What??? Is something going on that I need to be concerned about? Are home schoolers being coerced into one of the many on-line charter schools? Will I be able to still use my faith-based textbooks? Can I expect surprise visits from a state official if I continue teaching my child at home? So, what am…
Today’s Video: Leaving Standardized Schools for Personalized Learning by Sir Ken Robinson. (17 minutes) Leave the “one size fits all” kind of thinking and create conditions where your children’s natural talents can flourish. https://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_bring_on_the_revolution. Our friends at Exodus Books are offering a 10% discount for clients and friends of Basic Skills. Use the code BSAES2018 on their…
The only D I got in college was an upper division philosophy class titled Values and the Future. The grade for the course was based on one assignment: a paper and an oral presentation. I took the course seriously. I was invested. I put a lot of effort into my research. When it was time…
Today’s Video: Is Home Schooling Right For You? by Dr. Jordan Peterson. (5 minutes) In this brief video, Dr. Peterson explores some reasons for homeschooling, but also the possibly overwhelming challenges that come along with it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGu2U3X9-sk. For a limited time only, our friends at the homeschooling bookstore Exodus are offering a 10% discount for clients and…
A number of years ago I did some research to find out how high school graduation requirements differed from state to state. I did this because more and more families from out of state were joining our diploma program. I wanted to know how our requirements compared. Were they too demanding, too easy, too…
Today’s Video: How to Practice Anything Effectively. Daniel Coyle. (5 minutes) This animated presentation shows explains how and why practice makes perfect. Watch, see, and apply to your home school. Our Mastering Punctuation Flash Cards is one tool you can use to give this a try. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2O6mQkFiiw.
Have you ever discovered that you purchased two copies of a text or teacher guide? Not intentionally, of course. But, you return home after shopping and find that you’ve already got a copy on your shelf of what you just bought? I’ve done it a few times. One purchase I made was a writing curriculum…
She caught me in the hallway right after a group test at Basic Skills and said, “It’s come full circle for you, hasn’t it?” I said, “Yea, it really has.” She had overheard my conversation with a few clients earlier that morning. We had tested them when they were children. Now they were parents themselves,…
We talk a lot about the benefits, but what about the cons of homeschooling high school? Some things you just can’t plan for. Whether it’s an unforeseen circumstance such as family issues, accidents, or an ongoing issue like a move or chronic health problems, it’s just as possible to fall behind in home-school as it…
When was the last time you took algebra? Does it feel like half a million years ago? I’m sure you remember enough math to know it wasn’t quite that many years. Still, maybe you don’t feel qualified to teach some of the high school level subjects your kids need to take. What do you do?…