Carolina Homeschooler

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Trial Run

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I’m often asked how to do a “trial run” before fully committing to homeschooling, especially during the summer. My advice is not to break out the textbooks and workbooks.

Instead, do this:

  • Go to museums and zoos, and participate in any extra educational programs they offer.
  • Visit state parks and historic sites and participate in their park programs and junior ranger programs.
  • Watch and discuss educational television, documentaries, and/or streaming that interests you.
  • Go to the library and check out laundry-basket-loads of books, both fiction and non-fiction, and read/discuss them together.
  • Do any projects or experiments that interest you.

[Read more…]

Does This Count?

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Does music, summer camp, a visit to the zoo, etc., count? This is probably one of my most frequently asked questions (well, that and “What about socialization?”). My answer is almost always, “Yes… it counts.”

It’s important to get out of the mindset that learning only happens when it’s planned, scheduled, directed, or approved by someone else. Children learn the most, and retain what they’ve learned much longer, if they’re the ones who initiate it, take ownership of it, and have input into what they’re learning. I don’t know of any research that doesn’t support this fact. [Read more…]

Raise Children With a Wild Streak

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by Mark Pruett

A new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics stresses the importance of childhood playtime. It reinforces my own belief that many young adults have been cheated by years of excessive schoolwork and teamwork, too many extracurricular activities, and a straitjacketed “just say no to anything risky” upbringing. I am convinced that modern childhood generally does not build enough independence and thirst for knowledge.

For the past few years I helped interview high school seniors seeking scholarships to come to Appalachian State University. These applicants come from all over the state. They play instruments and sports, participate in church and charity, and work in diverse jobs.

They also display remarkably similar accomplishments. They are at the top of their high school classes and possess generically good manners. They lead teams, groups and clubs. They are smart, solid and hardworking.

They might be surprised to learn that I, like many college professors, yearn for rarer traits — curiosity, passion, a wild streak. [Read more…]

Barrier Island Adventure

Barrier Island Adventure

Arctic Kingdom

Arctic Kingdom