When I hear the term homeschool, I don’t envision lecture halls. Instead I see a mom on the couch with her kids, reading a book or children huddled around the kitchen table with a science experiment. But lectures should be a part of a homeschooler’s experience for the sake of learning to take notes and the opportunity for socialization.
Lectures for Note Taking
Note taking is an important real world skill both for college and for the work place. And although children should start learning how to take notes as early as middle school, they need to master this skill in the high school years.
[This post contains affiliate links to both Amazon and Great Homeschool Conventions.]
Because homeschool moms typically don’t lecture, you might think there are few opportunities for homeschooled teens to practice taking notes. Actually, we have many chances, but we have to be deliberate about it. Here are a few real world places where teens can take notes.
- local museum and gallery lectures
- homeschool conferences
- sermons at church or youth conferences
- homeschool co-op classes or online classes where a teacher actually does lecture
Your best bet is to take you teen to a live event about a topic that he is intensely interested in. That natural curiosity and passion will fuel the drive to take notes. If the topic is boring, you might have to force your teen to take notes.
I have found the positive peer pressure of a live crowd motivates my teen to appear studious so that she is more willing to take notes than she is in her bedroom while taking her online economics class with Founders Academy, for example.
Lectures for Mature Socialization
Go beyond the note taking, though, and add in some of those socialization skills we are so often questioned about. Plan on approaching the speaker after the talk to take a photo, ask a question, or make an insightful remark.
Walking up to a stranger or celebrity can be nerve wracking, but what a great ability to have! I’ve heard plenty of stories of career breakthroughs that started when someone pushed herself to approach a hero.
If your child is tentative, help her come up with something to say. This might begin as early as the trip to the live event. In the car, brainstorm some opening statements and how to behave. Encourage your child to interact with these mature actions:
- Extend her hand for a handshake
- Make eye contact
- Introduce herself
- Thank the speaker
- Make a meaningful comment besides a generic “I liked your presentation.”
- Ask a question.
- Politely for a photo or autograph.
In my opinion, these are socialization skills that really matter (as opposed to knowing the up to date teen slang and popular social media apps or games).
To make that meaningful comment will require careful listening. During the presentation, have your child jot down potential questions to ask later or highlight key points to mention.
Our Experience
In 2012 my daughter and I enjoyed listening to Jim Weiss talk at Great Homeschool Conventions in Cincinnati. I was so proud when Emma waited in line to meet Mr. Weiss and tell him how much she enjoys his audio stories.
Last year she really enjoyed the Teen Track at GHC, and without my prodding she met some of those speakers too. (I didn’t take any photos.) Most teens are afraid of those kinds of interactions, and I’m proud that Emma is bold enough to approach a speaker and make mature small talk.
This year we are targeting Ben Carson. If you don’t know who Ben Carson is, I urge you to read the autobiography (affiliate) Gifted Hands as a read aloud to your children. (This story is also available in a movie rendition.) This is an outstanding story of a man who beat the odds to become a brilliant pediatric neurosurgeon. He is a real life role model worth emulating and someone you can meet in real life at Great Homeschool Conventions.
Read more about Ben Carson and GHC.
Jimmie, I eagerly await all your posts on high school! The information you share is invaluable.
Julie, you are so sweet. I have less and less time to blog lately. I will try to do better.
How often do conventions take place? Is there a cost to get in? Thank you for your information.
Conventions are typically yearly events, and yes, there is an affordable ticket cost. See greathomescheschoolconventions.com for more details.
I wish Anna was going to be with me to see Ben Carson in Greenville. This is a great post, Jimmie – and I love that Emma got to meet Jim Weiss – we heard him tell stories in Greenville and my kids were captivated!
LOVE Dr. Carson and you are so right about the importance of note taking and learning mature social skills. One suggestion I have is to take notes yourself and compare them to your child’s so you can help her improve.
These are great ideas! I especially like the idea of learning how to approach the speaker to make a comment or ask a question. Excellent skills to learn. Thanks.
Jim Weiss was a rock star in our household when the older two were young and we found ourselves in the car more (living in the middle of a desert will make for long car rides to civilization). When we lived in the DC area we were also lucky to hear him at the Corcoran Gallery during one of their family day events. He walked amidst the crowd before he started and we were able to tell him of our admiration. He hasn’t changed one iota! My oldest is more likely to be interested in a Comicon convention now, but at least he is engaged enough to ask thoughtful questions. Thanks for the updates, Jimmie.