When you can't teach it all yourself

As my son and I drove home from church yesterday (we had the rare opportunity to be alone) I got a chance to question him about what math direction he wanted to go in in math and science so I could map out his courses for the next two years. Based on his answers, it became abundantly clear to me that he has reached the end of my level of understanding and that I can't help him with the courses he needs to cover over the next two years. He is currently doing Algebra two in math. I went as far as Trignometry and then Finite Math in college, so I am currently stretching my self when he needs help. Next on his list is Pre-Calculus and Calculus so you can see that he is definitely going to need some math homework help in the form of tutoring.

In the science, physics is next on his list. This is another course I have not touched. My level of experience goes as far as AP Chemistry, much if what I promptly forgot the second I passed the class.

As homeschoolers, we are often confronted with people who ask us how we are going to tech subjects we don't know. They point to situations just like the one I am currently in and accuse us of handicapping our kids. They don't however complain about teachers who are teaching subjects they did not cover in school or parents who are helping them with homework. Fortunately, we all have access to websites that offer online homework help.

Tutorvista.com is one such website that helps students learn math and science subjects from Kindergarten through college. If you want to try them out before you buy, you can consider taking advantage of their free online homework help sessions.

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Son Passed First CLEP Exam!

My son took the Analyzing and Interpreting Lit Clep this morning and scored a 52. You need 50 to pass. His score counts as a C (unofficially) for a college course, and since he is only 15 and in the 10th grade, I assigned him a B for his grade portfolio. He did do additional work for me while studying for the test... We will call it extra credit.

This was supposed to be the easiest of all CLEPs, but I disagree. It is only easy if your child or student is an avid reader of literature. While my son IS an avid reader, he does not do poetry, or "literature". He mostly sticks to big, honkin' manuals. I think it might be easy for my daughter who does like novels with flowery language, so I will plan for her to take it in the spring.

He is going to spend the next 6 weeks working towards the SAT with math review and working on his essay skills. After that we will tackle the History 1 CLEP.



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Homeschool must see: Little House on the Prarie, the Musical

I recently found out that Little House on the Prairie had been revived as a musical starring Melissa Gilbert as Ma.

If your daughter (or even son) is anything like mine, she has read every little house book written. Mine read not only the Laura Ingalls series, but the fictional prequels and sequels (not written by Laura Ingals Wilder). She knows the story from the Great, Great, Grandmother down to Laura's daughter.

If you follow a classical approach as we do (very loosely) then this story is well suited for anyone studying the the late classical to early modern time period.

Pair the studying of these novels with enjoying the musical and you have enriched the historical experience for your child.

You don't have to be a homeschooler studying a specific time period to enjoy the play though.

Little House is playing all over the country and may be coming to a town near you very soon.

If you are reading the books and/or plan to the show, you should make use of the STUDY GUIDE

Dates: GET TICKETS HERE

ST. PAUL, MN 10/13/09 – 10/25/09
NASHVILLE, TN 10/27/09 – 11/1/09
LITTLE ROCK, AR 11/3/09 – 11/5/09
SPRINGFIELD, MO 11/6/09 – 11/8/09
TULSA, OK 11/10/09 – 11/15/09
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 11/17/09 – 11/22/09
ST. LOUIS, MO 11/24/09 – 11/29/09
DETROIT, MI 12/01/09 – 12/05/09
TEMPE, AZ 12/08/09 – 12/13/09
DENVER, CO 12/15/09 – 12/27/09
FAYETTEVILLE, AR 01/05/2010 – 01/10/2010
OMAHA, NE 01/12/2010 – 01/17/2010
MADISON, WI 1/19/10 – 1/24/10
TORONTO, ON 1/27/10 – 2/28/10
TAMPA, FL 3/2/10 – 3/7/10
NAPLES, FL 3/9/10 – 3/14/10
RALEIGH NC 3/16/10 – 3/21/10
APPLETON, WI 3/23/10 – 3/28/10
SPOKANE, WA 4/8/10 – 4/11/10
SACRAMENTO, CA 4/14/10 – 4/25/10
HOUSTON, TX 4/28/10 – 5/9/10
DALLAS, TX 5/11/10 – 5/23/10
SIOUX FALLS, SD 6/1/10 – 6/6/10
Ft Worth TX 6.8.10-6-13/10

(more dates may be added)



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Year long education plan for my 9th grader

At 13 years old, and starting high school, my daughter has requested to take over her education. More speficically she wants me to stop looking over her shoulder and monitoring her every two minutes. She has requested an overall plan for the year, as I was giving her assignments for the week every Monday and then "nagging her to death". I have obliged her by giving her an overall plan for the year to follow.

I created a start page here that explains her schedule and takes her to the various outlines and assignments.


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