Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau

Educator, Coach, Life Strategist

Climb that ladder. But remember to bring the kiddies along, too.

I’m about to push a button.  By writing about something a little touchy.

I fear I may ruffle some feathers.

In advance — I’m sorry.

But, if you’ve been with me for some time, you’ve begun to understand.  Read previous posts if you have to.

You know I don’t want you to settle.  And I don’t think you need to sacrifice yourself just to homeschool, either.

Remember, I started this blog, this web site, and began offering my services because I want your life to be extraordinary.

Mine is.

I know you want that, too.

Climb that ladder {Quick Start Homeschool}

But, if I’m right, in addition to homeschooling, making a home, and being a parent, another part of you wants personal and professional success.

You want a job, a career, and a reason to get up in the morning besides math and laundry.

You seek online popularity.  A following.  Connection.  A side income. Free product.  An outlet, a hobby, fulfillment, recognition, appreciation, and the rest.  Or, maybe you need to replace — even exceed – a full-time income, too.  I get that. I really do.

You can have it.

But, a word of caution…

Your kids need you, too.

See, if you aren’t careful, observant, ultra vigilant and very-very-very aware, your  path to success can be detrimental to your kids.

That’s right — you might actually harm them.

In fact, while it may seem innocent enough, your commitment to your success, your personal evolution, your professional development — while commendable and certainly very valuable for you – well, it could leave them (your kids) in the dust.

…your personal evolution, your professional development…could leave your kids in the dust.

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The dust, folks.

In search of your own success, isn’t it possible — even a teensy bit possible – that there isn’t enough of you left for them?

Taking your attention away from your kids and heaping it upon yourself has a way of undermining things.  Your homeschooling, for sure. But, in reality, everything surrounding and having to do with your kids.

Let me be very clear.  For us homeschool parents, focusing on ourselves is necessary.  It’s required for our health, a prerequisite for our sanity, and critically necessary for our relationships and overall happiness.  It’s a no-brainer, really. ALL parents need a break every once in a while.

But overly focusing on ourselves (our blogs, our stats, our social media, our goals, our training) is risky.  Unless well-scheduled and well-balanced, there may be little time left to focus on the other things we need to do.  As in, our kiddies.

When climbing your own ladder of success, please — I beg you.  Take your children with you.

When climbing your own ladder of success, please — I beg you. Take your children with you.

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See, it’s a balancing act.  And I’m worried.  Because, for some of you, that balance may not be quite right.

I worry you may ignore them.

I worry you may shush them, assign busywork, brush them off, or turn on the television/computer/video box, a little too much.

I worry the lure of a second income, the distraction of social media, and the whole ‘I can have it all’ mentality may suck you in.

And, heck, I’ll just say it…I worry achieving your professional goals may make you less-than-a-great-parent.  Not forever.  But at a time when your kids really need you.

Have I ever been guilty?  You bet.  But, fortunately, I think I learned quickly.  I can tell when I’ve ignored my role or my family just a little too much.  I can recognize when I have allowed something in our home or school or health or relationships to slip.  Either I notice it, or they tell me.

That’s why I don’t blog more often.

That’s why my list of projects is always a mile long.

Believe me, this all takes practice.  I’m not perfect, either.  It takes trial and error to get the balance just right, and then things go and change, so you have to start all over again.  In our home, this seems to happen several times a year.

But it’s worth it, don’t you think?  Because the kids won’t need 100% of you forever.

Besides, your kids want to climb, too.  They need to.  That’s why you’re doing everything you do!

Try to remember why you’re homeschooling, as this will guide you.  You’ll know when to give the kids a boost, helping them to reach the first and second steps.  You’ll know when to hold their hands, and when to back up and just start holding the ladder.  You’ll know when to stand there watching nervously, and when it’s time to turn your back so they can climb alone.

And, if you’ve done your job right, they’ll know how to avoid the top-most, wobbly step.

And then there will be more time for you.

So, when you plan your success, parents, feel free to climb separately from your children, or by holding hands together.

But, please, just don’t climb alone.

 

Marie-Claire Moreau, Quick Start Homeschool

 

 Other articles you might like:

Time out for moms and dads

Growing great habits

The importance of listening to your kids

Working parents can homeschool, too

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{Day 5} College Prep High Schooling — Marketing Yourself

Day 5: Marketing Yourself 

[View the entire series HERE]

By now, you understand the importance of taking the right courses, prioritizing extra-curriculars and preparing for tests so you can earn great scores.  Following that advice, you’ll graduate successfully and be ready to rock the college world.

But there is still one step left, and it’s a big one — “marketing” yourself (a/k/a reminding colleges why they should pick you).  This is not the time to be timid about your accomplishments, because college acceptance depends on it.  For best results, you’ll really need to toot your own horn.

So, how exactly do homeschooled Seniors communicate with the colleges of their choice?  And what does it actually take to get their attention?

1. For starters, there’s the application — a time-consuming but fairly straight-forward process.   Applicants should submit the best application they can, by answering all questions honestly, by writing well, and by remembering not to leave out anything important.  Writing a great application already starts making you look good.

But since so many students apply, and because many applications look somewhat the same, you’ll need to do a little more  than submit a good application to get noticed.  You’ll want to attach extra documentation to convince someone to choose you instead of somebody else.

How to market yourself to colleges and get noticed.

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So, to stand out — and I mean really grab somebody’s attention in the admissions office – teens should include some of these documents, too:

2. A killer Freshman Resume — which is like a flyer or a marketing brochure, except it’s all about you.  Create one that summarizes who you are, lists a whole bunch of cool things you’ve done and highlights several of your proudest accomplishments in more detail.

3. A knock-out  transcript — and not just an ordinary one, either.  One with your test scores and grade point average; one listing your honors courses, AP courses and early college credits; one that looks great and has been edited for grammar, spelling and mathematical accuracy; and one that clearly demonstrates you’re not the same as everybody else, but have taken lots of substantial, relevant and fascinating electives, too.  You’ll find an example of a basic transcript HERE.

4.  A list of course descriptions — that you attached to the back of your transcript.  List all the classes on your transcript and explain each in a little bit of detail.  Include what you studied, the books you read, and maybe some of the assignments you completed.  You can copy course descriptions from other places if they match exactly what you did.  But it’s better if you write up every course as it was uniquely completed by you — and not by anybody else.  That makes you stand out, too.

5. Examples of your work — if they’ll accept it (and not all colleges do).  Re-read a previous post in this series to get ideas.

Finally, if possible, shoot for:

6. A personal interview — during which you start by being yourself, proceed by responding intelligently to questions, and end by explaining why you’ll be a good fit for the college and what you’d like to do once you get there.

Combining these elements is the best way to get noticed by the colleges you apply to.  Chances are, they’ll notice, and your efforts will pay off for the next four years.

Want to re-read any of the articles? Here’s the list again.

Need more high school information? Click the “high school” tag (below) and just follow the trail.

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago.  A homeschool 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, was industry-acclaimed for illustrating 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. Her latest book, The Ultimate Guide to Florida Homeschooling, is now available on Amazon.

{Day 4} College Prep High Schooling: Tackling Those Tests

Day 4: Tackling Those Tests

[View the entire series HERE]

This topic is one of those good news/bad news kind of things.  I don’t want to burst your bubble, reader, but it’s best you know the truth right off the bat.

The good news is that more and more colleges are finding other ways to evaluate their applicants, and no longer placing so much emphasis on SAT or ACT scores any more.  Some colleges have even become test-optional, meaning they no longer require those tests at all.  They — the test optional schools – are allowing students to demonstrate their mastery and skills in other ways. If you read the previous article in this series, you’ll understand why this is such great news.

The bad news is it’ll probably take some time (maybe even a long time) before all colleges see the logic and follow suit. Meaning, if you’re applying to colleges today, or in the next few years, you’ll be  among the millions of students (yes, millions) taking the SAT or ACT for college admissions each year. You might even be taking the new Classic Learning Test that just came out, the “CLT”.

Armed with this data, you’ll need to be ready — ready to ace the test (as in ready for the English, the Math and maybe the Writing portions), and ready to sit and actually take the test (a different matter altogether).

When homeschooling high school, remember, time is on your side.  There is plenty of time to get ready — if you start early and plan things out.

When homeschooling, there’s plenty of time to get ready for testing. Here’s how.

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In 9th and 10th grades, begin looking at old tests.  Pick up some study guides or find some online.  With a parent’s permission, open an account on the College Board web site and/or the ACT Student Site; and start poking around.

In 10th or 11th grade, take the practice SAT exam.  This test (called PSAT) is given in the fall, once a year.  Contact your local high school to find out when and where to go.  Keep up your grades in your regular coursework, and make sure to address any areas that may be troubling you.  Remember, you’ll be tested on English (including reading), math, and (your choice) writing for the SAT.  The ACT includes a science test, too.

If you want, you can enroll in a study course, too. I recommend multiple modes of studying, as they each offer a little something different, and the more the better.

In both 11th and 12th grades, take the SAT or the ACT — or both.  Some teens test better on one or the other. Take the test at least once in 11th grade and again early in 12th grade.  Because taking the tests offer practice (and usually higher scores each time), some teens actually take the tests 3 times or more.

With planning and practice, every homeschooled teen can be ready for standardized tests.  It’s never a good idea to wait until the last minute, so knowing what to expect will give you a major leg up over the other students who wait until Senior year.

Next and last up is Day 5: Marketing Yourself.

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago.  A homeschool 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, was industry-acclaimed for illustrating 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. Her latest book, The Ultimate Guide to Florida Homeschooling, is now available on Amazon.

{Day 3} College Prep High Schooling — Standing Out

Day 3: Standing Out 

[View the entire series HERE]

I have been talking a lot about courses and curriculum — hands-down, the basis of any good high school plan.

But today, I want to talk about things outside of the regular curriculum.  Things that are not always included in the course line-up. Things that don’t always appear on a transcript.  And, often, things that have nothing to do with traditional academics at all.

Homeschooling high school is more than just taking classes and earning credits.  It’s about learning and expansion in other areas, too. Like competitive sports, performing arts, media production, leadership roles in clubs and camps, inventions and product development, travel, community service, running micro-businesses and all of the other things that teens are passionate about, that fill their days, and fuel their curiosities.

Try to include as many of those things on your transcript as you can, if it seems appropriate to list them (as courses, or as clubs or extra activities along the bottom).  Sometimes, there’s no other place to tell colleges about the great things you do.

On the other hand, a brief description on a piece of paper isn’t always enough to describe what the experience was about, what you learned, and what it meant to you.  Even a carefully worded course description lacks the impact of an actual product submission, an original screenplay, an original song, a well-produced video, a Power Point presentation, or a live presentation to really illustrate what it is, and what you did.

If you can, try to look for colleges that allow the submission of extra projects.  Find out whether the school you’re applying to will accept a link to a video or photo collage.  Ask if you can mail in a sample of your work.  Or, if you can meet with a an admissions officer to explain what you’ve been up to.

Try to look for ways to stand out, not just by telling, but by showing.

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It’s important to tell colleges about all the things you did during the high school years.  But college-bound high schoolers should also try look for ways to stand out, not just by telling, but by showing.  Extra-curricular projects, activities and contributions like these are very appealing to colleges (and scholarship committees).  They explain who you are and set you apart from all the other applicants.  They not only illustrate your strengths, but suggest ways you might contribute while on campus, too.

When homeschooling high school, don’t limit yourself to what is found in a book, a series of lectures or an online course. Remember to pursue other things that interest you, too and dig deeper into areas that will make an impact on your college application.  These experiences just might tip the scales in your favor, resulting in the college acceptance letter of your dreams.

Next up is Day 4: Tackling Those Tests

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago.  A homeschool 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, was industry-acclaimed for illustrating 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. Her latest book, The Ultimate Guide to Florida Homeschooling, is now available on Amazon.

{Day 2} College Prep High Schooling: Shore Up That Writing

Day 2: Shore Up That Writing

[View the entire series HERE]

You just learned about covering the basics.  Those were important.

Now, you’re going to hear about an area that makes an even bigger difference — writing.  Writing is very important.

You already understand the advantages of homeschooling: flexibility in scheduling, freedom to choose courses, plenty of time to study whatever you like, and more.  Well, guess what? It’s those same advantages that make it easily possible to become a good writer in high school.   In fact, with all those great benefits, there’s really no excuse for a homeschooler not to become a good writer.

Writing is important in more ways than students realize.  Writing (sometimes called Composition) as an academic subject is one thing, but remember that writing helps across the entire curriculum, making it possible to succeed in all other areas, too.  Plus, writing helps create knock-out Freshman Resumes (I’ll tell you about that in the next article), score well on standardized writing tests, write winning scholarship essays, conquer college application essays, and more.

It’s silly not to take advantage of the high school years to learn to write.  Many students already do.  But if you haven’t been one of them, well…now’s the time.

Not learning to write — and write well – is just harming yourself. Really.

All that being said, not every mom and dad is comfortable teaching writing.  Not every student knows exactly where to begin, either. It’s okay.  That’s where courses, curriculum and tutors come in. Use them liberally if you must.

Take the high school years to shore up your homeschooler’s writing skills. Here’s why.

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The takeaway from this lesson is to include some quality form of writing instruction you can trust.  For at least a couple of years — or, better yet, throughout high school.  If you plan on getting into college, that is.

Becoming a good writer takes time, practice and feedback.  It isn’t something you can pick up by reading a book and it isn’t something that can be mastered during the last semester of high school, either.   Start early, and write often.

Colleges notice.

Next up is Day 3: Standing Out.

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago.  A homeschool 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, was industry-acclaimed for illustrating 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. Her latest book, The Ultimate Guide to Florida Homeschooling, is now available on Amazon.