You may have noticed that Mt. Sophia’s high school courses now have “Levels” attached to them. What are levels? Colleges these days are looking for a description of the amount of academic rigor associated with each class. Some high schools call this description “Levels”; some call it “Phases”. Whatever a school calls the description, that [...]
Did you know that some educators are pushing for a five year high school plan because colleges want to see their incoming freshman have so many extracurricular activities and volunteer hours that current students have a hard time fitting them all in? The advantage we have as home schoolers is that we can make these [...]
What to do about teaching foreign language? Fortunately there are a number of ways to go about this. Teaching with a traditional curriculum is a possibility but only if one of the parents (or grandparents?) is fairly fluent in the language. Traditional curriculum assumes a level of expertise of the instructor. Computer-based curriculum is successful [...]
Potential biology experiments are all around us (even if they are just to into your own back yard or the local park). As you expand into the macroscopic world go out into it! A great place to go is a local nursery that has the taxonomic names of the plants (in our area Longwood Gardens [...]
Great question. Most biology textbooks start with the microscopic world and work upward. That is a good way to structure lab experiments as well. A good quality microscope (doesn’t have to be expensive but you will have to outlay some money) is a must. Making your own slides can be a rewarding but frustrating experience [...]
It’s great when students start finding things that peak their interest, but it can be frustrating as well. There are several things you can do:
Other than academic courses, what do I need to do to prepare my child for college?
I have found that many colleges love home schoolers because they are more independent learners and fit better into the college model of learning. That said you need to make sure they have the right course load for their potential major and college. Pick a few likely colleges (like University of Delaware, for example) and see what their general entrance requirements are.