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Alternative Education and Homeschooling Independently

Homeschooling is hard enough all on its own, but when others criticize us for our educational choices, it becomes even harder.  That’s why I try really hard not to judge the way other people choose to educate their children, knowing that most parents are doing their very best with their situation. Because I’m a huge advocate of independent homeschooling through high school, sometimes people who choose to use government-funded programs perceive that I am critical of...

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You know you are an OFFICIAL homeschooler when.....

Each child has a pile of unfinished projects they still want to finish because they found something else they wanted to do first. ~ CynthiaYou tell the kids to go read in their rooms while mom and the dogs go nap. ~ BonnieYou're on a first name basis with the UPS man, the Postal Dude, and even the occasional FedEx person. ~ PamYou find a way to turn a Disney trip into an educational excursion! LOL!...

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Perfect Children Work Perfectly Independently

My children were not perfect.  I'm guessing your children aren't perfect either.  But somehow, some way, we need to get them on the road to independence.  Eventually they will need to work independently on their school subjects.  That's the goal - learning without you.That begs the questions, “How do I get my student to work independently?”A lot of people think that high school is the point where students should become self-teaching, but the truth is that...

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Time to Have "The Talk"

When children are young, we shield them from much of our "rated R" world.  But something happens that changes that.....  Your children grow up.  That's when we realize that we need to shelter young children, but discuss with teens. When your children enter their teen years, it's time to begin having "the talk" about social issues, morality, and integrity.  Allow them to see more of the world, and explain to them what you see in the...

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Words I Hate

There are certain words I hate.  They don't seem to be important for homeschooling.  Although I know it can be useful for some people, many of these words have their roots in public schools. rubricliterary analysisumbrella organizationaccountabilitybenchmarkcredentialinclusivenorm or normativesocializationalternative educationaccreditationparent-partnershipcertifiedapprovedIn fact, to me some words just scream "Certified teacher!  Lookout!"  Some things are useful - even important - with public school children or in a brick and mortar school.  That doesn't mean they are words that...

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Drill Sergeant Not Needed

Some things about homeschooling high school really are NOT hard.  Even scary words like "grades" and "credits" can be simple when you know the easy way to do it!I'll be glad to show you the easy way to calculate high school credits.  You'll be amazed at how simple it is!  No need for a scary-sounding boot camp, with sweating and tremendous effort while the Drill Sergeant is screaming at you. Instead, calculating homeschool credits is more...

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Independent Homeschool Support

I encourage parents to homeschool independently.Homeschooling is legal in every state, and you can educate your children in a way that makes sense, without being tied to a school system.  That will allow you to homeschool outside the box, keeping your children challenged but not overwhelmed.  When you homeschool independently, you can choose homeschool curriculum that is a perfect fit, and teach any elective class under the sun.  The world is your oyster! But when you...

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Keys to Choosing High School Curriculum Part 1

 When thinking about curriculum for your high school student, you want to do what works--whatever you have been doing through elementary and junior high-- if it’s working, keep doing it. If the curriculum is working, keep using those curriculum choices.At high school level, it helps to make sure you’re using a curriculum that is made for homeschoolers. If you have to teach a subject you’re not familiar with, buy a curriculum that is meant for homeschoolers. ...

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Keys to Choosing High School Curriculum Part 2

 Always at Their LevelAs you choose curriculum for your high school student, it’s important to always teach them at their level, for every subject, all the time. One of the reasons why public schools and classroom settings have such a hard time educating kids is that they look at a student’s age and then put them in an age-based course with no regard to ability. Just because your child is 14 or 15 does not mean...

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March is College Visit Time

 College Visit TimeIf you’re a parent of a homeschooled teenager, you’ve probably been thinking about college for a while now! As you and your student prepare for that not-so-far-away event, now is the time to start visiting colleges that interest you.  Deciding which colleges to consider is a big job—and you should take your time doing it, since your student will be spending four years of their life in this place.  For help in the process...

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HELP! They Don’t Love Learning!

 There may come a time when your child says they aren’t interested in learning anything. If they seem disinterested in their studies for a while, try to incorporate more delight-directed learning into your homeschooling.  Delight-directed learning is all about fostering the love of learning in our children, creating lifelong learners who can adapt to any situation. It helps children find areas they are passionate about pursuing, and incorporates this learning into their education.If your child is...

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After the Visit

 After you visit a college, you have one more job: Say thank you!After each campus visit, make sure your student writes a thank you note to the admissions staff and professors.  This simple act will show the staff that you’re interested in the school.  If you don’t intend to go to the school, then emailing a thank you note is fine. But if you do intend to apply to the school, then a mailed thank you...

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Playing the Name Game!

Several people tend to be intimidated by grading. A number of parents tend to be fearful of high school credits. Then you will find some unschool or delight-directed homeschools that definitely stress out regarding naming courses. It can be very easy if you use textbooks (look at the title of the textbook! ) however in other conditions it’s not as simple.I just got off the telephone with a mom attempting to name an unconventional class. If...

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Convincing Your Spouse about Homeschooling

Trying to convince your spouse about homeschooling? Let the data set you free!. Dear Lee,Happy New Year to you! I wrote you last year about homeschooling our 16 year old son. He is still attending public school. School just started this week, and he hates it. My husband and I are trying to ask him what is going on, and he said, he is lonely, and dealing  with some comments from other friends/teens. He is an...

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The HomeScholar - Never Harsh and Scary

Sometimes I think the hardest thing about homeschooling is not how hard it is - it's how hard people SAY it is.  Honestly, if experts didn't make it sound so terrifying, people would not panic and bail, right when the homeschooling starts to pay big dividends! Read what my Facebook friend wrote to me, so you can see what I mean:Last night was my first Homeschool Workshop with our local accountability group. It was pretty laid...

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