Homeschool Information

• Homeschooling and the National Core Standards

  31 March 2013 / Common Core Standards, Homeschool Information, News / 0 Comment

  

  How will National Core Standards affect homeschoolers?

  There's been some hoopla lately in the homeschool community over the National Core Standards. I'd like to have a chat about this coming from the perspective of a 25-year homeschooling parent (and academic advisor to the local homeschool community for 16 years)- see if I can allay a few fears.

  Here are some faqs:

  What are the National Core Standards (Common Core, as it is officially called)?

  The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort that established a single set of clear educational standards for kindergarten through 12th grade in English language arts and mathematics that states voluntarily adopt. The standards are designed to ensure that students graduating from high school are prepared to enter credit bearing entry courses in two or four year college programs or enter the workforce. (www.corestandards.org).

  In other words: The Common Core Standards wants to make a list of everything everyone should teach to all their children.
  

  What is a Core Standard?

  Core standards are statements of educational goals. They are broken down into bite-sized (line-item-type) goals in order to (allegedly) make them easy to follow. "Educational standards help teachers ensure their students have the skills and knowledge they need to be successful by providing clear goals for student learning."(www.corestandards.org)

  Here's a sample of what one specific standard looks like:

  English Language Arts Standards » Reading: Literature » Grade 9-10                         

  

  

  "I just felt like adding a cranky face to the post."

  CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.9-10.1 Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

  What does that mean in Homeschooling English?
  

  In English (Language Arts)- the Reading/Literature curriculum for 9th and 10th grade:

  Make sure the student can read a passage and clearly explain what a that passage says (paraphrase it) and give inferences (between-the- lines info). The student's explanation should be well-thought-out and complete.

  Reader's Digest version: Discuss with your student what he/she reads. Have him/her explain the passage and make sure he/she is able to pick up the nuances of the passage.

  Who is creating this Common Core?

  A consortium of educations and researchers in the public sector. These core standards have been adopted for use in the public schools of 45 states.
  

  What subjects are covered?

  English Language Arts and Math (and the ways ELA and Math influence Social Studies and Science- ie: how to read a textbook). When you actually read the standards, we homeschoolers tend to do most of them- in our own manner.
  

  Must homeschoolers follow the Core Standards?

  NO! Homeschoolers are required to follow their individual state's homeschool regulations. That is ALL they must follow. Most states only require certain subjects be taught- not the details on what to teach within each subject. For a list of homeschool requirements, see Home School Legal Defense's website.

  Should we be concerned about the Core Standards.

  Yes and No.

  Here's the No:  It is not likely that federal standards will be forced on private educators like homeschoolers. Even if the legislators got itchy to pass legislation forcing this, they would remember the infamous HR6 of 1994 which attempted to require that all full-time teachers be certified in any subject they teach.  The outcry was so astounding that under the leadership of Dick Armey (R-Tx), the requirement was dropped for private, religious, and home schools.

  Here's the Yes: Many of us homeschoolers are independent thinkers. We want to raise our children in the manner that we feed led by God or our own convictions. Historically, American politics has honored the rights of the individual. In education, traditionally, regulations were passed by state and local governments who knew the most about their local populations.  Over recent years, however, more and more decision-making has slipped over to the federal level. These Core Standards (while not produced by the government itself) are another move to "nationalize" education.

  How will the Core Standards affect homeschooling my kids, then?

  The major effect you will see is in your textbooks. If you use a secular program or even a Christian program, the textbooks will be aligned to the Common Core. In actual effect, you will mostly see some tweaks in terminology. (Every text will use uniform terms. You may have noticed if you've hopped curricula that each publisher has had its own terminology. This will be standardized.)

  Achievement tests, such as the Terra Nova 3, are now aligned to the Common Core. Again, homeschoolers generally cover the Core Standards in our educational programs, so our students who are required to test should do just fine. If you are nervous, do a practice test/curriculum.

  Do I need to take any action?

  Hey, you're homeschooling, aren't you. Then of course you take action. It's what homeschoolers do!

  Here are some action steps:

  1. Join Home School Legal Defense Association.

  You shouldn't homeschool without it. They provide homeschool-related legal support. ALSO, HSLDA's team has powerful lobbyists, they advocate on a federal level for legislation and support of homeschooling.

  2. Stay up-to-date on important homeschool research and results at National Home Education Research Institute.
  

  Nheri reports on solid research being completed on homeschooling. You can find out about the 2 million homeschoolers in the US: that their achievement test chores are higher, on average, than their non-homeschool peers and MUCH more.

  3. Pray.

  Naturally! We should be praying for our leaders and all those in authority!

  Homeschooling means great education, great families, great ideas, and GREAT opportunities to pray and to remain eternally vigilant.

  SO, be encouraged, not intimidated! (And check out our FREEBIES, terrific curriculum, and prayer journals at our Ebookstore!)
  

• Making World Languages Fun in Your Homeschool!

  21 March 2013 / Curricula, Foreign Languages, High School, Homeschool Information, homeschooling middle school, News, Teaching / 4 Comments

   

  

  Kym and her second homeschool graduate

  Are you teaching Spanish, French, Russian, German, Italian, Latin...or any other World Language to your homeschooler?  Want to know how to make it fun?  Good for you!

  Making language learning fun is a big part of success for both teacher(s) and student(s).  Think back to when you were learning any subject.  Didn't you want to spend more time practicing the things that were fun to you?

  Whether you're teaching an elementary, middle or high school student, read on for a few of my favorite tips on teaching world languages in a one on one situation:

  -Incorporate vocabulary that is meaningful to the student. 

  If I learn all the words for the people, places and things around me, I will think of them each time I see them.  Are the words for computers and other technology-related items more relevant to you and your student or the words for farm animals?  One of my favorite ways to do this with high schoolers is to have them pull words from their texts and Facebook messages.

  -Use your target language in other fun activities that your student enjoys. 

  

  One of our favorite movies to watch with subtitles

  Sing songs in Spanish.  Make and serve a homemade Japanese meal together.  Connect with someone like my French friends that I met in the Grand Canyon, Christine and Alan, and become Facebook friends. Go to a Chinese church service.  One of my students' favorites is to watch a TV show of movie, with which they are very familiar, using the target language with English subtitles or vice versa.

  -Play games! 

  Some of my favorites are Veo, Veo, Algo... (like I spy something...) hangman, crosswords and word searches.  You can be the "leader" then reverse roles and have your student be the "leader".

  -Write

  One of my favorite applications of this one is having the kids write and present their own "material".  Anything goes! Younger and earlier level homeschoolerss may start with a short conversation, poem or skit.
  

  -Use your target language in other fun activities that your student enjoys. 

  What do your students do together in English?   As they gain more vocabulary and confidence, they can write or do their translations of some of their favorite songs or learn dances.  I even had a class write, perform and film  a "school" newscast.  They still remember those lines!

  -Play games! 

  We love to play games (you'll be able to get most of them in my upcoming release from 7Sisters).  While scrabble and hangman are obvious favorites for the youngers/newbies, we had a blast playing Pictionary, Smash Mouth and Manzanas con Manzanas in my advanced class.

  Whether you use Rosetta Stone, Learnables, Flip Flop Learning with my amiga Senora Gose, the high school curriculum I'm developing or something you've created yourself, remember to laugh together.  Fun is one of the keys to successfully mastering any world language!

  What are some interesting methods you have used in teaching World Languages to your kids?

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  Don't forget our freebies such as Carry Each Others' Burdens (how to truly help a friend in difficult times), How to Start a Homeschool Co-op, Career Exploration Questionnaire, and MORE.

   

   

  
  

• How to Make the Decision to Homeschool

  08 February 2013 / Homeschool Information / 2 Comments

  Homeschooling is actually NOT a good idea for every family.

  Deciding that you will homeschool your child next year is a big deal, not something to be handled lightly.

  Here are some things to include in your decision-making process:

  1.  Prayer.  Seeking God for wisdom and guidance is where  this process should start.

  2.  Honest talk with your spouse.  Whether you are automatically on the same page about this decision or not, solid, honest, ongoing communication about the decision-making process is crucial.  Homeschooling is not just an educational choice; it is a lifestyle choice.  A homeschool led by parents who are not in unity is a messy thing.

  3.  Expert Advice.  Read information from reputable folks in the homeschooling field.  Do your research.  HomeSchool Legal Defense Association is a great place to start for information.  Read books about homeschooling, or even if you are not a book-reader there are many wonderful blogs and homeschool forums online.

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  All of the curriculum and enrichment resources in the EBookstore came out of 7Sisters' many years of homeschooling our own children.

  Click here to see the wide array of real-life-tested materials we offer, comfortably priced to fit into your homeschool budget.

  ===================================

  4.  Personal Advice.  Talk to homeschoolers you know.  Ask them hard questions.  Ask them dumb questions.  Then go away and think of some more questions for the next time you get together!  There's no place like another homeschool to get ideas about what homeschooling might be like for your family.

  5.  Talk to your kids.  Especially if your children are older and you will be bringing them home after time in traditional school, it's important to hear their thoughts, expectations, and concerns.

  6.  Count the cost.  Homeschooling affects finances in the family.  It can cause tension with grandparents or extended family members.  It requires lots of time; is there a parent who can truly be available enough to effectively homeschool?  Do you have a local homeschool community?  There are pros and cons to homeschooling alone and to homeschooling with regular involvement in co-ops, day-schools, and other homeschool community options.

  7.  Search your own heart.  What are your dreams for your children?  What are your struggles with parenting?  What are your goals for your own life, career, etc.?  How will all of these things be impacted by your choice to homeschool or not?

  Winter is a great time of year to dig into this decision-making process.  Waiting until summer puts too much time-pressure on you; start examining your options early and you will have time to make a wise decision about homeschooling your child.

  What else would you recommend including in the decision-making process?

• 5 Things to Do When the End of the Year is Too Far Away

  25 January 2013 / Healthy Living, Homeschool Information / 0 Comment

  I don’t know about you but each January I am SO ready for the end of the school year. Sometimes it gets downright discouraging thinking that math (or science or ...).

  

  Marilyn's granddaughter wishing she could go outside

  Maybe it is cabin fever? Maybe a little burnout? Whatever the cause, it doesn’t eliminate the fact that all the schoolwork must and will get done before the end of the school year.

  So here are some things that help me, hope they help you:

  1) Make one major switch-out.

  It may be time to face the fact that the curriculum you loved for the past umpteen years doesn’t work. If you are waking up every day dreading that text- think about what it is like for your kid?

  It’s late, but maybe you should dump it and get a different text or style.

  I know this year, I had to toss the long-beloved Teaching Textbooks Algebra. While I loved the earlier texts, it wasn’t working with my son’s learning style and every lesson was an ordeal. We stepped down a level to Globe Fearon’s Pacemaker series, and are blasting through. Just had to happen.

  2) Have an adventure.

  Do something in your happy place.

  My 11^thgrader’s adventure is playing in his band- or even playing his guitar at home. He loves playing and singing. It gets him into his happy

  

  Most of In Retrospect is in this picture

  zone. Happy zones can leave a lingering gladness that carries over into tiresome academic subjects.

  For me it is going on a prayer retreat. Imagine: sitting alone with God and His creation for hours.

  

  It is good for me to be away with God and the birds

  That is my happy zone. It will carry me for weeks.

  3) Do some healthy self-talk.

  Instead of, “I can’t stand this.” Try, “I can do anything for ___ weeks. (By God’s grace and with His help, anyway.”)

   

  How about some healthy humorous self-talk?

  On really tough days, I quote one of my favorite poets, Archy the coachroach (Archy and Mehitabel by Don Marquis):

  if you get gloomy just
  take an hour off and sit
  and think how
  much better this world                         
  is than hell

   

  4) Do a countdown.

  How many days till the end of the text or year?

  My 11^th grader did this for years. He wrote on the upper right hand corner of his texts how many lessons are left after today.

  

  Local umbrella school's homeschoolers praying

  5) Pray.
  

  I know, it sounds like a platitude. It sounds cheesy. But at the end of the day, our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.

  What are some things you do to help you get through till the end of the year?

   

  BTW- To help strengthen your homeschool journey, we have 3 prayer journals in the e-bookstore. They contain prayer activities, inspiration, and ideas. Blessings!

  Here's an encouraging thought from Sabrina to brighten your day:

  
  

• 5 Tips to Help You Plan Your Homeschool Winter

  24 January 2013 / Healthy Living, Homeschool Information, News, Teaching / 0 Comment

  Homeschool Winter!              

  

  This was quite a winter! Lots of phys ed snow-shoveling!

  
  

  We have good times and bad times. Here's how to plan for making the best out of the good and handle the bad:

  1) Good times: This is the best time to switch out mediocre curriculum. If it ain't broke don't fix it, but if it is broken try something new. (Check our product page for short literature study guides, poetry writing guides, career exploration, social skills, and psychology.)

  2) Good times: Celebrate winter! Log phys ed hours shoveling and playing in the snow or make some crafts or some music in your nice warm house. Find something to do that you wouldn't ordinarily do and make that your homeschool day.

  3) Bad times: Cabin fever- ugh!Make

  

  Ski trips are good ideas, also. Each year the local homeschool youth group heads out for a day of skiing

  hot chocolate and have everyone watch something hilarious on tv or You Tube. The warm milk has a calming effect on irritable nerves and laughter releases healthy neurochemicals to make you feel better (as in: A merry heart doeth good like a medicine...).

  4) Bad times: Winter blues- blah! Not enough sunlight- so get some natural/full-spectrum light bulbs or a sunlight. It will help your brain make the neurotransmitters needed to whip the blues. THEN move your body- run outside, climb stairs, play Wii Fit, just do something!
  

  5) Smart times: That's how I feel when I do solid scheduling. I like Sabrina's Scheduling Backwards (FREE download) to help with this!
  

  In other words, winter is time in your homeschool to plan to make good things better and bad things better, too! Plan some fun, some new stuff, some self-care- and it will be good homeschooling times!

  Here's a homeschool success moment (kinda-sorta) from Sabrina's video journal on YouTube - enjoy!

• How to Plan for Homeschooling High School

  20 January 2013 / Career Exploration, High School, Homeschool Information, Literature, Mathematics, News, Transcripts / 0 Comment

  

  Those last days of middle school for our boys...

  We've been getting questions, so here are a few answers. This is a classic post about homeschooling high school.

  Middle school will become high school soon enough... How do you plan for homeschooling those high school years?

  It will help if you plan for:

  1) Academics that are tailored to your teens' strengths

  Subjects that are of interest or in the strengths of your teen should be emphasized. Aim for higher-powered curriculum and rich, stretching  experiences in these areas. If your teen is an avid reader- go for advanced level Literature courses. If your teen is good at math, you might plan for AP math from a good online provider such as 7 Star Academy.

  2) Academics that compensate for weaknesses

  Subjects that are extremely difficult for your teen can be taught at a simpler level (for example, if your teen still needs introductory level writing material, it is better to learn that well in 9th grade before pushing on). Try to major on the strengths and minor on the weaknesses.

  3) Help your teen discover new strengths and interests                                   

  

  Rich experiences help teens grow- good stuff for high school

  Teach out-of-the box subjects such as Human Development, plan unusual field trips, volunteer with new organizations, plan to do Career Exploration.

  4) Plan for friends and fun

  Homeschooling high school is a great opportunity to develop social networks and discover things about themselves by hanging out with friends.

  5) Plan for extracurriculars and competitions

  Colleges like to see extracurriculars on transcripts: sports, choirs, orchestras, service organizations, youth groups, chess clubs, etc. Also, a few competitions show drive and determination. Plan for opportunities for these.

  High school are the most fun years of all for homeschooling: time for rich education, family, fun, and growth. The most important thing to plan is this: Plan to enjoy this time yourself!

  What are some things you are planning for your homeschool high schooler?

  +++++++++++++++++

  Human Development, Psychology, and Career Exploration. These are courses written from a Christian worldview to give our homeschoolers life skills and rich transcript subjects. Download them today!

  AND introduce career exploration with our simple FREE Career Exploration Questionnaire. Get the ball rollling!

   

   

   

   

   

• Homeschool Trivia for Christmas Break

  26 December 2012 / Homeschool Information, Humor / 0 Comment

  1.  Which of the U.S. Presidents depicted on Mt. Rushmore were homeschooled?

  2.  What famous television sitcom family was homeschooled?  (hint:  the daughter was named for a day of the week)

  3.  In what year was the word "homeschool" added to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary?

  4.  On what game show did a homeschooled boy win $10,000.00 in 2005?

  5.  What famous industrialist was homeschooled before he went on to establish a steel empire?

  6.  Homeschooling families in the U.S. at this time typically have a median income that is:

  - less than traditional-schooling families

  - the same as traditional-schooling families

  - more than traditional-schooling families

  7.  The median amount spent per student on homeschooling educational materials in the U.S. last year was:

  - $200 - $400

  - $400 - $600

  - $600 - $800

  8. According to research by the U.S. government's Dept. of Education, what is the number one reason homeschooling parents give for educating their children at home?

  9. What is the name of the musical comedian who has helped oodles of homeschoolers laugh at themselves, and helped the world understand that we DO actually have a sense of humor?

  10.  Who is more excited about Homeschool Christmas Break....students, or parents?

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  7 Sisters Homeschool hopes that you and your homeschool family are having a wonderful Christmas season. Blessings from our homes to yours!

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  ANSWERS:

  1.  Which of the U.S. Presidents depicted on Mt. Rushmore were homeschooled?

  All of them were homeschooled for most (if not all) of their academic careers.

  2.  What famous television sitcom family was homeschooled?  (hint:  the daughter was named for a day of the week)

  The Addams Family.  The original episode was in 1964, and showed the children (Pugsley and  Wednesday) being homeschooled.

  3.  In what year was the word "homeschool" added to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary?

  1998

  4.  On what game show did a homeschooled boy win $10,000.00 in 2005?

  Jeopardy.  12-year-old Joseph Henares won the  Back-to-School edition in September, 2005.

  5.  What famous industrialist was homeschooled before he went on to establish a steel empire?

  Andrew Carnegie.

  6.  Homeschooling families in the U.S. at this time typically have a median income that is:

  - the same as traditional-schooling families

  7.  The median amount spent per student on homeschooling educational materials in the U.S. last year was:

  - $400 - $600

  8. According to research by the U.S. government's Dept. of Education, what is the number one reason homeschooling parents give for educating their children at home?

  The opportunity to provide moral and religious instruction in their child's schooling

  9. What is the name of the musical comedian who has helped oodles of homeschoolers laugh at themselves, and helped the world understand that we DO actually have a sense of humor?

  Tim Hawkins.  (We posted his you tubes about homeschooling below.)
  

  10.  Who is more excited about Homeschool Christmas Break....students, or parents?

  ANSWERS WILL VARY!! 

   

  Thanks to Dr. Brian Ray's study at National Home Education Research Institute (Dr. Ray was on our sister Vicki's graduate school research committee) and the HSLDA website for some of the information in this trivia quiz!

• Hobbits and Homeschooling

  13 November 2012 / High School, Homeschool Information, News / 1 Comment

  We're so excited about the Hobbit movie coming out soon. In honor of the event, here is Marilyn's classic post:

  Recently, my oldest daughter and I visited Hobbiton, the movie set where The Lord of the Rings movies were filmed, and where production of the two “Hobbit” movies (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again) was done. Aside from the obvious connection that this is really good literature, what does this have to do with homeschooling? (And, yes, we were in New Zealand, where Dana did her study abroad).

  

  Seeing the set and hearing the explanation of what was real and what was a facade or an outright fake (the “tree” on top of Bilbo’s house is a cleverly put-together puzzle of wire and “leaves” created to look like a tree and most of the hobbit holes only have about two feet before they become a dirt wall) made me think about how important it is to teach our children what is “real” and what is a cleverly disguised fake.

   

  This illusion in movie-making is, of course, great for entertainment and imagination. In real life, it is paramount that our children understand the difference between what is real and what isn’t. Especially important is that they be able to discern between a true “angel of light” and the clever imitations of Satan.

   

  

  Although petite, Dana is not really this small!

  Learning to think critically (not cynically) is a key component. Critical thinking and spiritual discernment together make our children less likely to succumb to Satan’s ploys.   If critical thinking is not a part of your child’s curriculum, it should be.

   

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  For a wonderful tool for studying J.R.R. Tolkein's wonderful book, download Vicki Tillman's study guide for The Hobbit.  $3.99 provides vocabulary, discussion questions, background information and answer key....a good study guide really brings a great piece of literature to life for your student!

  

   

• Why on Earth do You Homeschool?

  11 September 2012 / Homeschool Information, News, The Home / 0 Comment

  

  Homeschooling- lots of explorations

  Got a kick out of Mylissa Williams' post, So You Think You Can Homeschool?  So I asked myself, the ageless question, "Why on earth DO I homeschool?"

  I'll tell you why: I want to equip my children to maximize their unique potentials and encourage them to follow the call of Christ.

  I believe God created each person with gifts and talents that He intends to use as they grow up. I believe it is my job, as much as is in me, to help my homeschoolers explore, adventure, study, stretch and pray- so that they can recognize and respond to those gifts and callings.

  In early years, this is done through adventures, reading books about adventures, and role modeling.

  In high school, this is done through adventures, studies, personal prayer, and specific career exploration experiences.

  Here are my favorite, must-do career exploration activities:

  

  Learning to pray together

  -7 Sisters Homeschool Career Exploration Workbook and FREE Career Exploration Questionnaire Together these look at learning from role models; and learning about stewardship, work, and family values; successes; talents; interests; and God's will.

  -Mynextmove.gov  Free website from the US Department of Labor, explores interests.

  -Myers-Briggs Personality Test FREE at humanmetrics.com (Called the Jung Typology Test because the personality theory was developed by Carl Jung.)  This free quiz examines personality. Be sure to click the link for the Kiersey report for your homeschooler's personality.

  -Strengthsfinder 2.0 by Tom Rath. Awesome, personalized look at your personal strengths.

  We do these periodically in my house just for fun (I know, we're strange...).

  What are some ways you have invested in your child's potentials and callings?

  Here's Sabrina's vlog on Oral History papers. This is a great way to learn family history and get your homeschooler thinking about gifts and interests that run in the family:

   

  
  

   

• Case Study: Student Who is Clueless about the Future

  23 July 2012 / Career Exploration, Homeschool Information, News, Transcripts / 0 Comment

  

  Me NOT advising at the moment

  In my many years as academic advisor for our local homeschool umbrella school, I have often noticed that 11th graders panic if you ask them the million-dollar question: "SO, do you have any ideas about God's plans for you after you graduate?"

  Ben (name and identifying details changed) looked downcast when I asked him that question. "I've never had any idea about the future. I guess there's something wrong with me..."

  "That's not true, Ben. You are perfectly normal- most kids don't have a clue about what's coming next! I just ask so that it gets your creative thinking and praying going."

  Then we outlined some solid ideas to help him open his heart and mind to things God may be showing him:

  1) Get comfortable praying about it- and waiting, waiting, waiting.

  2) Get familiar with God's voice/leading by knowing His words and work in Scripture.

  3) Get lots of rich and varied experiences: out-of-the-box courses, unusual field trips, service opportunities, involvement in causes.

  4) Get solid experience speaking and writing (helps conquer his fears and opens doors for success). Speaking of writing skills: we just added Intermediate Guide to High School Essay Writing- excellent follow-up to the Introductory Guide. ON SALE 20% off this week- just $5.49)

  5) Get inspired by real-life role models: family, friends, church leaders, teachers, missionaries, leaders in communities and causes.

  6) Get inspired by real-life "paper" models (role models from books like Corrie Ten Boom, Brother Andrew, Chuck Colson, Mother Theresa, Joni Eareckson Tada,).

  7) Get introspective with some solid career exploration work: apprenticeships, courses, personality tests  

  Ben agreed to a rigorous year of seeking God and lots of experiences. His Bible study and prayer earned him a Religion credit. He took a psychology and an art course to explore something completely out of his experience. After completing the Career Exploration Workbook, he did a short apprenticeship with his youth pastor, interviewed his pastor and a missionary friend (not that he felt already called to the ministry- he was simply gathering experiences) and read 8 books on Christian role models. These worked together to create a Career Exploration credit. Lastly, he joined the local homeschool Rhetoric Team and did some solid writing courses. It was a busy year for him (since he also had core academics) but by the end of the year, he knew himself much better, felt more self-confident, and felt he was able to clarify a couple of possible career choices.

  What do you do with your homeschoolers to help them gain confidence in God's thoughts about their future?

  Here's Sabrina's advice on Character-Building Curriculum: