How do you handle high school transcripts when using natural math?
I've recently discovered natural math, and I've been reading though several books on the topic. I homeschool my two children--7th grade and 9th grade--and math has often been something of a rough spot. We've tried a number of different curriculum choices, even switching mid-year, and nothing seems to be the right fit. In our state, public school students generally have algebra 1, algebra 2, geometry, and sometimes a fourth upper level math. I've been cobbling together my own plan for algebra 1 this year for my older son, and he is decidedly reluctant about the topic. He is not a fan of abstract math concepts that he can't apply to everyday life. I was an A student in math, but I still have to look up how to do certain problems, since algebra was a long time ago for me. My son's stance is that if I don't remember how to do things, that means I've clearly not needed to use the techniques since high school. Therefore, why does he have to learn it? I have to admit I agree with him, and I balk at the idea of covering math topics just so he can have that particular class on his transcript, rather than spending more time and energy on topics that spark his interest and enjoyment.
As I read more about natural math and ways other families use it in their homeschools, I feel like it's just the thing for my son. He is currently not sure what sort of career or post-secondary education he might want to pursue. Does anyone have any insight into expressing natural math on a transcript in a way that would be successful if he decides to go to college?
@irene pham
Thank you so much for such a supportive answer! I will definitely check out youcubed...I've not seen it before, and it sounds like it would be right up my son's alley.
@Pamela Alekseyev
I used a variety of resources for my daughter's high school curriculum, ranging from the completely student-led, community-based, informal pursuit of interests to Pennsylvania Homeschoolers AP classes and everything in between. In fall of her senior year she suddenly fell in love with the University of Chicago! Their requirements for homeschoolers included a detailed course description of everything on the transcript. I had to turn one year of particularly informal math pursuit into a course description, and I remember the sweating.
Throughout those years (all the years, actually) I consistently encouraged her to develop a rigorously inquiring mind for her own sake, helped her make connections from everything that was "required" to everything else, and somehow, she finished with an education that she totally owned but that impressed almost everyone to whom she had to present her credentials. U of Chicago put her on the wait list, and she ended up getting a great education at a university with an acceptance rate at the complete opposite end of the spectrum (one that practically paid her to attend).
I would like to encourage you to involve your children in the process of keeping records, in a way that demonstrates to them that their education is a serious matter; pause at the end of the year and pull the records into a semblance of a course description (I had a registry of every book Angela read) (you can find sample course descriptions deep in the websites of your local school district. They are useful) ; utilize math mentors for yourself and for them so that they don't feel isolated, and they have exposure to the real world out there. You are the expert on your children, and you have demonstrated the conviction and commitment about the kind education you think is good for them.
I am confident that as they observe your own (impressive) work ethic, and you hang in there, things will get sorted out ok. As for your son's argument, we learn the "techniques" because they are a part of developing our brains. It's like, you don't do pushups in order to pushups, but to be able to lift a cart off an old man in the street. (Sort of like that anyway).
Have you looked at Youcubed.com for some data science courses he might be interested in? That is a fabulous way to motivate some young people in the area of mathematics. He will quickly see the value of learning those "techniques" and probably have fun.
People might subsist on very little knowledge. More than a billion adults in the world can't read, let alone do algebra. To be intellectually honest, we learn formal mathematics for reasons other than survival ("need"). Research also shows that teens get DEmotivated by threatening messages, so we should avoid sharing our fears, such as, "Do math, or you'll be poor."
For powerful inspiration and motivation, meet and befriend lovely people who do practice our subject with good cheer. As your son hangs out with them, he'll learn their practices, their habits, their ways. Look for math friends!
What you need for transcripts depends on your local laws. I would look at some examples of how unschoolers put together their transcripts. If you keep a brief diary of what you do every day, you can shape that into a subject at the end of a quarter or year. Colleges very rarely have time to look into what exactly people did inside the subject they called "Math 2" on their transcript.
