2005 Archives

Welcome to TheHomeSchoolMom's Free Homeschool Resources! You will notice a new look in this issue. I have been working on a site redesign for months and it is finally ready! What this means for you is easier navigation, new resources, and up-to-date links when you visit TheHomeSchoolMom.com.

I have tons of great stuff for you this issue! Don't miss the launch of Menus 4 Moms, a great new feature of TheHomeSchoolMom. Menus 4 Moms is a free weekly menu plan which includes 5 nights of recipes and a grocery list. Sign up for this wonderful free resource now!

Every so often BookCloseouts has a great sale that can't be missed. Right now is their Inventory Reduction Sale and they are offering 3500 titles reduced at least 90% off the cover price! On top of that great discount, add this coupon for $5 off of every purchase of $35 or more:

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4.Educational Sites & Freebies

Online Grammar Games

These games are for younger elementary students (some older ones may find them fun as well) and give practice for parts of speech, vowels and consonants, and rhyming words. Requires free Shockwave player.
http://www.tldsb.on.ca/Schools/GrandviewPS/Room_108/alphacatch/begin.html

Wetlands Challenge

"Environmental Concern is celebrating Wetlands Month this May by creating a children’s book about wetlands. We already have the words... Now, we need pictures! Elementary students from around the country are invited to submit drawings – before May 13th. Each drawing must be colorful, original, and must correspond to a particular page of the book." For details of the contest, visit the Environmental Concern website.
http://www.wetland.org/edu_writeon.htm

Knowledge Probe Games

Free trial versions of many educational games for math and language; if you decide to buy the cost is $10 for most games. All games require the free Flash plugin.
http://online-games.recruiter.ca/

A Book In Time

The Ultimate History Booklist! I have featured this site before, but they recently changed their URL and that was a reminder for me to mention it again. A Book In Time is a recommended reading list for history including fiction and non-fiction books listed by time period with synopsis and recommended age.
http://www.abookintime.net/

Study Dog

"StudyDog is a Free Early Reading (pre K thru 2) software program downloaded over the Internet to a computer in your home or classroom. StudyDog combines engaging rich multimedia and game-like activities your child will love, with research-proven reading curriculum and instructional methods that work." Although the one we tried contains some annoying quirks (offers help before my 7yo had a chance to finish reading it herself), my daughter enjoyed playing the games. Three levels are available for Windows and Mac; large download.
http://www.studydog.com/

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7. Article - What About College?

by Jim Bob Howard

ED note: The links in this article reflect the opinions of the author and are not necessarily endorsements by TheHomeSchoolMom.com.

The most recent time I heard this was from a couple in Tennessee. They called me because my phone number is on the front page of the CHEACT website… for the dad's breakfast I organized. They're both educators: she's in the public schools, he's a college admissions officer. Turns out, his sister was on her way back home to Texas and was planning to homeschool when she got here.

"What type of umbrella program do you have?" the sister-in-law asked.

"We don't."

"Why not?"

"In Texas, homeschools are private schools and are not regulated by the state with regards to schedule, curriculum or teach credentials."

"Well, what about college?" She was asking this about her 8-year-old nephew.

What ABOUT college?

First of all, I don't consider college to be a given for any of my children. It's not always necessary and the benefits are many time offset by many worldly negatives. I'm raising them for heaven, not Harvard.

But, that's not what she was asking, so I didn't even go there. Her question was: "When my nephew has `graduated' from homeschool, what university is going to accept him?"

The truth is: MANY colleges and universities, service academies and vocational schools around the country are actively seeking homeschoolers. But there are still some things you, as a parent, need to consider.

High School Diploma
===================
Are you planning to issue one? The Texas Homeschool Coalition (THSC) sells a very nice one that you can personalize for your school. As their site says: "In Texas, as private school officials, parents decide the requirements for high school graduation. When met, the student may receive a diploma." See their website, www.thsc.org, for more information.

Of course, THSC doesn't certify or recognize completion of a course of study simply by selling the diploma. That's up to you. You should keep records of course work, especially the last four years of your child's schooling so that you can create a transcript to show to a college. The Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) also has some great pointers for preparing for college at their website: www.hslda.org.

Accelerated Distance Learning
=============================
Brad Voeller, a homeschool graduate, is also a college graduate. Great achievement, to be sure. But what makes Brad unique is that he received his college degree in less than six months for less than $5000. And he wrote a book telling others how to do it: Accelerated Distance Learning: The New Way to Earn Your College Degree in the Twenty-First Century. Vision Forum and other great outlets carry it.

Dual Credit at a Community College
==================================
Did you know that most community colleges don't require a high school transcript in order to enroll? Did you know that most universities don't require a high school transcript if a student has 30 hours of college credit?

This has long been a popular option for homeschoolers. Simply enroll your child in classes at the local community college his or her sophomore year. It doesn't have to be a full load of classes: just 5 hours per semester. And you can count the coursework toward fulfillment of the high school diploma while your student is gaining college credit and experience.

By the time they graduate from high school, they'll have 30 hours of college credit and can transfer to the four-year college of their choice as a sophomore.

With just a little forethought and planning, your homeschooled student will be well on his or her way to a college degree, should the Lord take them in that direction.

Jim Bob Howard, homeschooling father of 3-going-on-4, is currently serving as Treasurer and Webmaster for the Christian Home Educators Association of Central Texas (CHEACT).

© 2004 Jim Bob Howard; Used by Permission.

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Hope you found something useful for your homeschool in this issue of TheHomeSchoolMom newsletter! More great stuff next time...

Mary Ann Kelley
Editor, TheHomeSchoolMom Newsletter

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