What sort of grade level guidelines and standards should homeschoolers follow? As you take on the responsibility of educating our own kids, some of you are wondering what you should be doing at each grade level. How do you know if you’re “keeping up with the schools” or “falling behind“? There are not any specific […]
Does *THIS* Count as School?
May 30, 2023 by 3 Comments
Does *THIS* count as school? Fill in the blank. This common question demonstrates one of the basic qualifications to homeschool. We worry about these things…when we have our children’s best interests at heart. What “counts” as school? If it counts, does it count a whole day…or just half a day? Does *THIS* count? Does this […]
180 Day Reports Due
May 18, 2023 by 2 Comments
In a previous post we talked about what the 180 days requirement means. Now, it’s that time of year again when your association says: “180 day reports due.” Yes, it’s true. No matter what association or accountability option you chose–you have an end of the year report to do. Please don’t say that your association […]
Professional Development For Home Educators
September 15, 2022 by 6 Comments
Are you qualified to teach? It’s a question that every home educator has faced. Yes…we are! Today, I’d like to address some ways that home educators get professional development credentials. I have a college degree in Elementary Education. But if I wanted to teach in a school, I would also have to do continuing training […]
How to Document Unstructured Playtime
July 18, 2022 by 6 Comments
In a previous post about best advice for new homeschoolers, we encourage you to play more. But how do you document unstructured playtime? Our culture suffers from chronic busyness. We feel the pressure to schedule assignments and activities for every waking moment. Plus, we’re required to document the school activities. The weight of responsibility feels […]
Common Homeschool Transcript Mistakes
May 31, 2022 by 2 Comments
In a previous post, I explained how to make your own parent-made transcript. Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the common homeschool transcript mistakes to avoid. Image by Steve Johnson from Pixabay As homeschool parents, we want the doors of opportunity to open for our students. If we want equal opportunities for […]
Can I Start Tracking Attendance Toward Next Year?
May 13, 2022 by 1 Comment
I’ve finished logging 180 days required for this year, now what? Can I start tracking attendance toward next year? First, be sure you know when your 180 day report is due (check with your association). This question came up recently: I want to continue to log learning days so I stay in the swing of […]
How to Start Homeschooling Mid-Year
March 25, 2022 by Leave a Comment
How do you start homeschooling mid-year? There’s a variety of reasons that families make the switch to homeschooling mid-year. Whatever the reason–you’ve got the hit the ground running with a new plan. NOW! What does the law require? What does your daily schedule and pace look like? How do you pick a course of study […]
3 Reasons You Should Keep Good Homeschool Records
February 20, 2022 by 15 Comments
You should keep good homeschool records. Not because the law requires you to do it. Ok, yeah. Here in South Carolina, the law does require you to maintain good homeschool records. But, that’s not the reason you should. This post contains affiliate links. Any purchases thru the links will pay me a small commission. If […]
What Does 180 Day Requirement Mean?
December 8, 2021 by 4 Comments
What does the 180 day requirement mean? Your accountability association verifies that you have completed the days. So you should also complete the 180 day report for your association. Be sure that you comply with their policies, procedures and deadlines. >>> Check out our guest post “Can a Home Educator Take a Sick Day? at […]
