Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau

Educator, Coach, Life Strategist

A good calculator

Dollar-store calculators can be loads of fun.  In a pinch, having an inexpensive calculator in the car or in your briefcase is never a bad idea.

But there comes a time when your homeschooler needs a better one. That time may come sooner than you think — usually somewhere between 2nd-5th grades, depending on the child and the level of mathematics you teach. 

During the elementary years is when your child will need to learn 2 things: how to properly use a calculator, and how to check work.  Because  dollar-store calculators cannot do everything that kids need to do in math, and they are usually unreliable anyway (expiring at the most inconvenient times), it’s important to have a good calculator ready at home.

Buying a calculator early is a good idea since there is no sense in having to learn twice — have your child learn on the calculator she’ll be using throughout the remainder of her school years.

Families and teachers seem to agree that Texas Instruments (TI) makes a good calculator.  With calculators for every application in all price ranges, homeschoolers will always find a TI calculator to meet their needs.

For the lower grades, something in the 30+ range will usually do the trick.  A calculator like this one will probably do through most of middle school:

For high schoolers, particularly those who take honors, AP or college dual enrollment math, a more sophisticated model is needed. A graphing calculator in the 80+ range and upwards will probably be sufficient:

Texas Instruments has a chart available on the web site to help you choose the right model for every level math course that homeschoolers are likely to take.

Plan to spend $20+ for lower grades and $100 or more for upper grades.  Despite the price, this investment proves to be well worth it as these last a long time and can be used by multiple children for many years.

Finally, keep calculator instructions in a safe place. You’ll never know when you or your student forgets how to input a certain type of equation or cannot locate a function.  While the instruction manual isn’t usually needed in lower school, it can be a life-saver once the kids get older.

Grades: mandatory or optional?

One of the freedoms that home educators have is deciding whether or not to award grades for academic work.  Generally speaking, unless a student is enrolled in a private, virtual, college or other program for which grades are given, academic grades are not really required in homeschooling.  Nevertheless, many families — particularly those with middle and high schoolers — choose to assign grades anyhow.  There are some excellent reasons why.

One reason to grade student work is to document progress, required in some states.  Though there are other (some would argue — better) ways to measure student performance, grades can be used for this purpose in areas where homeschoolers must show progress or meet benchmarks every year.

Another reason to use grades in homeschool is purely for information.  Students and their parents need — and often enjoy — knowing the status of a course, where the student stands, and what areas potentially need improvement.  Whether a family believes in grading or not, having this bit of information, or combining it with other measures, can be helpful in gauging general performance.

Believe it or not, a lot of students are actually motivated by a grading system.  Trying to best a previous score or achieve the highest possible grade on an assignment can encourage and stimulate certain students to do their best work. 

Grades can level the playing field when homeschooled kids participate in mainstream activities.  Joining clubs, sports and other activities often require a mean cutoff grade point (GPA) for participation. Having an academic grade report means that homeschoolers can participate just like anyone else.

Finally, one cannot discount the importance of having grades to put on the high school transcript.  Most colleges and universities look for a transcript during the applications process.  Unless there is a particular admissions procedure allowing homeschoolers to circumvent the this requirement, it can be a good idea to have a transcript with grades ready come time for college applications.

otwithstanding, there are many other valid reasons for homeschoolers to consider awarding grades.  Even if parents never disclose these grades to their children,

Driver’s Education

Homeschooled teens can get a driver’s license just like anyone else.  The question is, how?

In states where part-time high school enrollment is permitted or in homeschool-friendly districts, teens can sometimes sign up for Driver’s Ed courses at their home-zoned school.

In other areas, homeschoolers can register for any type of community education classes, virtual education or special sessions offered through the local school board.

If these options aren’t available, or if families prefer to go another route altogether, other options exist for homeschoolers. 

One is  using a private driving school, which costs money, but virtually guarantees the proper instruction and preparedness for passing driving exams. 

Another is applying for a Learner’s Permit and using parent-led instruction accompanied by studying the state driver’s manual on ones own.

Online driving schools exist, too, for preliminary testing and practicing some of the basics.  These do not eliminate the need for road training or an actual driving test, however.

To begin, check with the Department of Motor Vehicles where you live.  Also check online driver’s ed training courses and resources, available at places like these:

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

National Drivers Training Institute

DRIVER ED IN A BOX

Rules of the Road

and elsewhere.

Don’t forget to award homeschooling credit for Driver’s Ed, too.  It is a legitimate course that may be included on the high schooler’s transcript.  Use a form like this one to keep track.

[Photo: Free Digital]

Homeschoolers and the SAT

As homeschooling parents approach the high school years, they may begin to wonder if their children should prepare in the same ways that other teens do.  For instance, should college-bound homeschoolers take the SAT, too?

Yes!

Just like other high schoolers, many homeschooled kids will be applying to colleges, too.  If a college requires the SAT (or ACT or other) examination, then homeschoolers must take it, too.

Today’s college applications process for homeschoolers is very much the same as for anyone else.  Homeschoolers complete applications, provide transcripts, apply for scholarships and financial aid, and everything else that other high schoolers do.

So, if your homeschooler’s college of choice requires that SAT (most still do), be sure to schedule it on time.  Ordinarily, teens take this test more than once, beginning in the 11th grade year.  Since there are deadlines for applying for the test and fees to pay, don’t wait until the last minute either.

For more information about the SAT or other college tests, visit The College Board and have your teen set up an account.  The account gives access to college information, test dates, plus can your teen with college readiness in other areas, too.