by Dr. Phyllis Books, DC
Many of you will homeschool all the way through twelfth grade and can skip right to the college piece in part two of this article. For those of you who may prefer to homeschool only through elementary or junior high years, this article will give you some insight into the secondary school options for your child.
Private Schools
Private schools, also called independent schools or non-state schools, rely on privately paid tuition rather than public funding. Groups of parents, religious organizations, or nonprofits may run these schools. Schools may be geared toward particular learning challenges such as dyslexia (which means of course, they believe dyslexia is a permanent condition!) or other special needs.
For children who may be out of control, military-type boarding schools provide structure and systems that are helpful. (This kind of school is not to be confused with schools actually run by the military such as the Air Force Academy.) College preparatory boarding schools prepare kids for rigorous academic universities such as the Colorado School of Mines. If your child has extraordinary talents, one of these college prep schools may be just what the doctor ordered.
Public Schools with Special Interest Areas (Particularly in High Schools)
The public school system in your area may offer special “academies” or “magnet schools,” such as a theater academy or healthcare profession magnet school. For those who wish to learn a trade, a vocational school may be ideal.
Some experts say our natural aptitudes don’t become clear until the age of fourteen. Since we don’t have access to some parts of our brains until sixteen and other parts until our late twenties, it may not be obvious just what kind of direction or career your child is suited for.
Erica
Sometimes stopping homeschooling too soon can backfire—allow me to tell you about Erica. As a young girl, Erica’s parents enrolled her in a strict European-type school where only French was spoken. The parents were not French, nor was French spoken in the home, yet this girl was taught all her subjects in French. Erica had trouble sleeping and had developed some stress symptoms. She wasn’t having fun, she wasn’t learning, and she was afraid she was disappointing her parents. She was in counseling and was on a few medications.
During her spring break from school, she came to see me for five days. By the end of the week, she was giggling, wearing silly socks, and making jokes with the staff. The change was so dramatic that it almost shocked her parents. Within a week, her parents found a different school, which turned out to be a beautiful match for her.
Luckily for Erica, she was at a local school. Teens attending boarding schools out of state or out of country without families to help buffer the stresses often suffer even more. Part two of this article will discuss college and other post-high school options.
Dr. Phyllis Books, DC, is a teacher, doctor, grandmother, and developer of Books Neural Therapy™, a natural, non-drug intervention for children with dyslexia and other learning and behavior issues. Her clients call her a combination of a neurosurgeon, a psychiatrist, and Mother Teresa. Mostly, she loves sharing what she’s learned about kids, how they learn, and how they can feel good about themselves and be successful. Support@ReversingDyslexia.com (512) 560-7888, drphyllisbooks.com and reversingdyslexia.com.
Many of you will homeschool all the way through twelfth grade and can skip right to the college piece in part two of this article. For those of you who may prefer to homeschool only through elementary or junior high years, this article will give you some insight into the secondary school options for your child.
Private Schools
Private schools, also called independent schools or non-state schools, rely on privately paid tuition rather than public funding. Groups of parents, religious organizations, or nonprofits may run these schools. Schools may be geared toward particular learning challenges such as dyslexia (which means of course, they believe dyslexia is a permanent condition!) or other special needs.
For children who may be out of control, military-type boarding schools provide structure and systems that are helpful. (This kind of school is not to be confused with schools actually run by the military such as the Air Force Academy.) College preparatory boarding schools prepare kids for rigorous academic universities such as the Colorado School of Mines. If your child has extraordinary talents, one of these college prep schools may be just what the doctor ordered.
Public Schools with Special Interest Areas (Particularly in High Schools)
The public school system in your area may offer special “academies” or “magnet schools,” such as a theater academy or healthcare profession magnet school. For those who wish to learn a trade, a vocational school may be ideal.
Some experts say our natural aptitudes don’t become clear until the age of fourteen. Since we don’t have access to some parts of our brains until sixteen and other parts until our late twenties, it may not be obvious just what kind of direction or career your child is suited for.
Erica
Sometimes stopping homeschooling too soon can backfire—allow me to tell you about Erica. As a young girl, Erica’s parents enrolled her in a strict European-type school where only French was spoken. The parents were not French, nor was French spoken in the home, yet this girl was taught all her subjects in French. Erica had trouble sleeping and had developed some stress symptoms. She wasn’t having fun, she wasn’t learning, and she was afraid she was disappointing her parents. She was in counseling and was on a few medications.
During her spring break from school, she came to see me for five days. By the end of the week, she was giggling, wearing silly socks, and making jokes with the staff. The change was so dramatic that it almost shocked her parents. Within a week, her parents found a different school, which turned out to be a beautiful match for her.
Luckily for Erica, she was at a local school. Teens attending boarding schools out of state or out of country without families to help buffer the stresses often suffer even more. Part two of this article will discuss college and other post-high school options.
Dr. Phyllis Books, DC, is a teacher, doctor, grandmother, and developer of Books Neural Therapy™, a natural, non-drug intervention for children with dyslexia and other learning and behavior issues. Her clients call her a combination of a neurosurgeon, a psychiatrist, and Mother Teresa. Mostly, she loves sharing what she’s learned about kids, how they learn, and how they can feel good about themselves and be successful. Support@ReversingDyslexia.com (512) 560-7888, drphyllisbooks.com and reversingdyslexia.com.
