Claire Hein was on the brink of entering the seventh grade when her mother told her she wanted to teach her at home. The Midwest City teen-ager thought her social world had crashed.
“I was in tears, crying, begging, very upset when my mom told me,” Claire said. “I thought, ‘Finally I’m going to be in junior high, and all my friends are going and I’m not.’ I thought I wouldn’t have friends, and I thought about school dances and sports I would miss.”
There were lonely days in the beginning as Claire and her mother, Leslie Weiss, adapted to teaching and studying in a home environment.
A homeschool group for moms provided encouragement, support and information on extracurricular activities.
Homeschool support groups, home educators associations and coalitions are active throughout the state and nation.
Weiss said it wasn’t long before their schedule was filled. “Things started looking a lot better,” Claire said. “I met new friends who also were homeschooled, and I started participating in basketball and softball.”
She joined a group called PATH — Parents and Teens Home Schooling — that offers activities for each grade level.
After four years of homeschool, Claire and her mother have learned what works for them in their choice of schedule, curriculum and textbooks.
“I actually enjoy my school, and I can sit down and take my time and go at my own pace,” Claire said.
Homeschooled families have numerous learning sources and experiences available to them. Claire studied biology at the Omniplex, took advantage of tutoring offered at Rose State College and served as a page at the state Capitol.
Art, sports, music, 4-H, choir and most anything else available in a traditional school setting are available to homeschool students.
Claire plays the clarinet in a band directed by Tom Rye, who came out of retirement to direct homeschool student bands in Norman, Shawnee, Edmond and Midwest City.
The flexibility of homeschooling appeals to families, many of whom choose to have a year-round school schedule with time off when it suits their family.
Anita Witt is in her 10th year as a homeschool mom. The Tuttle mother of Jarod, 17; Matthew, 13; and Jessica, 2, said she enjoys watching her children learn. That’s the primary reason she chose to teach her children at home.
“I can give one-on-one attention for each child,” Witt said.
Woodworking, public speaking and landscaping are some of the 4-H projects that have enriched Jarod’s education.
This spring, he competed in a 4-H district horse show in Purcell. An entertainment center he built won first place at the 2000 Oklahoma State Fair 4-H competition in woodworking.
Literature, economics and world history (his favorite subject) are among the courses Jarod will take his senior year. And, like any high school senior, he will have a yearbook and a commencement ceremony.
Camille Melton, a Newcastle mom who teaches her children, Jacob, 11; Ben, 9; and Hannah, 7, said she has homeschooled for seven years.
“It’s challenging, a lot of hard work and worth every bit of it,” Melton said. “I am always reading and doing research. It’s a constant job of keeping up.”
This summer, the Melton children are involved with sports and children’s programs at the Newcastle library and will participate in a space camp offered by the Oklahoma Air National Guard.
“It’s very easy to get too involved in outside activities,” Melton said.
Witt agreed, saying it’s necessary to find a balance because there is so much available, it can crowd out academics, their first priority.