My Books

One of my primary goals as a writer is to help you make time for things that matter– family, home, spiritual growth, literacy, and other things that last. I know that there are small things that loom large when you’re looking at them from afar, and they can end up taking a disproportionate share of your time, and distracting you from focusing on the most important things.

In an effort to dispel anxiety, I’ve written some very practical books– books that get to the heart of those challenging areas, and show you the easy way to take care of high school paperwork, SAT-prep, writing evaluation, and getting into college.

My latest books are part of the Excellence in Literature series– a curriculum that touches on one of the things that matter– literacy (in the sense of being well-read / educated). EIL is based on the online English classes I taught for several years, and it’s designed to present wonderful literature in its literary, historical, artistic, and cultural context. I want to foster an appreciation of great literature, and transmit a sense of its importance in shaping and reporting the ‘zeitgeist’ or spirit of an age.

Transcripts Made Easy: The Homeschooler's Guide to High School Paperwork

Transcripts Made Easy: The Homeschooler’s Guide to High School Paperwork

Transcripts Made Easy takes the “work” out of paperwork!
Keep all the high school records you need with less time and aggravation. You’ll discover how easy it can be to:

-Keep simple, accurate records quickly and easily.
-Issue class grades fairly and honestly, even if you haven’t been using grades in your homeschool.
-Grant credit for traditional classes, unit studies, work experience, and other activities.
-Award extra credit for honors classes, credit by exam, or dual-credit classes.
-Calculate a grade point average, with or without weighted grades.
- Showcase your student’s achievements with a professional, credible transcript that will “wow” admissions counselors.
-Issue a diploma that’s nice enough to frame.

You’ll turn to this straightforward guide for answers again and again!

In addition, you’ll find:
- Success tips from college admissions counselors across the country.
- An introduction to high school with an overview of the skills your student will need to succeed.
- A glance at college admissions.
- A new chapter on records and transcripts for special needs students.
- Detailed, step-by-step instructions for creating beautiful transcripts using software you already own or can download free.
- Reproducibles that make recordkeeping super-easy.

Get a Jump Start on College! A Practical Guide for Teens

Would you like to get a head start on life?
You can do it!

This concise, practical guide shows you, step by step, exactly how to:

Best of all…
It will show you how to graduate from college when most teens are graduating from high school!

Excellence in Literature series

World Literature- English 5- Excellence in Literature

World Literature- English 5- Excellence in Literature

Nothing captures the spirit of an age like great literature! Books that have stood the test of time contain the intellectual wealth of the ages, and students who study them in context develop a firm foundation, not only in the language arts, but also in the humanities. Excellence in Literature presents a feast of classic literature, along with the context information needed to fully appreciate each work.

These challenging, self-directed courses introduce students to great literature in its historical context, while developing skills in writing and literary analysis. English I and II provide foundational skills; English III and IV offer a chronological survey of American and British literature, and English V focuses on World literature.

An Honors Track, with additional readings and writing, for each course encourages preparation for AP or CLEP exams. Some students who have taken this track have been permitted advanced placement in college  through testing. based upon the material covered. Students who complete four years of Excellence in Literature have the potential of earning 24-30 hours of college credit through testing and advanced placement.

Course Format

The literature-based unit format of Excellence in Literature offers students the opportunity to grow thoroughly familiar with some of the greatest writers and literary works of all time. Each course consists of 3-4 units per semester.

Study and writing for each unit is centered around a focus text- a novel, play, or poem-chosen for its significance to the period of literature being studied. A reasonable number of context works, including poetry, short biographies, art,music , videos, and online resources, are selected to enhance the student’s understanding of the focus text, its author, and the literary period in which it was created.

British Literature - English 4

British Literature - English 4

There is an emphasis on the analytical essay, which offers the opportunity to perfect the standard writing process of planning, drafting, and revising. Shorter assignments in various forms will round out each unit.

Evaluate Writing the Easy Way! NEW!

Do you worry about evaluating your student’s writing?
Do you sometimes feel as if you’re missing something in the evaluation process?

Evaluating writing is so much more than just “correcting papers.” It can affect your student’s feelings about writing, his or her chance of academic success, and even the relationship you share.

In this simple, approachable little book, you’ll learn the things you need to know in order to become the writing evaluator you want to be. Only $7.95.

SAT* Prep Workshop NEW!

Conquer the Test! audio workshopAre you ready for your high school exams?

Are your test-taking skills ready for the demands of the timed essay?

If you’re planning to take the SAT, you may want to listen to Conquer the Test!, a three-hour audio workshop with worktext to prepare. If you live in the mid-Atlantic area, you may want to attend a Beat-the-Clock Essay Workshop™ which will help you prepare for timed essays such as those on the SAT, the ACT, and CLEP* exams.