Homeschooled Teen Gets into Top Ivies, etc.

[menloparkmom]

all I can say is WOW WOW WOW! My hat's off to both you and Chelsea!

[Pizzagirl]

Narcissa, why can't you just be happy for this extraordinary young lady and her accomplishments? Why does everyone have to read so much into the article other than wow, here's someone who's done some really neat things?

I have to say, in the world of CC where I see so many posts of people who are obsessing about how to get into HYP because getting into HYP is The Meaning of Life And The Only Way To Success (especially to their prestige-obsessed parents), it is SO refreshing to hear of a student like this, who did what she loved, had parents who facilitated those interests, and THEN the elite college acceptances followed.

[Pizzagirl]

"and you did all that while working full time?"

Yes, obviously she did. Obviously the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Some people are better able to squeeze more into the 24 hours a day than others. They should be congratulated, not critiqued.

[Pizzagirl]

"Now, for the travel. This part has been really important to me, as I wanted my child to have firsthand experience with the rich cultural and geographical diversity of the planet. And I wanted to raise a citizen of the world. Yes, we went to Tibet and China instead of to a textbook about Buddhism and Taoism. We studied Greek philosophy for three weeks in Greece, tutored by Dr. Raymond Moody. We walked the ancient streets of Ephesus. Chelsea woke up on Macchu Picchu on her 13th birthday, having studied with Incan shamans and climbed Huayna Picchu the day before. We arrived in Cairo on September 10, 2001 and spent three extraordinary weeks in Egypt, where we attended the wedding of friends in between the paws of the Sphinx. We've had a sun rise service inside Stonehenge. I think this is a better way to learn about the world than through textbooks. This is what I did instead of pay private school tuition. "

Alchemymom, once Chelsea goes off to school, will you adopt me? LOL.
I'm jealous! In a GOOD way, though - not that envious, sour grapes attitude of a few posters here.

[siliconvalleymom]

alchemymom, thank you for your background information about how you and Chelsea designed her learning experiences. I appreciated hearing about the resources you used that are new to me.
It is clear to me that you are both outstanding!

[Jolynne Smyth]

Alchemymom--
Thanks so much for sharing your homeschooling programs/ideas/accomplishments with us! Exceptionally inspiring -- particularly with two parents working full time!

Interesting that you combined 'classic' with 'eclectic' approaches and how you blended teaching essential fundamentals with following your daughter's interests. If you don't mind, I'm going to pass along your post to a few other homeschooling moms of young children I know. I'm doing it part-time w/daughter...but your experience certainly provides motivation to approach it more ambitiously and whole-heartedly!

Thanks again!

[jazzymom]

alchemymom: Whether you accomplished this full or part time or with the flexibility of having your own business, no matter. The inspiration lies in your allowing your daughter's quest for learning to dictate the parameters of her education, rather than a bureaucracy, and I admire that. I kind of regret not trying that approach for S1 in particular, at least in the area of more extensive travel at a young age. Bravo. Well done.

[alchemymom]

Jolynne, feel free to pass my post to anyone you think it will help. Many thanks to all for the kind congrats and well wishes. I appreciate them very much.

Yes, CGM, I did this while I worked full time. While we've been home schooling Chelsea, our company has grown from 3 people to 45 people. It wasn't easy, but I found ways to integrate the parts of my life into a relatively harmonious whole. Fortunately, I could rely on Chelsea to take a lot of initiative with her own education so that we found ways to make it work. It wasn't easy. I have worked incredibly hard, in fact. But it was one fantastic ride in so many ways, and I would absolutely do it again and work just as hard. No regrets - I gave it everything I had. And I loved every minute of it.

[wisteria]

And it is FUN!!!! Joyful and fun!!!!! In fact, I think this is probably what really set her apart in the eyes of admissions committees.

I think fun is the operative word here. It is clear from alchemymom's earlier post that her daughter has long delighted in learning things and sharing what she learned with others.

This was a problem in her daughter's kindergarten, because the teacher had her own learning agenda, and didn't appreciate the daughter's initiatives to teach her classmates.

But in homeschooling, children who love learning as much as Chelsea obviously did can take ownership of their own learning and share it with others. One of the best ways to learn is to deepen one's own understanding by teaching others, as Chelsea has done. Essentially, Chelsea has founded and run her own part-time "private school," specializing in Shakespeare.

and you did all that while working full time?

Business owners often put in many more than 40 hours in "crunch weeks," but they may also have some measure of control over their schedules. In a project-oriented consulting business, a parent may have time to travel between projects.

A child who delights in learning and finds it fun doesn't need an adult constantly hovering over her to give her assignments and keep her "on task." A child who loves to read and write and problem-solve and has access to a good library with books on a variety of subjects that interest her (NOT textbooks, as Chelsea's mom points out, but REAL books!) does not need moment-by-moment micromanagement.

[rondafaye]

I am impressed, happy for your family, and -- again -- wish nothing but the best for you.

[mathmom]

Narcissa, do me a favor and ask your parents what they pay in school taxes. You might be surprised.

[mathmom]

Now, it took me 25 steps when it should take 5 because I had to prove all the underlying stuff .....but hey - I got there eventually.)

Oh Curmudgeon, this is Mathson's little brother. He's actually doing very well in math this year, as long as he doesn't run out of time on those tests.

[citygirlsmom]

yes its all very nice- the summers abroad, every summer, the weeks and weeks over world travel every year, the time spent in all those countries, the ability to pay for very expense online courses, the private lessons....

Its is all very nice, but to make it some sort of special accomplishment and deserving of some sort of applause is beyond me...

They were able to buy some amazing experiences, that most people would never even have the chance of getting close to and that is to be celebrated?

I just don't bye into the hype of all this, amazing as this girl is

[wisteria]

"and you did all that while working full time?"

Yes, obviously she did. Obviously the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Some people are better able to squeeze more into the 24 hours a day than others. They should be congratulated, not critiqued.

I can't help noticing that alchemymom has been a member for almost two years, but has made only 31 posts. Her daughter has made 16 posts over the same period.

Sounds like good priorities/time management to me!

[mathmom]

LOL re the time management. I enjoyed Alchemymom's and Indigo's posts. We considered homeschooling often when Mathson was younger, but we definitely had more understanding teachers, and he never wanted to be homeschooled although he often complained bitterly that he wasn't learning enough in school. We ended up supplementing math with EPGY and he went to CTY in the summer because that was his idea of a good time. Not to prove he was better than other kids. Anyway congrats to Chelsea, enjoy your college years!