Review, Evaluation, and Adjustment

The week between Christmas and New Years, when everyone else is shopping, goofing off and having family vacations, is our period of review. It is now that I get out my workbooks, to see what they children remember, and take note of what they do not remember. Review is a very important part of the learning process. If you have ever watched a good movie for the second, third, or fourth time, you have surely realized that you noticed things you did not pick up in previous viewings. Learning works in very much the same way. Classical homeschooling puts great … Continue reading →

Did You Know? ‘Empirical Evidence’ that Homeschooling Works!

I know homeschooling works for my family. All three of my children are well above grade level. Even if they weren’t, I still believe that it is the right decision for our family and can be the right decision for any other family who wants to take this educational journey. I don’t need evidence. . .but as I was searching. . .I found some. Consider the following information: * Homeschooled students out perform their public schooled counterparts by 30 to 37 percentile points in all academic subjects, on standardized tests. * Students who have been homeschooled more than two years … Continue reading →

The Power of Loving to Learn

Kids who love to learn are effortless to teach. They soak up just about anything simply because they are excited to be learning something new. The thrill of a new discovery is what does it for them. Believe it or not, you can turn your child into one who loves to learn. Furthermore, the skills of investigations, analyzing, and researching are skills that are more useful than simply knowing all the facts. Here are some tried and true techniques to get your kids to love learning: 1. Read lots of great books. Read classics, read new books, read everything and … Continue reading →

Preparing the Homeschool Portfolio

Yesterday, we talked about why you should keep good records. Many states have forms that they just give you to fill out. Simple enough. But if you live somewhere where either you’re required to produce a portfolio or where you don’t have to keep records to turn into the state, a portfolio is a good option since it effortlessly records your child’s progress. Did I say effortlessly? Yes, this is not wait until the night before your son graduates high school and put a portfolio together for him, this is something that you keep as your child grows. The first … Continue reading →

Objectively Evaluating My Perfect and Precious Darlings

Alright, I admit it. My children are not perfect, or gifted, or superior in intelligence. Yet, objective evaluation and assessment is one dilemma that faces many homeschoolers. How do you know where your child is at compared to other kids? When I say that my child reads at a 2nd grade level–how do I know? When I say my child is especially talented in science and math for his age–how do I know? Most home schooling parents welcome an objective and outside view of their children’s work and progress. So how do you tell where your child is at academically? … Continue reading →