"" -- A Homeschooler's Notebook Subscriber.
An interactive, FREE, twice-monthly ezine packed with great reader tips, reviews, & practical encouragement for homeschool families.




[SEARCH]
[ARCHIVES]
[CONTACT]
[RSS/FEED]
[HOME]


Some of Our Sponsors

Time4Learning

Landry Academy

Math Mammoth

Great Homeschool Conventions

The Old Schoolhouse Magazine


Resource Links

All About Spelling
Homeschooling ABCs
Upper Level Homeschool
HomeschoolChat.us
HomeschoolingBOYS.com
HomeGrownHearts.com
FIRETIME Notebooking
FREE Funschool Units
EasyFunSchool.com
Homeschooling Help
More Homeschooling Help
HS Gifted and Talented
Homeschool Country Life
Beloved Books & Audio


 

 
[SEARCH] | [ARCHIVES] | [SUBSCRIBE] | [CONTACT] | [RSS/FEED] | [HOME]

HIGH SCHOOL EDITION #7

By Heather Idoni

Added Monday, July 27, 2009

 ==========================================================
                The Homeschooler's Notebook
       ***SPECIAL SERIES - High School Homeschooling***
 ==========================================================
   Vol. 10 No 54                            July 27, 2009                        

                      ISSN: 1536-2035                              
 ==========================================================
   Copyright (c) 2009 - Heather Idoni, FamilyClassroom.net
 ==========================================================

  Welcome to the Homeschooler's Notebook!

  If you like this newsletter, please recommend it to a friend!
  And please visit our sponsors!  They make it possible.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  THE HOMESCHOOLER'S NOTEBOOK IS PLEASED TO ENDORSE...


  Christian Worldview One and Two Semester Online Classes

  - Pre-Biology (6th-9th grade)
  - Biology (9th-12th grade)
  - Intro to Anatomy and Physiology (6th-9th grade)
  - Anatomy and Physiology (9th-12th grade)
  - Exercise Science / Sports Med (8th-12th grade)
  - Forensic Anatomy CSI (8th-12th grade)
  - CLEP / ACT Science Prep (9th-12th grade)

  -->  Discounts are currently available
  -->  Some classes are almost full
  -->  See photos, details, and letters from
       students and parents here...

  http://www.HomeschoolScienceAcademy.com


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    =================
      IN THIS ISSUE:
    =================

  Notes from Heather
  -- Hearing from Homeschool Alumni
  Feature Article
  -- College for Struggling Learners (Pt. 2)
  Helpful Tip
  -- Relating to Our Teen Sons
  Resource Review
  -- The Complete Guide
  Answers to Reader Question
  -- High School Art Recommendations
  Additional Notes
  -- Newsletter Archives
  -- Sponsorship Information
  -- Reprint Information
  -- Subscriber Information


    =======================
       Notes from Heather
    =======================

  Thank you to everyone who has written to express your appreciation
  for these special high school issues!  Here is one email I recently
  received from a reader --


  "My son will be entering High School in the fall.  Reading the words
  of other students who have graduated really struck a chord with him.
  It was as helpful (if not more) than anything I could say, or words
  of advice from other adults.

  Please continue to encourage students who have graduated to speak
  of their homeschooling and college experiences. 

  Thanks again for you continued encouragement!" -- Tina B.

  ---

  Do you have a grown and graduated adult child who would be willing
  to share with our readers about his/her homeschool high school
  and/or post high school experiences?

  Please send your emails to:  mailto:heather@familyclassroom.net


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                         PLEASE VISIT OUR SPONSOR:


  Free 45 Minute Online Seminars

  - Top 10 Homeschooling Mistakes
  - Anatomy & Physiology of the Pancreas
  - There's Life in the Blood
  - How to CLEP for College Credit
  - SAT and ACT - Strategies and Details
  - So, You Want to be a Doctor - What to do Now
  - Creation Clues...
  - What I've Learned From Human Cadavers

  Register for These Free Online Seminars Here...

  http://www.HomeschoolScienceAcademy.com


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    =======================
       Feature Article
    =======================

  College for Struggling Learner -- Part 2:  JoAnn and Jill
    by Lee Binz

  ---
 
  JoAnn -- Learning to Teach
 
  JoAnn homeschooled her two daughters, feeling extremely unsure of
  her abilities – until her girls were officially diagnosed with
  learning disabilities. Once she had the diagnosis, she realized
  that homeschooling was the best option. She didn't want her girls
  ostracized and placed in a "special" group that would have a
  negative effect on their socialization skills. Even her mother
  became increasingly supportive of homeschooling after the diagnosis
  was made.
 
  Her two girls could not read until half-way through 5th grade.
  They struggled in reading, writing, and spelling. Joann took her
  children to The Slingerland Institute. She recommends two pamphlets
  that really helped her cope. One is "Why Wait for a Criterion of
  Failure
".  The other is "An Adaptation of the Orton-Gillingham
  Approach for Classroom Teaching of Reading", both by Beth Slingerland.
 
  JoAnn's advice is "Never despair! The timing of brain growth is on
  your CHILD'S timetable, not yours. Accept it, because you certainly
  can't change it!" She wishes she would have dropped more academic
  subjects when they were in elementary school. Still, she is so glad
  she homeschooled. "Homeschooling is better for dyslexic kids for
  the positive encouragement and socialization."  
 
  She taught with multi-sensory input and multi-sensory output. In
  every subject she worked to provide lessons with audio, visual, AND
  tactile input. She would supplement courses with drama, hands on
  projects, and verbal assessments all the way through school. Her
  daughters were especially helped by the use of color. One daughter
  still color codes her college lecture notes to improve her retention.
 
  JoAnn's older daughter went directly into the University and majored
  in biology with a minor in chemistry. She has recently graduated with
  an advanced degree as a Veterinarian Technician. Her younger daughter
  also went directly into the University. She will graduate with a
  degree in interior design, and has already done some design work for
  Bill Gates as a college intern. Both girls were very successful in
  college.
 
  Jill -- Learning to Cope
 
  Jill is hesitant about labeling her daughter in any way, but knew
  she faced some unique challenges even though she wasn't formally
  diagnosed.  Her daughter recently became a National Merit Scholarship
  Semi-Finalist. Here is what Jill says about her daughter's struggles:
  "She worked hard and I'm very proud of her. She is the daughter that
  would fit into the statement 'I could never homeschool my child
  because...'  She is very active, intense, dramatic and a joy to be
  around. I am convinced that if she were in the public school we would
  have been 'encouraged' to put her on medications (the standard line
  around here -- when she is getting jumpy -- is 'run up to the mailbox
  and get the mail', which is a mile round trip). She has forced me to
  think outside of the box and, well, it is an adventure I'm sorry to
  see come to a close."
 
  Like the other mothers, Jill was able to find a way to harness
  strengths and weaknesses, and teach her child to compensate for
  difficulties. With a parent's close attention, unique coping
  mechanisms can develop. A homeschooling parent can see small
  successes, and learn to shape and mold new ways of coping with
  each challenge.

  ---

  Lee Binz, The HomeScholar, is an expert in helping parents homeschool
  high school
.  Both her two boys earned full-tuition scholarships at
  their first choice university.  Her e-book, "The Easy Truth About
  Homeschool Transcripts
" will show you how to how to package that
  great education into an AMAZING transcript that will impress the
  colleges!

  Lee's website also has lots more information on how to homeschool high school.


    =======================
       Helpful Tip
    =======================

  Dancing with the Boy-Man

  ---

  I am getting to be an expert dancer!  Not ballet, jazz or tap, but
  the "dance" of a mother who is walking the line of raising young
  roosters.  Being a mom of boys is a challenge and a joy -- but it
  can also be bewildering as they reach up into adulthood and begin
  to cut the apron strings.  I'm becoming an expert at dancing this
  special dance -- stepping in sync both backward, forward and side-
  ways to get out of the way of those big feet which almost seem to
  TRY to step on my own, although not willingly.  Moms of boy-men unite!
  We *can* learn to dance with these boys as they stretch out into full
  grown men -- or at least learn to get out of the way. ;-)

  Recently on our HomeschoolingBOYS.com email group, a mom wrote in
  for help with this "dance".  Here is an excerpt from her question:

  "I have known and thought I was ready for the day when my son would
  start pulling away from me and more toward his father and manhood.
  However, it is tougher than I expected... it seems as though I am
  always the bad guy now.  No matter what happens, it is me that is
  getting pushed aside.  Will our closeness resume one day or have we
  passed that stage?"

  One of our long-time readers and contributors, Mary Beth Akers, is
  a member of our HomeschoolingBOYS.com group, as well.  I LOVED the
  advice she shared and thought it would be great to share. -- Heather

  ---

  Mary Beth writes...

  "As your son becomes a man and identifies more with other men, your
  relationship with him will change, but it should not weaken.  In
  fact, it should become stronger.  My son is 15, and the transition
  is still in progress, so I'm not an expert, but I will share with
  you some things that might help.

  First of all, try to speak to him and treat him as you would a man.
  That's tough to do when his behavior is still childish.  Think of
  the tone of voice, the attitude, the approach you would use if you
  were speaking to your brother or a grown nephew.  Show your son the
  same respect and allow him to retain his dignity.  If you need to
  correct him, try to help him see the consequences of his actions
  rather than making it sound critical.  Sometimes I remind my son to
  consider how his father would act if he were in the same situation.
  Does he have younger brothers?  Help him to see the importance of
  setting an example for them and for other younger boys.  Ask for
  his manly opinion.  Ask him to help you choose which dress to wear,
  or whether your shoes look okay with the outfit you're wearing.  You
  could even let him help you make spending decisions such as which
  one is the best value, or whether you should even buy it at all.  Ask
  him to help you clarify a scripture passage that you're trying to
  understand.  Give him specific prayer requests and ask him to pray
  for you.

  Give him some masculine responsibilities.  Ask him to open tight jar
  lids, change light bulbs, make repairs in the house, carry something
  heavy for you, etc.  Look for ways to acknowledge and affirm his
  manliness.

  Search diligently for something you can enjoy doing together, and
  make the time to do it.  I have difficulty watching bull riding
  videos with my son, but I can play chess with him.  He has started
  working out, and sometimes I help him count push-ups or run the stop
  watch.  Occasionally I will admire his muscles.  He loves jokes, so
  I secretly bought a book of clean jokes.  I keep a few ready all the
  time, and right in the middle of a math lesson, or when we're working
  together, I'll spontaneously tell him a joke.  I recently asked my
  son to help me catch up putting his baby pictures in a scrapbook.
  His heart softened when he saw the pictures of us together when he
  was an infant."

  ---

  Do you have tips on growing boys into men, or daughters into young
  women?  Share them!  Send to mailto:hn-ideas@familyclassroom.net


    ====================
      Resource Review
    ====================
 
  The Complete Career, College and High School Guide for Homeschoolers
  Author:  Jill Dixon
  For more information or to order:  www.edudps.com
 

  Homeschoolers are growing up! More and more families are looking
  for guidance as they walk through the high school years. Author
  Jill Dixon has written a thorough guide for both students and
  their parents as they navigate the many paths of planning for
  future careers and college.
 
  Packed with information and practical advice, the Guide begins
  with a few words from the author explaining how to use the material
  provided. The bulk of the book is divided into three sections:
  assessments, lists of college majors and careers, and high school
  planning.
 
  Through the 4 different assessments, your child will identify
  their learning style, work/service preference, personality type,
  and also complete a work environment questionnaire. After each
  assessment there is a list of possible careers that fit each
  style/preference. The assessments and the author's comments point
  students not only toward academic or financial goals, but also
  outline the importance of their walk with the Lord - depending
  on Him for guidance for the future.
 
  The next section starts with a thorough, alphabetical list of
  occupations followed by lots of ideas and advice for students to
  consider regarding possible college majors, and high school subjects
  to study to prepare for college or technical school. In addition to
  giving suggestions for possible courses, Mrs. Dixon also encourages
  students to consider taking part in various activities that corres-
  pond with their area of interest while in high school.  Students
  are also encouraged to interview people who work in a field they
  are considering. This section is very well written and really helps
  young people to see the many career possibilities within a field of
  study.  For instance, someone studying computer science might end
  up working as a computer animator, engineer, programmer, service
  technician, software engineer, or webmaster. Each of these careers
  is quite different, but all involve computer science.
 
  The final section focuses on planning the high school years and
  includes a possible course of study, lists of high school subjects
  (including many "outside the box" courses), tracking credits, SAT/ACT
  test advice, and more. Also included in this section is an excellent
  essay for parents titled, "Twelve Principles for Raising Godly
  Teenagers".
 
  If you are ready to embark on the journey through the high school
  years, Mrs. Dixon has proven herself a trustworthy guide. With so
  much practical information for both parents and their teens, this
  is one of those books you'll find yourself referring to again and
  again!

  -- Cindy Prechtel, http://www.HomeschoolingFromTheHeart.com

  ---

  Cindy offers more great high school resources at her website!


    =========================
      High School Question
    =========================

  "I am homeschooling my soon-to-be 17 year old and he will be in
  the 11th grade this year.  I am looking for some art for him and
  I don't know where to start online.  A DVD would be fine, too.
  I would be most thankful for any help with this!" -- Mary H.


    =====================
      Reader Responses
    =====================

  "My daughter has used the following videos/DVDs by Sandra Angelo:

  -Watercolor pencils
  -Creating dynamic compositions
  -Drawing your loved ones: Pets
  -Building a nature sketchbook
  -The easy way to draw landscapes, flowers and water 
  -Drawing your loved ones: People
  -Easy pen and ink techniques for artists, crafters, and quilters
  -Time saving colored pencil techniques
  -7 common drawing mistakes and how to correct them
  -Draw and paint like an impressionist in just one day with oil pastels
  -Special effects with colored pencils
  -Drawing basics: how to shade and more
  -Getting started with colored pencil
  -How to draw wild animals: how to draw cats and dogs

  She most enjoys the colored pencil ones and the ones with animals.
  My daughter's drawing skills have improved dramatically and she
  enjoys Sandra's comments and humor.

  We borrowed the above videos/DVDs from our local library.  Her
  videos/DVDs are sometimes available on eBay, Amazon, etc.

  You can also see what she offers on her website." -- Jennifer R.

  http://www.discoverartwithsandra.com/

  ---

  "Hi Mary -- We have a woman in town who does a lot of different
  subjects through art.  Sharon does workshops in different parts
  of the country, but she also does online things, and has DVDs.
  Her business is Visual Manna -- www.VisualManna.com -- Send her
  your questions, and you'll get answers.  I think she's pretty
  reasonable with her costs.  She has a great book on drawing and
  sculpting horses, and much, much more.  History through art is
  one of my favorites." -- Jan in MO

  ---

  "I recommend the following site for art ideas:

  http://www.artprojectsforkids.org/

  The lessons only go up to grade 5, but there are many lessons
  that are associated with famous artists that could certainly be
  of interest to older children (and adults)." 

  ---

  "I have looked into all sorts of Art curriculum for our now 18 year
  old who will be graduating in the spring of 2010. What we decided to
  do was to read a biography about an artist and look at 6 different
  paintings over a six to eight week period. We started with the French
  Impressionists. We are blessed to live about two hours' drive from
  Washington D.C. and have taken several trips to the National Art
  Museum. I am amazed how many artists our daughter can identify. She
  is not gifted in drawing and was frustrated with programs that focused
  on using mainly this skill." -- Jodi-Marie in MD

  ---

  Editor's note:

  How many of you remember playing the game Masterpiece when you were
  young?  I'll bet many of you still play it!  :-)

  This is a great way to do an art appreciation credit, supplemented
  with great art books from the library.  However, you can go through
  a TON of books and many repeat the same images over and over.

  How would you like to enhance your Masterpiece game with 250 more
  cards of the most cited famous paintings?  You can!  Check out this
  link:

  http://www.themasterpiececards.com/famous-painters/

  I got a few of these cards as samples in the mail and they are
  beautifully done.

  Just thought I'd throw this idea out there for art curriculum at the
  high school level!  My boys LOVE to play Masterpiece and I'm getting
  this "supplement" for them for Christmas. :-)


    =============================================
     New Reader Question for Next Regular Issue
    =============================================

  "Hi!  I have a question that others might be asking, too:

  My 7-year-old son is very bright but has difficulty listening to
  others.  When it comes to school time, he often misses key words
  in questions.  Once he understands the pattern of what I'm asking
  him to do (or a book's instructions) he can do any task, but he is
  not learning the key words which would help him clue in to what he's
  being asked to do.  For example, after using math terms carefully
  for months he knows 'ones place', 'tens place', etc., but doesn't
  clue in when I talk about 'place value'; he still doesn't recognize
  the word 'digit' in a question, etc.  I've tried using a 'Jeopardy'
  approach but he doesn't understand the answer-question concept.
  Unfortunately, he's quite a perfectionist and will avoid work
  rather than learn a key word.
 
  I think he has problems both with observing patterns and with hearing
  key words.  I've got some good materials for discerning patterns now
  (still open for more advice), but wonder if someone can recommend
  listening comprehension exercises I can get easily from the internet,
  etc.  Thanks!" -- Brenda, homeschooling in Thailand

  ---

  Do you have some suggestions for Brenda?

  Please send your answer to:  mailto:HN-answers@familyclassroom.net


    =====================
     Ask YOUR Question
    =====================

  Do you have a question about homeschooling high school?

  Send it to mailto:HN-questions@familyclassroom.net and we'll see
  if we can help you out in a future issue!


    =======================
     Need Immediate Help?
    =======================

  Visit our Homeschool Encouragement Center!  This is a live 24/7
  'chat' area where you can talk live to our homeschool counselors
  by typing in a box.  When you get there, just introduce yourself
  and let them know that Heather sent you!

  This ultra-safe chat is supervised by experienced moms who are
  there to serve and share their wisdom... or just offer a listening
  ear and encouragement.

  http://www.HomeschoolChat.us


    ===========================
     SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION
    ===========================

  There are opportunities for your business to be a sponsor of this
  newsletter!  Read more about our VERY AFFORDABLE advertising here:

  http://www.homeschooladnetwork.com/homeschoolersnotebook.php


    =====================
     ADDITIONAL NOTES
    =====================

  All contributed articles are printed with the author's prior
  consent. It is assumed that any questions, tips or replies to
  questions may be reprinted. All letters become the property of
  the "Homeschooler's Notebook". [Occasionally your contribution
  may have to be edited for space.]

  Again, I welcome you to the group!  Feel free to send any
  contributions to mailto:HN-articles@familyclassroom.net or
  mailto:HN-ideas@familyclassroom.net.

  We also sponsor an incredible site with over 1,500 pages of helps!
  http://www.easyfunschool.com


    ===========================
       REPRINT INFORMATION
    ===========================

  No part of this newsletter (except subscription information
  below) may be copied and/or displayed in digital format online
  (for instance, on a website or blog) without EXPRESS permission
  from the editor.  Individuals may, however, forward the newsletter
  IN ITS ENTIRETY to *individual* friends (not email groups).  For
  reprints in paper publications (homeschool support group newsletters,
  etc.) please send your request to:  mailto:Heather@FamilyClassroom.net





Next - The Best Occupation of a Middle Schooler
Previous - Kellie's Son and Abbie's Daughter, 'Sputnik Moment' Video
Home




     Site content copyright individual contributors and FamilyClassroom.net 2001-2011 - Digital duplication expressly prohibited.
Privacy Policy | Advertise