No shame in not passing CLEP

I just read an awesome homeschool blog where the mom was celebrating a CLEP pass.  It is very exciting.

I touched on CLEP exams some time back as my hope was that my son would put a ton of college credits behind him before graduating.  But Alas, that did not happen.  He did get 6 English credits that the college he is going to will accept, and plans take one more in math before the end of this school year. Maybe he will even attempt one of the two tests he did not pass last time.    But in the end, he is the type that needs to actually sit through the class to pass it, so his CLEP success has been limited.

Let's face it CLEP exams are HARD.  It is a college level test, so there is no shame in not passing it when you are only 15 or 16 years old. There may be shame in not trying though. For us, even when he did not pass,  it was a learning experience in figuring out his strengths and learning how to study.  Studying for the tests have also given him the exposure needed to pass the classes in college when he takes them formally.

Next year, my daughter plans to spend her entire senior year taking CLEP exams (she failed one as a high school Freshman and hasn't wanted to take one again) Now she plans to take at least 4.  I feel like she will have an easier time as she just barely missed the one she did fail, and now she is older and more mature.

One important thing to remember is that CLEP is not for everyone.  Students should look at the colleges they hope to attend to make sure that CLEP exams will be accepted.  If they aren't, you can still take a few CLEPs to prove your worth, but you may have better success getting AP tests or SATIIs accepted for college credit.


Read: Homeschool Questions and Answers: AP and CLEP Exams


How to Study for the Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CLEP

Getting Carried Away with AP?

Taking the CLEP route

Update on Mystery Illness in Le Roy NY... PANDAS???

The school-contracted illness in LeRoy NY may be coming to light. Dr. Siegel says it could be a chronic strep infection that causes the illness caused PANDAS, but it is being covered up.  Kids and parents are not being given the information on their illness.  This may actually be a public health risk but no one's talking.


There is a serious problem when parents aren't allowed to get information about kids health issues.



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Mystery Illness at Le Roy High School in Upstate NY is troubling

I have read what the experts have to say, but am having a tough time swallowing it.

After baffling doctors there is a diagnosis. A condition called Conversion Disorder.
"This is subconscious, they're unaware of what they're doing," explained Dr. McVige
Which makes Conversion Disorder very complicated to diagnose and treat.
The disorder is caused solely by psychological factors, not a neurological or other medical condition.
"What it is...is maybe stressors, things that are uncomfortable events in your life mount up inside and kind of manifest itself in a physical manner," continued McVige.

12 girls at one highschool all get the same illness and they are calling it hysterical?  I am not a medical expert, but it appears to be environmental to me.  Maybe it's even food-bourne?

(note: changed video... other video stopped working)

Several of them are now being homeschooled.

I wonder if this can't be somehow related to a disorder called PANDAS





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My final word on Georgia Virtual School

I just answered a series of emails regarding previous posts I made about Georgia and so I thought I would share my final word on the program. It is not that I want to discourage homeschoolers from using the program, but I do want homeschoolers to be careful about putting too much weight on the program.. Here is my reply to an email requesting Clarification:

Here's the deal. To be successful you have to spend two-plus hours per day per class. They even say that in orientation, but my kids and I heard that and said " that's just crazy" and spent the hour a day that they've always spent, per subject.  Eventually, we realized that that was not going to cut the mustard and adjusted. It it was too late. 

Top that of with programming glitches (that we were able to prove existed) that deleted completed work and my kids ended up dropping two of thee classes.  I am not saying don't use GAVS.  I am saying tread lightly. Take the one or two classes that you know you can't help your kid with and then make sure she/he has enough time in the schedule to work on it. Keep in mind that six classes through GAVS means 12 hours a day studying. That leaves no time for creative outlets, sports, or sleep.  

On the plus side, it was engaging and my kids learned a ton... More than they felt they had ever learned in any in-person class.  I just think the school system goes overboard to compensate for lack of face time and grading is also harsher than it would be in an actual classroom.

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How did your family react when you announced you were homeschooling?

When I let my family know were were homeschooling, they weren't exactly all nice about it. 

Some of the reactions/ comments:

"One day they are going to outlaw that homeschool mess!"

"I'm not surprised, I always thought you were crazy" (and that was from the supportive person)

Or the relative that came to me at the end of each year and said, "so are you putting the kids back in school next year".  I finally had an emotional outburst and she stopped.

And there there are the relatives that just talked about us behind our back....  now they all want education advice.  Interesting.

Does this video sound familiar?  Actually, I would prefer my family were this nice.



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