Ah, TED Talks. What would we do without them, really? Those inspiring folks, getting up there and ranting to us about everything under the sun. This morning, I’m enjoying Larry Smith’s “Why You Will Fail To Have A Great Career.” As someone who has a somewhat unorthodox career, I’ve thought a fair bit about pursuing your passions. I am someone who has no shortage of passions. I love writing. I love the outdoors. I love working for social change. I love music. Unfortunately, these passions generally fall on the list of undesirable careers, those careers with low prestige, low earning … Continue reading →

What can travel teach you? One of the joys of home learning is that you can travel without the burden of a traditional school schedule on your shoulders. Visit national monuments in May? Why not? Head south of the Equator in January? Certainly! Travel is also a teacher. Through travel, children experience new places and cultures. They learn the importance of scheduling – not missing trains. They learn the importance of enjoying the moment – the opportunity to try a new food that you might never encounter again. But let’s crib off Seligman and Peterson’s Character Strengths and Virtues for … Continue reading →

Does your child see a need in the community? Does he love to create art, fix computers, or teach others math skills? Creating a small business or organization is an excellent way to build character. What does building a business or a nonprofit teach your child? Building an organization teaches children how to find a passion and pursue it. This zest for an interest and the dogged pursuit of this interest will get you far. Starting an organization or a business gives children and teens the opportunity to determine what they like to do in a very practical, real world … Continue reading →

This week, Paul Tough of the New York Times wrote an article called, “What if the Secret to Success is Failure?” He references the work of Martin Seligman and Christopher Peterson, psychologists who have studied character traits and how they shape a person’s success in life. I heartily agree with his line of questioning. What if we don’t learn best by sailing down the smooth path of life? What if we can learn much, much more from our mistakes and the challenging situations that make us pause, worry, and cringe? What then? You see, there’s this worry parents have about … Continue reading →

Planning for college is exciting but it can also be exhausting and overwhelming. The most important tool in planning for college is organization. When I was in school I once had a teacher say that proper organizational skills alone could raise your grade. Over the years I have found that logic to be sound not only in school but in all areas of life. College is a very important step and scribbling notes on Post-Its or the back of a gum wrapper will not cut it. You need to order your steps to see the greatest success in this process. … Continue reading →

Some time back, Julie Gentry wrote about using scouting to fulfill homeschool requirements. She described what she called scout school and how easy it was to integrate it into homeschool academics. As scouts get older, and parents and kids get more serious about crossing all of the t’s and dotting all of the i’s, some homeschoolers may be tempted to put the homeschool badges aside in exchange for a real education. In my estimation this is a bad idea. Not only can scouting be used to motivate young students to learn social studies, science, and health, but it can also … Continue reading →

My subscription to the Homescholar Record came to day and it carried great news. It was filled with statistics and information that reveal homeschoolers are loved by colleges and therefore homeschoolers should not worry about college entry. Some of the important points made in the newsletter are: Academic preparation: Regardless of what others believe, colleges feel that homeschoolers ARE academically prepared for college. Not only do colleges see homeschooelers as academically prepared, but they also know how to gain additional knowledge they need. Socialization: Just because a homeschooler’s ‘socailization’ does not look like what others think it should. Homeschooled college … Continue reading →

As the costs of state colleges continue to rise deeming them unaffordable, I am becoming worried about how my homeschooled kids will pay for college. While it is a known fact that homeschooled kids have no problem getting into college, getting scholarships without the help of student advisers can be quite a challenge. So what is a homeschooling parent to do? Homeschooling parents must go the extra mile beyond being the child’s teacher, to also being the child’s guidance counselor as well. As guidance counselor to your child, you must find out everything you can about not only college entry, … Continue reading →

I have been pondering a different direction for my son’s homeschool program. While my daughter is enjoying outside classes, my son is becoming bored and deciding they are a waste of time. For that reason, I have spent the day looking at online high schools that he could finish at his own pace. I figure he could still attend his monday fine arts and theater classes and do his own thing the rest of the week. In addition to finishing high school at his own pace, I am also exploring the possibility of his beginning to study for and take … Continue reading →