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Should I Homeschool My 14-Year-Old?
Q: I have a 14-year-old who is beginning to hate school. She is a bright student and does well in school. Would I be doing a good thing to homeschool her at this late date?
A: By this late date, do you mean late in the school year (spring) or late because she is a teen? How strong is her resistance? If she is having an extremely difficult time, I would take her out tomorrow. If she is able to finish the remaining month or two without too much difficulty, perhaps she might be better off finishing the school year and closing that door before she opens the next.
Currently almost two million children are homeschooled in this country. The fastest growing segment of this homeschool population are teens. Kids who learn at home consistently outperform their schooled peers on standardized tests, including the ACT test (a reliable indicator of future college success), and are welcomed at just about every college and university.
Many teens who had difficulty in school do exceptionally well as homeschoolers. Once they are no longer subjected to the peer pressure, negative influences, mindless busywork, and hours of homework, these kids thrive. For more resources and helpful advice, please read Homeschooling Teens and Leaving School and Learning at Home. You'll also find Cafi Cohen's book, Homeschooling: The Teen Years to be very helpful. Good luck!
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Isabel Shaw is a freelance writer and homeschooling mom of 15 years. She and her husband Ray homeschool their two daughters, Jessica and Amanda. Besides being a contributor to FamilyEducation.com, Shaw has written for Home Education Magazine, The Link, Homeschooling Horizons Magazine, The Homeschool Gazette, and other publications.
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