Life School Your College Bound Teen

Summary:  Life schooling added so much to our homeschool.  It allowed us to follow our child's and teen's interests, helping her to find her gifts and even decide her college major! Life schooling, that is what it is all about! #homeschoolinghighschool #lifeschooling #homeschool #getintocollege

We believe in life schooling. That is one of the reasons that we decided to homeschool.

Through natural activities, we helped our daughter followed her interests and, over the years, find her own unique gifts.

Even in high school, we did life schooling.  

Through high school activities and high school electives, my daughter explored her interests, which even led to her decision re her major in college!

By knowing what our teen needed for college admissions, you can be free:

• to do lots of teen-led learning!
• make your own homemade courses
• do lots of high school electives
• and activities!

Did you know that you do not have to do the public school graduation requirements?  As homeschoolers, we have a lot more leeway.

We just have to follow our state homeschool regs, and most states leave that up to the parent to decide for the most part.

More on that, and college admssions is in my book below, which is offered as a KINDLE GIVEAWAY below.

But first, let's talk life schooling!

1. The EARLY YEARS 

In the early years, our daughter was all about art and making things.

 

Painting, fingerpainting and making things with cardboard and tape were her favorites. 

And that helped her handwriting, by developing her small muscle skills.

Our little one was always dancing around the house and soon asking for a ballet class, like she saw her friends attending. 

She was a shy one, so we thought a little dance class might help her develop her social skills and confidence.

Through ballet, she learned to follow directions, make friends, and yes, develope confidence, too.

2. The ELEMENTARY YEARS

We were always at the library, going to read-alouds there and such.  My daughter always chose her books herself.

She loved to pick out books about animals and other science topics.

And she still loved making things! So, after field trips, she often made something out of cardboard, to share with her dad.

One time we went to a local country fair.

Afterwards, she made this structure, to the left, showing all the fun rides there.

And at that fair, we found a children's contest that my daughter wanted to enter.  It was mostly for art, crafts, baking, etc. 

Did you know that many states have these contests at their state fairs, or through 4H?  

Country fair contests often include competitions even through high school in:

•  animal care
•  cooking
•  art
• writing
• poetry
• photography
• and even knitting.  

My daughter continued with this fair all the way through high school.  She loved it because of the competition and earning awards for her work.  Life schooling....

3. The MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS

 

In the middle school years, my daughter entered a lot of different contests at the country fair, like photography, baking, and even middle school homeschool writing!  

Then one year she  entered a knitting contest. 

In that contest, the kids competed to see how could knit the fastest. 

To do this, they were up in front of an audience.

Would our shy daughter want to do that?  She did!

This was a real surprise to us.  It led to her reading her poem aloud, the next year.

Through this country fair contest, my daughter learning that she liked public speaking!  

Little did I know that she would want more. 

4. The HIGH SCHOOL YEARS

My daughter loved science, especially at co-op.  One year, her science teacher asked her if she would like to help teach the class.

She jumped at the chance!   

She learned that she liked talking in front of the group as she helped in that class.

Then in 10th grade, when we were studying government in our homeschool, she heard about a program called Youth and Government.

Did you know that most states have a Youth and Government program, through their YMCA?

It is an activity that teaches speech, debate and state governments.  

They act as if they are legislators and learn all about that, by acting it out!  

Speech and debate is so great for our teens.  More on that is here.

And that is a great way to show leadership in college applications!

Following our daughter's interests through life schooling even helped her decide on her college major!

She decided to study Communications in college.

What do you think your teen may want to study in college?  

HIGH SCHOOL FREEBIE:

Get your FREE PDF

full of tips and articles on 

homeschooling high school.

Don't miss this High School FREEBIE: 

Link: FREEBIE - HIGH SCHOOL HELPS

FREEBIE includes top articles on:

• Frugal High School Curriculum
• Graduation Requirements
• 100 Best High School Resources
• Nature Study for Teens
• Favorites for High School Math
• Teaching Textbooks vs Monarch
• Make Your Own English Course
• and more!

I helped my daughter get into each of the colleges that she applied to and my book tells you how to deal with college admissions.

It is a FRUGAL easy-to-read guide for homeschooling your college bound teen including:

• what is needed for college admissions
• homeschool transcripts
• assigning high school credits
• make your own homemade courses
• scholarships
• my Common Application guide
• reference letters
• course descriptions
• lots more.

Are you homeschooling a strong will teen?  That can be a challenge.  My friend, Vicki from 7 Sisters Homeschool has lots of ideas for that in her post Homeschooling a Strong Willed Teen.   

Thanks for stopping by BJ's Homeschool,

Betsy

Betsy is mom to her now college grad daughter, whom she homeschooled since she was in K. 

She blogs at BJ's Homeschool, about the early years, highschool, 

college, gifted/2e and wrote -Homeschooling High School with College in Mind, 2nd Edition. 

She shares on  Facebook, pins at BJ's Homeschool Pinterest.  You can also reach her on BJ's Twitter, and she hosts an encouraging High School Facebook Group.

NOTE: All Rights Reserved @ BJ's Homeschool Revised 2021

How Homeschooling Helped Our Teen Make Dean's List

Summary:  Do you worry that your homeschooled teen would not be able to get into college?  How homeschooling helped our daughter not only get into college, but also do well there.  We use aff links only for products we used or love for our homeschool.

Are you considering homeschooling your college bound teen, but wondering  if they could get into college? 

Do you ever ask yourself, like I did, these sorts of questions...….

• Will my teen be ready for college level work?  
• Will they be able to compete with other students, whether public schooler or those from private schools?
• Can I find the homeschool curriculum that they will need for college prep?

Get Your Teen into College in 6 Easy Steps

How to plan your homeschool for your high schooler for college bound.  A simple tutorial of 6 steps, #homeschoolhighschool #getintocollege

Do you have a teen in your house who wants to go onto college? Do you worry whether they could still get into college with their homeschool transcript?

The answer to that is YES, they could!  

How to Go from Homeschooling High School to College

Planning your homeschool high school, making transcripts, etc, plus helping your teen get into college.  Sharing tips from helping mine who got into each of the colleges that she applied to, with her homeschool transcript.    #homeschoolhighschool #getintocollege

   

There are so many questions that we have when we consider how to help our homeschooled high school teens get into college.

So I am sharing my best articles on doing just that.

To encourage you.

Planning Homeschool High School with College in Mind

How to plan your homeschool high school for your teen, in case they decide to go to college.  #homeschool high school #getintocollege This post may included affiliate links to products that we love and have used or would use in our  own homeschool. Please see my disclosure policy.

As homeschoolers, we already know so much about planning. We have searched for, and chosen curriculum each year for our kids.  And we have decided what subjects to focus on and how to teach them to our kids.  

Planning for high school, with college in mind is really no different, except for one important thing.....

BJ's Day in Our Homeschool Life - the Elementary Years

This post has moved.  

How our Days Really Roll in Elementary, please click here.

For more help for the early years, including resources that we loved and frugal ones, too plus other tips for elementary, click here.

BJ's Homeschool - The Early Years

Thanks for stopping by,

Betsy

Betsy is mom to her now college junior, whom she homeschooled from day one.  She blogs at BJ's Homeschool, about the early years, high school & college and wrote the book - Homeschooling High School with College in Mind.   She offers free homeschool help through messages at BJ's Consulting. 

Want to stay in touch?  

Subscribe, Pinterest,Twitter, Facebook 

This post was shared on my favorite linkups here.

Copyright, 2017, All Rights Reserved

Course Descriptions and College Reference Letters for Homeschoolers

 Summary:  Homeschooling high school to college is not that hard, especially when course descriptions and homeschool reference letters come along for  the ride.  Homeschooling high school record keeping is key to writing good course descriptions.  Reference letters show the colleges what your student is about, and that is important to college admissions.  This article is a guide to making those important documents.

Homeschool transcripts are being well accepted by colleges, especially when two important things come along for the ride - course descriptions and reference letters. 

Course descriptions and reference letters help to showcase your child's accomplishments to the colleges.  Here's how to make them:

Dealing with the Difficulties of Giftedness One Day at a Time

Summary:  We learned that our daughter was 2e when she was very young. Along the way we found ways to deal with some of the typical issues associated with giftedness. Along with sensory processing disorder and ADHD, our daughter struggled with anxiety. That was the biggest hurdle that she faced. Here's our story of what worked and helped her along the way. #gifted #anxiety #2e

We started homeschooling our gifted 2e daughter when she was three. Along the way she encountered some of the typical issues associated with giftedness: including sleep issues, intensities , sensory issues, and anxiety, etc. We tried a variety of strategies to help her.

This article includes a discussion of the things that we found to be most successful and helpful to us. As many of you know, my "kiddo" is now a college grad. Today, I am looking back to the earlier years, when the difficulties of giftedness were more apparent.

News from a Homeschooled College Student

This article has moved here:

Life Schooling and Homeschooling High School

with college updates.  See how an always homeschooled teen did in college.

You are also invited to join my encouraging group for high school moms, called at Homeschooling through High School.  

Lots of moms just like you there, sharing triumphs and challenges.  Get your questions answered there, too.  

Lots of moms just like you there, sharing triumphs and challenges.  Get your questions answered there, too. 

Join us here.

Thanks for stopping by BJ's Homeschool,

Betsy

Betsy is mom to her now college grad, whom she homeschooled through high school.  She blogs at BJ's Homeschool, about the early years, highschool, 
college, gifted/2e and wrote -Homeschooling High School with College in Mind, 2nd Edition,   She offers homeschool help through messages at BJ's Consulting,  and has had some of her articles picked up by the Huffington Post.

Want to stay in touch?


 
   Subscribe, Facebook 

No spam ever.  
Just encouragement for your homeschool in your inbox.

Copyright, 2020
All Rights Reserved

Homeschool Early Math - Making a Manipulatives Kit -

Summary:  How to make a Manipulatives Kit for your little homeschool learners, out of things you already have around the house.  #homeschoolpreschool #homeschoolkindergarten #earlylearning

Are you homeschooling your little ones?  Do you wonder how to introduce math to them?  

Did you know that you can do this  through playful activities, using things that you already have around the house?

Homeschooling and How to Get Started

Are you new to homeschooling?  Included are tips for choosing your own frugal homeschool curriculum and more. From a veteran homeschooler of an only gifted child, who graduated her and helped her get into each of the colleges that she applied to, with scholarship offers.

Are you considering homeschooling your kids/teens for the first time?  With all the recent changes in the pubic schools regarding covid-19, many parents are considering homeschooling and we welcome you. 

Others are finding that their public schools are not meeting the needs of their gifted or 2e kids or teens, and are wanting to provide the 1:1 that homeschooling can provide.  Suddenly homeschooling can be quite overwhelming, so I thought I would share how we went about starting ourselves, when our daughter was younger.

Homeschool High School Help FREEBIE

I am offering a FREEBIE - A PDF full of tips and helps for your high school homeschool. These include homeschool high school resources and curriculum favorites with those important details to make yur record keeping easier.  #homeschoolhighschool #freebiehighschoolhelp

Are you getting started with homeschooling high school, or just thinking about doing that this year or the next?  

Homeschool Summer and Fall Arts Online Offerings for your Kids and Teens

This article is about virtual offerings for art, music, drama and more from a very homeschool friendly organization called the Faith Center for the Arts.  #faithcenterforthearts #onlinelearning #homeschoolart #homeschoolmusic This post may included affiliate links to products that we love and have used or would use in our  own homeschool. Please see my disclosure policy.

Are you looking for something new to help make your kids's summer fun and creative this year?
This has been such a hard time for everyone this spring with concerns about covid 19.

A GIVEAWAY $200 and Encouragement for Your Homeschool - CLOSED

This giveaway of $200.00 to encourage homeschoolers during the holidays is now closed.

This is such a busy time for all of us, especially for homeschooling families.

Teaching our kids and teens, while many of us are at home without co-op or activities, due to the COVID-19 issue.  And at the same time we are starting to look at what curriculum we might want for next year.

We at BJ's Homeschool want to reach out to you, in support and encouragement in some way.  So we decided to join Felice in her $200.00 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway!  And looked for other ways to bless you, hopefully, as well.

Our Adventures in Homeschool Testing - 2e Style

Summary: This article shares our experiences with annual homeschool achievement testing with our gifted/twice exceptional daughter.  With mention of CAT testing at home, and how we found out that our daughter struggled with auditory processing, and how that impacted her testing. Please see my disclosure policy.

We found out that our daughter was gifted and 2e when she was quite young.  Since I had a background in preschool teaching, we just decided to give that a try, and began homeschooling when she was about 4 years old.

12 Frugal ONLINE Programs for Homeschooling High School

In this article we are sharing favorite frugal online homeschoolcurriculum for high school. #frugalonlinehomeschoolcurriculum #homeschoolhighschoolcurriculum This post may included affiliate links to products that we love and have used or would use in our  own homeschool. Please see my disclosure policy.


Are you looking for an online course or two for your high schooler for next year?  

There are now so many options out there, that it can be overwhelming when you go online and search for these computer based courses yourself.

Frugal Christmas Gift Ideas for Hands-on Learning Fun

Summary: Unique and frugal hands-on educational gift ideas for your kids, and some of us moms, too.  Fun #handsonlearning gifts for kids and middle schoolers. This post may included affiliate links to products that we love and have used or would use in our  own homeschool. Please see my disclosure policy. #homeschoolgifts

Do you love hands-on learning for your kids?  I gathered together my favorites for hands-on frugal gift ideas for your kiddos.  And they are educational, too.

1.  Hands-on Frugal Fun Art and Crafts Gifts

Christmas Gifts for Young Artists

For your kids who love art, above are a bunch of ideas for all kinds of art activities, great for those on school break during December.

These ideas are not just for littles.  There are many for older kids and middle schoolers, too.

2.  Hands-on Frugal Science Fun/Gifts

Christmas Gifts for Young Scientists

Hands-on Learning is the best way for kids to learn scientific concepts. 

Included in this list are lots of science kits, box subscriptions and more that will teach your kids about the scientific method and more. 

These are such fun for any of your kids who love to experiment and try hands-on fun science activities. Plus they can serve as part of their science curriculum easily.

Would you like more fun ideas for homeschooling through the holidays?  My friend, Vicki has a lot them right here - Homeschooling Through the Holidays.

3.  Encouragement for Moms

Are you thinking about homeschooling your teen through high school?  How about some encouragement for that.

I wrote this book to support and help other high school moms who come after me, which is on SALE for the Kindle version at only $3.99 for Black Friday, Cyper Monday, etc.

Homeschooling High School with College in Mind - 2nd edition

SALE: $3.99 for Kindle

"Betsy has a wealth of understanding and knowledge to share with the parents of college bound homeschoolers.  She provides support, encouragement and step-by-step advice on all aspects of the homeschool high school and college application process. This book is a must-read for parents considering homeschooling high school and for parents in the thick of the application process."

....From a certified college counselor and mom to 3 homeschooled grads, Lessa Scherrer

Whether your teens are in public school or not, my book on college is full of tips for getting your teen into the college of their choice.

I helped our homeschooled daughter get into each of the colleges she applied to, with scholarship offers.

Included are 17 chapters, written in an approachable tone, to make the whole college admissions process easier.

My kindle is on SALE started November 25th!

My book includes 12 high school planning printables, to make your record keeping easy.  For more information, click here - Frugal College Prep for Homeschoolers or to buy it here - my book on Amazon .

Thanks for stopping by BJ's Homeschool,

Betsy

Betsy is mom to her now college grad, whom she homeschooled through high school.  She blogs at BJ's Homeschool, about the early years, highschool, 
college, gifted/2e and wrote -Homeschooling High School with College in Mind, 2nd Edition,   She offers homeschool help through messages at BJ's Consulting,  and has had some of her articles picked up by the Huffington Post.

Want to stay in touch?

Subscribe, Pinterest, Facebook 

No spam ever.  
Just encouragement for your homeschool in your inbox.      



Published copyright 2021

All rights reserved.