College is expensive. So, how do homeschoolers maximize their chances of finding scholarships? Significant funds are available, offering a creative mix of ways to pay for college beyond taking out a giant loan. Strong courses, good grades, community service, and test scores are all factors in earning coveted local and college scholarships. Sports, letters of…
Category: How to
Bins, Binders and Digital Files.
Whether homeschooling or not, parents should keep their own records of their child’s education. ‘What to keep’ depends on the age and interests of your unique student. As parents, we are bombarded with responsibilities, but finding a way to keep track of our child’s life accomplishments is a significant one that often goes unaddressed. This does…
Curriculum Building for All Ages & Stages
When our kids were 7 and 9, we thought homeschooling might be a good fit for us. We started with a Calvert Homeschool boxed curriculum, a basic platform that allowed us to plan our days and supplied a vehicle for growth. Quickly realizing I could make the learning more fun, I added workbooks, reading time,…
Summer Reading How-to Guide
Warm sunshine, cool breezes, gentle rains, sunrises, lazy mornings, beach afternoons, and late nights are all perfect times to read. Reading more (like drinking water or increasing activity!) is a powerful lifestyle change almost everyone aspires to make. Small changes in daily habits can greatly improve our well-being and enjoyment of life. I can’t help…
ACT/SAT for Homeschoolers?
Many colleges claim to be “test-optional” when courting applicants. However, does this apply to homeschoolers? Not necessarily. Most often, even test-optional colleges and universities will want to see some proof of test-taking ability from a college-bound homeschooled student. This should not come as a surprise, and frankly, it is not the only reason to ensure…
Are you a Seasonal Reader?
Seasonal eating has always resonated with me. We aim to prepare meals that contain fruits and vegetables in season—comforting stews in winter, grilled meats with vibrant, fresh salads in summer—with these choices, we can connect deeply with nature’s rhythms. We all do a version of that, right? But what about the natural rhythms of reading?…
How Can I Help?
Do you want to start homeschooling your child but don’t know where to start? Are you unsure how to write Course Descriptions or supply an Official Transcript? Having homeschooled our awesome kids for ten years, I can tell you that you don’t need to do this alone. I know it’s hard to know where to…
Our Power to Pivot
It’s that time of year! Homeschool courses have been carefully chosen, books purchased, and field trips planned. It’s almost October, and we are off and running! And then. What if one or more of the courses is flat? The kids aren’t interested, the website is too complicated, or the material is not resonating. Now what?…
Piano People
When I was a little girl, I wanted to play the piano more than anything. At around 7 or 8 years old, I often walked into our neighborhood piano teacher’s house and sat on her hallway bench to listen to her play. I signed myself up for lessons one day, and my parents were horrified….
Yes to Homeschool Senior Projects
In many schools, a senior project is required for graduation. When schools (& students!) take it seriously, there is a tremendous opportunity for comprehensive learning and personal growth. Senior projects are a worthwhile graduation requirement and a wonderful tradition. Senior or “Capstone” projects are important because they encourage students to think outside their academic boxes…
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