Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau

Educator, Coach, Life Strategist

Heads Up, Florida! A homeschooling book just for you!

I’m proud to announce the release of my latest book, “The Ultimate Guide to Florida Homeschooling“. It’s a book that has been years in the making, and I’m honored to be able to bring this kind of information to my Florida audience.

In this book, I share everything Florida home ed families need to know, plus a whole bunch of uniquely-Florida goodies — ones that make homeschooling here so special. I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside families in the Sunshine State for over 20 years.  Through this book, I’m able to give something back to families today, and those coming up in the future.

New homeschooling book for Florida families! Available now:

Click To Tweet

I’d love for you to SHARE this new book with your friends and contacts. It’s the first and only book by a Florida homeschooler for Florida homeschoolers, and I think everyone will find something of value within its pages.

You’re also invited to ‘Like’ my Facebook page, and/or subscribe to my newsletter, because I’ll be sharing Florida-specific updates, homeschooling videos, giveaways and doing live events for my Florida homeschool friends!

Here are some sneak peeks of the inside (you can also “Search Inside This Book” on Amazon):

 

 

It contains up-to-date legal information to help you understand the Statutes and always remain in compliance.

Portions of the book have been reviewed by HSLDA, so you’ll know it’s completely accurate and can be trusted for your family’s educational needs.

Why not grab one for every member of your support group?

If I can answer any questions about it, don’t hesitate to contact me. And, as always, I appreciate our connection and your support.

Hope to meet you at the next Florida event!

Check it out now.

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago.  A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast.  Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever.  A writer, homeschool leader, and women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT,Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide.  Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

They communicate like other kids (maybe better?)

I was speaking before a group of would-be homeschool parents in someone’s living room a while back. It was an educated group, impressively well-informed as to the pros and cons of home education. I got the sense there had been quite a bit of research and discussion prior to our getting together. They fired at me one outstanding question after another during the Q&A. I was honored to serve these folks as they considered making important decisions on behalf of their children.

Now, I don’t normally tattle off the playground, but I’d like to use part of my experience that day as a teaching moment. No judgement of any kind, but there was a question that made me want to write this for you.

One of the parents asked a question about homeschoolers and communication skills.

“Do they know how to communicate?”, he asked. Another parent voiced something similar, saying, “How do they actually learn to talk with other people?” Before I even opened my mouth, I totally felt the vibration of the room changing. The thought of homeschoolers being disadvantaged in this way started spreading around the room like a bad stink.

I paused for a second, thinking how to finesse my reply while wondering where their information could have come from. Was there some news article I’d missed? Some research I didn’t know about? Maybe it came from listening to one too many public school advocates. Perhaps they’d encountered a painfully timid child…who’d been homeschooled?

To be honest, I also didn’t see that question coming. I’ve spent a fair amount of time dispelling the socialization myth, and I’m well acquainted with the homeschoolers-are-weird stories, too. But, homeschoolers unable to communicate? This was new to me. It felt like one of those my-word-against-yours moments, the kind nobody ever wins. This was clearly something concerning these parents, but I was feeling like their experiences might be hard to undo.

I decided to start with my standard research schpiel: top scorers in testing, top finishers in college, top, top, top, numbers, numbers, numbers. I continued with some homeschoolers-now-adults stories: happily employed, active voters, community service, good people, good people, good people. And I ended with the world of opportunities allowing homeschoolers to interact with all kinds of people, of all ages, in all corners of the wide, wide world. Surely people would need reasonable communication skills to do all of that, I reasoned.

I could tell they weren’t entirely convinced. A retired teacher said she’d met homeschoolers who were very, very shy. Another person said she’d met a homeschooled child who looked down when he spoke, muttering indistinctly.

I decided to go in a different direction. I deployed an argument in support of human differences, child development and basic logic. I ended up saying something along the lines of what you see below. The parents understood what I was thinking completely, and everyone seemed a lot more comfortable by the end of the meeting.

I’ve outlined my feelings about homeschoolers and communication skills, below. You’re more than welcome to use my notes if you ever need to discuss this yourself.

I began:

  • Homeschooled kids are just kids
  • All kids are different
  • Some kids are more timid and some kids are more outgoing
  • Some kids are better communicators than others
  • But, being homeschooled isn’t going to fundamentally change who the child is

Similarly,

  • Public school kids are just kids, too
  • All kids are all different
  • Some kids are more timid and some kids are more outgoing
  • Some kids are better communicators than others
  • But, going to public school isn’t going to fundamentally change who the child is

I continued:

  • Can communication skills be improved?
  • Probably
  • Can they be modeled, taught and practiced at home?
  • Certainly
  • What about in school?
  • Of course

I asked:

  • Do public school kids get called out for being themselves?
  • Why is anyone concerned when homeschooled kids act like themselves?

I ended:

  • There are all kinds of communicators
  • It’s not about the kind of school a child attends, or doesn’t
  • It’s about a child’s basic personality and some combination of training and practice

Do you agree?

I’ve learned I have to be direct when things are this important. The truth is, and what I hope I emphasized enough to these parents, homeschoolers are actually exceptional communicators. I’ve worked with students across all educational platforms for many years, and though there are great communicators everywhere, hands-down, the best ones are always the homeschoolers. I’m talking mature, confident, articulate students coming out of the homeschool community. Outstanding presenters, debaters, writers, and story-tellers, too.

Listen, I’m not trying to be harsh or unfair. But, ask teachers with formerly homeschooled students in their classrooms and see what they say. Ask college professors to comment on the homeschool graduates in their sections. Ask employers and other professionals what they think. Read the research about homeschoolers outscoring others on the SAT writing portion, too. I’m not making this up — this is definitely a place where homeschoolers have the chance to excel — and they do.

If you think about it, it makes sense that homeschool flexibility and freedom could result in extra time to spend mastering these skills. It also makes sense when you think about the range of people and activities experienced by a typical homeschooled child today. Don’t forget the supportive environment in which children may express themselves without fear of judgement. Why wouldn’t homeschooled kids grow to be confident speakers, skilled writers and comfortable with the English language?

There’s an area for discussion below this post. Have you encountered similar claims about homeschooled students lacking communication skills, and how have you responded? I’d love to hear from you.

Want to know where else homeschoolers shine?

How important is writing for high schoolers going on to college?

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago.  A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast.  Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever.  A writer, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT,Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide.  Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

3 Ways to Teach Homeschool Math

[May contain affiliate links.]

A major concern for many home educating parents is how to teach math. Some parents worry they’ve forgotten so much math, they won’t know how to teach it. Others worry about the significance of math, not just as an academic subject, but because of its impact on the bigger picture (i.e., higher level courses like Chemistry; getting accepted to college; success in a career; adult life). The thought of failing the child, or not knowing how to help a child who struggles with math, can be overwhelming.

Personally, I find many parents worry about math unnecessarily. First, there are thousands (literally) of products on the market to help teach math at home…no experience required. Next, I believe most children have a greater ability and a higher aptitude for mathematics than given credit for. I believe math-phobia is wholly fabricated, created over the last 50 years or so. A culture filled with math jokes, stories and other horrors only fuels the belief that math is harder than other subjects. Perception, in my opinion, has contributed unfairly to producing a generation of math-phobics. Certainly some students are better in math than others, just as some are better writers, better athletes, and better musicians. But, nobody is incapable of learning math to some respectable or practical degree.

But, I digress.

I’m going to explain 3 different ways to attack math instruction in your homeschool. These are 3 common ways, ways you can adopt into your home education program right now. They’re not unusual, they’re not very hard to figure out, and thousands of people are using them as I write this, so you’ll find lots of support for your chosen method if you begin looking for it.

Three ways to teach homeschool math. Easy, explained.

Click To Tweet

I recommend reading through the methods, below, then selecting the one that makes the most sense for your child at this time. Then, as you get to know your child a little more, switch things around if you notice the approach isn’t going to work for the long term. You can also change things around anyway, to add variety and fun to the curriculum. And, by all means, feel free to use different approaches for different children in the family, too. Convenience and saving money notwithstanding, choosing different approaches for different children is really the best way to reach their uniqueness.

Approach #1

Use a Math Curriculum

Perhaps the easiest overall, following a pre-packaged math curriculum is a convenient way to cover an entire year of math using a single product. Following the daily lessons and using the instructions in the guide book tends to insure a variety of topics will be covered in a given year, and that topics will be reinforced until the student gains full mastery. Many people like this approach because they’re not always sure what to teach in every grade, so they feel better knowing someone else has already figured it out. In a 3rd grade math curriculum, for example, parents gain peace of mind, knowing the book will cover all of the usual 3rd grade math concepts, like place value, Roman numerals, carrying, borrowing, money, averaging, and so on. Products like these are organized, convenient, and generally easy to follow, no matter the math level of the parent himself/herself. Packaged curriculum products aren’t perfect, though, and can hold students in a cycle of repeating the same (or similar) material over and over again, even though they’re ready to move on. Knowing when the student is ready to progress to the next level is crucial to successful boxed curriculum use, and using the provided tips and assessments is essential to figuring that out. Examples of boxed math curriculum products include Saxon Math, Horizons Math, Singapore Math, and Math U See, but there are many more to choose from, too (here’s a big list).

Approach #2

Use Topic Specific Resources

Another way to teach math at home is to cover specific topics, each one at a time. This method requires zeroing in on a specific concept to teach, then finding a resource(s) for the student to learn it. Concepts might include counting money, learning times tables, adding decimals, performing long division with remainders, or anything else parents decide to teach. To teach fractions, for example, parents could use a book specifically about fractions, some video lessons about fractions, some exercises printed from a web site, or a live class where someone is teaching the students about fractions. They might create lessons on their own, using materials they already have around the house, or even small toys or objects to illustrate the ideas. Targeted lessons like these will continue until the topic has been thoroughly explored and the student is showing true mastery, so it is not unusual for different students to take a different amount of time to learn each new concept. Disadvantages to teaching this way is when parents don’t know what concepts to teach, and in what order, or may introduce concepts before the student is actually ready. Some parents lack the confidence to teach in this way, or to properly identify when the student shows enough progress to move on. Examples of targeted math resources, in book form, include The Key To, Kumon, and Spectrum, but there are many other education products available in book stores, retail stores, and online which support this method of instruction. One tool I particularly love is Math Wrap-Ups (find them here).

Approach #3

Explore Math Through Everyday Life

A final way to approach mathematics is to allow the learning to occur naturally through everyday living. There are many opportunities every day to explore mathematical concepts if one is looking for them. Though the example of grocery shopping is over utilized, it certainly illustrates how practically and easily mathematics can be learned and reinforced while doing everyday things. Other examples of seeing math in everyday life might come from cooking, redecorating a bedroom, or in the feeding and nurturing of pets. The impetus to explore more advanced skills could come from opening a bank account, taking a part time job, or starting a small business. The job of a parent utilizing this teaching method is to notice these opportunities and (if they so choose) helping to facilitate the learning that might occur during these moments. Parents might begin by asking the student engaging questions, helping the student make observations, providing support or external resources, or discussing/recording what is being seen or heard. Because this approach is unpredictable and relatively unstructured, a disadvantage is that students may not be learning at a pace similar to other children the same age, which some families may find inconvenient or worrisome. On the other hand, since everyday learning is relevant and concrete, better retention may occur when learning happens at an appropriate place and time.  The list of books and other products that could be used in conjunction with this method is limitless and never-ending, but I am including the titles of 2 interesting books/series for students who enjoy reading about the meaning of mathematics, while learning math as a part of everyday life:

Younger students: The Life of Fred (example of where to buy)

Teens and up: Calculus Made Easy (example of where to buy)

To your success,

Another article you might like: How to Easily Choose Your Curriculum {with an infographic}

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago.  A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast.  Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever.  A writer, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT,Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide.  Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

Abacus photo credit: Pixabay

How to use textbooks for homeschooling

I recently met with a couple who’d just received a large donation of textbooks. Among the things we chatted about were ways they could incorporate some of the books into the learning program they were developing for their kids.

Since textbooks sometimes get a bad rap in the homeschooling world, I wanted you to know there is nothing wrong with using textbooks if they fill a need in your family. The textbook stigma is really about not trying to duplicate public school at home, but leveraging the power of homeschooling instead. There are plenty of ways to use textbooks and still reap the rewards of a customized home education. Let me share some of the advice I gave them, in case these ideas could help you too.

First, a rule about textbooks and homeschooling:

There is no rule about textbooks and homeschooling.

Remember, when homeschooling, you can do whatever you want.

Next, some rules of thumb to help you decide which textbooks to keep, and which to donate somewhere else:

      • Publication date doesn’t always matter. Unless the subject is something likely to change every couple of years, an older textbook is just as good as a newer one. If you like it, and the information hasn’t changed since it was written, keep it. You might want to watch out for older “modern history” books and world geography books, for instance. You’ll probably also want to steer away from older computer books, too (unless studying the history of computing). It’s really up to you.
      • Whether the textbook is a “teacher’s copy” or a “student version” doesn’t always matter. Unless it bothers you when teacher’s notes are written in the margins, or answers to the test questions are in plain sight, a teacher’s copy has all the same text as the student edition. You can block out the answers with sticky notes if you like, or by folding (even cutting up) the pages if you want. But, probably, you’ll allow your student to read it for what it’s worth, no matter the format.
      • Even if you don’t have all the supplements that go with the textbook (like the test bank, some of the exercises, or the answer key) it still might be okay. Again, the value of the textbook is in your eyes only. If it’s something you’d like your children to read, maybe it won’t matter if you’re missing all the pieces that traditional classroom teachers use. You’re not a traditional classroom teacher, so there’s that.
      • The level or audience for the book doesn’t matter. I don’t care if the book was meant for 6th graders, 11th graders, or college students. If your kids can read it, it’s probably a keeper. Homeschoolers don’t always talk grade levels anyway, so if a textbook can be understood by your unique learners, what the author/publisher intended when they released the book doesn’t matter.
How to use textbooks in your homeschool:

Click To Tweet

Now, here are some different ways to use textbooks when homeschooling. Remember, there is no right or wrong here, so feel free to use these ideas or any others you come up with on your own:

Using the Whole Book & Taking a School-Like Approach

If you like a certain textbook, and you think your child could learn from it, too, consider using it to teach an entire class. The class could last for a semester, a year, or any length of time, depending on how long the book is. Think of this like traditional school, where you assign chapters and pages, ask the student take notes or highlight important ideas, assign him questions to answer, and so on. Make up tests, assign papers, or other ways to assess learning. Think of completing the entire textbook (or a significant portion of) as finishing the class. When your student finishes the textbook, assign a grade or credit. Textbooks are perfect for this use, since they often contain enough “material” for an entire class in a single subject.

Hopping In and Out of a Textbook

If the trademark of American home education is freedom, that also includes the freedom to use as much or as little of any curriculum resource as we see fit. The notion that students need to “finish the book” is about as silly as forcing a child to eat everything on a dinner plate when he’s already full. Sure, your students may finish the textbook, if it’s best for the education and also best for the child. But there’s nothing wrong with taking a break from the book, using only selected parts of it, coming back to it over and over for several years, or abandoning it when it stops working. Actually, I highly recommend hopping in and out of textbooks as needed.

Using the Table of Contents & Designing Your Own Class

Probably the most valuable part of any textbook is the table of contents. The table of contents is a ready-made list of related topics, already arranged in some logical order, just waiting for you to follow. If you want to teach a class in something, but feeling intimidated trying to figure out what to teach, following the table of contents from a textbook is the perfect solution. The learning itself doesn’t need to come from the chapters of the book itself (though it could). Instead, what you’ll do is follow the table of contents, but fill in the learning in other ways, like with other books, with taking field trips, by using web resources, with workbooks, and so on. In this case, the table of contents is just providing the framework, but you’re in control of the activities you use to teach the actual lessons.

Using Textbooks for Reference

Finally, textbooks can make excellent reference books. They’re even better together, too, as the impact tends to multiply if you own several textbooks about the same thing. There’s nothing better for looking up the rules of grammar or punctuation than a collection of English textbooks on the shelf. Math books are excellent for seeing how different authors explain the same concepts, especially for struggling students who may need to hear it several different ways. History textbooks, in particular the index at the back of the book, are fantastic tools for learning about people or events.

The bottom line is that there are plenty of ways to control textbook use, instead of allowing them to control you. I hope this has given you a new understanding of how textbooks can be used in freedom, for whatever they’re worth in your unique homeschool program.

To your success,

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago.  A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast.  Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever.  A writer, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT,Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide.  Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

How to Easily Choose Your Curriculum

Is the thought of purchasing curriculum for your homeschool making you nervous? Are you worried you might not find the right products, make the best choices, or get the lowest prices?

Believe me when I say this — you’re not alone.  Every one of us struggles with curriculum choices at first. Sometimes, even for years at a time. This stuff takes time, my friend. We can’t know everything about our kids — at least not until we’ve worked with them for a while.

That’s why, today, I’m going to guide you through the process of making curriculum selections.  I’m going to do it by having you ask yourself some really important questions. Your answers are going to help you filter out curriculum products that probably won’t work for your family. With any luck, they’ll also help you find the ones that will.

Easily choose a homeschool curriculum that works!

Click To Tweet

Right now, you’re thinking, “Isn’t there a lot more to buying homeschool curriculum than this?” Sure, probably, of course there is. But, I’ve gathered some of my best tips, and I know they’ll really help get the ball rolling.

Check this out, and see what I mean:

Curriculum Selection 101

How do you feel now? Do you want to print this out and take it to the next curriculum fair or convention? Maybe you should place a copy on your desk for the next time you shop online?

How about your friends? Do they need this information, too?

I want you to SHARE this information with others.

I know it will really help them, too.

How to choose your homeschool curriculum – very cool infographic:

Click To Tweet

To your success,

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago.  A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast.  Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever.  A liaison for regional school-to-home organizations, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT, Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide.  Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.