Homeschooling High School: Is Outsourcing an Option?

When I talk about homeschooling through high school, I always mention the possibility of seeking outside help for advanced subjects. Although most people understand the reasons behind finding an experienced algebra tutor or writing coach, some parents don’t see it that way. I heard from one irate mom after I mentioned several options for working through advanced subjects: “That’s not homeschooling through high school,” she fumed, “that’s not even homeschooling!”

As I understand homeschooling, the defining characteristic is that parents choose and oversee what is learned and how it is taught, and most of us do most of the teaching, at least for the primary grades. Read more

The Darkling Thrush by Thomas Hardy (and SAT Essay Prep)

I leant upon a coppice gate
When Frost was spectre-gray,
And Winter’s dregs made desolate
The weakening eye of day.
The tangled bine-stems scored the sky
Like strings of broken lyres,
And all mankind that haunted nigh
Had sought their household fires. Read more

Visit Your Library From Home (Count Birds, Too!)

Do you get tired of hearing that the internet has changed everything? It’s pretty much true, you know, and that isn’t a bad thing. For one thing, it brings a wealth of knowledge to your desktop, no matter where you live. As long as you can get online, you have almost unlimited resources!

I have to admit that I don’t always pay attention to what is available, but when I visited our local library system’s website yesterday, I was struck by the array of reference materials I could access from home, completely free. Many of them used to be available only if you were on site at the library, and some are subscription-only reference materials that would be quite costly if you were to pay for them individually.

To discover what your library offers, you can start by locating your library system’s website with a Google search. Once there, look for “electronic resources” or “links,” and starting exploring! Read more

High School Scheduling- Some Non-Traditional Options

When was the last time you thought about the best way to schedule your school days? Six subjects, one hour each per day, five days a week– ho hum. Maybe it’s time to ask some questions about scheduling!

Why are high school subjects scheduled like this?