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 busy-ness, 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 hours a day.
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 Eragon, 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
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
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 8th 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.
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 Homeschooling for Success: How to Give Your Child A Superior Education. Homeschool.com is the #1 homeschooling site on the Internet, according to Forbes 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.
