Ask Jeanne: Answers to Your Homeschool Questions
Jeanne Potts Faulconer answers your homeschool questions in this ongoing series from TheHomeSchoolMom. A popular speaker at homeschooling conferences, business groups, and parents’ groups, Jeanne 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 ... Read More »
Benefits of Homeschooling
The many benefits of homeschooling mean more kids and teens than ever are learning at home. Families want the advantages of homeschooling, with the flexibility, academic benefits, efficiency, and opportunities homeschooling can offer. They seek an education and even a lifestyle that’s not based on minimum standards and a one-size-fits-all approach. Read More »
Charlotte Mason Method
Charlotte Mason was a 19th century educator who believed “the souls of all children are waiting for the call of knowledge to awaken them to delightful living.” Some of the characteristics of a Charlotte Mason education are using living books, keeping a nature journal, and introducing music, art, poetry, and great literature among other resources. Read More »
Classical Homeschooling
Classical homeschooling involves teaching based on the three stages of learning: the Grammar stage, the Logic stage, and the Rhetoric stage. The Grammar stage involves learning facts, memorization, and knowledge gathering. The Logic stage is when reasoning and logic begin to be applied to the knowledge. The Rhetoric stage completes the Trivium and is when the student learns the skills of wisdom and judgment. Read More »
Community College Course Planner
Many homeschoolers take community college classes while in high school. Since these courses count towards a college degree, it is important to keep track of the courses taken and how they apply to the different degree programs. Our Community College Course Planner is a spreadsheet download that tracks the courses taken and allows input of course/credit requirements for the chosen degree program to help the student stay on track with course choices. Read More »
Computer-Based Homeschooling
Most computer-based homeschooling is really just an off-shoot of the textbook method. Instead of paper books, the child’s curriculum is either through an online company or a home-based program that is purchased on CD-ROM. Read More »
Contests for Homeschoolers
Contests for Homeschoolers Read More »
Eclectic Homeschooling
If you find yourself combining several of the homeschool methods you are probably an eclectic homeschooler. Eclectics tend to gather what works for them from multiple styles of homeschooling and leave what doesn’t fit with their family. Unlike a Classical Education, Charlotte Mason homeschooling, or the Moore Formula, eclectic homeschooling is not a style itself but a combination of styles that work for an individual family. Read More »
Educator Discounts for Homeschoolers
Many companies offer a discount to educators, including homeschoolers, with some form of proof that you are an educator. If your state requires a Notice of Intent to Homeschool, or an application to homeschool, you can often use these as adequate proof of homeschooling. For stores that require something different, the reply from your school district, letterhead from your umbrella school, or an identification card from a homeschooling support group are other options. For specific requirements, please ask the individual retailers what they require.* Below is a list of some companies that offer discounts and/or educator appreciation receptions for homeschoolers. I ... Read More »
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to questions frequently asked on this site and of homeschoolers in general Read More »
General Lesson Resources
Sites helpful for finding lesson plans and answers for a variety of subjects Read More »
Gifted Education Resources
Raising Poppies Facebook Group “Parents of gifted and twice-exceptional children often feel isolated, alone, and like others just don’t get them or their kids. We do. We get it. And we’re right there in the trenches with you, raising our own poppies, hoping we’re getting it right. This is the group you’ve always needed. Grab a cup of coffee, some chocolate, and bring your questions, concerns, and successes — bragging about your kids is encouraged. We can’t guarantee that others will ever ‘get’ what it’s like to raise a kiddo like yours, but we can guarantee that you’ll find support and ... Read More »
Grandparent Guide: Supporting Homeschooling
Not long ago, I responded to an “Ask Jeanne” question from a grandparent who wanted to convince her son and daughter-in-law not to homeschool her twin granddaughters. She didn’t have an understanding of homeschooling, and she didn’t seem respectful of their decision, even though there didn’t seem to be any specific red flags of concern. This “Ask Jeanne” column got a huge response, and since then, I’ve been talking with other grandparents who love what is happening with the homeschooled kids in their family, and they want to know how they can be supportive. They want concrete ideas for how to ... Read More »
Helpful Education Websites
Sites helpful for finding lesson plans and answers for a variety of subjects Read More »
Helpful Homeschooling Websites
Over the years homeschooling websites have come and gone. These are some of the best that we have found — not all of them have fancy designs, but the resources are excellent and encouraging. Read More »
Homeschool Teacher Resources
If you are looking for homeschool resources that will help you plan your year, implement new learning strategies, or just want to read encouraging articles by homeschool moms like you this is the place to browse. Below you will see links to topics that will give you ideas and information resources for your school. Although lesson plans for specific topics are located in the Help by Topic area, the links below will offer some general information sites where you can look up your own subjects or find answers to topical questions related to your teaching. Read More »
Homeschool to College
Helpful tips and resources for homeschoolers considering or preparing for college Read More »
Homeschool to Military
Information for homeschoolers considering entering one of the military academies or a branch of service Read More »
Homeschooling 101: What is Homeschooling?
What is homeschooling? Homeschooling is when children’s education is based at home with their parents’ guidance rather than through enrollment in a public school or private school. That said, the insider joke is, “Homeschooling isn’t much like school, and we’re never home.” Read More »
Homeschooling a Child on the Autistic Spectrum
Many parents have found that homeschooling their autistic child is rewarding and productive. If you decide to bring your child home, here are some resources that can help. Read More »
Homeschooling Freebies
Homeschooling Freebies Read More »
Homeschooling on a Budget
Homeschooling does not have to break your budget! The range of families who homeschool varies from the wealthy movie stars to low-income families that must be careful with every dime. Keep in mind that although you may be spending money to homeschool, you will save money by not having your child in a public or private school. Read More »
Homeschooling on the Road
Resources for Families on the Road: Roadschooling/Homeschooling on the Road – From Families on the Road, this page is packed full of resources for anyone interested in hitting the road full time. Roadschooling Facebook Group – Facebook group for families that are roadschooling Israel with Homeschool Travel – Itineraries for two and three week trips to Israel with Chris Davies, former owner of the Elijah Company. Chris is well-known among homeschoolers for his excellent articles and helpfulness while he was operating the Elijah Company. His children have grown and now his focus is on travel, among other interests. Happy Trails – Have you ever ... Read More »
How to Choose the Best Homeschool Curriculum
Choosing curriculum is important to new and prospective homeschooling parents, as well as those who want to improve homeschooling or adjust to a new phase, such as kids starting high school. Many parents start with the question, “What’s the best homeschool curriculum?” A more productive question is, “What homeschool curriculum is the best fit?” Read More »
How to Homeschool
Although the idea of homeschooling can be overwhelming, know that you can do it. Learning takes place all the time, and just as your child learned to walk and talk with you as their teacher, they can continue to learn at home in a relaxed, loving environment. Homeschooling is not public school at home. As Rebecca Capuano says in her post about the differences between public school and home education, “It is a completely different way of thinking about education, and a completely different way of approaching education. It is teaching tailored specifically to individual children rather than according to ... Read More »
How to Homeschool High School
Even parents who have homeschooled for many years sometimes question homeschooling high school. Many are surprised to find that homeschooling high school is often even easier than the younger grades. Students are more mature, often have better study habits, and take more responsibility for their own learning. Read More »
January Teaching Calendar
January Teaching Calendar Read More »
Lapbooks
Lapbooks are paper manipulatives using file folders in which the student stores creative summaries of their work. The concept is similar to notebooking and some notebooking resources can be used in lapbooks, but the concepts do differ. Lapbooks are more than just notebooks with collections of worksheets, they are diagrams, minute books, and other paper manipulatives customized to emphasize the subject of the lapbook. Read More »
Moore Formula
Raymond and Dorothy Moore are often called the grandparents of the homeschool movement. Their Moore Foundation has been providing support and guidance for parents for many years. The Moores are best known for their theory that formal school is better started later than early, with very little or no formal schooling taking place before age 8. That does not mean that children are left to their own devices during the early years; instead, they focus on service as well as playing. Chores within the home and volunteering with their parents outside of the home are emphasized in the Moore Formula, which ... Read More »
Notebooking
Notebooking and lapbooking are closely related. Notebooking is a bit simpler, with the information inserted into simple 3-ring binders instead of put into the more elaborate lapbooks. Notebooks are put together using maps, lab reports, scrapbook pages, worksheet pages, drawings, essays, timelines, and any other relevant work that your child creates. Read More »
Textbooks
Many new homeschoolers feel most comfortable replicating school at home. The use of textbooks is most common the first year or two of homeschooling while the parent builds their confidence. Many homeschoolers continue to find the textbook method works for their family while others may continue to use textbooks for some subjects and branch into unit studies or relaxed learning for other subjects. Read More »
Timelines in the Homeschool
Timelines offer students the ability to visually process overlapping and chronological events in history, relating them in a way that is more difficult to perceive through reading. Timelines in the homeschool are a valuable tool to relate subjects together and view historical events as interrelated. Read More »
Unit Studies
Unit studies are a popular homeschooling method because they can be hands-on, literature-based, or even geared towards the Charlotte Mason method. Unit Studies typically encompass all of the scholastic subjects through the study of one topic (Weaver units or KONOS character units, for example), although they can be specific to a specific subject (like Evan-Moor science units or Teacher Created Materials units). Since it is easier to teach different ages the same topics with multi-level unit studies, they are popular among homeschoolers wanting to keep all of their children on similar topics at the same time. Read More »
Unschooling
The range of homeschoolers claiming the unschool label vary from “radical unschoolers” who disdain any form of curricula or textbooks to those who prefer child-led learning but might also be called eclectic. All homeschooling was originally called unschooling by John Holt, one of the pioneers of the movement. Gradually the term has come to mean those who use no formal curricula but make liberal use of the learning opportunities that present themselves in daily life. Without outside intervention in the form of forced teaching, learning naturally happens. Unschoolers attempt to provide the best environment to allow that natural learning to ... Read More »
Waldorf Homeschooling
The Waldorf homeschooling method was popularized by Rudolf Steiner in Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Waldorf approach is a holistic liberal arts education where subjects are not separated from one another and education covers body, mind, and spirit. Textbooks are not used until the children are older and then only infrequently, and moral qualities are subtly emphasized through life. Early education is focused on activities and experiences rather than head learning and in that regard, Waldorf has much in common with the Moore Formula. Discovery is the focus of the middle years and experiences relating ... Read More »