ENRICHri Discover Homeschooling

Homeschooling with Special Needs w/Sarah Collins (Video)

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 14:14:56 GMT

A Discussion with Sarah Collins: The Homeschool OT

Occupational therapist (OT), Sarah Collins , is unique in her field. She is the only OT in the country who is providing support specifically for homeschool families. And she knows what she’s talking about because she's a homeschooler herself!

We recently invited Sarah to talk to us to explain her approach to homeschooling children with special needs. She discussed her approach of “accepting and expecting,” how private occupational therapy differs from what is offered in an educational environment, and how to build a community of support for the family.

You can watch a replay of her presentation below.

Additionally, Sarah offers classes and coaching for individual families and groups and hosts a podcast called The OT is IN , where she dives into specific challenges and provides practical tips, real-life advice, and expertise.

You can also hear Sarah on the Brave Writer podcast Episode 193 : Supporting Learners with Occupational Therapy.

Home Learning Year by Year: A Book Review

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 21:24:09 GMT

A valuable resource to guide your planning

For many new homeschool parents, one of the most persistent worries is simple but overwhelming: How do I know what to consider teaching each year? It can feel like you’re responsible for reinventing education from scratch.

That’s where Home Learning Year by Year by Rebecca Rupp becomes a reassuring companion. And not because it tells exactly what to do — but because it’s a guide that can help you relax a little.

This book doesn’t hand you a rigid curriculum or demand that your child hit specific benchmarks on a strict timeline. Instead, it offers something far more helpful: a gentle, comprehensive overview of what children typically explore and learn at each stage, from early childhood through the teen years. Rupp walks through subjects like reading, writing, math, science, and history, giving you a sense of what could be introduced each year — without making you feel like you’re behind if your child takes a different path.

This book gently shows you that learning is a progression. Skills build over time. Kids circle back to things. Some years are math-heavy, some are reading-heavy, and some feel like nothing “academic” is happening — but a lot still is. You can glance at a section and think, “Oh, okay — this is the kind of thing we could be working toward,” without feeling behind if you aren’t there yet.

Reading it can bring a sense of relief. You realize that you don’t need to know everything right now. You don’t need to map out twelve+ years of education before your child finishes breakfast. You just need a general sense of direction — and the willingness to adjust as you go.

If you’re feeling uncertain, this book can serve as a steady reference on your shelf. Not a rulebook, but a guide you can return to whenever you think, “What comes next?”

You may want to own a copy so you can highlight, put sticky notes on pages and generally have it on your shelf. Amazon has many used copies starting at $3.50 but the RI library system has over 20 copies as well including as an ebook.

Learning Through Travel: Why Homeschool Families Will Love The Capitol Collection

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 14:25:04 GMT

Some of the best learning my family has done didn’t happen sitting at the kitchen table. It happened walking through old buildings, asking questions, and seeing things with our own eyes. State capitol buildings are among our favorite stops, we learn so much about a state by visiting these unique and beautiful buildings.

If your family likes to travel—or even just take day trips— The Capitol Collection is a wonderful way to turn those outings into something meaningful and memorable. It is a souvenir passbook ($15) that helps families keep track of visits to state capitol buildings. Each visit becomes more than just a stop along the way—it becomes part of your family’s story.

Turning Trips Into Adventures

Kids love having a purpose, and visiting capitols gives them one. Instead of just passing through a city, they’re exploring, noticing details, and looking forward to marking another visit in their book.

Over time, those pages fill up with memories, and the learning happens naturally along the way. It doesn’t feel like “doing school”—it just feels like life.

That’s one of the things I’ve always loved about homeschooling. Learning doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful.

Our Family’s Story

This means a lot to me because of our own experience. Our family has visited 22 state capitols so far. Our first recorded visit was Pierre, South Dakota in 2009 when my son was 10 years old , and at first it was just something fun to do while we traveled. I never imagined how much it would shape him.

One of my favorite memories is a tradition he started. Whenever a capitol had a rotunda, he would lie down on the floor and just look up at the dome. He would study the paintings, the shapes, the light—just taking it all in and thinking what that epic element represented. Those quiet moments often turned into some of our best conversations later. At the Oregon state house we were even able to go up INTO the dome, what a climb!

Over the years, those visits led to many talks about history, government, and how laws are made. The experience stayed with him so strongly that he even wrote about it in his law school application essay .

Visiting state capitols has expanded to exploring government building internationally such as the Reichstag in Germany and Canada’s Parliament in Ottawa.

As a parent, it’s an amazing thing to see something that started as a simple family outing become part of your child’s future.

Most recently, we visited Maryland’s capitol during a trip to Annapolis. My son is a young man now and living on his own, but when we travel together, this is still something we do. That’s what makes experiences like this so special—they grow with your children.

Why Capitol Buildings Are Such Powerful Learning Spaces

State capitol buildings offer a unique blend of subjects all in one place:

Civics and government come to life when children see legislative chambers and learn how decisions are made.
Local history becomes tangible through exhibits, memorials, and stories tied to each state.
Art and architecture surround you, often reflecting the values and culture of the region.
Critical thinking and curiosity grow naturally as kids ask questions and make connections.

Best of all, these lessons don’t feel forced. They happen through exploration and conversation—often led by the child’s own interests.

A Journey Worth Remembering

Looking back, I’m so thankful we took the time to stop, explore, and learn together. Those capitol visits weren’t just educational—they were time spent together, sharing discoveries and building memories we still talk about years later.

Whether your family visits one capitol or dreams of all fifty, the important part isn’t the number. It’s the time spent learning side by side.

(There is a Facebook group for this hobby. It’s small but would be a great way for families to share their experiences!)

Trade School: A Smart Option for Homeschool Teens

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 19:37:51 GMT

Online and Local Resources for Trade School Exploration

For many homeschool families, the years leading up to graduation open the door to important conversations about life after high school. While four-year college is one path, trade school and skilled careers can be an excellent option for teens who enjoy hands-on learning, practical skills, and wish to enter the workforce sooner.

Trade programs often lead to well-paying, in-demand jobs in fields like healthcare, construction, automotive technology, IT, and advanced manufacturing. Best of all, students can explore these options without pressure or cost using free, reliable resources.

Start with Career Exploration

Before choosing a school or program, it’s helpful for teens to understand what different careers actually involve.

O*NET Online / My Next Move provides clear descriptions of hundreds of careers, including skilled trades. Teens can learn about daily tasks, required skills, working conditions, and job outlook.
My Next Move also includes a simple interest profiler , which is especially helpful for students who aren’t sure what they want to do yet.

These tools help teens connect their interests and strengths to real-world careers.

Plan High School Courses with Trade School in Mind

Homeschooling offers a big advantage: flexibility . With trade school as a possible goal, course planning can focus on building practical skills alongside solid academics.

Helpful areas to prioritize include:

Math – Many trades use applied math daily. Courses like pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, or consumer math help build confidence and problem-solving skills.
Science – Physics (even at an introductory level), general science, or applied science courses are useful for understanding how systems work.
English & Communication – Reading instructions, writing reports, and communicating clearly with coworkers and customers are essential in every trade.
Technology & Computer Skills – Basic computer literacy, typing, spreadsheets, or introductory coding can be valuable in modern trade programs.
Hands-On Electives – Shop classes, electronics, automotive basics, home repair, robotics, or maker-style projects help teens develop real-world skills and discover what they enjoy.

Encourage your teen to document projects, certifications, and work experience. A simple portfolio can be helpful when applying to trade programs or apprenticeships.

Explore Training and Education Options

Once a career direction starts to take shape, families can look at how to get there.

CareerOneStop , run by the U.S. Department of Labor, is a simple resource for exploring careers, training programs, certifications, and trade schools. It also includes wage data and job outlook information, making it easier to compare options realistically.

This site is especially useful for homeschool parents who want neutral, trustworthy information without advertisements or sales pitches.

Don’t Overlook Apprenticeships

Trade school isn’t the only route to a skilled career.

Apprenticeship.gov explains how apprenticeships work and allows students to search for registered programs by location and industry. Apprenticeships combine paid, on-the-job training with classroom instruction and can be a great fit for teens who learn best by doing.

Supporting Your Teen’s Next Step

Homeschool families are well-positioned to support career-focused planning. Encourage your teen to:

Explore careers early
Match high school courses to future goals
Compare trade school and apprenticeship pathways
Talk with people already working in the trades

Trade school can be a practical, respected, and rewarding path—and with thoughtful planning and the right resources, families can explore it with confidence.

Helpful Resources

Local Trade Schools

New England Institute of Technology (Warwick, East Greenwich, RI)

MTTI (Seekonk, MA)

Lincoln Tech (Lincoln, RI)

Technology Learning Center (Oxford, MA)

International CDL (Johnston, RI)

Cosmetology:

Paul Mitchell School of RI
Roy Rob Academy (MA and RI)
Collectiv Academy (MA and RI; formerly Toni and Guy)
Empire Beauty School (Providence)

For more information about homeschooling high school check out ENRICHri's series of High School articles and resources .

Homeschooling Trends and What They're Missing

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 11:01:23 GMT

"Thoughts about Tech in Homeschooling"

Sometimes you come across an article that hits hard. It’s honest and true and explains exactly what you’ve been feeling, but haven’t been able to put into words. That happened to me recently with Julie Bogart’s Substack post, “ My Honest Thoughts About Tech in Homeschooling .”

There is so much in this article and I highly recommend everyone read it in full. But I also want to take the time to share and break down a few of the points that hit home the most for me.

She starts by calling out 2 current trends in homeschooling: group schooling and online schooling. She says little about the first, but I think it’s worth calling out because we have seen a huge rise in the availability of homeschool cooperatives, micro-schools, and learning pods since the pandemic. Homeschool families are looking for opportunities for kids to learn and grow together, but they are also looking for support as the demographic of homeschooling families with parent(s) who are working increases. School is also childcare and in order for some families to homeschool that is an issue that has to be solved.

The second trend, online schooling, is where Julie spends most of her time. She points out that, similar to what I note above, parents want “the fruit of homeschooling (they love the promises of delight-led learning, kids going at their own pace, opting out of public school dysfunction and peer bullying), but they don’t have time to actually do it.” She goes on to note that “Rather than being a home educator, a lot of parents today are opting to be “homeschool managers.”

We hear this too – at Intro to Homeschooling sessions, in emails, and Facebook posts – that parents want an alternative to public school, but can’t or don’t want to put in the time to be the primary educator of their children. Because of this demand as well as other factors affecting educational choices in this country, the number of online programs is skyrocketing. There are so many options for families looking for online, all-in-one schools.

[Note: As of 2025, Rhode Island does not officially recognize any online schools as official private schools. To utilize an online school, Rhode Island families must follow the homeschool laws and declare themselves to be homeschoolers. They can then choose to use an online provider as part (or all) of their homeschool curriculum.]

The problem that Julie brings up, and one that many of us at ENRICHri have discussed as well, is twofold:

Parents are talking about how concerned they are with screen time in general, but then are opting for programs that tie their kids to a screen all day; and
There is a beauty and opportunity in a version of homeschooling as a lifestyle that is missed when public school is simply replaced with online school.

In regards to the first part, I would say that group schooling, as mentioned above does address this. It’s an alternative that does not usually rely on screens and can provide the support that the parent needs to make homeschooling feasible. Additionally, using online providers as a resource for some classes can be incredibly helpful and delightful for the student. Particularly, when those classes are taught by instructors who have a passion for the subject and a talent for engaging with students.

As to the second part, Julie said it best:

“Homeschooling sounds hard when we think of it as an alternative to public school. We worry about state standards and the traditional classroom activities that we associate with learning… Homeschooling is natural and (dare I say?) easy when we think about learning as a lifestyle… The joy is in going on the adventure of learning together with your kids! Homeschooling not only educates your children, it changes the entire culture of your family. Learning, living, and loving are united. Family dinners become rollicking conversations about history or literature. A child’s obsession with astronomy means everyone gets to see Saturn through a telescope at 4:00 AM. Another child’s fascination with archery leads to reading The Hunger Games series aloud.”

I would encourage all parents who are homeschooling or considering homeschooling to take time to lay out their goals for homeschooling and think about how those goals can be met – understanding all the alternatives that are out there, including what learning as a shared experience may look like.

I know it can be overwhelming at first, but there is support. We’re always available to answer any questions ( email us ) and we always recommend Julie’s book The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life as a starting point. And the experience of curating a personalized learning environment for your family is one that you shouldn’t miss. It builds relationships, strengthens bonds, and is incredibly rewarding and fun!

If You Lived During the Plimoth Thanksgiving by Chris Newell

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 21:01:54 GMT

Book Review by ENRICHri's Marcia Sirois

If You Lived During the Plimoth Thanksgiving by Chris Newell, illustrated by Winona Nelson, brings a refreshing and honest look at the arrival of the English colonists to mainland America and the effect this had on the Native peoples of southern New England. Chris Newell is a multi-award winning museum professional born and raised in Motahkmikuhk (Indian Township, Maine) and a proud citizen of the the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township.

The book's short chapters discuss the true accounts of the landing of the Mayflower in 1620 and how the colonists interacted with the Wampanoag tribes. The author draws a stark contrast between the harmonious life of the Native peoples and the struggles of the early colonists in regard to their daily life, respect for nature, governing styles, foods eaten, and general beliefs.

It was interesting and eye-opening to learn about the perspectives of the Wampanoag peoples and their views of the English during this time period. There is discussion about the quick settlement of southern New England and how the Wampanoag, Narragansett, and Pokanoket tribes fought for and eventually lost their lands. The last few chapters do a nice job discussing where the term Thanksgiving comes from and how it relates to similar holidays here and around the world.

I would highly recommend this book as part of any Early American curriculum or unit study. In my opinion this would be geared toward mature elementary students and middle schoolers, due to the themes and discussion topics that come up while reading this wonderful 96 page book. There are beautiful color illustrations on almost every page which helps to keep readers engaged and immersed in the life and times of the 1600s.

The book contains these sensitive topics:

Mentions of the Native American slave trade.

Talk of God, religion, and religious practices.

The spreading of disease, plague, and resulting deaths.

Depictions of war and fighting.

Homeschooling High School: Designing a Course of Study

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 18:31:58 GMT

How to Decide What to Study in High School

We get quite a few questions about what students should study in high school. The short answer is it’s up to you! Rhode Island law does not specify graduation requirements for homeschoolers so as the parent you decide what your kid(s) are required to study before they graduate.

Of course, that answer doesn’t help much if you’re looking for a 4 year plan of courses that is already mapped out for your student. Unfortunately, we can’t give you a definitive list. What we can do is help you understand how to go about designing a high school course of study that is unique to your child and their needs. Here are the steps we recommend:

1. Look at where they’re going (or may be going) to compile your basics

Think about what your child’s path is likely to be after high school - this could be a trade, military, community college, or a 4 year college or university. If you have no idea, base what follows on the path that has the most requirements for admittance or acceptance. This plan offers the broadest range of future opportunities.

For example, if you think your child is headed into the military (few academic requirements), but it's possible they could opt for a university instead (more academic requirements), base your plan on the requirements for university. Having those requirements satisfied by graduation will allow your child to pursue either path immediately after high school or when they are an adult .

Once you’ve thought about the path (with their input, of course!), take a look at the actual requirements needed to make that happen.

4 Year Colleges

Typically, colleges require:

4 credits of Language Arts
3 credits of Social Studies
3 credits of Mathematics
2-3 credits of Science
2-3 credits of Foreign Language

Your child will also have some number of credits of electives - these can be in any subject or topic and may be used to further study in a particular area or to explore areas of interest. The number of total credits that states require for graduation is typically 20-24 but some universities do want a slightly higher number.

All college and university websites include their admissions requirements - note that these are usually minimum requirements, you’ll also want to look at the statistics at universities your child may be interested in for admitted students to understand what is realistically needed for acceptance. If your child has a specific university in mind, great - start there! If you’re not sure which colleges or universities your child may be interested in, choose 2-3 sample colleges and use those as your baseline.

You’ll also want to check requirements by major if your child has an area of study in mind. STEM fields often want to see a heavier concentration of science and math courses, for example. Likewise, more competitive schools are going to have more intense academic requirements than less competitive schools.

Trade / Military / Community College

These paths do not have the same specific academic requirements as 4 year colleges. You can use typical high school courses of study, to create a general outline and then do some additional research to get ideas. Generally, the basics would include:

4 credits Language Arts
3 credits Social Studies
3 credits Mathematics
3 credits Science
5-11 credits of electives (including foreign languages)

Then, for example, if your child is thinking of pursuing a trade and may want to own a business, you could include communications and accounting classes in their high school years.

2. Think about what you want them to know

The flexibility of homeschooling gives you the opportunity to consider everything, including “adulting” skills, during their high school years. What topics do you want to make sure your student has covered before they graduate? Personal finance, house and car maintenance, public speaking, the plays and poetry of Shakespeare, cooking and nutrition, sci-fi movies of the 1970s and 80s… whatever you think is important for your child before they launch into the world on their own. Make a list and use it as inspiration for courses and electives.

3. Consider their interests

This is where homeschool shines - you get to personalize their high school experience! Yes, you may have guidelines based on the above discussion (4 language arts, 3 social studies, 3 science, etc), but that doesn’t mean high school has to be cookie cutter. Think about your child’s interests, what excites them, and what they’re curious about and use that information to customize their academics.

Below is a table with the standard progression or list of specific courses for the core academic areas, use this as a spring board not as prescribed list!

For example, compare these two lists of 9th grade courses:

Each of these courses of study will cover the basics needed for this student’s ninth grade year, but the one on the right will add meaning and engagement by tying learning to this particular student’s interests and curiosities.

Finally, keep in mind that there’s no way to see into the future. If, later into the high school years, it turns out your child needs a specific course or additional credits it’s not the end of the world. There are plenty of ways they can make it happen including condensed courses, dual enrollment, or possibly extending their graduation timeline. In the end the goal of homeschooling is giving our kids the skills they need to know HOW to learn so anything they choose after high school to do is possible.

For more homeschooling high school information check out our Homeschooling High School Series

Homeschooling High School: Series Index

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 14:05:50 GMT

All About Homeschooling High School

If you're looking for information about homeschooling high school, you've come to the right place. This is an index to our Homeschooling High School blog series.

This series is based on the information presented in our Homeschooling High School live sessions which are offered 3 to 4 times per year. We highly recommend attending one of those sessions if your child is in middle school or higher -- you can find information on upcoming events on our homepage .

3 Resources for Learning About AI

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 13:10:24 GMT

AI for Middle Schoolers, High Schoolers and Adults

AI is the hot topic right now. No matter how you feel about it, it is not going anywhere. And it’s no longer just about using ChatGPT to write essays. AI is anticipated to be a major change agent in the coming years – in all aspects of our lives. If you’d like to hear more about this I recommend listening to Stark Raving Dad’s recent podcast, “What Every Parent Must Know About the AI Generation” . While I found Issy’s take to be slightly alarmist, I agree with him that more people need to be aware of the reality of what is taking place and should be considering how it will impact our kids.

If you need a quick primer on what AI tools are out there and how they are being used in daily life here is Axios’ AI Survival Kit. I also really like this 6 Things to Know About AI fact sheet from the News Literacy Project.

Given that AI is not going away, we need to find ways to introduce it to our children and prepare them for the future that is coming. AI is changing rapidly and new resources are being introduced daily to cover this topic but as of right now, I recommend three resources that are solid foundations in AI for middle and high school children (great for adults as well).

1. FundaFunda Academy Intro to AI (self-paced) and Artificial Intelligence for Teens

FundaFunda Academy has created two courses centered around AI. The first, Intro to AI , is a self-paced unit study. You can customize the pacing of the course and do one module a week for 4 weeks, or spread it longer, or condense it into a week or two.

I have reviewed the 4 modules that are included and it is a comprehensive look at the history of AI, the complications of ethics surrounding AI, current technology and how it works, and lots of hands-on practice with large language models and specialized tools such as Canva, Notebook LM, AI Duet, and Suno, and ending with the future of AI. For $20, it’s a solid program and should appeal to many kids with its use of videos, interactive websites, games, and hands-on learning.

The second, Artificial Intelligence for Teens , explores everything in Intro to AI, and goes further. This option is an asynchronous, graded full-semester or students who would like more structure, guided interaction, feedback and grades.. Students will learn how AI systems work, discuss the ethics of AI, and complete hands-on exploration and assignments over the course of 16 weeks. At $159, as of this writing, the pricing is very reasonable for a graded course.

2. Udemy: Generative AI and Prompt Engineering for Absolute Beginners by Logix Academy

Udemy is an online learning platform that is fantastic for learning new skills. I have mainly used it for technology skills but there are also courses in design, arts and crafts, cooking, travel, gaming, photography, and much more. Individual courses are priced differently, but there are often sales and many libraries (including many in Rhode Island) offer access for free through their digital resources.

This course, Generative AI and Prompt Engineering for Absolute Beginners ($19.99), is created for adult learners but is easily accessible for middle and high schoolers. I found the explanation of how AI works to be insightful and easy to comprehend - giving the learner a good foundation in the basics of AI technology. It moves on to hands-on exploration of various AI tools – from large language models, like ChatGPT, to specialized tools for graph, image and video creation, prompt libraries, and tools for detecting originality in work. (A note here: there are also short demos of the tool such as quillbot and writehuman.ai which assist users in turning AI generated text into text which appears original and human-written. The instructor does discuss that these tools have weaknesses and do not create high quality work. I personally think it’s important for my kids to know which tools are out there – and that I know about them – and to think critically about how and when to use them, but if you have a different perspective you may want to skip the course section on “Ensuring Originality in AI-Generated Content” or use a different resource altogether.)

There is also lots of instruction in prompt engineering with strong examples and a framework that explains exactly what you need to consider when prompting and why (a key skill to use AI optimally).

Time-wise this course is short, at a total of 5 hours of videos but a lot of information is crammed in and if your student does the hands-on work, it will stretch longer.

3. Code.org Artificial Intelligence Foundations

Code.org is a nonprofit focused on Computer Science education that provides free technology learning and curriculum for K-12 students. They are the group behind the Hour of Code initiative and now they are taking on AI by transitioning to Hour of AI . While that initiative is not completely up and running yet, there are several short lessons that introduce kids to AI through creating music and even Minecraft.

For those that want a full AI curriculum, code.org has developed Artificial Intelligence Foundations , a free full semester course that goes deep into AI, programming, systems, ethics, and insights. This course would be a good fit for a STEM focused student with a strong interest in AI and the latest technology. It is the most in-depth of the three presented here and the most technical.

Because they provide curriculum to all K-12 students, this curriculum is the most traditional looking of the three. The website has resources for teachers and students and to access the teacher materials you must register (see below). Once registered you will have access to the syllabi and all resources and will be able to assign modules and lessons to your student. Because of the depth of this course I have not completed it myself, but I have reviewed the modules and some of the course materials and found it to be high quality.

Code.org is free for all educators, including homeschoolers. Unfortunately, their registration process for educators is a little cumbersome for homeschoolers - they require verification that you are an educator through a 3rd party email confirmation. For traditional educators, this would be the school admin, department head, etc. For myself, I provided the email of a friend/ co-volunteer at ENRICHri and that was accepted without issue. Code.org sends a quick email asking if you are an educator and your recommender just has to verify. It’s simple, but not very inclusive for homeschoolers (I did send them that feedback).

Accreditation

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 10:00:36 GMT

What is it and Does it Matter?

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is a voluntary process that academic institutions undergo for certification that they meet established standards. At the K-12 level, these standards are defined by individual accrediting agencies; there are no national or state standards. Accrediting standards cover areas such as institutional operations, faculty qualifications, safety processes, quality of educational resources, and overall policies and procedures. Accreditation does not include standards for individual curricula .

For example, in New England a widely used and respected accrediting agency is the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Their accreditation standards can be viewed here . But, accreditation is business and there are many agencies whose standards and accrediting process are questionable. Schools can even create their own accreditation agency and self-accredit. Additionally, accreditation is an on-going process, schools should be regularly earning re-accreditation. So when an institution advertises that it is accredited, it is important to check which accrediting agency they used and when the accreditation was earned.

Finally, accreditation is optional. Schools and institutions (both public and private) do not have to be accredited and many choose not to be as the process is expensive and burdensome on administration, faculty, and staff. Organizations may choose to devote their time, energy, and money to other priorities. For this reason, accreditation should not be used as the sole measure of a school’s quality.

What Can Be Accredited?

Accreditation applies only to institutions, not curriculum. As homeschoolers, this means that online schools or private institutions through which your child takes classes may be accredited, but do not have to be. Individual curriculum or courses cannot be accredited because accreditation only applies to institutions.

If you do see a curriculum advertised as accredited, this means it originates from an institution that has been accredited. For example, many schools offer online versions of their programs. The individual curricula has not been accredited and that accreditation says nothing about the quality of that individual resource. It speaks to the organization overall - its facilities, faculty, and procedures - which most likely you will not be using. The organization is simply using the term “accreditation” as a marketing tool.

Why Do We Hear So Much About Accreditation?

Accreditation is one way that institutions (online schools, private schools, etc) advertise the quality of their services. It sounds official and important. Many homeschoolers are told that if their children want to return to public school at some point, they must use accredited resources.

This is untrue. There are rare situations in which accreditation can matter and I will discuss those in the next section. However, for the majority of homeschoolers accreditation is not important and does not need to be a consideration . Here’s why:

Resources (meaning individual curricula, lesson plans, and programs as most homeschoolers use) are not accredited. Again, institutions are accredited – resources are not.
Accreditation (if you choose to use an online or private school to conduct your homeschooling) does not guarantee anything (such as grade placement or high school credits) on returning to school. Accreditation standards can vary widely by agency and are not universally accepted. There are accrediting agencies that are well-established and respected and those that are dubious. If you are returning to public school, they may or may not accept the work and credits that your child has completed at home. It is the school district’s choice if they will accept some, none or all of the work completed while homeschooling.
Accreditation or non-accreditation does not guarantee a quality education. Again, because of the variety in accreditation standards, the rigor or quality of an on-line or private institution cannot be determined simply by a statement of accreditation. You will need to research more about the specifics of the standards used or evaluate the institution and its resources, staff and procedures yourself to determine if it meets your needs. A small family owned or large corporate publishing company may produce highly regarded educational resources yet would never be accredited since curricula can not be accredited. Think of a well-known, widely used company like Prentice-Hall. Their products are not accredited, they are not a school or institution.

Does Accreditation for Homeschoolers Matter to Colleges?

No. Colleges evaluate homeschoolers the same way they evaluate all applicants. When reviewing high school coursework, admissions offices look at the homeschool transcript, standardized test scores (if required), and sometimes course descriptions. The curriculum itself is not mentioned on the transcript. It may be included in the course descriptions, but again, these will be individual resources for each course and therefore, are not eligible to be accredited.

When Does Accreditation Matter?

There are a few instances in which accreditation can matter or be required these are:

Anecdotal: If mandated by a court or needed to prove academic rigor for legal proceedings, such as part of custody proceedings.
If a student is intending to pursue NCAA sports in college. The NCAA has clearly defined requirements for eligibility of student athletes and it can be helpful, but absolutely not required that students take their core courses through NCAA approved providers in high school. The NCAA Homeschool Toolkit can be found here and you can also attend an NCAA Homeschool eligibility webinar or check their Eligibility Center YouTube page for a pre-recorded session.

If these situations apply to you, remember to check which accrediting agency an institution is using and when that accreditation was earned. Keep in mind that while accreditation is a measure of standards, not all are created equal and it should not be used as the only measure of a school’s quality or rigor.

Home School Worries: Is Home Learning Working?

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 14:46:16 GMT

Am I Doing Enough? Advice from the Experts

At some point, we all have that worry: Is homeschooling working?

This may also sound like: Am I doing enough? What if we miss something? Will my child be successful? To help reassure you, we’ve turned to a couple of our favorite experts with their answers to these questions.

Stark Raving Dad: How Do I Know Home Education is Working?

Stark Raving Dad: How Do I Know Home Education Is Working?

In this podcast episode, Issy Butson of Stark Raving Dad , explains how the gaps we may perceive in our child’s education are actually gifts for homeschoolers and that diving deep is an opportunity that builds patience, focus, resiliency. Issy says: "...in formal education that push to "cover everything" exists because school is built on managing groups not developing individuals. It's designed to move everyone along the same path at the same pace. There's no time to dive deep..."

Julie Bogart (Brave Writer)

Brave Writer: When You Worry About Public School Standards

Julie Bogart, from Brave Writer , reminds us that home learning requires a shift in thinking. We are homeschooling, not as a performance for grades but as a way of life, focusing on the value of learning itself. We are teaching intrinsic motivation, not how to score well on a test.

Brave Writer: Am I Doing Enough Part 1 (background & elementary) and Part 2 (middle school/high school)

This pair of practical podcast episodes explores what “enough-ness” means in a homeschool setting. Part 1 begins with a general of preparation on the part of the parent and why that is important. It then dives into specifics for the elementary school levels. Part 2 speaks to the uniqueness of middle and high school and how measuring “enough” means looking at whether you are consolidating skills, empowering your child, and celebrating their wins rather than what math or language skills they’ve acquired.

Homeschooling High School: Documentation

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 10:00:15 GMT

What to Track and Keep

Why Are Documents Important in the High School Years?

High school is the beginning of the rest of your child’s academic and post-academic life. No college or employer is ever going to ask what your child accomplished in elementary or middle school, but high school is key. And trust us, you don’t want to be scrambling at the end of their senior year or beyond to track down classes they took four years prior, or to remember an award they received, or all the extracurriculars they have participated in. Even if you don’t think your child will be going to college, there are still circumstances where they’ll need some of the documents we’re going to list so play it safe and do the paperwork.

Start documenting early (or now if you’ve already started high school!) and keep more than you think you may need.

What Documents Are Important?

There are two categories of documents: your transcript and everything else. The transcript is the most important document and is not optional! That is not to lessen the importance of everything else, but it needs to be stressed that your child’s transcript is what shows the work they put into their high school years. No one cares about a diploma in an official way. You may want to have a printed diploma as a meaningful way to celebrate a student's achievement, but it is not necessary. The transcript is the document that colleges, employers, and the military will want to see and it’s a lifetime document. This means that your child may be required to show it years from now - to enter a degree program or earn a certificate or apply for a job. Putting off keeping organized records can have a serious impact on your child in the future.

Okay, with that caveat out of the way, here’s what you should be keeping:

Transcript (up-to-date)
Course descriptions (keep these by year and update at least once a year)
Reading/Viewing List (books, movies, newspapers/letters, blogs)
Standardized Test Results (including AP, SAT/ACT, CLEP)
Dual Enrollment Courses (should also be listed on transcript and in course descriptions)
Sports, Extracurricular Activities, Workshops in which they’ve participated
Volunteer Work / Jobs
Newspaper or Media Articles/Posts
Awards / Achievements
Certificates / Special Skills
Leadership Experience
Gap Year Experiences
Travel Experiences
List of Possible Recommenders for Letters of Recommendation (colleges will not accept letters of recommendation directly submitted by students)
Scholarships Applied for and Scholarships Received
High School Resume (this is different from a traditional resume)
Personal Brag Sheet (your own record of cool accomplishments, growth you’ve noticed, compliments received, etc.)

What If We’re Not “Traditional” Homeschoolers?

Every homeschooler, no matter their methodology or philosophy, has “stuff.” Those who follow a less traditional path, like unschoolers, may actually have more stuff! Often, eclectic and unschooling families are compiling a wide variety of activities and resources to make up high school credits. Keeping track of all of what you’ve done will make it easier to pull together in the end. How will you turn “life stuff” into courses with titles, descriptions and grades? Research writing course descriptions from an unschooling perspective or from a life learning perspective (AI models such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Gemini can be an invaluable tool for this purpose).

How Do I Keep It All Organized?

We recommend keeping physical and digital copies of all of the above. A binder, with tabs to keep everything organized, is the best place for your physical documents. Everything will be in one place and easy to grab when you need it. Digitally, use your cloud storage of choice (Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Apple Notes, Evernote, NotebookLM, etc.) to organize the documents the same way you would in the binder. If you have a physical copy of something, either scan or take a photo of it and upload it to the appropriate file. Documenting your homeschooler’s high school years is one of the most important tasks homeschool parents will do so you want to be sure that information is safe.

How Do I Keep It All Updated?

Paperwork can be a drag. Many of us often put it off and it piles up, sometimes literally. Our best advice to make this a little easier is two-fold. First, having a binder and digital folders set-up from the start gives your paperwork a home. So take the time to get those files in place - buy the binder, set-up the digital folders - and when a piece of paper or document comes around that you need to keep, put it where it belongs - add it to the binder, and/or store it in the digital file.

Second, schedule time to update documents and organize them. At a minimum, this should be twice per school year; about half-way through (think semesters) and then again at the end. That way, everything is still relatively fresh in your mind and it will be easier to update accurately. Even better is to have a monthly check-in where you check your lists, add anything new, and make sure your digital and paper files are in sync. It may sound like a lot, but reviewing frequently can make the task smaller and not as overwhelming as it would be all at once (not to mention that you will be less apt to forget important things).

Paperwork doesn’t have to be hard! Start early, update often, and try to enjoy the process - this is where you get to see all the cool things your child has done come together!

For more homeschooling high school information check out our Homeschooling High School Series

5 Ways to Explore Local Libraries

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:14:59 GMT

Go Beyond Just Checking Out Books

1. Plan a Quest to Visit Them All!

We’re lucky enough to live in a small state which makes it possible to visit all the libraries in a year or so and many homeschoolers have done just that! There are 48 library systems in Rhode Island and about 80 branches all together. You can find a complete list on the Office of Library and Information Services (OLIS) website.

There are lots of different ways to approach this project and work it into your homeschooling. A couple of ideas to get you started are to:

Use it as a geography project by mapping out and planning your routes together. You could add in looking for other things to explore while you’re in different areas - playgrounds, beaches, and ice cream shops (a local homeschool family created a chart that they used to compare ice cream from various shops) are all ideas.
Choose an aspect of the library to review and rate so that you can choose your favorites. Local homeschooler, Logan, reviewed the outdoor reading spaces at the libraries in RI and created a StoryMap to present his findings. Maybe you’d like to rate the children’s space, graphic novel selection, or uniqueness of the library pets.

2. Check out an Event

Try out a new-to-you story time, book club, role playing group, or crafting session. OLIS has an Events page where you can search across the entire state or check the calendar on the website of the library you’re interested in visiting. It can also be helpful to get on the newsletter distribution list or Facebook page for libraries you frequent as events can sometimes fill up quickly.

3. Plan Your Own Event

We all need a little incentive to get us going sometimes. If there’s a library that you’ve been wanting to check out, but haven’t found the time, make a plan to meet some friends there. You could meet for an already scheduled library event (see #2) or plan a more casual meetup to explore the children’s area or playground, do some puzzles or play games, read some books, and chill out with friends. A change of scenery is always appreciated!

4. Volunteer!

If you have older tweens and teens the library is a fantastic place for them to volunteer. Most libraries have volunteer programs over the summer as they need many hands to run those Summer Reading Programs! But there are also opportunities year-round. Reach out to a librarian and see what needs they have.

5. Shop a Book Sale

Library book sales are the best deals of all time! You have to keep your eye out for the sale announcements, but if your family has avid readers a book sale is a fantastic option to stock up cheaply. Keep an eye on library newsletters, social media, and the ENRICHri Information Facebook page for book sale announcements.

If you’re looking for more about libraries and homeschooling check out ENRICHri’s Libraries Supporting Homeschoolers page . Happy exploring… and reading!

Homeschooling High School: Dual Enrollment

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 23:00:00 GMT

What You Need to Know About Dual Enrollment

What is Dual Enrollment?

Dual enrollment is when high school students take college courses, either online or in-person, through a community college or four year university. It’s called “dual enrollment” (sometimes referred to as “dual credit”) because the student is completing both high school coursework and college level coursework at the same time. The credit that is earned can be applied to BOTH the high school transcript and, if accepted by the college/university they ultimately attend, to their college credit requirements as well.

Most colleges offer dual enrollment options of some kind, though they may be restricted by type of class or age/grade of student. Students typically take 100 and 200 level classes that fulfill general education requirements (social studies, writing, literature, math, science, etc).

Why Take Dual Enrollment Classes?

There are several reasons why homeschool students choose to take dual enrollment classes. The most common are:

To earn college credit at a lower cost. Dual enrollment options are typically cheaper than tuition at a four year school so many families choose to complete some general education requirements prior to entering college to save money. If this is your goal, you should ensure that the classes you select will be accepted by the colleges you are targeting. Transferology is a great resource that can help you make this determination. Also, the website Homeschooling for College Credit can help you find opportunities to pursue credits in high school.

To experience a classroom environment. Many homeschoolers have never been in a traditional classroom and even if they have they most likely have not had experience reading a syllabus and understanding college level assignments. Taking an in-person dual enrollment course allows the student to experience what it’s like to be in a room with 20 or more other students (of all ages), how to interact with students and professors, experiment with how they best learn in that environment (should they sit at the front of the class or back?, do they take better notes by hand or on a tablet/laptop?), and understand the structure of a typical college class.

To provide additional support for parent-given grades and provide weight to their transcript. Homeschool parents sometimes worry that colleges will question the grades on their student’s transcript. While parents should not be overly concerned, having outside classes and grades given by other instructors lend strength to the parent-given grades. We have also found that taking dual enrollment courses have given high schooler homeschoolers a confidence boost - it’s not just Mom who thinks they’re great!

To find a recommender. College applications often require letters of recommendation from someone other than a parent or family member; in many cases these are required to be from an instructor of some sort. Dual enrollment classes are a fantastic way to fulfill this need. However, if this is a goal you will want to ensure that your student knows they need to proactively work on establishing a relationship with the instructor - actively participating in class, asking questions, attending office hours, etc. It is difficult for an instructor/professor to provide a recommendation for a student they do not remember so be memorable!

To pursue a class of interest or take lab-based classes. Dual enrollment can also be about pursuing an interest further, exploring a potential interest, or taking advantage of science and/or technology labs.

Where to Take Dual Enrollment Classes?

There are many options of where to take dual enrollment courses in Rhode Island, nearby MA and CT, as well as online. Here are a few that homeschoolers have recently taken advantage of:

Bristol Community College - no age restrictions
Roger Williams Extension School - no age restrictions
New England Institute of Technology - juniors and seniors only
Community College of Rhode Island - juniors and seniors only
University of Rhode Island - no age restrictions
Arizona State University Universal Learners - online courses, no age restrictions; this is the only no-risk program in the country: you pay $25 to take the class and then decide after completion whether to transcript it for $400. This is a great way to introduce a student to college-level work. You can also find more information at Homeschooling for College Credit .
Husson University - online courses, FREE tuition for New England high schoolers, juniors and seniors only

These are only a handful of the opportunities available. If you are interested in taking courses at a particular school definitely check their website for information as most colleges and universities offer dual enrollment programs.

Be aware that most institutions will require your student to take the Accuplacer test prior to enrolling in courses. This is simply a math and language placement test - it’s not a big deal. If they score below a certain benchmark they will be required to take an introductory course before enrolling in some classes. They only have to take this test once at someplace like CCRI and scores can be sent to other schools. More information can be found at College Board: Accuplacer or CCRI Accuplacer .

What Else Do I Need to Know?

There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re deciding whether or not to pursue dual enrollment. First, these are college courses and will not be adjusted for your high-school-aged student. This means there may be materials or discussions that your child may not be ready for or that you may not be comfortable with even in courses where you least expect it. Second, the college is enrolling your child, not you. Your child will be the one responsible for communicating with their instructors and the institution; they will not speak to you. Of course, you can coach them through this, but they need to be capable of handling the responsibility. Lastly, the grades your child earns through these courses will be on their permanent transcript. This means they must be reported to all colleges that your student applies to in the future. So it is important that you are confident in your child’s capabilities before starting down this path!

For more homeschooling high school information check out our Homeschooling High School Series

Awesome Project! Rating the Outdoor Space at RI Libraries

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 13:00:09 GMT

Using StoryMaps to Answer Questions

We LOVE our Rhode Island libraries! But what about their outdoor spaces? Local homeschooler, Logan, wondered which libraries in our state were best for reading outside and created a project to find out!

Logan developed his own survey and then visited 71 libraries to collect his data; he even took the ferry to Block Island! Then he designed and built a StoryMap to share his findings. You can see the results of his project here: Public Libraries in Rhode Island

If this inspires you to learn more about StoryMaps and GIS check out these resources:

Homeschooling High School: Letters of Recommendation

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 13:01:20 GMT

Planning for Letters of Recommendation

Letters of Recommendation: What are they?

Letters of recommendation are recommendations for your child, written by individuals who have been part of their high school career. Colleges generally ask for 1-3 letters to be submitted and often request that one or more are from an academic teacher. These cannot be written by a parent (you’ll get your chance to share your praise in the counselor letter!) and are not gathered or viewed by the parent or student. The letters are submitted directly to the college by the recommender either through the Common App or the college's application process.

How Do I Find a Recommender?

While letters cannot be submitted until your child has open college applications (usually their senior year), you should be on the lookout for, and strategizing about recommendation possibilities throughout your child’s high school years. Keep the need for recommenders in mind as you are planning classes and activities and look for opportunities for your child to make connections.

Possible sources of recommendations are co-op or outside provider teachers, dual enrollment instructors, coaches, mentors, volunteer coordinators, and employers. Students in public and private schools have these relationships built into their high school years but homeschoolers will need to find and create opportunities for these relationships to occur.

Keep in mind! Letters of recommendation are one reason to take outside courses. However, it’s not enough to just take the course. Your student also needs to establish a relationship with the instructor. They should be actively participating in the class and also communicating directly with the instructor: asking questions, requesting feedback, etc. This will give the instructor insight into your child and help them feel confident about agreeing to write a recommendation.

Additional Resources

Homeschooling for College Credit: Help! We Need a Letter of Recommendation from a Teacher
The HomeScholar: How to Get a Great Letter of Recommendation

For more homeschooling high school information check out our Homeschooling High School Series

Homeschooling High School: Course Descriptions

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 15:02:36 GMT

Crafting Course Descriptions

Course Descriptions: What are they?

Course descriptions are short summaries of the courses your student has taken during their high school career. These should be compiled into a single document that may be uploaded as a supporting document in college applications. While these may not always be requested, some colleges will want to see them and it’s better to be prepared!

What makes something a course?

If you can dream it, it can be a course! While some courses may be straightforward based on a textbook or outside provider’s class, other courses may look pretty unconventional. Movies, travel, theater, museums, blogs, participation in an activity, written communication, homework, oral discussion, art, technology, contemplation, balancing a checkbook, song writing, attending lectures – all of these things can constitute or be part of a course. Don’t be afraid to customize a subject to fit the interests and learning style of your child - that’s the beauty of homeschooling!

What Should be Included in a Course Description?

Each course summary should be as short as possible and NEVER more than 1 page (a quarter or half a page is best). You should include:

Name of course
Instructor's name (if other than yourself)
Name of institution (if taken with an outside provider)
Course material
Scope of content
Method of evaluation

*NOTE: If you used a publisher’s curriculum then you can copy the course description from their website or textbook.

Course Description Examples

General Course Descriptions

Japanese 1: Met with Japanese tutor weekly, weekly homework. Textbook Genki I: An Integrated Course in Elementary Japanese I by Eri Banno

Science & Technology, Literary Analysis & Composition : Using various texts as an anchor, we will explore tales of Science & Technology. By understanding, analyzing, writing and rewriting, this course will empower students to interact with literature in a meaningful and sophisticated way. Using a personalized approach, the goal is to guide students to the next level in their thinking and composition. By dialing into your student’s particular strengths and style, we will work to further develop their voice with the support of specific feedback and tailored instruction. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton.

Film Appreciation: Watch and Analyze! Film Appreciation Basics Through Citizen Kane . Learn the basics of how to talk about film and then view the classic film Citizen Kane and discuss what we see like real film critics! Students will be introduced to basic film terminology and concepts and then asked to view the classic film Citizen Kane , through which they will be asked to apply the concepts they learned about in the first class. Additional films will include Running Man, Vice, RBG, Groundhog Day, What About Bob, Matrix 1 and 2, John Wick 1 and 2, Toy Story, The Post, The Killing Fields, Apocalypse Now .

BIO111 General Biology I with lab: This course is an introductory survey of biological principles and topics representing a range of levels of organization, including general background chemistry, cell biology, genetics, evolution and ecology. Evaluation: homework, section and final testing.

MTH119 Fundamental Statistics: This course provides a survey of statistical methods, with examples taken from sociology, psychology, education, and related fields. Topics include descriptive statistics, measure of central tendency and variability, probability, binomial and normal distributions, estimation, correlation, regression sampling

distributions, and hypothesis testing.

Rhode Island History: Rhode Island History course focuses on the geography and the historical development of the state from l636 to the present. Particular emphasis will be placed on the following areas: geography, settlement, The American Revolution, Industrialization, immigration and the Twentieth Century. Visit RI State House, Fort Wetherill, Gilbert Stuart Museum, Museum of Work and Culture. Evaluation: participation and oral discussion.

Course Description Based on Personal Interest and Self Study

(Credit for following three descriptions: Writing Course Descriptions for a High School Transcript by Stefanie Marsh for New Hampshire Homeschooling Coalition Workshop 2019)

Astronomy

Course consisted of self study of aspects of astronomy including lunar geography, the planets, asteroids, meteors and comets, use of binoculars and telescopes, telescope optics and physical limitations, the sun, major deep sky objects, stars and their spectra, and orbits. Extensive time was spent in actual observation of the night sky using binoculars and a 4.5’’ equilateral Newtonian reflector telescope.

Texts: Seeing the Sky, Fred Schaaf; Imaging Saturn, Henry S.F. Cooper, Jr.; Stargazing with Binoculars and Telescopes, John Mosley; Stars and their Spectra, James B. Kaler; Hubble’s Universe, Simon Goodwin; Turn left at Orion, Guy Consolmagno and Dan M. Davis; Skywatching, David Levy; Comets, David Levy; The Messier Objects, Stephen James O’Meara; The Hatfield Photographic Lunar Atlas, Jeremy Cook; Secrets of the Night Sky, Bob Berman.; Topics in Encyclopedia Britannica.

Course Description Derived from the Publisher’s Catalog

Algebra II

In addition to covering topics of second year algebra, this course covered a considerable amount of geometry. Specific algebra topics covered included: graphical solution to simultaneous equations, scientific notation, radicals , roots of quadratic equations including complex roots, properties of the real numbers, inequalities and systems of inequalities, logarithms and antilogarithms, exponential equations, basic trigonometric functions, algebra of polynomials, vectors, polar and rectangular coordinate systems, and a wide spectrum of work problems. Time was spent developing geometric concepts and writing proof outlines. Set theory, probability and statistics were also treated. Text: Algebra 2, John Saxon.

Course Description Based on a Teen Activity

Literature Discussion Group

This monthly group provides an opportunity for homeschooled teens to give their impressions and discuss themes in some classic books on high school and college book lists. Titles selected include Brave New World, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Sense and Sensibility, The House of the Seven Gables, The Importance of Being Earnest, Frankenstein, Cry the Beloved Country and the short stories: “The Death Disk”, Mark Twain; “The Cask of Amontillado”, Edgar Allan Poe; “The Lady and the Tiger”, Frank R. Stockton ; and “The Patented Gate and the Mean Hamburger” , Robert Penn Warren. Students enjoy socializing and exchanging ideas over refreshments.

Course Description Based on a College Course

(credit: Hilary Sowa)

Advanced Chinese Class taught by I-Ling Hsu at University of Rhode Island

Textbook: Beyond the Basics: Communicative Chinese for Intermediate and Advanced Learners By Joanhua Bai, Juyu Sung, and Janet Zhiqun Xing

Intensive practice in spoken and written Chinese using contemporary writings and topics in Chinese-speaking countries. Emphasis on classroom discussion.

Method of Evaluation: Written Tests and Exams, Oral Assessments, Homework and Participation

Examples of Alternative Format

Additional Resources

Fearless Homeschoolers: How to Write Homeschool Course Descriptions for College Applications
It’s Not That Hard to Homeschool: The Complete Guide to High School Course Descriptions for Homeschoolers
The HomeScholar: Homeschool Course Descriptions: A “How-To” Guide

For more homeschooling high school information check out our Homeschooling High School Series

Resources for Libraries

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Wed, 21 May 2025 00:55:05 GMT

Resources to Help Librarians Understand, Connect with and Support the Homeschoolers in Their Communities

Libraries and librarians are heroes in the homeschool community. But we know it's not always easy to find resources to support this unique group of patrons. This page provides resources on understanding homeschooling, local communities that can help you connect with homeschoolers, and ways to support the homeschoolers in your community.

Local Homeschool Advocacy Groups

Local advocacy and support organizations provide information about the basics of homeschooling: the laws and regulations, the procedures to follow, and how to get started as a family. Their websites are a wealth of information and should be the starting point for any Rhode Islander beginning their homeschool adventure.

ENRICHri - the largest secular homeschool support group in Rhode Island; its Resources page provides recommendations of books, websites, podcasts, curriculum, and local groups for homeschoolers.
RI Guild of Home Teachers (RIGHT) - largest Christian homeschool support group in Rhode Island.

Local Homeschool Groups

There are many local homeschool groups of parents who gather for co-ops, field trips, classes, special events (everything from science fairs to proms) and casual meet ups. These groups change from year-to-year so it is difficult to maintain a list. Homeschool families can easily find these on Facebook groups.

How To Connect

Tell one homeschooler about your resources/programs and the word will spread quickly!
Also, ENRICHri and RIGHT are happy to share details about library programming aimed at homeschoolers. You can email information to those organizations and they will share widely.

Resources About How Libraries Support the Homeschool Community

Articles
Public Libraries Welcome Growing Homeschool Population , ALA
A Space Away from Home , American Libraries Magazine
Make Room for Homeschoolers , American Libraries Magazine
Webinar
Info2Go: How Libraries Can Better Support Homeschooling Families
Presentation
ENRICHri's 2025 Rhode Island Library Association Presentation: Supporting the Homeschool Community

Homeschool Magazines

Homeschoolers for Our Libraries

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Join with ENRICHri to fight for library funding!

Call to action! If you, like many homeschoolers, borrow books from libraries across the state, the delivery for that interlibrary loan system, as well as other programs, may cease to exist due to federal funding being cut.

Homeschoolers are a beautifully diverse group of people. We care deeply about the childhood, education, and growth of our children and families and we have so many ways in which we do so! But one commonality that I hear across families, across groups, across ideologies and approaches and philosophies is the importance of our libraries.

In 2020, ENRICHri conducted a survey of homeschoolers and their library use. 96% of respondents said that libraries are important to their homeschool success. 82% of respondents agreed on one service which they use - Interlibrary Loan (ILL), and more than 60% specified that they used ILL frequently.

Unfortunately, with the current Executive Order of March 14th ordering the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to be eliminated and the actions taken on March 31st to effectively close the institution, the federal funding that our libraries rely on for programs, including ILL, are at risk. From the Rhode Island Office of Library Services (OLIS) regarding ILL: “the cost of the delivery service is supplemented with federal funds. If federal funding is cut, delivery service will be impacted; the extent to which the service is cut will depend on the extent of the federal funding cut. In addition, the salaries of staff who work in the area of delivery are partially supported with federal funds.”

Currently, the extent of cuts to the funding looks to be 100% as IMLS was effectively shuttered on April 1st. According to Everylibrary “Work on processing 2025 grants and 2026 applications has ceased entirely, and the status of previously awarded grants is now unclear.”

There are many other potential impacts of the funding cuts as well, including to summer reading programs, book award programs, and support for the Rhode Island Center for the Book to support programs for children, teens, and adults.

What Can You Do?

Call or email your members of Congress to urge them to overturn this executive order and protect IMLS funding. Share your personal stories of why the library is important to you and your family.
Learn more from the American Library Association and sign up for their action alerts to be up to date on current events pertaining to this action.
Learn more about the impact to local libraries and services in Rhode Island from OLIS .
Share this information with your friends, family, and network in and out-of-state. This will affect libraries nationwide.

Our libraries have long been there for us - please join us to stand up for them!

Understanding Grade Levels and Curriculum in Homeschooling

Melissa.Robb@enrichri.org (Melissa Robb) — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:20:01 GMT

What's in Your Control?

Homeschoolers typically do not align their studies strictly with grade levels or age-based skills . Unlike traditional schooling, where curriculum and pacing are generally standardized, homeschooling allows for a more individualized approach. Parents choose the educational materials and levels that best suit their child’s needs, regardless of age or traditional grade placement. For example, if a six-year-old is ready for algebra, a homeschooling parent can choose algebra books—no permission is needed to make that decision.

It’s important to understand that homeschooling means the parent is directing the child’s education. This includes full control over what materials are used, when subjects are introduced, and how progress is measured. You don’t need approval to use second-grade materials with a five-year-old or to skip a grade entirely. However, that control ends once a child is enrolled in a public or private school, where placement is typically determined by age, not skill level. Schools are not required to honor the level of work a child did at home and often assess placement independently.

That said, there may be times when understanding traditional grade-level expectations can be helpful for homeschoolers. Very short-term homeschooling is a good example—such as when a child will return to public school soon and the family wants to maintain alignment for an easier transition. In such cases, parents may find it useful to review the curriculum frameworks used by local school districts.

In Rhode Island, most school districts no longer publicly post their full curriculum online. Notably, the term “curriculum” here refers to the course of study (including standards, instructional strategies, and assessments), which differs from the way many homeschoolers use the word—typically meaning textbooks or online resources.

However, Coventry is an exception. Coventry makes some of its curriculum information available online, especially for elementary levels and for English Language Arts across all grades. These frameworks outline skills by grade and subject, including English Language Arts, Math, and Science. They detail resource titles, learning targets, instructional practices, standards, and assessments. While not all homeschooling families will find such documents necessary, some may find them helpful as a reference or planning tool.

Ultimately, if you continue homeschooling for years to come, you retain full authority over your child’s educational path—including the pace, level, and method of instruction, as well as when your child graduates high school. Public standards and grade levels may serve as a reference point, but they do not define a homeschooler’s educational journey unless a parent chooses to use them.

10 Things That Have Saved My Life as a Homeschooler

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 14:00:01 GMT

From Gummy Bears to Good Friends...

Naming 10 things that are saving your life is a practice that I came to through Instagram; there are several accounts that I follow that do this seasonally as a way of recognizing and appreciating what is important or has brought delight or made life easier during a relatively short stretch of time. A friend and I often play along and share our lists with one another as a way to catch up and learn what has been prominent in our lives recently.

Last year, one of the podcasters I follow, Kendra Adachi from the Lazy Genius Podcast, released an episode where she made a list of her all-time Top 10 Life Savers. This got me thinking… Now that I’m over a decade into this homeschooling adventure, what are 10 things that have consistently and repeatedly saved my life? Or brightened my days? Or made this journey easier and more enjoyable? I sat down to think about it and here’s my list. These are in no particular order and I tried not to overthink it!

Homeschool mentors - Julie Bogart from Brave Writer, Emily Cook from Build Your Library, Melissa Robb from ENRICHri, Melissa Wiley through Brave Writer and the Brave Writer podcast.
Friendships - local and long distance, people going through the same experiences as me who I can ask for advice, commiserate with, laugh with, and just hang out when I need another adult’s voice!
Homeschool groups + Co-ops - these have ebbed and flowed over time but have provided different support and experiences as we needed them. Sometimes that was a place for my kids to meet friends, a source of new inspiration and entertainment, an outlet for energetic kids, a point of virtual connection during times of isolation, and throughout and still a place where I can share my energy and give back to my community.
Supplies in all the places - it makes a difference to have scissors everywhere they might be needed! I’ve never regretted multiple staplers, scissors, pencil sharpeners.
Games - board games, card games, video games - used as a way to take a break, connect with a child, entertain, have fun, and bring people together.
Entertaining but educational shows – Wild Kratts, Magic Schoolbus, Liberty Kids, Crash Course videos, Mr Betts, Horrible Histories, Amazing Race, Jet Lag the Game, Heimler’s AP History; all of these have added depth, laughter, and wonder to our days.
Gummy bears — so many gummy bears! As motivation, encouragement, reward, treat (for both the kids and for the adults).
The library - every single week, so many holds!
Field trips and outings - a change of scenery and fun break can make such a big difference.
Coffee shops - for my own breaks and reflection time. Often I have tried to set aside weekly time at a coffee shop to reflect and journal and catch my breath. Sometimes in frustration, sometimes with joy, sometimes confused and unsure of what to do next, sometimes ready to share my experiences with others. Getting some breathing room, even if it’s only a mile down the street, can help me clear my head and regain perspective.

Dealing with Homeschool Burnout

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 16:57:58 GMT

Finding your way back to a joyful homeschool

Feelings of overwhelm, irritability, impatience, tiredness, lack of motivation, an uncertainty that you’re doing enough, maybe a lack of joy, or even anger and resentment. These are the hallmarks of homeschool burnout. Burnout can happen to anyone, at any point in their homeschool journey. It’s an unpleasant experience and left unaddressed can affect our mental health, our relationships, and ultimately our decision to keep homeschooling.

So how do you avoid it? Or how do you handle it before it becomes too serious?

Start by taking time to reflect.

A regular practice of reflecting on your homeschool through journaling or discussions with a trusted relative or friend can help you identify issues early. Questions to ask yourself are:

What is going well in my homeschool?
What could be better?
Are there specific areas that are causing you stress?
Are there outside factors that are causing stress and impacting homeschooling?

You can also ask your child(ren) how they’re feeling. Particularly, if you are already feeling an uneasiness in yourself or your kids this is important feedback. You can ask them:

What do they like about your homeschooling?
What makes them anxious, frustrated or unhappy?
What changes would they make in their daily routine?

Then look for the underlying causes.

There may be circumstances beyond your control - moves, new babies, illness, career change, loss, these will all cause changes to your routine and impact your daily life and, of course, may cause or add to all of the feelings we mentioned earlier. Acknowledge those things if they’re there, don’t diminish them. And then look for the things that are in your control. Even behind those major life circumstances, are there smaller causes, annoyances, or issues that you can do something about?

Examples of underlying causes are:

Over-scheduling of activities
Trying to adhere to a strict schedule
Trying to do too much academically
Not taking time for self-care
Unhappy or frequently complaining kids
Behavior or emotional issues with kids (or with you, or with your spouse)
Curriculum that isn’t working - it could be too boring, too difficult, too time-consuming, or not a fit to your child’s learning style or your teaching style

Finally, brainstorm and implement solutions

Now with a better handle on what’s going on let’s look at ways to address the issues or prevent them in the first place. I like to bucket these solutions into three large buckets: 1) Re-inspiring yourself; 2) Essentializing your days; and 3) Spicing it up.

Re-inspiring yourself can help you become motivated to homeschool when you’re facing difficult circumstances, when you’re doing too much because you don’t know what to say no to, and/or when you’re feeling uncertainty about the quality or quantity of what you’re doing. I suggest starting by remembering why you’re homeschooling. What started you on this journey in the first place? If that’s a tough thing to think about (maybe you started homeschooling because your child was facing difficult circumstances or something outside of your control) then think about what parts of homeschooling have benefitted you and your child? How has homeschooling improved your life or that of your child?

From there, you may want to reach out to a trusted friend to have a conversation about how you’re feeling or reach out to others in your homeschool community to reassure yourself that you’re not alone. Talking to other homeschoolers, and not only commiserating but also sharing their excitement and passion can re-invigorate our own passion. Reading a homeschool book or listening to a favorite homeschool podcast can also provide sparks of inspiration. I particularly enjoy Julie Bogart, author of The Brave Learner and host of the Brave Writer podcast. Her company is about writing but her book and podcast go far beyond writing to a lifestyle of homeschooling.

Lastly, in the re-inspiring category, you want to make sure that you are getting the care you need. This doesn’t mean spa days and candles. To me, self-care means ensuring that you feel like your best self. Think about what you need to be yourself. Is it quiet time alone on a daily basis? (Kids no longer napping? Institute a daily quiet time where everyone goes to their own spot - if screens are the only way to make this happen then use them.) Is it making sure you read everyday, watch your favorite show, listen to a podcast? Or connect with a friend via phone or Facetime or in person (real facetime) at the coffee shop? Is it exercise, getting enough sleep, or eating intentionally? Identify what you need and prioritize them as part of the next step.

Essentialize your days . These ideas address issues such as doing too much, over-scheduling activities, trying to adhere too strictly to a schedule, and not having the time for things that matter (like that self-care we talked about earlier). Essentializing equals cutting back but to do that you need to figure out what to cut and to do that, you need to know what is important.

Identify what you want to focus on right now. This should only be 1 - 2 things; it could be an academic goal, it could be a relationship, it might be emotional development, it might be a fun activity. For example, you’re on the cusp of a reading breakthrough and you want to allocate time to that. Or you haven’t gotten to science all year and you’re feeling guilty about all the labs that haven’t been done. Or your child is in a phase where they’re having a really tough time dealing with disappointment and you need to focus on emotional development. Or you’ve been trying so hard to adhere to the schedule and get everything done that everyone is unhappy and needs some fun. Choose 1 or 2 things to focus on and let other things go.

Make space in your days for your priorities. And when you accomplish something to do with your priority each day you have succeeded! Everything else is nice-to-have, not essential.

Finally, spice it up! These types of solutions will help if you’re dealing with boredom, frustration or annoyance with a particular curriculum, general unhappiness, and overwhelm. Be open to doing something different. Go on a field trip. Bake something. Make plans to meet friends at the pool or skating rink or playground or movies or for ice cream. Play a game. Say yes to everything your kids ask for a day. Is there another curriculum you could try? A movie or documentary you can watch instead of the book you’re reading? Can you go to the deck, the park, or the library to do your work instead of your usual spot?

Find the fun and recapture some joy. Adding bright spots and things to look forward to will lighten everyone’s mood!

Remember,

If you are feeling burned-out, please take the time to give yourself the care and attention you need. Not only will you be helping yourself but you will also demonstrate to your family that emotional well-being is important and necessary. And remember you are not alone; there is a community who is here for you - ready to listen and to commiserate and to support you.

"Mom" vs "Teacher"

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 21:06:25 GMT

How do you navigate the role of parent and educator?

Last week, during the Q&A portion of the Intro to Homeschooling session I was running a parent asked, “Is it ever an issue being both the teacher and the mom? How do you navigate that?”

Great question!

And one that I believe most homeschoolers (including myse!f!) have tangled with at some point in their homeschooling journey.

The easy answer is that I’m always a parent first. My relationship with my children is the most important thing and I do not want to risk that relationship for anything, especially something like completing a math worksheet.

But there are times when we need to require something of our kids. We have to put that educator hat on and enforce some boundary or require a piece of work. It could be a math worksheet, or finishing a book, or rewriting an assignment in neat handwriting so it can actually be read, or completing an application. Over the years, there will be something, or quite a few things, that your kids will balk at and you will decide that you need to take a stand and make it happen.

I have three tips to make this work. The first two are ways to preemptively mitigate the issue - getting the kids buy-in and being consistent. These should help limit the number of times you have real issues. The third is an approach to handling the inevitable conflicts when they come up and that is to understand your goal.

1. Get buy-in.

Everyone needs to be on board with homeschooling. This does not mean everyone is thrilled or happy with the situation. Sometimes, we are forced into situations that we didn’t expect or ask for, but we can still make the best of them. As a homeschooler, your child needs to understand that you are responsible for their education and therefore, you are their educator and also their parent. They also need to trust that you have their best interest in mind and that you are on the same team, working towards the same goal. Some families, like mine, do this by recommitting to homeschooling each year. Every year, before I send our LOI for the next year, I have a conversation with both kids and my husband and ask if homeschooling is what they want for the next year. I also ask myself. So far the answer has always been yes. Having this buy-in allows us to remember, throughout the difficult parts of the year, that this is a choice we made.

One other bonus tip here: be sure that you are taking advantage of the benefits of homeschooling. Go on field trips and to the park during the day, sleep in late, play games to study different subjects, meet up with friends. Doing the fun stuff will help with that buy-in - for both you and the kids!

2. Embrace consistency.

It’s much easier, particularly with young children, to keep the day on track or require certain things to be done if you are consistent. Kids like the familiar; they are comfortable when they know what is coming and what to expect. Maintaining a regular routine and consistent approach can keep the questioning and rebellion to a minimum. This does not mean you need to have a rigid schedule or that each day has to look exactly the same. It’s simply a rhythm to your day. For example: a morning for a family with young kids might look like getting up, having breakfast, getting dressed, walking the dog, reading a book together, having a snack, playing a math game, watching a science video while the parent makes lunch.

Following this rhythm will make it easy to expand or adapt it later on - reading multiple books, playing an online game or using an interactive website to practice typing, watching a documentary rather than Magic School Bus.

Even if your children are older, I recommend embracing this idea of routine. Older kids, and teens especially, can be very protective of their time. They want to know that they’re going to have time for what’s important to them, whether that be art, reading, gaming, connecting with friends, sports, etc. Setting up a routine and walking through it with them will help them know that their interests and desires are also important and respected by you. Again, consistency is key. Unexpectedly not having screen time or friend time will be upsetting and make them less likely to want to do their other work.

3. Understand your goal.

The first two tips are longer-term measures that can calm the overall atmosphere of your homeschool. This last one is for those inevitable times when it’s come down to a stand-off. You’re asking for something to be done and your child is debating it, arguing against it, or flat-out refusing. It could be over something as small as a math worksheet or as big as a college application. In all cases, my answer is the same - understand your goal.

What are you truly asking your child to do? And what do you want from it?

For example, let’s say you’ve asked your child to write a paragraph about the planets and your child is refusing and complaining that it’s too much and they can’t write that long because it hurts their hand. Instead of insisting or arguing back, first, think about your goal with the assignment. Is it to a) have them learn more about the planets and describe to you what they’ve learned? b) Is it to practice how to write a paragraph? Or c) Is it to practice their penmanship? Once you’ve identified your goal you can approach your child’s frustration in a different way: for a) they could dictate what they want to say while you write it, they could draw a picture or a diagram, they could create a slide presentation or an infographic, they could compose a poem or a song; for b) maybe they don’t care about planets but would write multiple paragraphs about Taylor Swift or Minecraft or soccer; and for c) they could copy a quote from a favorite book or movie, or they could use colored pens, or they could write 1 or 2 sentences giving their best effort.

This is a small example but it can be extrapolated to larger issues. When you want your middle schooler to read a book but they claim they hate reading: does it have to be a book? Could it be a magazine or a blog or a fanfic discord server? When your high schooler really does not want to study traditional chemistry: could they study chemistry of cooking and food instead? Or green chemistry, focused on minimizing waste and environmental impacts? Or just do all the experiments if that’s what they love? Or do the experiments virtually or watch videos instead of hands-on if that’s the part they loathe.

By getting to what your true goal is and then taking time to understand your child’s perspective and tailor the assignment to them you are achieving your ends and building that parent-child relationship.

In Conclusion.

These three tips may seem overwhelming at first, especially the first two as they are more holistic approaches to your homeschool days, but taking them one at a time and layering them in can make it easier. If you’re having on-going struggles with older kids, try having a conversation with your family talking about your choice to homeschool and what that means. If you’re all committed to homeschooling, have an open conversation about what needs to change to make it work. See if you can come up with a daily rhythm that everyone is willing to try. If you don’t have everyone’s buy-in, maybe brainstorm together about what is missing and how you could make it work. If your kids are younger try implementing a daily rhythm; make sure to explain to them what to expect and what the days will look like.

If your struggles are more on a one-off basis, try the “understanding your goal” tip the next time one arises. When your child starts complaining, take a breath, say you need a few minutes and will get back to them, and think about what you’re asking. If you’re not sure exactly what the problem is, have a conversation with your child - ask them why they don’t want to do it, and really listen for the clues that will help you be creative in coming up with a successful approach for both of you. This gets easier the more you do it!

Finally, always remember that you know your child and your family best. You’ll know when you can push and when you need to step back and use another tactic. Trust your intuition and experience. You’ve got this!

Homeschooling High School Resources

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 19:23:19 GMT

A Comprehensive List of Resources for the High School Years

General High School Resource Books & Groups

Homeschooling for College Credit – Jennifer Cook-DeRosa

College Unmazed : Your Guide to Design and Document Your Homeschool Dr. Michele Evard & Holly Ramsey

Graduating With A Homeschool Diploma: How Your Homeschooler Can Graduate With An Official High School Diploma That Is Accepted (Nearly) Everywhere – Rebecca Leach

Homeschool High School Made Easy: Find Your Why . . . Then Find Your Way (Easy Homeschool) – Lea Ann Garfias

Blue Collar Homeschoolers - Facebook group

College Confident Homeschoolers - Facebook group

Raising Aviation Teens (& Beyond) - Facebook group

Homeschooling High School Blog Posts

ENRICHri's Homeschooling High School Article Series

Athletics and the Arts

NCAA Homeschool Students Information Page

Homeschool and NCAA Athletic Eligibility

National Portfolio Day

Career Exploration

PBS Learning Media - Career Explorations

Your Free Career Test

123 Career Test

Interest Finder

RedBull Wingfinder Personality Assessment

Truity Career and Personality Tests

Aptitude Tests by Seliant

Johnson O'Connor Research Foundation Aptitude Testing

The Balance Free Career Aptitude and Assessment Tests

Curriculum and Resources

Cathy Duffy Curriculum Reviews

Homeschool Curriculum Roadmap

Earning College Credit in High School

Homeschooling for College Credit by Jennifer Cook-Derosa

30 Ways to Earn College Credit

High School Resume Resources

Resume Builder

Indeed.com High School Resume Tips

Dual Enrollment Options

CCRI for seniors: Running Start Program

CCRI for juniors and seniors: High School Enrichment

URI - juniors and seniors accepted; other grades considered individually

RIC - juniors and seniors

Roger Williams University College - all ages no minimum

Bridgewater State University - sophomores, juniors, seniors (Bridgewater, MA)

CT State (multiple campuses) - Juniors and Seniors

Local Trade Schools & Resources

New England Institute of Technology (Warwick, East Greenwich, RI)

MTTI (Seekonk, MA)

Lincoln Tech (Lincoln, RI)

Technology Learning Center (Oxford, MA)

International CDL (Johnston, RI)

Cosmetology:

Paul Mitchell School of RI
Roy Rob Academy (MA and RI)
Collectiv Academy (MA and RI; formerly Toni and Guy)
Empire Beauty School (Providence)

Blue Collar Homeschoolers Facebook group

Transcript Tools and Resources

GPA Calculator

College Unmazed: Your Guide to Design and Document Your Homeschool

Fearless Homeschoolers

Donna Young Transcripts

PSAT/SAT/ACT Testing

PSAT (College Board) - must contact the school district to sit for the test in the fall - CONTACT over the summer so you don’t miss the deadline!

SAT (College Board) - register and schedule test through College Board website

ACT - register and schedule test through ACT website

Navigating the College Application Process

RISLA College Planning Center

E-Guides

Road2College YouTube Channel

Student Loans and Financing

Common App Companion by AXS (walkthrough of the Common App with tips, resources, and instructions)

How to Get the Most Out of Your College Tours

How to Apply for College from Homeschool

College Confident Homeschoolers

Orlowski College Consulting

Fearless Homeschoolers

Colleges that Change Lives

College Unmazed

Simply Homeschool

Scholarships and Awards

Congressional Award

President’s Volunteer Service Award

Homeschooling: Not a "Get Out of Jail Free Card"

Melissa.Robb@enrichri.org (Melissa Robb) — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 21:18:28 GMT

The Real Experience Behind Truancy

We have heard it said that withdrawing your child during the school year is being used as a “Get Out of Jail Free” card. This perspective is usually talked about in conjunction with a student who is somewhere in the truancy process. The stories we hear from school administrators is that families go directly from an attendance meeting to the district main office to withdraw their child for the purpose of AVOIDING TRUANCY proceedings.

Does this happen? Yes. Is it this cut and dry? No.

The administrators blame truancy as if it is the root cause of the issue. However, truancy is not a cause - families do not want to be truant! Truancy is an effect caused by deeper, complicated and often heartbreaking situations. Homeschool advocates talk to many families who have been trying to work within the public school system for months, many times for YEARS. They have tried and tried to gain assistance from teachers, principals and administration. They have spent many hours crying with their child, talking through issues that are causing stress and anxiety. Parents have pulled their car over day after day on the drive to school so their child can vomit. Parents have left work early many, many days, year after year, as the school calls to have their ill child picked up early. Children have spent sleepless nights knowing the next day was a school day. These are mild examples of trying to get a child to school day after day. Extremes include things we don’t like to talk about, including self harm.

Let’s think about this family and what the start of their day is like. They fought before bed last night about getting to school the next day. No one slept well. Parents, the anxious student and their siblings, awaken - all aware of what is about to happen, again. The battle to get out of bed, into the car, and into the school building. Each minute of the morning is a battlefield of emotional messes.

Now imagine that scene repeating for a week, a month, 3 years. Every year they have barely held it together; every year they have managed to keep attendance just under the truancy bar.

Today it’s not working, the child will not make it out of bed, or into the car, or into the school building. Today will be an absent day that will push over that bar into chronic truancy. Another phone call, another meeting.

The family is broken from all the months and years of this. They leave the meeting, or family court, they go home and immediately send the email to withdraw their child from school. Homeschooling was not their plan, they tried and tried but now they see it as the only way to keep their child safe and healthy. They haven’t figured out what homeschooling will look like for their family. They can figure that out later. Right now the most important thing, the ONLY important thing, is that their child is safe and can find how to be happy again.

The student and the family will focus on emotional and physical well-being. The relief that the child no longer has to go to that building is huge. No fight the night before, no sleepless tossing and turning for the whole household, no battle to get out of bed. Safe. Sleep. These will be the first steps to finding peace. Peace will lead to interest in learning. Not immediately. Eventually. Life will change completely. Slowly the family will figure out education at home.

Let’s see mid-year withdrawals for what they usually are, not a “Get Out of Jail Free” card. Rather it’s a lifeline grabbed when all else was exhausted.

If you are the family in this situation, please know that we, as a community, are here to help you. Here are some resources we recommend to get you started and always feel free to reach out to our Member Advocate .

Quick Start Guide to Homeschooling

Upcoming Introduction to Homeschooling Workshops (held monthly in-person or via Zoom)

FAQs about Homeschooling in Rhode Island

Picture Book Magic (even for Teens!)

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 18:20:26 GMT

A Joyful Addition to Stressful Days

Life has been stressful recently. I have a high schooler who has been doing some heavy courses - enjoyable but heavy. I have a middle schooler who is at the awkward age of wanting to be older and still wanting to snuggle on the couch and who is often pushing back against what is asked of him. There’s also life - politics in the United States, relatives with health issues, a partner who is traveling more, driving from one end of the state to the other multiple days a week to get to various activities, a dog who stole a whole dinner of chicken off the the counter and is allergic to chicken. You get the idea.

I felt the need to add some lightness to our days. In the past this might have meant games or playground time or making play dough. But the high schooler claims to hate games now, they both claim they’re too old for the playground, and I don’t even dare suggest the play dough!

Then recently, as we were sitting down to do our daily reading, I looked over at our bookshelves and saw all the picture books on the bottom shelf. Aha! I pulled out an old favorite, Cranberry Autumn , and started our family read-aloud with that. The kids leaned in close to see the pictures. We reminisced about other books in the series we enjoyed. The whole mood lightened.

I pulled out a different book the next day. And the next. On the fourth day we were short on time and instead of a picture book first, I just picked up our current novel. Both kids immediately protested! I had found our magic.

Since then we have started almost every read-aloud session with a picture book. Some are old favorites, some are new finds that looked cute on the library shelf, some are related to the history or people we are studying (we read a fantastic book that describes the intricacies of the Supreme Court!), some are in Spanish to help our foreign language studies… serious, funny, cute, informative, goofy. It doesn’t seem to matter; there’s a magic to picture books that transcends all ages.

Eclectic Homeschooling on a Budget

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 15:38:34 GMT

You Can Homeschool on a Tiny or Non-Existent Budget

written by Melissa Sekafetz

You just have to know, that you can do it.

You can homeschool on a tiny to non-existent budget.

Yes, at times there are specific situations when it would be wonderful to have access to an expensive curriculum and times you would like an outside tutor or class, but if you don’t have the money, you can still do it well.

You can create your own materials and learning tools. You can access free resources.

Our story started when my son started learning at birth. Every day was filled with buckets of books and hours of play and music. The best investment we ever made was the time we spent reading to and with our kid. Before the time came to place him in kindergarten we realized that he was years ahead of what was being taught in school. He was already reading and we really were having a great time learning at our own pace. We loved being able to learn when we wanted and dive deeper into what he was interested in. So, we decided to go for it and homeschool him. It has been one of the best decisions we have made and it turned out pretty darn amazing.

How did we do it with little to zero budget? With a lot of library books and finding moments in everyday life to learn with what we had. As a preschooler it was just going for walks and observing, connecting colors, shapes, letters and numbers in our environment, reading books and books and books. Making up stories and songs for fun but then later using stories and songs to learn and remember things, like address and phone number for emergencies. We were blessed with a neighbor who would bring us used thrift store books and toys, but you can find some of the greatest learning tools at the library or on your own at garage sales or thrift stores. The best part is you can make them yourself . You just have to make everything into a game or make it fun. In the beginning we weren’t specific on what was important to learn. We just learned everything that was interesting to us at the time. Anytime we were curious about grade level expectations we just looked at what was expected for the grade level and then covered it (or not) along with what we were interested in. The number one rule is to be creative and open. You just never know where or how the learning opportunities will present themselves.

All this said, I’m going to be honest and tell you that we did use Hooked on Phonics and a lot of other great curriculum, but the thing to know is that we used what we were given or came across at the library or wherever we found it. We didn’t seek out specific resources, we used what we had available. It was totally awesome because we would try it and if it didn’t work, we could move on to something else and we learned at our own pace so my son might be at different grade levels on different subjects but that was fine.

I kept a journal of what we learned and did everyday (this will be important when you need to make a transcript for high school years). Since we were always learning it wasn’t a chore to get done but a bunch of fun activities to explore the world and how stuff worked.

Most days were about passion projects, building the greatest train layout or filming or writing a story with stuff animal friends.
Somedays were spent reading many books.
Somedays were making music. In the beginning I would help write the stories down and gradually he started to do it himself, same with other things where he needed help at first.
Somedays were educational board games.
Somedays were science in the kitchen.
Somedays he went to Magic Club or programs at the local TV station.
Somedays we hosted a filming group where the kids wrote and created stories to act and film in.
Somedays he would volunteer or help out with various groups like a historical home or perform magic shows and take pictures at events.
Somedays we would go hiking or ride bikes.

I followed his lead and helped make things happen.

As far as field trips, you can also find a lot of cheap things to do. Park days, things to do through the library and other organizations. Be on the lookout for free days at museums and other places. Yes some things will have nominal fees but do what you can when you can, and if you can’t create your own version of it, sometimes you can find co-ops where you share and trade time and knowledge.

Here are some of the things we did:

We used M&Ms for math, but you can do this with rocks or jellybeans and other things, sort, add, subtract, multiply and even divide. Of course you can use a story to tell what you are doing with the items and let them be part of the creation.
Making books with stories using math formulas to solve problems and mysteries…. He made Chevron cars, Goldfish, Disney Cars and Odd Squad math pages. This is great because it incorporates writing, storytelling and math with creativity. Also great for art and cutting and pasting skills.
We made so many exploding volcanoes I can’t count, each with various purposes, some for science, some for filming and storytelling, or just for fun.
We would lay two rows of flash cards down the hall and have two cars race by seeing which car answered the questions the fastest.
We would have a spelling car jump. We would set up a ramp and the cars would have to spell the word before they could take off, and then spell it again at the bottom.
We would incorporate all his stuffed animal friends into the learning and they would learn with us. Letting him teach them was a great way to reinforce things.
Find or create songs that teach anything and everything.
We found lots of used educational software at thrift stores for super cheap. Not sure what options are out there now, but so much fun to learn this way. Shout out to ClueFinders, Reader Rabbit and so many other great titles.
Find a book on science experiments and gather the materials you need in your environment or from the dollar store. Things like: will it float, electric potatoes, magnets… the library will have books for this and librarians love to help parents find the resources.
Games using coordinates to tell a story, and then figuring them out. We called ours Ranger Rick and the Potato Bombs, very time consuming but fun. Make your own puzzles with materials you want to learn and remember.
Find books about anything you are interested in knowing about history and make timelines on your walls with pictures and your favorite quotes or historians.
Research learning games and see if you can find them cheap or recreate your own version.
Everyone needs to make a paper mâché solar system at some point.
We made a hot air balloon with easy to find items and learned so much about the scientific method, by writing our results as we went.
I haven’t looked on YouTube lately but I would venture to guess that you can find tons of fun ideas for learning. We found “Flipping Physics” and “Crash Course” videos.
We used Duolingo along with other materials from various places to learn languages.

The point is you can do this , you can create your own homeschool and have a really fun time learning anything you want. My son was homeschooled from kindergarten through 12th grade and transitioned to college with no problem. He will be graduating college next semester and has made Dean’s List every semester for the last four years.

You can do this, go start a list of all the fun things you can think of and make it happen!

Rhode Island History Resources

Melissa.Robb@enrichri.org (Melissa Robb) — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 15:59:52 GMT

Resources for Studying Rhode Island History

Websites and online educational resources

EnCompass Rhode Island Digital History Sourcebook - Lesson plans and resources for school to high school on topics such as the History of the Narragansett, the Underground Railroad in Rhode Island, Slavery and the Slave Trade in Rhode Island, African American Civil Rights in Rhode Island, Immigration to Rhode Island, Rhode Island and the Industrial Revolution (including the issue of child labor). Also includes digitizations of primary sources.

Haffenreffer Museum Educational Resources - Includes the middle school curriculum This Land is Home: A Seasonal Round in Native New England which is a self-paced, virtual learning module that explores how the seasons shape traditional and contemporary Indigenous lifeways in New England, as well as resources on anthropology and archeology.

Tomaquag Museum Educational Resources - a multitude of resources on Indigenous People’s history and culture including podcasts, music, videos, stories, maps, curriculum(such as Places, Memories, Stories and Dreams ) and an extensive book list.

RIHS Virtual Programs and Resources for Teachers and Homeschool Educators - live and pre-recorded programs for educators covering topics such as the transatlantic slave connections, the John Brown house, Avi’s Something Upstairs , as well as a COVID-19 archive.

Woonsocket History Links - Resources on the history and growth of Woonsocket including mill villages, famous people, trade unions, transportation, and french-canadian culture as well an historical picture archive.

Rhode Island Taking Shape and & Shaping History: Timelines of RI’s history and landmark events.

RI Secretary of State Resources - Resources covering RI government and civics including a RI State House Coloring Book for elementary students, A Guide to Rhode Island Government and History for middle schoolers, and themed collections of resources for middle and high schoolers that cover topics such Women in Rhode Island, Rhode Island’s role in drafting and ratifying the Constitution, Black Rhode Islanders, Suffrage, and Rhode Island’s Royal Charter.

Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park - Includes Ranger chats, history of Slater Mill, the life of factory workers.

Blackstone Valley Tourism Council - YouTube channel highlighting the Blackstone Valley, the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution.

Roger Williams National Memorial Educational Materials - Curriculum for middle and high school students Roger Williams’ writings, the Separation of Church and State, and the relationship Williams had with the Narragansett.

Rhode Island History Field Trip Ideas

Hikes, Walks, and Parks and Memorials

Fort Adams State Park

Roger Williams National Memorial

Rhode Island Independence Trail

Historical Markers in Rhode Island
John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor

Government and Industrial Sites

Rhode Island State House

Slater Mill

Museums, Homes, and Birthplaces

South County Museum

Touro Synagogue National Historic Site
Tomaquag Museum

Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology

Museum of Work & Culture

Coggeshall Farm Museum

Museum of Newport History

Veterans Memorial Museum
Smith Castle
Gilbert Stuart Birthplace & Museum
Nathanael Greene Homestead
Newport Mansions
Redwood Library & Athenaeum

Books:

R is for Rhode Island
Rhode Island Colony
Puritans, pioneers and pacesetters : eight people who shaped Rhode Island
How to draw Rhode Island's sights and symbols
Avi. Finding Providence: the Story of Roger Williams . New York: Harper Collins, 1997.
Brennan, Linda Crotta. The Black Regiment of the American Revolution . Rockport, ME: Moon Mountain Publishing, c.2004.
Burgan, Michael. Roger Williams: Founder of Rhode Island . Minneapolis: Compass Point Books, c.2006.
Cwiklik, Robert. King Philip and the War with the Colonists . Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Silver Burdett Press, c. 1989.
Gaustad, Edwin S. Roger Williams: Prophet of Liberty . New York: Oxford University Press, 2000.
Geake, Robert A. A History of the Narragansett Tribe of Rhode Island: Keepers of the Bay. The History Press, 2011.
Geake, Robert A. From Slaves to Soldiers: The 1st Rhode Island Regiment in the American Revolution. The History Press, 2016.
Sommervill, Barbara A. The Rhode Island Colony . Chanhassen, MN: Child’s World, c.2003.
Whitehurst, Susan. The Colony of Rhode Island . New York: PowerKids Press, 2000.
Wiener, Roberta. Rhode Island: the History of the Rhode Island Colony, 1636 -1776 . Chicago: Raintree, c.2005.
Williams, Roger. Spears, Loren (ed.) A Key into the Language of America: The Tomaquag Museum Edition. Westholme Publishing, 2019.

Additional Book Recommendations from the Tomaquag Museum. Rule of thumb... Look for resources BY or LED BY Indigenous People

News Sources for Kids and Teens

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 17:09:38 GMT

Resources for Current Events

Looking for reliable, non-partisan news sources for your kiddos? Look no further - here are our most recommended picks! I personally have used all of them! All are non-partisan; targeted ages are noted for each.

The World From A to Z with Carl Azuz (upper elementary to high school, free)

Longtime CNN10 anchor and punster Carl Azuz has started his own kids’ news channel. It’s a daily 9ish minute video that you watch either on the website or on Youtube . The World from A to Z is focused on the five Cs: “Critical Thinking, Civil Explanations, Compassionate Conversations, Community…. And of course, Carl.” Parents can sign up to get a nightly newsletter detailing the stories that will be discussed the next day. Coverage runs August through May.

CNN10 with Coy Wire (middle school to high school, free)

A longtime favorite of homeschoolers CNN10 is a daily 10 minute video available on the website or YouTube . CNN10 is focused on students over 13 and their mission is to “break down complicated news stories with easy-to-understand explanations.” Parents can sign up to get a nightly newsletter detailing the stories that will be discussed the next day as well as a news quiz at the end of the week. Coverage runs August through May.

KidNuz Podcas t (elementary to high school, free)

For kids who may be sensitive to images but still want to listen to current events or if you’re looking for a news program that you can listen to in the car, KidNuz is a great option and covers “top stories and current events, all nonpartisan and age appropriate.” You can listen in your preferred podcast app. One bonus of KidNuz is that it runs year round so it’s also a good substitute when other news sources like CNN10 and The World from A to Z are on breaks.

The Week Jr (upper elementary to middle school, subscription - 6 week free trial; $49.95 for 19 additional issues)

The Week Jr. is a weekly print news magazine delivered to your mailbox. The topics covered are timely but of course, not as current as a daily news source when events are changing fast. This one is a subscription but there is a 6 week free trial to see if it’s something you’ll use. This is a great screen-free option to incorporate current events and introduce kids to traditional print media.

Time for Kids (elementary, free)

The Time website just for kids. Upon entering the site, you are prompted to enter a grade level (k through 6th) and articles appropriate for that age and reading level are displayed. The focus is on positive events that will be of interest to young kids. This is a good option to introduce kids to online media sources; the articles are short and easy to read. They’re also useful as an introduction to the journalistic format.

Forever Boxes

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 14:58:10 GMT

What to do with all the paper!?!

What to do with all the paperwork, certificates, workbook pages, stories, and artwork from all the years of homeschooling?

Most kids want to keep everything they have ever written or created. My two girls are also genetically predisposed to becoming hoarders. So what in the world do I do with all that paper?

The short, straightforward answer is that I make THEM choose. Starting at 4 years old when we began nature journaling, they wanted to keep every piece of art they made, even all they would create in a flash of creative energy on any given Wednesday when they could easily make 15+ pieces of art.

To help them, each girl was given a box; that we refer to as their “Forever Box”. We picked pretty boxes with an easy-to-close magnetic lid that fits under their beds. But you could use a big tote, a file box, or a cardboard box. Just remember it will be kicking around your house for years and also think about where it will be kept. I wanted them to be in charge of their Forever Boxes, so they needed to be able to reach it easily, but I also didn’t want to be tripping over it for years.

We told them they could keep anything they want to save in their Forever Box, but they only get this one box for their entire childhood - until they graduate high school. So they would need to learn to be discerning (yes we used this word with them at the age of 4 because we homeschool and know they can learn, and use big words.) We explained their Forever Box is where they could save artwork, schoolwork, letters, crafts, notes from friends, birthday and Valentine’s Day cards, completion certificates, stories, time capsule letters to themselves, build-a-bear certificates, and their award ribbons. The oldest even wrote to the Tooth Fairy and asked to keep her baby teeth, so they are in a tiny box in her Forever Box along with the teeny-tiny letter the tooth fairy wrote back to her. We do encourage them to put their name and the date or at least the year on the back of their art, but it often doesn’t happen. These boxes are for their keepsakes, so of course they should be the ones to decide what is meaningful to them to keep.

My older daughter, on a handful of occasions, has spent whole days looking back through her Forever Box reliving her hand-written stories, her awards, artwork and special memories. She enjoys being nostalgic. A few times she has had to go through her Forever Box and thin it out to make room for new treasures. Meanwhile, my younger daughter has been seen standing in her box to cram more items in. To her, having more of her papers is more important than the condition they are kept.

What an important life skill to learn for oneself - what is important and meaningful - to you. We felt this was an important skill to learn and practice vs. us telling them what should be important and meaningful to them. There are MANY items I would have tossed, but they can tell me in great detail the thought process or the memory behind what appears to me to be a simple scribble. Other items, I would have kept because maybe I thought it was a good drawing, they don’t have a value for or a memory attached. Sometimes a piece of art might hang up for a while and then head to their Forever Box, and other times it hangs up on display and eventually gets recycled, but it is their call.

I have also gotten a Forever Box that my husband and I share where we keep the special cards and drawings they have made for us over the years. It also holds some (less aesthetically pleasing) artwork or crafts they made and gifted to us. We usually display gifts until a new piece is gifted or sometimes after a few months it gets quietly moved to the Forever Box (or sometimes the trash). When I got my own Forever Box I thought I might save some of their tossed art or paperwork, but I haven’t. I have learned to honor their feelings about their work.

So they choose. They decide what is important to them. We also talk about using this same discernment in other areas of their lives - toys, gifts, friendships, and even the activities, co-ops, and classes they choose to do or no longer do.

We want our girls to know and have confidence in who they are as people. This lesson began when we gave them their Forever Boxes and the independence to choose for themselves what is valuable, important, and meaningful to them.

Written by Amanda Campbell

Four Resources for Election 2024

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 15:17:41 GMT

Resources about Elections and Voting for All Ages

As many of us return to our studies for the 2024-2025 year we are looking for ways to incorporate information and studies about the presidential election. Here are 5 resources that I’ve come across to help you! All are secular and non-partisan.

Build Your Library Election 2024 Unit Study (elementary)
Emily at Build Your Library has compiled a 3 week unit study for use by upper elementary (with suggestions for younger kids). This unit study is grounded on three books that provide the background on politics, the political parties, how government works, elections and campaigns in the United States. It also includes activities for students to research the current candidates, track votes as they come in, and more.

iCivics Elections (all ages)
iCivics is a one-stop shop for government and political resources. This site includes planned unit studies on Elections and Voting and State and Local Government for middle and high schoolers as well as games, videos, infographics, webquests, and slide decks for all ages. This allows you to customize your own unit study. iCivics provides a good base on politics and elections and is informative and entertaining even for adults looking to brush up in this area but lacks current event materials.

C-Span Classroom Campaign 2024 (middle school, high school)
C-Span provides video resources covering aspects of the 2024 election from the debates and the electoral college to campaign strategies and campaign finances to media coverage and polling. Videos are supplemented with lessons, discussion questions, handouts, and activities. Of particular note is a comprehensive section on the 2024 Presidential Election Process that takes students through 10 steps (from primaries to inauguration) by posing essential questions, presenting extensive current and historic video clips and asking students to summarize their learning.

PBS LearningMedia Election Central (all ages)
PBS LearningMedia’s Election Central presents educators with material for preschool through high school from introducing basic civics concepts to following the current events in this year’s presidential race. The materials are mostly videos with activities and discussion questions mixed in and do include current events as well as principles of civics and elections. For middle and high school students there is a section on Media in Elections that includes “tools for identifying and avoiding misinformation online and the influence of algorithms and personalization in shaping our access to information.”

Media Literacy - Learning about Graphs and Statistics!

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 16:37:07 GMT

Two Resources for Teaching Statistics

There’s lots of discussion these days about media literacy and teaching our kids to question, interpret, and understand the information that is presented to them. Some of the trickiest information to dig into are graphs and statistics. What is the graph trying to depict? Where did the data come from? What is left out? Who created the statistic? There are so many questions!

One approach to getting kids comfortable and proficient at deciphering this information is through practice and I have two (free!) resources that will help you do just that. The first is from the United States Census Bureau and the other is from the New York Times Learning Network .

The U.S. Census Bureau has a resource called Statistics in Schools which includes lessons, activities, and games for students from Kindergarten through 12th grade. There are quick data visualizations like this one for elementary kids on National Pet Day and veterinary careers and there are also complete lessons like this one on the setting of the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird , which goes in-depth into understanding poverty levels in America in the 1930s by using data from the 1930s Census Questionnaire and the 1937 Unemployment Census.

They have organized resources by grade-level but also by subject area so you can bring statistical literacy into different areas of your studies. Of course, you can also learn about the Decennial Census and its impact on society.

The second resource is from The New York Times Learning Network and is called “ What’s Going On In This Graph? ” Each week of the school year they share a graph, map, or chart, and invite students to think about it and, if they want to, share their thoughts. Then on Wednesdays, the New York Times partners with the American Statistical Association to host a live moderated discussion about the graph and on Thursdays posts more detailed background information as well as the graph for the next week. There’s also “ What’s Going On in This Picture? ” which is also fun!

The last “What’s Going On In This Graph?” for the 2023-2024 school year was entitled “ Hotter Summer ” which talked about changing temperatures in the United States. The in-depth explanation covered questions the students may want to consider, other data that could be looked at to research claims, how density plots are different than histograms, what choropleth maps are, and the difference between normal and skewed distributions among other topics.

This resource is geared towards middle and high school students but could also lead to fun discussions or conversation starters with younger kids.

There are plenty of ways to use resources like these. I personally like sprinkling resources into our homeschool periodically. I’ll keep an eye on the NY Times site and if a topic comes up that we’ve talked about or that I know my kids are interested in I’ll add it to our morning discussions that week. We’re studying American History this year and I’ve found resources from the Census site that will be a nice complement to a couple of our units. If you have a child who loves graphs and statistics I could also see using these weekly as a study of statistics itself and looking at different topics each week. However you decide to use them, these resources will bring an engaging approach to statistics to your studies!

Curriculum Review: Logic of English

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 13:42:12 GMT

Teaching Reading and Writing with Logic of English

When my daughter was 5 she really wanted to learn how to read. She loved listening to read-alouds, she had been paging through board books since she was a baby, and had been “reading” (by memorization and recitation) since she was old enough to talk. She now understood that those marks on the page meant something and she wanted to unlock that mystery!

So we started to learn how to read… I used some basic well-recommended programs and Bob books…. And she ended up in tears almost every single day. While she had all the enthusiasm her brain would not cooperate. She would get frustrated, I would get frustrated and over the course of a few weeks what had started out as a joyous journey turned into a difficult and disliked chore.

So we stopped. We went back to me reading aloud, to her listening to audiobooks for pleasure, and remembering that reading is fun and every book is an adventure. Our break lasted about a year. In that time I researched reading and language arts curriculum, trying to find a program that would match my daughter’s strengths and give us the structure we needed to tackle this challenge. I found Logic of English Foundations (LoE).

Logic of English takes a phonemic awareness and systematic phonics approach to teaching reading and language arts. In plain terms that means that it focuses first on making sure the child understands the 45 sounds of the English language; what sound does each letter and/or combination of letters make and how do we make those sounds ourselves. Then LoE teaches the 75 phonograms (letters or combinations of letters that represent sounds) and the 31 spelling rules which make up 98% of the English language. Putting these together allows students to decode any word without relying on sight words, or guessing. It also explains the exceptions so it’s clear to the student why some words don’t “follow the rules.”

This sounded right up my daughter’s alley. What I found in our earlier attempt at reading is sight words did not work. She had a definite strength in hearing sounds and being able to memorize what she heard but seeing those sounds represented by letters on the page was just a jumble of lines to her. So we dove in. And I’m happy to say that it was a success.

LoE uses a multi-sensory approach to teaching. There are games and tactile boards, writing practice, recitation, and worksheets. This worked well as there wasn’t time to get bored. Each part of a lesson was relatively short and then we moved on to a new activity. I did feel that the lessons were long but we took our time and did not do all the activities in one day. Sometimes we skipped activities if I felt she had a good handle on the material and sometimes we spread it out over multiple days.

The curriculum bundle is a hard copy resource that comes with all the materials you need. There is also an online supplement that you can add (this is newer and we did not use it). I liked that the program was open-and-go with lots of teaching instruction and explanations. While I did not always follow the instructor's script I felt prepared and informed about what we were doing and had explanations when my daughter inevitably asked, “but why is this word different?”

The other aspect of the curriculum I appreciated was that I could choose to have the printed student material either in manuscript or cursive print. Cursive script can often be easier for some students to form and it was a nice option to have.

We ended up using all four levels of LoE’s Foundations program which is designed for early elementary students. From there they offer an Essentials program for older elementary students and up. This program follows a similar format but goes more in-depth and focuses more on spelling mastery, grammar and vocabulary. You can see a comparison of the two programs here .

Overall, I was thrilled with how well LoE met our needs, how easy it was to use and how engaged my daughter was while using it. As I said earlier, I did adjust the schedule and moved at different paces depending on her level of mastery; I also did not always follow the instructor's script as it felt forced when I was speaking with my own child! I did appreciate having the script and the additional instructor explanations. Tailoring LoE in these ways was not difficult or time consuming. Price-wise the curriculum is expensive but you can often find used copies online or at curriculum sales or alternatively, you can sell your copies and recoup some of the cost when you are through with the curriculum. I found it well worth the price for teaching reading without tears and frustration!

Book Review: College UnMazed

Melissa.Robb@enrichri.org (Melissa Robb) — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 17:49:19 GMT

College Unmazed: Your Guide to Design & Document Your Homeschool
Review by Melissa Robb

I was excited to see a new book about preparing for college for homeschoolers! Full disclosure: one of the authors (Dr. Michele Evard) is a veteran homeschooler that I have looked up to for years. She held various key volunteer positions (including president) at a large and SUPER COOL homeschool co-op in the neighboring state of Massachusetts. These days Michele uses her extensive knowledge and homeschooling experience as a homeschool consultant. Her experience is evident in College Unmazed: Your Guide to Design & Document Your Homeschool !

The first things that jumped out at me as I flipped through the book were the colors, charts, tables and quick-to-read sections. The book is visually engaging, has clear organization and is easy to pick up and put down when you only have time to read in short bursts.

If you are a homeschooling-high-school newbie you will find this book will be your go-to as you plan and then document your child’s high school years. Not new to the high school years? If you have already graduated a homeschooler and have more kiddos on that path this will be a source of inspiration with nuggets of new ideas that you hadn’t considered.

Throughout the chapters the authors explain to the reader how to think through a specific aspect of designing or documenting the high school years. After they provide information and ideas to consider they provide an activity area for you to think through YOUR plans. This workshop style makes the process feel doable in little chunks at a time, not overwhelming. From intangibles (what is my why) to tangible (how to write a course description) the authors walk you through step-by-step.

A bonus is the mention of specific resources that may be used by students and parents. Vsauce, Tennessee Board of Education, edX, Rubistar and Ambleside Online are among the resources peppered from beginning to end.

As a homeschool advocate who frequently advises families about the high school years I read through the sections nodding my head very often. Yes, that’s exactly what I tell families! Yes, I agree wholeheartedly! There were even some AH HA! moments for me when I found myself thinking: Yes, that’s a wonderful suggestion I hadn’t thought to share!

The book hits all the marks!

From reminding parents that documents must “accurately reflect your student’s educational journey” (pg 68) to appreciation that homeschooling is not only about academics but also about social, spiritual and emotional goals this book is a perfect mix of support for experienced homeschoolers and parents who are new to this educational choice. Everyone can find something useful in the homeschool edition of College UnMazed .

You can use coupon code EVARD10 for 10% off all purchases at www.collegeunmazed.com .

College Entrance Exams

Melissa.Robb@enrichri.org (Melissa Robb) — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 14:40:30 GMT

A Guide to Exams for College Bound High Schoolers

College entrance exams (the PSAT, SAT, ACT, etc.) play a crucial role in the admissions process for universities and colleges. Each test is different and we always get questions about how homeschoolers get access to tests. First, it should be noted that Rhode Island homeschoolers will pay a fee to take any of these exams, in a rare situation a school district may allow a homeschooler to take the PSAT without a fee. Also, most students in the RI, MA, CT area take the SAT but some do choose the ACT as the best fit for them.

Let’s explore the main college entrance exams and some key information about them:

1. ACT (American College Test) :

The ACT is a curriculum-based test that assesses high school students’ mastery of college readiness standards.
This exam is typically taken spring of junior year but may be taken multiple times into senior year.
It consists of multiple-choice tests in four areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science. The writing test is optional and does not affect the composite score.
Students can register directly through the ACT website .
Accommodations for students with disabilities can be requested through Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD).
Scores are typically available within two weeks after taking the test.

2. SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) :

The SAT is another widely recognized college entrance exam and the most common choice in Rhode Island.
This exam is typically taken spring of junior year but may be taken multiple times into senior year.
It includes sections on evidence-based reading and writing, mathematics, and an optional essay.
Registration and test information can be found on the College Board website .
Like the ACT, accommodations for students with disabilities are available.
You may have heard of SAT Subject Tests. The College Board discontinued those in 2021.
The College Board has put together an info page specifically for homeschoolers.

3. CLT (Classical Learning Test) :

The CLT is a newer alternative to the ACT and SAT.
Accepted by a smaller number of colleges, it focuses on classical education and critical thinking.
Homeschoolers can also take the CLT, and accommodations are available.

4. PSAT :

Homeschool students can participate in the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT) for distinctions and scholarship qualifications.
This exam is typically taken in October of the sophomore or junior year.
To register for the PSAT you cannot use the College Board’s website. You must register directly through a school. You can try your own school district first (usually through the high school’s guidance counselor department) but many homeschoolers find private schools more available and more welcoming. It will take some calling around so we recommend calling over the summer for registration. The fee is typically about $25.

5. Test Optional:

Some universities now offer a “test optional” policy, allowing students to skip common entrance exams. Instead of standardized tests, students can complete additional essay questions. If you’re considering this option, I recommend checking directly with the institution’s admission office or website for specific details. For an up-to-date list of test-optional colleges, visit FairTest.org .

Remember to check the specific requirements of each university or college that you may be considering and plan accordingly.

Interested in looking at the details of each exam from a homeschool perspective? We recommend the info page from Texas Home School Coalition (THSC) .

Tackling Financial Literacy

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 17:25:04 GMT

Financial Literacy Options in Middle & High School

Personal Finance, Financial Literacy, whatever you call it, it’s a popular choice for a high school class. For good reason - we all need to understand how to manage our money!

There are lots of books out there on this topic but finding a well-developed resource with videos, worksheets and educator information can be tricky. But good news! I have two (free!!) curriculum choices to recommend: Intuit for Education’s Financial Literacy program and The Stock Market Game from the SIFMA foundation.

The first program, Intuit’s Financial Literacy program, is geared towards high schoolers (maybe upper middle school depending on the student) and actually has two components: personal finance and entrepreneurial finance (which would be great for those business-minded kids out there!).

I explored the Personal Finance course which is a thorough and well-developed resource that begins with basic financial literacy terms, moves through topics such as banking, budgeting, investing, paying for college, and insurance (among others), and ends with a short section on economics. The course can be worked through 2 ways: 1) by the student independently; or 2) with the educator leading the discussion and directing the work. The course material consists of a series of videos, short readings, mini-quizzes and short answer reflective questions. These are either presented to the learner directly as they work independently or there are lesson plans to step the educator through the curriculum.

Of course, there’s the obvious - this program is run by Intuit, it’s a marketing tool for them. However, I did not see explicit marketing materials in the course itself other than the branding on the website. The only hiccup I had in reviewing the program was the sign-up process for homeschoolers. It’s a little wonky to sign-up for an educator account - I ended up sending an approval to myself in order to link my student accounts to my teacher account. It wasn’t a big deal and worked out fine but it’s always good to have a heads-up! Alternatively, students can just sign-up on their own as independent learners and shouldn’t have that problem.

I did not delve into the Entrepreneurial Finance program but at first glance it appears to be set-up similarly and includes topics such as financial strategies for small businesses, financial planning and analysis, financial management, and business valuation.

The second program is the SIFMA Foundation’s Stock Market game. This is an interactive, stock market simulation directed at middle and high school students. It runs multiple times a year and you can play either as an individual or a team, and either independently or compete against other schools and learners in your area and across the country. It’s easy to sign-up and SIFMA does a fantastic job of providing educator training materials (written, recorded, and live sessions) with the information needed to make the most of the program. There are also fantastic videos for students directly that explain investing concepts, how to research companies and choose stocks, and how to evaluate your portfolio as you go, along with worksheets and discussion guides to deepen the experience.

Hopefully these recommendations help if you’re looking for resources to tackle financial literacy and if you have any recommendations to add please get in touch!

A Simple Homeschool Planner

Melissa.Robb@enrichri.org (Melissa Robb) — Thu, 30 May 2024 15:03:22 GMT

A planner for homeschoolers by a homeschooler!

Amber Stanley, a homeschooler, recognized that standard homeschool planners didn’t meet her family’s needs. So, she took matters into her own hands and created a customized homeschool planner that worked for them. As we know, every homeschooling family has unique ways of organizing their days, weeks, months, and years. Let’s dive into the details of Amber’s planner and how it helps streamline homeschooling activities.

How long have you been homeschooling and what are the ages of your homeschooled children?

We started homeschooling about 4 years ago. My children are 9 and 6.

Not all homeschoolers use a planner. What makes a planner useful for your family?

A planner is my go-to for organizing our homeschool! I mainly use it to keep an eye on what we need to do for the week - pages, chapters we need to cover, any upcoming library requests, additional worksheets or items needed. I also track events outside our home for that week so I can plan accordingly - field trips, co-ops, vacations, and appointments.

What inspired you to create a paper planner?

I created this paper planner because most of the planners I saw had the days of the week on the left and the subjects at the top - so when you looked at your day, you were going across the pages. I like to see my full day in one column so I swapped that.

Additionally, I found myself writing extra events above the day for planning purposes. With my planner, it’s all in one column and under the day - looking more organized. I like to see the notes for that week, like upcoming library requests or other to-do items, all on the same page. I even put in my own to-do items that are not homeschool related so I can easily see them.

I created a paper planner because that’s what I use. I like writing in it because it is much faster for me than digital and I get the added bonus of checking things off which is always nice! I also like that it can act like a folder - keeping additional worksheets or other papers in it for when I need them.

What features are included in your design?

My simple homeschool planner has the subjects on the left side, days of the week on the top, so you can see your whole day in one column and the whole week for a subject left to right.

It is dated so you do not need to spend any extra time writing the dates and you can plan ahead right away. Each day includes space at the top to note any events such as appointments, co-ops, or field trips allowing for easy reference and planning. There is a full length notes section providing ample space for library requests, to-do items, weekly check-ins, etc. The back has a 2 page spread of the 2024 months on the left and 2025 on the right for easily accessible data for the year, such as books read, field trips taken, monthly goals achieved, etc.

How do you envision the future of paper calendars in a digital age?

I use a digital calendar to organize my life but it is full of appointments, birthdays, tax filing dates, reminders, etc. It’s very useful for planning life and having it right on my phone is quite nice.

However, I chose a paper planner for our homeschool so I can be more intentional about my time. Seeing our schedule and my to-do list in front of me allows me to focus on what we need to do.

I do not see paper calendars disappearing, as both types are useful.

The burning question! Pencil or pen?
Pencil, all the way! Mistakes are easily erased!

How do you use your planner? Do you focus on homeschooling exclusively in your use or do you use it for organizing family life/the household overall?

Aside from homeschool, it might include some to-do list items that I need to accomplish for that week - like schedule an appointment, house maintenance, etc.

How far in advance do you plan?

Great question! With my first planner, I planned FAR out and it was fun to see all that we’d be doing. I quickly learned that is not realistic for me and my family and A LOT needed to be erased. I now plan a week or two ahead and that works well for us.

A homeschool planner may not be part of your homeschooling style but if it is then finding the right planner depends on your family’s unique needs and preferences. Whether you’re a seasoned homeschooler or just starting out, there’s likely a planner that suits you best!

Amber Stanley’s Simple Homeschool Planner July 2024 - June 2025

Authentic Volunteer Work and College Admissions

alyssa.crowder@enrichri.org (Alyssa Crowder) — Thu, 23 May 2024 17:16:32 GMT

Be True to Yourself

Beginning in freshman year, and sometimes earlier, students are continuously presented with information and advice regarding how to put together a strong college admissions application. Recommendations include taking high level course work, participating in interesting extracurricular activities, pursuing leadership opportunities, and undertaking volunteer work.

The piece of the conversation that is often overlooked is making sure that the opportunities that students are pursuing are meaningful, not just to them, but also to the community. The efforts the student puts into volunteer work should fulfill a need and meet an end-goal beyond the accumulation of hours for an admissions application and their own personal success.

A recent report put out by the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Making Caring Common Project, entitled “ Turning the Tide: Inspiring Concern for Others and the Common Good Through College Admissions ”, discusses this issue and is calling on admissions officers to address the problem at the root. This means asking admissions officers to look beyond just hours listed and pay attention to what meaningful work a student is achieving with their time and effort. Are they invested in their community and the purpose that they are serving? What does that look like?

The report lays out a series of recommendations for all levels involved in the college admission process from students and parents to college counselors and admissions officers. Specific recommendations range include:

Students should “engage in sustained, meaningful community service” that “tackles community problems”
“Students should undertake community service that deepens their experience with diversity”
Students should pursue service that “helps them appreciate the contributions of previous generations and their responsibilities to their descendants”
Parents and counselors should look beyond the traditionally named “good” schools and encourage students to consider “the broad range of excellent colleges across the country”
Admissions officers should prioritize quality of service over quantity
Admissions officers should warn parents, counselors, and students that applications that are clearly “overcoached” can have the opposite of the desired effect and that they value a student’s authentic voice

The authors conclude that “we certainly do not expect all college admissions officers, high school guidance counselors or other stakeholders to wholly embrace these recommendations. Our hope, in fact, is that college admissions officers will take up some of these recommendations and improve on others. What we are convinced of is that far too often colleges, high schools and parents are placing more and more pressure on young people to focus on personal success at the expense of others and our common goals. And we are concerned that too often colleges, high schools and parents are competing—engaging in an “arms race”—that is costly both to young people and to our society.”

There are many issues with the current higher education system and this report is just the beginning of an important conversation about the future of college admissions. But encouraging our kids to be authentic, and for that to be valued, is a promising start.

Navigating the Homeschool Maze: Why There's No Clear "Best"

Melissa.Robb@enrichri.org (Melissa Robb) — Fri, 03 May 2024 19:22:31 GMT

Navigating the Homeschool Maze: Why There’s No Clear “Best”

By Melissa Robb, ENRICHri Advocacy Director, with assistance from ChatGPT-4

As the homeschooling movement continues to gain momentum, parents around the world are faced with a myriad of choices. Curriculum options, teaching methods, and educational philosophies abound, leaving many wondering: Is there a definitive “best”

way to homeschool?

The Myth of the One-Size-Fits-All Approach

Let’s debunk a common misconception: There is no universal “best” in homeschooling. Anyone who claims otherwise oversimplifies a complex educational landscape. Here’s why:

Diverse Learners, Diverse Needs: Children are unique individuals with varying learning styles, interests, and strengths. What works brilliantly for one child may not resonate with another. Homeschooling acknowledges this diversity and allows parents to tailor education accordingly.
The Ever-Changing Educational Landscape: Expert-approved methods and materials evolve over time. What was considered optimal a decade ago may not hold true today. Flexibility is key. Homeschoolers adapt, experiment, and refine their approaches based on their children’s needs.
Veteran Homeschoolers vs. Newbies: Seasoned homeschoolers bring a wealth of experience. Their educational journey often includes trial and error, adjustments, and creative solutions. New homeschool parents, may initially rely on their own experience as students and what they believe learning needs to look like but soon discover that homeschooling requires a different mindset.
The Educator’s Dilemma: Ironically, being an education expert can be both an advantage and a challenge. Teachers-turned-homeschoolers sometimes grapple with unlearning institutional norms. They may start out with a “public-school-at-home” style. Over time they discover that smaller class sizes, yes, even family sizes, allow for more dynamic teaching methods.
Breaking Free from Factory-Style Education: Traditional schools often follow a factory-style model, where uniformity and efficiency are prioritized. At home, we have the luxury of personalized learning. Informal methods, hands-on experiences, and individualized attention can yield remarkable results.

Some Reasons Why Homeschoolers Opt Out of Traditional Schools

Beyond homeschooling styles, there are numerous reasons why families choose to homeschool. These reasons significantly influence their homeschooling choices.

Customization: Homeschooling allows parents to customize their child’s education. Whether it’s a child’s passion for astronomy or a struggle with math, homeschooling adapts to meet those needs.
Child-Centered Learning: Homeschoolers prioritize the child’s well-being and love for learning. The focus shifts from ticking boxes to nurturing curiosity and critical thinking.
Educational Freedom: Homeschoolers aren’t bound by rigid schedules or standardized tests. They explore topics deeply, take field trips, and learn beyond textbooks.

The Takeaway

So, fellow homeschoolers, let’s celebrate our diversity. Share your favorite methods, recommend curricula, but remember: What’s “best” for one child may not be for another. Let’s embrace the freedom to choose, adapt, and create an educational journey that

suits our unique families.

Remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution in homeschooling. Let’s celebrate the rich tapestry of approaches and support one another on this incredible journey!

Homeschooled College Graduation Reflections

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 20:29:59 GMT

College Graduate

Sigh.

After homeschooling from birth to high school graduation my son, Ian, has now also graduated from college.

Graduating in December feels odd in every way. There is no graduation ceremony in December. There is no college diploma until it arrives in the mail. Add to that the busy holidays. It’s just strange.

I arranged for a yard sign to be set up that day so it would be there when Ian pulled into the driveway after that final class. It helped mark the finish line. It was a tangible COMPLETE!

Somehow, on the last day of his undergrad classes, I was finally ready to pull out all the boxes of workbooks, reports, textbooks and art which I have been holding on to since our very first days of being homeschoolers.

I knew it would be difficult. I knew what feelings and memories opening those boxes would bring up. I was ready. With college done, only graduate school ahead, it was time.

We dragged the boxes up from the basement. They sat for a day or so until I felt ready to open one. Almost immediately I was crying. Our favorite curriculum, which we used until the publisher had no more for us to buy, was right there, one of the first items I touched. So bittersweet. I could feel the feels like it was yesterday, all the joy of those workbooks, the memories of our heads literally smushed together as we worked through the puzzles together. My heart was so full. How could I throw that into the trash can? It wasn’t just a bunch of bound pages, it was our relationship, our educational choices, our life and values that was bound in the workbook.

The storage boxes themselves were the symbol of what led to that day, the final day of the final undergrad classes. 21 years of Ian’s life since birth all leading to this moment.

Read more about the homeschool boxes here: Sorting Through 12 Years of Curriculum .

The Wrap Up

Would I have changed anything? No, not really. Life and learning always has some “holes” and I’m not going to worry about this hole or that hole because if I had focused on those things there would have been others that were pushed aside. We only have so much time and energy.

Our homeschooling and family life focus was always learning how to learn, critical thinking, a love of learning, problem solving, understanding a topic instead of being able to rattle off facts, experiences over objects, learning to mastery and joy.

What I will always remember is Ian sitting in my lap as we “did school” at 6am, then growing a bit older and sitting next to me his thigh pressed against mine as we looked at lessons together, then an even older Ian across the table or working as I moved around the house, which transformed into the years where I had very little to do with his education other than support (homeschool classes, community college classes, a bit of online learning).

Sometimes I was Ian’s teacher, sometimes Ian taught me, and most often we were learning together. I will never look back on my life and think “I wish I spent more time with Ian” because I am so grateful that I DID spend my time with him. We laughed, we cried, we played and we learned. Enjoying the journey. Sounds like a pretty great way to be a family and definitely homeschooling has been the best part of my life. No regrets.

What’s next for Ian? He’s planning on law school. He has started prepping for the LSAT. Law has long been his goal but he is open to life taking him in a different direction if that happens.

What’s next for me? Life is good! Ian’s finished homeschooling 3 ½ years ago, so I had hung up my homeschool-mom hat a while ago! Yet, homeschooling is where my heart is so I have no plans on walking away from supporting the community any time soon.

It’s been a magical ride and I look forward to everything still to come!

Written by Melissa Robb

Sorting Through 12 Years of Curriculum

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 20:55:03 GMT

On my son’s last day of undergrad classes I was ready to go through 12 years of workbooks, papers, notebooks, art, books and all the other things I had saved. We were so excited that day, undergrad was done !

But those boxes in the basement full of our homeschool years.
Those boxes had been on my mind.

So… we dragged them upstairs and I planned to get through them over the next few days. I wanted to touch everything, not just chuck it all into the recycle without pawing through it first. I wanted to remember each thing, to be surprised by the resources I had forgotten about. I want to cull it down to a few items that I would keep forever.

I made piles.

KEEP
Maybe keep
Show Ian
Show gramma (Ian and my mom met for their beloved “Gramma School” once a week from age 5 until he graduated high school)
Take a picture
Giveaway
Trash

I weighed some of it and estimated that there was easily over 200 pounds of workbooks, worksheets, notes, art, reports, notebooks, certificates…memories.

The trashed items ended up filling 2 of Warwick’s recycle roller bins.

Recommendations

Here’s a bunch of items we used over the years. I’ll comment on some of them.

Much of what I had for the “middle school” years were various types of typed or hand-written writing assignments. Most I had forgotten about. This one was especially poignant. For Ian his main “teachers” had been mom, dad and grandma for his whole life. This essay shows how important those relationships had been compared to other members of our family that were not involved in “homeschooling”. This essay went into the small box of items I chose to save.

I couldn’t toss this one in the recycle bin either.

Side note: when Ian took some classes at a homeschool learning center during the “middle school” years, he came home with his first gold stars on papers. I realized that most parents get that “stamp of approval” in PreK or Kindergarten when the kids come home with papers from school. I had never graded papers for Ian, we worked to mastery, I never wrote 85%, 7/10 or Job Well Done at the top of a paper. Little Ian LOVED stickers and he had a HUGE sticker album and we did use stickers for a few charts throughout his life, like during potty training, but I had never put a sticker on a worksheet and certainly not the conventional GOLD STAR. So, this was a first for us!

Another side note: this was an assignment from a writing class based in IEW ( Institute for Excellence in Writing ). IEW teaches writing with rules, a lot of rules, and lists, a lot of lists, which was a PERFECT fit for Ian’s love of rules that melts into every part of his life and always has. I highly recommend IEW.

You may have noticed that there are not many pictures of items from the teen years. Most of our resources during that time were things that I no longer have or aren’t picture-worthy:

Textbooks which were sold after using
PILES of notebooks
Online classes
More and more and more essays and research papers

End Scene

Choosing curriculum and resources is overwhelming. It only gets a little easier with time. Even a veteran homeschooler starts to question everything that had worked well so far when the teen years roll around.

Few of us are curriculum experts. Just do your best, use what is working and move on from things that aren’t proving to be a good fit, especially if there’s crying because… There’s No Crying In Homeschooling…you can pivot and make changes anytime you need to.

Written by Melissa Robb

SWS: Socializing While Shy

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 15:00:00 GMT

“I’ve made a huge mistake.”

These were the words that went through my head in November of 2021. At that time, my
family was a year and a half into our homeschooling journey. Like many families, we had begun
homeschooling during the onset of COVID, and had found ourselves loving it. The freedom it
offered us, the way it brought our family closer together, the opportunities our kids were able to
take, all of it seemed ideal. We had never even considered homeschooling prior to the
pandemic, but now it rapidly felt like we were embracing the lifestyle. So why was I standing
there, watching my oldest son, wondering if I needed to bring our homeschooling journey to an
end?

Let me start by telling you about my oldest son, Spencer, and I’ll try not to sound like the
bragging parent, which we all know can be hard! He has a wonderful thirst for knowledge. At
that point, he was 6 years old, and if he were in school, he would have been in first grade. He
was already well ahead of where he should be, and just wanted to learn more and more. We
loved that homeschooling let us find his interests and allowed him to just keep learning more
and more. But the other thing you need to know about Spencer is that he is shy. Not just mildly
shy, but shy in a way that caused him great anxiety and panic. He was shy in 2019, when he
was enrolled in preschool, and a year of being quarantined with no friends had just turned him
further inward. We had been living in Connecticut, and moved to Rhode Island in early 2021. In
the summer of 2021, we decided to enroll him in one of ENRICHri’s co-ops, Masked
Adventurers, along with his younger sister, Ellie, age 4.

From the start, the co-op was magnificent. It was filled with so many wonderful teachers
who brought to the table things I never would have dreamed of teaching my kids. Arts and
crafts, sciences, and all sorts of fun games. It seemed perfect. Yet every week, I found myself
worriedly texting my wife. “Why isn’t Spencer playing with the other kids?” “Why do you think
Spencer won’t talk in class?” “Why doesn’t he have any friends yet?” Of course, I had to look at
myself in the mirror too. When I was Spencer’s age, I was nearly as shy as him, and I still had
trouble connecting with people. Just as he was having trouble making friends, I was having
trouble getting to know any of the other parents.

And so we faced a difficult decision. Maybe the multitudes of non-homeschoolers were
right when they talked about how homeschool kids lacked socialization. Maybe, even though we
were having great success with the educational aspects of homeschooling, we needed to admit
that we just couldn’t give him what he needed in terms of socializing, and that school could fill in
those gaps even better.

However, as I said, we were enjoying homeschooling immensely, and we weren’t ready
to let that dream go quite yet. So we signed up for the Masked Adventurers again in the spring.
I’d love to tell you that at the start of that co-op, he was magically Mr. Social, but that’s not how
life works. But it was better. He knew some of the other kids at that point, and while he wouldn’t
go out of his way to talk, he would participate more actively in class. Around the same time, we
realized there was more to ENRICHri than just the co-ops, and began signing up for activities.

Not many, just one or two here and there. But we would see some of the same people at each
event, and slowly but surely, Spencer became more and more comfortable with them.
After some more of this, we began to find our community. Spencer began to have a
network of friends, but it didn’t stop there. Many of those friends had younger siblings, which
was perfect for his younger siblings, Ellie and Milo. It meant that not only was Spencer
developing a community, but that Lindley, my wife, and I were finding our community as well.
We moved to Rhode Island not knowing a soul, and like Spencer, we were both shy and
reserved people. But we found an incredibly kind group of people who were patient and
persistent in working through that with us. They gave us all sorts of opportunities, informal and
formal, to get to know them, and to get comfortable with them.

That’s the reason I wanted to write this article about socialization. For those of us who
are parenting shy children (or who are shy adults), socializing can be hard. I’m not going to lie
and say there is a quick fix solution that will bring your child out of your shell. But what if I had
left Spencer to the devices of the school system? I had already seen him in preschool. A full
year, and he hadn’t seen a single one of them outside the doors of the school. We often think
that what our children need is forced proximity, to be in constant contact with other kids,
socialization by immersion.

For Spencer, that never would have worked. He gets overwhelmed far too easily.
Instead, he needed a place where he could explore social dynamics at his own pace. Where he
could pick and choose how he socialized. Where he wasn’t a part of a big group, but instead
where he could find more opportunities for one-on-one socializing. He needed a place where he
could meet people the way he was most comfortable, with his family present, his siblings by his
side. And to be honest, we needed that as well. If we only saw people at school functions, I
guarantee you, we would be without any parent friends.

I write this for any parent who is considering a homeschooling journey, and for any who
are struggling with their journey. It is hard. I know it’s hard. I’ve felt the pain, I’ve cried the tears.
But it is worth it. When your child, when your family, finds their community, there is no feeling on
earth like it. Those days outside in November 2021 were the last days I ever considered putting
him in school. After all, what do public school kids do for socialization that we weren’t doing, and
better?

Written by Sam Chesser

Making Your Curriculum Work

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 19:30:00 GMT

I received an email from a favorite curriculum company last week with the subject line: “Want to Jump Ship Due to the Curriculum You Picked Out?” along with a coupon code for their products. It’s that time of year. We’re beyond the excitement of the new year. We’re settling into our homeschool rhythms. And we’re realizing something is just not right.

You thought a resource would be great but your child is unhappy whenever you take it off the shelf, you dread the amount of time it’s going to take, or you feel silly reading the instructor script. But what can you do? It’s created this way for a reason – we’re supposed to follow it as written, right? Is it time to find another curriculum and start all over?

No and no. While it’s possible that it is the wrong curriculum for your family (we’ve all been there) it’s also entirely possible that you just need to make some modifications to achieve a better fit for your family. I am here to give you permission to change it up and some ideas on how to do that.

So first, how do you know if you need to make modifications or ditch the curriculum all together? You want to determine if there is something fundamental about the resource or approach that does not work or if it is more the mechanics or presentation of the material that is the problem. Some questions to think about:

Do I agree with material and opinions being presented?
Do I feel like this is a high quality resource that provides the right level of challenge for my child?
Do I believe that the material covers the topics that I want to make sure we learn?

If your answer to any of these questions is no, you may want to reevaluate your choice of resource. However, if you answered yes and feel good about the basic material and scope of topics it’s likely that you can make adjustments to fit the material to your needs. Some questions to ask yourself to get more specificity about what those may be are:

Do the lessons take too long?
Is the subject material good but the lessons a little boring?
Does the work feel repetitive? Or does your child complain because they’re tired of covering the same topics?
Do you feel weird reading the instructor dialogue?
Is there too much reading?
Are there enough visuals or demonstrations?

First, for the permission. Yes, the publisher or creator of the curriculum wrote it a particular way. But they don’t know your family or child. Curriculum is a tool and you are the one who decides how to use it. Go ahead and make the changes – small or big. Trust yourself to know what’s right for you!

With those thoughts in mind, here is a list of ways you could modify a curriculum to get you started.

When the number of problems is overwhelming – cut down the number of assigned:
Do only the odds or evens.
Tear the page in half.
Have your child circle 5 (or whatever number) of their choice.
When the lessons take too long:
Work to a time limit instead of through the whole lesson (ex. 15 minutes of spelling).
Take a break in the middle.
Break the lesson into smaller chunks and schedule over a longer period of time. It’s ok if you don’t finish it in one year – you’re on your own schedule.
When there are problems or questions that aren’t related to the actual subject or skill that you are focusing on:
Skip them and move on.
Alter the assignment to better reflect what you’re working on; for example, replace an essay question with writing a list, drawing a picture, or creating a set of trivia questions.
For workbooks or textbooks that are overwhelming in size or length:
Tear them apart – break the binding and use a straightedge to cut out the pages; hole-punch them and put into a binder and then only pull out the pages you need for the lesson you’re on.
Look through the book and notice what you’ve already mastered or what will be covered again in the future (often, especially in math, the beginning is a review and the end is an introduction to topics that will be covered again later) and see what you can skip for now.
For curriculum like grammar or math that can get repetitive:
Tear it apart (see above) then switch the order of the pages, rotating topics, so your child works on something different each day but circles back to each skill.
Work until your child masters the topic and then move on to the next; keep the additional pages for review if you need them later.
When the instructor script feels hokey or not engaging:
Read ahead so that you can paraphrase for your child instead of reading the script word for word; yes it’ll take more effort but the lesson will also feel more authentic.
Embrace the silliness! Use a funny voice, or lots of expression and laughter and play the character of the narrator. You’ll all laugh and the lessons will be memorable!
When there are books assigned that aren’t holding your attention or are don’t suit your family:
Look for other options that cover the same time period or topic – graphic novels or picture books may be a great option (yes, even for teens!).
Skip it altogether.
Find documentaries or YouTube videos that cover the same information.
When concepts or ideas are difficult or even a little boring:
Supplement with games – card games, board games, role-playing games, video games or apps. There are so many options and they will add a little fun and whimsy to your day.
Add manipulatives or real-world examples; if your math text is talking about fractions as a pie, use a real pie! Or draw a picture of one and cut it up.
Substitute a field trip for a lesson. Reading about Paul Revere is one thing but going to the Old North Church or Lexington and Concord Boston is another!

Chances are once you start modifying your resources you’ll have lots of ideas for how to make them your own. You may need to try a few options before you find the perfect fit for your family but it will be worth the effort to not just automatically jump ship!

Written by Alyssa Crowder

Choosing a Homeschool Curriculum

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 17:36:00 GMT

I often say that the opportunity to tailor your child’s education is one of the best, and also hardest, parts of homeschooling. The ability to choose curriculum to customize your family’s learning is wonderful but it’s easy to feel like you’re drowning in choices! Even me (who loves curriculum and research!) can get overwhelmed with the volume of resources that are available. However, I’ve found that with a few questions, a little reflection and a couple of reliable resources the process of finding a curriculum can be a lot easier.

Before You Begin Your Search

Before you begin, ask yourself a few questions:

1. What are your goals for the year? What are you searching for?

It’s easy to jump right onto Google and start down the rabbit hole of curriculum. But first, take a few minutes to think about your goals, your child(ren)’s goals, and what exactly you’re searching for. Are you looking for… resources for a particular academic subject? …resources for a passion of your child’s or an elective? …something related to personal growth? You could be looking for one or more of these things. It helps to get a handle on what you want to get out of this homeschool year or period before you start your search.

The more specific you can make each goal, the better. You will likely have different goals for each child and even if you have similar goals for multiple children, your focus could be different for each. Take writing for example, one child may be an outstanding creative writer but you would like them to have more experience with research-based writing; while another child may love research but need more instruction in the mechanics of writing or becoming comfortable expressing themselves creatively. You will most likely need different resources to meet these individual needs.

Keep in Mind:

You most likely will end up with a variety of resources because every child is different and how each child relates to every subject/topic is also different. It’s tempting to try to find a “one size fits all” solution but this is usually unrealistic. Breaking down your goals and needs to the smallest size you can sets yourself up to discover the optimal materials for each need.

2. What is your child’s learning style? And what’s yours?

Understanding how your child learns best will help tremendously in evaluating resources. If, for example, they are a tactile learner, you want to choose a curriculum that will allow for that hands-on experience using manipulatives, experiments, or activities. If they are auditory learners they may do very well with a literature based curriculum that’s read aloud either by you or using audio books. If they are visual learners, you’ll want to make sure whatever they are using is visually engaging and incorporates images, color, and maybe even videos. You can find lots of learning style quizzes online – these sites have quizzes and more information: Education.com , Hip Homeschool Moms , and if you would like something more in-depth the book The Way They Learn is recommended..

Your learning style is also important – so take the quiz for yourself too. Your style may be very different from your child’s and that’s important to recognize. First, because you will probably initially gravitate towards a curriculum which suits your learning style and therefore may not be a good fit. And second, because you are the facilitator so you want to ensure that you’re meeting your child’s needs but also that you’ll enjoy using the materials as well. The child and parent should both be happy!

You can also think about your homeschool style and philosophy. Is there a methodology that you align with or whose ideas you would like to incorporate into your homeschool? If you’re unfamiliar with the main homeschool styles, this video from Simply Charlotte Mason is a good introduction. You may find one that you align with or you may incorporate pieces of several to develop your own unique, eclectic homeschool.

Keep in Mind:

Every individual has their own learning and teaching styles. Knowing your preferences and those of your family members allows you to select resources tailor-made for your family.

3. What format of curriculum are you looking for?

Question 1 narrowed down the subjects you’re looking for, this question is how do you want to approach those subjects? There are lots of formats to choose from:

More traditional all-in-one curriculums that contain everything you need either online or paper-based;
Open and go curriculum where everything is laid out and you just open and begin
Spine curriculums (often literature based) that center around a particular historical period or topic and include most subjects (history, science, literature, art, etc) but need to be supplemented with math and maybe a foreign language;
Project or unit study resources that teach all subjects through a particular interest or lens (such as space, or construction, or architecture);
Online classes that are taught by others (can be live or asynchronous)
In-person classes taught by professionals

Using your answers to the previous questions, think about what might work best for each subject or goal that you’re addressing.

Keep in Mind:

The format of curriculum varies for everyone depending on your child, your resources, and the time you have available. Some families need an all-in-one online or self-directed program. Other families end up with a mix of formats such as a literature-based curriculum for history, science, literature, and art, an asynchronous video-based curriculum for math, an in-person or online class for a foreign language or an elective, and a traditional textbook/workbook for a subject like grammar.

The Search

Now that you have a better idea of what you are looking for, how do you actually find it? I recommend, rather than Google, starting with a couple of reliable resources. The first is Cathy Duffy’s book, 102 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum . This book begins with a great section called “How to Choose Homeschool Curriculum” which includes learning style quizzes. Then it moves on to recommendations which are matched to those learning styles. It’s a fantastic resource for getting a feel for what curriculum you click with. I will note that it is not secular, there are faith-based curriculums included but they are clearly delineated.

The second resource is a trusted homeschool group page. The ENRICHri website has a How To page which lists the most popular curriculum among members. Many other organizations do the same – if you have one that you belong to or like, start there.

Those resources should help you identify more of what appeals to you, or not. If you haven’t found “the one” yet use what you’ve learned to narrow down your Google searches.

Keep in Mind:

The more specific you can be in your searching, the higher-quality your results will be. An online search, or forum request, for a “colorful, hands-on early elementary math curriculum” will return much more useful results than a search for “elementary homeschool math programs”.
There are no perfect resources out there. The materials you find are tools that you decide how to use. You can manipulate them to make them work for your family – you don’t have to do every problem or complete every lesson or chapter. If a resource appeals to you and seems usable it’s ok if it’s not perfect. You’ll make it perfect for you!

Making the Decision

Once you’ve found an option or two how do you decide to go for it? First, take a minute to think about what you were looking for when you started; make sure it aligns with your criteria, learning styles, preferred format, etc. It can be easy to get swept up in what works for others or is being raved about and forget our own specific needs!

Then, try it out! You should be able to find a sample of the curriculum on the website; if not, email or call and ask – I’ve never had anyone say no! Once you have it, see if you like the format and tone (if there’s a script for the facilitator check to see if you’re going to feel silly reading it). Have your child take a look and try it. Is it appealing to them?

And finally, ask yourself whether it fits your homeschool life – how much time will it take? Does it require prep time from you? What will you need to do to make it successful? These answers should help you make a final decision as to whether you’ve found your pick!

Keep in Mind:

Price is also important! Most of us have a limited budget to spend and are looking to stretch our dollars as far as possible. But this does not mean that you should be limited to free, or very low-cost curriculums that might not be a good fit. There are a few ways to find resources that you initially thought were outside your budget:

1) Use your library! Libraries carry books, curriculum, videos, online resources (great for foreign languages, technical courses), microscopes, lab materials, etc.

2) Take advantage of the resale market – many homeschool groups have a buy/sell/trade page or forum on their social media platform, there are dedicated buy/sell pages for specific curriculum or programs, and there are dedicated websites for resales of homeschool materials such as Homeschool Classifieds.

3) Ask around! Often posting a message with what you’re searching for on your local homeschool forum will turn-up someone who has it sitting on their shelf and is willing to let you borrow or buy it.

4) For online programs, investigate group buys or discount codes that are available. Even if you don’t find one, you may find there’s enough interest out there for you to set one up!

After the Decision

Congratulations – you’ve found your curriculum! It’s a great feeling; you’ll probably be excited to jump in and get started! Hopefully, it will work out as planned and lead to a great experience for your family.

However, don’t be surprised, or alarmed, if it doesn’t quite go as you envision. We have all chosen a curriculum with the best intentions and had it bomb. There are things you just can’t foresee before you start. If that’s the case, please remember that homeschooling should not be miserable – for anyone. You may be able to adjust the curriculum to make it work (more on that in a subsequent post) or you may need to find an alternative. It’s ok, it happens – often! Be flexible, take what you’ve learned from the experience and try again!

Happy curriculum hunting!

Written by Alyssa Crowder

Math Instruction: Spiral vs. Mastery

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 19:00:00 GMT

Source: ENRICHri thanks and credits Granite State Home Educators (NH) for use of this article. We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! *Some of the resources are not secular.

There are two different approaches to math instruction; spiral and mastery. Some children learn math better with one approach instead of the other, but there is no one “best” approach.

SPIRAL

The spiral approach refers to a built-in review of previous concepts throughout the curriculum as new topics are introduced. The student practices new concepts incrementally and reviews previously introduced topics so they build on each other systematically.

Pros:

The child can practice with incremental steps towards understanding new concepts.
If the student needs more practice or time to understand a concept, there are many opportunities to review and practice that are built into the materials.
Understanding and skill develop over time.
The child’s math skills and knowledge does not go stale and he/she is less likely to forget concepts.
The child is able to make connections between the different concepts as they are revisited throughout the materials over time.
Some children find it more interesting because they are learning something new and different instead of focusing on the same concept for an extended period.

Cons:

Some children find this approach too slow or repetitive.
Children may be overwhelmed learning a new concept before completely understanding the previous topic. It may feel like the material is too hard to keep up with and remember.

Spiral Math Programs:

Teaching Textbooks
Saxon Math
Abeka Math*
Go Math
The Good and the Beautiful Math*
Horizons Math*
RightStart Math
BJU Math*

MASTERY

Mastery requires the student to completely comprehend a topic, forwards and backwards, before moving on to the next topic.

Pros:

Focus on one topic at a time, in a sequential way.
The child may work at his/her own pace.
This approach builds a strong foundation before adding on new information.
Often prevents learning gaps.
Commonly used approach by public schools, so may be helpful if the child is enrolled in a traditional school later.

Cons:

Some curricula have minimal review and mastery may be diminished without the review.
If the child needs additional resources to gain mastery, he/she could exhaust the materials in the curriculum.
Children may become bored or frustrated working on the same concept every day for an extended time.
The idea of “mastery” can be challenging or stressful for students as it could be interpreted as requiring perfection.

Mastery Math Programs:

Math U See
CTC Math
Khan Academy
Math Mammoth
Beast Academy
Singapore Math
Life of Fred*
Art of Problem Solving (AOPS)

Other Programs

There are other curricula that take unique approaches that do not fall under spiral or mastery.

Life of Fred
Miquon

What Grade Are You In?

Sat, 29 Apr 2023 15:57:00 GMT

“What grade are you in?” the cashier asks. My child stares, like a deer caught in headlights, and turns to me before slowly answering, “ummm….we don’t really do grades…. But I love history!”

Grade levels. Homeschoolers wonder about them often, asking questions like:

We’re using a math book that is labeled 4th grade but the composition curriculum we use is sold as 6th grade, what grade is my child in?
My child is doing curriculum above their standard grade level, should I skip a grade?
My child is struggling with math, should I repeat a grade?

What you often hear in homeschool circles is that grade levels don’t matter. And that is true, academically they don’t matter at all. Grade levels are how schools are able to group students and move them through a standardized curriculum. In this sense they don’t apply to homeschoolers. We don’t use a standardized curriculum. We know that kids develop asynchronously, meaning they may be ahead in reading but on-level or behind in math or vice versa. We know that kids may be way ahead in elementary school and then reach a plateau in middle school. We know that the curriculum choices we have vary widely in the skills that are presented for a given grade level.

So from an academic standpoint, grade levels are arbitrary. Academically, homeschoolers progress by covering topics when they are ready for them and moving on to new ones or more advanced skills when they have mastered the foundations. There’s no need to assign or adjust a grade level based on academics. You can simply move through your homeschooling years progressing as concepts and skills are mastered.

I hear the next question… but then how do I know when they’re done?

Well, high school is different but grade levels are still not what matters. What matters in high school, and what’s different from all the years before, are the credits that your student acquires through the coursework and activities in their high school years. These courses, and the corresponding credits, are recorded on their transcript and are what any post-graduation employer, college, trade school, or military branch will be looking at. These credits may be acquired neatly over what we think of as a standard 4 year high school experience, or they may be acquired over more or less than that depending on the student’s motivation, readiness, and abilities. As Rhode Island does not have high school graduation requirements for homeschoolers, you, as their teacher, get to decide what is required for your child to graduate. You can use college or trade school admissions requirements, military enrollment requirements, necessary employment skills, and personal preferences to set those guidelines for your child.

Finally, I keep saying “academically, grade levels don’t matter.” That’s because socially they do come into play and you will most likely have to use them. When you’re signing your child up for an extracurricular activity, class, or camp or when your child is trying to figure out where they are in relation to their public school friends or kids they meet, or they’re asked the question by a well-meaning cashier. In these cases, grade level is used as a way to categorize kids on a social or maturity basis. It’s easiest to have a standard answer based on your child’s age (ie. Kindergarten = 5 years old) and stick to it, no need to bring academics into it at all.

Written by Alyssa Crowder

When is the Right Time to Start Homeschooling?

Sat, 29 Apr 2023 15:44:00 GMT

My child is being bullied. My daughter cries before school each day. His confidence is gone. She doesn’t laugh anymore. He’s not eating. They’re not sleeping. They aren’t themselves. These are the statements of parents who are deciding to homeschool mid-school year. Something has gone wrong. It may have been a sudden occurrence or it may have built over the days, weeks, years of going to school but it’s time for a change, a new approach, but when? Is now the time?

but

…there’s only 2 months left or 6 weeks or 2 weeks…

…school just started, we’re only 3 weeks in, it may get better…

…holiday break is coming up, we should wait until then, shouldn’t we?…

When is it time?

Now. Now is the time.

I know. You have a lot of questions about how to homeschool. You haven’t figured it out. You don’t know how to start, what the laws are, what curriculum to use, what they’re going to do all day. It’s a leap. But you can do it.

You know your child and if your instinct is telling you this is what they need, then there’s no reason to wait. The most important piece of this equation is your child’s health and wellbeing. A child who is mentally or physically affected because of their daily circumstances needs you to take that leap.

To help, I have a few answers for you.

First, the legal stuff. The process for beginning homeschooling in Rhode Island is very simple in most cases. You submit a withdrawal letter to your school principal and the district superintendent. At the same time you submit a letter of intent (LOI) to homeschool to the district superintendent. Once you have sent those letters via email you are a homeschooler! Your child can stay home the very next day! You can find samples of these letters and details of the legalities on the ENRICHri Resource page.

The next question that usually comes to mind is what curriculum do I use?

The answer is nothing. Not at first. We recommend that you take some time off from formal academics. Switching to homeschooling is a significant transition and if any of the situations above apply it’s likely that your child has suffered trauma and needs time to readjust and recover. This period is called “deschooling”. Your child isn’t the only one, parents need time to recover because you have been through a lot also!

Deschooling can last anywhere from a few weeks to months. The length depends on the child and family and your needs. This time allows your child (and you) to de-associate the negative impact that education in a public or private school setting has had on their natural love of learning and zest for life. It’s a time for them to become reacquainted with their passions and for you to observe and discover what interests them, their learning preferences, and their strengths and weaknesses. This is done by simply living life without a curriculum or agenda. Follow your child’s lead, let them choose their activities and pay attention to what they’re reading, playing, and watching. Some kids and/or families may need a structure to the day to be comfortable. A loose routine (for example, plenty of sleep, breakfast, game time, outdoor time, lunch, quiet time/reading, craft time, screen time, dinner) can lend enough structure to help the kids feel secure and you not always feel at loose-ends while still providing freedom of choice.

Again, most importantly, pay close attention to what they’re choosing – this will provide insights into how they naturally learn. Do they like building things and experimenting? An approach that uses manipulatives or hands-on learning might be a good fit. Do they love listening to stories and imagining worlds and experiences? A literature-focused program may work well. Do they thrive on numbers and love logic? You may choose to center their learning around science or math. Do they dive deep into a topic for a few hours or days or weeks and then toss it aside and move onto something new? You’ll know you need to keep the lessons interesting and non repetitive or maybe they are unschoolers at heart. Are they obsessed with a particular topic and won’t let it go? You could unite all their academics around a theme they are passionate about. There are so many options! Familiarity with your child and what is lighting them up right now helps you narrow down the vast options and increases the success of your homeschooling experience.

Finally, a lot of parents are worried about friendships and social activities. It will be different going from seeing their friends every day in a setting naturally surrounded by others to being home. But it’s not the end of those friendships. There is still after-school and weekends. If the friendships are important they’ll remain. And of course, there will be space for new friends. The homeschool community in Rhode Island and the surrounding states is thriving! There are a myriad of opportunities for classes, activities, field trips, clubs, cooperatives, dances, and good old-fashioned playdates and meet-ups. Don’t forget YOU, homeschooling adults need friends too, other homeschoolers who understand your lifestyle!

As you get comfortable at home and find your footing on this adventure you’ll discover what works for you. It doesn’t need to happen all at once. It’s a journey. Trust yourself. Trust your child. Take the leap.

Written by Alyssa Crowder

ENRICHri Cultural Fair

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:52:00 GMT

Looking for a community of Rhode Island homeschoolers that hosts some amazing events? Look no further.

Welcome to ENRICHri’s Annual Cultural Fair

Travel with us as our community center is transformed into many countries spanning the world. Our globetrotting guests are presented with a blue passport at the welcome desk, which are stamped or stickered as they traveled around the world.

The ENRICHri families who participate choose a country to research and create a display. Each display has tidbits of information for travelers to get a feel of what life might be like in the country they were visiting. Some may even have activities guests could take home! Some of the items on display could include smelling spices, traditional clothes, trinkets from traveling and even some family heirlooms.

Before the travels even get started everyone is drawn to the cultural fairs buffet, which is always a cultural delight! Long tables in the main room of the community center are lined with warm crock pots and casserole dishes of sweet and savory foods representing each country’s traditions.

The highlight of the fair is the parade of countries.

Below are some pictures of the displays from one wonderful year.

Deciding to Homeschool

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:46:00 GMT

Like any change in life the first step is a decision.

For me homeschool was always a thought tucked away in a journal page, carelessly written while I sat next to my first napping toddler. I sent that toddler into the public school system for kindergarten. It was only a half day, and I told him everyday if he hated it we could homeschool.

Kindergarten was a success for us so I got the coolest non toxic backpack I could find and sent him into his first day of First grade as a full day kid.

By the end of first grade it was clear that the public school was not going to be our thing. I did not want to be at the mercy of the teacher roulette wheel. Every year hoping we had one who was not burnt out, or better suited to be a DMV clerk. My son was bored with the work, and being reprimanded for not using a planner. Recess was missing, and so was that joy I expected to see on his face when I would pick him up after school.

So we decided.

After that the waves of doubt, fear, and confusion that seem to be normal came.

I googled “homeschool in RI” ENRICHri came up with info on a homeschool 101 meeting. I signed up and set off to the Seekonk library to meet other people considering homeschool as an education option. After the two hours ended I was less afraid than I had been before stepping into the doors of the Seekonk library.

I joined ENRICHri that same night I left the Homeschool 101. I was going to live this lifestyle, and I had no desire to do it alone.

The scariest part for me was in the paperwork. Rhode Island seemed to be rigid, and all over the place,leaving each city or town district to deal with their homeschoolers. When I had let my sons school know we were going to homeschool for second grade they handed me a packet of papers stating I MUST send it filled out to the district. Maybe they did think it was a thing I MUST do, but I learned from other homeschoolers in my district that it was an unnecessary step in the process, and that comradery was priceless.

Then came the curriculum choices which can be overwhelming. Every homeschooler who has been doing it for a while seems to say the same thing. Whatever you start with will change by mid year, and do not spend a ton of money on your curriculum. I myself did not listen to the latter suggestion, and was smiling at myself mid year when that expensive choice got boxed up and moved off the shelf. When I got into a rut with our work I started looking for homeschool books. I stumbled across a Well Trained Mind by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer and with the guidelines in the book I was able to create a rhythm that worked for us.

On this journey I am often reminded of q quote by Iian Thoms; “Everything has changed yet, I am more me than I have ever been.” Living a homeschool lifestyle is worth breaking down the walls of fear and doubt, and lucky for us Rhode Island is brimming with folks doing it together.

Homeschool Mom

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:39:00 GMT

I’m awoken abruptly by the roar of an engine and a strobe light illuminating my bedroom. The sky is still dark as I glance at the clock. 5:49 a.m. The high school bus groaned down the road with the teenage girls who live across the street aboard.

I let my head fall back into my pillow and close my eyes. Five years ago, my infant son and I would be on the road with that bus. He would be all geared up for daycare and I would be downing my coffee in a travel mug. The heat would be seeping through the car vents and the headlights would be lighting the way. I pulled up the covers.

Soon, I hear the pitter-patter of feet making their way down to the living room. Giggles and chatter begin to fill the house. My sons are ready to start the day. My daughter is singing to herself in her crib. Stretching, I slip on my sweatshirt and head to the kitchen. I turn on the coffee maker and heat the pan. Here come the good morning hugs and kisses. Here come the stories about last nights dreams.

All of my pajama clad babies are now playing together in the morning light in the kitchen as their pancakes begin to bubble on the stovetop. My mind again flashes back as I take a peek the clock. 6:52 a.m. Five years ago, my son would have been in his classroom and I would have been in mine, greeting students for the day.

Pancakes are flipped onto plates oozing with blueberries. My five year old pours milk for himself and his brother. The morning news in playing softly on the radio as I sit with my children at the kitchen table. Their smiles covered in pancakes topped with milk mustaches. I have my cinnamon sprinkled coffee in a warm Mickey mug. We have a busy day ahead but for now, I am in the moment soaking it all in.

My five year old climbs on my lap to finish his breakfast. I joke he is my Labrador, he is bigger than he realizes but will snuggle with me anytime. Instead of sitting behind my classroom desk with my students settling in for the day, I am home settling with my loves for the day.

It has been an interesting transition for me. This is the first year I did not have the back to school jitters, even though I left my classroom five years ago. Today is the first day of public school for so many children. If my family had chosen the more conventional route, we would be waiting for that school bus now, 7:30 a.m.. Today, I hug my kindergartener, my first born, tight as we wrap up breakfast and talk about the tilt of the Earth’s axis.

Happy first day of kindergarten my son. I am so honored to be here with you for it.

By Beth Daley

Masquerade Ball

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:30:00 GMT

The lights were turned down low, the music was jamming, and balloons were bouncing all over the dance floor. Everything was draped in purple and gold. Even the lights on the wall had a hue of purple shooting up to the high ceiling of the hall. Families entered through a golden curtain dressed in their best.

My children were dressed in suits and ties, or a sparkly dress. Squirming with excitement their eyes were huge as they took in the sight. This was our first ever family dance. What made it even better? It was with friends AND they could wear masks! A masquerade ball was just kicking off!

Children of all ages swarmed the dance floor. Some dancing without a care. Others grabbing friends by the wrist to chat. The youngest grabbed balloons and dashed from one end to the other while others stared entranced by the lights. At one point, there was a train of children of all heights giggling their way around the entire venue.

Parents could be seen mingling from table to table. Couples were dancing, while some preferred to sit back and watch the evening unfold.

Pitchers were filled at each table with sweet lemonade and iced water. Plates were filled with fixings from the taco bar, complete with beans, two types of tortillas, and all the cheese my daughter cared to eat. The child loves cheese. The unveiling of dessert caused a rush to receive a helping of homemade strawberry shortcake topped with homemade whipped cream. Dietary concern? It was gluten free and it was delicious!

Dashing around all evening was the woman of the hour who planned the entire evening, Larkin Trainor. With her baby by her side, she could be seen all night refilling pitchers, checking on food, chatting with friends and family, and simply making sure everyone was enjoying themselves.

Larkin and her family pulled off quite a night. From the extensive planning to the washing the last dish from dessert, she executed an event where families and friends could get together for a night of good old fashioned fun!

Now, I know throwing a party can be intensive and sometimes, rather stressful. This was a Party with a capitol “P”! How did she do it? Why? I had to know. So I asked.

This is the second time Larkin planned a dance for ENRICHri. She took on the task because her teenage daughter asked for a dance event. After receiving board approval, Larkin and her daughter, Kaylee, got to work.

Though Larkin and Kaylee headed took the reins, there were many other people who provided services to create the event. Julia Arnold, head of special events for ENRICHri, Larkin mentioned, was an asset in planning. Her husband was helpful but Larkin said her father-in-law was the man who helped bring it all together. He was able to secure the venue for the dance because “he holds a seat on the board for the venue” as Larkin shared with me. It’s always good to know a guy.

In true homeschool fashion, planning the dance was an opportunity to learn. Together, Larkin and Kaylee worked out a menu, decorations, seating, for just over 100 people. As she said “it took some work” even though she has had experience catering. Larkin admits even if it was challenging to plan dance with four kids at home while juggling making the food (yes, she made all food) and decorations, “watching everyone have such a grand time and hearing how thankful they are makes all the hard work worth it!!!”

Larkin wanted to provide her daughter with an experience. She made it happen not only for Kaylee but for the ENRICHri community. I asked Larkin what advice she would give to someone who was thinking about running an event she responded “I guess the best advice I can pass along to others is it’s always a bit nerve-wracking planning events, plan/play to your strengths! And know that the enrich community, board members and members alike, are extremely supportive and will do everything they can to support and help!”

As she and her family recover from the weekend of excitement, Larkin has already begun brainstorming for next years dance. She and her family look forward to the dance, they always have a good time. Larkin mentioned “I think I am doing a pretty good job filling the void of a ‘school dance’ for my teenaged daughter”.

Pretty good? I would say pretty fantastic! Thank you Larkin and Kaylee.

by Beth Daley

So I can take my homeschool life for granted . . .

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:22:00 GMT

Many, possibly even most, times the phrase, “taken for granted”, is used in a negative way. I like to use it in a positive way. When I can take something for granted it shows, in my mind, that the situation is a very secure one, one I can rely upon.

There are many people in the past who have NOT been able to take their rights for granted. Many of those people have spent a lot of their time, energy (and sometimes their lives) fighting for those things that I can take for granted now. Those who fought the American Revolution, those who worked to change child labor laws, those who wouldn’t rest until women had the vote, and so many more… so many.

Homeschoolers of the 70s and 80s: thank you, thank you. You paved the way for my life today. You hid inside the house for years, keeping your children away from prying eyes during a time when homeschooling was “weird”. You wrote your own curriculum because there were few to choose from. You stuck to your beliefs that your children belonged at home. I have endless choices for curriculum. My child has options of many workshops, classes offered from a variety of places, co-ops, meet-ups and more. We don’t have to close our curtains during the day. We go out into the world without a shred of fear. We live in a country where most people have least heard of homeschooling, even if they don’t know much about it. The image of denim jumper moms and socially awkward kids are almost completely a thing of the past. I thank every parent who chose homeschooling and every child who lived that life. You have all made our right to homeschool something that we take for granted on a daily basis. Thank you for paving the way.

I think of the homeschoolers in Rhode Island who stood up against school districts and the state. The ones that fought for our stability and ease of how-to-legally-homeschool. Some homeschoolers today are relatives of those who stood up for their rights many decades ago. We cannot and should not forget their sacrifices and the fear they lived through in order to pave the way for us, now, to homeschool fearlessly.

I appreciate all I have in my life. There are so many people who have made and who continue to make me, here and now, possible (including my husband who leaves the house 5 days a week to earn a paycheck, which enables my chosen role as a SAHM – something I do not take for granted!!). I pause, occasionally, to think, to breathe and sometimes to audibly say, thank you, but mostly, I take you all for granted. I am safe enough to do so.

Take a Break

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:15:00 GMT

Want to know a secret? Shh….it’s one of the best-kept secrets of homeschooling. Ready? Here it comes…

Homeschoolers don’t have to follow any schedule at all. We can take a break ANY TIME WE WANT OR NEED TO. Oh my gosh, right?

What kind of schedule or break am I talking about? Hourly? Yes! Learning in your home does not need to take place between the hours of 8:30 am and 3:00 pm. Your school can be from 5pm to 8pm or 5am to 8am or, if you are all night owls why can’t you do lessons at 1 in the morning? No reason at all… go head, enjoy! Daily? Yes! Plan to take a Wednesday off just because. School Tuesday – Saturday instead of the tradition-al Monday – Friday school week. Or if your school day isn’t going so well, choose to change your planned lessons, choose to reorganize the day or choose to just take the day off!

Weekly? Yes! You are not required to “have school” on the same weeks that the public schools do. You can work on weeks they are on vacation and you can take vacations on weeks they are in school. Days at the playground without bunches of kids around. Disney World vacations without LINES!!! Monthly? YES!!! Yes!!! It’s true! You can skip school all of January but have lessons all of July! YOU CAN MAKE YOUR YEAR’S SCHEDULE LOOK HOWEVER YOU WANT IT TO! Yearly? Well, SURE! Why not?? When it comes right down to it, why not? Take off a year, travel, un-school, do what you want. The next year will still be there waiting to be used as you wish.

On a serious note: nowhere in Rhode Island is it a law that you follow your town’s school schedule. Your town may LIKE for you to do so. Your town may send you pretty attendance sheets that cover Mon-Fri, September-June, but you are not required to use them. Rhode Island law requires that you complete 180 days of school. You can achieve that in any way that you want to.

R.I.G.L.16-2-2. City and town schools required — School year …. — (a) Except as specifically provided in this section every city or town shall establish and maintain for at least one hundred eighty (180) days annually exclusive of holidays …

by Melissa Robb

Overcompliance

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:09:00 GMT

It’s that time of year once again.

The time of year you will have mailed your End of Year letter and Letter of Intent. You wait for your “approval” letter, hoping that your school district isn’t going to be a problem.

There’s the envelope from the school department in your mailbox. You hope it’s a simple “thank you, your child has been approved for 2018-19”. And, for most of us, it will be! But, your district may send a packet of forms and other “useful information.” Your district may send an approval letter that contains language that leans to overreaching and may even have a threatening tone.

School districts think they are being helpful. I believe they are trying to do the “right” thing. They think they are providing valuable information to uninformed homeschoolers. They may think their desired level of oversight is what the state (RIDE) expects of them. At best these packets are just a waste of time, trees and money. More and more often these cover letters and packets have become more than harmless and useless information. Overreaching, threatening and outright untrue. They may include due dates for paperwork (no, we don’t have deadlines). They may “require” information above and beyond what is actually required by law so that your LOI can be “approved”. They may request a meeting with the superintendent. They may hint at (or outright threaten) truancy and forcing your child into public school if you don’t comply.

These letters, often mailed with copies of forms that do not align to RI law, come with added requirements. They are no longer simply trash-worthy papers, but overstepping the mandate of the school department, and we should not comply. Every time one family over complies in order to “play nice” it hurts another family that is following the law by making it look like they are not doing their job (seriously, we have heard school departments compare LOIs and EOYs this way).

Today we have so many freedoms (rightly so) and homeschooling is more accepted and understood than in the past. We don’t hide our children inside during the day (as homeschoolers used to). We don’t fear that we will be hauled off to jail for not sending our children to be educated by the state. We can be grateful for those who fought for decades for the homeschool laws (and policies) to be as free as possible. We can take for granted our chosen lifestyle because of those homeschoolers who came before us. If we over comply, if we give in to the requests for more and more information because it’s “easier,” then we are not showing the respect and gratitude to those homeschoolers who paved the way for us.

We, the homeschoolers, know the law better than many of those working in the school departments. They have thousands of students to worry about, and so many laws and policies to keep track of. We have a handful of students and few statutes to adhere to. There are times when we, as a community, need to speak up, educate the school departments. Politely, respectfully, firmly.

Most times you can simply ignore these letters. Follow RI law. Follow the letters that have been acceptable in the past. Follow the sample letters and FAQs outlined in the " How To " of the ENRICHri website.

Remember that if you ever get pressured to provide information beyond what is required by law (such as a threat that your LOI will not be “approved”), we are here to help. ENRICHri has members in every district. We stand together so no one family needs to stand alone.

by Melissa Robb

ENRICHri stance on RIDE Homeschool Information FAQs

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 23:49:00 GMT

ENRICHri strives to distribute accurate information about homeschooling in general and specifically in Rhode Island. We do not link to, nor refer anyone to the RIDE homeschool FAQs page. While some of the FAQs are appropriate, informative and useful there are many points that are at best misleading and in part outright false. RIDE maintains two almost identical FAQs (points page on their website as well as a PDF), our stance is focused on their current PDF).

ENRICHri has approached RIDE multiple times, over the course of our ten years, to ask that they update the misinformation to reflect Rhode Island laws accurately. They do not refuse; they simply do not respond.

These are the changes that ENRICHri has recently recommended to RIDE in order to be a resource that we can feel comfortable pointing potential or new homeschoolers to.

Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

The State Department of Education does not directly supervise home instruction. In Rhode Island, approval of home instruction occurs at the local school district level. If you are thinking of homeschooling your child, please call your local school superintendent’s office for information.

The information contained in this document is meant to give a simple, general overview of the process of home instruction in Rhode Island. This document is not intended to provide legal advice.

Specific questions on home instruction should be directed to your local school department.

If I want to homeschool my child, do I need to have a teaching certificate or any other certificate or special qualifications?

No, you only have to show that you are able to provide “thorough and efficient” instruction.

Do I need to notify the local district of my intention to homeschool?

Yes. You will need to file your Letter of Intent to homeschool with your district superintendent. Although you do need approval from your district to homeschool, you may start homeschooling as soon as you send your Letter of Intent.

What subjects am I required to teach?

State law requires that you teach reading, writing, geography, arithmetic, history of the United States, history of Rhode Island, civics, health and physical education.

What curriculum outline do I follow?

You may copy the public school curriculum or you may design your own curriculum. There are many websites and reference books that provide guidance for homeschoolers. The Rhode Island library system may have some of those resources. R.I. Basic Education Program Regulations may also be helpful to you, as they include a framework for a comprehensive curriculum that is used in the public schools. The BEP may be found at 200-RICR-20-10-1 and the section on curriculum is §1.2.1

Where do I get textbooks?

Local school districts must loan certain textbooks, including e-books, in English/language arts, history/social studies, science, math, and modern foreign languages, as well as texts for some other subject areas. The text books available for loan under the “textbook loan program” are on a list published annually by the Commissioner of Education. You are responsible for the purchase of other instructional materials needed for your child’s home instruction program.

How many hours a day do I need to homeschool?

The period of attendance must be substantially equal to that required in public schools. School districts in Rhode Island are currently required to provide a minimum of one thousand eighty (1,080) school hours during each school year.

What information do I need to keep track of?

You must keep attendance records .

What about testing?

You may choose standardized testing as your method of evaluation but you are not required to do so. This testing may be done at your local school (contact your school district for arrangements) or privately at home via testing service companies like http://www.setontesting.com/.

To whom do I submit the attendance records and evaluations of my child’s progress?

Annual reports should be submitted to your district.

Can my child take part in academic and extra-curricular activities at school?

The Commissioner of Education has encouraged all school districts to allow participation in academic, extra-curricular and inter-scholastic activities on a space available basis, no cost to the district or school basis. However, each school committee has authority to decide whether or not to allow a homeschooled child to participate in public school programs and public school extra-curricular activities. Additional requirements must be met by children who wish to participate in Rhode Island Interscholastic League athletic programs.

Does my child receive a diploma at the end of the 12th grade?

Yes. While your school district will not issue a diploma or transcript, you as the parent will issue these documents. While not required your child may take the G.E.D. test to receive a high school equivalency diploma. There are various resources available to assist homeschoolers in the creation of transcripts.

Can a home-schooled student go to college after completion of a program of home instruction?
Yes. All colleges actively recruit public, private, and homeschooled students. You should research the admission requirements at the colleges you are interested in.

If my child has special needs or an IEP, will the district assist me in meeting those needs?

If your child is eligible and you choose to continue special education services, you should discuss this with the Special Education Office of your local school district to determine how these needs will be met.

Does home instruction have to start in September, or can it start at any point in the year?

It is not required that home instruction start in September, but the duration of the home program must be substantially equivalent to the amount of time that students are required to attend in the public schools.

Which office in my local district should I call for more information?

For general information, call the Superintendent’s Office at your local school department. For information on home instruction for a child with special education needs, call the Special Education Office at your local school department.

What if my local School Committee denies approval of my home instruction plan?

The school committee’s decision may be appealed to the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, Dr. Ken Wagner, 255 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02903.

Are there groups that I can contact for additional information and/or support?

Yes. ENRICHri and RIGHT are organizations dedicated to assisting homeschoolers. Other groups may also be available as well.

For more information, please call the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Legal Office at 401-222-8979 or your local school department.

Gamers and Crafters by Nature– Portsmouth Co-op

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 23:24:00 GMT

Update: After a few enriching years at this location our director for our popular Portsmouth Co-op has moved out of state so this co-op is not currently running. We are hopeful that a new director will step up soon!

This co-op, Gamers and Crafters by Nature, will meet on Wednesdays at the Common Fence Point Community Center, which is just finishing up its renovation.

Gamers and Crafters by Nature Co-op families will spend time outdoors everyday. We’ll also have special activities by age- teens, kids and “minis” (age 3-6). All ages will spend time at the beach, and have the opportunity to participate in a variety of classes/activities which will change each session and may include:
Gameschooling and hands-on Japanese class
Teen classes like LARP & Arcade Makecode
Kids (7-12) can try Minecraft STEM lab, nature-based crafts and outdoor games
And minis may have songs, dress-up story time, and mini STEAM play

Free At Last

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 20:57:00 GMT

During the pandemic many families made the move to homeschool. These new homeschoolers wondered how veterans “do this”. How do they stay home and school all day? Spoiler alert – we don’t!

The pandemic was odd for us too! Staying home 24/7 was not how we “do this”. Most homeschoolers rely on going out. Out of the house. Out to libraries, field trips, museums, classes, clubs, meet-ups, sports practices, playgrounds, zoos, and of course trampoline parks. We are used to being with other kids, other families, and chatting with other parents. We teach classes together, host events, volunteer, and go to the parks. We are a highly social community!

As homeschoolers we have lots of choices in what, where, how, and when to educate our children. Homeschooling really is about freedom. We can choose our own curriculum. We can choose how to present topics based on how our kids learn best. We go at their own pace, and we learn together about things they are interested in. We certainly are not required to learn at home or on a laptop.

We feel “normal” again. we are happy to be back at libraries, and co-ops. Traveling, going to playgrounds and meeting new friends. Parents are back to hanging out with other adults, and it feels so nice. We prefer the hussle some days. The running around and trying to leave the house on time. At least now we have the choice to be out and about, or take a lazy day and stay home. Freedom and choices are what homeschooling is really about.

This lifestyle is much more mainstream now (thank you pandemic). Everyone had a glimpse into this world and some chose to stay. So get out there, and take the “home” out of homeschooling. We look forward to meeting you!

Taking Back Control – Choosing to Homeschool

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 18:57:00 GMT

There are many factors that go into a family’s decision to homeschool their child(ren) – personalities, abilities, educational & testing philosophies, social situations, etc. These are all factors that should be considered and evaluated but the reason most choose homeschooling is what lies underneath each of these factors. The one thing that homeschoolers have that traditional schoolers do not.

That thing? Control.

In traditional learning situations, the family is adhering to a curriculum and schedule that is set-out by the teachers and/or school department. The homeschooling family is deciding on curriculum and schedule for themselves. You are the authority and you are the one in charge. You decide what works, what doesn’t, and how to make your family life your best life.

Isn’t that a lot of responsibility?

Yes. But the good news is there is lots of assistance out there and something for everyone. Every child learns differently and flourishes under different circumstances. You get to figure out how your child learns best and implement that. Have one who is a zombie before 11am but wide-awake at 11pm? They can do school work on their own schedule; there’s no rule that says school work has to happen between 8:00 and 3:00. Have one who needs to move constantly? They can practice math facts on the trampoline or read while walking around the house. One who needs a consistent routine to feel secure? You can make sure that happens. One who needs variety in their schedule or they are bored to tears? Also, completely doable.

The homeschooling laws in Rhode Island are minimal. There is a list of subjects you are required to teach and a number of days your children need to be “educated.” You get to decide what is a school day and what is not. For some families, every day is school day because they are “never not learning.” For others it’s the days when math gets done or when some other subset of subjects are accomplished. It’s your choice.

Can I Change My Mind?

Of course! Maybe you just need a change for this school year or even this season. Maybe you need to take the leap and know that you can always go back if you need to. There are many families, even in normal times, who jump in and out of homeschooling based on their current family situation and needs. Try it and see how it goes.

Ok I’m In. Now What?

There are considerations you should make as move forward into homeschooling:

If you want your child to be able to jump back into a traditional school at grade level at a future point, you will want to ensure that you are adhering to the same general scope and sequence as the school system. This does not mean you have to use the same curriculum and/or resources; it just means if your child is going to need to know multiplication to move to 5th grade that you teach multiplication. There are lots of resources out there to provide you with what your child should learn in particular grades. One that is frequently recommended is the World Book Course of Study .
How will you schedule homeschooling into your days? There is not a right time to learn. Learning can take place at traditional times or it can happen at night, in the car, on weekends, at Grandma’s house, whenever and wherever fits your lifestyle. There is flexibility for families with two working parents or single parent households. It will certainly look different and require more logistics than a schedule that incorporates traditional school because there is the need to consider child care but it can be, and is, accomplished by many.
Take some time to consider what you would like to get out of this time. Is there something that your child has a passion for but has not had an opportunity to delve into? Are there things you would like to do as a family that you haven’t had the time for? Are there topics you’d like your child to learn about that they haven’t been exposed to so far? Now is the time to make a wish list! Besides having the control to decide what you’re learning, another benefit of homeschooling is that the actual time spent on formal learning (if you’re a family who does that) is much, much less than that spent in school. Teaching one at a time child is more efficient than teaching 20-30, plus there’s no line for bathroom breaks, handwashing, etc. So that leaves you with lots of free time for those extras – make the most of it!
Step back and think about how your child learns best and how to make this experience the most beneficial for them. You have the flexibility to individualize their learning experience. So do some research on learning styles and try to determine your child’s and yours! Then try to match the curriculum or resources you use to their strengths.
Finally, be compassionate with yourself. Many homeschoolers take years to figure out how to make it work best for their families. It’s a process that is continually changing because kids are continually changing. You know your child best and you are doing the best you can. There will be hard days but that’s true of anything. Trust in yourself.

More Assistance to Get You Started

There are many resources to help you get started on this new adventure. Locally, ENRICHri runs Homeschool 101 sessions monthly. You can find the current schedule of events here. We have also put together a list of homeschool resources which includes books, websites, podcasts, as well as a list of local and national homeschool groups which are a veritable wealth of support and information.

Walking in Paperwork

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 18:39:00 GMT

As our FAQs indicate (see #14), we highly recommend that all annual paperwork be sent via certified mail to create a paper trail and limit unnecessary communication with the district.

Another way to create a paper trail is to bring your paper work in and hand it to the school department directly. When you do that please be aware that it could, just like in a phone call, lead to undocumented conversations. These conversations could include office staff giving you incorrect information (lies, threats have also been known to occur). If you walk in paperwork know the law so well that you can stand up against their own lack of knowledge, lies or intimidation that may cause you to lose confidence and feel threatened.

ENRICHri does not suggest bringing your paperwork into the school department in person, but if you choose to, bring 2 copies, get both stamped/signed/dated as received, keep 1 copy for your records.

If office staff starts telling you “we also need….”, “you need to bring it to such and such office instead, not here”, or they flat out refuse to give you a signed and dated receipt, turn around and walk out WITH your paperwork and send it certified from the post office instead.

ENRICHri’s 2021-2022 Inclusivity Initiatives Explained

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 18:07:00 GMT

As an organization ENRICHri recognizes that to be truly inclusive our members need to feel seen and valued. With over 400 families in our community we also recognize that inclusivity must include a wide range of diverse experiences – our families cover the spectrum of race, sexuality, gender, religion, family make-up, economic status, educational choice, and physical and mental capabilities. We define inclusiveness as welcoming all. We believe that we can all respect each other regardless of our backgrounds and experiences and we will not tolerate actions, behaviors, or statements that harm anyone.

In this spirit this year, our board, decided upon three inclusivity initiatives to focus on:

Using gender neutral language,
Identifying and addressing microaggressions, and
Welcoming and supporting neurodiversity.

To put this into action we created a workshop for our leadership and volunteers to share information and practical tips on all three of these topics. The feedback we have received has been overwhelmingly positive and we are seeing changes within our community towards an even more welcoming and respectful community!

We have also received questions about what these initiatives mean so I would like to share a brief overview of each one and what it looks like in practice in our community. I will also share the expert videos that we have utilized in our workshop as their voices are so much more powerful than mine!

Using Gender Neutral Language

Feeling seen and valued for our LGBTQ+ members can mean not making assumptions about gender and using language that respects their experience. In practice, this looks like:

asking our volunteers to use the names/pronouns that kids and families request and making sure that this is a welcoming/respectful environment for that,
using other methods other than gender to separate kids into groups (ex, favorite ice cream flavors, colors, summer vs winter, etc), and using gender neutral terms such as “kids” instead of “boys and girls” when addressing groups.

Identifying and Addressing Microaggressions

Many members of our community have been subjected to microaggressions, everyday remarks, actions or behaviors that are based in bias towards historically marginalized groups. Microaggressions cut across race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, nationality, religion, and disability. They are subtle and can be intentional or unintentional. Identifying microaggressions and addressing them within our community looks like:

Being aware of comments and chatter that is occurring at our activities and classes,
Addressing microaggressions when they are heard through an honest, direct, and compassionate conversation with the people involved,
Checking in with targeted kids and families,
Not singling out children or families to speak for an entire group, and
Acknowledging our mistakes and apologizing.

Welcoming and Supporting Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity is a common reason to homeschool and ENRICHri has a multitude of neurodiverse families who have chosen to change the learning environment to fit their child rather than trying to have their child fit into an environment that doesn’t suit them. Ensuring those kids and families feel welcome and supported looks like:

Reaching out to caregivers ahead of programs to understand how to make it the best experience possible for their child,
Using different learning methodologies to engage kids,
Recognizing strengths and giving alternative ways to complete tasks,
Allowing and encouraging for movement and/or alternative seating,
Setting clear expectations and guidelines at the beginning of activities.

Written by: Alyssa Crowder

Rhode Island District Homeschool Policies

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 17:57:00 GMT

Policies are not law.

We could stop there; those 4 words explain it all.

Policies are not legal documents, they put procedures in place, ways of doing business. Policies are put in place by district administration and school committees to describe how they will complete their legal responsibilities involving homeschoolers.

A school district is not required to have a homeschool policy, but most do. RI has 36 school districts, which means close to 36 district policies exist.

A well-written homeschool policy may be legally meaningless but can make it easier for both homeschoolers and frequently-changing administrators to understand their district’s procedures. The process should be quick and easy and a clear policy can help ensure that. A policy covers, at its most basic, the procedure in place to acknowledge that a student is adhering to Rhode Island’s compulsory attendance law via learning at home (homeschooling). That’s it. Simple. Easy. Quick.

Although a policy isn’t a law it can be intimidating, especially for new homeschoolers. It is essential for veteran homeschoolers and homeschool advocates to assist first- or second-year families to understand what is required and what can be ignored. If a new homeschool parent is panicking over a policy, over paperwork and requests from their school district, then reaching out to the established community can help them to feel confident that they do not need to jump through any additional hoops.

When writing a new policy, or revising an existing one, districts may draft language beyond what the law requires. Homeschool advocates provide feedback when a district is working on a policy and may ask homeschoolers of that district to get involved if it is needed (a situation which is uncommon).

If you believe that your district has a policy that involves over reach check FAQ #5 for what that could include. Simply stick to the basics (see sample Letter of Intent and End of Year Report ) as others in your district have done and have had their plans approved with no problems. If you are having a problem with your district insisting on more information than what you have already provided, please reach out to ENRICHri for support.

ENRICHri talks with WADK Newport

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 03:15:00 GMT

Our friends at 1540 WADK talk with ENRICHri’s Melissa Robb and Ruth Galindo about homeschooling. Check out the December 18th 2021, Spotlight on Giving podcast interview HERE.

It’s January, Now What?

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 03:06:00 GMT

The new year is always met with excitement, optimism, and lofty goals for months ahead. As we clean up the homemade confetti and take a collective sigh that we made it through the holidays, let’s not panic in the fact that it IS January. Yes, January! This is the month. The typical ‘halfway’ point of the homeschool year. Of course, this may cause some nervousness and second-guessing, and some apprehension at reevaluating all of our life decisions. But instead of that nonsense, I prefer to embrace this time of new beginnings, and create a new jumping off point for the year ahead.

It’s OK, we’re going to get through this together. January is a great time to reassess where we’ve been, think about the year ahead, and really take a look at what the heck we’ve been doing. How is your homeschool year going? How is that curriculum working out that you started with back in September? What have your kids been doing for the past few months?

Before we get to the ‘academic, grade-level’ mumbo jumbo, let’s take an honest look at ourselves and our kids. Seriously. I want you to take a look at your child right now. Not your ideal child, not the kid of your dreams, but the child who has showed up in your life. The child who is loud, challenging, and independent. The messy, creative, unique, wild, and fiercely loving child that is in front of you. Now, ask yourself these two questions.

First, What do they need right now from you as parents? I need you to really think from their perspective on this one. What are their interests and passions? What do they love to do and are they getting time to do those things on a consistent basis? Not what we want them to be doing, but the things they gravitate towards when given the chance. As homeschoolers, there should be plenty of time in our schedules to make their little eyes light up. To make their souls shine. To give them the space to be children and enjoy the wonders of their life. What opportunities can you create to keep sparking that joy? That is where you start.

Second. What has really worked well in your homeschool life over the past few months? What are the things you and your children enjoy doing? What routines or schedules have given your days more of a nice flow? What has not worked well? What goals did you try to achieve that were really just not attainable right now? It’s OK to let things go! Let me say that again. It’s OK to let things go! (Did someone say curriculum?) Now is the time to incorporate more of what was great, and less of what was a ‘chore’. You’ve had time to figure out what is going to work in your homeschool life, and what is not. This can be hard for the fellow super-moms out there that want to do everything and get everything done. The moms with the great curriculum sitting on shelves (raising my hand) who know deep down that it’s just not going to happen right now. Do more of the good things. It’s alright, I promise!

Hopefully you’re still with me. Let’s turn our thoughts to the grade-level guidelines that we all have swirling around in our heads. I will admit that I use the new year to take out my reference books and look at where my child ‘should be’. Again, I know this is all academic noise and my child is exactly where he is meant to be. But, the homeschool mom in me needs to check some boxes.

I always have specific goals set at the beginning of our homeschool year and I use the new year to see what we’ve achieved and what I let slip. I look at all the unexpected things we’ve learned and am usually amazed at where we are. The subjects that my child is really interested in (science, history, geography, STEM, reading) I put on the back burner, and I try to set 2-3 goals for what I think we ‘need’ to accomplish in the next few months (math, writing, and grammar for instance). This is where my focus will be. Of course, my son will be busy with science and STEM on a daily basis because that is his passion and joy for life. So, I’ll be trying to find ways to incorporate math and writing into our weeks, without overwhelming him.

Now, my son is only 8 right now, and I have the luxury of time. Once he is in the middle and high school level grades, then our choices will be more intentional and I assume I’ll have more buy-in from him at that point. Or, maybe he’ll still be building, creating, gaming, and playing with legos. Who knows?

So, take a breath and take a moment. Yes, it’s January and you’ve made it this far. Yes, we’re all going to make some plans, and set some goals. We’re going to love our children the best we can and provide great opportunities to feed their inner beings. We’re going to hold on, and know we are not alone in this crazy lifestyle. Let’s all enjoy the short time we have with our children. However this year unfolds, let’s just enjoy the journey. Cheers! – By Marcia Sirois

Do you have the February Winter Homeschool Blahs? -Who Doesn’t!

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 18:34:00 GMT

Most of us experience the mid-winter doldrums about this time every year. We find ourselves feeling uninspired or bored with our daily routine, and have a nagging sense that what we are doing isn’t working.

This is when we begin to doubt ourselves, our curriculum, our kids, and our choices. While this is totally normal, there are some things that you should know about the Homeschooling February Blahs!

First of all, don’t quit, don’t give up, and don’t toss out everything you have been doing! And don’t toss out your curriculum or buy a new one. Many of us have an impulse when homeschooling gets hum-drum to blame the curriculum and begin hunting for the latest new something to fix the blahs. News flash – the problem is NOT your curriculum (most likely).

It’s just February! It gets dark early, it’s cold all the time, the holidays are gone, and Spring is honestly going to take a while to really get here no matter what that presumptuous marmot has to say about it. Now we get to add to this annual blah, our current dilemma of Covid safety and the lack of many socializing options.

If a new curriculum isn’t going to fix the blahs, then how do we make it until Spring without wanting to quit homeschooling or feel like we are failing our kids? How in the world do we light a spark for ourselves and our kids in this homeschooling darkness?

You start with you, the parent! Often we don’t like to acknowledge it, but the homeschooling parent is the one who sets the mood for the day’s learning. Start by doing things for you! Self-care is such a common term easily tossed around these days, but I want to talk about self-care specifically for the homeschooling parent. It is not about long peaceful baths, doing something special for yourself that you never get to do, perfectly filled out pretty homeschool planners, or even a magical self-cleaning house (oh don’t we all wish we had one of those)!

Self-care for the homeschooling parent is about engaging yourself in the experience of the love of learning. Do you have something that you get excited to learn about? Something you don’t have to learn only to then teach to the kids? Modeling a love of learning is so important and can only be done when you actually are excited and love learning about something.

So pick something new for you to learn! A new craft or skill, a moment in history, read some current science articles, take an art class, join a book club, take on a project to do something you have never done before. Let your kids see you learning, trying, failing, trying again and making progress. Then share your excitement and challenges about it with them at dinner time.

The second important and often looked over form of self-care for the homeschooling parent is professional development. In our professional careers we go to conferences, read industry magazines, stay up to date on new trends and jargon, make an effort to continuously grow and get better at our chosen career path. Why would the work of homeschooling our kids be different? We still need to learn new ideas on how to handle the challenges, get validation that we are doing things correctly, digest inspirational success stories to push us along on the hard days, and be inspired to ignite our own creativity so that we can bring our best selves to the kitchen table.

So find great books about homeschooling, listen to podcasts, attend homeschooling conferences, join homeschooling support and discussion groups, read blogs, take classes that feed your brain and inspire your teaching. Validate your commitment to your child’s/children’s education and love of learning.

Do things that will add a spark of joy to your experience as a homeschooling parent. Embrace the love of learning for yourself and invest in your development as a homeschooling parent. This is how you and your kids get through the February blahs.

By Amanda Campbell

Homeschooling Students Ring in Spring

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 03:40:00 GMT

ENRICHri is proud to share that some of our member homeschool students worked very hard in their recent co-op class titled, “Magazine Writing & Publishing”. The class was led by Danielle Rose, founder of Mind Key, an online wellness resource website. The kids are excited and proud to debut their very first magazine issue titled “Spring”. You can read all the great articles HERE .