lesson planning Archives - Page 4 of 19

Apr 01 2016

Dual Enrollment: Pros and Cons

As more and more families choose homeschooling, more and more teens are discovering “Dual Enrollment”, the practice of taking discounted college courses that earn high school and college credit at the same time. Called ‘CC’ by some (from its origins at community colleges), dual enrollment is a popular way for academically-ready students to take advanced coursework while in high school, and make a serious dent in future college spending, too.

Though dual enrollment programs are now widely available, states have individual rules about which students may actually qualify, and the specific benefits they’ll receive. For instance, some states allow homeschoolers to attend 100% free, while others require families to cover the cost of tuition, textbooks, and other fees. Always look to the eligibility requirements for each state, and then to the benefits offered in each specific region. The finer details are what usually determine whether to add college courses to the student’s 4-Year High School Plan or not.

Perhaps you’ve been wondering if dual enrollment is right for your student? As with anything homeschooling, just because others do it doesn’t mean it’s right for your child. There are compelling reasons to be made on either side of the debate, and these usually have to do with saving money, advancing or delaying graduation, and exposure to campus life. Only you can decide what’s right for your own situation.

On a personal note, my children have all successfully used dual enrollment programs as a means of advancing their educations and saving us money. It worked enormously well for us, and looking back, we have no specific complaints. But, there are definite drawbacks to sending kids to college at younger ages, and a choice this big takes some serious conversations. Don’t wait until they’re already on campus to sit down and discuss things with your teen.

I have compiled a list of the most common PROs and CONs to using dual enrollment programs for homeschoolers. The list is comes from my own experience, experiences of other parents I meet, and conversations I have had with college counselors and instructors.

Here’s a list of the PROs and CONs to using dual enrollment programs:

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You are invited to consider the advantages of dual enrollment, making sure to study all the stickier points, too. Should any of these be deal-breakers for you or your teen, remember there are plenty of other ways to homeschool high school elsewhere on this web site.

Want to print this informationt? Click here to either view, print or save.

Have I forgotten something important, or something you’d like to know as you consider dual enrollment for your student? Have anything about using college for homeschooling you’d like to share? Please, leave a COMMENT so my readers can gain a fuller understanding of dual enrollment in your area, or use the COMMENT to share your own experiences, too!

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 and trainer, 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.

Oct 29 2015

High school testing schedule

No matter how you slice it, teens looking to get into college need to be tested. Sometimes once. Sometimes more than once. Whatever your feelings about testing in general, measuring academic readiness via testing becomes a reality somewhere around 9th or 10th grade.

(But, wait a minute! Aren’t there colleges that are test-optional? Indeed, there are colleges that have gone “test-optional”. Check this list to get an idea which schools, and where they’re located. If you believe your student has a real chance at admission to those schools, just disregard this post.)

There are 2 major entrance exams used by colleges and universities today. These include the SAT, administered through The College Board and given several times a year at test centers across the nation; and the ACT, also administered throughout the year, and offered by ACT Student (all links below). Though the tests are similar, there are some important differences, too. When planning for college, students can prepare for either test — or both, to discover which one most accurately represents their skills.

Test preparation isn’t something that should wait until the year of the test itself. It can take several years for students to feel ready to succeed. That’s why I suggest starting the process in 9th grade (by 10th the latest). Though there are plenty of kids who earn great scores the first time around, it can take other kids a little time and experience to master test-taking skills. (Besides, scores also improve with practice, so taking tests multiple times usually pays off.)

Preparation for test-taking may include any or all of the following:

getting familiar with the test itself (subjects, duration, policy for guessing and blank answers)
studying practice materials (either books or online practice tools)
participating in local or online test prep classes
participating in study groups (or starting one of your own)
subscribing to receive daily test questions
taking practice tests at home (old versions are published online)
taking the “real” test several times to improve the score

You already know I recommend planning with the end in mind, then working backwards to put a high school plan together. When you do that, it becomes clear that students need to start prepping in 9th grade to be totally ready for a 10th or 11th grade test administration. Starting any later means success on the test isn’t guaranteed. And though nothing is really ever guaranteed, why not make sure you’ve done everything possible for your child’s success?

Students need to start prepping in 9th grade to be totally ready for a 10th or 11th grade test…

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With the end in mind, I suggest making up a timetable of steps needed to prepare for college entrance exams. I’ve provided one for you, below. Just figure out the steps that’ll work for your specific student, then write them into the student’s high school plan.

What’s nice about this method is that the test prep becomes a part of the overall high school curriculum. As part of the curriculum, it’s unlikely you’ll forget the importance of test prepping your teen.

Here’s an example of just one test prep schedule that could work:

in 9th grade:

Fall semester —

Set up account and student profile on each test’s web site

Carefully study what each test is about

Get a general sense of which test(s) might be used: SAT or ACT (or both?)

Buy some study guides and find other ways your student can start studying

Spring semester —

With your student, begin working thru the practice materials you’ve selected

Make sure the homeschool curriculum addresses the subject areas that are on the test

Take notes about readiness as you go along

Ramp up your curriculum and lessons if necessary for test success

in 10th grade:

Fall semester —

Consider registering your student for a practice SAT exam (called the PSAT) at your local high school. It’s given every October, so make time in the student’s schedule to take the test

Carefully examine the PSAT score results when they come in, noting which areas to focus on for the next round

Spring semester —

Make sure your homeschool curriculum addresses all the subject areas on the selected test

Ramp up your curriculum and lessons as necessary for SAT or ACT test preparation

Keep practicing

in 11th grade:

Fall semester —

If you think your student might be eligible for the National Merit Scholarhip, sign up for the PSAT again (otherwise skip)

Ramp up test preparation and curriculum to be ready for the next test administration

Register student for either an SAT or an ACT exam on the next convenient date

Spring semester —

Continue test preparation efforts up until test date

Carefully examine score results when they come in, noting areas to focus on or improve

Register for another SAT or ACT; making sure student is academically prepared in all areas

in 12th grade:

Fall semester —

Register student for the final administration of either the SAT or ACT, whichever is the better fit

Make sure test scores for the chosen test (and chosen sitting) have been sent to the college(s) your student will be applying to

As you can see, this plan assumes your student will take an SAT or ACT exam several times. Though students are all a little different, and this plan may not be suitable for all teens, I’ve written it this way so you can see it could take a couple of years to finish studying and get the scores where you need them to be for college acceptance.

If you happen to have a student ready to take the SAT or ACT in 10th grade, in 9th grade, or even earlier, by all means, do that too. It’ll be up to you to adjust this schedule as it suits your student, their skills, and your goals for readiness over the high school years.

Information about the SAT found here

Information about the ACT located here

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. The founder of 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 and with no teaching 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, Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on CONNECT, Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of other blogs nationwide. Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

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 28 2015

Schools that handle the homeschooling for you

{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 #4

Not having a school to do the schooling for you

So, you want to bring your kids home. But secretly, you’re scared to be person totally in charge of their education.

Will you ruin the kids? Probably not. But, what if you have no idea what you’re doing?

For anyone dreaming of homeschooling, but afraid to be left completely in charge, this is the post for you.

Homeschooling is a little bit different from state to state. But, luckily, there is one thing all states have in common — being able to enroll in a program that does the work for you. Or most of it.

In some states, this service can come from a private school. These are schools specifically designed for this purpose. By enrolling in these schools, families can keep their kids home, but still get oversight and guidance from a school that knows what they’re doing. There are many such schools from coast to coast. Selecting the right one means families can receive exactly the support they need — from guidance to curriculum selection to courses to having books shipped to the home – for an annual fee.

In other states, this might look like hiring a teacher or private tutor. In these cases, children meet with the tutor/teacher and complete the work at home (or somewhere else). Payment varies with the number of classes and services received. This, too, is a way for schooling to be parent-directed, yet almost entirely handled by someone else.

A third way is to select an all-in-one curriculum publisher/product, in which all lessons, tests (assessments), and materials are provided for a fee. These self-study programs are designed for children able to work independently, or with only a small amount of help. In some cases, these products come with automatic grading, too, so even grading papers becomes a completely hands-off process.

Many families feel they can benefit from these kinds of services. If yours is one of them, check the laws of your state first, then consult a homeschool advisor to find schools/products that fit your situation.

Other articles of interest:

Independent homeschooling vs. private schools

Chemistry & Calculus: 5 solutions for teaching the tougher classes

How to teach labs, when you don’t have a lab

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, atCircle of Moms, and she has contributed to hundreds of other blogs nationwide. Dr. Moreau can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

May 20 2015

What classes is my child supposed to take?

Top Fear #1:

Not knowing what your child is supposed to take

No two high schoolers are exactly alike. The best way to address this fear is to look at the unique student, the unique family, and the state in which the student is homeschooled.

What does the student want to take?

What does the student want to study? What are his/her goals during high school, and after? Are there are special skills or talents the student wants to expand or emphasize in high school? What about deficiencies to make up — are there any to address before heading off to college or career?

The answers to these questions will help determine if a college-ready, career-ready, or other kind of high school experience is what the student is after.

What does the family think he/she should take?

It is important for families to examine why they homeschool, and to decide if a traditional or non-traditional high school plan is most appropriate for meeting those goals.

If a traditional (i.e., public school) course of study is the goal, those are the courses that should be included in the high school curriculum. This is the 4 math, 4 English, 3 science, etc., type of plan. Families should check the web sites for the state’s department of education or a local high school to find out what courses are included.

If a non-traditional (personalized) experience is planned, creative course scheduling should be used to meet these goals. This kind of plan is very individual, and varies from student to student.

What does the state say he/she must take?

Many states have no mandatory restrictions on what students must take in high school. A few do, however, so it’s important to check state requirements. Be sure the mandatory items are completed somewhere during the high school years, to insure successful homeschool completion where you live.