I remember being in elementary school... actually it was a catholic school. In the younger grades we took a bathroom break mid-morning and mid-afternoon. If we had to go besides that, the teacher would ask, can you hold it until bathroom break? If the answer was no, she sent you about your business. In older grades, teachers did not have a problem letting you go when you needed, except if you had to go every day or multiple times a day, you might need to have a conversation with the teacher, parent, and or principle to find out if you were OK or if you were trying to get out of class.
So in recent news...
"A Brooklyn elementary school teacher has come up with a controversial idea to get her children to hold it in."
I know before we started homeschooling, you couldn't pay my kids to go to the public restroom. It was just too nasty. This inability or refusal to go to the bathroom at school actually did cause, or at lease exacerbate existing health problems for my son. So when a teacher refuses or limits a child's ability to eliminate, it is problematic.
Then there's the risk of people taking it into their own hands. A friend of my mother's once told the story of a teacher that refused to let her go to the bathroom. So she stood next to the teacher and peed on purpose. She got to go home and was never denied a bathroom pass again.
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
MY BUSINESS WEBSITE
Homeschooler Bursts Socialization Myth
Here's a great read on homeschool socialization
This is only true if you assume home schooling is exactly what it sounds like: studying at home, only at home and never interacting with others in the "outside world." This is a false assumption. read more here
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
MY BUSINESS WEBSITE
Home-schooled students like me are occasionally subject to one awkward question: Do you ever socialize?
There's
a misconception about home-schooled students: They can't socialize
normally because they're cooped up in their houses every day. This is only true if you assume home schooling is exactly what it sounds like: studying at home, only at home and never interacting with others in the "outside world." This is a false assumption. read more here
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
MY BUSINESS WEBSITE
I don't need no public school programs
I just read a column in the Washington Post where the writer, John Kelly, makes an argument for keeping homeschoolers out of public schools.
I agree, but for different reasons.
In his case, he has a distaste for homeschoolers taking spots from kids who go to the school, either in theater or sports, or whatever.
In my case, I have a distaste for how we sometimes take the easy way out and try to get into public programs instead of pitching in and creating a homeschool alternative.
Sure, homeschool clubs can cost more in time, money, and effort, but isn't homeschooling supposed to be parents giving of themselves to provide their children with a superior education? If so, then why are so many homeschoolers trying to get back in public schools so they can pick and choose the ideal activities for their kids. Not only does this put your child back in the situation you did not like in the first place, but it weakens strength of programs that we as homeschoolers can create.
Somewhere along the way, during the duration of my homeschooling tenure, I feel that we have lost sight of the "homeschooling community" and what we can accomplish when we band together. Maybe it was that the internet made it easy for us to communicate without actually meeting. Maybe it was because those who have been doing it all along got tired, and those coming behind were looking for something that wasn't truly homeschooling, but instead the best of both worlds.
Yeah, that's probably it. But that's not homeschooling, and neither is going to joining public school clubs and teams.
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
MY BUSINESS WEBSITE
I agree, but for different reasons.
In his case, he has a distaste for homeschoolers taking spots from kids who go to the school, either in theater or sports, or whatever.
In my case, I have a distaste for how we sometimes take the easy way out and try to get into public programs instead of pitching in and creating a homeschool alternative.
Sure, homeschool clubs can cost more in time, money, and effort, but isn't homeschooling supposed to be parents giving of themselves to provide their children with a superior education? If so, then why are so many homeschoolers trying to get back in public schools so they can pick and choose the ideal activities for their kids. Not only does this put your child back in the situation you did not like in the first place, but it weakens strength of programs that we as homeschoolers can create.
Somewhere along the way, during the duration of my homeschooling tenure, I feel that we have lost sight of the "homeschooling community" and what we can accomplish when we band together. Maybe it was that the internet made it easy for us to communicate without actually meeting. Maybe it was because those who have been doing it all along got tired, and those coming behind were looking for something that wasn't truly homeschooling, but instead the best of both worlds.
Yeah, that's probably it. But that's not homeschooling, and neither is going to joining public school clubs and teams.
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
MY BUSINESS WEBSITE
*stuff* people say to homeschoolers
Here's a fun video in the them of *stuff* people say to .... Homeschoolers
That's nothing compared to what people say to homeschool parents!
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE MY BUSINESS WEBSITE
Our Weekend at CITA
This past weekend we went to the CITA (Christians in the Theater Arts) High School Festival.
It is a competition and college fair for Theater minded Christian Students. My daughter participated in 3 events and while she did not win in any of them, she got great feedback she can use to try again. A bunch of her friends from her homeschool program did do very well, so we have a great time celebrating their victories.
While the kids were there to show their stuff and get feedback on their acting chops, the parents (in our case anyway) are there to hear from colleges interested in recruiting these talented kids. (This is how we found the college my son will be attending in the fall). It was interesting to talk to these colleges with strong theater departments and hear then complement her performances and talk about what they had to offer. It was also great to see my husband come around to accept theater as a real college major... though he still wants to see a minor in writing.
I am very thankful that we have been able to let our child focus on something she truly loves during her education. As we approach the end of her Jr. year, I can see how much studying theater has made her a secure, confident young woman. If it were not for homeschooling, I don't think she could have placed as much emphasis on the arts.
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
MY BUSINESS WEBSITE
It is a competition and college fair for Theater minded Christian Students. My daughter participated in 3 events and while she did not win in any of them, she got great feedback she can use to try again. A bunch of her friends from her homeschool program did do very well, so we have a great time celebrating their victories.
While the kids were there to show their stuff and get feedback on their acting chops, the parents (in our case anyway) are there to hear from colleges interested in recruiting these talented kids. (This is how we found the college my son will be attending in the fall). It was interesting to talk to these colleges with strong theater departments and hear then complement her performances and talk about what they had to offer. It was also great to see my husband come around to accept theater as a real college major... though he still wants to see a minor in writing.
I am very thankful that we have been able to let our child focus on something she truly loves during her education. As we approach the end of her Jr. year, I can see how much studying theater has made her a secure, confident young woman. If it were not for homeschooling, I don't think she could have placed as much emphasis on the arts.
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
MY BUSINESS WEBSITE
How to Choose the Best Tutor to Supplement Your Homeschool Curriculum (Guest Blog)
How to Choose the Best Tutor to Supplement Your Homeschool Curriculum
By David Greenberg, Parliament Tutors
You're a homeschool mom that's teaching three children. It's Friday afternoon and the weekend seems so close. You have just gone over the same algebra problem six times and you think your daughter finally gets it. You have a smile on your face and then she turns to you and says, "Mom, I just don't understand."
Some students really need that extra attention to grasp a concept. Sometimes a new and fresh perspective is the best approach. So... you turn to your favorite search engine, and within seconds you're drowning in listings from tutoring agencies and independent tutors, all vying for your attention. How do you navigate through the thicket?
Any good tutor would tell you that to tackle a big task, break it into smaller steps. So let's take this task step by step. First, let's get to know who we're dealing with, from top to bottom.
On top of the pyramid are the large companies with popular publications to their name and offices around the country. They offer group classes and private lessons, and their teachers are carefully trained and given scripts to follow when they teach. Their most affordable services aren't the most desirable, and their most desirable services aren't the most affordable.
Also near the top are other national companies with slightly less name recognition, but which offer similar services. Be careful: some of these companies tend to strongly encourage students to sign up for many, many hours of instruction in their learning centers--more hours than they need, some reviewers say--and these hours can get pricey for the parents. But if the time and money are available, the students will almost certainly benefit. These companies seem to be expert at marketing, but it can be difficult to predict whether they'll be best for you.
Next come smaller companies which cater to more specialized markets, usually defined by either a particular subject or a smaller geographical area. They can be harder to find, but it's worth the effort to search for them, because if they happen to cater to your needs, chances are they are well prepared to help you--they might know better the peculiarities of your school district's math program, for example, or they might already have a relationship with your school's counselors.
On the ground level are the individual tutors who work hard to do it all, both tutoring and publicizing. They usually offer the best prices for individual tutoring, and many of them are wonderful, but some of them are not the kind of people you want to have in your homes, and it can be daunting to try to find out, on your own, which tutors provide reputable teaching services and which ones need a tutor themselves.
Now that we know who we're dealing with, think about what's important to you. Are you looking for a tutor who can teach a certain amount of material in a certain amount of time? Are you looking for a tutor with certain credentials, or a certain minimum amount of experience, or perhaps a certain type of personality? Think about your ideal tutoring experience, and jot down some notes about the elements you envision. Assemble a list of questions, in order of importance to you, to ask prospective tutors. Some examples:
1. Is your schedule flexible?
2. Can you meet me in a location of my choosing?
3. Can you provide materials such as practice drills for the subject you'll be teaching?
4. What's your teaching pace? Are your lessons usually energetic and stimulating, or do you focus on being reassuring and patient?
5. Do you have experience teaching people who have my learning style?
6. How much do you charge? Can I afford your services, or if not, will you give me a discount?
Remember: even if you’re working through a tutoring service, it’s important to speak directly to your tutor to discuss the items most important to you before scheduling a lesson.
Good luck and happy studying!
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
MY BUSINESS WEBSITE
By David Greenberg, Parliament Tutors
You're a homeschool mom that's teaching three children. It's Friday afternoon and the weekend seems so close. You have just gone over the same algebra problem six times and you think your daughter finally gets it. You have a smile on your face and then she turns to you and says, "Mom, I just don't understand."
Some students really need that extra attention to grasp a concept. Sometimes a new and fresh perspective is the best approach. So... you turn to your favorite search engine, and within seconds you're drowning in listings from tutoring agencies and independent tutors, all vying for your attention. How do you navigate through the thicket?
Any good tutor would tell you that to tackle a big task, break it into smaller steps. So let's take this task step by step. First, let's get to know who we're dealing with, from top to bottom.
On top of the pyramid are the large companies with popular publications to their name and offices around the country. They offer group classes and private lessons, and their teachers are carefully trained and given scripts to follow when they teach. Their most affordable services aren't the most desirable, and their most desirable services aren't the most affordable.
Also near the top are other national companies with slightly less name recognition, but which offer similar services. Be careful: some of these companies tend to strongly encourage students to sign up for many, many hours of instruction in their learning centers--more hours than they need, some reviewers say--and these hours can get pricey for the parents. But if the time and money are available, the students will almost certainly benefit. These companies seem to be expert at marketing, but it can be difficult to predict whether they'll be best for you.
Next come smaller companies which cater to more specialized markets, usually defined by either a particular subject or a smaller geographical area. They can be harder to find, but it's worth the effort to search for them, because if they happen to cater to your needs, chances are they are well prepared to help you--they might know better the peculiarities of your school district's math program, for example, or they might already have a relationship with your school's counselors.
On the ground level are the individual tutors who work hard to do it all, both tutoring and publicizing. They usually offer the best prices for individual tutoring, and many of them are wonderful, but some of them are not the kind of people you want to have in your homes, and it can be daunting to try to find out, on your own, which tutors provide reputable teaching services and which ones need a tutor themselves.
Now that we know who we're dealing with, think about what's important to you. Are you looking for a tutor who can teach a certain amount of material in a certain amount of time? Are you looking for a tutor with certain credentials, or a certain minimum amount of experience, or perhaps a certain type of personality? Think about your ideal tutoring experience, and jot down some notes about the elements you envision. Assemble a list of questions, in order of importance to you, to ask prospective tutors. Some examples:
1. Is your schedule flexible?
2. Can you meet me in a location of my choosing?
3. Can you provide materials such as practice drills for the subject you'll be teaching?
4. What's your teaching pace? Are your lessons usually energetic and stimulating, or do you focus on being reassuring and patient?
5. Do you have experience teaching people who have my learning style?
6. How much do you charge? Can I afford your services, or if not, will you give me a discount?
Remember: even if you’re working through a tutoring service, it’s important to speak directly to your tutor to discuss the items most important to you before scheduling a lesson.
Good luck and happy studying!
FREE HOME EDUCATION WEBSITE
MY BUSINESS WEBSITE
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
Taking the CLEP route
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
12 grade year of homeschooling, Finishing Strong
We are almost done with my college prep series. There will still be a video on completing the transcript. Stay tuned... meanwhile, ...
