classroom resources Archives - Page 3 of 17

Oct 10 2015

Foreign language credit

I receive a lot of questions about foreign language credits for high school. In this post, I’ll address some of the most common concerns I hear, and point you to some resources that may help you navigate this area of the homeschool high school curriculum.

I want to start by letting you know that foreign language courses can sometimes be called, ‘world language’ courses in some areas. They’re the same thing; just a slight semantic difference.

I also want to remind you (more on this below) that most colleges and universities are going to assume their applicants can show 2-4 credits of foreign language on a high school transcript before applying for admission. Because of this, I recommend any student who even thinks they might go to college take at least 2 foreign language courses in high school. And, in case you’ve forgotten all the other requirements traditionally needed for college, go back and read THIS or THIS.

To the question of how to learn foreign languages, there are dozens of ways homeschooled teens can learn languages to earn high school credit in your homeschool. Remember, when homeschooling, there are very few limitations (if any, depending on area) on what to study, and how to do it. The marketplace is full of curriculum, courses, immersion programs, tutors, and plenty of other ways of language instruction. I have a list of products to learn languages HERE that ought to get you started.

In addition to packaged products and curriculum, homeschoolers (actually, anyone) can learn languages in other ways, too. Think about learning languages through travel, by reading, watching foreign films, viewing television programming, joining international organizations, or spending time with relatives from other countries. Again, when homeschooling, the tools and the methods are entirely up to you.

A web site I love when thinking about world languages is called Omniglot. I continue to be amazed at how many languages exist around the globe, and I love sharing that web site with others. With so many choices, the hardest part may be to decide which language(s) to learn; many homeschoolers choose several throughout the high school years.

Revisiting the matter of college entrance, however, I want to spend the rest of this blog making sure you understand the implications of learning languages in homeschool in ways that cannot necessarily be documented.

There are several important things to consider if you want to lock in eligibility for future college admissions.

…several important things to consider if you want to lock in eligibility for future college…

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The first is making sure your student takes 2 consecutive courses in the same language, for instance, French I and II, Spanish I and II, or German III and IV. Students are certainly welcome to take more than expected, but colleges will usually look for 2 courses in the same language, so make sure you’ve got that covered.

Next — and much trickier – is figuring out how to document language learning on the transcript. And, while I understand some families are very relaxed about grading and credit requirements, I’m here to tell you that college-bound students need to give this suggestion some serious consideration. Here’s why:

When applying to college, not every school may recognize every language experience. Colleges are not only going to expect your student has taken 2 foreign language courses, but they’re going to want to see that the courses were offered at the high school level, and were truly worthy of high school credit.

That’s why, if a student is going to be seeking college admission, it’s important to offer foreign language courses in a way that can be documented, and colleges can understand. You may be surprised to hear that some of the foreign language courses homeschoolers use in high school are actually unacceptable to colleges and universities. A popular language learning system (one for your computer) comes to mind — most all of the colleges I talk to do not recognize that program. Be careful.

…it’s important to offer foreign language in a way that can be documented, and colleges can…

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For college-bound students, perhaps the most prudent way to avoid foreign language mistakes is to speak to the colleges your student might actually apply to. Ask them if the credits you’re offering your student will qualify him/her for eligibility.

Additional resources for your tool-kit include the CLEP and AP examinations. Even if you’ve dismissed these programs for other reasons, you might want to give them a second look when teaching foreign language in homeschool. Certain CLEP examinations, for example, can be used to demonstrate mastery of world languages by examination. Though there are only a limited number of CLEP language exams (find the list HERE) this can be helpful for students who have studied those particular languages. CLEP is also a great option for students who already speak another language at home.

Advanced Placement (AP) exams are also available for selected language programs (view the list HERE), and just might be an option for the language your student is currently studying. (Note that not all colleges accept CLEP or AP credits. Again, it’s important to check with the colleges or universities your student might be applying to.)

I cannot speak to every individual case of foreign language credit and how it may qualify a student for college admission, but if I can help you personally, we can always schedule an appointment to chat about your unique situation. Submit a request here if you’d like to talk.

To your success,

May 26 2015

“I have no idea where to get the books!”

{This post is one in a series called, “Top 10 Fears”, in which I speak to the most common fears parents express about homeschooling the high school years. To see all of the topics, or start at the beginning, click HERE.}

Top Fear #3:

Not knowing where to get the books

This might be a no-brainer to some people, but to others this is a very real concern. This confusion and lack of knowledge can be a real deal-breaker for some people, causing them to give up on the idea of homeschooling high school altogether.

Let me start by reminding my readers that homeschooling isn’t just about books. Though books are crucial for homeschoolers, and should be easily accessible (in large quantities!) throughout the homeschool years, I remind you there are many ways to learn that do not involve books at all.

Nevertheless, I want you to know there are many, many sources of quality books, textbooks and curriculum to use when homeschooling. Many of these places are easily found online, and lots of them can be found in most cities and towns, too.

Here’s a short list of places to find books — turns out, they’re not nearly that difficult to find at all:

Online homeschool book stores, such as Rainbow Resources, Homeschool Supercenter, or ROCK Solid, Inc. Search for more, as there are hundreds
Online book retailers, like Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and all the rest
Publisher web sites, such as Pearson, McGraw-Hill and Harcourt.
Homeschool product sites, from the makers of Institute for Excellence in Writing, Common Sense Press, and Moving Beyond the Page plus all the places on these lists
Libraries for borrowing books, and sometimes for buying used books, too
Garage sales
Homeschool conventions where many vendors gather all in one place
New or used book sales like home shopping parties (think Usborne), public school book sales, curriculum sales held by homeschool groups, and used book sales held at churches or local organizations
Warehouse sales, like the ones sponsored by Scholastic Books throughout the year
Online swap boards like Vegsource, Homeschool Classifieds, plus all those “Swip Swap” groups that can be found on Facebook
Friends, teachers and other homeschoolers who have books to loan or donate
Ebay or other auction sites
Amazon used or half price books on Half
Book depositories, like the ones where schools bring their outdated copies and books no longer in print

The great news is that books can be found most everywhere. Perhaps the harder task is trying to resist buying too many!

Other articles of interest:

Using textbooks

Where do homeschoolers get supplies?

Why we write in our books

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. The founder of many homeschool 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 system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, or with no educational background whatsoever. A liaison for regional school-to-home organizations and a homeschool leader in Florida, Marie-Claire also mentors homeschool families nationwide. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, and many other events. She currently writes for audiences at Quick Start Homeschool, which she founded in 2010, and as a guest writer on other sites as often as she can. Her articles have appeared in CONNECT magazine, on Homefires, at Circle of Moms, and she has contributed to hundreds of other blogs nationwide. Dr. Moreau can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

May 24 2015

Afraid you can’t teach the classes?

Top Fear #2

Afraid you can’t teach all the classes yourself

Even the most confident parents may shudder at teaching classes they don’t know. The most well-educated parents can get rusty, too.

This is a normal concern. And a very easy one to get around.

The first rule to remember is that not everyone can be good at everything. Everybody needs a little help from time to time. No shame in that.

The second rule is that it’s okay for homeschool parents not to teach everything themselves. Leaving certain courses to more skilled individuals may guarantee better results anyway. Put your pride or embarrassment aside, and realize that out-sourcing high school isn’t that big a big deal.

Look specifically for these kinds of resources — ones that take the burden off you and put it somewhere else:

A teacher, tutor, other homeschool parent, or some trusted individual to teach the class for you (could be done via Skype or other method, too). Everybody has a friend, uncle, former teacher, or neighbor skilled at something. Offer to pay as you would any other professional.

An online class that provides lectures, assignments, assessments, and grading without you lifting a finger. This can be an online virtual school, a private school that accepts homeschoolers, or classes via online businesses that are worthy of high school credit. Make sure it’s all-inclusive, and you’ll be ready to go.

A group of other students and families who have hired someone to teach the class. This can be in a homeschool co-op (what’s a co-op?) or can just be an informal group of friends all looking for the same class. This works well for academic subjects as well as lab experiments and test prep, too.

A community college class nearby, where your student may attend like any other student. Look into rules in your area, finding out tuition costs (if any), placement information, and what is needed to register your homeschooler on campus. As a bonus, these classes often give college credit, too (how does that work?).

A local high school, tech school or community ed program where your student can take the class. This is a little like sending your teen to school, except you control the curriculum, and it’s only 1-2 classes at a time. Find out which schools accept homeschoolers in your area, and register for classes there instead of doing them at home.

A packaged curriculum product where everything is provided: lessons, assignments, answer keys, and more (automated is even better). Many products are designed with this specific fear in mind. Check out Teaching Textbooks, Rosetta Stone, The Spectrum, and some of the other products on this list.

Other articles of interest:

Why you need to teach the tough stuff

Online and correspondence schools

Traditional high school sequence: Grades 9-12

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. The founder of many homeschool 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 system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, or with no educational background whatsoever. A liaison for regional school-to-home organizations and a homeschool leader in Florida, Marie-Claire also mentors homeschool families nationwide. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, and many other events. She currently writes for audiences at Quick Start Homeschool, which she founded in 2010, and as a guest writer on other sites as often as she can. Her articles have appeared in CONNECT magazine, on Homefires, at Circle of Moms, and she has contributed to hundreds of other blogs nationwide. Dr. Moreau can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

Apr 23 2015

Too much or too little? Too easy or too hard?

Ever have the feeling you’re too tough on your kids? If the work you’re assigning is harder than it needs to be? Think there’s too much of it?

Or maybe you worry the work is too easy? That you’re a push-over? That there aren’t enough activities to fill the day?

We all have these thoughts from time to time.

How do we find just the right amount of work for our kids?

How do we know if it’s too hard, too easy, or just right?

Finding the perfect balance for every student takes time. I’ve never met anyone who got it right the first time.

Balance takes months, even years, to get right. And then kids mature, life takes twists and turns, and we start all over again.

Don’t worry. You’ll keep up. Eventually.

This may help.

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If balance is your concern, take a moment to ask the following questions. Ask them for every child in your homeschool, too. The answers will help understand if that elusive balance has been reached. If not, they’ll at least indicate areas you can work on to get there:

#1 First and foremost, is the child learning and happy?

Answering YES to this question is crucial. Homeschooling isn’t about being miserable. It’s about maturing and progressing, while living a good life.

#2 Next, is the child challenged, but not to the point of frustration?

Answering YES to this question is what you’re after. Can the child handle the amount and difficulty of the work you’re assigning — without stress and tears (yours or theirs)? And while feeling good about himself/herself? Refer back to #1 if you aren’t sure.

#3 Then ask, is there much idle time?

With no clear purpose (sometimes indicated by boredom, clamoring for attention, or mischief)? Answering YES to this question means it’s time for a tweak or two. Many children do fill their hours with worthwhile activities, ones you approve of, which add to their learning and development. But some kids need our help filling those hours for them. Determine how your child uses idle time, then tweak accordingly.

#4 Ask yourself if there’s enough time in the child’s day for play, hobbies, sports, day dreaming, or other things the child likes to do.

Is there enough time for winding down at the end of the day and preparing for a good night’s sleep? Answering NO to this question indicates a child’s day may be too full.

#5 Finally, does the child’s output match what is generally expected at that age/grade/stage of life?

This isn’t an exact science, and varies from child to child. But for those worried about it, it’s helpful to check the quantity & quality of work against what experts, authors, textbooks, publishers, or placement tests say children might be doing at approximately this stage of life. (Read about placement and understanding scope & sequence to learn more.) If there are genuine issues hampering progress, handle them. If you can’t, simply factor them into the equation.

Remember, the perfect balance will change as the years go on, and from child to child, too. What was normal one year will change to match a child’s maturity, habits and developing mind the next.

Keeping asking yourself these questions every six months, or every year, to keep up. You’ll get it!

Where to find high school curriculum

By the time homeschoolers get to high school, parents don’t have to teach (or oversee) everything any more. In high school, sourcing products and outside experiences is the name of the game.

Parents often ask where to find curriculum for their teens. They’re usually frustrated after searching for some universal high school curriculum that really doesn’t exist.

In high school, sourcing products and outside experiences is the name of the game.

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I love meeting with parents of teens and speaking to groups about homeschooling the high school years. When I do, I explain there is no standard high school curriculum, and that high school is different for every student. I let parents know there are lots of ways for teens to learn in high school, and I offer suggestions for where to begin looking for curriculum options, too.

[Need a high school speaker? Contact me here.]

Are you that parent? Have you been having trouble finding curriculum and products for your high schooler?

Let me give you some ideas.

But, before you scroll down, remember this: the sky’s the limit in terms of what can be included, excluded or combined in a home curriculum for high school.

Now, here’s a list of places to help you source high school courses, curriculum and experiences:

Curriculum Products: You’re less likely to find all-in-one curriculum products for high school, but what you will find are tons of great products to teach individual subjects, such as Algebra, Architecture or Ancient History. Browse what your favorite homeschool author, homeschool publisher, online curriculum vendor, book retailer, or homeschool blogger has to offer. Glean ideas for which ones you can choose for your teen. Better yet, have your teenager choose for himself. By combining many of those products together, you’ll have enough curriculum for an entire year of high school.

Community and Junior Colleges: Often called “dual enrollment”, most American students now have access to programs for early college at community and junior colleges. Check your state’s requirements first, then visit a local campus to learn about placement tests and other requirements for homeschoolers. Depending on the area, your high schooler may be able to attend part-time — even full-time – for free or a fraction of the tuition cost. Best yet, your student earns college credit for courses taken there, too.

Your Local High School: Although you have opted-out of public high school, there’s nothing wrong with dropping back in for a class or two. Many areas allow homeschoolers to attend high school part-time while still holding on to homeschool status. Ask how things are done in your district, and then browse the high school’s course descriptions to find classes your high schooler can use.

Adult & Community Education Programs: Most cities offer continuing education through adult and community programs. Since these classes are offered year-round, it’s easy to combine several classes for high school credit. Community courses are great for picking up new skills, learning alongside other people in classroom settings, and experimenting with topics for a few weeks before launching into year-long studies.

Technical Schools: Just like colleges, trade and tech schools are great places to pick up classes during high school, too. Visit a local campus to find out about opportunities for homeschooled teens.

Online High Schools: There are at least 2 kinds of online high schools, some designed for school kids who want to study from home, and others for those who want to hold on to homeschool status. Check with each school to learn about homeschool options before enrolling. Learn more about online high school and correspondence programs here.

Online College Courses: Today’s learners have access to an amazing line-up of lectures that have been archived from courses taught at Columbia, MIT, Harvard, Yale and other top colleges and universities. Teens can take advantage of these lectures to learn just about anything. When using these courses, parents can choose to award credit based on the lectures alone, or by adding a writing or other physical component to help document learning. No matter how it’s done, it’s like learning from top university professors, only without the cost of tuition! Learn where to find some of these courses here.

Free Online Classes: Lots of companies, businesses and individuals offer training courses online. Teens can learn many high school-worthy things online, such as web design, coding, world languages, business skills, home making, SAT study skills and more. Free definitely does not mean worthless, by the way, because many quality courses are offered free, requiring nothing more than signing up.

Free Online Videos: Khan Academy (though excellent) isn’t the only name in free video online learning any more. Lots of people offer free online learning content via Youtube or other video streaming service. These lessons can be used to supplement existing courses, or for stand-alone high school credit, too. Find a favorite, and then list videos in order to create a set of lesson plans. Assign labs or written work in between — curriculum solved!

High School Co-ops: Parents searching for ways for teens to make friends, learn alongside other teens, or receive simulated classroom learning, may want to look into into (or form) co-ops. Co-ops are perfect for learning things that are hard to teach at home, learning in groups, and sharing expensive equipment. I love co-ops and strongly recommend them at least once during the high school years. Never heard of a homeschool co-op? Read more about co-ops here.

Textbooks: Though many homeschoolers shy away from standard textbooks, I am actually a fan of high school texts when used in certain ways. One way is to use textbooks as a framework for what to study about a subject (a detailed table of contents can be your best friend). Another way is to use textbooks combined with other resources (texts don’t have to stand alone). Finally, because texts are designed to provide a full year of high school work, they can help to gauge just how much is considered worthy of a transcript credit. There are other ways to use textbooks, but I caution against blindly following standards found in textbooks, because in my opinion, meeting national standards is not the same as real learning. Read how to use stand-alone textbooks here.

Internships/Mentoring: Some of the best learning comes from doing, and that’s where this idea comes in. By working with individuals in your community (or communicating with mentors online) teens can learn first-hand the things others only read about in books. Finding internships and mentors isn’t always easy, but great places to look include church groups, community groups, a local Chamber of Commerce, area professsional organizations, and the workplaces of people you know.

By now, you have seen that high schooling can be made of many different experiences, each tailored to the specific needs and goals for that student. Combine many of these options to design a customized high school curriculum, then sit back and observe the rewards of personalizing an education for your teen!

For more high school articles, be sure to follow the high school tag at the bottom of this post.

Foreign language credit

“I have no idea where to get the books!”

Top Fear #3:

Not knowing where to get the books

Afraid you can’t teach the classes?

Top Fear #2

Afraid you can’t teach all the classes yourself

Too much or too little? Too easy or too hard?

Where to find high school curriculum

This is a great article to share with friends with middle and high schoolers.

SHARE it!