What can you say about math? Very few students have neutral feelings about this subject. They either love it or hate it. Those who dislike it raise the question, “When will I ever use this?” The answer is from Algebra 1 on, maybe never, at least directly. My wife and I stayed at a bed…
Four years of English is a pretty common graduation standard no matter what state you live in. It is considered one of four core subjects, the others being math, science, and social studies. Ninth and tenth grade courses typically consist of two or more of following elements: Grammar: When thinking about grammar, think parts of…
Your high school transcript is a one-page summary of the courses you have taken over four years. While it is possible to meet graduation requirements in three years, the norm is four. Likewise, some students take five years to complete their course of study and have good reasons for their decision. They weren’t slacking. The…
Previously I explained how to create records for academic subjects that you put on your transcript. I suggested the following four principles for record keeping when it comes to academic subjects. Keep it reasonable Keep it objective Keep it simple Write it down These same principles apply to courses that are experience-based and don’t fall into…
A number of years ago I had a conversation with a home schooling parent whose family lived out of state. She told me she had a notebook of documentation that served as “evidence” of what she was doing as a homeschooler. Every minute was accounted for. She was supposed to log 6 to 7 hours…
My youngest daughter, Katelyn, was over to our home last week to watch the movie, Free Solo, with me. This outstanding documentary follows Alex Honnold, the first climber to climb Yosemite’s El Capitan Wall, a 3,000.00 foot assent, without ropes or safety gear. This climb up El Capitan would be the first of it’s kind. One misstep…
The saying, “He who pays the piper calls the tune” is true when it comes to accreditation. Years ago, I was contacted by a top leader within the Oregon Department of Education. He wanted to travel up from Salem and meet with me to discuss the possibility of Basic Skills becoming a charter school. Soon…
For almost 30 years Basic Skills offered a diploma program designed to help parents home school their children through high school. However, we are no longer accepting new students. As expected, we’re getting questions about replacement programs. To help you find an option that’s a good fit for your family, I’ve decided to write a…
Six years ago I almost made a decision that had I followed through with, I would have regretted for the rest of my life. Not that I haven’t made decisions I’ve regretted; I have, and I’m sure many of you have too. In this case, my father, then 85 years old and living on…
I know. I’m know I over-reacting. But sometimes it feels good to be able to say, “I told you so.” Many years ago, students taking classes at Basic Skills began to bring technology with them- cell phones. I thought this was totally unnecessary. I thought it would become a big-time distraction and get in the way…