Hi-Everyone! I'm Debbie, I'm here helping my sister get information on homeschooling.  She's wanting to homeschool her 14 year old boy.  I found this website and thought I would find out from you all the ups and downs on homeschooling.  Can't be worse then high school.  I myself, have a one year old and three year old and stay at home with them, so I am educating myself for the future.  She's thinking of the internet homeschooling, I've never heard of it, but she just heard of it recently and thought it might work for her, what do you think?  And if so, do you have any sites you recommend?  This would be completely new to us, his first week would be this week.  thanks

14 year olds are a diverse group. I might suggest she take a month off "schooling" to let him deschool and to read up on homeschooling issues including deschooling and talk with him about his wants and want-nots, his dreams and goals.

Does he want a curriculum with a lot of reading? science? art? Who is he and who does he want to become. These questions are the basis and the joy of homeschooling.

Diane

Hi Debbie! We haven't done internet schooling. We're more eclectic, I guess, and do a combination of random stuff that seems to work. Also, my kids are younger, so I don't know how helpful I can be. I agree with what Diane said, I think that kids of all ages, but especially older ones, need to be part of the process if you want to be successful in getting them to buy into their education instead of feeling that it's someone else's job (teacher's, mom, internet course) to stuff the knowledge in, you know?

I also think that new homeschoolers, be they parents of 5 year olds or 14 year olds, are often apt to feel insecure and fall for the marketing pitches of internet companies, or out-of-the-box curriculum providers and end up spending a LOT of money on an experiment. Then, they're committed to the method they've selected because of the huge cash outlay. That's often a recipe of disaster.

I don't mean to suggest that a high priced solution won't work, just that it may not. Personally, I'd counsel you to take things slow, maybe buy some specific learning materials that the boy is interested in from a homeschooling discount store like http://www.rainbowresource.com, before you jump into buying a full package. Just a thought. Good luck!

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14 year olds are a diverse group. I might suggest she take a month off "schooling" to let him deschool and to read up on homeschooling issues including deschooling and talk with him about his wants and want-nots, his dreams and goals.

Diane, that is so wise . . . I love what you said.
By 14-years-old, a boy has received A LOT of messages from school and may not really feel in-touch with himself.
It would be truly wise, and very honest, to encourage a period of UN-winding all that negative momentum.
Truly, you wouldn't regret it . . .

"Deschooling" is a VERY REAL phenomenon that happens for, sometimes an extended, period of time.
Depending on what he's "been through", it can take a few years . . .    Remember how you felt after graduation?  
We become SO PROGRAMMED in the cookie-cutter system . . . and all the forced reading really robs us of the love of reading . . .
After school, I didn't want to read a book for YEARS!    But, it did gradually return after I returned to CHOICE and FREEWILL.
The anxiety had to dissipate, though.   And all I wanted to do was surf the web, visit with friends, be alone, ponder life, etc. . . things very common to a 14 yr old!

You know, I just want to encourage you guys to reconnect in your relationship.    He may truly need to "find himself."
14-years-old is very close to manhood with all of its specific needs (having a purpose, contributing, fixing things, feeling respected, etc.)

Online learning may be an excellent option for him.
Even just "googling" his questions will lead him to a plethora of info . . . a library unto itself.
There are lots of wonderful online learning curriculums . . . and there are teenage homeschool groups in Albuquerque (can anyone suggest some?)

I completely agree with taking time off.  My children are both younger and had been in a school for far less time but I found it very helpful to take time off to plan where our journey would take us.  I also found it very helpful to include my children in the decision making process.  At the start of each year we again take time to write out a wish list for that year and we do it together so that they are committed to their own learning.  Like anything else in life, there are downs but homeschooling offers so many wonderful opportunities that I personally feel outweigh any downs.

The Rio Grande Valley library system is a great resource and I have found them very accommodating of homeschoolers.
Good luck,
Lyndi