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High School Math? Not a Problem
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As I prepare to begin teaching high school next year, I am reaching out to those homeschool mom friends who have gone before me. Amy is one such friend. I am thrilled she was willing to share with you about her experience homeschooling high school!
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You’ve made it through learning to read, learning to spell, and learning to multiply. You’ve struggled through the frustrating years of junior high and still managed to keep up on your child’s school subjects. You’ve taught general science and history until you are blue in the face. You’ve figured out how to motivate your child to learn independently and moved them to self-teach in most subjects. And now your child is in high school.
You’re homeschooling high school.
And you don’t remember a single thing about algebra, geometry, or chemistry.
Feeling a little worried? Don’t be! You can do this Mom. And just so you know, it’s okay to get math help. Or science help. Or whatever outside help you need to get this job done. I know all about these worries, because a couple years ago I was completely freaked out. My daughter had developed a strong dislike for the videomath we had been using for years, and my plans for high school math were getting thrown out of the window. At the end of 7th grade. I needed help, and I needed it fast.
Sometimes, the solution to our problem is right in front of our face. In my case, a complete redirection in our homeschool led my husband to teach high school math. But in our search for a solution, we found several other viable options that might help you find math help for your teen.
Some teens will need an actual instructor, some will need a tutor, and some will just need to watch free videos online. Here’s what we came up with.
Find a different teacher for maximum math help.
This is perhaps the most obvious way to get math help in your homeschool but it is not always as straightforward as it was at my house. I hired my husband. Or rather, he hired himself.
If you know someone who is qualified to teach high school math or science ask them what they would charge. If you have zero budget ask them what they might trade for. Maybe you can find a homeschool Mom who needs you to teach art, music lessons, or writing. Consider hiring a young college student. My husband tutored algebra in college to make extra money, and I learned more sitting and watching him tutor then I did in the classroom. So yes, college students can make excellent (and affordable) teachers.
Another great place to find a different teacher is through homeschool coops. Many local co-ops hire someone to teach group lessons in higher level math. Want another option? Try finding the class at your local community college. Community colleges often give great deals to high school students, have small class sizes, and credits transfer. Live online classes are also an excellent choice.
Find a Tutoring Service for moderate math help.
Tutoring is an excellent choice if your child needs a moderate amount of math help. Tutor.com is an excellent place to find a tutor, and if your spouse is in the military, your child can get free tutoring through Tutor.com. Many towns now have tutoring shops near the grocery stores. You can also hire college students, private school teachers, and professional tutors who will come to your home. Ask your friends for recommendations and ask at the local library. Librarians are a wealth of knowledge, and many tutors meet their students at the library so it’s a great place to find one.
Use Free Online Materials for minimum math help.
If you have a textbook and your child is doing a pretty good job of self-teaching but needs occasional math help, look for free materials to keep him on track and make sure he is learning correctly.Turns out there are lots of places to find free videos online about math. The most wellknown and comprehensive site is Khan Academy. But you can also check on YouTube and find videos that teach specific skills for math.
Amy lives with her husband and six beautiful children in Northern Virginia. Besides blogging, Amy enjoys homeschooling, hiking, reading, singing, teaching, and serving Jesus above all. You can find Amy at her web-sites Homeschool Encouragement and Homeschool Blogging and as a guest contributor for the 2:1 Network.