Schoolmarm

Ok, forget it, I’m not even writing a single pro for this one –come on, it’s snowing!!! Every single one of us has retained glorious memories (except perhaps for those of us in warmer climes) of snow forts, battles, sledding, wrecking, frigid balls of ice melting down the back of your neck, red noses and ahhh … how splendidly good hot cocoa and snacks taste afterward.

As with traditional schools, time off from snow days will eventually need to be made up – the work doesn’t go anywhere after all. But perhaps after a few hours of hard play time outside, your homeschooler will actually be good and ready to settle down for some reading or other course material. You may be able to sneak a couple quality hours of schoolwork in and still let them romp and play like active, healthy kids should.

In addition, shoveling snow is a great duty to pass on to kids – and they usually don’t even mind that much! It’s a great physical activity and a good solid chore that many age groups can handle; but don’t forget to parole them once the work is done!

Cool Mom (or Dad!)

For those parents (moms and dads alike) who are just as excited as the kids to see the blanket of white outside the doorstep, there are a multitude of activities you can coordinate during your snow day. And who knows … you may even manage to sneak in a little learning as well!

Here are a few awesome snow day activities for you to consider:

1. Animal Sculptures. Have your child pick an animal of choice (for instance, a multi-segmented caterpillar) then help them sculpt it in the snow. You can even use spray bottles of water tinted with food coloring to add splashes of color. Embellish your creation with articles of nature – twigs, pine cones, berries – or even items from the kitchen. Foster their creative side!
2. Hop-Scotch and Tick-Tack-SNOW. Put a wintery spin on some of these traditional games by drawing game boards into the snow. Snowsuits and piles of white stuff will up the difficulty level quite a bit and make for some funny scenarios!
3. Holiday Trees. The natural way! String together garlands of cranberries, popcorn, and cereal on fishing line, and arrange them on various pine trees or bushes in your yard for the birds to partake of in the cold weather. A fun project that benefits nature while festively decorating your yard.
4. Jewel Hunt. Freeze colored water into cubes then hide them outside in the snow. Hold a treasure hunt – with different colors being worth more than others. If you want to get creative, make up some clues for the hunters. And make sure you put tracks everywhere – not just leading to the hidden objects!
5. Snow Ball Toss. A simple game of who can throw the farthest can be made a bit more interesting when physics and creative thinking are applied. What household objects can help you launch a snowball farther than normal and why? For the older kids, let them research online and formulate some interesting plans!
6. Obstacle Course. Simple obstacles can be so much more difficult – and hilarious – in full snow gear while up to your knees in white stuff. Try to focus on the benefits of teamwork and group strategizing if you have more than one child. The ability to formulate team solutions is invaluable!

No matter what your decision is on the schoolwork, I am willing to bet there is fun to be had on a homeschooling snow day. One of the greatest things about homeschooling your children is the freedom it affords you to just take a break when it is needed. This can be when YOU need it, or when the KIDS need it. Just make sure to enjoy and make the most of the experience!

The Super Seven

Start A Blog. The art of blogging isn’t going anywhere soon, and is a great way to teach a teen the advantages to online marketing through social networking. Pick a topic that interests your student and get to work. Make it a goal to stick with it on a monthly basis. Creating your own blog is actually quite easy because there are Web-based toolsets that make the management of your blog incredibly simple – Blogger are just a few of the services available.

Play With Paper Airplanes. Really? Oh yes, and even catch up on some serious physics lessons in the process: Archimedes and Bernoulli’s Principles, and effect of wind resistance on your aero-design. Build several models with different variables, predict outcomes, and have a contest. See if your predictions hit the mark! It’s a wonderful way to spend an hour or two.

Plan a Garage Sale. Hand all the planning, processing, price determination, layout, and marketing/advertising directly to your student. Hold several boardroom negotiations on cost analysis and the percentage distribution of profits among family members. Business Finance 101 with some serious motivation! And you get your closets or attic cleaned out in the process.

Write Poetry With Math. What??? Yes – it can be done! Not only will it enrich your vocabulary, it’s a creatively fun way to write. Oulipo (pronounced oo-lee-po), uses math and patterns in writing. These constraints can create silly, even provocative creative works. Nothing is better than learning with laughter.

Role Play – Historically. Take the game of Who Am I? a bit further with this creatively versatile activity. Have your student select a historical figure of interest to them. Research the time period and significant events, and then put on a show. Dress up to the hilt, speak in-period, and drop small clues all day long – until the parents or siblings “get it.” Don’t make the answer too obvious right off the bat.

Create A Homeschool Yearbook. Think it through carefully, and make it as official as possible. Hit all the major areas that traditional school yearbooks do. With today’s desktop publishing and scrapbooking supplies, you may be able to come up with some very creative stuff. It will become a bit of history and special memories to tuck away forever.

Fake a Job Interview. There is NOTHING that will help interviewing skills for a future job or college admission like practice – and don’t forget to add as much formal pressure as you can on this endeavor! Research typical questions and answers online, prepare vigorously, dress the part, and conduct a formal interview. Don’t forget to throw in some really tough or unexpected questions as well. On the spot thinking is an excellent skill to possess. No giggling allowed!

Opportunity abounds for some fun and creative learning within the homeschool classroom. Add a dose of laughter and you have the recipe for some lifetime character-building memories in the making – all of which will only serve to strengthen family bonds  and prepare students for an experience in the outside world that will be either good OR bad – depending on what THEY choose to make of it.

But even newer on the forefront of learning opportunities is the usage of educational video games in the classroom. It’s becoming the norm in many public schools: programs like Study Island, First In Math, Starfall, and RazKids are providing new classroom learning methods as well as a system for recording benchmarks and percentiles.

So what’s the downside? Well, for years we have eschewed television and video, as it has been deemed a negative influence on children’s cognitive functioning and physical well being. It’s been linked to everything from childhood obesity to eyesight problems and attention deficit disorder. So what’s the real skinny on the sudden wave of virtual learning opportunities through video games?

The Pros

Dr. James Paul Gee, a leading authority on literacy and educational games at Arizona State University, says that “new theories have arisen concluding that human beings learn from experiences – that our brains store every experience we’ve had, and that’s the key to what influences our learning processes.” Add some serious forethought and expertise into designing educational experiences for children through games and you’ve got some real potential. Let’s look at how:

1. Games Feed the Learning Process. The brain develops from being challenged by experiences. Video games have all the components of this: motivation, clear goals, interpreted outcomes, and continuous feedback. Kids play video games for fun with the goal of progressing to the next level and eventually conquering the opponent and overcoming challenges by thinking through possible outcomes in a variety of situations.

2. They Do Away With Testing. Educational learning games can negate the necessity of standard testing by providing kids with the ability to master levels by repetition – a much better way of retaining information than studying frantically the night before a paper test. “Learning and assessment is exactly the same thing,” says Gee. “If you design learning so you can’t get out of one level until you complete the last one, there’s no need for a test.”

3. Games Build a Love for Challenge. The greatest minds – whether they are scientists, engineers, or businessmen – are all adept at solving multi-faceted challenges that utilize many different subject areas across the board. Video games entice kids to seek out and embrace challenges. If levels are difficult to master without some logical thinking, it’s the proverbial carrot in front of the bunny. Kids are ready to go for it instead of giving up and asking for help – it can be very motivational stuff.

4. They Encourage Risk Taking. One of the biggest reasons for poor participation from children is the fear of being wrong in front of others. In a video game, the risk of failure by trying something new is much less stressful than raising your hand in front of peers or siblings. If you lose, you just get to try again – without social embarrassment.

5. Games Are Variable Speed. One of the best pros about educational games is that they allow children to advance through levels at their own pace – without pressure. Ideally, games can be a part of the individualized learning process.  And with every new game, the knowledge and expertise picked up in previous games can be applied to a new experience, a fundamental part of learning.

The Cons

There are downsides to bringing video games into the classroom environment, be it a homeschool classroom or a traditional one.

1. Games Can Be Addictive. According to a study published in The Journal of Pediatrics, roughly 1 in 10 children who play video games are at risk of becoming pathologically addicted to them. And according to WebMD, kids who averaged 31 or more hours of video time a week should be classified as “obsessive gamers.” And 84 % of students who were addicted when the study began were still addicted 2 years later. These can be a scary statistics for parents who are considering bringing games into the homeschooling environment.

2. There is Difficulty in Development. A problem exists with the fact that designing, developing, distributing, and implementing effective game-based learning products into classrooms is difficult to say the least – and requires the joint effort of teachers, researchers, learning experts, game designers, and many others as well. Joint effort and coordination can be a political nightmare.

3. Lack of Funds. In this economy, spending cuts are everywhere, and education has borne the brunt of much of it. Most schools are operating with severe fiscal restraints – as are most households across the country.

Your Decision?

The fact is, quite a few traditional schools are already utilizing the educational video games within the classroom – as a method of teaching AND as a method of assessment. With homeschooling environments, it is up to parents to assess the benefits and detriments of using gaming as a teaching method. Games can help make homeschool learning more engaging, relevant, and give students the ability to problem solve in ways that static textbooks simply cannot.

It stands to reason – as with most parenting decisions – that the most beneficial path for our children lies in moderation. Embrace the new, because there are simply amazing online opportunities on the horizon, but keep a watchful eye out for excess or misuse.

If you are like me, you value your rights to raise your child according to what you know to be best for him or her. However, the CRC treaty will take those rights away!

Please read the notice below penned by Michael Ramney of ParentalRights.org and contact your senators today to help stop this threat in its tracks!

Next take action—he makes it easy to know if you need to contact your senators at ParentalRights.org/status —and then forward this to everyone you know who will stand with us.

Please Call Now to Halt CRC Ratification

The United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) poses a serious threat to the rights of parents to direct the upbringing of their children, by making the government – not the parent – responsible for decisions that are made for that child.

Proponents of the treaty last week posted an opinion piece at Time Magazine’s website calling for CRC ratification anyway. And they’d like to see us subject ourselves to its dictates by November 20 of this year.

Nor is this latest salvo the full extent of their efforts. They are also pushing online petitions asking President Obama to send the CRC to the Senate for its advice and consent, the final requirement for ratification.

Now it is time for us to act, to halt their grand offensive in its tracks.

And the place to do that is in the U.S. Senate.

Action Item

Please take a moment right now, before closing this email, to contact your senators and urge them to cosponsor SR 99, the resolution that opposes ratification of the CRC.

Your message can be as simple as the following, in your own words:

Hello. My name is ______, and I am concerned with the recent renewed interest in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This is a dangerous treaty that would endanger the right of parents to raise their children as they see fit, and which would allow U.N. officials to make rules and rulings that are binding in U.S. courts. Some special interest groups are trying to push the president to submit this treaty to the Senate, but I am strongly opposed to this treaty. I urge Senator ____ to send a message to the president as well, by cosponsoring SR 99, the resolution that opposes ratification of this treaty. Senator DeMint is the lead sponsor. Please contact his office to sign on. Thank you.

Though SR 99 has had 37 cosponsors since last April, we would like to see that number reach at least 40. Any fewer, and the chance remains that someone could be “turned” and vote for ratification even after signing the resolution. With 40 or more, we feel confident that no amount of arm twisting would get the treaty the 67 votes it needs.

Visit ParentalRights.org/status to see if your Senators are already on board, and to find the phone number of your Senators if they are not. Then, call today to register your support of SR 99 (and your opposition to the CRC).

Together we can send the message that it’s not an oversight: America does not want the CRC!

Sincerely,

Michael Ramey
Director of Communications & Research
ParentalRights.org

Kari has recently earned her Silver Award with Girl Scout Troop 2872 – the highest national award that a Girl Scout in grades 6th through 8th can earn! A ceremony recognizing Kari for this great achievement was held this past June in Indiana. She also has earned her God and Church Award in 2011, a Christian award earned by grade level that allows her faith to grow as strong and true as her own exceptional character.

Here are some excerpts from a recent interview with Kari:

BA: When did you begin homeschooling and why?

IP: I started homeschooling at the age of 12 after moving to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in June of 2010. My family decided on homeschooling because the school options in Saudi Arabia are limited.

BA: How is homeschooling different from public schools in Saudi Arabia?

IP: The homeschool curriculum gives me the opportunity to work at my own pace. In the local school, there is little space to work independently. Everyone is at the same level, with little room to be creative or work in a more advanced curriculum.

BA: What do you like most about homeschooling? And the least?

IP: The curriculum is tailored to my own needs and strengths, and the flexibility of it offers something that is not possible in a regular Saudi school. But there are no days off due to the weather in Saudi Arabia!

BA: Tell us more about your experience with the Girl Scouts and the achievements you have made in that program.

IP: My experience as a girl scout has really been a great part of my life. The program has taught me to help others, to never give up, and to always believe in myself. I have earned the Leadership, Bronze, and Silver Award, along with many badges. I have also earned the God Award for the Brownies, Juniors and Cadets. Currently I am working on the last part of the program for the Seniors which will entitle me to the four star award recognition.

BA: Describe why you received your God and Church award and what it means to you.

IP: The God and Church program allowed me to learn how to know Jesus on a more personal level, how to worship God, and learn about the talents given to me and how to use them. It was a self discovering journey where I had the opportunity to work with the youth and provide voluntary work for the Church and reach out to others. It was very important for me to achieve these awards. It is an important way to keep growing spiritually.

BA: Any special experiences you would like to share with us?

IP: Saudi Arabia is a beautiful country with a different culture, views of the outside world, and many contradictions. I have learned that cultural education is as important as basic education. We must learn to accept, understand and respect other cultures and their point of view without losing ourselves in the process, this has been a journey with great satisfaction and trials along the way. I was surprised to see that we might look very different but in reality we are individuals with dreams and hope for the future. I also learned that sometimes we take for granted the freedom that we have back home.

BA: What are your plans or dreams for the future? Colleges you are interested in?

IP: Living overseas has opened my eyes to a whole new view of the future and what I would like to be. I want to continue my schooling, followed by College, and I want to keep traveling and experiencing adventures and other cultures. I am not sure what college I would like to attend. I have considered Michigan State University, Rice University, Butler University or maybe even to study abroad. I have also considered a military career as an aviator. Whatever I choose, it would be because it will give me the opportunity to be a better person and serve God, to honor Him in everything I do.

Thank you Kari for sharing your experiences with us. We wish you all the success you dream of in 2012 and beyond!

Happy January everyone! We are now settled back on campus, enjoying getting back into the groove of school. Though when we arrived there wasn’t much snow on the ground, within a few days, we were greeted back with massive snow storms. Within a week, we had accumulated almost 3 feet of snow. The last time I remember seeing this much snow was when PA had the blizzard of 96! We now regularly hear the dynamite blasts from up in the mountains as the passes are cleared and avalanches are prevented. The roofs also have to be cleared as well as they become heavy with snow. The faithful little swagger wagon succumbed to the sub-degree weather and decided she doesn’t want to start if the temperature drops below 10 degrees, which is a fairly frequent occurrence. I really don’t blame her as I’m not a big fan of running in cold weather either!

The activities around campus have changed a bit due to the weather. Instead of playing football or Frisbee in the yard, the students now go sledding, snowboarding, or skiing. Every Friday night we head down to the rodeo arena in town where they have constructed a skating rink. Everyone grabs a broom and plays broomball (basically hockey with brooms). Since the Klase girls aren’t much good at winter sports, we attempted to take a walk on our bike trail for some exercise. Much to our chagrin, the trail is now knee deep in snow, and we only succeeded in getting side swiped by a wall of muddy, slushy snow that a passing bus threw at us. It seemed to me the bus driver enjoyed our shocked squeals just a little too much!

It has been great to be back in class again. We completed a massive church history course from Bible times through the founding of America. Later this spring we will have an American history course that will complete the timeline for us. The church history course really gave me a whole new appreciation for our spiritual heritage. The stories of the martyrs throughout the centuries were a sobering reminder of the cost that is sometimes necessary when serving Christ. This week’s course is “The Theology of God’s Will.” We have been learning many wonderful principles for God-honoring decision making. I really wish I learned all this when I was 19! What a blessing for so many of these students to be hearing this at such a pivotal point in their young lives (not that I’m counting myself old yet, but they’ll be 8 years ahead of me on this for sure!).

In the area of service, we were able to serve the local community this month by helping to host a “Right to Life” vigil in the town square on the Sanctity of Human Life Sunday (1/22/12). We made cookies, shoveled the town square, and then held a service there to raise awareness for the 1.2 million abortions that take place in the U.S. each year. It is hard to believe that our nation ranks 3rd in the world for the most abortions, following just China and Russia. It was encouraging to see so many local churches unite for this event and I was privileged to be able to participate.

It is hard to believe that by the next time I write, it will almost be time for spring break! Our time here is slipping away much too quickly, so we try to soak up as much as we possibly can each day. Hope you all have a wonderful February!

About the Author, Sarah Klase

Sarah Klase is an Advisor Assistant at Bridgeway Academy and has decided to embark on a 1-year creation studies adventure at Jackson Hole Bible College in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Sarah, 27, holds an Associate’s degree in Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute and fell in love with JHBC 3 years ago when she visited the campus with one of her sisters. This year Sarah and her two younger sisters decided to take a year out of their lives to experience an amazing adventure complete with cross-country driving, interesting field visits, archeological digs and more! Tune in each month as Sarah blogs about her travels, experiences and learning’s.

In order to be a proactive parent and a responsible teacher, you will need to do some research on just how the legalities of homeschooling your child will affect your educational journey. Armed with a bit of knowledge and some resources on how to work with your individual state department of education, you can remove much of the fear and uncertainly attached to the legal side of homeschooling, and circumvent problems that could arise.

Questions You May Have Regarding the Legal Aspects of Homeschooling:

Is homeschooling my child truly legal? Yes it is – in all 50 states and in many other countries as well.

Under what authority is homeschooling regulated in this country? The regulations governing homeschooling vary quite widely from state-to-state; there is no federal authority over homeschooling.

How do I know what my state requires? Some states have tighter requirements than others – so make sure to contact your State Department of Education for information on these requirements.  A good homeschooling program should also have resources in place to help enrolled students meet their state guidelines (however, the buck stops with you – the parent).

Are all children – including homeschoolers – subject to compulsory attendance status? Yes they are, in theory. However, while these statutes exist in every state (and vary by state), each state also provides either a way that students may be “otherwise educated” or a way that students may be “totally exempt” from such statutes.

Will school truancy policies affect my homeschooled child? Truancy issues have existed ever since the first compulsory attendance laws were passed. But the fact is that truancy is a public school problem that cannot be addressed in homeschooling policy. A child schooled at home cannot be truant.

Does my child have a right to participate in school district sports or activities? Regulations about participation vary from state to state, and may even vary from district to district as well. Many states have equal access laws in place – guaranteeing that public school districts allow homeschoolers access to their extracurricular activities, such as sports, music, drama, debate team and other programs. Open the lines of communication with your school district in a positive and professional way, and you may be surprised at what you can achieve!

Will my homeschooled student be eligible to attend college? Yes they will. There are many colleges who admit homeschooled students giving credence to the quality of a homeschool education and the validity of accumulated course credits. This is also why you want to select a superior homeschool curriculum through an accredited academy.

An important thing to remember when researching the legal aspects of homeschooling in your particular state is to not accept the information garnered from any one source as completely valid. Because regulations vary so widely, misinformation can certainly occur. Do your research wisely!

Some Questions You May Want To Ask Your State Up Front:

• What role does my State Department of Education play in regulating homeschooled children?
• Is there any specific state regulation or statute pertaining to homeschooling?
• If there is not, under what authority is homeschooling regulated?
• Has there been any recent legislative activity related to homeschooling that I should be aware of?
• What role will a local school district play in homeschooling within my state?

Remember, there is strength in knowledge, and also much to be gained in finding an excellent homeschool support group in your local area! Other moms and dads who are experienced in dealing with the entire realm of homeschooling can provide you with a wealth of resources for your upcoming journey. Best of luck!

A History Lesson – The Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria

There are lessons to be learned through studying the past – our own history is simply one of the greatest teaching tools for success in the future. On August 23, 1542, a fleet of three ships set out from the shores of Spain and toward the banks of the Americas, carrying Christopher Columbus, a man instrumental in the discovery of our own great country.

These three ships had varying characteristics – as well as certain strengths and weaknesses. The Nina and the Pinta were both smaller, sleeker ships, called caravels. The Santa Maria was a larger, round-hulled ship, called a “nao”. All three ships were well-armed, but the Santa Maria was much heavier, and eventually ran aground and was destroyed completely on December 25, 1492. The Pinta was light and fast, but broke a rudder early on, and even became totally lost in a strong headwind (although it did end up making its way back to the Nina). The Nina held true, and eventually came to deliver Columbus back to Spain and into the history books after his ultimate successful discovery of “India”.

So what is the correlation between these three boats and the choice of a public, private, or homeschooling system? We all want our children delivered safely and successfully back to our homeland in the end. Hmmm.

Public System

Pros:

• Convenience. Generally close to home, bus picks up and drops off on a set schedule.
• No additional cost. Although you pay school taxes, there is no extra fee for public school.
• Integration with peers. Kids are exposed to all different personality types – as in real life – and must learn to integrate with others and problem solve. Jungle survival.
• Exposure to sports/activities. A wide variety of extra-curricular activities and sports opportunities abound, although competition can be tough.

Cons:

• Class size. Large class size usually means that the brighter kids lose out, and those with learning issues can be lost in the mix.
• Rigid instruction. Public school teachers don’t have the resources or ability to customize a lesson plan based on a student’s learning style. It’s learn or lose – and many kids end up losing.
• Peer pressure. If it’s a negative behavior, your kids are sure to be exposed to it in some manner in public school. Bullying is also an issue for many.

Private System

Pros:

• Higher quality education. Private school classes are generally geared towards college-bound students.
• Future opportunity. Graduation from a private school looks good on resumes and on college admission applications .
• Birds of a Feather. Private school communities generally stick together, and even look out for one another. Although some may perceive it as snobbery, being part of a close-knit group can certainly have its advantages.

Cons:

• Expense. Private schools cost A LOT, this we know. And it’s on top of school taxes.
• Limited diversity. The types and backgrounds of the people your children will have class with may be much more limited than public school, making the adjustment to the business world a bit more difficult.
• Time-intensive. Parents of private school students are typically expected to be involved in quite a few volunteer efforts with the school which can take time.

Home Schooling

Pros:

• Custom education. Your child’s curriculum is made-to-order, taking into consideration their learning style and varying educational needs.
• Flexibility. You have an appointment? No problem. Your child is sick? No worries. Test scheduling? It’s easy to maneuver. Very, very nice.
• Close-knit families. Lack of quality family time is one of the biggest downfalls of today’s society – and homeschooling keeps families together and bonded in a way that rivals anything else.
• Faith aspect. You are free as a parent to keep faith strong and alive during the school day – this is becoming impossible in a traditional school setting.

Cons:

• Can be very time-intensive. With some homeschool programs, you’ll need to be your child’s full-time teacher in addition to being a parent – and that’s a scary prospect for most.
• Social isolation. Some say it’s just plain hard for kids to interact with others their age in the same way that traditional school kids do, no matter how you look at it (although there is some evidence to support the opposite) . Public school kids tend to label each other.
• College admission difficulties. Although homeschoolers are being taken very seriously by most colleges of today, there can still be issues with diplomas and the transfer of credits. It’s not as easy as having standard transcripts. That’s why it is critical to ensure that your student graduates with an accredited high school diploma.
• Wearing two hats is difficult. Being both a parent and a teacher– on and off, over and over – is truly hard to do. Lines can become blurred.

So now that you’ve taken a step back to rationally review the facts in a logical fashion – take the next step. Close your eyes and go with your gut feeling.

Which school system is right for your family and right for your child? I’ll bet you have an answer right there in your heart.

The scary fact is that a lot of teens move on to rack up debt that they can’t pay – early on in life. Starting out on your own in financial trouble is not a smart way to play the game. Here is the simple truth:

Very shortly you are going to be the sole person responsible for your own finances and planning for the future is YOUR solo gig.

The not-so-scary fact is that by taking a solid step forward and thinking about what’s best for you long-term (much like you did when you and your family chose to homeschool ), your future can look pretty bright. The great news is that many options available to you are now in digital or mobile format – and that you can easily relate to!

Here are some simple (but technologically up-to-date!) strategies to put in place right now:

1. Open a checking account. It’s easy, it’s free, and there are real-world penalties involved if you mess up (overdraft fees, etc.). Ask about the pros and cons of debit cards and how they work. Set up online access and be sure to utilize your bank’s online tools for managing a checking account including online banking, mobile banking, account alerts, bill pay, and transaction records. Using mobile banking will allow you to check account balances, pay bills, transfer money, view transactions, and receive mobile alerts on your phone when their balance falls below a set minimum, helping to avoid fees.

2. Subscribe to RSS news feeds involving the financial world. You can custom pick the feeds that interest you most, or have the most relevance to your fields of study – Google Reader is an excellent place to start . The feeds will automatically get you the news and information you need, without you having to go out looking on the web. Subscribing to email newsletters by some of your trusted institutions and accounting agencies will help to build your knowledge base as well – scan the topics and pick the articles that have relevant information.

3. Utilize online video resources and webinars. Look for information in the media format you can relate most to – in many cases there are video options that won’t bore the pants off you! There are many reputable sites that are targeting teens – they know you are going to be a large part of their future – so take advantage of their interest in you, right now.

4. Keep an ear to the ground for local seminars. A lot of colleges have not-for-credit evening or weekend short-courses available – and so what if you are only a teen, it’s a great way to prepare for college! Mom or Dad may even want to attend with you. University extension agencies are also great sources of free information for young people. Remember that any financial knowledge that you compile now can only help you in the future.

The fact that you are still just a teen affords you the opportunity to get in the “driver’s seat” (even if you are not 16 – woot!) financially speaking. A little bit of knowledge, some steady practice with the newest financial tools available to you, and you will have yourself a big leg up over other teens your age.

And – IMHO – the driver’s seat is exactly where you want to be! CU L8R!

We’ve come up with a list of questions you might have regarding a mentoring program – and the answers you need to make an informed decision on whether it’s the right move to make for YOUR household.

What is a homeschool mentor – exactly?

It’s a good basic question, as the term “mentoring” covers quite a broad area. Mentoring can include anything from calling another parent in your homeschooling network who has been through it all and getting some sage personal advice. Or it can involve enrollment in a program that can provide you with weekly or even daily assistance with your teaching methods researching, coping skills, or even spiritual guidance and prayer. A good mentor (sometimes called a homeschool coach) should be able to assist you with these things:

• Help you connect to other homeschoolers, either locally or through online communities
• Give you great ideas for activities or educational field trip ideas in your area
• Help with lesson plans, researching tips, and gathering resources for teaching
• Allowing you to observe a functioning homeschool program if you are just starting out
• Help you problem-solve with any issues that arise
• Give you advice on how to deal with local school officials if necessary

In a nutshell, mentoring can cover such a wide range of resources or input to your current homeschool program that it is hard to provide any one definition of the term. It can be what you need it to be – you just need to make an informed decision on how much help you really need.

How do I decide if I need a homeschool mentor – really?

Of course everyone could use an experienced coach in their back pocket through the course of any given week. If you are a parent, then you’ve asked yourself many times – oh my gosh, how do I know what’s the best course of action here? Often times, your best hunch ends up being the right answer. Sometimes, it’s not – but then you learn and move on. If you are not sure if you “really” need a mentor, ask yourself the following:

• Do you feel uncertain in your ability as a teacher?
• Do you feel exasperated or frustrated at the end of the day?
• Do you wish you had someone to bounce your ideas off of or give you motivation?
• Are you struggling with decisions related to the public school system and want to know the best way to handle them?
• Do you want to network with other homeschooling parents and teachers?
• Is it taking you way too long to plan your lessons and research materials?

If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to one or more of these questions, it’s likely a good time to look into mentoring!

What does mentoring cost – straight up?

It is possible to find a free mentor, especially if you have many personal connections in your own homeschool community. You may be able to find another parent who has been through the experience, and is willing to provide you with some guidance, tips, and be available when problems arise. With the age of the internet and its bounty of resources available at your fingertips, you can easily join an online forum or community where you can post your questions and receive answers from others like you. However, if you are looking for someone to reach out to on a consistent basis – and who has proven experience behind them with positive strategies for all of your roadblocks or issues, you should look into a paid mentor. Mentors are usually paid:

• By the hour for phone consultation (somewhere in the neighborhood of $25/hr)
• Monthly fees with access to website materials/program (we found $30 – $50/ month is reasonable)

So to sum it up – mentoring is affordable – even free if you’re resourceful enough – and it may just give you that extra boost you need.

How do I find a reputable mentor – and avoid charlatans?

If you perform a Google search on the term “homeschooling mentors,” you will be amazed at the number of sites that pop up. Some are other homeschooling parents who want to share their story, some are online programs, and some are people trying to sell their books and other things. Here are some things to scout for:

• Look for someone who has homeschooled their own children successfully – you want someone who has been down in the trenches and emerged successfully!
• Check credentials. A mentor should have substantially more experience than you do.
• If it’s an informal arrangement – perhaps another mom you admire in your homeschool community – make sure you formally ‘ask’ for mentoring help, and be very aware of how valuable that person’s time is!
• Look around on Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, or on other online forums – there is tons of free info out there and many ways to connect with potential mentors through social media.

Remember that the best way to know for sure that you are getting a good mentor is through the reference of other parents like you. Ask around! A good homeschool mentor can provide specific advice, resources, and the encouragement you need for your own success. So go for it!