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 ~ A word from our founder, The HomeScholar Emeritus, Lee Binz ~ This is a chapter from my book, Homeschooling Middle School with Powerful Purpos...

What do you do to prepare for the SAT and ACT when your child is in middle school? Read these 7 ways to effectively prepare for the SAT and ACT before high school. The best test prep in middle school is making sure you do a good job with reading, writing, penmanship, and math. Also, providing practice with fill in the bubble tests can ensure that they will be successful on standardized tests.  While things like...

It can be a temptation to totally panic when you start planning middle school homeschool for the first time. You may like my article, Taming Middle Sc...

 Each stage of life can bring unique challenges, but 7th grade?!  Yikes!  It can seem so scary!Some parents have a specific concern that cause palpitationsHere are some ideas of what NOT to do:1. Don't try to do 4 years of high school before Freshman year2. Don't try to write course descriptions for classes you haven't begun yet3. Don't think you have to change everything to homeschool high school4. Don't make your children take tests for high...

Should we count extensive European travel during middle school as early high school credit? Traveling Europe, learning foreign languages, and experiencing the art and culture of other countries is awesome!  If these were done during high school, then you can give high school credit for the whole experience. If these experiences are completed prior to high school, does it count? In  my opinion only the academic subjects taught at high school level can be counted as high school...

Dealing with learning challenges is difficult, but in high school, it can become seriously concerning. You don't have to be afraid! A parent is a...

Many parents feel anxious about homeschooling middle school. Parents can find themselves suddenly staring across the breakfast table at strangers. Del...

I am often asked about a particular homeschool curriculum. Sandy had a great question about Saxon geometry...Lee,We recently watched your Preparing to Homeschool High School videos in our homeschool group. They were great! I have a question about Saxon Math. My 10th grader is taking Advanced Math and has already completed Algebra 1 and 2. Do you have an opinion about Saxon and the way geometry is included? Would you suggest another route? My eighth grader...

Homeschool health requirements vary by state.  Check your state homeschool law, and see what your state may require for health. Unless your state requires it, you don’t have to teach Health every year of high school. Some states want Health to be a requirement for graduation, but colleges generally don’t care about it much. Some colleges want to see students who take health as a separate course, while others assume it is included in Physical Education...

"But How do I Get Them to Work?!"I get a lot of different questions about homeschooling high school. A big one is “How do I get my student to do the work?”  Especially for parents new to homeschooling, this is the big worry.  How do you make them listen and get the job done?Unfortunately, perhaps, children are free moral agents.  They sometimes do not cooperate, and there isn’t any magic way to force them to work. ...

Encourage Reading with Teens Are you having trouble encouraging your middle school or high school child to read? It can be so difficult to find suitable books for a pre-teen or teenager! Never fear; you CAN encourage reading with teens! Let me help with ideas and free resources for you. Make Reading Fun Encourage fun by using real, quality literature. If you're having trouble finding suitable books, you might like my handy Printable Middle School Reading List PDF to help...

I help prepare parents to homeschool high school all the time. I tell them to "read books, attend conferences, watch instructional videos and invest in yourself and your chosen profession." Parents also want to know the other side of the equation. How do you prepare your child for high school? Prepare Your Child for High School I have great news. The way you prepare your child for high school is the same way you prepare them for success...

Junior High is Training Time for Parents Junior High is a great time for both homeschool parents and their students to get ready to homeschool high school! During 6th, 7th and 8th grade, parents should be spending time learning how to homeschool high school. Take classes on homeschooling high school at a convention or online convention, read books on how to homeschool high school, and visit the College Board® website to check out their college prep plan.In...

Feeling Freaked Out or Anxious About the Coming Year? The hardest part about homeschooling is when you are faced with something new.  The first time you had to teach a child to write in cursive, or mulitply, for example, it was pretty intimidating. If you are feeling stressed about the coming year, chances are you are faced with something new.  These are my "OH MY GOODNESS I'M PANICKING!" articles that I hope will talk you down from...

Is Sleep the Only Reason Homeschool Kids are Healthier & Happier?Recently I read an article Homeschoolers Are Healthier and Happier Than Public or Private School Students about sleep and success in high school.It stated that homeschooled students are healthier and happier, due in large part to the fact that they get more sleep than their schooled peers.  It reminded me of when my children were toddlers, and how difficult it was to convince them to sleep.  Now again...