Homeschooling Tips

Homeschool Students and College Admissions

Aug 19th, 2010 | By daansys | Category: Homeschooling Tips, Lead Article

Homeschool Students and College Admissions

So often I hear homeschoolers ask, “But what about college?” as they consider the option of homeschooling their high school students.  “Will they get in?”, “Can they get scholarships?” and “What do I do to get them ready?”



Homeschool Math Contests

Jul 28th, 2010 | By Jessica Parnell | Category: Homeschooling Tips, Lead Article

Do you have a homeschooler who hates math?  Or perhaps you have a math whiz who needs a challenge!

Math contests can provide that extra challenge for your gifted math student or that extra motivation for that student who struggles with math.



Writing Contests for Homeschoolers

Jul 25th, 2010 | By Jessica Parnell | Category: Featured Articles, Writing Ideas and Activities

If you’ve read my bloghomeschooling and writing in the past, you know that I am passionate about writing.  I believe that with the right motivation and the right approach, any child can learn to write and write well.

The ability to convey ideas in writing has become even more essential with the advancements of technology.  An individual who can communicate well, earns respect.  And with email becoming the communication tool of choice, we must ensure that our children have the tools to write well.



The Busy Homeschoolers Survival Guide

Nov 13th, 2009 | By Jessica Parnell | Category: Homeschooling Tips, Lead Article

I couldn’t keep myself from sharing this awesome advice from veteran homeschooler and Bridgeway Homeschool Academy Advisor, Annette Faust.

Do you sometimes feel that there are just not enough hours in the day?  Do you roll out of bed at the crack of dawn, fall back into bed long after the entire neighborhood has gone off to sleep and still feel like you need a few more hours to get everything accomplished that you set out to do? Read More. 



Hard Work Beats Talent

Nov 5th, 2009 | By Jessica Parnell | Category: Homeschooling Tips, Lead Article

“Hard Work Beats Talent”

These words of wisdom were delivered to my daughters’ soccer team by their soccer coach this weekend just before they headed out on the field to their championship game.



Homeschooling and Writing

Sep 21st, 2009 | By Jessica Parnell | Category: Featured Articles, Writing Ideas and Activities

The Power of Dictation
Homeschool Writing Success
I had a conversation with a homeschooling friend this week whose sixth grade daughter is struggling with writing. “She is so unfocused when it comes to writing elements of our homeschooling that we end up stretching out our day into the evening or weekend just to get it done.”



Top Ten Ways to Homeschool on the Road

Jul 19th, 2009 | By Jessica Parnell | Category: Featured Articles, Homeschooling Road Trip 2009, Homeschooling Tips, Writing Ideas and Activities

Our Homeschool Road Trip was a mix of fun, learning, and the beauty of God’s creation.  Many of my readers have asked how we filled the drive time.  Well, for some of the time, we worked on specific subjects but for most of the time we found ways to take the basics and turn them into a game.  This not only helped to pass the time, but brought out the creativity in all of us.



Homeschooling-Teacher or Coach?

Mar 19th, 2009 | By Jessica Parnell | Category: General Homeschool Posts, Homeschooling Tips, Lead Article

When to be a teacher and when to be a coach is sometimes a challenging decision.

Often we are sure we can speed up the learning process if we just impart our wisdom and academic expertise to our children through a “lesson.”  So, we set aside time to go over whatever it is we are sure they need to know next, we prepare what we want to say, and we conduct our “class.” Okay, okay, most of the time we don’t go through quite the formal process explained above, but you get the point.



Homeschool Support Groups-Project Ideas

Apr 28th, 2008 | By Jessica Parnell | Category: General Homeschool Posts, Homeschooling Tips

Every year our local homeschool groups host three major events:

  • A homeschool Science fair
  • A homeschool Social Studies fair
  • A homeschool International fair

The science fair is a terrific way to encourage students to enjoy science and to dig deep into an aspect of science that interests them.



Six Easy Steps to Extraordinary Writing for Your Homeschooler

Mar 25th, 2008 | By Jessica Parnell | Category: Curriculum Reviews, General Homeschool Posts, Homeschooling Tips, Language Arts, Writing Ideas and Activities

Diagramming, identifying sentence patterns, finding parts of speech . . . every student’s favorite element of grammar, right?  How many times have you heard your child ask, “Why do I have to learn this?” As a writing teacher, I loved that question because it was always the perfect lead in to a unit on the value of sentence patterns in writing.