Guest Post: Success Without College

 Today's guest post is from my friend Courtney at Minivan Mom.  I think we were the very first customer at their body shop.  That is where I first met her husband.  I asked Courtney to tell us their story about how they are succeeding without  college degrees.  Courtney and her husband were both homeschooled and now homeschool their children.  She has some great advice here.  Enjoy her story (and this picture of her adorable family).

Photo Credit: Abbie Gibson Photography

Family Favorites Friday: The Library

We love the library;  any library, any place.

My children grew up with a weekly trip to the library.  They spent many hours perusing the books and choosing some to check out and take home.  

It is a good thing our local public library did not have a limit on how many books we could check out!  With seven children choosing books, we easily carried home 70 or more books each week.

High School Elective: Drafting Fundamentals

Over the last ten years, I have taught a Drafting class at our homeschool co-op classes. The first time I taught the class I found a book on Ebay, Exploring Drafting, fundamentals of technology by John R Walker (I have an older version). I didn't know anything about the book other than the title chapters covered what I wanted to teach and it was aimed at high school students.

What To Do About the New SAT (uncut version)

As you probably noticed in my last post titled What To Do About the New SAT, my editor believes in brevity.   She thought my original post was verbose, but I wanted to share it anyway.  What follows is the uncut version of the post.

The SAT is getting a makeover.

Current high school freshmen will be the guinea pigs for this test in Spring 2016, according to the College Board.

There is a lot of ‘chatter’ on the internet in response to this announcement.

What can students do about the new SAT?  

Don’t take it.  

What To Do About the New SAT Test

The brevity of this post is brought to you by my mean editor. 

Don't like the new SAT? 

Take the ACT instead. 

The end.

* the 400+ word unedited version of this post is coming soon

Annoyance or Adventure?

My mom recently sent me this poem .  I thought it was a great reminder to parents

 everywhere that time is fleeting, even when it seems unending; that the petty

  annoyances of adults are often adventures to children.

Remember, all learning is not done at a desk with a book. 

 Big Mud Puddles and Sunny Yellow Dandelions

Author Unknown

  When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my yard.
My kids see flowers for Mom and blowing white fluff you can wish on.

Homeschool Grading Scale?

The following story might prove  one of several things:

1. I really am the meanest mom.

2. My son really is funny.

3. What I say is not always what my children hear.

Improve Your Vocabulary, Improve Your SAT or ACT Score

I recently realized that lack of a broad vocabulary hinders many students from scoring higher on the SAT or ACT test.

Improve your vocabulary, improve your score.

An Overlooked Way to Fund College

 I recently stumbled across an overlooked way to fund college. 

 I heard two different people comment, "My employer would have paid for me to attend college, but at the time, I didn't see a need for a college degree."  Both of these people now wish they had taken advantage of that often overlooked way to fund college.

Why should your student explore every funding option available?

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP: Helping High School Students Find Their Strengths

 Even though I have graduated five students, I still have two high school students at home. One is a junior, one is a sophomore.

For many high school students, one of the most difficult questions to answer is, "What do you want to do for a job, or what are you going to do after high school?"

WHAT MY ENGLISH TEACHERS DID RIGHT

Reflecting recently on what students need to do well on the (sometimes) dreaded SAT test, I started thinking about my high school English classes.

Even though the SAT test was not recommended much at my high school, the teachers were giving the students the skills needed to do well.

Do You Only Expect, Or Do You Inspect?

"It's not what you expect, it's what you inspect."

It was a light bulb moment when I first heard this phrase many years ago.

I had many expectations for my children:

Music: How to Get Leadership and Community Service Experience

This conversation took place at lunch about ten years ago:

“Hannah, Mrs. Johnson wants to know if you would teach piano to her daughter.”

“No”, Hannah replied.

“Why not?”

“I don’t want to.”

“I will!” 13 year old Andrew exclaimed.

“Hmmm, let’s ask your piano teacher if she thinks you could.”

At the time of this conversation, Hannah had been taking piano for at least ten years, but she had no inclination to teach younger students.  

4-H: Learning and Leadership

4-H offers many benefits to students of all education venues.

Today’s 4-H program is similar to, but different from the program you may have known growing up.

STEM Activities List

STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) subjects and students proficient in the subjects are in great demand these days.

While I was writing my post about the NASA Aerospace Scholars, my 17 year old son asked me what I was doing.  I told him and a discussion about STEM activities ensued.  He mentioned that he never really explored those options very much, which sent me looking for what might be available for him now, since the opportunity for Aerospace Scholars has passed for him.

I found quite a few opportunities

High School Aerospace Scholars

“HAS is an interactive online learning experience for high school juniors in Texas. Selected students are nominated by their State Legislator, have an interest in math, science, engineering or computer science, and are encouraged to pursue high tech careers. Participation is highlighted by a six-day experience at the Johnson Space Center.”

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES FOR HOMESCHOOLERS

In addition to a good academic program, students need to have some extracurricular activities. It is best for students to explore activities before high school, so by the time they reach high school they have chosen a couple activities they really enjoy and are able to take on leadership in the activity. Colleges look for well-rounded students who not only do well academically, but participate in community and extracurricular activities.

Square Peg, Round Hole

When my children were young, we had two different shape learning toys.

One had three different shapes and holes: round, square, rectangle. Of course, each shape fit best into the appropriate hole, but sometimes, with effort, a square or rectangle could be forced into the round hole, or vice versa.

The other toy had eighteen holes and each shape would only fit in the prescribed hole. No amount of forcing would allow the shape to go into the incorrect hole.

This is basically how the public education system works; or almost any type of classroom setting with multiple students.

2014 Blog Focus

According to the handful of readers who took my mini end-of-year survey, most of you want more information about homeschooling high school.  That will be my focus this year, but I won’t forget the readers who want more tips on developing responsible teenagers, or those who like my recipes and travel tips.

SURVEY RESULTS

85% - Homeschool High School

71% - Preparing for college

42% - Writing

28% - College

28% - Travel with a large family

28% - Other (chores and self-sufficiency)

14% - Teaching reading

14% - Cooking

Some of you may be wondering who I am to spout this information/advice to you.  In case you haven’t seen my About Me page, here is a recap:

I am a homeschooling mom of seven children.  I have graduated five of those children and they all were accepted to and attended college, many with generous scholarships.  Two of the five were National Merit Finalists, two were National Merit Commended Scholars.  I don’t credit their achievements to any superior teaching skills, but I am now very familiar with the process.

In my 20+ years of homeschooling, I have made mistakes.  Often mistakes make the best teachers and hopefully you can learn from mine and not repeat them.

I have two high school students at home, so I am right there with you in the trenches of homeschooling high school and navigating higher education.

If you benefit from my blog, consider following by email so you don’t miss a post.  Also, please recommend my blog to friends who might enjoy it.

What About High School? Planning Homeschool High School

When homeschooling high school, having a plan and keeping records becomes more important.

Beginning with 9th grade, a 4-year plan is necessary.

How do you make a 4-year plan?