Homes Schooling High School

Many families are nervous about homeschooling through high school, but it can be done.  I wanted to share with you a great resource for building your confidence.

Lee Binz, TheHomeScholar.com, has a plethora of resources to walk you through the land of high school.  Transcripts, credits, records, scholarships, college admissions, and more.

This is a webinar that Lee Binz did several months ago.  She covers a lot of what you will need to traverse the land of high school.

Beginning Charlotte Mason Study Resources

I have spent the last several weeks reviewing what I already have.  I have much of Donna Goff's writings since she was my first official mentor 10 years ago.  Much of her resources are found at Mentoring Our Own and Moor House Homeschool

I have also pored over An Old Fashioned Education and Ambleside Online,  Ambleside took me to After Thoughts Blog where I found 2 fabulous blog series.  31 Days of CM Myths and 31 Days of Charlotte Mason.  Those were vital for me; especially the Myths one.  If I hadn't received that insight, I think I would have read through her works through the eyes of the myths I have assumed over the past 15 years.

My plan is to begin my formal study with A Journey Through Charlotte Mason's 20 Principles. I will read the guide myself this summer.  In the Fall I want to host a monthly group study.  If that actually comes to fruition I will continue at that pace.  If not, I will continue on my own.  After that, I might also use Penny Gardner's Charlotte Mason Study Guide or read straight through the 6 Volumes.

I'm excited.

The Self-Propelled Advantage

I love teaching.  I love sharing in the learning of my children.  It brings me joy and I feel fulfilled.  I love planning our school days and spending them with my children.  I could even do a decent job of it when I had just a couple young children.  But then my family grew and they started growing up.  I became way too busy.  I even found myself spending up to 8 hours a day teaching only three of my children.  Something was a miss, and I was quickly becoming overwhelmed, the one thing I preach against being.

Even when my children were young, I saw the wisdom of working myself out of a job.  I wanted my children to become self-motivated, self-learners.  This has always been my desire, however it didn't seem to be happening.  For some reason, my methods were not giving the desired outcome.  But I wasn't sure where the problem was. 

So, I do what I usually do when I find I am in over my head: I PRAY.  

And what do I find? Underwhelmed Mom, Joanne Calderwood from URtheMom.com.  She teaches the why and how of teaching self-learning.  I browsed her website and learned some very valuable things.  The first one struck me as a DUH!!  That "duh", was simply this: Give them the planners.  I had a beautiful school planner wherein I kept track of everything.  I had check lists for the kids but I kept the control.  I realized that if they were going to really own their own education, they needed more power.  I quickly made some planners for them.  That simple thing did WONDERS.  They could see what they needed to do, how long it would take, and then have the joy of crossing it off when done. 

 I decided to order her new book (the Kindle version is less than $8.00).  I am glad I did.  I had many of the tools already, but in this format, I was able to put the pieces to create a better whole.

Not just for Home Schoolers:
The Message is for All Students

She also has several hours worth of audio over at Blog Talk Radio that is fascinating to listen to.

The thing I like most about Joanne message is that it is Not just for Home Schooled Kids.  Her message is for all students and all parents. 

My days are already easier.  I am less stressed and have the time and energy to do more fun things with them.  In other words, the quality of our time is better.  My vision for them has expanded.  

The kids are less stressed and they have more time to enjoy.  I still have a lot of heart training to do (mine as well as theirs. After all, it was mostly my attitude that needed tweaking.)  But I am so much closer to my goal of having self-motivated learners.  

I challenge you to give your children the Self-Propelled Advantage.

The Call To Brilliance

I wanted to share about a book I love. “The Call To Brilliance” by Resa Steindel Brown. This is a true story about a small water plumbing company that sponsored a small private school for the children of its employees. These children were able to work on their studies in the mornings and spend the afternoons playing in the neighboring 20 acres of fruit orchard, building zip-lines across the ravine, turning a barn into a theater and so much more.

The author’s oldest son did not read fluently until he was 10. He entered college when he was 13. Her youngest son did not read until he was 11 and entered college at the age of 12. This became typical of all the students attending this school, yet none were ever considered exceptional. They simply allowed the children to explore, find their interests, and soar. They trusted that their children would learn. If trust is not involved teachers have to try to create interest, teach to all the levels of ability and learning styles. They then have to test to see if it worked. None of this artificial prodding was needed in this atmosphere. They trusted the children, and the children responded.

This is probably the most inspiring book on education I have read in a LONG Time. I will be adding it to my list of influential educational books. I received so many epiphanies while reading this book: epiphanies on educational theory, practical application, and vision. I am just blown away. My vision is clearer! My own confidence is greater! I do not think I have ever been so sure that this is what I want to do for me, for my children, and anyone else who wants this too. I see so much more potential than I have before! So siblings and any other interested persons please read this book. Would you like to join me? What do you think? I really want to know. I am looking at this as a practical thing not just theoretical; I want the pros and the cons.