Not Another Homeschool Blog

The following article had been passed around homeschool blogs and email groups since August: (reprint is allowed as long as article if copied in entirety) College Professor Critiques Homeschoolers copyright 2009 by Greg Landry, M.S. I teach sophomore through senior level college students - most of them are "pre-professional" students. They are preparing to go to medical school, dental school, physical therapy school, etc. As a generalization, I've noticed certain characteristics common in my students who were homeschooled. Some of these are desirable, some not. Desirable characteristics: 1. They are independent learners and do a great job of taking initiative and being responsible for learning. They don't have to be "spoon fed" as many students do. This gives them an advantage at two specific points in their education; early in college and in graduate education. 2. They handle classroom social situations (interactions ...

 We returned from North Carolina last night after attending the CITA (Christians in the Theatre Arts) Secondary School Theatre Festival.  Our homeschool program (Artios) and four or five others theater and musical performances of all types.  There was so much talent there, I could hardly contain myself.  All of the kids in our group got excellent or superior ratings in one or more of their performances including my daughter who got excellent ratings in both her musical solo and her group scene.  One girl in our group got a best of her category award.  Of course, I am very proud. My daughter has done performances and been in plays before, but this is the first time she has been up against such as huge number of other talented performers!  I am very proud of her performances.  ...And she is already looking for theater pieces to perform next year.  While the school we visited over the weekend (where the event was held) had a tremendous drama a...

Mrs. C got me started . She wrote a post about saggy pants which don't bother her much, and that's great.  But they irk the heck out of me. I had to weigh in on the matter.  Here is what I wrote on her blog: I can't handle seeing saggy pants. They were in "style" when I was in college... two decades ago. I didn't find them sexy then, and they are certainly not cute now. My biggest problem is that the trend started in prisons because prisoners could not have belts should they decide to off themselves or someone else. So these fools (sorry, don't have a better word for it) get out of prison and keep wearing their pants beltless, and their shoes without strings... and even stupider kids say "hey" I'm gonna dress like that too. Now the whole country is walking around with their pants down.  But I was only getting started. Black, white, or indifferent... I find saggy pants to be disrespectful. (There are some styles that sag in the but...

First it was a flu, followed immediately by allergies.  Now my ears are impacted and I am in vicious pain.  Oh what I would give to be under the covers whimpering like a two year old. But I am a homeschooling mom... the hearty type.  My discomfort cannot interfere with the kids activities (within reason)... and I am self employed too... no work, no money. Sigh... heading off to the doctor for the second time in as many days.  I hope he can clear my ears without damaging my eardrums. That would suck.

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity.  First my daughter finished up a run at a local community theater playing Momma Bear in Goldi B Locks and Three Bears.  Next came the Artios Showcase, in which the kids demonstrated what they have learned this year through creative expression... My daughter did a poem presentation of Jabberwocky and had a few peices of art in the Gallery.  My son did a movie short/countdown and a photography projects.  Next came the chorus performance which was two hours of awesome wonder.   This coming week is supposed to be Spring break, but because my daughter is competing at CITA (Christians in the Theater Arts), doing a scene from Arsenic and Old Lace and a song from Seussical, it will be a busy week of rehearsals.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit My Education Column at Examiner.com Check out FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE for free homeschool links and resources