ACE mentor is a mentoring program for High School aged students that are interested in Architecture, Construction or Engineering. This program is free and runs from October to May every year. The students meet from 4-6pm every other Wednesday throughout that time period and work on a design project together while learning about the various Continue reading »
Search Results for: unit study
SALT Educational Co-op
SALT offers a multitude of both academic and enrichment classes. The academic classes provide students with instruction, labs, tests, and class work, as well as daily homework. Enrichment classes provide a teaching atmosphere in class, but do not carry additional homework assignments. Students may participate in one class or may enroll in several, depending on 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 »
SEA Education Association
Adventure with a purpose! SEA Education Association offers high school, home school, GAP year and college students exciting ocean education programs on Cape Cod and on our two tall ships. Students study the environment through hands-on, experiential, and community-based learning. SEA Expedition is a 2-week high school program in which students gain experience in sailing Continue reading »
Crescendo Suzuki Studio: Violin and Viola lessons
Aimee Morrill Briant offers a warm and nurturing studio based on Dr. Shinichi Suzuki’s philosophy that children learn music the way they learn to speak their native language and that any child can develop musical ability. Using musical study as the vehicle, each week the teacher, parent and child work together to meet the individual Continue reading »
Andrea Coyle's Violin & Viola Studio
Accepting students ages 3 and up for violin or viola. Daytime and evening availability Mondays-Thursdays. Andrea Coyle’s Violin & Viola Studio is committed to offering quality Suzuki viola and violin lessons in Denver, Colorado. Studio students have gone on to win musical awards and scholarships, as well as attend Denver School of the Arts and Continue reading »
Six Important Attitudes to Develop in Your Child
The purpose of a stake and shelter circling a young sapling is to give it protection and support and equip it with internal strength and nourishment so that it will be prepared for the days ahead. Moving our children from babies to adulthood is similar to moving a sapling from the greenhouse shelter to the open garden. Continue reading »
Vertias Classical Schools of Central Georgia
The purpose of Veritas Classical Schools is to help mold students into thinkers, young men and women who do not simply “regurgitate” the information they have been fed but rather who analyze, critique, and affect the world by applying Biblical wisdom to their lives, families, and communities. Veritas Schools offer homeschooling families a unique complement 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 »
Finding Friends at Homeschool Park Days
Want to meet other homeschoolers? Park day is the activity that has the lowest barrier to entry for new homeschooling families. Here are some hints for joining in. Continue reading »
DigiPen Homeschool
DigiPen Homeschool provides students in grades K-12 with opportunities to study video game programming, art and animation, game design, engineering, and music and sound design. In response to feedback and demand from homeschooling families, DigiPen will have NEW courses that teach general science, applied math, and even basic reading and writing! Beyond the specific content 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 »
Frosty Drew Nature Center Field Studies
The Frosty Drew Nature Center and Observatory are dedicated to environmental stewardship and delivering environmental education to people of all ages, with primary focus on marine and aquatic habitats and the night sky. "Hands On, Minds On" is our philosophy, and students participating in a Frosty Drew field study program find it an unforgettable experience. Continue reading »
12 Ways to Help Your Child Adapt to Homeschooling
Have you recently made the switch from schooling to homeschooling—or are seriously considering it? It can take some time for your child (and you!) to adjust to this new way of learning and being in the world. Some students adapt quickly, but others need a longer transition period. If your child is struggling or needs help navigating the transition, here are some suggestions that may help... Continue reading »
Home(schooling) for the Holidays: 9 Reasons to Worry Less about Schoolwork
Thanksgiving is almost here in the U.S., which means homeschooling may take on a different look in the coming weeks. I've seen a lot of newer homeschooling parents panic as it becomes clear that forward progress through a math workbook comes to a crawl or the curriculum guide gets misplaced under the clutter -- for days. Then, uh, maybe for weeks. Here are my 9 reasons why homeschoolers should worry less about schoolwork during the holidays and embrace the season. Continue reading »
Ten Things Homeschoolers Don’t Have To Do
You’re excited about the new homeschool year, and you have a list of things to do to get ready. Do you have a list of things you don’t have to do? Homeschoolers don’t have to... Continue reading »
Weekly Homeschool Natural Science Programs
Homeschool children will have the opportunity explore all that the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary has to offer. Students will experience learning through classroom activities, outdoor field investigations on the 289-acre wildlife sanctuary, laboratory science, small group activities and take-home study packets. Each course curriculum is developed by the Heard Museum's education staff 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 »
Dallas Academy of Music and Performing Arts
DAMPA is conveniently located in Snider Plaza, near SMU in University Park, Dallas. The study of music and performing arts offers a vehicle for self-expression, heightened responsiveness to beauty, and great personal achievement. Offering Music Lessons, Piano Lessons, Flute Lessons, Violin Lessons, Voice Lessons, Guitar Lessons, Songwriting Instruction, Performance Coaching, Artist Marketing, and Music Therapy. 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 »
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 »
TruthQuest History
"TruthQuest History looks at history differently, not as a mere litany of human deeds. Rather, we help students (Gr. 1-12, depending on volume chosen) probe for the spiritual beliefs which drove kings, artists, thinkers, warriors, scientists, and everyday citizens, under the absolutes illuminated by the Lord God, who is truth. This places spiritual principle in Continue reading »
Bad News/Good News of Starting Homeschooling in High School
Starting homeschooling during the high school years can seem intimidating or liberating—or both. There is both good news and bad news about starting out homeschooling in high school, but for many people the good outweighs the bad. Continue reading »
Ask Jeanne: Homeschooling with a Doubting Dad
We will be homeschooling all three of our daughters this fall (ages 9, 12 and 17). I am excited and nervous about this new adventure, but my husband still has a lot of doubts that this will work for our family. He recently said "I'll never see you" and thinks homeschooling will take over our life. Are there any resources out there to educate him on the benefits, and to somehow involve him more in this change? Thank you. Continue reading »
Suzuki Music Columbus
Children as young as 3 years old join a program of study on violin, viola or cello. Following Shin'ichi Suzuki's philosophy of talent education, we believe every child can learn and talent can be developed in every child if one creates the right environment. Students have many performing opportunities and are part of a musical Continue reading »
Ask Jeanne: Work Full Time and Homeschool Five?
I work full time, and so does my husband. There is no way I could stay
home and be a full time mom. We have 4 high schoolers and the youngest
is in intermediate. The youngest we have the most trouble with, and I
am at wit's end trying to get her at grade level of her peers without
medication. I have read about families who work full time and still
homeschool their children. If I could make this work in our lifestyle,
I would be interested in learning more about it. In addition, I
would like to start a "trial" period during the summer months. Are
their any resources available for summer curriculum and assistance
for full time working parents? ~ A Working Mom Continue reading »
Ask Jeanne: Do Homeschoolers Get a Diploma?
"Do homeschoolers get a diploma? Half of my family is pro-homeschooling and half is anti-homeschooling. How do I convince my family that homeschooling would be a better and more positive solution than public school?" You have a couple of overt questions and a couple of implied ones. Let's see what we can tease apart here, because these are common concerns for prospective homeschoolers. Continue reading »
5 Myths About Homeschool Superiority
Despite being an ardent supporter of home education, I find myself consistently feeling obligated to set the record straight when it comes to claims of the vast superiority of homeschoolers. I've noticed a tendency of homeschool advocates commenting online to be elitist. I'm not sure many of the commenters are even homeschoolers themselves - I get the sense that they are just politically opposed to public schools - but regardless, it's not helpful or accurate. If they are homeschoolers, I'm not sure if it is a defense mechanism, a lack of knowledge, or isolation from public school families, but I find it to be disingenuous and divisive. Continue reading »
Classical Conversations of Owasso, Southwest
Classical Conversations of Owasso, Southwest Campus is a home-centered, classical Christian home education program that equips you to teach your child through resources and community support. Parents teach kids at home, then join with a weekly community of peers who are studying the same materials. Classes are held Thursdays at Faith Lutheran Church in Owasso.
Grandparent's Guide to Homeschooling: Field Trips
As I've written previously in the Grandparents Guide to Homeschooling series, there are all kinds of great ways to spend time with your homeschooled grandchildren -- just having fun, sharing your skills, providing child care, and helping them learn.
But the granddaddy of them all (pun intended), in my opinion, is taking them on field trips.
Field trips combine so much of the rest of the good stuff. They are great learning opportunities, they can be fun and adventurous, and they provide a kind of hands-on help that homeschooling parents really appreciate from their own parents.
And here's the secret: they don't have to be big deals -- or, they can be. Continue reading »
Talking To Your Teen About College Debt
I'm a fan of natural consequences, but sometimes the lessons are too big - with consequences that last a lifetime - for the maturity level of the child. One such example is when a child wants to take on significant debt in the form of college loans. Most 17 year old high school students do not have the life experience to be able to understand the impact that taking on tens of thousands of dollars in debt will have on their lives.
While I encourage young adults to have freedom in making their own decisions, wise and carefully presented parental input is imperative in this issue. Most people would never consider advising a 17-18 year old to purchase a $80K house with payments deferred for 4 years (and a home loan has collateral -- if you go into default, they foreclose and the debt is gone), yet are comfortable with student loans that have even more of a financial impact. Continue reading »
Homeschooling Teens: Finding a Third Place
Homeschooling teens means a lot of questions about preparing for college admission or getting experience and training for a vocation or artistic endeavor. We wring our hands over curriculum and credits, and we help our teens learn to drive and manage their money.
But another little piece of life experience we can help our teens with is being able to work in "a third place."
Typically, a third place is talked about in the world of adults, as the place that is "not home" and "not work."
College students and some high school students often study or socialize in a "third place" that is "not home" and "not classroom." Continue reading »
Goldilocks Effect: Learning When It's "Just Right"
Each child is equipped with a learning guidance system of their own. Recognizing this can help parents present children with learning opportunities that are "just right." Continue reading »
5 Benefits of Playing Chess
It's not part of the traditional curriculum in United States schools or homeschool families -- but playing chess is a part of the curriculum in about thirty countries around the world. According to Dr. Teresa Parr of MATCH, there are five significant educational advantages to chess for homeschoolers (and others) to consider. Continue reading »
Educating Head, Heart, Hands, and Health
I grew up participating in 4H, and while I recommend the 4H program itself, I also find myself thinking a lot about the four "H's" as they apply to homeschooling: head, heart, hands, and health. If you want a holistic way to personally assess your homeschooling, think about whether what your kids are doing is working in each of these areas. Continue reading »
How to Host an International Student
In an earlier post, I described how hosting an international exchange student can be a benefit to a homeschooling family. Today I'd like to tell you a little more about the nuts and bolts of hosting a student in the United States. These details can help you to know what to expect when hosting an exchange student and can ease the transition for the whole family. Continue reading »
The Power of Interest-Based Pursuits and Meaningful Work for Homeschooled Teens
The teenaged years are actually the most rewarding of the homeschooling years. That's what we've found with our four homeschooled kids. And that's what I was told by many of the 110 families I interviewed for my book Free Range Learning: How Homeschooling Changes Everything. People in Ireland, Australia, India, and the U.S. described coming to this realization in similar ways. Their concerns about helping a young child master the basics or their struggles to find the right homeschooling style gradually resolved. Parents grew to trust the process of learning much more completely and, perhaps as a result, they saw their children mature into capable and self-directed young people. Continue reading »
Teaching Critical Thinking with The Fallacy Detective
One of the most accessible basic logic books on our book shelf is The Fallacy Detective: Thirty-Eight Lessons on How to Recognize Bad Reasoning by Nathan and Hans Bluedorn. The book helps kids (and adults) spot errors in thinking -- logical fallacies often used in an effort to persuade others. Learning about fallacious thinking is valuable for academic reasons, but it's also important to being a good consumer (recognizing how advertising works) and to being a good citizen (understanding how political communication works). Continue reading »
Instead of Curriculum: Electronic Circuit Boards
Working with electronic circuit boards may sound ambitious or advanced, but my kids enjoyed playing with these as part of their science and technology learning when they were in their early elementary years. They learned many concepts about creating circuits from hands-on play, in particular by using a kid-friendly Snap Circuits® Kit from Elenco. Continue reading »
LibriVox Free Audiobooks for Homeschooling
LibriVox is a great online source for free audio books. This means you and the kids can listen to lots of well known classic fiction, nonfiction, and children's books -- at no cost -- right from your personal computer, smart phone, or tablet. The books available on LibriVox are books whose copyright has expired, meaning LibriVox volunteers can record them without violating copyright laws, and you can listen without paying a purchase price. Continue reading »
Homeschooling at Night: How Nightschooling Can Work for You
Everybody knows that your kids should be up early hitting the books, right? Homeschooling goes better if Mom is organized and has lessons prepared for first thing in the morning. Homeschooling works well when kids focus on academics when they're fresh, and they get to play when they've completed their school work.
Homeschooling at any other time of day is risking disaster.
That's the conventional wisdom, anyway.
However, sometimes homeschooling at night makes more sense than the conventional wisdom. That can even include "nightschooling" - focusing all or part of your homeschooling efforts during the evening hours. Continue reading »
Reptiles & Amphibians
[feast_advanced_jump_to] General Reptile & Amphibian Activities, Lesson Plans, and More Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR) (Y,M,O) “Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR), a not-for-profit organization established to advance research, conservation, and education concerning amphibians and reptiles, was founded in 1958. It is the largest international herpetological society, and is recognized Continue reading »