Over the past few months I've been approached by many asking about our homeschooling experience. Friends who were thrust into schooling at home by the pandemic and getting a clearer picture of what traditional classrooms may look like this fall are looking for other options.
Here I've attempted to list for you the programs we have used and their pros and cons. I am certainly aware that there are many other great programs out there that we haven't used. Feel free to comment with your suggestions and reasons for choosing the program(s) you have used or are using. If you have further questions, don't hesitate to reach out to Nicole or me. (740-324-0702 or hahnjamesm@gmail.com)
Seton Home Study School - We have used Seton off and on over the past 10 years. We have used their full program which includes a set curriculum, access to instructors, grading, and more. We have also used it as a supplemental program adding the subjects we needed. The full Seton program, full enrollment, is certainly challenging for both students and parents alike but well worth the effort. What I've always liked about Seton is the Catholicity. I've always felt that there was a way to tie in our Faith to every subject from handwriting (yes, they teach cursive) to science and everything in between. Seton does this with images, stories of the Saints, and more. If you are just starting out with homeschooling, this may be the right choice for you since everything is packaged nicely and you need to simply follow the schedule and calendar. The upper grades can be challenging, especially if you or your student are new to homeschooling, but there is plenty of help through a phone call, email, or chat. If you are worried about your student getting into college or getting a job after Seton, you would not be wasting your time to read their many
testimonials from academics, students, and more.
Queen of Heaven Academy - QHA is an online Catholic school for grades 4-12. Our oldest four boys were enrolled in QHA for a number of years. Them being in online classes was a bit easier for us as parents but still challenging for boys academically. Our oldest, Anthony, graduated from QHA and was very well prepared for his college programs. I like that QHA exposes students to other students around the country. Our boys cultivated great friendships with many of the students. Some of them, we discovered, live here in Ohio and they have been able to meet them in person and become good friends. I also like the fact that they have a set schedule of classes that must be attended on time and that they were held accountable by well qualified instructors who challenged them to think for themselves and find answers.
Homeschool Connections - Homeschool Connections is an online Catholic School with a variety of options. Families may choose to design their own curicullum and use only pre-recorded classes or they may choose to enroll in live classes. My favorite part about HC is that there are so many classes to choose from which allowed our children to focus on areas where they had an interest. In addition, I could sign up for classes (recorded) that I was interested in as well. All of the classes are taught by well qualified instructors and many of them are well known household names in Catholic circles. If you have the time and energy to create a program for and with your student, HC is a great choice and for only $30 per month the class choices are basically unlimited for everyone. I would only caution that you must be very organized and develop a system of keeping your student on track, otherwise it can become overwhelming.
College Credit Plus - While not a homeschooling program I do mention this because we've found it to be a valuable asset to our homeschooling program. Homeschool families typically have more time flexibility which makes CCP an ideal option for many. CCP is a state funded program that allows High-School students to take college courses and have those courses count for both High School and College credit at the same time. Our students have knocked out English and Math credits for college while also having them count toward their High School diploma. This dual credit is a great help both educationally and financially. General information can be found at the above link, homeschool information can be
found here.
Home-School Co-Ops - These Co-Ops are usually groups of like-minded families who chose to bring their children together one or more times per week to be with and learn with other students. We have been involved in the
Catholic School House Co-Op in Lancaster, OH for a number of years as well as the
Opus Domini group in Columbus, OH. Our children have learned life skills, art, science, survival skills, history, creative writing, and more over the years here. They and we have developed lasting friendships through this program and highly recommend making a Co-Op part of your homeschooling plan.
Tying it all together - Of course there is more to homeschooling, as far as the state is concerned, than simply enrolling and teaching your children. Each year we must submit a curiculum and CAT results to the state for approval. It's not a huge deal but another hoop to jump through. In the end, the work and effort put forth by us and our children far outweighs the benefits of sending them to a traditional school.
What about socialization? We find our children and many other homeschool students to be well socialized and well behaved. They get their socialization through online and in person events, sports, scouts, church, and gatherings with other like-minded families. The idea that homeschool students are backwards and unable to communicate with others is somewhat of a stereotype. However, there are some students who are naturally that way and others because their homeschool is basically an un-school or non-school with no discipline, structure, or guidance. A great way to help socialize your students is to get them involved in extra-curicualr activites of their choosing (4-H, sports, etc) and through homeschool co-op programs as mentioned above.
Our thoughts and prayer are with everyone during this trying time and we hope for the best for you, your students, and your families. God bless you all, and don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're not experts but we're happy to share what has and has not worked for us!
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