There is a simple way to organize a legitimate high school credit in guitar (music) for a home schooling high school student. Good documentation and class-like scheduling can yield a fine arts credit in music for guitar. Here are seven key aspects needed to put together your high school level, credit worthy, home schooling guitar course.

First, you need a guitar. Many students begin with a low-cost beginner’s guitar for about $100 or so. You can select either an acoustic or electric guitar. If you have the funds, I recommend offering to upgrade to a better guitar if your student sticks with it, and significantly improves in guitar playing skills, for one year.

Second, set up a half-hour weekly lesson with a guitar teacher, usually at a music store. It is nice to have one recommended that is a good fit for your family and goals. Some music teachers and home school groups offer class guitar. However, they are not nearly as effective as a one-on-one instructional setting.

Third, you need a written course description to be a part of your portfolio. This is your overview of the guitar course, so you need the guitar instructor to either write one for you, or dictate the details to you, or give you a list of the things that will be included in the lessons over the school year. The course description should also include your manner of grading and the weight each part will have in calculating your final course grade.

Fourth, schedule a half-hour of practice for four days a week. With the weekly lesson, this will yield a total of two-and-a-half hours per week, which is 90 hours for a 180 day school year. You can lengthen the practice time if you need more than this total amount of time in your state. It works best to include this practice within the home schooling course daily schedule. This will better insure a disciplined, documented, and graded course. Having this in a student daily calendar log as part of your course portfolio is critical.

Fifth, the instruction part needs to be graded by instructor each week to have in the portfolio. You should talk to the instructor about a grading system and his or her cooperation. Offer to provide grading sheets for the teacher to use to accurately and easily give a weekly analysis and grade. Make them simple but thorough. Get the grading criteria that the guitar teacher thinks to be important and create those sheets. A weekly graded sheet should be completed and sent home with the student. Your guitar student’s progress and skill development will be a key part of the final course grade.

Sixth, the practice sessions should be graded by parents. Some suggestions for grading are things like character evidenced, consistency, and effort. These grades will be part of the final portfolio.

Seventh, the final grade can be computed from the teacher’s weekly grades, the parents’ weekly grades, and the final “exam” recital grade.

Your final full course documentation and portfolio will include: a copy of the daily log of practice and lessons (providing evidence of the total number of hours for the course work) done the same way as any other course work (Math, Science, etc.); parental grading documents; skill tests conducted by the guitar teacher; possibly a final performance/recital to serve as a final exam; tests can be given on scales, chords, songs, reading music, reading tablature, playing by ear, playing with teacher; pictures of the student, teacher, music store or practice studio can be a good addition; a video or recording of the student playing could be used; then the final grade and how it was computed.

To summarize these seven key parts: (1) guitar, (2) guitar lessons, (3) course description, (4) daily practice schedule, (5) instructor grading, (6) home practice grading, and (7) the final grade. May your student learn to play the guitar well and earn a high school fine arts credit!

To Your Home School Success!

Go to my website for two helpful guitar tools. They are chord finding internet links: http://huntbiz.ws/Acoustic_River. Email me with questions and ideas: huntbiz.ws@gmail.com.

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Today, getting an online high school GED is becoming a popular option for individuals who cannot attend traditional classroom sessions. A GED is an accepted equivalent to a diploma in a lot of cases. However, some employers still specify that they prefer people who have high school diplomas. The best way to bridge the gap between getting a diploma and still enjoying the benefits of studying at home is to find a suitable online academy that will provide their students a real diploma instead of just a certificate or a GED.

One of the biggest issues with people who cannot or do not want to attend regular classroom-based education is the pace. Some students want to ruminate over a lesson for a long time while others are done with their study materials halfway through the school term.

This is a problem that online home schooling addresses. Good online academies usually have a self-pacing program where students can determine when they are ready to move on to the next lesson. There are no deadlines to beat and students are not pressured to finish before the next GED exam schedule because at the end of the program, they will still get their diploma.

Why settle for an online high school GED when you can get a diploma without having to attend class daily, with a regular schedule? Whether you are getting a diploma to get ahead in life or to simply feel a sense of accomplishment, receiving a diploma will be more worth it the effort.

Resource Box:

Continental Academy is a Florida-based distance learning high school that provides high school diplomas to students instead of just an online high school GED. It fully supports home schooling and has been providing quality education since 1996. See ContinentalAcademy.com or call 800-285-3514 for more information.

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Getting an online high school diploma is becoming more popular because of home schooling. Over the last few years, online degrees at the collegiate level have progressed substantially, creating amazing resources for high school students to utilize at home. A lot of students want to learn at home and at their own pace, without worrying about catching up with the rest of the class or learning faster than the teacher can teach. Home schooling is also an option that an increasing number of parents favor because it allows them to be as hands-on as possible when it comes to their children’s education.

However, most online academies do not really go as far as giving their students a diploma. Most of them only prepare the student for the battery of exams that he needs to take to pass the GED. While the GED is a certificate that some employers or universities accept in place of a diploma, more prestigious ones have a strict high school diploma requirement. This means that getting only a GED will restrict a student’s potential when it comes to employment or higher learning. It is proven that people with high school diplomas earn more and feel a higher level of accomplishment than those who merely have a GED.

Therefore, if you have decided on home schooling, make sure that you are going to find a school that will actually give you an online high school diploma. It is a good idea to invest in a school that allows you to go at your own pace but is always there to assist you whenever you need it, like when you find a difficult lesson in your course. It is important to check the quality of the school you are planning to enroll in because you are not only investing your time, money and effort on them, you are also investing on your future.

Resource Box:

Continental Academy is a Florida-based distance learning high school that provides online high school diplomas to students. It fully supports home schooling and has been providing quality education since 1996. Visit ContinentalAcademy.com or call 800-285-3514 for details.

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You spent months agonizing over the curriculum you were going to use with your homeschooler. You negotiated room in your already full house to prepare a learning environment within your home. You steeled yourself against your family’s doubts over whether or not homeschooling was the best decision for your family, and hopefully you triumphed! You have done everything you can to get your child prepared for the road ahead completing their high school education, but why stop there?

Let’s face it, college is necessary these days. Whether your child wants to be an engineer, a minister, or a stay-at-home dad with something interesting to talk about, you need a college degree! It’s not news to you that homeschoolers are at a disadvantage in the college admissions process, in fact, if you’re like me, you’ve heard nothing but pessimistic views on a homeschooler’s ability to get into a university of their choice. Even trying to serve my country the army, my transcripts were looked at with the suspicious eye normally reserved for the shadiest of characters. I wish I knew then what I know now.

Unlike the above, this will be news to you: homeschoolers have a distinct advantage over traditional school children when it comes to preparing their transcripts. Unlike the average graduate entering college, the homeschooler’s transcripts can be customized to illustrate the value that their education and achievements will bring to the school of their choice! rather than just being one of a thousand printouts at the end of the year, you as a parent hold the keys to your child’s future at the tips of your fingertips. You will be the one crafting the transcripts for admissions departments to read.

I don’t expect that you know how to craft a transcript that will impress college admissions naturally, but with the right guidance and some serious effort on your part, you can be crafting amazing transcripts that show how much your child has to offer their community.

To find out more about how to make your student’s transcripts shine to readers, Click Here.

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Everything needs checks and balances… accountability is a good thing…

I know in my own life I tend to do a better job, and put more effort into something if I know that I must be accountable for it. Though state testing requirements vary, many homeschooling students across the country are required to participate in standardized testing. States require this testing to ensure that students are learning and progress is being made.

1) Standardized tests are for the measurement of a child’s achievement. These tests do not measure students ability or aptitude, that is measured on a separate test (such as the Otis Lennon). Aptitude tests measure the school ability index or what used to be called IQ.

2) Most standardized tests assess only language arts and math. But, prior to having your child tested ask the administrator of the test what sub-tests are included and then make preparations for SAT study courses, or by purchasing prep books.

3) These tests are called standardized because the test was taken by a sample set of students who took the test at the same time of year. The test makers take this sample group’s average score and allow it to represent the 50th percentile.

4) Using the same test from year to year for your child’s assessment will ensure a more accurate comparison of norms.

5) The student’s typically do just fine with taking the test, it’s the parents we often worry about! So, take it easy, mom and dad. Remember, that this is just one test and is not the “big picture” of your child’s learning. An accurate picture of how your child is achieving will include what they are learning in school/homeschool, what they are learning at home, and how they do on SATs.

Jamie Gaddy, Ed.D. has been an educator for over 15 years educating both children and teachers. Currently an Educational Consultant and contributor to http://time4learning.net/blogs/homeschool_online/ and http://onlineeducationforkids.com/, she homeschools her six children and enjoys incorporating technology into their daily learning.

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Beginning online homeschooling can be a freeing experience. No longer tied to a fixed schedule, the child(ren) and in fact whole families can benefit from one of its most distinct advantages: learning outside the box. The restricting, constricting box of public or private school can take many forms.

Some of which are: the daily school day schedule, (often starting and ending with a long ride on a school bus) less and less free time, as recess, enjoyment of the creative arts, and flexibility in teaching academics all tend to be curtailed because of school budget cuts and the pressures on teachers to teach to the standardized tests.

Going outside the school box can indeed be playful, though the work of learning is not neglected, but on the contrary is usually accelerated. Accelerated learning is just one of the benefits to online homeschooling.

The one-size-fits-all nature of the curriculum used in the classroom is less than optimal because it not only leaves some of the students behind, but often dampens the pure joy of learning for all students. Seat learning takes up the majority of the time spent in the classroom, and that alone can so remove learning from real life that it loses connection and thus credibility.

Boredom results as motivation to learn lessens, while enthusiasm and curiosity fade. When the lessons are tailored to meet the needs and interests of each and every student, like with homeschooling the joys of learning are happily rekindled. As Yeats said, “Education is not filling a bucket but lighting a fire.” The homeschoolers fires do seem to be the most promising place for that to happen. Another greatly beneficial aspect of learning with homeschooling is the ability to literally go outside and play, anytime.

The decline in the overall physical health of our children is startling. It’s been well documented that many Americans, including children, are overweight. And the statistics for the accompanying rise in Type 2 (adult onset) diabetes in children is staggering. The good news is that this and many other health problems currently plaguing children are very preventable through changes in diet and exercise.
These positive lifestyle changes are more available to homeschoolers, as regular exercise is more easily implemented and meals and snacks are prepared and eaten at home.

As a child I was often encouraged to “go outside and play.” I wore a skate key at all times so that I could clamp on my shoe skates and go flying down the street. Sidewalk hopscotch was a regular if not daily activity, as was hide and seek, or jump rope, as well as many other wonderfully vigorous games.

TV was minimal then and computers were virtually nonexistent. And in school, recess was an important, indispensable part of the school day. So homeschoolers, do revel in you and your children’s ability to play: both outside, and outside the box!

Marin holds a Masters Degree in Waldorf Education, and a California teaching credential in art. She’s had years of experience as a Waldorf class teacher in the early grades, has taught hands-on science and math to homeschoolers in grades 1-6.

Learn More about Homeschooling visit our website. Homeschool Math Program, http://MathByHand.com

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No one can deny that children come in all shapes, sizes, and levels of learning ability. This being the case, it is possible that your child might have some special challenges when it comes to learning. Home schooling can be difficult enough for students without any special issues to address. It takes it to a whole new level for children that need additional resources. The question then is asked:

Can a special needs child be home schooled?

Even though there are parents who would respond with a big “yes”, one difficulty children with special needs will face is the necessary time and attention needed to make homeschooling possible. Each state offers resources for parents when educating their special needs children in the public school system. This may or not be the case when desiring to teach your special needs child at home. In the end, it is up to parents to see that their children get what they need to succeed educationally.

There is no argument that every child is entitled to an excellent education. For too long, parents and children have settled for a cookie cutter education, because that was what the public school system offered. Home schooling has changed that perception with the desire to reinstate the individual attention each student needs to succeed. The evidence of the success of home schooling of special needs children is still being revealed.

To begin with, let’s look at attention deficit disorder. It is considered by the school system to be a special need. Children have a hard time concentrating and keeping still. School work that is not challenging enough just increases their level of anxiety. Instead of resorting to medicating the student, this situation can be resolved through home study.

Even though being home schooled doesn’t provide an instant fix for educational problems of the special needs student, it does allow a child with special needs to learn in a more relaxed environment, and at a pace that suits them. If reaching them requires three hours one day and four the next, a home school curriculum can work well with the child. As a result, their grades won’t suffer simply because they can’t keep up in a more traditional classroom setting.

Parents know their children better than anyone. No one else will take the time that is warranted to keep him or her on track with their education. For example, your child may be a visual learner or more inclined to learn with a hands-on approach. In a classroom of thirty students, it is hard to create a lesson that will challenge both the visual learner with those who can read and comprehend more easily. Quite simply, there isn’t enough time to give to each child individually.

With the help of tutors (if needed) and counselors, students with special needs enjoy a fulfilling educational experience at home. No longer do they have to suffer through being picked on or frustration because they “just don’t get it.” The home school environment is conducive to helping them learn the way that feels comfortable to them. And that individual attention is what sets homeschooling apart from the more traditional classroom setting more than anything else.

If you can honestly answer that you have the time and energy to teach your special needs child at home, there is every reason to believe that your child will succeed!

Maintaining your family is an important fact of life and we want to give you the information you need to make wise decisions in all your parenting and family situations. We are always adding new pertinent parenting-related articles to our web site. Whether it has to do with teaching, raising or anything else having to do with your children’s well-being, we are your one-stop location to help you with all your parenting needs. For more parenting and family related solutions, simply go to http://moorehomeschool.com where you will find a wide variety of articles addressing all things relating to parenting, the family and the home.

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When your child enters the school classroom, the teacher has between 20 and 30 students to manage throughout the lesson. The key word in this sentence is “manage”. Classroom teachers have to spend a lot of time just managing a room full of learners even before the lesson even gets started.

Taking attendance, making announcements and getting absent students caught up and other distractions use up too much of the teacher’s time.

While these things are not bad, they greatly dilute the teacher’s effectiveness in advancing the curriculum goals of the day. I know how this works because I was a classroom teacher for 28 years in public middle and high school schools.

In an online tutoring/teaching situation, the student and teacher can get to the point of the current lesson immediately. If the tutor has done a professional job of getting to know the student in the first few sessions, and has a good conversation with parents about the learning goals of the child, this interaction can be very powerful.

Classroom teachers can only give a student a few seconds of attention throughout the class time available, if any at all. In my experience, only a few students can gain personal attention of the teacher: the students who are aggressive in asking for the teacher’s time, the ones who are self-confident enough to ask questions, or the ones who impact the class negatively with their behavior.

None of those situations come to play in the one-on-one environment of an online class session. The experienced and talented tutors and teachers get to know the learning style and skills of their students, and can make extremely effective use of the session time. A parent consultation or conversation at the end of the class session is an important benefit to the student, also.

A online teacher can ask pertinent questions, allow the student to take their time in explaining their thinking process, and can really listen to the child to best help them.

So, when your child connects with a great online teacher, you will know that there will be no wasted time and that the student is definitely getting your money’s worth, unlike the typical overcrowded school classroom! So, think about this: during a school classroom lesson, your son or daughter could have experienced 3 quality learning experiences with an online tutor. 3 for 1, and much more effective, motivating, and targeted!

A middle school and high school classroom teacher for over 25 years, Terry VanNoy takes pride in his ability to engage his students with creative ways of showing important concepts. He and his students use a shared computer screen, whiteboard, and use text chat and live voice (like a phone call) to work together during the instructional sessions. His online tutoring business caters to middle and high school students who need a confidence boost to get to the next levels and feel excited again about becoming math students who can achieve amazing things!
Terry VanNoy’s class sessions, Math with Mr V are by appointment only… Call toll free 1-877-317-3317 to arrange a free consultation! Help your child feel more successful in his or her math classroom.

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There was an article this morning in our paper about the new math curriculum being used in our area. I cannot believe they are choosing a single math curriculum that is supposed to fit an entire region. How many teachers are involved? How many different students? All those different individuals, and there will be only ONE BOOK???

I started getting concerned when they mentioned the book “Discovering” for algebra and geometry, and said “It’s also the series our school district has chosen.” First of all, any time our school district chooses anything, run the other way. They have a 46% graduation rate. That is our local high school:-)

“Some of the highest-paying and most competitive careers are in science, technology and medicine – all math-intensive fields. Meanwhile, more colleges and universities are requiring applicants to take up to four years of math in high school.”

That is a very good reason to teach math, and a very good reason to be conscientious about it. I would also like to point out that it is not all about pay either. Nursing, for example, is a math-based careers that is more about mission than money.

But do you have to choose between math “investigations” vs. extensive explanations and practice? I love the fact that homeschoolers can have it both ways. You can take a traditional textbook and add supplements that encourage understanding. But you know, some kids need more practice, and some kids need more explanations. Some kids just flat out need more hands on activities! I am not sure how one math book can serve the needs of every student.

I know that homeschoolers feel very concerned about upper level math. How much harder would it be if you were a non-homeschooling parent? Imagine trying to help your child with homework when you did not choose the book, have not seen it all year, do not have a video or an 800 number to call. What a nightmare! My friend had a child who used the Discovery book in public school. The schools were not able to help her and so they hired a tutor. Even the tutor who had a math degree could not figure out the Discovery book!

It was interesting to see them comparing these math books to the whole language vs. phonics debate. I remember thinking that different children learn to read in different ways, and that a mixture of the two can help. Math may be the same way.

Lee Binz, The HomeScholar shares some of her time each week to provide free homeschooling advice to parents. She also shares many free homeschool resources to help parents in the noble cause of homeschooling their kids through high school. Find more information at TheHomeScholar.com.

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Are you struggling to homeschool in high school? Just like with parenting, every new stage of homeschooling brings new challenges.

Even perfect strangers may express concerns over your ability to meet the needs of your child, but the needs of the parent are often ignored. Let’s address some of the concerns parents of high schoolers face.

Burn out

Is it possible for a loving, patient, attentive parent to become burnt out from the endless demands for their attention? I will allow for the possibility that there is one parent who is so extremely competent as to never face burn out. This is written for the rest of us.

What can you do to overcome burnout while homeschooling high school?

Remember you do not have to do it all. Have clear priorities. Stick to doing those tasks which are most important. Perhaps you will need to take a break from some outside obligations for a while. That is okay. Learn to say, “No.”

In addition, realize that as you homeschool high school, your student should be learning to work more independently. That doesn’t mean your role as a teacher is obsolete. You still need to offer guidance, answer questions, grade tests and record information, but you should also transition into the role of coach and counselor while helping your teen develop self-discipline and independent learning skills.

Expenses

As you homeschool high school, you may find that it can be a pricey endeavor. You are no longer making popsicle stick puppets. You’re dealing with some heavy-duty subjects with heavy-duty price tags. Your student will need to take Biology. Biology requires a microscope. And slides. And a frog that smells of formaldehyde. Just like clothing, school costs more when it comes in big kids’ sizes.

How can the average family cope with the expenses of homeschooling through high school?

We live in a glorious age where we have public libraries, online resources and Ebay at our disposal. Used curriculum can be purchased for a fraction of what it would cost new. If you have a homeschool support group, you may know people who would be willing to allow you to borrow or purchase their gently used curriculum.

Teaching Weak Subjects

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. It can be downright fun to teach a subject that is your cup o’ tea. Unfortunately, the school day isn’t a tea party and you must also cover the courses you dislike.

How can you make sure your child’s education is not suffering due to your weaknesses?

As you homeschool high school, make use of co-ops, private tutors, or video and computer courses. I suggest that you earmark a larger portion of your homeschooling budget to cover your weaker subjects. For the mom who can’t trill a Spanish “R” to save her life, Rosetta Stone’s Spanish program on computer can worth every penny.

Feeling of Impending Doom

What if all of those skeptics were right? What if you really aren’t capable of educating your child at home and having that child grow into a happy, worthwhile adult?

How can you cope with your own insecurities while accomplishing what needs to be done?

Find some support. If you have friends who have already graduated a homeschooled child, learn from their experiences. If you have friends who are currently homeschooling a high schooler, lean on each other.

Even if you don’t know a single person in real life who falls into one of those categories, you don’t have to walk this path alone. Find an online forum for homeschooling parents. You may have to try out a few forums before finding one that feels like home.

Organization

How can you keep up with the necessary paperwork for homeschool transcripts when you haven’t even completed your student’s baby book? For those of us who are not naturally organized, that is a daunting concern.

You can overcome your organizational challenges and prepare professional transcripts for your teen directly from your home computer.

Follow this link for more information about preparing homeschool transcripts that will get your child accepted to college.

Follow this link for more information about curriculum, graduation, diplomas, prom, class rings and other challenges you may face as you homeschool high school.

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