Preparing for the New School Year

If you do high school - or even if you don't - you might enjoy my mission statement that I posted at my primary blog: http://margmary.blogspot.com/2007/08/mission-statement-for-our-high-school.html Although parts of it were directed particularly to high school, much of it was part of my mission all through the years. After all, we enjoy their childhood with them, but raise them to be adults.

I also posted seven ways that I'm preparing for the new school year here: http://margmary.blogspot.com/2007/08/preparing-for-new-school-year.html. Although these postings were not specifically regarding visual impairment, they do apply to homeschooling (and of course, one of my two that I'll be homeschooling for high school this year is legally blind). If anyone would like to share ways that they prepare for a new school year (for any age level), please share in the comments.

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High School Credits

When you plan your child's home high school curriculum, you will want to know what courses are required.

If you are preparing a high school program that is not college-preparatory, you will want to find out what's required in your particular state...unless you are using a correspondence course that issues a diploma, and then, of course, you can follow their program.

Here's a somewhat typical high school curriculum:
English - 4 units
Social Sciences - 3 units
Math - 3 units (may include bookkeeping, accounting, consumer math, as well as Algebra or Geometry courses)
Science - 3 units
P.E. and health - 1 unit
Electives to bring the total to 21 or 22 units

Hadley School for the Blind does issue a diploma, and their program requires the following credits for graduation:
English - 3 units
Science - 2 1/2 units
Math - 1 1/2 units
Social Studies - 2 units
Electives - 7 units
Total of 16 units

The Hadley high school program, as you can see, if not college preparatory, but it might be a viable option for someone who struggles academically and just wants a diploma, for example for students with some types of multiple disabilities.

If there is any possibility that your child may pursue a college education, check into the specific colleges that are in your local area, or that your child may be interested in, to find out what credits are required.

Here is a somewhat typical example of a college preparatory program for high school:
English - 4 units
Social Sciences - 3 units (of which one must be American history)
Math - 3 units (must include Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry)
Science - 3 units (of which one or two must include lab work)
Foreign Language - 2 units
Electives to bring the total to 21 or 22 units

Some of the requirements vary from one college to another; for example, some colleges require two years of foreign language...but some smaller colleges do not. Some require a year of performing arts or art appreciation of some type. Also, if your child is planning on a math or science major, an additional, more advanced math course may be required, such as trigonometry or calculus.

Curriculum Planning - High School

"What about algebra...and chemistry?" parents sometimes ask themselves when considering homeschooling at the high school level. And I don't mean only parents whose children have special needs. I mean homeschooling parents in general.

Do you need a college education to teach high school? Let me just reassure you that I don't have a college education...and I've graduated four kids from homeschool high school and all have been accepted into college. My kids were invited into the honors program, on the honor roll in college, or given a scholarship. Now, at the moment, I'm not talking about blind or visually impaired children, just about homeschooling in general. My visually impaired son Peter is just beginning high school this coming fall. But I know I can do it, I know he can do it; and I believe you can do it too, if you and your child feel called to do this and you are willing to learn.

Is that "willing to learn" scary? Does that mean we have to learn algebra and chemistry (or whatever subjects are difficult for us)? Maybe; maybe not. Can your spouse teach it? Can you hire a tutor? Can your student handle a co-op class or community college class? Can you use a self-teaching program and just help a little without total mastery of the material on your part?

Once you decide you want to homeschool for high school, you will want to plan your curriculum. Does your daughter want to go to college? If she doesn't right now, might she change her mind later? Might she be able to "make the grade"? If not university, might she consider a vocational school or technical school or community college program?

Or does your son have additional disabilities severe enough that he would just be doing well to get through high school? This will make a difference in the program you decide on. If your ultimate educational goal for your child is a high school education, you might want to use the Hadley program...or use another program geared for just getting through high school. Or you could find out the minimums for high school for your state or district and use those to make up your own program. (You can usually find this on the web).

If college is a possibility, even remotely, you'll want to look into what colleges require for entrance. Although there is some variation, much of it is the same from one college to another.

Then you can set up a flexible plan for the coming four years (if your child struggles or has setbacks, you can take more than four years if you need it).

Now I'd like to ask if you'd like to help out here, if you have blind or visually impaired children getting ready for high school, in high school, or having graduated from high school. Could you share in the comments section a little about what your plans are or what's worked for you? It can be as short or as long as you'd like. Thanks so much.