It's exam time again. It's also the time when home-educating families with teens start to think about the future and GCSE's. So many parents seem at a loss as to what to teach their teens and turn to the GCSE curriculums with relief. Please can I say respectfully - be careful! The exam curricums are not Christian. Read the books with your children, never just hand them the books to self-teach. They come from a different mind-set and world-view. Read the books your self first and then be prepared to discuss everything from a Christian perspective. From contraception in Geography, to evolution in English, there are many traps for the unwary. In addition, please be aware that the curriculums are very narrow. There is SO much more to teach and learn about each subject and so many more opportunities to learn from in general. Before you jump into lots of GCSE's, can I encourage you stop once more and renew your family vision for education. The teen years are great years. Your young person will be blossoming from your previous good training and their minds alert. They are keen to feel like they are entering the adult world and they are full of potential. Make use of this and steer them further than a GCSE curriculum. If you have always home-educated your child, then it is quite probable that your child is educated beyond the average school student. If you choose to sit GCSE's, then don't stop there - aim to give them a much broader and higher education. Do they like Science - then buy them university level science books to study - written from a godly perspective. I recommend Apologia books as a step in the right direction. These will give more than is needed for a GCSE. Do they like history? Then encourage them to read widely - find them the best God-centred books to read at the highest level they can take. Study church history as well. English - find an excellent curriculum and take it to the highest level your student can reach. Dreaming Spires aims to teach beyond the English exam curriculum for example. Whatever the subject, aim to teach your child the subject to the highest level they can go, in a God-honouring way, and as broadly as you can, rather than just teaching them to cram, to jump through a hoop to pass an exam. If all they learn is the GCSE subject as per the GCSE curriculum for an exam they are likely to forget most of what they have learnt after the exam and come away with a bit of paper, but no real understanding of the subject. Some teachers say - 'I can teach the exam or the subject but not both.' Aim to help your child learn the subject - really learn it! If your child is self-learning so much the better as that is the true test of a good education. If not, then use these years to encourage self study. The key way to do this is to keep academic work to the bare minimum, but to expect lots of reading from books you have chosen (with their input). Once again, steer away from entertainment. Help them to find a real purpose in life. Look for volunteering opportunities (of which there are many, especially once they reach 16). Encourage them in their interests. Get a subscription to a good magazine in the area they are interested. Feed their interests, go places with them. These are just ideas - there are other things to do, but then step back and watch them bloom! If you do plan to do GCSE's, then bear in mind that home-educated children will not necessarily need ten subjects. If they know what they want to do then check the necessary qualifications needed. Five are usually sufficient. English Language and Maths are essential, and then Geography/History, a Science and a language provide a good balance, but others will do just as well. Use the rest of the time to encourage your youngster to use their time profitably -volunteering, helping the elderly with gardening, learning a craft or skill, etc... which will all serve to develop character as well as knowledge and skills. There is SO much to learn!! If your child doesn't know what they want to do then study them. See what they are naturally good at. List these things. Then look at their character. Would they cope in an office - or are they the sort that can't sit still and must be outdoors being active. Are they 'people' orientated, or do they prefer their own company - it's no good doing a job on a desert island so to speak if they couldn't survive two minutes without someone to talk to! Then talk to your child about what you have discovered about them and start scouring the internet to find out what jobs are available and what you need to apply. Very often you will find that there are various routes to the same job. Let's set a new standard. Let's not get drawn down to the average level, but rise above it - as children are far more capable than we usually assume and when encouraged to do so, can do amazing things. Have vision! Have confidence in what you have taught them! Not all children sit GCSE's or A levels. Next time we will explore other alternatives. See these excellent blogs by Kat Patrick: Transitioning to secondary years education http://www.dreamingspireshomelearning.co.uk/2015/03/transitioning-your-teen-to-secondary.html Importance of routine: Importance of routine:http://www.dreamingspireshomelearning.co.uk/2015/03/transition-your-teen-to-secondary.html The vision thing - working out your vision for your child http://www.dreamingspireshomelearning.co.uk/2015/04/the-vision-thing-part-3-of.html Getting to the destination - forms of learning to help your child reach academic destination http://www.dreamingspireshomelearning.co.uk/2015/06/getting-to-destination-part-4-of.html Comments are closed.
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Welcome!After studying for an Early Years Specialism degree (B.Ed. Hons), and teaching in mainstream education, I home-educated my own children, after my husband and I were persuaded of the need to take responsibility for bringing up our children 'in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.' (Ephesians 6:4) We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
This costs the purchaser nothing extra. In this way I can continue to provide free resources. Thank you for your support. Looking for a read-aloud?
Here's one I heartlily reccomend for ages 10 +. Search
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The First book from Christina Eastwood - the first in a triology - only £5.99 (ages 8 to 13).
Now available in PRINT!
See here Now available in PRINT
See here Now available in PRINT
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