Homeschooling in Ninth Grade

I'm 15 years old and in the ninth grade. I've always made mostly A's, maybe a B or two in math. This year I'm struggling in school. In physics I feel like my teacher isn't even teaching the material. He's constantly just cutting up in class, which makes me mad since I want to learn it. I'm in College Prep Advanced (CPA) classes, which I'm not sure I could get in homeschooling. The only thing that is holding me back from homeschooling is that I'm really involved with the band at my school and don't want to give that up.

I've talked to my mom, and she doesn't know what to do, either. Should I try homeschooling, or try to learn it on my own? My mom has tried talking to the counselor about maybe dropping down to College Prep (CP), but she just kind of blew us off. Help.

There are lots of ways to get a good education. In my opinion, homeschooling is the best way. You are motivated and want to learn. And you're going to do fine.

Before you consider homeschooling, both you and your mom must do some reading. For you, I would recommend, The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Leave School and Get a Real Life and Education by Grace Llewellyn. This has changed the lives of many young people in your position. Your mom might want to read A Sense of Self: Listening to Homeschooled Adolescent Girls by Susannah Sheffer. (Both also available from www.holtgws.com.)

Next, visit some homeschooling websites, like
www.homeschoolteenscollege.net and www.quailhaven.com/academy/hslinks.htm.

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