In This Chapter
Foreign languages
The arts
Living well
Religious education
Driver education
Simple starting points
Resources
In This Chapter
Foreign languages
The arts
Living well
Religious education
Driver education
Simple starting points
Resources
YOU HAVE CONSIDERED approaches to the traditional high school subjects, namely reading, writing, math, science, history, and geography. Now it is time to think about all those topics that schools call elective or “extra”—foreign language, music, art, drama, driver education, health, physical education, and religious studies.
Regarding the extras, our fellow homeschooling travelers make three points—loud and clear. First, many teenagers consider one or more of these subjects the best reason to get up in the morning. Because they live for music, drama, art, or sports, these teens see these subjects as essential, not as extra. Many say that music, in particular, provides motivation to complete more mundane subjects.
Second, the agenda of a majority of home educators differs markedly from that of public schools. More than 80 percent of our survey respondents incorporate religious education into their homeschooling every day. Many families build studies around religious teachings. Others buy curriculum fully integrated with material designed to instill and reinforce religious beliefs. Even more than music and art, these families say religion is essential, not an extra subject tacked on after the fact.
Homeschoolers study foreign languages for many reasons, and preparation for college admissions is number one. Competitive colleges usually require the equivalent of at least two years foreign language study.
Third, many homeschooling parents worry less about how to cover extras like foreign language, music, or team sports than English or math. With less pressure (are we doing it right? are we covering everything?), families explore creative approaches to these subjects more often than with the three R’s. Read on to learn what they are.
Homeschoolers study foreign languages for many reasons, and preparation for college admissions is number one. Competitive colleges usually require the equivalent of at least two years foreign language study. Very selective colleges recommend three or four years. Many homeschoolers study Latin, Spanish, or French so they can include it on their high school transcript.
While college provides a major stimulus, there are other reasons to learn foreign tongues. Two of our survey respondents write about moving to countries with principal languages other than English. Some teenagers plan service, mission, or pleasure trips to Mexico, France, Germany, or African countries. Speaking the foreign language eases and enhances the journey.
Others polish their foreign language skills to travel through time. Homeschoolers tackle ancient Greek and Hebrew to read the Bible in the original. They learn Russian to read Tolstoy or French to savor the nuances of Gallic poetry.
How about learning enough Italian to communicate with Grandma in her native tongue? Or acquiring sufficient Russian or Japanese to correspond with a pen pal?
Finally, some people study foreign languages for fun. They enjoy learning and piecing together the unique vocabulary and syntax of a new language the same way others enjoy mastering a Beethoven sonata or creating a quilt. We call these people foreign language hobbyists, and they emphasize that creating a reason to learn a second language must be your first step.
Foreign language hobbyists tell us that two elements provide motivation. First, listen and practice daily. Foreign language learners need frequent exposure to the new tongue. The daily activity can be anything—reviewing flash cards, listening to music in the target language, watching foreign language television, perusing French Reader’s Digest with a translating dictionary close at hand, doing Latin grammar exercises, or speaking Spanish. The more students know, the more their confidence increases, and the more they want to know.
Second, hobbyists tell us to tie foreign language learning to a goal, ideally a fun goal. Consider a trip to Europe within the next two to four years, tied to learning French or German or Spanish. Or consider somewhere closer to the United States, such as Mexico and French-speaking Canada. Of course, travel is not the only potential goal. How about learning enough Italian to communicate with Grandma in her native tongue? Or acquiring sufficient Russian or Japanese to correspond with a pen pal?
A whopping 90 percent of those responding to our survey chose Spanish, with good reason. Spanish clearly ranks as the de facto second language in the United States. In the Southwest, as well as in Florida and even New York City, Spanish permeates everyday life. In these predominantly Spanish communities, it’s not uncommon to see signs and government documents printed in English and Spanish, to hear Spanish radio and television programs, and to find Spanish books and tapes in libraries. There are also large populations who speak little or no English, only Spanish. Prevalence of this language means that students nationwide have easy access to formal Spanish educational materials. Students in the Southwest, Texas, and Florida also have frequent opportunities to use the language in everyday life.
The second most frequently studied language, according to our survey respondents, is Latin. The language of Cicero, famous Roman orator, owes its popularity among home educators to several factors. First, Latin study makes English grammar more understandable and increases English vocabulary. That explains why Latin students score 15 percent higher than others on the verbal portion of the Scholastic Assessment Test, the principal college admissions test. Second, unlike other languages, Latin is a dead language, with no living speakers today. Pronunciation is not as critical as with Spanish or French. With little pressure to “say it right,” students study Latin principally to acquire a reading knowledge, giving them direct access to 1,500 years of Western thought. And finally, excellent homeschool instructional resources exist for Latin, probably better than for any other language.
The third most popular language with our survey respondents is American Sign Language (ASL), the language of the deaf. As the fourth most-used language in the United States, the public has grown increasingly interested in ASL over the past several years. It is everywhere. Increasingly, employers look for applicants who can communicate with the deaf, and television stations use signing in their advertising and programming. Hundreds of colleges now accept ASL as fulfillment of their foreign language requirements. Homeschoolers, taking note of the snowballing interest in ASL, usually take classes through support groups and local junior colleges.
Hundreds of colleges now accept American Sign Language as fulfillment of their foreign language requirements.
In deciding which language to study, homeschoolers have to carefully consider their resources. Foreign language study can be expensive and can also require substantial time and energy. For that reason, consider having all children in the family study the same foreign language. Also, strongly favor any language with which the parents have experience. You may think your high school French has evaporated, but even rudimentary knowledge can help your teenagers.
Teens with definite goals should choose a language consistent with those goals. Employers tell us that Japanese is a good choice for future computer engineers. Those planning a stint in the military will be well served by Arabic, German, or Russian. Future physicians, nurses, and veterinarians should study Latin, the source of 95 percent of medical vocabulary. Classically trained singers usually learn German, French, and Italian. Those planning missionary work in Africa might consider Swahili and other widely spoken African languages.
Languages the survey respondents study—in order of popularity—include:
Spanish (more than 90 percent of respondents)
Latin (more than 20 percent)
American Sign Language
German
French
Greek
Gaelic
Italian
Japanese
Several of our survey respondents report problems learning foreign languages. Belinda confesses, “We keep trying to learn Spanish, but it is not working. We need a tutor or something. We will keep plugging away until we figure out how to get it done.” Marla agrees, saying, “We are not particularly successful with foreign language. The best resources are home-shopping shows that describe items in Spanish, then in English.”
Marla has come close to a solution with the home-shopping shows—she simply needs to expand upon it. We have all heard of children or teenagers transplanted to a foreign country who learn a second language in a year or two. They watch television. They use their new language all day, every day. They listen, respond, and somehow work through difficult situations. This is the ideal way to learn a foreign language.
HOW WE DID IT
We studied Spanish as a family formally in Guatemala and Honduras. Nathan returned to Honduras for three weeks for more immersion study. Leana will be taking Spanish at the local university this fall. Andrea and I will work together with a variety of materials, combining it with studying English grammar.
—AMY IN PORTLAND, MAINE
For those who cannot afford a move to France or Spain, hobbyists recommend learning techniques that resemble living in a foreign country. These techniques are called total immersion.
Total immersion goes beyond using a formal curriculum and tapes. Total immersion for home educators involves doing as much as possible every day in the target language. Label everything in your home in the target language. Learn common greetings, and use them routinely. Listen to foreign language music and watch foreign films. Amy explains how they combine program language learning with total immersion techniques: “I think the Learnables [a cassette-tape foreign-language program] is the best, but it is very important to draw from a variety of materials. Books on tape are great if you can find them at the right level. Of course, the very best is an immersion course in the appropriate country.”
QUICK & EASY
Find a foreign pen pal for your teenager from a country in which they speak the language you are studying.
Create a personal connection to keep interest high. Some families invite a bilingual friend to dinner every week. Others host foreign exchange students. Kim found a relative to help. “[Our daughter] is learning from her German grandmother and a language program with tapes. I have also bought German grammar books and readers that I have found in thrift stores.”
Total immersion takes a lot of planning and effort. Many families look for outside help, instead. Laura in Colorado uses computer programs and Web sites.
Kristin’s teenagers enroll in classes for homeschoolers held at a nearby junior college. Terrie in Texas employs a computer program and a tutor for Spanish. See end-of-chapter Resources for frequently recommended programs.
No doubt about it: Homeschoolers are artsy people. Almost every survey respondent reports that their teens spend time daily on music, dance, drama, drawing, painting, or sculpture.
Tess in Pennsylvania explains why her teens study music: “Studies show that playing a musical instrument helps with math understanding and may contribute to maintaining your mental faculties in old age.” Whether music study improves your grasp of algebra or not, many parents find it hard to ignore the window of opportunity for learning to play an instrument. Younger students learn more quickly than older ones, and teenagers learn better than adults. Practical considerations aside, many teens find an emotional outlet in music difficult to duplicate elsewhere.
MONEY SEVER
Call the foreign language departments of local colleges and universities and ask about campus clubs for Spanish, French, German, and so on. Often these organizations welcome community participants.
Janice, who has been homeschooling since 1991, describes her teenagers’ music experiences. “Between two teens, we have provided private lessons in piano, violin, and drums. Guitar has been self-taught. Other activities include youth symphony, community orchestra, music camp, church praise band, symphony concerts, and occasional rock concerts. My son’s band, playing Christian rock, had their first public performance on the Fourth of July. He spends all of his free time on music.”
Many parents, like Janice, provide private music lessons, but they do not stop there. Almost all respondents report exposing their teenagers to a range of musical experiences. Martha, who lives in a small town in New Jersey, says, “Our children take private instrument lessons, play in the orchestra and small ensembles, and sing in choirs.” Belinda in Toledo, Ohio, writes, “Our son has taken guitar lessons for about six months. He has also been in two musical plays through the Community Theater. We do music appreciation in the car when we are traveling, and lots of singing at home.”
Whether music study improves your grasp of algebra or not, many parents find it hard to ignore the window of opportunity for learning to play an instrument.
Sharon, an unschooling mom in Canada, describes her fourteen-year-old son’s experience. “He’s had three years of weekly keyboard and percussion sessions with a music mentor. He has grown up with a variety of music, mostly classical, and has attended many concerts. He jams with homeschool friends and composes original piano music.”
Learning to play more than one instrument is also common. Claudia reports, “[Our son] is studying toward grade 6 theory and practical recorder, and he has played in competitions and concerts. He has also taken two years of piano lessons and two years of saxophone lessons. He taught himself guitar this last year.”
Music education sometimes extends to community productions and technical work. Lauren writes, “Our eighteen-year-old takes voice lessons and participates in musical theater. Our fifteen-year-old learns music sound systems with a professional musician friend.”
As a group, home educators express less interest in drawing, painting, and sculpture than in music. Unless they have an artistically talented teenager, they take a casual approach. Jane reports, “Our son does not draw much now that he has a guitar in his hand, but he used to draw a lot. He has all kinds of books and art supplies. We have just set up lawn chairs at the lake and spent the day drawing. We got videos on techniques. We also studied photography and went on nature shoots.”
MOST POPULAR INSTRUMENTS
Instruments that proved most popular with our survey respondents include:
Piano
Voice
Guitar
Recorder
Violin
Denise says, “We do art appreciation with museum visits, art books, Sister Wendy Beckett’s books, and photo exhibits put on by an aunt, uncle, and grandmother. We took a pottery class, and also draw and sculpt at home. Many of our survey respondents mention homeschool co-op art experiences. Claudia provides art classes when her teenagers request them.
Karleen describes her children’s art education: “Mandy carries a sketchbook with her and draws as inspiration strikes her. She has also studied drawing using Mark Kistler’s Imagination Station on PBS and Mona Brookes’ Drawing with Children. Both girls learned ceramic painting with a good friend of ours.”
Community activities abound for drama and dance. Homeschoolers attend performances, act in drama productions at church, and take co-op classes with other homeschoolers. Karleen writes, “Both girls participated last year in the Guild Builders, a community children’s theater group, and will again this year. Our homeschooling 4-H club has chosen drama as our special focus this year. We will do many of the activities out of Lisa Bany-Winters’ book, On Stage: Theater Games and Activities for Kids, and Kay Hamblin’s Mime: A Playbook of Silent Fantasy. In addition, the teens want to write and produce a play. Finally, we have plans for a Shakespearean reader’s theater with the county homeschooling teens.”
MONEY SEVER
Learn the self-taught instruments. While it is possible to learn any instrument on your own, certain instruments lend themselves to self-teaching. These include guitar, recorder, bagpipes, harmonica, and many folk instruments. The recorder, a very inexpensive starter instrument, has serious literature written for it.
Dance, also popular, goes beyond ballet and tap. Opportunities range from aerobic Jazzercise to swing. Kate says her son took ballroom dancing last summer. Folk dancing is popular, and many communities provide free opportunities to learn square dancing, clogging, reels, Scottish sword dancing, and so on.
Donna in Canada says that the visual performing arts, specifically acting and associated activities, form the framework for her son’s homeschooling. “He does not study visual performing art—he lives it. He is an actor and is very involved in the technical aspects of the entertainment industry.” If Donna’s son finds his eventual occupation through his teenage passion, he will not be the first.
HEALTH, NUTRITION, AND physical education, often taught as separate classes in school, integrate seamlessly into most homeschools.
“Keep it simple,” say most of our survey respondents. Laura writes, “We make menus every two weeks, and our teens plan well-balanced meals. They also help cook.”
Sarah reports, “We don’t [formally] cover health and nutrition. He learns on his own by watching Discovery and The Learning Channel and reading magazine and newspaper articles.”
Carrie describes her family’s approach to health and nutrition: “We did a unit on body and health. Mostly, we discuss issues when they come up, particularly during an illness. We read food labels, discuss articles we run across, and research things that we find interesting. As a family, we practice homeopathy and use natural and herbal remedies when possible. Also, we always use doctor and chiropractic visits as opportunities to get information.”
Jane says they use some published materials. “We had a school health book we covered last year, along with videos and other books from the library. This year I have a college book and some tapes and software. We will also go to the kitchen and grocery store and read labels.”
With work, family activities, and individual and team sports, homeschool teenagers build the habits of lifetime fitness. Ron describes typical homeschool physical education. “My daughters swim, ski, ride their bikes, and extensively show Arabian horses. They also do a lot of ranch chores. We feel that it is important to learn some sports that they can pursue the rest of their lives.”
Similarly, Donna’s son’s activities would keep anyone fit. They include “building soundproof walls, hanging lighting for shows (up and down ladders), rollerblading, cycling, basketball, gardening (building, digging, trimming trees, weeding), transferring cinder blocks, delivering flyers, walking friends’ dogs, and hiking.”
Carrie’s teenager also lives an active life. “Our daughter taught herself yoga from a book and practices daily. We also join our homeschool group in sports, take private tennis lessons, participate in the Presidential Physical Fitness Program, bicycle, skate, golf, and so on. We are an athletic family.”
For formal sports training, many homeschoolers prefer martial arts. More than 30 percent of our survey respondents mention karate or tae kwon do or similar activities in connection with physical education. Tess writes, “As a family, we take kung fu and tai chi. Ted studies kung fu six days per week for forty-five minutes each lesson through Chinese Martial Arts of Carnegie, Pennsylvania.”
QUICK & EASY
For couch potatoes, rent dance and exercise videos at the library. Then do them!
Many youth groups provide outlets for physical activity. Our son regularly completed the mile run and other fitness challenges through the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program. Jane describes her teenager’s physical education, largely connected to the Boy Scouts. “He goes on Scout outings, rides bike with his dad, and we go canoeing. He and his dad took a trip in the Smoky Mountains and talked to people who hike the Appalachian Trail. He did the biking, backpacking, and canoeing merit badges in Scouts.”
Community groups also provide opportunities to hone skills and keep in shape. Ron’s daughters take gymnastics classes at the local high school and at their community recreation department. YMCAs and private gyms offer many activities, such as tennis, racquetball, and swimming. Churches often field volleyball teams and sponsor bowling leagues. Trina in Pennsylvania says her teens play on public school soccer teams. They also play church baseball and join local softball leagues. Bill in Canada mentions adult baseball and curling leagues as other possibilities.
Serious competition exists for those who desire it. Our son participated on a U.S. diving team that traveled to meets all over the nation. Based on this experience with a parks and recreation department team, the diving coach at West Point attempted to recruit him. Similarly, Patty in Anchorage writes about her teenager’s precision skating for the Alaska state team. Homeschoolers who wish to qualify for NCAA sports should review the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Initial Eligibility Procedures for Homeschool Athletes. (See Resources for contact information.)
Intense physical activity provides fun for everyone and one additional benefit—exhausting workouts diffuse teenage and family tensions.
Probably the most important part of teenage physical education is creating fitness habits for a lifetime. Involve everybody—Mom, Dad, teens, and younger children. Intense physical activity provides fun for everyone and one additional benefit—exhausting workouts diffuse teenage and family tensions.
ABOUT FACE! we now journey from the physical to the metaphysical. Home educators who study religion fall into two groups. The first group concerns itself primarily with inculcating the family’s beliefs, be they Christian, Jewish, Muslim or of some other faith. They would agree with Bill, who says, “Religion is important and integrated into all parts of teaching.”
The second group studies religion as just another social studies course. They learn about religion to understand history, psychology, economics, and literature. Lauren explains, “We are not members of an established church, but I do read about religious beliefs of different faiths worldwide. We have learned about holidays of others and how religion has affected history.”
Our survey respondents learn about religion using books, instructional materials, and discussion. Regardless of approach, homeschooling parents find themselves dealing with difficult questions when discussing religion with teenagers. Fortunately, free expert help lies right outside your front door—at your local churches, synagogues, and temples.
IF YOU TOOK driver education two or three decades ago in public school, you should know that much has changed. First, most school districts, tightening the purse strings, no longer offer free driver education. Even if you have access to high school classes, do not be surprised if they either charge for driver training or do not offer it at all.
Where should you go? Home educators have two alternatives for classroom and behind-the-wheel training. Several companies and independent-study high schools now offer excellent parent-taught driving courses (see the end-of-chapter Resources for specifics). Unfortunately, not all motor vehicle departments and insurance companies recognize these courses. As an alternative, check your Yellow Pages for local private companies that offer driver education. It will not be cheap, but as Mary Pride, homeschool mother and author, points out, “This is the only school subject that, if you fail to master it, could result in your or someone else’s death.” If you have to pay the money to get it right, do it.
That leaves the second big change over the past two to three decades for teens behind the wheel. State laws for licensing drivers under the age of eighteen have tightened up considerably. Some states now require not only completion of a driver education class, but also proof of school enrollment. This is supposed to prevent teens from dropping out of regular school. Unfortunately, it can create a paperwork hassle for home educators. If you encounter this roadblock at your motor vehicle department office, contact your statewide support group for advice on how to prove “enrollment” as a full-time homeschooler.
The extras fit into each homeschool differently. Some teenagers spend hours daily making music or perfecting martial arts moves. Others draw or practice skating or gymnastics for most of each day. Incorporate those extras that fit your situation, and leave the rest for adulthood.
Visit your local library and evaluate the foreign language resources. What books, audiocassette programs, and videotapes do they have?
Watch a familiar film, such as The Wizard of Oz or Star Wars, in the language you plan to study. Or listen to music in your target language.
If your teenagers play an instrument, make certain they also sing and listen! Sing, either at home with CDs or with a community choir. Listen to good music on the radio or from the library. Attend local concerts. Both singing and listening are free, and both enhance musical development.
Try one of the Art Unit Studies, specifically written for teenagers, found in every issue of Homeschooling Today.
List your teenagers’ current physical activities, whether related to work or play. Remember, you can call it all “school.”
American Sign Language Institute, Suite 3B, 242 West 27th Street (between 7th and 8th), New York, NY 10001
Artes Latinae, 800-392-6453, http://www.bolchazy.com
Calliope Books, Route 3, Box 3395, Saylorsburg, PA, 610-381-2587
Destinos (Spanish) and French in Action, Public Broadcasting System, 800-257-2578, http://www.pbs.org
Latina Christiana, Catholic Heritage Curricula, 800-490-7713, http://www.sonnet.com/chc/lati1.htm
Learnables, 800-237-1830, http://www.home-school.com/Mall/ILC/Learnables.html
Power-Glide Language Courses, 801-373-3973, http://www.powerglide.com
The Rosetta Stone, 800-788-0822, http://www.therosettastone.com
Silverstein, Ruth et al. Spanish the Easy Way. Barron’s, 1996.
Stewart, David. American Sign Language the Easy Way. Barron’s, 1998.
Wheelock, Frederick M. and Richard A. LaFleur. Wheelock’s Latin (Harper College Outline). HarperCollins, 1995.
World of Reading (in many languages), 404-233-4042, http://www.wor.com
Ben-Tovim, Atarah and Douglas Boyd. The Right Instrument for Your Child. Trafalgar Square, 1996.
Davidson Music Courses, 913-262-6533, http://www.davidsonmusic.com
Gindick, John. Country Blues Harmonica for the Musically Hopeless. Klutz Press, 1984.
Homespun Piano Courses, 800-338-2737, http://www.homespuntapes.com
Learning to Read Music, 800-243-1234, http://www.audioforum.com
Pogue, David and Scott Speck. Classical Music for Dummies. IDG Books, 1997.
Sethna, Dhun. Classical Music for Everybody. Fitzwilliam Press, 1997.
Zeitlin, Ralph. Basic Recorder Lessons. Music Sales Corporation, 1997.
Beckett, Wendy. Sister Wendy’s Story of Painting. DK Publishing, 1994.
Butterfield, Mona and Susan Peach. Photography (An Usborne Guide). EDC Publications, 1987.
Janson, H. W. History of Art. Harry N. Abrams, 1999.
McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. Harper-Perennial, 1994.
Metzger, Phil. Perspective Without Pain/3 Volumes in One. North Light Books, 1992.
Reece, Nigel. The Usborne Complete Book of Drawing. EDC Publications, 1994.
Strickland, Carol. The Annotated Mona List: A Crash Course in Art History from Prehistoric to Post-Modern. EconoClad Books, 1999.
Bany-Winters, Lisa. On Stage: Theater Games and Activities for Kids. Chicago Review Press, 1997.
Davidson, Diane. Shakespeare on Stage. Learning Links, 800-724-2616, http://www.learninglinks.com
Hamblin, Kay. Mime: A Playbook of Silent Fantasy (out of print, check library and used bookstores)
Fitness at Home, 315-585-2248, http://drk3Dcornell.edu
Home School Family Fitness, 651-636-7738, http://www.umn.edu/home/whitn003
NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student Athlete, Initial Eligibility Procedures for Homeschooled Student Athletes, 317-917-6222, http://www.ncaa.org/cbsa/home_school.html
The President’s Challenge Youth Physical Fitness Programs, 800-258-8146, http://www.indiana.edu/~preschal/
Many home educators will used religious materials specific to their faith, for example Catholic catechism materials. In addition, home educators may purchase religious instructional materials from the many Christian homeschool suppliers, like A Beka and Alpha Omega. We make no attempt to list those materials here. To branch out, for comparative religion studies, check out the following titles.
Anders, Max. 30 Days to Understanding The Bible in 15 Minutes a Day. Thomas Nelson, 1998.
Ellsberg, Robert. All Saints: Daily Reflections on Saints, Prophets, and Witnesses for Our Time. Crossroad Publishing, 1997.
Rosten, Leo. Religions of America: Ferment and Faith in an Age of Crisis. Simon & Schuster, 1975.
SuperStar Teachers Great World Religions, Audio and Video Versions, 800-832-2412, http://www.teachco.com
Berardelli, Phil. Safe Young Drivers: A Guide for Parents and Teens. Nautilus Communications, 1996.
Help! I Want to Drive and Help! My Teenager Wants to Drive, two books sold as a set by National Driver Training Institute, 800-439-1231, http://www.nationaldrivertraining.com
Keystone National High School Driver Education, 800-255-4937, http://www.keystonehighschool.com
Magliozzi, Tom. Car Talk. Dell Books, 1991.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Driver’s Education, 402-472-4321, http://www.unl.edu/conted.disted
Go Driver, Free Driver’s License Written Test Preparation, http://www.godriver.com
New Driver, http://newdriver.spedia.net/
Online Study Guide for Student Drivers, http://golocalnet.net/drive/
