How to homeschool advice on the HomeScholar blog

Lee Binz

Monday, 10 November 2014

How Homeschoolers Measure Up: Comparing Percentiles

High School High School Tests Homeschool Career Learning Disabilities

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...

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Lee Binz

Friday, 28 June 2013

Grab the NEW HomeScholar Book!

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"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...

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Lee Binz

Thursday, 30 August 2012

Considering Homeschooling?

inspiration Recommendations Sage Advice

What advice would you give to a mom who is considering homeschooling? These are comments from my Facebook friends. What do YOU tell someone who is thinking about homeschooling for the first time? DianeDon't be too hard on your kids. it's all going to be fine. if you are stressed, they'll be stressed.DianneYou don't have to do it all, you don't have to be perfect, and your kids will learn anyway and be better for it. Be kind...

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Guest — Sunya

These years go by so fast so my advice would be to enjoy every precious moment with your children. Keep learning fun by doing thi... Read More

Friday, 31 August 2012 10:53

Guest — Deb Roennebeck

God did not give your children to the public school system - He gave them to YOU. If God has called you to Homeschool, He will no... Read More

Friday, 31 August 2012 06:20

Guest — Angela

I agree with all of the above, but I must add advice I was given: laundry will still be there when the kids are out of the house.... Read More

Thursday, 30 August 2012 22:44

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Lee Binz

Friday, 20 August 2010

Homeschool Lessons from Nature: All Kits Learn Differently

Homeschool U.

I was watching a bunny run across my back yard. Now, bunnies always catch my attention - but it was the reason for running that KEPT my attention. Apparently, Mr Bunny did NOT want to mess with a family of raccoons. One mommy raccoon and four baby kits we slowly making their way toward our neighbor's house. I've never seen a raccoon with four babies before! When they came to the gate, mommy and three babies...

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Guest — Bev

Even as adults, we some times insist on taking the hard road. Thanks for sharing this story. I can see all kinds of applications... Read More

Saturday, 21 August 2010 13:12

Guest — J W

Two very different kids here. I simply sell what materials I can, and buy used.

Friday, 20 August 2010 20:18

Guest — Leanne Hamby

Lee, What a great illustration! Jesus taught in such a manner, and got his point across, as you have also done. Thank you for t... Read More

Friday, 20 August 2010 19:04

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Lee Binz

Friday, 25 June 2010

College Placement Tests

College Prep

As homeschoolers, our job is to teach our children at their level, in every subject, all the time. It's difficult to determine what "at their level" means, because even if they have finished their math book, that doesn't mean they are ready for the next level. What if they missed a critical concept? What if it was so easy for them they should really skip the next level? Colleges feel the same way. They want to...

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Guest — Radek

The placement tests are a good initiative on the part of academic institutions. I have attended those that had them and those that... Read More

Monday, 28 June 2010 21:58

Guest — Tweets that mention Learn why college placement tests are likely in your #homeschool student's future. #homeschool -- Topsy.com

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by HomeschoolCurriculum, Lee Binz. Lee Binz said: Learn why college placement tests are l... Read More

Friday, 25 June 2010 10:01

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Lee Binz

Tuesday, 08 June 2010

Feel Like a Failure? Tests Can Help!

High School Tests Sage Advice

In spring and summer parents may look back on the year and feel VERY discouraged. They see how little they got done, they notice what was not finished. They clearly see the difficulties and traumas that got in the way of formal education. But all is not lost! You can't actually PREVENT a child from learning. That's where standardized tests can help. They can show you how much your children have learned while you weren't even...

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Lee Binz

Tuesday, 09 March 2010

Foreign Language is like Weight Watchers

Foreign Language

Hi Lee,I was wondering if you have any thoughts on Rosetta Stone software for learning a foreign language?Thanks,~ Diane R. Dear Diane,I've heard that it's a good curriculum WHEN it is a good fit for the child. It's just not always a good fit. I would try it to see.We used PowerGlide, and that was very effective for us. Others love Tell Me More. These can also be found from most homeschool resources, including Sonlight Curriculum, ...

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Pre-test in the Fall!

Sage Advice

Children learn all the time, even when we aren't looking - and even over summer! You might want to "pre-test" your children in some subject areas before you start school next year. For example, Spelling Power offers a placement test for their program, and you can check their spelling level at the beginning of each year, to make sure they are learning something new. In most math books, the first chapter or two is review. You...

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Lee Binz

Thursday, 10 December 2009

LD and ADHD BFF!

Gifted Education Gold Care Club Sage Advice

My experience with LD and ADHD is not first hand, but through friends and college advisers. In talking with them, I came to recognize that the core issue of the LD crowd is the same as it is for the gifted crowd:Teaching every subject at their level all the time. That's how I provide guidance. I can tell you that I have spoken to many colleges who are eager to have all children, and are well...

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Lee Binz

Friday, 02 October 2009

Biology for a Struggling Learner

Homeschool Science HS Math/Science

Homeschoolers can make accommodations for struggling learners, just like they do in other school situations. If your child needs extra help learning, then you can provide that help. The important thing is that they learn! Mary had a question about how to accommodate her daughter in biology, and still determine credit.Good Morning Lee, Thanks for the information on credits that was helpful. My daughter did biology last year and struggled. She did the first part of...

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Lee Binz

Monday, 01 June 2009

Success in High School is Better Than Failure in College

Junior College Sage Advice

When you are thinking about taking classes at a community college, using the dual enrollment option, it's tempting to have your children take their weakest class. Community college can quickly provide missing classes, but always remember the long term goal. If your child is doing poorly at home in a certain subject, they may not do better in a community college. Spend some time looking objectively at your child, and decide if he or she is...

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Guest — Lee

Karen, Some colleges will prefer a lab course taught in a community college (just a few colleges) so check with them before decidi... Read More

Tuesday, 19 January 2010 11:17

Guest — karen

I was thinking in the lines of doing lab courses in the community college because it seems that would be better than trying to do ... Read More

Tuesday, 19 January 2010 09:28

Guest — Pamela G

That's wonderful advice for those looking at dual enrollment. There are fun classes that the dual enrollment high school studen... Read More

Monday, 01 June 2009 19:42

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Lee Binz

Friday, 08 May 2009

Homeschool Teachers Who Know Too Much

High School Musings

I'm a nurse, and I know too much about the human body. My husband teases me about it all the time. When a family member is sick, and I get worried, my husband will laugh and say, "What is it this time? Spinal menningitis? Homonymous hemianopsia?" There have been times when I've had my child in the hospital, and I knew WAY too much! When Alex had his ER visit for peanut anaphylaxis, I knew just...

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Lee Binz

Monday, 16 March 2009

Is Distance Learning Leading you Astray?

Gifted Education Sage Advice

Distance learning means time on the computer - and kids LOVE computers! But what do you do when they love being online too much?My daughter is taking distance learning this year so she is online a lot. I am homeschooling my 16 year old daughter with an online Gifted and Talented organization. We have a net nanny programmed but there are still plenty of sites to keep her busy doing anything but school work. Have you...

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Guest — J W

We also have two Windows accounts per child. Each child has one account for school and whatever creative art and/or writing they ... Read More

Tuesday, 17 March 2009 11:49

Guest — J W

If you want to get *really* radical, here's what we do. We have an ethershield and are running Safe Eyes. Both are available fro... Read More

Tuesday, 17 March 2009 07:08

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Lee Binz

Friday, 06 March 2009

Homeschooling High School: The Joy of Delight!

Scheduling specialization

When did you start the Delight directed Learning? Did you find it hard to get through a year-long school course when doing it 4 days a week? Did you just tell the kids they could do whatever they wanted on the non-school day, or did they have certain things they always did, like going to a class in a homeschool coop? Did you allow them to watch TV or play video games during the free day?Dear...

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Guest — J W

Yeah, but don't let your enjoyment of a nice day at the park be limited to your "fun day." We've been known to take school to the... Read More

Saturday, 07 March 2009 06:59

Guest — Lisa

I like this idea of a 4 day homeschool and a day of delight directed learning. Sometimes that fifth day can be a field trip or a c... Read More

Friday, 06 March 2009 20:01

Guest — Lee

We rarely had our "day off" on Friday. In fact, we sometimes took 1/2 day off one day, and another 1/2 day off on a different day... Read More

Friday, 06 March 2009 08:40

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Lee Binz

Wednesday, 07 January 2009

Homeschool High School Success!

Musings

How do I know that homeschooling works? My children are now 19 and 21 years old, and in college. How do I know that homeschooling high school was a good thing for them? Today they each updated their Facebook status. What do they think of their academics?My younger son is in the honors program, majoring in Political Science. His status:Alex really enjoyed his Faith & Science II classMy older son is majoring in electrical engineering with...

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