Star-Spangled State Book

I'm really pleased that we showcased the Star-Spangled State Book for all of you.  Apparently, many of you were not aware of its existence.  Well, I'm glad that you know about it now!

Don't forget that it, along with the companion workbook, is on sale until the end of this month, April 30, 2009.  Grab your copy now - www.knowledgequestmaps.com/prod5.htm

Stay posted for next month's giveaway!

Congratulations to our winners!

We've collected your comments and drawn 3 names to win the Star-Spangled State Book.  Thanks to each of you for entering our drawing.  That was alot of fun!  Here are the 3 winners:

Diane H.

MaineMom

Erika

Congratulations!  The 3 ladies above have received an email notifying them of their prize.  Maybe next time it will be you!

P.S. Don't forget that our sale on the Star-Spangled State Book and Workbook will continue until the 30th of April - the last day of the month.  Here's the link - www.knowledgequestmaps.com/prod5.htm.

April's Giveaway!

It is time for our monthly giveaway AND I am super excited for this one! We are giving away THREE (3) printed copies of the book - The Star-Spangled State Book.

Check out some reviews at the links below and then click back here to find out how you can enter our drawing to win 1 of 3 free books.

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Spangled-State-Book-Joel-King/dp/1932786260

http://homeschoolbuzz.com/reviews.html?content=The-Star-Spangled-State-Book

http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Homeschool_Reviews/1813.php

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=786260&netp_id=478884&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW&view=covers

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/tn3jcarter/218599/

Reviews not enough? Perhaps a sample lesson will hit the spot! Below is a link to a sample pulled out of the front portion of the book:

http://www.knowledgequestmaps.com/StatebookSample.pdf

Here's what you will need to do in order to enter our drawing:

1. Visit this webpage - http://www.knowledgequestmaps.com/prod5.htm - and skim through the product info.
2. Download the free sample (if you wish) and take a peek. Workbook sample is available also.
3. Tell us what you think by leaving a comment here on the blog.
4. Include your email or blog address so that we can contact you if you win.
5. We can only provide free shipping to U.S. addresses. However, if you live outside the U.S. and don't mind paying the postage, you may certainly enter our drawing as well.

The drawing will be held on Friday, April 24th. That is less than a week away!

Please note: If you decide to purchase the book because it looks so perfect for your upcoming studies AND because it is ON SALE until 4/29 and then you win a free book in our drawing, we will REFUND the amount of purchase. Don't worry about that.

Also please note: The Star-Spangled Workbook (that turns the State Book into a full year curriculum) is currently on sale at over 40% off. This sale will last until April 29th.

Dual credit courses during high school

When you choose to homeschool through high school, you are presented with a unique set of challenges. Perhaps for the first time in your homeschooling career, you now need to assign grades to the course work that your child is completing. You are now responsible for maintaining a transcript that highlights all of your student's accomplishments, classes and test scores. And somewhere along the line, you realize that it can be tricky being objective when the student is your very own child.

Some of us parents are overly generous when awarding grades and credits to our high school children and some of us are overly critical about the effort that our teens are putting forth. In either scenario, we might be guilty of misrepresenting our teen on a transcript. We might be overly positive and complimentary and mislead college admissions with the incredible accomplishments of our child - perfect 4.0 (honors, AP, etc.) or we might dash his chances of getting into a really good school because we thought he could do better and so gave him less than wonderful grades (when in truth, his school work deserved a much higher score).

This is a fine line to walk, isn't it?

The great news is that there are certain check points along the way that can help us as we steer through this high school path. For high schoolers that are homeschooled, test scores become an objective measure of their knowledge and reasoning ability. In truth, test scores are an objective measure for ALL high school kids because standards and curricula vary so widely across our nation. This is the main reason why standardized aptitude tests (i.e. SAT I/ACT) are required of all students who desire to go on to higher education. Other tests that objectively measure a student's knowledge and skill are SAT II subject tests, AP and CLEP tests. These are regarded very heavily by college admissions officers.

Finally, another great way to show your student's true college potential is to have him or her take classes at the local community college. A high school junior or senior can receive dual credit for these classes - meaning they receive high school credit AND college credit at the SAME TIME. And if your teen is getting good grades in college level classes, this is looked at very favorably by college admissions staff.

The other great thing about having your high schooler take classes for dual credit is that they can chip away at their college requirements at a reduced fee (usually). Many community colleges have programs for high schoolers that allow them to take the college class for full credit but at a fraction of the cost.

Here's an example... Our local community college allows high schoolers to take classes for college credit (and high school credit) for $25 per credit unit. The regular cost is $80/credit. That is significant savings!

Plus if my child receives a good grade for her college class, that reflects very well on her. And I am just an observer. I take no part in awarding her the college grade or class.

BUT as her high school teacher, I do have to give her the grade and credit for the high school portion of the "dual credit". So, if she receives a B+ for her college level work, then I could very easily give her an A- or an A for her high school level work. Do you see how this works? You could also keep the grade the same and that would be fine also.

Anyway, I hope that this post has encouraged you to think outside of the box when you are homeschooling your high schooler. Consider dual credit. It is a great option.

Check with your local junior or community colleges to find out how you can enroll your teen.

And be sure to check into the Upper Level Homeschool class - http://www.UpperLevelHomeschool.com - starting this month!

God bless,
Terri Johnson

Interview with Meredith Curtis

Meredith Curtis of Take Root and Write (http://www.takerootandwrite.com/columns_joyful_and_successful_homeschooling/index.html) recently requested an interview with me. She'll be posting it on her blog alongside a review of our Homeschooling ABCs course. I thought that my blog readers might want to take a look into my personal homeschooling life as well. Thanks, Meredith for the opportunity.

Meredith: Terri, you mention on your website that you read Susan Wise Bauer's The Well Trained Mind which inspired you to make blank outline maps for your own children. Would you consider yourself a classical homeschooler?

Terri: Actually, no, I would not consider myself a "classical" homeschooler, although we do implement some classical concepts into our homeschool. Actually, I would consider myself an eclectic homeschooler and this is why. When we started out with our first kindergartener many, many years ago, we pursued primarily unit studies. That was a blast! Then I discovered Charlotte Mason and our studies took on this flavor for a while until I stumbled upon The Well-Trained Mind. It was at this time that I became convinced that the classical method was the best one for us to follow. This was when I was only schooling 2 of my kids and they both fit into this mold very well. However, as my next two daughters became old enough to join us in our school studies, I realized that I needed to alter some of the ways that I taught in order to accommodate them. We have gone back to incorporate more of the Charlotte Mason methods and unit studies to bring some flair back into our school days. However, I do use textbooks for a few subjects that require this type of approach for one or more of my kids. So, as you can see, I truly am an eclectic homeschooling mom!

Meredith: Please tell us a little bit about your own educational background when you were a child?

Terri: I went to public school when I was a child from grades K-12. I never knew or heard of anyone who was homeschooled at that time (although now I know that there were homeschooling pioneers way back then who were paving the way and I am thankful to them.)

Meredith: What led you to homeschool? What were the early years of homeschooling like for your family?

Terri: Our oldest daughter learned to read a few weeks before she turned four and this put me in a conundrum. I didn't know what to do with her for the next couple of years while she waited for kindergarten to start or what she would do while she waited for her schoolmates to learn to read. We were afraid that she would be terribly bored in school with the major emphasis on phonics instruction for the first couple of years. So, we decided that we would begin homeschooling the following year (technically a year early because her birthday fell after September 1st) and just see what happened. We thought that we would put her into school around 2nd grade when the rest of her peers would be reading and the emphasis would shift into other subject matters.

However, when second grade rolled around, our son was entering kindergarten and he was upset that we were thinking about putting him in kindergarten when we enrolled his sister in second grade. He wanted to homeschool just like his sister! So, we decided that if we were going to teach one of them at home, we might as well continue with both. That was the last year we even considered putting our kids into traditional school. Something that we used to say in the early years is that we were just taking it one year at a time. And I think that is a good way to approach homeschooling, because it is not us, but the Lord that leads us on our path. And yet, the Lord has made it very clear that this "educational choice" that we have been pursuing is truly a lifestyle and we have been faithfully traveling this path ever since that first decision to homeschool our first kindergartener and believe that we will see all of our children through school in this way, as long as He continues to make a way for us to do so.

We are finishing up our 11th year of homeschooling this year.

Meredith: Please tell us more about your philosophy of home education?

Terri: This is a bold statement, but I believe that every Christian parent ought to consider the option of homeschooling right alongside their choice of public or private schooling. That said, I do not believe that homeschooling is the best, nor certainly not, the easiest choice for all families as many factors come into play, BUT it is a tested and proven method for educational success. One-on-one tutoring within the family setting is producing children and young adults with strong academics and strong moral character.

Meredith: Terri, you have five children. What are their names and ages?

Terri: Actually, we have six children. Nicole is our oldest and she is 15 and finishing up her Sophomore year of high school. Brady is 13 and getting ready to begin his Freshman year this fall. Rachel is 8 and going into 4th grade. Lydia is 7 and going into 3rd. Autumn is 3 and Levi is 16 months old.

Meredith: Do you find yourself adapting your teaching for each of your different children?

Terri: Absolutely! As I said earlier, I have had to change my teaching style to accommodate various learners as they have been folded into our homeschool studies. In fact, now that my oldest two children are primarily independent learners, I now direct most of my teaching techniques toward my 7 and 8 year olds, who learn very differently than their older siblings. The classical approach worked very well for my oldest two, but my middle two thrive in a more Charlotte-Mason-style approach to learning. It is gentle, but not dumbed down… Interesting, but not too rigorous…

Also, I try to use the same texts and resources for each of my children as I strive to manage both money and time wisely, but when I find that a certain approach is not working for someone, I'll put that book away and try something else. Spelling is a perfect example. I have used Spelling Power for all of my kids and 3 out of 4 of them have done very well with the program. But one doesn't learn the same way. She is much more auditory than visual. I began using All About Spelling with her this year and her spelling ability has taken off! She just needed a different approach that suited her learning style. Yes, that means that I have to juggle spelling a little bit more, but the results far outweight any inconvenience to me.

Meredith: Where do you feel most successful as a homeschool mom?

Terri: I feel like I know my kids well. I know their strengths, their weaknesses, what frustrates them and what makes them swell with pride. I know when they are having a rough day and when they might need a little time to themselves or alone with me. I know when they are excited to get through with their schoolwork so they can get outside and play. I feel that I am successful in studying my kids and helping them to grow academically, emotionally and spiritually.

I'm not perfect, by any means, but I love spending time with my children and enjoying them for who they are.

Meredith: What is your biggest challenge?

Terri: Housework, hands-down! I am the Mary (vs. Martha) who would rather read, talk, listen and play. Dishes can be piling in the sink and laundry in the hamper and I am content to read another chapter in the gripping novel that we are engrossed in.

I have learned through the years that I need to create and use systems in order to stay on top of housework. The kids have daily chores that they need to complete before they rush off to any extra-curricular activities. If they don't keep up with their chores, then these extra privileges are taken away. We set aside times for housework when everyone must pitch in and mark off the duties they have completed on the chart. Kids and parents all work together to get the jobs done.

I am still largely responsible for laundry and this is the one area that I have not yet devised a workable solution that helps me stay on top of the huge task of washing, drying, folding and putting away of 8 family members clothing. Not to mention storing, organizing and getting rid of out-of-season or unwanted clothing. But I'll keep working on it!

Meredith: In your homeschooling journey, what has given you the greatest joy along the way?

Terri: My greatest joy has been watching my children succeed in something they have worked really hard for. When a child gets an A on a test or lands a lead role in a play, my heart leaps for joy. And yet I know that these are not the most important things in life. The real learning moments come from failure and disappointment. I cannot label it "joy", but some of my most satisfying moments as a homeschooling parent have been the times that I have been able to come alongside one of my children and encourage him after a difficult disappointment. These are the moments when real learning and growth take place. These are also the moments that strengthen our relationships with our kids. They need to know that it is not their success that makes us love them; it's just who they are!

Meredith: What inspired you to put together this amazing course, Homeschooling ABCs, for other homeschooling moms?

Terri: One day last summer, it hit me like a ton of bricks… there is nothing comprehensive out there that takes a new homeschooling parent by the hand and guides her through the steps necessary to begin homeschooling her kids. Over the years, we have talked with many parents via email, over the phone and at homeschool conferences about "how to homeschool". And yet I know that these 10 minute conversations are just not enough to fully equip a parent to dive right in. There is so much information out there, but your brain goes into overload when you try to digest it. Have you ever googled "homeschool"? There is a lot of information out there, but none of it is assembled into one easy-to-digest comprehensive program.

That's what inspired me to put together the Homeschooling ABCs course.

Meredith: Please tell us about Homeschooling ABCs.

Terri: Homeschooling ABCs (www.HomeschoolingABCs.com) is a 26 week long course that takes a new homeschooling parent by the hand and walks her through the first 6 months of her homeschooling journey. The class is delivered by weekly emails that contain a link to a PDF download that contains that week's lesson. The lessons are usually 10-12 pages in length and cover a single aspect of homeschooling such as:

A - 10 Easy Steps to a Great Start in Homeschooling

B - Let's Begin with the Basics

C - Copy the Classroom - Not! (Organization)

D - Dare to Differentiate (Learning Styles)

E - Establish Your Philosophy of Education

F - Finding the Best Curriculum for Your Family

Classes go on to cover individual subjects in detail, such as math, phonics, science, etc. The reason for this unique format is to allow the class member to read, absorb and apply that week's lesson before moving on to the next. We all know how easy it is to read a great big book and then apply maybe only 1 or 2 points from the entire volume. With this weekly delivery method, you get the opportunity to apply 1-2 points from each lesson and therefore are able to glean much more from the material over the course of the 6 months.

You can read all of the details on the website here - www.HomeschoolingABCs.com.

These classes are geared for homeschooling parents who have children of all ages and in all grades K-12. However, because of the unique demands and requirements of high school students, we have created a separate course just for parents of middle and high school students. It is called Upper Level Homeschool and you can read more about that separate 13 week course here -www.UpperLevelHomeschool.com.

It's been a pleasure, Meredith. Thanks for conducting this interview.

Be sure to visit Meredith's blog at:
http://www.takerootandwrite.com/columns_joyful_and_successful_homeschooling/index.html