Classes and Debating

HIGH GEAR AND STEPPING OUT

of our comfort zone

Part of me wondered why I put my son in all these social justice and debating programs this year. It only makes his ability to 'debate' his point against what I want him to do much easier.

Hard to be the only kid homeschooling now, that's what my son complains about lately. He is looking forward to working this summer and hoping to keep doing so when the new school year starts. I am concerned about the distractions, but will let him try it this summer.

He misses the days he got to hang around with his sister who is now working. Now his schedule is to sleep all day, and work on stuff in the evening, then stay up all night playing video games.

Not Working, but fell asleep playing online Games

He was supposed to be doing Computer homework

KIDS PROGRESS

SPEED RACER has a mildly packed schedule
He literally hardly gets anything done while I am at work and his dad or sibling that works from home is there.

Basically, I get home, I tell him to get off the video games and lets get to work. We work for about 3 hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Monday and Wednesday only an hour or so. Most work is getting done on Sundays afternoons where it's our finish everything for the week. He will do the work, I check it, give it to him to revise, he fixes it, then turns it in.

Homeschool Classes 
Bible Study (online) with discussion with mom or dad
Pilot Training (online) mom reviews his test and quiz success and helps
Java Programming (online) sister reviews his projects and CompuScholar checks his test and quizzes


College Classes

C Programming
In week 1 of 8
-Finished Lab Project
-Finished 3 paragraph discussion
-Finished 1 page paper

Information Technology Ethics
In week 1 of 8
-Finished Ethical Analysis 5 page Paper
-Finished 3 paragraph discussion
-Finished Current Event Review paper

Foundations in Information Systems
In week 1 of 8
-Finished 3 paragraph discussion
-Finished 1 page paper

WORK and HOME BALANCE Working and Homeschooling 

MEAL PREP: This is on schedule. Thank goodness. My kids help with meal prep and planning for the week, then we do actual prep on Sunday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This has been working well the last two weeks.

HOUSE CLEANING: Chore chart is being used for a reference and if they aren't done, they don't get to do their fun stuff...most times. I'm a softy so I have to work on this.

LESSON PLANNING: I now do it on google docs and share it with him. We get through it for the most part, now less then when both kids were homeschooling. 

MARRIAGE CHECKUP: We've been setting up a weekly game night with friends and family, not much alone time, but we are having some fun since the kids spend time playing with the other kids.

SELF CARE: My coworker bought her neck massager to work and gosh, I love it! Every morning I massage my neck for a good 10 minutes. Best way to start my day!

Life After HighSchool, College, Military or Work

WHICH WAY SHOULD YOUR KID GO?

Here's how we guided our kids through this decision.

1) Ask them the type of lifestyle they want to have when they 'grow up'. (Select a house, Location to live, Car they want, kids, marriage)

2) Tell them to select 3 careers they'd like to explore.

3) Have them research the following about the careers and put on a Project Board (a) Map out the road to the career, like college, tech school, trianing, etc (2) Job seek in those fields using Indeed.com, Monsterboard.com and other job search boards (3) Map out starting salary, mid-career salary (4) Research work life balance in the career choices

4) Create Monthly Bills to include living expenses, cars, student loan debt.

5) Compare their prospective careers, monthly salaries against their Monthly Bills (a) Note that to keep above water in some cases they will have to work 2 jobs (b) get a roomate (c) give up the style car or home they want (d) not have as many kids

Selection of College

Every kid has a fantasy about going to college. But a lot of obstacles and cost/benefits should be considered.

It concerns me when students take our HUGE COLLEGE DEBT and have college majors that don't return the level of income commensurate with the amount of debt.

1) Community College should be first - The trick with going to Community College is that you get a 2 yr degree as fast as possible IN AN AREA THAT YOU CAN BE EMPLOYED IN RIGHT AFTER YOU FINISH

The Benefits of doing an AA degree is:

a) Better Internships

b) If it's a local Community College that transfers to state university they give 'completer' or 'transfer' scholarships

c) Allows student to work and complete 4 year degree with AS LITTLE DEBT as possible

d) Gives the student the opportunity to WIDEN career and job reach by selecting a major in Community College that is different than their 4 yr college major. Giving them 2 career fields instead of just 1.

2) Go to a Local University [OR] a cheap online College  - unless there is some specialized major your kid wants, go with the cheaper option. MOST COMPANIES DON'T CARE WHERE YOUR DEGREE IS FROM-only that it is from an accredited institution.

The Benefits of Staying Local

a) Saves you money and lowers college debt

b) Saves cost on living on campus - but if student does want a few years on campus, it is a great tradeoff IF the student finished an AA degree first

c) Gives student more options and deeper networking opportunities

d) Opens the financial possibility of doing a STUDY  ABROAD since they have saved money in other cost of their education

e) Local scholarships are usually more plentiful

WORK or MILITARY or TRADE SCHOOL or VOLUNTEER

Not every student wants to go to college. However, I told them if they weren't going to pursue college they had to do one of the following:

1) WORK: the deal here was, TRY TO FIND A JOB THAT LEADS TO A CAREER. And MAP out your road to growth. So being a receptionist can lead to being and Administrative Assistant, to Secretary to Office Manager

2) MILITARY: Ultimately, I would prefer that the student was in a program like ROTC or the CAP program prior. And that they DID THIS AFTER THEIR DEGREE, but if that isn't an option, the parent should do their research on JOBS within the military and HELP THEIR STUDENT enlist with the best and highest level possible.

3) TRADE SCHOOL: This is where the student should do their research on the job probability after the trade school. Some of these schools are expensive, offer very little financial aide and don't necessarily guarantee a job.

4) VOLUNTEER: The FEMACORPS, AMERICORPS, Help Exchange (https://www.helpx.net/) and other like programs are great ways for young people to explore the world

MUST DO for ALL OPTIONS?

Research! Research! and PLAN their way forward for 3 years.

With doing the above, at least they would have a well thought out plan for the next 3 years. And if PLANS CHANGE? Then RESEARCH and RE-PLAN again.

Celebrate My 1st Homeschool and College Graduate

One Made It to The Finish Line

My Rose

From Traditional School To Homeschool

She was my first adventurer! The 2nd child that asked their working mom to homeschool them. She encouraged me. Told me I could work and homeschool her. It would be like helping with homework.

Her accomplishments are wide. She humbly doesn't realize how proud and in awe she's made me.

Here's the journey. From Private School, to Public school at 2nd grade. She stayed at the top of her class. In Elementary, she was ever watchful of her grades and noticed that her teachers were giving her low grades for the quarter when she'd made 'A's ' on all her assignments. My dutiful 5th grader started scanning and copying her grades to keep a 'check' on her teachers. This paid off, by making her an 'A' student through middle school and on to High School.

In High School, she was in the 'gifted and talented' program and took AP classes and Computer Science classes. In those classes as on of the few girls, she had to do many 'group' assignments alone as her fellow computer programming male peers, didn't want her on their team. So she and the only other girl, made it their mission to beat out the boys in time and quality of the assignment. They did.

She also tried out for the Lacrosse team as a goalie since she'd been going to Lacrosse camps and were told by her coaches there that she had a great talent. But at her high school, she got 'cut' by her coach. Although, discouraged, she started running track and loved the sport.

At 10th grade, we moved to another home, and she didn't want to attend the school there. Also, her younger brother, Speed Racer, kept saying how he wanted to be homeschooled since he was having so many problems at school. Well, his big sister listened.

 From Homeschool to Dual Enrollment to Community College

We started homeschooling her, and I just admitted her to the local Community College at age 15 yrs, where she was recommended by her Math teacher to become a Math aide and tutor at just 15yrs old. She was uncomfortable sharing her age, but we got her the work permit and she started tutoring and acting as an Aid in Math, Computer Science and English.

Lacrosse season started, and she tried out for the team, not thinking she'd get selected, but she was. Shortly after, the 1st string goalie left, and her coach gave her a scholarship to play that year. She was 16 yrs old. And was able to 'coach' her former high school team members at a workshop given at her Community college for lacrosse. ~ Talk about blessed.

Then she researched the steps needed to become a Dermatologist, her initial chosen career. After determining that she didn't want to be in school that long, or pay that much, she considered being a Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant, but her love of computers led her to BioInformatics that combined Pre-Med and Computer Science.

She graduated with her AA with a 4.0 in BioInformatics and was the YOUNGEST and FIRST graduate from her Community College for that major within 1.5 years.

From Community College to University to Beyond

 

She went on to a local 4-yr University, with a scholarship and within 2 yrs she completed her dual Bachelors in BioInformatics and Computer Science at just 19yrs old.

She is speaking at her University's graduation, has a new job as a Data Scientist, and has convinced her entire family to take the adventure with her and move to her 'dream' location in Hawaii. She will continue her MS in Data Analytics while working.

Mom is so proud and blessed to have you as one of my amazing daughters.

How To Give Your Dual Enrolled Homeschooler A College Experience

What's the Best Part of the 'College Experience'?

Here's a Socialization Hack.

Well the Fun that goes on after class. Meeting new people, joining clubs and organizations, even playing sports.

My oldest daughter, Rose, was my 'experiment' on this. How could I give her a safe, fun, college experience without all the other stuff.

Student is Taking Online Classes

But wants to play sports and join on campus clubs or get involved.

1) You can enroll them in the local Community College (you don't have to actually take a credit course to be a student). This gives them the opportunity to see what clubs are available and join them - even though they aren't taking an on campus class.

2) You can enroll them in MULTIPLE local colleges and transfer credits  between the two for double the fun. (check this before you do).

How do I know? Because I did it.

My daughter was enrolled in 2 Community Colleges and her Four Year University at the same time. She was able to transfer credits between each, allowing us to pay less for summer classes not offered by the University. As well as get a MUCH CHEAPER rate on a Study Abroad program offered through the two Community Colleges while she was enrolled in the local 4 year college.

Not only that, she had friends and joined clubs at all places.

Sliding into Another Adventurous Week

YOU DON'T NEED Much ROOM To LEARN

See that compact set up? Well that's in my dining room. Tucked in the corner as his sister's desk is tucked into the other corner. The chair and the desk are foldable. The drawer set is a product of using Sue Patrick's workbox systems (changed a bit to fit our needs). So when company comes over, we just put them away.


SPEED RACER (age 11yrs) my Middle Schooler
Homeschooled at 4th grade on.

Had a great week. With this shortened schedule he and I were looking at each other at the end of the day as though we were lost. He asked to play on Clever Dragons or to be signed up for Minecraft Homeschool. I told him 'No' since I want to keep things manageable.

So instead of adding more school work, I signed him up for Archery of 5 weeks.

He has gotten the hang of his subjects and in English, Grammar and Spelling (an all in one class for Abeka) he read several short stories, picked out a book for his book report, completed a spelling test and passed his quizzes in Grammar with a high score. Biology, History and American Government are challenging for him and he doesn't like the task of taking notes daily (I require him to take notes from the teacher for me to sign off on each day). Economics is a class we discuss afterwards since I minored in it in college and liked it. Saxon Math 7/8 is coming along well with solidifying things. He enjoys the way CTCMath explains math topics and does a daily drill. Membean has improved his vocabulary, spelling and ability to break down words. In Techrocket he is on the 2nd module on Python Programming.

TIGER LILLY (age 14 yrs) the Dual enrolled High Schooler
Homeschooled at 7th grade on. 

 Tiger Lilly is a budding Artist and Game Designer. She drew the cat.

She had a project and quiz in both her Landry courses, C Programming and PC Pro. Her Japanese class had her doing some writing exercises and she and I watched some Japanese Anime where we had close caption on. We also listened to some Immersion CDs in Japanese a few days of the week.

The Community College courses started with a bang. She got access to them online this past Saturday. We went to an in person orientation for her Software Application's class. Her US History 1 course has her reading a chapter, reviewing the videos online from her instructor and writing a reflection paper. I had her add notes and terms to Quizlet.com for her to do a review of topics daily. In Psychology, she has some class interaction through online discussions, reading of chapters and a weekly quiz. In College Math, she did the homework in advance of class, read the book and looked at some Yahoo videos prior to attending class on Friday (today).

For fun, she is on Techrocket, learning Unity 3d and practicing Java (since she has to take it next semester at the college). In addition, she is doing some Art DVDs to practice her artwork since she is excited about the Animation Course she is taking this September.

For PE, we've been slacking on her going to the gym. But we did better this week and I also signed her up for Archery.


The other two young adults in the house...

Are living back at home after a year on campus.

ROSE (age 18yrs) senior in College
Homeschooled in the Middle of 10th grade on.

Is taking 21 credits this semester. She's a bit bummed she can't work. But is making some money helping me 2 days a week as a tutor and homehelper for her siblings.

Her goal is to work next semester to continue to save towards her move to Maui, HI next May. She wants to live there a year before she attends Grad School. In between her AA degree and starting her BS degree she did a study abroad program to Ireland, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland. We spent 18 days in Maui in planning for her move next year.

In just 3.5 years this girl would have accumulated an AA in BioInformatics, a BS in BioInformatics and Minor in Computer Science with so far a 4.0.

RAZOR RAY (age 20yrs) senior in College
Never Homeschooled.

Has a hefty load. He is working on 19 credits this semester. He also has a weekend job at the hospital as a patient transporter. Then the young man added on using his talents as a Physical Therapy Tech at the college in the Athletic Department.

In addition he's taken on dropping off his siblings at some of their sports events.

I am hoping he didn't take on too much, but he seems eager.

He also plans on moving to Hawaii next year with his sister. A little later than her since he changed his major a few times.

He also did an AA in BioInformatics but changed to Information Technology with a focus in User Engineering for his BS degree.

Although, he loved playing lacrosse and was pretty successful at it, he gave up playing at the college level so he could concentrate on his studies.

WORKING PARENT's LOG

Meals. The kids cooked 2 times this week. I prepared and cooked the other 2 days. Friday is always pizza or Chinese it seems.

Cleaning. The house and bedrooms are cleaned, but the laundry is again out of control. We are planning to make a trip to the laundry mat so I won't be washing clothes all day. Also, we had a squirrel in our attic (my little man told us he heard noises but..we didn't believe him). A company came by to fix that up for us.

Work & Life Balance.I had Monday off work (Yay!) and got to sleep in til 8am. We had some work done on our roof so I hung out till they were done.The rest of the week at work has been busy and I've gotten home later than I wanted. Luckily, my home helper started the younger kids off with their work.

Lesson Planning. Nailing it. Can't seem to do more than 1 week at a time since I am still trying to make sure this will stick.

Rest. Well rested earlier in the week, but by Thursday, I'm living on coffee.

Marriage Check Up. Me and hubby went to the farmer's market and I read out loud to him on our trips to run some errands. He and I are reading a Zombie book, then discuss the characters.

Morphing Into What Works

Morphing into Best Fit

Well, I've augmented their curriculum 3 times since we started. Now, finally, now, I believe I've got it right for this first 'block' or 'semester' of our school year.

The changes were mainly for Speed Racer as Tiger Lilly's schedule is one she helped me build for herself.

SPEED RACER

He got through all of the initial courses I've scheduled for him this week. I found that with his PE schedule of activities (Martial Arts, Break Dancing, Kids Coders and Tennis) getting all of it done and is not going to be possible.

So, I cut out some of his extra work.

Also, this week we went to the County Fair, which was fun. Speed Racer wasn't interested in the animals as much this year. Also, he figured he would pass on the carnival rides in place of a trip to an amusement park we frequent since I was making him use his own allowance money for the day.

His new schedule will be the following:

We are able to get through all of these within 5.5 hours

Does in the morning:
CTCMath (for Math lab): M-F (Independent)
TechRocket (for Python programming):  M-F (Independent)
Membean (for Vocabulary building):  M-F (Independent)
Time4Writing (online): M-F (Independent) 

Do in the evening:
English/Spelling/Reading - (Abeka) :  M-F (with Mom/Dad or Homehelper)
Saxon (Math 7/8): M-F (with Mom/Dad or Homehelper)
Biology (Abeka): M-F (with Mom/Dad or Homehelper)
Economics (Abeka): T-Th (with Mom/Dad or Homehelper)
American Gov't (Abeka): M-W-F (with Mom/Dad or Homehelper)

TIGER LILY:

She is getting into a steady groove. Her college classes start Monday. However, her Landry courses started this week.

Japanese, PCPro and C Programming took off this week. Each required some reading and homework. She has done this independent of any assistance. I've gone online to check her grades, that she turned in her work. The C Programming course has a lab on Friday (today) that she is looking forward to.

I had her review some of her Algebra and Trig concepts this week using CLEP Professor Algebra which she said was a great help and review.

Her college courses (Micro Computers, Psychology, College Math, and US Hist 1) will upload their syllabus on Saturday. She and I will sit down and create her schedule for next week. She will be attending her first in person class on a college campus next Friday.

WORKING PARENT's LOG

Meals. I made the kids cook this week. This has been wonderful! They each have a day and we all did the prep for it on Sunday (well me and the girls).

Cleaning. The house has been pretty tidy. We created a makeshift bedroom in our basement for my oldest son. We purchased a wall/room divider from Walmart for $220 and it worked out nicely. My son's bedroom is in the basement and conveniently private from the rest of the room and I didn't have to pay someone $10,000 to renovate my basement.

Work & Life Balance. Everything is working great. My husband's job has picked up so he isn't able to work from home as much. My job still allows me flexible hours and they even told me if I wanted to go to a 32 hour week I could. Doubtful if I would have to since I need the extra income to pay for my kid's college.

Lesson Planning. Going well now that Tiger Lilly is being taught to do her own scheduling.

Rest. On schedule with 7 hours or more this week. This may change for next week.

Marriage Check Up. Good times. We just relaxed and watched a movie together after kicking kids out of our room.

Preparing to CLEP test out of COLLEGE courses

Oh my was I naive. Having two kids already in college, one that graduated from traditional school and the other I homeschooled for six months before graduating her, I thought I knew it all.

But then I started homeschooling my younger kids. My 7th grader has seriously blossomed during homeschooling and has an insatiable appetite for learning. I seriously can barely keep up. So after talking to my Umbrella Coordinator with my umbrella group that does my documentation for me for the state, provide transcripts and diploma's with lots of support if I request it, we decided to skip her listed grade to 8th grade. I wanted her to continue advanced topics but to gain High School Credit for it.

PREPARING FOR HIGH SCHOOL

Now that meant I had to start her on the road to High School then College. Researching curriculum, pitting it against the state requirements...oh my!

During my research I found out the value of taking CLEP test.

These are the options I presented to my daughter who wants to be a Doctor, but loves computers also. So I suggested she get her 4 yr degree in Computer Science related course and just take her pre-req classes (sciences) for medical school.

1) High School classes + Community College Classes = Dual Credit and Associates Degree (finish AA at 17 yrs old or 11th grade)

2) High School Classes + Community College Classes + CLEP test = BS or BA degree from online Univ. (finish 1st BS or BA at 18yrs old) through CLEP test, Community College Classes and Online College) she'd then be a transfer student at University for 1 year to gain her classes for pre-med.

Tiger Lilly decided she wanted to do Option # 2 (she is very competitive with her sister that did Option #1)

THE PLAN TO CLEP it!

Resource #1

We considered using COLLEGE PLUS (www.collegeplus.org) which is a service that preps students for taking multiple CLEP test then transferring to online colleges or other colleges that use CLEP for credit. The service test the student to see what fields fit them, gives them prep training in logic, memorization tools (Learning Network tool) and maps out their CLEP to Degree plans. A coach of the same sex contacts them and works with them every 2 weeks. It cost about $3000 for the service.

However, with 2 kids in college at the same time, shelling out the extra money just wasn't possible. I really wanted to use COLLEGE PLUS.

Resource #2

But I found a book by Tricia McQuarrie named CLEP Lesson Plans.  Find book here (http://clepprep.tripod.com/cleplessonplans/id23.html) and she has some free lesson plans on her website here (http://clepprep.tripod.com/cleplessonplans/id4.html). By reading her website and the Chapman Kids website where he explains how he prepped his then 13yr old daughter to CLEP out of courses (http://chapmankids.net/blog/clep-test-prepartion/).

OUR PLAN

So after sitting with my daughter, reading with her the options and the lesson plans above we decided to go for it - the College Plus way by augmenting her High School Courses to help her prepare for the similar CLEP exam.

RELATED CLEP TEST: to take in high school

We will tackle the overlapping test within 4 weeks of each other, combining 'like' subject matter on test that have similar pieces of information within.

How we decided what to take:
1) We researched online Universities that took CLEP test and mapped the degree credits to the CLEP test.

2) We researched Community Colleges and Universities near us where Tiger Lilly wanted to go and saw what CLEP test they accepted and what the credit would be.

3) We decided to take test that coincided with her high school studies.

In this order she will test

9th Grade

CLEP Test Planned
Analyzing & Interpreting Lit (3 college credits)-8 weeks to study
English Composition with Essay (6 college credits) - 8 weeks to study
English Lit no essay (3 college credits) - 10 weeks to study
American Lit no essay (3 college credits) - 8 weeks to study
Humanities (3 college credits) - 8 weeks to study

Classes that will help her prepare:

Abeka 10th grade English & Language Arts
Time4Writing SAT essay writing (8weeks)
Analytical Grammar (17 weeks)
Sequential Spelling (use with Abeka spelling program for 24 weeks)
Humanities (free online course Education-Portal.com with book entire school year)
REA Clep Test books for each subjects (8weeks per study session for each test)
InstaCert monthly subscription (daily from the 4th month of studies during REA book reviews)

10th Grade

CLEP Test Planned
College Math (3 college credits)-8 weeks to study
College Algebra  (3 college credits) - 8 weeks to study
American Government (3 college credits) - 8 weeks to study
US History 1 (3 college credits) - 10 weeks to study
US History 2 (3 college credits) - 5 weeks to study
Western Civ 1 (3 college credits) - 8 weeks to study
Western Civ 2 (3 college credits) - 5 weeks to study

Classes that will help her prepare:

Abeka US History (and Free online Education Portal Class)
Western Civilation (Free online Education Portal Class)
Thinkwell US History
Algebra 1 (taken in 8th grade)
Algebra 2 (Abeka & Foersters 'Math Without Borders)
CLEP Professor Dive CD
Geometry (taken in 8th grade - refresher using Teaching Textbooks)
REA Clep Test books for each subjects (8weeks per study session for each test)
InstaCert monthly subscription (daily from the 4th month of studies during REA book reviews)

11th Grade

CLEP Test Planned
Sociology (3 college credits)-8 weeks to study
Psychology  (3 college credits) - 8 weeks to study
Biology (3 college credits) - 8 weeks to study
Chemistry (3 college credits) - 10 weeks to study
Pre-Calculus (3 college credits) - 5 weeks to study


Classes that will help her prepare:

Sonligh Psychology (and Free online Education Portal Class)
Sociology Online Course and Companion short overview book (Free online Education Portal Class)
Biology (Abeka and Thinkwell taken in 9th grade)
Chemistry (Abeka and Thinkwell)
Pre-Calc (Abeka)
CLEP Professor Dive CD
REA Clep Test books for each subjects (8weeks per study session for each test)
InstaCert monthly subscription (daily from the 4th month of studies during REA book reviews)

12th Grade

CLEP Test Planned
Physics (3 college credits)-8 weeks to study
Natural Science (3 college credits) - 8 weeks to study
Calculus (3 college credits) - 8 weeks to study
Information Systems (3 college credits) - 10 weeks to study


Classes that will help her prepare:

Physics (Abeka and Free online Education Portal Class)
Natural Science  (Free online Education Portal Class)
Biology (Abeka and Thinkwell taken in 9th grade)
Calculus (Saxon Calculs with Dive CD and Thinkwell)
Information Systems (Free online course:  and Programing with Youth Digital, Homeschool Programming Classes in Java and C)
CLEP Professor Dive CD
REA Clep Test books for each subjects (8weeks per study session for each test)
InstaCert monthly subscription (daily from the 4th month of studies during REA book reviews)

WHY INTEGRATE IT?

I know now how my daughter learns. Finding ways to integrate similar subjects in her coursework, then focusing on one test to study at a time will give her the best benefit.

The positives is that after she's done this, taking the SAT will simply be a breeze. Even taking the MCAT, because she will know the process of HOW TO STUDY and what works best for her.

Plan to Home School For High School

PLANNING HIGH SCHOOL FOR YOUR STUDENT

I've sat down and planned out the road map through high school and beyond with two of my kids. The road was different for my NON-HOMESCHOOLED kid and my HOMESCHOOLED kid only because the resources and freedom for each was different.

STEPS TO PLANNING HIGH SCHOOL with your HOMESCHOOLER

As a homeschooler, your child has many more opportunities to explore their path to college and beyond. But first you have to sit with THE STUDENT to work out a plan. Most kids have no idea what they want to be in 10 years much less next year. But there are ways to get them to start thinking about it. Let's face it, it is their lifves.

SIT WITH YOUR YOUNG PERSON AND WALK THROUGH THESE STEPS:

(1) Ask them, "What Kind Of Life Do You Want When You Grow Up?"
This includes: House, Car, Location where you want to live, spending money, clothes, student loans and 'toys', wife/husband and kids?
Activity: Have your child search the internet for all of the things above that they'd like to have in their life.
Outcome: Make a yearly and monthly budget for the items they've costed out on their list.

(2) Have them select 3 possible career paths that interests them.
This includes: Cost to obtain the stated career. Pathway to college, trade school, military, working way through, colleges of choice, training of choice.
Activity: Map out the cost to obtain specified careers, Yearly and Monthly incomes of each, Hidden Cost of each.
Outcome: Monthly and weekly paycheck minus taxes and health benefits cost.

(3) Compare Income of 3 different careers with Lifestyle Budget (monthly/yearly) of each.
This includes: Incomes of all chosen careers - base salary on the starting year salary of each career.
Activity: Have child remove 'wants' and 'rank' the career choices selected.
Outcome: Student should have an idea of what it takes to maintain a household, where their chosen career fits in.

(4) Mapping your way to chosen careers.
This includes: Making a 4 year course plan for the top 2 careers of choice. Have student select courses with you. Also, compare to possible colleges that meet your budgets and their requirements.
Activity: Build a table or grid, listing all the classes that would support success in (1) meeting state standards for graduation (2) meeting the needs of the chosen career paths (3) exploring other interest the child has.
Outcome: The student is now invested in the plan.

(5) Validate High School Course Plan.
This includes: Meeting with Community College counselors about benefits of 'Dual Credit' options and even gaining an Associates Degree in complementing fields prior to attending '4-year Universities'.
Activity: Have student interview both Community College counselors, Career Mentors and prospective college counselors - early in their high school years.
Outcome: This will make your high school years both fun and teach your student how to map their own way if they should change their minds.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MAP YOUR HIGH SCHOOLERS ROAD TO GRADUATION?