homeschoolers

If you don't know, NCAA means National Collegiate Athletic Association.  If you don't know what it is, you probably aren't worried about it at all.  But if you DO know what it means, then as a homeschool parent you may feel stressed or insecure.  Let me help! Let me unlock the mysteries of the college application process (NCAA and otherwise) in this free class! Click to register: College Applications Simply Explained First, it's important to remember...

Although I have never been a big proponent of standardized tests, they can be useful for many homeschoolers. Some tests can serve as an inexpensive me...

How Homeschoolers Measure Up with Test Scores Homeschoolers tend to do GREAT on standardized test scores. For example: on average, homeschoolers score above the 79th percentile in reading. But what does that mean to you? How does your homeschooler measure up? Are you average? Of course not!Homeschooling alone can't guarantee that your child will score in the 79th percentile in reading, because every child is unique! But what homeschooing CAN do, is allow your child to...

A mother shared her concerns that the military may still harbor some hesitation about homeschoolers.  Requesting anonymity, she wrote this heart-felt letter:"The official line of the military academies and of ROTC is that they love homeschoolers and the diversity that they bring.  However, during the application process, we found that to be not so true.  My son had an impeccable resume for academics (4.0, college prep classes, 13 hours from the community college, 35 superscore on...

"Honey, There's a Crazed Mob of Scholarship-Wielding Colleges Pounding on Our Front Door!!" While we can't promise that this will happen to you, "The HomeScholar Guide to College Admission and Scholarships" really is a treasure trove for college bound homeschoolers and their parents! This paperback book is available now on Amazon. Grab your copy today! Find a College - and Afford it! This book will help your student find a college to love, a college that...

Let me just stand back and let another mom tell you the good news: Homeschoolers win Scholarships!  Military Academy and ROTC!  Here are some real tips from a real mom with experience!  Thanks for sharing, Cassie! Hi Lee,Now that we are nearing the end of the year I wanted to update you on Sara's plans for next year. Sara was fortunate to receive a nomination to the US Naval Academy from our representative and a nomination to the US...

In the realm of online learning, “OpenCourseWare” is the new kid on the block, one worth checking into if you have a homeschool student who does well with virtual classes.  OpenCourseWare (OCW) includes coursework and materials shared freely with anyone via the Internet. Universities such as MIT, UC Berkeley, Stanford, and Harvard, to name a few, all offer OCW, although there is no credit conferred for completion of any courses.I think it’s wonderful that these courses...

I always encourage parents to schedule free time.We worked our heavy academic subjects 4 days a week.  The 5th day was when we focused more on delight directed learning.  In elementary school, the 5th day was when we went to the park, or roller skating, or met with friends.  In high school, that was the day for my children to do special projects, or work on their electives. They had to get their math and foreign...

My Facebook Friends helped me create this great list! "Ideas for Volunteer Leadership and Community Service"Melanie ~  5 K walks and runs, local shelters, United Way, Food Pantry, Red Cross, Nursing Homes, Animal Shelters, Assisted living Facilities, Salvation Army, local Libraries and volunteer tutoring or babysitting for younger kidsAnimal Shelters and Animal rescue clinics.Dana ~ Your local community access cable station (they film things like town meetings and high school concerts) probably uses volunteers for their...

My writer and editor Jill Bell just graduated her high school senior (congratulations, Jill!)  I asked her to write a review of Total Yearbooks so I could see how it would work for a real homeschooler.  Guess what?  She LOVED it!  Read her review and see for yourself - this could be the solution for your homeschool yearbook too! Total Yearbooks Review   If you’re like many homeschool moms, the photos you’ve taken of your family...

We had so many friends who were homeschooling, that it seemed only natural for us to homeschool too. Still, we were hesitant (SCARED!). My children entered the public school system, and we kept waiting for it to meet the needs of our children, but it just didn’t.  After a few years, I realized I could do a better job with both hands tied behind my back, so we took the plunge.  We began to homeschool for...

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...

Sometimes people ask for specific recommendations when parents and students start thinking about homeschooling high school.  It's hard to give specific recommendations to a general question, but here are some places to start looking.I have several resources on my website that you might want to check out.  First is my HomeScholar Recommends homeschool curriculum page that has a lot of information on what we used and what worked for us.  It covers gifts, books, resources and...

  Homeschooling Goes To College"Today homeschooling is a credible, viable educational choice that is garnering respect, even admiration, from outside educators. At the nation's elite colleges and universities, once-wary admissions officers are validating the benefits of a home education in the best way possible - with much- coveted acceptances.www.carolinajournal.comHomeschoolers Ready for College"Myths about unsocialized home-schoolers are false, and most are well prepped for college, experts say."www.usnews.comHomeschooled Students Well-Prepared For College, Study Finds"Studies suggest that those who...

What's one homeschooling challenge you've faced, and what solutions did you find? Fear of failure is one challenge I think all homeschool parents experience.  During the early days of our homeschooling, it seemed relatively easy.  In high school, though, parents are faced with subjects they don’t understand.  My biggest challenges involved calculus, physics, and foreign language. I researched the problem, and found a surprising solution.  I did not have to learn the subjects myself, and I didn’t have...