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?" Continue reading »
Search Results for: interest led learning
Homeschooling: The Power of Now
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 »
Can Someone Else Homeschool My Child?
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 »
Find Us Outside Forest Nature Immersion Program
Find Us Outside Nature Immersion Program is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created in 2016. The mission of Find Us Outside (FUO) is to instill a love of learning through our holistic nature immersion program. The program encourages each child to develop socially, emotionally, and physically through interest-led play and exploration. The natural landscapes, fresh air, Continue reading »
Simple Homeschool Art Ideas
Artistic expression is a wonderful way to encourage creativity in your children. Children's imaginations are BIG, so inspiration can be as easy as supplying them with paper and pencil for sketching. Continue reading »
Keep Your Child’s Brain Busy This Summer
The last thing many children want over the summer is school work. It’s natural, they’ve just finished up a whole school year and feel tired. Keeping them busy learning falls on your shoulders -- but you’re certainly not alone. New and veteran homeschooling parents have been creating different ways to keep their children motivated for years. Continue reading »
Homeschooling: How Do I Know If I'm Doing Enough?
At some point, every homeschooler has probably asked, "How do I know if I'm doing enough?" The short answer: “It’s always enough, and conversely, it’s never enough.” Helpful, right? The long answer: According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about one-third of college freshmen take remedial courses. There are no statistics for how that breaks down into public, private, and homeschool graduates, but homeschool students only account for 3-4% of the K-12 student population. Odds are pretty low that those in remedial college courses are all homeschoolers. Continue reading »
Ask Jeanne: Homeschool a Prospective Dropout?
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 »
Ask Jeanne: Homeschooling and Social Anxiety
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 »
Government Class (High School)
American government class requirements don't need to be based on dry curriculum. Try this activities approach to earning US government credits for high school. Continue reading »
Homeschooling a High Schooler Who Is Not College-Bound
So you have a high school student who is definitely not college-bound. How do you educate him? What does she REALLY need? Are there alternative training options available? I asked myself these same questions not so very long ago. Here is what I discovered... Continue reading »
Ask Jeanne: Online Homeschool Program?
The first few weeks of school this year haven't gone well for Cheryl, and she wrote to me for help deciding whether to homeschool her 7th and 11th graders who are in negative school situations. I wanted to answer a specific part of her question in greater detail: I have never homeschooled and I need advice. I thought of doing the online homeschool called [name of virtual public school withheld]. Please help! Continue reading »
How to Raise a “Wild Child” (and Why You Should!)
It turns out that children who have an immersive experience in nature develop a deep love of the environment that they carry with them their entire lives. Aside from significantly increasing the likelihood that they will actively work to preserve the important life-giving aspects of the environment as adults, an engagement with nature has other positive cognitive impacts, from an improved performance in school to a greater involvement and concern for community well-being. Here are some ways you can (safely) launch your child into the wild. Continue reading »
Ask Jeanne: "Does school decide what grade?"
We have moved and I would like him to attend our new home public school at the beginning of the second semester. If I began the school year doing 3rd grade work, would they accept him as a 3rd grade student at the second semester? Who decides what grade a child enters when they return back to public schools? Continue reading »
Considering Homeschooling? Find the Right Fit.
Homeschooling is all about finding the right fit: finding what works for each child, for the homeschooling parent, and for the family’s lifestyle and values. Luckily, homeschooling has gained mainstream popularity in the last decade and the resources for homeschoolers have exploded into a veritable feast of choices. Continue reading »
Can You Homeschool Temporarily?
Some people know they will homeschool before their children are born. Some begin homeschooling after their children spend some time in school, but then they decide to homeschool "forever" -- or at least, for years. Others decide to take it "a year at a time," but the implication is that if it works out, homeschooling will be ongoing. And then there are short-term homeschoolers... Continue reading »
Year-Round Homeschooling: 5 Tips for a Successful Year
I remember our first day of homeschooling like it was yesterday. In the beginning, we followed the traditional public school schedule. This was new territory for me, and I felt safe wrapped in tradition. Later, I no longer needed the safety net of tradition. I had evolved. It felt freeing. After a bit of trial and error, we discovered year round homeschooling. I was in love. Continue reading »
Poetry, Percentages, and Pups
Do you want to boost your children's learning? Homeschooling with your dog can work wonders. The beauty of homeschooling is the freedom to learn anywhere, any time, and alongside your favorite pup. Kids and dogs share a strong bond. Continue reading »
Using Current Events & the U.S. Presidency as a Unit Study
Are you homeschooling the presidency? No matter our political views, there are issues brought up by the current presidency that our children can learn from. As homeschoolers, we can help them learn about government through most of their homeschooling years, even without an official course. Continue reading »
A Seed of Love: A Valentine from Oak Meadow
An atmosphere in which real learning can occur exists where the children are nurtured and supported to explore their own personal interests, as well as the world around them. Sharing love is like sharing a treasure. Whether it be through expressing warm thoughts towards one another, opening up and sharing feelings with each other, or just spending some pleasant moments together, it is the essence of the learning process. Continue reading »
Mid-Year Homeschooling: Connection, Not Curriculum
For new and even experience homeschoolers, curriculum is often the primary concern–but your homeschool priority should be connection, not curriculum. What does that look like? Continue reading »
IDEA Curriculum Fair - Fairbanks
A wonderful day or two learning about curriculum and homeschooling! If you haven't been to one of these homeschool conferences, it's hard to describe what a great surprise you have in store: inspiring talks, informative workshops, practical tips, supportive community, door prizes, and an exhibit hall of interesting learning materials, many with special Fair prices. Continue reading »
Benefits of Homeschooling: Efficiency
In Facebook homeschooling groups and in real life homeschool group meetings, I frequently see new homeschoolers asking "Am I doing enough?" You ask this about all ages, from preschool through high school, though it tends to center around the earliest years of homeschooling. The "Am I doing enough?" question often comes from a point of surprise. Continue reading »
Did School Happen Here Today?
An occasional complaint of the primary homeschooling parent (most often Mom) is that the other parent (most often Dad) does not appreciate any learning for which he doesn't see first hand evidence.
If "learning" happens while Dad is away working, but he happens to come home to kids who are on the internet, watching television, or "just playing," he may not believe any "school" took place in his absence.
This can certainly be a reasonable concern that a father has for wanting to make sure that the children he loves are being well educated. Continue reading »
Laying a New Foundation
Love of learning. What does that phrase mean to you? When I began homeschooling, I figured my children would naturally love to learn. I would not need to teach them how to do this. Instead, my goal was to fill their minds with as much knowledge as I could possibly pour upon them. My experiences as a public school student and teacher taught me that children could easily make it from K-12 and beyond attaining titles such as "top of their class" without truly learning anything more than how to study, memorize, and regurgitate facts. I was one of those types of kids and I definitely wanted my children to get more than this from their education. Continue reading »
The Truth about Attendance at Homeschool Activities for Teens
"We offer activities for teens, but they don't come."
If this sounds like your homeschool group, you are probably wondering why teens aren't interested in attending your events. Many groups are sincere in wanting to offer activities for older homeschoolers, and want to figure out why it's not working.
As someone who has created multiple homeschool groups and co-ops in the many communities where we have lived, I have a few ideas about some of the reasons that may contribute to low attendance by teens. Continue reading »
Homeschooling Middle School: 8 Ways to Motivate Young Teens
There is no doubt that middle school students can be difficult to engage at times, and this can be especially true for home teachers who are also parents. Middle school aged students are holding on so fiercely to their newly discovered independence, and at the same time they need some guidance while they learn to develop their own thoughts and opinions about the world around them. As your child's home teacher, you have the difficult position of being both the parent and the educator of your child who is quickly learning to assert themselves. Learning with middle school age student might require a shift in thinking and planning for the home teacher, but it can also be the start of a new dynamic in your homeschooling relationship. Continue reading »
Ask Jeanne: Age Restrictions in Homeschool Co-ops and Classes
I'm a new homeschool mom with an eight year old who is really advanced in his academic skills. My problem is that the people who run the classes and co-ops we're interested in won't let me sign him up above his age group. This includes our county recreation department, the local history museum, and activities sponsored by our local homeschool group. How can I get them to place him correctly so he won't be bored?
This is one of the reasons we took him out of school. He started reading and writing at an early age, and he got in trouble in school because he already knew how to do everything they were working on in the classroom. I'm frustrated that people don't seem to accept that he is gifted and should be in higher level classes. People talk about homeschoolers being able to work at a customized level, but then they apply restrictions that are similar or identical to school. What gives? ~ Frustrated Mom Continue reading »
10 Ways to Create and Maintain Balance as a Homeschooling Parent
1. Know your priorities. Be clear with yourself about what is most important. Make sure everyone in the family knows what those things are. Talk regularly about the reasons why your family does things the way you do. Be open with each other when it feels like it’s time to revisit or reaffirm your family’s priorities.
2. Always start with a plan, and be flexible enough to... Continue reading »
How to Create a Homeschool Schedule (with 10 Sample Schedules & Template)
As a homeschool evaluator in Virginia, I've worked with hundreds of kids in families who have used all kinds of weekly homeschool schedules. I'm also in my 19th year of homeschooling, and since we've moved around a lot, I've been in a ton of different homeschooling communities and groups with so many good homeschooling families. I've seen all kinds of weekly schedules work well for people, and creating a strong week of homeschooling can look different for each homeschooling family. Some families have weekly schedules that look like school schedules, but most homeschooling families use the flexibility of homeschooling to create a weekly schedule that is customized for them. Here are some of the homeschool schedules that I have seen work to create a strong homeschooling week. Continue reading »
Grade Level: When It Matters in Homeschooling
In a previous post, I encouraged parents not to obsess over grade level to the detriment of their child's actual engagement and learning. However -- yes -- I concede there are times you do have to think about grade level, and your child and your homeschooling efforts will benefit if you do. Continue reading »
Office Schooling: One Way to Work and Homeschool
We hear a lot about the flexibility of homeschooling, but people usually mean that the curriculum or approach to homeschooling is flexible, or even that the daily, weekly, or yearly calendar is flexible. However, in addition to how homeschooling is done and when homeschooling is done, there is also flexibility in where homeschooling is done. One example I'm running into more frequently is something I've started calling office schooling -- where parents bring their children to work and use their office as the children's place of learning. In spring of 2015, I met Angie Cutler at the VaHomeschoolers Conference, and she told me she would be office schooling her daughter during the 2015-16 academic year. I caught up with her just before the 2016 spring VaHomeschoolers Conference, and I was able to interview her about how their first year of homeschooling at the office has gone. Continue reading »
Resources for Homeschooling High School When Mom's Not the Expert
How do homeschoolers learn things that their parents don't know anything about? Just a little research in the world of homeschoolers can show people that homeschooling parents don't have to teach everything their children are learning. They just have to facilitate opportunities so their kids can learn. Here are a few of the ways kids learn things their parents don't know about. Continue reading »
Ask Jeanne: Homeschooling the Child Behind in School
My son is 12 and in 6th grade. He is failing this year. Truthfully, I don't know how he has passed in past years, and this year he seems to be regressing. He is currently reading at a 1.5 grade level. It is making it impossible for him to learn anything in school when he can't read. He is in special ed, but they can not work with him one-on-one - not enough resources. We have spoken with the special ed dept and the staff and they agree that pulling him out of school and working with him at home would be best for him. I want to go back and teach him the basics of reading and math. My question is how do I legally do this? I mean I want to start over with him at 1st grade, so how do I do that and still have him enrolled in some homeschool program? He doesn't have the ability to go to school and then me teach him the basics at home. It's just too much for him. So how do I start over with him? Please help. Continue reading »
Pushed Out: When the School Says to Homeschool
What if the school is telling you to homeschool? More and more in the homeschool world, we hear from parents whose children have become known as force outs or "push-outs." That's because they are children who did not drop out of school or did not have parents who eagerly chose to homeschool, but who were strongly encouraged to withdraw -- pushed out -- by school officials. Their parents were not seeking to homeschool, but were pushed to do so, being told that the school cannot meet the child's needs. Homeschool advocates are taking note of the many stories of kids who are pushed out of school to homeschool. Homeschooling can be a great way for children to learn, but parents in this situation need to be aware that the local public school is obligated to provide an appropriate education for the child. Continue reading »
College Requirements for Homeschoolers
Parents of homeschoolers who are on a college track often wonder what the college admissions requirements are for homeschoolers and how they might differ from those for public or private school students. Here are some considerations to keep in mind as you navigate the high school years with college in mind. Continue reading »
Homeschooling and Grade Levels (Or... Relax)
Now that you are homeschooling, grade levels are on your mind. How to judge them, how to keep up with them, what happens if your children fall behind them. Here is what you need to know. Continue reading »
Adjusting to Homeschooling Mid-Year
Making the decision to switch gears and begin homeschooling partway through the school year takes courage and faith. Whatever you were doing before wasn’t working, and whatever you are beginning hasn’t had time to feel routine yet. Here are ten suggestions to ease the way. Continue reading »
Is Homeschooling Right for You? What You Need to Know
Trying to determine the best path for educating your children can be confusing. Education is important, and we're all trying to keep from messing up our kids any more than necessary. It's not an irreversible decision (neither is any other education decision you make, such as putting them in a certain school or using a specific curriculum), but it will affect your whole family, so it's worth putting some thought into. Here are some things to consider as you make your decision. Continue reading »
Private Cello Lessons with Rebecca Landell Reed
Rebecca Reed was homeschooled in Vermont and studied cello and historical performance at Oberlin Conservatory and Rice University. She provides an individualized education dedicated to holistic musical understanding. Ms. Reed provides historical context and training in how music is written and heard, she creates a supportive learning environment where students take risks, make mistakes, and Continue reading »