Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau

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Oct 10 2015

Foreign language credit

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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,

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Written by Marie-Claire · Categorized: Homeschool · Tagged: classroom resources, college, high school, language arts, lesson planning, middle school, record-keeping, testing, transcript

Apr 24 2014

BIG list of English curriculum

BIG List of English products {Quick Start Homeschool}

A list of resources to help teach homeschool English / Language Arts.

These areas include vocabulary, spelling, grammar, writing, phonics, reading and more.

{Inclusion does not imply endorsement.}

READING/PHONICS:

The Phonics Road

Eagle’s Wings

Explode the Code

McRuffy Reading and Phonics

Learning Language Arts Through Literature Blue Set

Plaid Phonics / Modern Curriculum Press

All About Reading

Alpha Phonics

Reading Made Easy

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons

Saxon Phonics

Ready, Set, Read

Recipe for Reading

Rocket Phonics

Bob Books

Bob Jones University Press BJU Press

 

COMPOSITION / WRITING:

Writing Strands

Institute for Excellence in Writing

Cover Story

Brave Writer

One Year Adventure Novel

Writer’s Jungle

Writing With Skill / Writing With Ease

Write Stuff

Write Shop

Sentence Composing

Time 4 Writing

 

GRAMMAR:

Easy Grammar

Editor in Chief (Critical Thinking Co.)

Grammar Ace (Sonlight)

The Grammar Key

Grammarlogues

Analytical Grammar

Latin Road to Grammar

Growing With Grammar

 

SPELLING & VOCABULARY:

Spelling Power

Wordly Wise

Rummy Roots

Spell to Write and Read

English From the Roots Up

Horizons

A Reason for Spelling

All About Spelling

Spelling Wisdom

Saxon Spelling

 

ALL IN ONE or NONE OF THE ABOVE:

First Language Lessons

Michael Clay Thompson

Learning Language Arts Through Literature

SAXON Grammar and Writing

Elements of Language

Wordsmith

Life Pac (Alpha Omega)

Sing, Spell, Read and Write

Shurley English

Total Language Plus

The Writing Road to Reading (Spalding)

 

Looking for a BIG list for Math?   Find it HERE.

Looking for a BIG list for Science? Find it HERE.

 

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau, Quick Start Homeschool

 

Did I miss one?  Leave a COMMENT!

Broken link?  Thank you for  letting me know.

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Written by Marie-Claire · Categorized: Homeschool · Tagged: books, classroom resources, elementary, English, high school, language arts, middle school, reading, spelling, vocabulary, writing

Oct 22 2013

Curriculum Quick Picks

quick picks

I am always running across products I think are worth sharing.  These are either brand new, or just new to me.  Or, sometimes, they’re names I neglected to include in previous posts.

So, today, I am sharing links to products I think may be worth checking out for your homeschool.  Don’t see anything here?  Be sure to click on any of the tags you see at the bottom of this post to keep searching for additional ideas.

Curriculum Quick Picks:

Cover Story: Middle School Writing Curriculum (from the makers of One Year Adventure Novel) is a new program for 6th-8th graders.  It looks quite thorough plus a whole lot of fun.  I wish this existed when my children were in middle school!

Knowledge Quest isn’t new, but this company releases more and more great titles all the time.  Connect with them and you’ll receive great freebies from time to time, as well. KQ’s  Map Trek is my personal favorite.

Also not new, but certainly noteworthy, are the Trail Guides to Learning created by Linda Fowler and the beloved Debbie Strayer.   These take a unit study approach while covering periods in history.  How fun to be able to teach and learn this way!

These resources for gifted learners could be just what your family is looking for.  Check out both EPGY courses from Stanford University and CTY Online from Johns Hopkins for a complete list of course offerings for your academically gifted student.

I learn something new every time I flip through one of Jill Dixon’s guides.  The Diagnostic Prescriptive Assessment can still be found on the pre-owned market, and many others can be sourced on Amazon as well.  These aren’t for everybody, but if you have a child in grade K-5 and thinking about testing options or understanding diagnostics, this book could be worth a look.

Moving Beyond the Page delivers science, social studies and language arts in comprehensive curriculum packages available for students ages 4-14.  Samples available online show just how this product will delight a hands-on, creative, or gifted learner.

Never having studied Greek, I cannot comment on the accuracy or effectiveness of this product, but several families have recently recommended the Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek system.  If you try it, please leave a COMMENT to let my readers know what you thought!

Marie-Claire

 

 

Written by Marie-Claire · Categorized: Homeschool · Tagged: books, classroom resources, elementary, foreign language, geography, gifted, high school, language arts, maps, middle school, testing, unit studies, writing

Nov 23 2012

Writing instruction

Parents ask how to get kids to write.  Across the board, this seems to be a common struggle among students — homeschooled and non.

In my classes, I am frequently met by students afraid to put pen to paper.  Some have never written a good sentence or paragraph all their lives.  Many lament having nothing to write about.  Even more have no idea where or how to begin.   I spend weeks undoing the lies they have told themselves about writing.  After several months, they leave with a folder of completed writings and the confidence to try it again on their own.  Many say writing has become their favorite subject.

Unless parents take a keen interest in writing or are decent writers themselves (or even if they are), they may not know how to encourage and develop writing in children.  Writing instruction isn’t always included in language arts programs designed to help homeschool parents teach.  Plus, even with the right tools, ordinary people are untrained in what to look for, and how best to call students out if writing isn’t up to par.

You’ll find comprehensive writing systems on the market.  These include:

Writing With Ease

Excellence in Writing

Writing Strands

Time4Writing

and others.

These can be a great addition to the homeschool curriclum.  BUT — just like with other products, many students enjoy them and many do not.  Using a writing system can be expensive, and switching products mid-year confusing, too.  These are a serious investments, both in terms of finances and — more importantly – in how a child views writing from that point forward.

I rarely suggest buying a comprehensive writing system at the very beginning of homeschooling.  My experience has shown there is much work that can be done at home — without ever spending a dime – before the need for a comprehensive writing system ever arises.  Developing projects at home goes a long way toward getting to know a student and helping develop attitudes about writing for the long-term, too.  This may be time-consuming and require more effort than some parents are willing (or have time) to put in, but worth it.

The key to success in writing  — I believe – is starting out by finding out what students enjoy.  Interests, hobbies, likes and dislikes, PLUS how and where they like to write best are just a couple of factors.  Knowing what students like to write with (pen, pencil, markers, even chalk) and on (ruled paper, plain paper, in a journal) are just as important.  Factors in the environment affect writing, too.  Even paying attention to what students were doing prior to writing can play a part.

In my home, I never used comprehensive writing systems.  I observed each of my children to get a feel for their capabilities and preferences, and then assigned writing projects as we moved along.  I taught grammar separately, encouraged reading, and provided great writing samples everywhere I could.  This method allowed me to tailor the work to every child, encourage good writing habits when I saw them, and teach whatever was missing.  I changed circumstances when things weren’t working, and constantly monitored writing in all subject areas.  It wasn’t always easy!  But, my children have all developed into writers, each blossoming on his own perfect time frame, and several (so far) receiving praise for writing skills in online courses and on college campuses.  Best of all, ALL of my kids enjoy writing.

Because writing can be a delicate area, I always advise research and caution before selecting anything for homeschool use.  If the system you acquire appears to be a good fit for the child, by all means, use it right away and continue forever.  If it isn’t, however, first consider developing an informal system of writing on your own.  Have students write short stories, keep a journal, jot notes about what they do during travels, write jokes, translate comics into stories, or even write clues for crossword puzzles — whatever works for them.  Introduce a positive feeling about writing and observe how they work — for a long time.  THEN make future decisions about how writing will be taught from that point on.

Are your students writers?  Why or why not?  I’ll continue posting about writing instruction at home.   In the meanwhile, why not take a look at how writing is taught (or not) in your home?

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Written by Marie-Claire · Categorized: Homeschool · Tagged: books, classroom resources, language arts, literature, reading, struggling learners, writing

Apr 03 2012

Try It Tuesday: SPELLING

How do homeschool kids learn to spell?  These days, fairly easily!  Thanks to all of the spelling curricula, games and software products just waiting for them to discover, that is!

Spelling is one of those academic areas where some children may need just a little bit more help than others.  Readers, for instance, may naturally become better spellers on their own, requiring less formal instruction.  Other kids, however, might not catch on as quickly, so having a separate workbook or organized spelling program may the ticket they need to help them along.

No worries, though, because anyone (even adults!) can become a better speller when given the right tools.  And as a bonus, spelling is one of those areas where playtime can really equal learning, so there are lots of ways to enjoy doing it, too.

Because spelling can be taught so many ways, products that can help are varied — in fact, some may not look like spelling help at all.  Spelling may be taught alone, within the realm of a complete language arts program, or even in the context of another course (like history or literature) as words are taken from readings and learned right along with everything else.  Some parents prefer to look at published word lists, selecting a few each week and making up activities and games (like crosswords or word searches) involving the spelling words.  Others like to make a note of words that students get “wrong” and quiz just those instead. It is really about what works best for you and your child.  The main thing is to realize that memorizing words and giving weekly spelling tests are not the only way to do it.

Below, you’ll find just a few of the many, many spelling resources available in the marketplace.  Some can be pricey, but many are free and inexpensive, too.  Check these lists and then look for others on your own.

Don’t forget to COMMENT or LINK UP to let readers know exactly what has worked the best for you!

Examples of spelling curricula and books:

Soaring with Spelling

Building Spelling Skills

Spectrum Spelling

Spelling Workout

Spelling Connections

Tricks of the Trade

Spelling Power

Spell Well

All About Spelling

Examples of spelling software (pre-screen and use at your own risk):

Ultimate Spelling

Spell Quizzer

Click N Spell

Kids Spelling Software

Spelling software downloads (many free)

More software downloads for spelling (most free)

Even more software downloads for spelling (all free)

Gemm Learning (software for spelling with dyslexia)

Software and online games for spelling (no download required)

Examples of video games that teach spelling:

Learning to Spell

Spelling Challenges and More

Bookworm

Wordmaster

Scripps Spelling Bee

Remember, spelling goes hand-in-hand with reading and writing, too.  That’s why you might want to check out the whole language arts spectrum of resources before making your decision.

Thanks for stopping by!  And don’t forget, as always, the Try-It Tuesday Linky closes in 7 days.

 

 

Written by Marie-Claire · Categorized: Announcements & Special Events · Tagged: English, language arts

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