Homeschooler Tours Wesleyan College, Macon

We toured Wesleyan College in Macon Georgia yesterday.   It is a women's college and probably an excellent fit for our girly-girl.  CAN YOU SAY WELCOMING?
 They had a sign at the door for Jordan, and had the right directors available to meet her needs based on her projected major.  Even though she has two full years before she even applies, they gave her the royal treatment.

My only reservation is that the buildings are very, very old.  But it is the first Chartered
College for Women EVER.... and they do seem to be in constant renovation.  It is at the top of my list for her, and so far one of her favorites also.   Oh and the financial information they gave is invaluable.

Homeschooling is not an issue with them.  Just get the required SAT/ACT scores and be a good fit for the college.   
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources

Homeschoolers Tour Auburn

We had the pleasure of touring Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama this morning. WAR EAGLE!
 It is a couple of hours from Atlanta. We stopped there on the way home from Destin.

The campus is Gorgeous. It is in a vibrant college town, you can get around well without a car... it the student has a car, they won't need to use it often.
They have a Mac Store in the book store... my son was in heaven.  
They have many majors from science to liberal arts, to Fine arts.  It was actually a good fit for both of my kids.
They recently built private room housing... though they are difficult to get in, but possible.


Regarding homeschoolers:

• They require no more or no less from homeschoolers than from traditional students.  
• They do advise homeschoolers to get a high SAT &/or ACT score.  That would ensure entry and scholarships as well.
• They advised us to make sure they get all the required core courses. 
• Biology is one of th required science courses... 2 required lab sciences.
• Algebra and Algebra 2 must be included in the 4 math requirements.
• 3 yrs social studies
• 4 years language arts.
• We were told that the students need to have a high GPA and that they weigh the homeschool transcript no differntly than the public school transcript. 
• The only minus is that they don't apply college credit for Clep or AP exams.  ...Though they encourage the rigorous work.  They do accept dual college enrollment credits.  They also accept weighted grades from classes when CLEPs or APs are taken.

Both the tour guide and the student adivsor were very animated, fun, and encouraging.   It was a great experience.  We are visiting Wesleyan Woman's College in Macon next, then we will be heading home.

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Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources

Quite an influx of homeschoolers this fall

I can hardly believe how many people have informed me that they intend to start homeschooling in the fall. Just this week it must have been five families. All of these families have small kids below grade 4. I am very excited for them.

I have share my favorite homeschool book

I have shared my favorite curricula for young kids time4learning.com, and shared a few homeschool email lists too.

If there are any other new homeschoolers out there, don't be afraid to ask questions and advice from people who have homeschooled for a while and don't be afraid. Before long you will be an old pro too.

Carnival of Educators, Summer Break Edition

We are on summer break here... sort of.  As year-round homeschoolers we don't really take the summer off, but we scale back the school work and take off any weeks when we are actually on vacation. 

Where it relates to the Carnival of Educators, I need a break... I really, really do.  So I am discontinuing this carnival for a while planning to re-start it in the fall. 

Until then, please patronize the Carnival of Education.

Here is this weeks Carnival Entries:

Welcome to the June 9, 2010 edition of carnival of educators.



Basil presents Our Society of Grades posted at Teen College Education, saying, "The truth about how our society is raising children and teens. Grades are the only thing that matter and points are more important than experience."


Cody Lettau presents Ten Tips for College Preparation posted at College Conundrum.


Mathew Needleman presents Good Teaching Should Be Like Pulling Teeth (Sometimes) posted at Creating Lifelong Learners.

Aaliyah Williams presents The Ultimate Guide to the Special Education Teacher Career posted at Masters in Special Education, saying, "With over two million new special education teaching careers expected this year, you might think about seeking a career in this field. What is involved in this career track, and what can you expect as far as the training you’ll need, the earnings you’ll make and other related occupations that might capture your interest?"


Baily Hayden presents 5 Social Media Sites for Scientists posted at Masters in Clinical Research, saying, "Throughout history Scientists have made the most important discoveries by working together, bouncing ideas off one another, and helping each other succeed. Now, through social networking and media sites, scientists have even more access to working together from all over the world."


Christine Seivers presents Top 10 Reasons People Need to Get an EKG posted at EKG Technician Training.


Fred Lee presents It’s Just Adderall: College Students High on Focus for Finals posted at Parenting Squad.


george.janet866 presents The Ultimate Guide to Informatics Open Courseware posted at Masters in Informatics, saying, "Students of Informatics can find the leading edge resources to analyze, research and create computer systems and technology online. Open Courseware is everywhere, making answers and information easily accessible to students."


Rick Sincere presents Graduation Day at PVCC posted at Rick Sincere News and Thoughts, saying, "When Piedmont Virginia Community College had its 37th annual commencement on May 14, the featured speakers were Virginia Secretary of Education Gerard Robinson and Joshua Mlcoch, who graduated that day with two degrees. I caught both speeches on video."

Jack Benny presents How to: Get an Online Degree While You?re in the Army, Navy or Air Force posted at Military Online Colleges, saying, "There are many universities and colleges across America that offer quality online education to the men and women that serve in the American armed forces."


Scott H presents What Are the Largest Online Universities in the US? posted at top 10 online universities, saying, "Online colleges and universities have gained popularity over the years for the flexibility and freedom they offer to their students. It's interesting to note which ones are the largest."


Maureen Fitzsimmons presents 7 Free Web Apps for Distance Learners posted at CNA Class Online, saying, "If you have access to the internet there is a wealth of different web apps and even iPhone apps available to distance learners and eLearners, giving everyone a fair opportunity to learn important knowledge and skills that is essential for achieving their dreams."

Fred Lee presents The Lasting Impact of Daycare posted at Parenting Squad.


Pamela Jorrick presents Aquarium of the Pacific posted at Blah, Blah, Blog.


Fred Lee presents Got Tuition? College Loan Program About to Change posted at Parenting Squad.


Isabella Smith presents 10 Reasons to Be Glad You Didn’t Go to High School in China posted at Online University Lowdown, saying, "Discipline is a huge part of Chinese lifestyle and this introduced at an early age and drilled in through high school, giving students a true taste of real life in China."

Wendy Piersall presents Summer Worksheets posted at Classroom Jr., saying, "Here's a big selection of summer worksheets, printables and coloring pages to make summer skills review fun."

Josh Andrews presents Win a Roku Box!! Father’s Day Contest posted at SuperCoolSteals.

Wise Bread presents Degrees of Frugality: 7 Tips for the College-Bound posted at Wise Bread.

hendrik presents How to Improve our English posted at Hendrik's English Journal.



That concludes this edition. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our

blog carnival index page.

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources

Algebra 2 for Dummies for Homeschool

 Of all of the Algebra 2 curriculum options available!  My son started the year with an Algebra 2 workbook and Khan Academy for Algebra 2.  

After a month or two, he came to me and asked for Algebra 2 for Dummies.  "For Dummies!?"  I asked.... "For Dummies" he replied.  I purchased the set... a textbook and a workbook.

He completed it today and we went over his work together.  Here is how he used it.

First, he read the chapter.  Then if he wasn't clear on it, he Googled the concept and looked at videos and sites like AAAmath.com.  Then he printed a free worsheet on the topic.  Finally, when he felt comfortable, he used the workbook for his chapter tests.

His reasoning for his approach is that Algebra 2 for Dummies should be used as a review for someone who has already taken the class, or for extra help for someone taking the class.  Not as a first exposure. Still, that and the internet was all he needed

He scored a 91% for the year... starting off in the high 80's and then got better as he progressed.  He tackled this subject with NO help from me... I even offered to hire a tutor many times when he announced he was stuck.  He politely declined and soldiered on.  I think he is as proud of his accomplishment as I am of him.

Now on to Trig!

He is taking it as a quick summer course using online videos and this book:




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources

Colleges On Our Long List: University of Redlands

Yes, we have started looking at colleges with a rising Jr, and a rising Sophmore.  Our long list (for our son) should turn into a short list in a year. 

As a homeschooling beginning to start the college search process with her children, I am drawn to colleges that allow you to design your own program. The University of Redlands in California is one of those colleges that allows you to "Design Your Own Education".

The Johnston Center for Integrative Studies at the University of Redlands has a "radical vision for undergraduate education". For over 20 years, this program trusts in the students ability to active in their own education process and take ownership over their studies. This program currently has 200 students who live and work together in the Johnston complex in their own little areaq of the University of Redlands.

My kids may or may not end up in a program such as this, but it is good to know that these options exist for independant learners like my own.

In addition to the Johnston Center, the University of Redlands also has a traditional education program with over 40 available majors. It has ranked been ranked a top university for three decades and is a top California University. It is part of the Inland Empire college system and is a top notch California business school.