assumed that homeschooling DSS now that his grades are already clearly low and there's just one year left would look like a copout and not help. But in the thread on the teens forum it occurred to me that maybe if he relies on community college and anything that leaves a paper trail, universities would ultimately take that more seriously. I wanted to ask homeschoolers, does anyone have any idea about this?

I'm afraid I don't know anything about Canada, but in the U.S., anyone can go into community college and then use their transcript effectively for application to a four year college. A student could get straight Fs all the way through high school, still go to community college, and - with good grades there - go on to a four year college. My son didn't have any grades at all from high school - my transcript was very simple with no courses listed. I have a page on teens, homeschool, colleges & careers that you might take a look at for some interesting insight and also a yahoo discussion group on these kinds of concerns - you might also get some ideas there:
Homeschool-to-College-Or-Other-Goals

- Lillian

[Roar]

I'm not sure how it works in Canada so I can't speak to that part of it, but I am wondering if it would be possible for him to follow up his senior year with a "gap year" or two. He could take community college classes, intern, travel and/or work. I do think having outside graded work is going to be really important for him to make up for the bad school transcript. One thing I'd keep in mind is that there are SO many colleges. People obsess over getting into the few most select colleges, but the reality is that most kids can get in some place and that there are lots of good colleges and universities that accept the vast majority of people who apply.

[Lillian J]

Good idea about doing something afterward for a while besides just community college - and college admissions directors love to see re-entry students who have had a chance to experience more of the world and come to some more solid ideas about what they want out of life. My son did a year of live-in full time volunteer work at a soup kitchen. The kitchen was part of a whole support system that involved a shelter and other social services, so the staff was busy with all sorts of other things as well. It was an education we could never have bought - and a life-changing one. Ameri-Corps has an assortment of such opportunities. Although you need to be able to convince AmeriCorp that you're a responsible and valuable worker too.

- Lillian

[Callimom]

Hi Sphinxie

You can find some information about Canadian college and university admission policies for homeschoolers here.

You might also consider researching programmes like Katimivak or CISV as a way to give him some space to mature before finishing highschool or starting another educational avenue..

There are online options for highschool - ILC in Ontario - but they are quite schoolish and may not be any better or more effective than high school.

You might contact your local or provincial homeschool group for more specific information on your situation as well. You can find some links here for provincial organizations.
HTH
Karen

[sphinxie]

Originally Posted by Lillian J

I'm not sure if you mean he's equating graduation with adulthood, but I'd work on adjusting that notion - that's more pressure than a kid that age needs to face.

I don't think it's that--hm, how to put it into words. I'm referring to a certain proactiveness as part of adulthood. I don't think there's anything wrong with him waiting on this, although it can be awkward when all his input is indirect. I don't mean adulthood in an absolute sense--I'm not sure there's any such thing

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by Karenwith4

ou might also consider researching programmes like Katimivak or CISV as a way to give him some space to mature before finishing highschool or starting another educational avenue..

Duh! Yes, I suppose it would make a lot more sense to look into Canadian programs rather than AmeriCorp, wouldn't it? - Lillian

[MomInFlux]

Does Canada have a GED equivalent? If he's smart and talented, maybe he could just study for and get the equivalent of a high school diploma and then focus on community college classes.

[sphinxie]

Thanks very much! My DP was in favor of homeschooling him for the last year. He talked to their son's mom and she's in favor of it too. But he'll go to summer school to pass 11th grade.

The next thing I'd like to do is find a HS support group in Vancouver that suits them. Not so much to join necessarily, but so that they can talk to someone knowledgeable about the laws and so forth. Karen, thanks for the links! I will have to dig in further to find the right local secular group for them.