This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Inspiring Teen Conservation Project with Nathaniel Mack.

Photo used with permission from Nathaniel and Natalie Mack

Inspiring Teen Conservation Project with Nathaniel Mack

This episode of Homeschool Highschool Podcast will inspire your teens to believe that they, too, can do things that make a difference! Natalie Mack and her son Nathaniel join Vicki to discuss his project for the Maryland Conservation District.

About Natalie Mack

As most folks know, Natalie is our 7Sisters’ Cousin and friend. She helped military homeschool association and podcast. Natalie has done a TEDx talk. She has helped military families on behalf of HSLDA. The list goes on and on.

Natalie has been homeschooling for more than twenty years. She and her husband have five children, so four have been homeschooled to college. All of those are now college graduates. Now, her youngest (Nathaniel) is starting 12th grade.

Natalie’s family is a military family so they have lived all over the world.

About Nathaniel Mack

Nathaniel got interested in conservation and just environmental science in general during middle school. He was noticing that environmental issuer were often on the news. This got him interested in what he could do in his community.

This interest in healthy environments has been an interest of his.

For example, when he was elementary age, Nathaniel and Natalie were at the commissary (grocery store for military families). The bagger at the checkout asked, “Do you want plastic or paper?”

Natalie answered that she wanted plastic bags. Nathaniel gasped and said, “Mom, you know where the plastic goes!”

So, his parents noticed his interest and helped him get started in several organizations that practice conservation and environmental science. Nathaniel explored his environmental issues with camps such as like Camp Woods and Wildlife,the Youth Conservation Corps, 4H Camp, and Boy Scout summer camp.

Youth Conservation Leadership Institute

Then in 2023, he got started with Youth Conservation Leadership Institute, which is part of Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District. In that program, Nathaniel worked with advisors, parents, and others in their county to select s a project that they wanted work with.

His project was reducing soil erosion and increasing pollination within his neighborhood park.

In preparation for the project, he attended training sessions on Zoom and had some books to read on the basics of conservation practices, environmental science, and pollination processes. He also learned how to network, oversee projects and people, build communication skills, motivational skills, fundraising skills, and how to advocate with authority figures. Nathaniel worked with his neighborhood board to earn permissions to carry out the project.

He was granted permission to install environmentally-safe erosion control netting along the Potomac riverbank and flood plain in his community park, as well as permission to plant milkweed for monarch butterflies.

Nathaniel needed volunteers to carry out the project

He created flyers to post around the community to tell about the project and invite involvement. Nathaniel also shared information on social media. His local homeschool friends and Scouting troupe joined him for park cleanup, the netting installation and milkweed planting. Folks from the local community helped with the work and feeding the volunteers, as well.

At the end of the year-long institute, Nathaniel made a poster presentation for the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District at his graduation ceremony for the program.

All of these experiences are good for Nathaniel in many ways

Nathaniel has learned how to invest in an interest and cause. He has learned valuable organizational, leadership, and soft skills. Not only that, he has added some powerful credits to his high school transcript, as well as building powerful things to talk about on his college application essays.

Nathaniel’s advice for fellow homeschoolers

Nathaniel believes that what you might be interested in right now, is a good thing stay with for a while. Your interests are likely to change in the future. However, you get so much from investing in interests for a good while.

Good advice from a wise and inspirational young person!

Join Vicki, Nathaniel, and Natalie Mack for an inspiring teen conservation project discussion.

And check out Natalie’s contributions to the homeschool community at:

• NatalieMack.com
• Natalie Mack’s YouTube Channel
• Facebook: Homeschool Natalie Mack

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This week on the Homeschool Highschool Podcast: How to Write an Outstanding College Application Essay.

How to Write an Outstanding College Application Essay

When I served as academic advisor to our local homeschool upperclassmen, I read hundreds of their college application essays. Once in a while, a teen enjoyed writing that essay. However, most of the time, teens dreaded the chore. Sometimes, they felt funny about talking about themselves. Other times, they were afraid of failing.

We found out that if we could give them specific tools to understand what, why, and how to write their college application essay, teens felt more empowered.

Many, but not all, colleges require admissions essays

There are several different sources for college applications and the accompanying essays. (Here’s more information on the whole college application process.)

Many colleges participate in the Common Application

When your teen writes their application essay for Common App, it is sent to all the colleges they choose to apply to on the App. This saves lots of time and effort. Common Application sometimes changes the choices of essay prompts and extra information, sometimes not. They give details on the essay instructions.

HBCUs: Common Black College Application

Common Black College Application covers the application process to sixty-seven different colleges. That application does not require an essay. However, some HBCUs do require an application essay. It is always a good idea for your homeschool high schooler to check the colleges of interest’s websites.

For lower income students, check Coalition for Colleges

Coalition for Colleges helps students prepare for and apply for college. Teens set up an account and are guided through the process.

Colleges that do not require essays

There are some! In this case, the admissions decision-making process is weighted more heavily on the transcript. (All the more reason to make sure your teen has a college-attractive transcript.)

Colleges that have optional essays

Some of them make college application essays optional. If it is optional, we recommend you write one. This gives your teen a chance for the college to get to know them, to stand out and sparkle. If there are a thousand students applying for 500 openings, your teen can be one of those 500.

Whatever you do check the college website and see what they are looking for!

Tips for writing the college application essay

Most of the time, college application essays will need to be between 250 and 650 words. (It is wise to check the websites of colleges of interest to clarify if their requirement is different.) To help your teen imagine what this will look like:

• 250 words might be two or three paragraphs
• 650 words could be six or seven paragraphs

Tip #1: If the college allows 650 words, use all 650 words.

Just make sure that your teen is not simply filling space. Make the most of those words.

Tip #2: Follow the given essay prompt(s)

Colleges want your teen to write about the prompt they provide. They use this restriction to help them compare your teen to the other applicants.

Tip #3: Start early

I often told my homeschool advisees to choose their essay prompts and write their essay in the summertime. Life is often a little less hectic during the summer, so it is easier to get this stressful essay done!

Tip #4: Use a college application essay writing guide

If you have someone to take you step by step through writing the application essay, the process is a little easier. That’s why 7Sisters created the College Application Essay Writing Guide. Our teens have really appreciated it. (Also, for those who live in states that reimburse for curriculum, here is an edition of the College Application Guide that fits the requirements.)

Click image for full description.

Tip #5: Write college application essays in co-op

This is a useful way to start the academic year for co-ops with writing classes. When everyone writes essays at the same time, it helps reduce the stress. Even underclassmen and non-college-bound teens can write the essay. They need essay-writing experience each year, this will be an essay that helps them get to know themselves better!

Tip #6: Use a growth mindset

These days, teens could let AI write their college application essays. However, AI can never capture who they truly are. If they want to sell themselves to a college, they need to pour themselves into their essay. (Also, it really is not ethical to have AI write one’s papers!)

Help your teen use a growth mindset about working through the stress of the essay.

Tip #7: Don’t be afraid to talk about yourself and be honest

So many of my homeschool high school advisees told me that they hate writing about themselves because it seems like bragging (and they do not want to appear prideful). I always tell them that it is not bragging to let the college understand who they are. It is simply honest.

Of course, exaggeration would not be cool, so I remind them to keep it real.

Tip #8: Tell a story

I have teens choose a story from their life experiences that illustrates their essay prompt. In other words, a college application essay is not a simple list of accomplishments. The colleges already have that in the application. The essay story shows them your sparkle, your personality. It allows them to get a feel about what you might bring to the table in the student body.

Tip #9: Let your story highlight your aspirations

What are your aspirations, goals, dreams? Weave those into your story. (For an extra bonus, check the colleges of interest’s websites. What is their mission? What are their values? Do your teens aspirations align with the mission and values? Hooray! Then, suggest to your teen that they include that information isn their essay.

Tip #10: Include examples of leadership and soft skills

Whenever possible, your teen benefits from weaving into their story examples of the leadership and soft skills they have developed. These can include:

• teamwork
• ability to be collaborative
• service orientation
• problem solving

Tip #11: Mention accomplishments

It is good to mention accomplishments that fit with the story. Accomplishments can include awards, acknowledgements, project completion, and more.

Tip #12: Create an outline or a rough draft

This allows teens to get their thinking in order. Organization is a wonderful skill to use in writing the college application essay. “One and done” is not a good idea with this essay. After you finish the first rough draft, run it through an app like grammarly to check for grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Tip #13: Give the essay to others to read

I always highly recommend to my teens that they ask a couple of other people read their college application essay. Some suggestions are:

• parents
• teachers that teaches writing
• advisor
• youth group leader

See if they have any suggestions. Incorporate the ideas that make sense.

Tip #14: Once your teen completes the college application essay, suggest they let it sit for a couple of days

I do not know why this helps, but it usually does. When teens allow the completed essay to sit for a few days, they are able to read and make further improvements. It is surprising how well this works!

All right, then we highly recommend you let that essay sit.

Don’t forget to join 7SistersHomeschool Facebook group! We have so much fun and encouragement there.

BTW- For more on the Common App process, here’s a post from our Cousin Betsy at BJ’s Homeschool that will take them through their part of the Common Application.

Join us for this week’s discussion on college application essays!

Thanks again to Seth Tillman for editing the podcast!

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This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast, a special replay: How to Get Homeschool Transcripts Exactly Right!

How to Get Homeschool Transcripts Exactly Right

This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast we are talking transcripts. Actually, we are RE-talking transcripts. This is an episode we did four years ago (can you believe it?!) However, we have been receiving requests for this same information, so we decided to reshare.

As you know, Sabrina, Vicki and Kym have seen their twenty-six kids through homeschool graduation. In fact, the 7Sisters have not only graduated their kids, but through their umbrella school (where 7Sister Vicki and Marilyn have served as academic advisors), they have helped hundreds of teens graduate and head successfully into adulthood.

So, they know a lot about homeschooling high school and creating great transcripts!

Do you want to know how to get homeschool transcripts exactly right?  Do you fear that it is one right way or else? Well, we have good news for you! There’s not ONE right way to homeschool high school and there’s not ONE right have to handle transcripts.

However, transcripts are important so here is how we do our transcripts!

Transcripts are important for all homeschool high schoolers. College-bound teens need a good transcript to get into college. Even teens who are not college-bound will often need to show a transcript for trade schools or the military (and sometimes for new jobs). We love to share the things we have learned learned about successful transcript creation. (And even more transcript information in this post in our Authoritative Guide series).

Why are transcripts important?

Transcripts are proof that education happened. (Our culture believes that if there is not a record on paper that something happened, it did not happen.) They open doors for college and career. (And it is fun to keep a record for yourself about what a great job you and your high schoolers have done.)

There is not really a magical formula or necessary downloadable form from your state government that you must fill out. You must create your own. However, there are many templates available. For instance, 7SistersHomeschool has an editable transcript form along with a detailed guide about what to include.

There’s not ONE right way to homeschool high school…OR complete a transcript.

However, these tips are a good place to start.

On the transcript include:

• Name
• Date of Birth
• Social Security (totally optional)
• Address
• Contact information (email address, optional)
• Title of your homeschool (optional)
• For most transcripts, break out courses taken by year with name of course, levels, amount of credit, grade.
  • Here is an HSHSP episode on levels
  • Here is an HSHSP episode on assigning grades
• Be sure to capture it all: electives, extra core corses, even if these make the number of credits more than the basic twenty-four to twenty-six credits many states require for graduation)
• Course Summary section (compilation of courses, along with the grade those courses were taken. This is optional.) See the sample below.
• Use sparkle titles where applicable (ie. if your teen covered World History credit using History and Philosophy of the Western World, use that title)
  • More on how to name courses in this post
• Extracurriculars
  • List what teens have done and the years they were done
• Service hours
  • Here is a Homeschool Highschool Podcast episode about recording service hours
• Competitions
• GPA
  • Here is a post on figuring out the GPA
• Graduation date
• SAT or ACT scores (although some colleges are not requiring these scores any longer)

Suggestions that will really help!

• Keep backup document with course descriptions
• Do some research on college, NCAA sports and military requirements by visiting websites, recruiters
• There are transcript templates out there (like 7Sisters transcript template and guide). You can use those or make your own.
• Remember not to sell your teen short but also to keep your records and your integrity.

Should you do a year-by-year transcript or a subject-based transcript?

As always, we 7Sisters believe there’s not ONE right way to handle transcripts. However, one thing to think about is that many college admissions officers are used to thinking in the traditional year-by-year format. Therefore, if you have a yearly transcript rather than subject oriented transcript, you might make their job easier.

So, that’s how you do get the homeschool high school transcript exactly right, with the the exactly ONE right formula…Oh, right! There’s not ONE right way to do a homeschool transcript. These are simply the tools that we have used over the years on the transcripts of our own kids and the hundreds of homeschool high schoolers in our local umbrella school who have graduated and gone on successfully to the next phase of life. Adapt our information and ideas to your teens’ needs! Let us know your ideas.

Join Sabrina, Vicki and Kym for this informative episode.

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How to Get Homeschool Transcripts Exactly Right

The post How to Get Homeschool Transcripts Exactly Right- Special Replay appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

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This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: How to Show Extracurriculars on the Transcript.

How to Show Extracurriculars on the Transcript

Recently, there were some discussions in the 7Sisters Facebook group about showing extracurriculars on the homeschool transcript, so we thought we would share a podcast episode on this fun topic!

What are extracurriculars?

Extracurriculars are anything your teen is doing that is:

• of interest to them and they are putting time into
• a gift that they are exploring or investing in

These were not one-time activities, but rather, activities that required some commitment.

Here are some extracurriculars our teens have shown on the transcript

There are endless ideas for extracurriculars. Here are a few that our teens have enjoyed.

Sports

Our homeschoolers have been involved in soccer, hockey, tennis, golf, baseball, dance, and swimming.

Choirs and church music teams

Our high schoolers have been blessed to have homeschool choirs, competition chorales, and madrigals teams. Lots of our teens have also been part of their church’s music ministry.

Helping out at church

Extracurriculars can be things like teaching Sunday school or regular working in the nursery. This could also be shown as service on the transcript. We generally have teens choose which one they prefer for the transcript: extracurricular or service. (They often chose service because they needed to record their service hours for the transcript for our homeschool umbrella school.)

Re-enacting

Some of our teens have been Civil War re-enactors. Also, a few that got involved in a reenacting community that did some things with World War I and the Revolutionary War.

Park historical interpreters

Some of our teens have been historical park guides or “interpreters” during the warm-weather seasons (that is when many of our local parks had lots of special programs that needed interpreters).

There’s not a right or wrong extracurricular! Here are more ideas in this episode on choosing extracurriculars.

How to record extracurriculars on the transcript

We always say: There’s not ONE right way to homeschool high school, and there’s not ONE right way to record extracurriculars on the transcript. So we are simply going to tell you how some of our teens have done recorded their extracurriculars.

Our transcripts have always had a section at the bottom where the teens could list their extracurriculars and the years they were involved in those activities. This show (especially for teens applying to college) their willingness to be committed to something.

For teens with a career interest

Some teens have a definite career interest, so they can use their extracurriculars to explore their career choice. We had some teens who wanted to be history teachers or college professors. So they participated in extracurriculars in activities like speech and debate team. These public speaking skills were useful preparation for teaching careers.

Teens who have a talent they are seriously developing

Several of our high schoolers wanted to play college-level sports. They spent lots of time at practice and competitions. Not only that, but they spent time off-season with fitness and nutrition training. They logged extracurriculars during the season, but their fitness training added to their Phys Ed credits. Their nutrition training beefed up their Health credit.

Log sheets

We created log sheets for our teens. They would write down what they did for each extracurricular, when, and for how long. Some teens simply used a calendar. Sometimes our teens would include hour-totals for each extracurricular, along with the years the in which that teen participated in the extracurricular. This was useful sometimes, because the teen would see that they had SO many hours recorded that they decided to count that extracurricular as an elective instead. (This is good for teens using the extracurricular as career exploration.)

For instance, one of our teens was interested in a musical career. He was in the church worship team, the homeschool choir, and competitive madrigals choir. He had LOTS of hours recorded on his log sheets. We would show those activities on the transcript sometimes as extracurriculars, or Fine Arts electives, or Career Exploration electives.

For non-college-bound teens

Many teens are not needing college these days. Why would you record extracurriculars on the transcript for these teens? Transcripts are like a little mini scrapbook that shows the richness of their high school experience. You do not want to sell them short just because they do not have to show extracurriculars on the transcript in order to get to the next part of life. Why not show off the awesomeness of their high school experience?!

For college-bound teens

For teens who are college bound, especially if they are looking at scholarships or a competitive college. Your teen’s extracurriculars give sparkle to the transcript. Admissions officers have often told us over the years is when they have 3, 000 applications for 1,500 openings, they look for those transcripts with sparkle!

Don’t forget that 7Sisters offers an editable transcript and guide that you can download.

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This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Our favorite literature study guides.

Our Favorite Literature Study Guides

This episode, we thought it would be fun to look through the many a la carte literature guides that we have created over the years at 7Sisters and talk about some of our favorites.

Remember, there’s not ONE right way to homeschool so sometimes you just want an a la carte study guide! Sometimes teens want a no-busywork, don’t-kill-the-book study guide. That’s what 7Sisters Literature Study Guides are all about.

Of course 7Sisters has literature study guide bundles such as:

• American Literature
• British Literature
• World and Ancient Literature
• Cinema Studies for Literature Learning
• Great Christian Writers Literature
• or mixed genres Literature

However, because there’s not ONE right way to homeschool, some people prefer to pick and choose their own literature study guides. So, we thought we would share some of our favorite literature guides.

A Raisin in the Sun

Sabrina: Oh, I love A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry. It’s a play. That’s one of the things that I love about it. I think that a lot of times we overlook the value of studying plays as literature and that there are teens who really respond well to that. The story gives some thought-provoking ideas for teenagers, such as: What happens when a stranger comes into your life and has an entirely different take on trust and priorities. Plus it’s a great look at Black American experience in the 1960s.

The Literature Study Guide for A Raisin in the Sun covers just a couple of literature analysis, themes, or ideas. This helps teens develop those skills over time without killing the book. Also the questions tend to lean toward the inferential skills, rather than comprehension-style, because in high school you want teens to start wrestling with ideas and doing some thinking.

Chronicles of Narnia

Vicki: My favorite study guides are the ones from the Chronicles of Narnia. How can you go wrong with Narnia? These are really meaty books for literary analysis in high school. Teens jump right in at Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, learning symbolism, theology, and philosophy.

For instance, in Prince Caspian. sometimes you see a field with blue flowers. Teens learn in classic literature, blue flowers are a symbol for longing for something beyond here on earth. We have a longing for heaven.

Fahrenheit 451

Sabrina: I love Fahrenheit 451 because it’s dystopian, but it’s dystopian with so much wisdom in it. Fahrenheit 451 encourages teens to understand just how messed up things can get when we lose our good priorities such as knowledge, wisdom, communication, honesty, and humility. Teens also find the hope in our ability to connect with one another.

God’s Smuggler

Vicki: My next one is a God’s Smuggler. My teens loved God’s Smuggler! This is a true story of Brother Andrew who smuggled Bibles behind the Iron Curtain back in the days of the Cold War. He took his life into his hands to deliver Bibles to Christians who did not have access to Scripture.

Cinema studies for Literature Learning: Lilies of the Field

Sabrina: This is one of my favorite movies of all time! Lilies of the Field stars Sydney Poitier. It’s a story of him and a group of nuns out in the boonies of Arizona. Teens learn character analysis skills and also get good glimpse of a time period in history.

Cinema studies for Literature Learning: The Incredibles

Sabrina: The Incredibles has all the superheroes like Elastigirl, who as far as I’m concerned, is the quintessential homeschool mom, just stretched in all directions to make it happen. I love the study guide because it helps students take a good look at the power that comes in simple stories.

Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats

Vicki: My next favorite is Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. One of my favorite poetry books of all time! Sometimes teens just need a fun book of poems that is light with no existential dread going on. This is just a book about ridiculous cats doing ridiculous things. It’s like the poetry version watching silly cat videos on YouTube.

Something Beautiful for God

Sabrina: With Something Beautiful for God I’m going to go away from the fun and into the inspiring and the deeply challenging. This book is a look at the work of Mother Teresa and her work with Mysteries of Calcutta. It is incredible.

Right Ho, Jeeves

Vicki: Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Woodhouse is one of a series of about thirty silly books. They take place back in the 1920s and feature English gentleman named Bertie Worcester and his gentleman’s gentleman or valet, Jeeves.They are just ridiculous stories about ridiculous people and they are hilarious. However, embedded in each story are are references to great poetry, great literature, and theology- like “Easter eggs”, you look for them!

Uncle Vanya

Sabrina: Uncle Vanya is a play by Anton Chekhov. Teens have a really interesting experience with the class system in Russia: a world very different from what we have experienced in most of our homeschools. In the story are some deep questions about  meaning in life.

These are a few of our favorites, although we could go on and on!

Hey, if there are things about that that you would like to share with others, just remember that we all benefit from learning about each other’s homeschooling experiences. So hop onto the 7SistersHomeschool Facebook group. It is busy with lots of encouragement from all our 7th Sisters (Who is the 7th Sister? YOU are!)

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This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Working with a College Admissions Advisor with Kristi Steele.

Working with a College Admissions Advisor with Kristi Steele

If you have college-bound homeschool high schoolers, you will be glad you checked out this interview with Kristi Steele, a college admissions advisor at kc360.co.

Kristi has the most unique job. She is an advisor who helps students with college search and admissions advice.

Kristi’s Story

Kristi is a third culture kid. She grew up I grew up in Central America. She loved it. Her dad was a musician and her mom was a counselor.

When Kristi grew up, she worked in international business for a while. Then she was hired as a recruiter for a university. Some of her recruiting work took her from the US to Latin America, where she enjoyed talking to families. These families needed to know two things:

• There are university options beyond recognizable names such as the Ivy League schools.
• How to go through the process of finding and applying to college.

Kristi then launched kc360.co, her own advising organization that provides resources to fill those gaps. She knows that college choice and admissions can be overwhelming.

Let’s talk about college searches

There is not always good advising available to all homeschool high schoolers, so Kristi has some tips. She uses the acronym FIT:

• financial,
• intuitive, and
• time.

Really look at the finances

We all know that college is expensive. One question parents and students need to ask is whether a college of choice is feasible? How much debt do you want to go into?

Kristi uses a tool that really helps students and parents look at the finances. With the tool, families can see three schools: what their affordability would be, even with loans, as well as what the average graduate earns in the student’s chosen major and degree.

Kristi then helps parents and students look at the budget post-graduation, estimating expenses such as:

• student loan
• car payment
• rent

Realistically look at grants and scholarships

Many universities offer students scholarships based on merit and talent. Usually families must file a FAFSA or CSS.  This is worth doing, even if your family makes more income than allowed for Pell Grants. While your teen may not qualify for a Pell Grant, that does not mean your student cannot qualify for other aid. You might be surprised.

Also, for many schools, your college application is a scholarship application.

I stands for “intuitive or individual”

Kristi uses both of those words. She knows that if you have the opportunity to do college visits, you might just intuitively know, “I can see myself here”. Or, “gosh, I need some clarifying conversations to see myself here”.

Or ‘individually”, you can ask, “is this a school that individually fits your needs?” Such as:

• Does the classroom size suits you?
• Do you need more customized care?
• You maybe do not need to be in a hall of 300 students with a professor that is really not teaching, it’s the TA.

Another individual question to ask is, “do they have a series of majors that interest me?”

This is because most students change their major. If you get to college and that school does not have a range of majors (ideally three, four, five that you’re interested in and could pivot to), that really puts your teen in a hard position. So having that ability to pivot is really important.

Note: You can go into a school undecided. That is not a bad thing, but give yourself the grace and the margin to really be at a place that has places where you can pivot if you need to, or that you can tack on a minor.

Find a combination of majors and minors that works for your teen. One of Kristi’s favorite student stories is a girl that was fantastic at science. I mean, just a natural, but she really had a heart and passion for illustration. She ended up at Hope College with major in biology and a minor in illustration. She works as an illustrator for a biology textbook company.

The other individual and intuitive thing is size

Talk about size in terms of the physical community that the college is in.

• Is it in a rural area?
• Is it in an urban center?
• And also the size of the university?

Time is the T in FIT

Your homeschool graduates will be spending a lot of time at college. Find out about their dorm requirements. Are they

• required two years in the dorms or
• their dorm requirements only one year or
• students can live off campus from year one.

Also, what kind of time is your teen going to be spending on campus?

• If they will not have a car, is there a shuttle to target or the store?
• Are there, amenities nearby?

Think about how your homeschooler will be spending time on campus

It is good for students to find organizations and clubs. What is available on campus?

Can they commute from home?

Some teens need their introvert time.

For teens who need to choose a college major

Kristi suggest that high schoolers go to college majors fairs. (And if your teen is really type A, make appointments with your admission counselor to talk about majors.)

Ask: Where are graduates being hired?

Also, where are your students interning?

Check out Kristi’s college admissions tips podcast and resources

The podcast covers college search and admission tips in fifteen minutes or less. She also hosts a virtual college fair every semester.

The two paid things that Kristi offers homeschool students are the college project. This is a self-paced course kind in lieu of a college counselor. If you are not sure what you want to major in this is a good thing to do!

Not only that, but Kristi offers a mini career assessment in there and a mini character assessment.

Find Kristi at kc360. co and at LinkedIn.

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The post Working with a College Admissions Advisor with Kristi Steele appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

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This week on the Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Handling Depression in Teens with Natalie Mack- Special Replay.

Handling Depression in Teens with Natalie Mack

As homeschooling parents, we wear many hats and play multiple roles in our children’s lives. One such navigator of life is military wife, homeschooling mom, and business owner, our Cousin Natalie Mack. Natalie talks about the importance of being aware of the unique challenges our teens may face, especially when it comes to mental health. She and Vicki also discuss the impact of military life on teens as well as how to support them in prevention of and in response to handling depression in teens.

About Natalie Mack

Natalie, a retired Navy chaplain spouse, has been adjusting to this new phase of life recently. Four of her five children have graduated from college, and now all that’s left is their 10th grader to homeschool. 

But throughout the homeschooling years, this military family has been serving their country. This often required moving at the drop of a hat, so Natalie is used to adapting to new challenges, or big changes, of life.

Alongside homeschooling, she runs a consulting and mentoring business called Natalie Mack, where she focuses on military homeschooling. She also works with HSLDA as the military community outreach coordinator. As you can see, she wears many hats, just like all homeschool moms do!

Military Life and Teen Adjustment

Military families serve their country as a unit, and the adjustments required during frequent moves can be mentally, emotionally, and physically challenging for everyone involved. While some children may embrace change with excitement, others might struggle with the constant adjustments. 

Military kids do not always have a choice in these moves, which can lead to bouts of depression or difficulty adjusting. As homeschooling parents, we have the advantage of spending more time with our teens, allowing us to identify potential signs of depressive episodes or adjustment difficulties.

Seasonal Affective Disorder and Teen Depression

Be vigilant in observing any changes in your teenagers’ behavior. Depression in teens may manifest as:

• increased isolation
• lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities
• excessive sleep
• irritability
• bouts of anger.

It is crucial to differentiate between normal teenage development and signs of depression.

The winter months, particularly in certain regions, can bring about a condition known as winter blues or seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Teens, in particular, may feel the effects of SAD more intensely due to their hormonal changes. 

The lack of sunlight during this time can affect our teens’ optic nerves, impacting their emotional well-being. Symptoms of SAD can range from:

• feeling down and lethargic
• to experiencing difficulty concentrating and sleeping excessively. 

In order to help them, teach them some coping skills for teenage depression can help, for instance:

• light therapy and
• increased outdoor activity are important interventions to consider.
• If you notice a persistent pattern of negative behavior or a decline in their overall well-being, seeking professional help from a pediatrician or mental health counselor is advisable.

Practical Tips for Supporting Teens

So, what can we do to help our teens during these challenging times? We use coping skills for teenage depression. First and foremost, it’s essential to rule out any underlying biological factors by consulting with a pediatrician or family doctor. Sometimes, physiological issues like anemia or thyroid imbalances can mimic depressive symptoms. 

Once we have ruled out any medical concerns, we can explore therapeutic options. Many teens find counseling to be beneficial and even trendy. It provides a safe space for them to express their feelings and work through any challenges they may be facing.

Because we homeschool and are with them all day, we have the opportunity to model healthy habits for our teens. Encouraging them to spend time outdoors, engage in physical activities, and maintain a balanced diet can make a significant difference. Nature has a calming effect on our minds, and even a short walk can help activate our brain’s healing centers. 

Practicing gratitude and finding moments of laughter can boost serotonin levels and promote a positive outlook. Look for ways to add this into your everyday conversations with them and, if necessary, go look for your teen just to spend some quality time with them.

Coping Skills for Teenage Depression

Lastly, there is no shame or blame in dealing with depression. It is crucial to approach this topic with compassion and understanding and to create an environment free from shame or blame.

As parents, we may feel a sense of guilt or worry, but it’s essential to remember that seeking help is a positive step towards healing. Depression is a treatable condition, and with the right support, our teens can overcome it.

Avoid attributing their struggles to a lack of faith or personal failures. Instead, listen attentively, offer empathy, and reassure them that seeking help is a sign of strength. Encourage open dialogue, allowing your teen to express their thoughts and emotions without judgment.

Homeschooling provides a unique opportunity for teens to explore their interests and plan for the future. However, the uncertainty and pressure associated with decision-making can contribute to feelings of anxiety and depression. 

Engage in conversations surrounding their aspirations, provide resources, and offer guidance where needed. Starting fresh is a normal part of life, and your support can help alleviate any fears or doubts they may have.

Handling Depression in Teens with Natalie Mack

As homeschooling parents, we have the privilege of being intimately involved in our teens’ lives. By recognizing the unique challenges they face and using coping skills for teenage depression, we can better support their mental well-being. You are not alone in this journey, and together, we can create a nurturing environment where our teens can thrive.

Check out Natalie Mack’s Tedx Talk and other resources at her website.

Thank you to Seth Tillman for editing this episode and to Richie Soares with Homeschool and Humor for writing this blog post!

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The post Handling Depression in Teens with Natalie Mack- Special Replay appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

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This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: No Second Class Homeschoolers with Anita Gibson.

No Second Class Homeschoolers with Anita Gibson

Vicki loves to connect with our dear friend, Anita Gibson. Anita is a leader in the homeschool community and offers wonderful resources to help parents homeschool- and homeschool high school! She joined Vicki to discuss some ways to homeschool high school and some of her top resources.

About Anita Gibson

Vicki and Anita met at a conference years ago. At the conference, she picked up a copy on Anita’s book Star Finder: Discover Ways to Help Your Struggling Student Win! Vicki always says that if she could have written that book, I would have. The book shares ways to understand yourself as well as help your children and teens fulfill their gifts and callings.

Anita and her husband homeschooled their three children for over twenty years- from kindergarten all the way through twelfth grade.

Today, their oldest daughter is a diplomat working for the State Department. She is fluent in French and Vietnamese. Their middle daughter graduated from Bowie State and is a fantastic physical science, biology, and chemistry teacher. The youngest, their son is an amazing videographer and photographer. He is working lucratively with his own business and for a mega church.

National Homeschool Advocacy

Anita then founded National Homeschool Advocacy which is an organization that brings together homeschool experts in one place. NHA brings together quick ways to start homeschooling. She was noticing that there are so many ideas and resources out there now that many people were becoming overwhelmed. So Anita and her team are trying to bring things back into bite sized pieces to help people be able to just put their dip their foot in and not be overwhelmed as they try this thing called homeschooling.

There are no second-class homeschool families!

One of Anita’s callings is help homeschoolers know that there are no second-class families.  Anita recalled how easy it is for those of us who were homeschooling for decades to think we know it all…and that maybe us old timers to feel we are a little better (or maybe “royalty” of homeschooling). She remembered looking at how the homeschool community changed from the time she started homeschooling and she actually thought about quitting as a director of a homeschool program because in my mind, “traditional” homeschool was no more.

Then she was sitting quietly one day doing her devotions. God really said to her, “Listen, Anita, I don’t know where you got that from that perspective, but there are no second class homeschool citizens. They just need something different. And so the question for you is. Are you willing to help?”

Anita asked herself: Are you willing to help? Are you willing to think about things that will work for this new generation of homeschoolers right where they are? Are you going to shut the door so they can’t homeschool in your program because you don’t agree with where they are or what they need?

Anita began to see the opportunity to bless them using the things that they needed. She began to begin to create programs, co-ops, and oversights that would bless them. For instance, instead of working homeschool parents having to come in for co-op class during the day, she created environments where they could do things on their off-hours. These parents took on jobs like planning or set-up teams for events, a prom, helping with extracurricular clubs, chaperone field trips, or do prep the food for co-op cookouts.

These days many parents must work at job and then they feel like they are on the outskirts of the homeschool community… and not good enough. They’re not really part of the community. We want them to know that there’s no second class homeschool family. Families that different circumstances are different, but not less than.

Still homeschooling- even in different circumstances

Anita’s team reminds parents that their program is not a school. They let parents know that homeschool co-op is a partnership between the parent, the program, and the student. They are all working together. Parents are shown the ways that they can actually be a part of the community and how they can stay connected with the classes and the tutors. Not only that, parents actually have to turn report cards in to the program.

How National Homeschool Advocacy helps

National Homeschool Advocacy came about because we have a heart for all kinds of homeschooling families- just like we had a heart for our changing local homeschool families. Anita felt called to take this thought on a more national level. She wanted to be able to bring experts together from all over the country to be able to help parents that much more.

Homeschoolers with learning differences

Anita was seeing more neurodiverse homeschoolers as well as those with special needs. While she has expertise in the field, she wanted to pull together experts specifically geared toward homeschool students. Anita made sure she has experts in the field to help young people of all kinds succeed.

Some of her experts include:

• Dr. Cheryl Fields-Smith from the University of Georgia (who shared the History of Black Homeschooling on the podcast)
• Keisha Berry, homeschool mom and works with young people on the Autism Spectrum.
• Brenda Bullard, a leading developer of multicultural history curriculum featuring African American presence and contribution
• Cheryl Carter, founder of Collegiate Learning (Cheryl was featured on the Homeschool Highschool Podcast talking about writing skills and resources for struggling learners.)
• Karim Morato, founder of Homeschool Spanish Curriculum (Karim talked about resources for learning Spanish on the podcast)
• Dr. Brian Ray, leading homeschool researcher and founder of National Home Education Research Institute.
• Dr. Rochelle Somerville, President of EFM Educational Consulting, a service to homeschooling families with special needs (Dr. Rochelle was on the podcast talking about resources for special needs).
• Cheri Kay Sessions, homeschool advocate and coach
• Natalie Mack, advises and encourages homeschooling military spouses and is a leader in the homeschool community in many areas. (Natalie has been on the podcast many times, including emotionally preparing teens for college and tips for homeschooling high school.)
• And, of course, Vicki, who brings her experiences in homeschooling high school to the table.

Simply Homeschool

Then Anita started Simply Homeschool which is a Facebook group where parents can ask questions or just be a part of the community. Families also share ideas for resources and give encouragement.

Anita’s advice to new homeschooling moms

If you know a new homeschooling mom who might be thinking: I’m not good enough, here is some advice from Anita:

Dear Mama, God has called you to something that he will give you the resources for. The things that you do really well and even the things that you think you’re failing at, he will use for your child. See, this is not about anybody else, but you and your child. As long as you’re willing to learn, mom, you’re going to be all right.

And one day you’ll look back and you’ll be amazed at what he has created in you and in your child.

Join Vicki and Anita and know, there are no second-class homeschoolers!

Thanks to Seth Tillman for editing this episode!

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The post No Second Class Homeschoolers with Anita Gibson appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

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This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: History of Black Homeschooling with Dr Cheryl Fields-Smith.

History of Black Homeschooling with Dr Cheryl Fields-Smith

It’s Black History Month! This is the perfect time to talk about the history of Black homeschooling! Vicki was excited connect with the subject matter expert on this important topic: Dr. Cheryl Fields-Smith.

Dr. Fields-Smith is a colleague of Vicki’s at National Homeschool Advocacy, where they both serve on the organization’s panel of experts. She teaches at the University of Georgia and serves at scholar in residence at University of Pittsburg.

Dr. Cheryl Fields-Smith’s story

Cheryl was originally from Connecticut and attended Emory University in Atlanta for her doctorate degree. As part of her dissertation process, she was studying Black parents’ engagement in their children’s education. She had found that there were some perceptions that Black people did not care about their children’s education, that they were not involved. Cheryl’s research found that this is not true.

When Dr. Fields-Smith became a professor at University of Georgia, she wanted to replicate the study, this time with younger parents. (The original study looked at middle-aged parents.) As she looked for these younger families, someone suggested that she connect with Black homeschoolers.

Cheryl thought, “Wait a minute. I didn’t know that black people homeschool!”

So she got connected with a local Black homeschooling family. They had a four-hour initial interview. (That was the longest interview she had ever done.) She was so grateful to that person for the generosity of time. At the end of the interview, she asked if the mother knew any other Black home educators?

Next, Dr. Fields-Smith obtained a Spencer Foundation grant for a two year study. She studied 46 Black homeschooling families, most of whom were in the metro Atlanta area. In 2009, she published the first empirically-based article on that focused exclusively on Black homeschooling.

Part-time Home Educator

Cheryl is not a home educator. (She has two grown children.) However, due to her work in researching the Black homeschool she has been given the title of part time home educator.

Not only that, Cheryl’s educational philosophy guided her to never totally rely on the school system to educate my own kids. The family had mommy school, especially in the summertime.

Black home educators

Dr. Fields-Smith found that Black home educators have a constructive criticism to offer the public schools. Many of them initially chose public schools, but it was not working for one or all of their children. So, they made the decision to homeschool.

She found that the Black home educators they have empathy for the school system. They want the public school system to work. These parents did not feel obligated to be against other educational systems, they simply found that homeschooling works best for their family.

For most of the twenty-first century, about eight percent of the American population was Black and homeschooling. Then, as of 2020, the number jumped to fifteen percent. This number is proportionally what the black population is in the United States.

So in other words, a lot of Black families are homeschooling!

Education has always been important to Black parents

Their children’s education has always been critical to Black families. Education equated to freedom. When African were brought to America as slaves, they were denied the privilege of learning to read.

The enslavers tried to deny them, we should say.

The ancestors knew that learning to read and write was critical for gaining freedom. So they risked their lives, even when the law said they could be killed for learning to read. They did what they could in secret to learn to read.

When one enslaved person learned to read, they did not just keep it to themselves. Rather, they shared it with everyone that they could. It  was a self taught community. We use the terms: communal self-thought or collaborative self-talk.

Learning is done in community, which was really important. They each one reach one, even back then.

After the abolition of slaver came the segregated schools. Prominent Black authors such as W. E. B. Du Bois and Carter G. Woodson you wrote about the educational disparities almost one-hundred years ago in books like The Miseducation of the Negro.

These authors were giving us sort of a blueprint, if you will, of what the African American person needed. Self-education was espoused by them back then. Black families need to learn about their ancestors. They need to learn about the strengths of their culture, the talents of their culture, and the contributions of their culture.

These are not things that Black children can depend on in integrated school systems. So Black parents teach these things to their children.

Today’s Black home educators

Black families are homeschooling in meaningful ways that kind of harken back to their ancestors. It can be very much communal: teaching it together and not just alone at the kitchen table. This often looks like homeschool co-ops, umbrella schools or educational group activities (such as the work of EFMEducation.com).

Child-directed learning

Homeschooling gives Black families space to allow child directed learning in ways that schools cannot. Children take on special interest projects, which is a great way to apply  reading, writing, and thinking abilities to learning in a meaningful way. (Anita Gibson calls that helping children find their star.)

Dr. Fields-Smith worked with one homeschooling mom whose only daughter did not want to go to college. Instead, she was more interested in becoming a barrel racer. So, part of her homeschool experience was volunteering shoveling stalls and helping to groom the horses in exchange for riding lessons. It helped open doors for the training she dreamed of.

Cheryl also knows homeschool high schoolers who love the digital world. During high school, some of them have earned certificates on Google and other platforms.

Split schooling

There is also a phenomenon called “split schooling“, where Black families only homeschool one of the children. The other children go to a traditional school, usually a public school. This phenomena shows the responsiveness to each child’s unique needs- even for educational setting.

Next generation

Often homeschooling moms who homeschooled their kids all the way through high school, remain critical members of Black homeschool organizations. These veteran homeschooling parents are still giving back to that community in powerful ways- a Sister Circle methodology

Dr. Fields-Smith’s next research projects

Dr. Fields-Smith recently finished a book for Harvard Educational Press, tentatively titled Creating Educational Justice Lessons Learned from Black Home Educators. In that book, she takes all of the data that I have and boils it down to main lessons that are important to educating children. Dr. Fields-Smith talk about the importance that education plays in healing.

Healing as part of education

This healing is what we see when we look at what black home educators do. Many times children have experienced, tracism, discrimination, prejudice in some kind of way. One of the first things they have to do in their homeschooling is to work through that. Children learn: It’s nothing wrong with us. It’s the world.

Homeschooling is an opportunity for Black families to talk about their faith. How does God see you? God created you.

They also look at the strengths of being an African American, because the world will tell children that they are “less than”, that they “don’t belong”. In homeschooling children learn to know otherwise. They can also learn in ways that are meaningful. (Take, for instance, the powerful teaching of the Lyrical Math team.) So this healing is part of educational justice.

There is also healing in small ways. When homeschooling, children can take a break when they need it, not just when it is scheduled. Children learn to listen to, and respect their needs.

In moments of big trauma, there can be healing spaces at home. During pandemics or other crises, homeschooling families can include nurture and support as part of education.

Cheryl is sharing information like this in that latest book.

Connecting with Dr. Cheryl Fields-Smith

Everybody, you can find Cheryl at National Homeschool Advocacy.

• Dr. Fields-Smith’s book is available: Exploring Single Black Mothers’ Resistance through Homeschooling.
• You can see Dr. Cheryl Fields-Smith being interviewed on this ABC video about Black Homeschooling.
• Here’s Dr. Fields-Smith’s seminar on Nontraditional Education and Children with Disabilities.

Thank you to Seth Tillman for editing the podcast!

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This week on the Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Cool Online Homeschool Resource Hub: IndyEd!

 

Cool Online Homeschool Resource Hub: IndyEd!

There are so many homeschool resources available these days! What a blessing! Sometimes it helps to have them in one place so that you can scroll one source and find what you need. That’s why Vicki asked Mary Middlebrook from IndyEd.com to share about her online catalogue of homeschool resources.

About Mary Middlebrook

Mary’s homeschool story starts with an adoption. In 2005, she and her ex-husband adopted a ten-year-old boy from Russia. He did not speak English. They did not speak Russian. That was interesting!

At the time, Mary was a working mom. Along with her husband, she was in the marine aquarium industry. (She has a degree in marine biology.) They placed their son into Christian private school along with my oldest son and thought he would figure it out.

Unfortunately, the private school had no idea what to do with this child who was lost linguistically, emotionally, socially, and academically. They needed to try some other educational format for him. Another option was public school but they thought, “Absolutely not”.

So they sold their business in California and moved to Colorado. They put their oldest son into public school there because they were good public schools. Then she started homeschooling their youngest son (which definitely had a lot of challenges at the time). There were not a lot of resources available because she was teaching him on more of a secular track.

When her youngest was a teenager and he was needing more socialization. However, he was still uncomfortable meeting lots of people

So Mary thought, “if Muhammad won’t go to the mountain, I’ll bring the mountain to Muhammad”. So she thought that she would start some online classes in my home. She was going to teach him marine biology that year anyway. So she and invitation out. It filled up with like twelve teens immediately.

When that semester was over, everyone said, okay, what’s next semester? Since then, Mary has taught online and in co-ops.

She has been running an online school, nextlevelhomeschool.com, for nine years now.

Then Mary started IndyEd.com. It’s a busy time!

Mary saw that what was missing in the homeschool marketplace was a single website that was focused on educational opportunities resources. It should help homeschooling parents with sorting through all of the many curriculum choices and allowing families to really narrow down exactly what they were looking for.

IndyEd.com does not sell anything to learners. They do not sell classes, tutoring, or resources. They are simply an online catalogue, a  consolidator of educational opportunities. IndyEd.com facilitates connecting learners with educators. When a learner goes to the IndyEd.com database, they see that they can search for online classes, and educational resources that might be downloadables, books, kits, in-person experiences, or online schools.

An example

Go to the search column. The search tool will ask you:

• Do you want private tutoring? Go to the search section. From there, you can sort.
• Do you want secular or non-secular?
• What is your homeschooler’s age?
• Is your child neurodivergent or special needs?
• What subject(s) are you looking for?

Once these questions are answered, you will be shown curriculum or course that fits that specific search! Find the just-right curriculum, then click the link to go directly to the teacher, school, or curriculum publisher.

You can also speak to the listed tutors or educators. Just click the link!

You do not pay money to use IndyEd.

It’a service to the community. It’s absolutely free for learners to come on and search for the database. You do not even have to log in or make an account or anything. (There IS one time you do have to log on: If you want to view coupons.)

Every month we have educators who are offering free classes and free resources.

When you come to IndyEd, you’re dealing with independent educators, not huge corporations.

You are dealing with IndyEd. It is owned by a former homeschool mom and an independent educator, not a huge corporation.

IndyEd is for independent education. Homeschoolers are very independent and they have their own ways and their own thinking, and they don’t want to be put into boxes that corporations.

IndyEd is truly representative of the homeschool community as a whole!

BTW- You will find 7SistersHomeschool curriculum and courses on IndyEd.com and at 7SistersHomeschool.com.

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This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: What Makes 7SistersHomeschool Curriculum Awesome? Special Replay.

What Makes 7 Sisters Homeschool Curriculum Awesome?

Many homeschooling years ago, Sabrina, Vicki, Kym, Marilyn, Sara and Allison were in co-op together. They worked and prayed together SO much they felt like that they were sisters! They are! Sisters in the Lord. That is, except Sabrina and Allison are biological sisters. AND Sabrina’s homeschooling graduate daughter is married to Marilyn’s homeschooling graduate son.

Anyway, there are 6 Sisters, so WHO is the 7th Sister in 7SistersHomeschool?

YOU ARE! Thanks for being our 7th Sister!

So, after co-oping and teaching homeschool group classes for so many years we’ve felt like sisters. We’ve also developed a LOT of curriculum (there are over 200 titles in the 7SistersHomeschool.com ebookstore). All the curriculum has been vetted by our own homeschool high schoolers and/or the homeschoolers in our group classes over the years. They all really let us know what works for them and what doesn’t work.

Eventually we realized that we were becoming those *older women* that Titus 2 talks about, you know: those more experienced women that mentor the next generations? So we started 7SistersHomeschool.com. We are just like you but only older!

We also know that our curriculum could be blessing other homeschool families, so we make it available at the site.

But what makes 7Sister’s curriculum so special? Here are some 7Sisters distinctives:

• We believe in NO busywork texts.
  • Have you noticed many traditional textbooks have almost the same number of pages in each chapter? This keeps things consistent but means that some chapters contain busywork to fill the pages.
• We believe that curriculum should be easily adaptable.
  • 7Sisters curriculum is written at an average high school level, so most teens can work through the curriculum on their own. If they want to level up to a more rigorous credit, there are instructions to do that in a way that is meaningful to each teen.
  • 7Sisters curriculum can easily be adapted to fit circumstances and dovetail other subjects. Take a look at this post on combining credits.
• We believe that curriculum shouldn’t intentionally irritate the learners.
  • So we try not to be boring, preachy or insulting.
• We believe that curriculum should be convenient, so we made it digital (and most of it is editable, meaning that your teens can do their work right on their computers!
• We have a few assumptions
  • Assume that it’s important to presuppose that God is involved in our lives. We’ve learned that “A mom’s mind plans our way but God directs our path!”
  • So all our curriculum presupposes, in a non-preachy way that our relationships with God are vital.
  • Family is vital. Mom and dad are critical parts of a family’s homeschool.
  • There are many stakeholders in the homeschooling process. Some are encouragers and some are not. We need to seek God above all: about homeschooling and respecting the stakeholders and how to handle them.
• We believe every one of our homeschool high schoolers are different. There’s not ONE right way to homeschool high school!
• We believe every family’s circumstances are different. In fact, circumstances can change during the homeschool year. We need God’s grace and curriculum flexibility.

Join Sabrina, Vicki and Kym for a fun discussion on what makes 7Sisters curriculum awesome! Want more information on using 7Sisters’ ecurriculum? Listen to this HSHSP episode.

Here are some curriculum ideas

Here’s a complete list of 7Sisters’ Literature Study Guides.

Also, a complete list of 7Sisters 7Sisters’ Curriculum that is Acceptable for States that Reimburse for Curriculum.

Did you know we have absolutely delightful literature activity guides for elementary-aged homeschoolers? Here’s a complete list of those favorites.

For teen-favorite, no-busywork full-year, full-credit ELA curriculum with a variety of genres.

Take a look at our catalogue of electives and transcript requirements.

And also, check out these posts:

7 No-Fail Steps in Choosing Curriculum for Homeschool High School

Homeschool Highschool Podcast Ep 112: Adapting to Unexpected Changes

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What Makes 7 Sisters Homeschool Curriculum Awesome?

The post What Makes 7SistersHomeschool Curriculum Awesome? Special Replay appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Click the icon below to listen.