Independent HS

Put Your Weak Areas First in 4 Easy Steps Your strengths come naturally to you, and will take care of themselves, but weaknesses don’t. Weak areas are avoided, possibly hated, definitely put on the back shelf in hopes everyone forgets them. But strengths aren't like that. If your child just loves art, then you’ll give Christmas presents that are art related, and they will be working on art every free moment. They may do so much...

What WILL Make You a Better Home Educator? Sometimes homeschooling high school can feel overwhelming, confusing, frustrating, and panic-inducing. What is the difference between "pedagogy" and "pet a doggy" anyway? And does it even matter? Well, statistics show that homeschoolers do a better job of educating their children regardless of the parent's educational background. That means knowing words like "pedagogy" isn't going to make your children better.   So, if you are trying to weigh the...

Accredited Online High School It's that time of year again, when parents are looking for a great school for fall. Some parents are looking to online schools. Let me tell you what you do NOT need as you are searching for the perfect school. State certified teachers - because you know your child best, you are best equipped to guide your child. 1:1 approach to education - because that's exactly what homeschooling is like, the very...

Declare your Homeschool Independence! Learn why "old-fashioned" homeschooling is still your best bet for growing passionate learners! Homeschool independently and take your life back! Instead of a "one-size-fits-all" assembly line education, choose the freedom to teach your children at their pace and consistent with your values. Pursue happiness while homeschooling, instead of pursuing the busyness so common in our society. This brand new kindle book will allow you to be a fearless leader in your homeschool...

Are you ready to take the plunge and start homeschooling for the first time?  It's time to enjoy the freedom from public school! Homeschooling high school can seem challenging, but it can feel completely overwhelming if you have made a transition away from public school to homeschooling. When you haven't been homeschooling all along, you haven't been able to ooze into the idea slowly.  Lots of parents ask me how to navigate this road.  Here are...

Do you need to do summer school in your homeschool? How do you know? Take this quick quiz to find out if you need to do summer school this summer.   1. Are you done with curriculum?  One way to measure a high school credit is when you finish the curriculum.  You only need to be 75-80% finished to be "done" so there is some flexibility. While it's true that most homeschoolers finish curriculum in order...

So much to worry about, and so little time.  If you are worried about gaps in your child's education, though, I suggest you relax a bit.   OF COURSE the will have gaps - we ALL have gaps.   Instead of thinking about how you might compare against a perfect school, remember to deal in reality.  In real life, all schools have gaps, and no educational system is perfect.  Perhaps the only perfect schools are 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...

It's time to make your plan for September!  Here are some ideas, to get you started! Seniors Locate your favorite colleges online, find the admission application due date, and put it on your calendar. Start college applications on the first day of school during senior year. And no, I'm not kidding! College admission and scholarships are first-come, first-served. Senior Year Inspection Checklist Read more!  College Admission Book Juniors You have a very busy year ahead!  Make...

Have you ever wondered about the difference between an "accredited" and an "official" homeschool transcript? Sally discovered that her son could play on a private school baseball team - IF he entered that school's Independent Study program.  The school says he needed an accredited transcript from his 9th grade year to prove that he was in the 10th grade this year.  She was under the impression that his work was accredited basically by her.  The school...

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

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...

Let me guess.  You didn't use tests on all your homeschool subjects, right?  Neither did I! And yet, somehow, my children survived!   Some homeschoolers think it's tons of fun to go back through four years of high school records and try to find or recreate every possible test, quiz, and assignment.  For me, that doesn't sound like fun.  I was not one of those people.  Plus I've noticed that even when parents do some forensic grading...

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...

Accountability is instrumental in successfully homeschooling high school. Subscribe to my YouTube channel. You will be notified when I create new videos on homeschool high school topics!