Have you discovered that feeding the kids is the homeschooling challenge nobody warned you about? For homeschooling to work, home has to work, including the food. Especially the food! We’ve put together some tips for keeping your sanity while feeding your homeschooled kids. Continue reading »
Jeanne Faulconer
A popular speaker at homeschooling conferences, business groups, and parents’ groups, Jeanne Potts Faulconer has homeschooled her three sons in North Carolina, Mississippi, and Virginia. She is a former college faculty member, former editor and book reviewer for Home Education Magazine, a long-time editor for VaHomeschoolers Voice, and a recent news correspondent for WCVE, an NPR-member station. Jeanne teaches writing and literature for her youngest son’s homeschool co-op, and she is a student of how learning works – at home, in the music room, in small groups, in the college classroom, on the soccer field, and in the car to and from practice. Holding her Master of Arts degree in Communication, Jeanne conducts portfolio evaluations for Virginia homeschoolers for evidence of progress. To read more of Jeanne’s writing, inquire about a homeschool evaluation, or ask her to speak to your group, see her blog, Engaged Homeschooling.
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The Homeschool Challenge Nobody Warns You About
by Jeanne Faulconer
When I started homeschooling, I knew my big challenge was going to be helping my kids learn. Having them become academically prepared was my overriding goal. Choosing the right curriculum and the right educational philosophy were paramount. Imagine my surprise when it turned out they were pretty good learners once I refined our approach to homeschooling. My real challenge turned out to be the unexpected one. Continue reading »
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Ask Jeanne: Tips for Homeschooling a Difficult or Defiant Child
by Jeanne Faulconer
My 7-yr old spends most of her homeschool time in tantrums wanting to short-cut her work. We have tried everything from punishment to taking away free-time activities. I am at my wit’s end and I don’t know what to do to get her to do her school work without a meltdown every few minutes. Do you have any advice that may help? Continue reading »
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Education Hybrids: Is this homeschooling?
by Jeanne Faulconer
In some states, there are various hybrid education models due to families combining some elements of homeschooling with classes and programs offered by public schools, private schools, charter schools, colleges, and online schools. Often called “homeschool hybrids,” these education hybrids may take the form of part-time enrollment at a traditional local public school for a class or two while homeschooling, participation in extracurricular activities and/or sports at a local school while homeschooling, university model schools (usually private) that students attend two or three days a week while learning at home the rest of the time, and more… Continue reading »
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Instead of Curriculum: Boomerang Audio Magazine
by Jeanne Faulconer
Those of us who have been homeschooling a while know that sometimes the best resources aren’t the newest or flashiest. That’s the case with Boomerang Audio Magazine for kids. A big benefit of these audio resources is that kids can be busy doing other things with their hands or bodies while listening. For some kids, this actually enhances learning, because they’re not focused on having to keep still, which can take a lot of energy. Continue reading »
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Tips for Homeschooling an Anxious Child
by Jeanne Faulconer
Just attending school doesn’t, by itself, help kids overcome abnormal anxiety because they are “sticking it out.” Just homeschooling doesn’t prevent, treat, or cure abnormal anxiety. These tips can help you move past just homeschooling to helping your anxious child cope with their anxiety. Ways to get help: Combine homeschooling with professional treatment for abnormal anxiety. Consider cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for your child, which helps many people manage abnormal anxiety. Seek a counselor or therapist who is knowledgeable and unbiased about homeschooling. Know that homeschooling brings with it the “Power of Now” – you can do what’s right for your child now, even if that means you prioritize mental health over academics. Continue reading »
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Homeschooling for School Anxiety / School Refusal
by Jeanne Faulconer
Can you homeschool your child who refuses to go to school due to school anxiety? Should you? Kids in crisis who are too anxious to go to school are in a challenge called school resistance or school refusal. What if school refusers are telling us something through their refusal? What can we do to help? This post covers reasons we might homeschool a child with school anxiety along with concerns that might arise and tips to make the best of homeschooling in such a situation. Continue reading »
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Homeschool to College: Outside Evidence
by Jeanne Faulconer
Homeschooling parents whose kids will likely seek admission to college usually realize their homeschool graduates will need parent-made homeschool transcripts. They will probably also need “outside evidence.” That’s because a homeschool transcript full of parent-graded courses and independent learning done at home may not by itself convince university admissions counselors of a teen’s preparation for college-level work. Continue reading »
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Pros and Cons of Homeschooling: Hard Education Choices
by Jeanne Faulconer
The yellow legal pad had a line down the middle: the pros and cons of homeschooling were written on opposite sides of the blue-inked vertical line. Not content with that, I flipped to the next page and drew another line down the middle: pros of public school to the left and cons of school to the right. Continue reading »
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Homeschooling: The Power of Now
by Jeanne Faulconer
What if you asked, “What does my child need right now?” and immediately began working on it, with little to no red tape? Welcome to Homeschooling’s Power of Now. Homeschooling allows the choice to prioritize what your child needs today, whether that’s refuge from bullies, time to make art, help for a learning difference, treatment for mental or physical illness, advanced learning opportunities, or more time to play outside. Continue reading »
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Can Somebody Homeschool My Kids?
by Jeanne Faulconer
You work. Or you cannot imagine yourself as a homeschool parent. Or your kids are demanding, and you don’t mesh with them well. Or you have a child who has special needs you don’t feel prepared to help with. Or you have a health problem that will make homeschooling challenging to impossible. Or really, you just don’t want to homeschool. But your kids need to be out of school, and they need to be homeschooled. I hear your question: “Can somebody homeschool my kids?” Continue reading »
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The Keeper of the Squid
by Jeanne Faulconer
I have kept a secret from my husband. We have moved an average of every two years since we began homeschooling, and some homeschool materials have gotten, uh, misplaced from move to move. Including the squid. Which I had never told him about. Continue reading »
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Ask Jeanne: Can a 20-Year-Old Earn a Homeschool Diploma?
by Jeanne Faulconer
As a parent of a high school homeschooler, I was approached by a neighbor who asked if I knew what the age limit was to begin homeschool. Her 20-year-old son never finished school, sadly. It seemed almost impossible for him to get his GED, having been enrolled on and off since he was 16. Knowing the need for a diploma, she’s considering homeschool, believing with one-on-one teaching, he will obtain his diploma, and his future will much brighter. Unable to find information on the North Carolina Homeschool help website about age restrictions, I’m hoping you can help us. Continue reading »
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Naming Your Homeschool
by Jeanne Faulconer
Does your homeschool have a name? Does it need one? What makes a good name for a homeschool? Whether you name your homeschool has to do with law, custom, and personal preference. You will want to consider benefits and disadvantages to naming your homeschool, as well as naming ideas, things to avoid, and how you can use a homeschool name to your (and your children’s) advantage. Continue reading »
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“I Can’t Homeschool – I Have to Work!”
by Jeanne Faulconer
Recently, a visitor commented on a post on TheHomeSchoolMom about educating at home. This visitor expressed sentiments that homeschoolers often hear, including the idea that homeschooling is only for privileged families that can afford for at least one parent to stay home. This Ask Jeanne column is a response to the general notion that homeschooling is out of reach for many families because of finances. Continue reading »
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Ask Jeanne: Homeschooling and Immunization Law
by Jeanne Faulconer
I have a 4-year-old little girl. We have always wanted to homeschool her. The main reason for this decision is we don’t agree with vaccinations. My fiancé is older than I am. He grew up in the ’70s, so in his mind, this was going to be easy. Well, times have changed. I have been doing research, and it seems so much harder than I was thinking. I’m so overwhelmed with information that I don’t know where to start. My little girl is so smart, and she’s easy to teach, so we’ve got that down, but as far as the law goes we, of course, want to make sure we follow the guidelines so it doesn’t backfire on us. If there is any way of simplifying all of this, I would greatly appreciate any advice. Continue reading »
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Ask Jeanne: Homeschool a Prospective Dropout?
by Jeanne Faulconer
I am seriously looking into whether homeschooling would be an appropriate option for my high school student who is failing in the public school system. She’s extremely bright, and excels in honors and higher courses, but is failing everything else. I believe homeschooling might be helpful, but I also know it could backfire too. We desperately need some expert advice! ~ Concerned in Colorado Continue reading »
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Ask Jeanne: Homeschooling and Social Anxiety
by Jeanne Faulconer
Our reader Sue asked a question about homeschooling and social anxiety in response to our piece, “What About Socialization?” We thought it was such an important question, we decided to feature it as part of our Ask Jeanne column. Continue reading »
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Instead of Curriculum: Earn High School Government Credits Differently
by Jeanne Faulconer
Don’t depend on boring government textbooks; use an activities approach to learning how government works. If teens do these activities, talk about their experiences with you and others, and follow rabbit trails online, they will likely retain more knowledge about how government works than if they just read from a government textbook. Continue reading »
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Controlling Internet Access While Homeschooling
by Jeanne Faulconer
Is your older child or teen sneaky about using the internet, even though you have rules limiting computer use to online curriculum? Some parents complain of kids straying from school assignments and hiding browser history, especially as kids approach and pass into the teen years when they are more computer savvy and more aware of internet content beyond their curriculum. Continue reading »
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