Not Another Homeschool Blog

A local TV news reporter did a hard-hitting expose on a program a lot of homeschoolers use to help them homeschool their kids.  The program gives accredited  diplomas and it also does dual enrollment for public school students.  It is the dual enrollment part that has gotten them in hot water. I wrote about the story here: WSBTV news reporter vilifies alternative education program I personally used this program to review my daughter's work and provide her with a diploma.  While I didn't NEED to use the program, I did to give my kid a boost with the state's HOPE program, and to certify her grades to make her more competitive for scholarships. I dare ask, instead of questioning how rigorous credit recovery programs are, perhaps they should be asking why so many students need credit recovery? FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE ahermitt.com

Spelman parents are upset that the college closed the doors 30 minutes prior to graduation start time.  They missed their child's graduation.  They blame distance- living as far away as California or Canada (from Georgia).  They blame the fact that President Obama's motorcade slowed things down as he was speaking next door at Morehouse.  They are fighting mad that they were late, and not allowed in. But here's the thing. They knew all year when graduation was. They knew all year that the college closed the doors 30 minutes before commencement started. They knew, at least for a couple of weeks that President Obama was in town. They should have planned ahead. Maybe I am a bit unfeeling, but my daughter also graduated this weekend from her high school homeschool program.  It was a really big deal as she was starting off the festivities with a 20 minute show she designed herself.  I said repeatedly "be on time, she starts at 1pm sharp".  I went ...

Here is a photo from her Sr project/ performance and entire graduation class.

I'm on the verge of pulling out my hair!  This is no ordinary graduation! Homeschool graduations are an interesting thing with no two being the same. In this case, we are working our way to a graduation that includes Arts presentations (my daughter's self designed show is timed at 20 minutes and includes costumes and songs... hard songs).  We have been to rehearsals twice this week already, and there could be one tomorrow, to make sure she feels secure. Costumes need adjustments... partly my job.  And daughter is still trying to add things.  I am certainly drawing the line there. In addition to the Arts presentations, there is a reception and award ceremony, then caps and gowns.  The affair will last pretty much from 1-6, meaning we will very likely be there from 12-6:30.  I'm going to need to rest up. Friends are coming over tonight, and I hope they help me power through. And then, I've got to do The Diva's hair.  (From now and henceforth,...

In exactly 1 week, Jordan will be in the midst of graduation exercises along with 10 fellow homeschoolers in the same Arts Program as she.  Some also did the academic leg, but Jordan did most of her core courses independently.  I am looking forward to seeing everyone's senior presentations, as I am only privy to what my daughter is doing.  If the rest are giving presentations as ambitious as my kids, and I am sure they will, I will be so thrilled and happy! Meanwhile, I spent the bulk of this morning calculating grades for the 2nd half of the year and reporting those grades to her homeschool Accreditation agency .  I already actually have her diploma on my desk, as it arrived a couple weeks ago.  Before I get up from this chair, I will also submit attendance for the year.  I am gathering that will take an hour. Plus, I am scheduling her road test Monday morning.  She would have been driving sooner, but I refused to move forward if she refused to fi...

As we finish up our homeschool experience, and evaluate what we have accomplished and where we have weaknesses, there are 3 major things I would change. 1.  I would have unschooled through grade 5.  I have determined that the only thing a student really needs to know to prepare for middle school are: Math: add, subtract, multiply, divide Language Arts:  How to read and be able to comprehend what is read Exploration: so much about all other subjects can be learned through exploration, field trips, and group activities.  Some might not call it unschooling if you are teaching math and reading, but that would be where I would draw the line.  I guess you could call it uber-relaxed homeschooling.  2.  I wish I had found ALEKS.com earlier.  I have found this to be the most intuitive and affordable system of teaching math to date.  It allows kids to learn math at their own pace whether it be slower or accelerated.  This program is ...

I have been in a bit of a tizzy this week because my son has had some issues in college.  In my mind, success of homeschooling would be based on success after homeschooling.  This means I have tied the job I have done, and even my self worth to their success.  But life has a way of kicking you in the butt doesn't it?  So when son announced that this semester was not going as well as he thought and that a school transfer might be in order, it was as if someone had punched me in the gut. FAILURE.  That was all I heard.  Not my son's failure, because he wasn't doing THAT bad, he wasn't on academic probation or anything.  He was just having a hard time. But was the failure mine for not adequately preparing him for college.  That's how I felt. When I decided to homeschool, it was clear to me that if the kids continued on the track they were on that they would never-ever even make it to college.  This particular child had taken to not speaking ...

Son just cut off about 10 years of hair growth (10-20 inches).  No more long carefree braids.  He has a professional looking haircut now. After the haircut we spent the day driving to a state college to check out the campus.  It was pretty close to the school my daughter is going to, so we then drove a couple of routes to see how long and what was the best way to get from one school to another.  Chances are (though not definite) that my son will transfer colleges for fall.  Filling out application now. The transfer will be even cheaper then where he is, even with scholarships.  The only reason the school was not considered before is that the program had been a 2 year program for a AA in New Media, now it is 4 years, with a BA in New Media. The school is so inexpensive in fact, that we may be able to swing a car that they can share if he actually changes colleges. I hate that he is transferring so soon, but he was just tolerating his current school, ...