Thankful to Homeschool

With Thanksgiving this week, I am taking the time to acknowledge what I am thankful for. And do you know what is at the top of my list? Homeschooling!

I am very thankful to be a South Carolina Option 3 homeschooler. As a former public school teacher, I know that the schools and teachers are working hard to educate their students, however, the public school setting is not the best fit for everyone. 

I remember having so many ideas that I could not follow through with when I was a public school teacher. Big group projects, hands-on noisy learning, and veering from the curriculum for an in-depth study of a concept were some of the things I wanted to do. However, my school had paper thin walls, my classes were too big, my time with my students was limited, and I was told that I had to finish the textbook before standardized testing, so I was unable to do everything that I wanted. 

Yet with homeschooling, I don't have to worry about disturbing the teacher next door or finishing a textbook by a specific date. I can create a unique path for my children that is tailored to their interests and talents. And best of all, the world becomes our classroom.

I can use living books, field trips, or any other resource that best fits the needs of my daughters. My girls can wiggle, listen to music while studying, study outside, and take a break when needed. They can fix a warm lunch to their liking and snack whenever they need to. They can get excited about a topic and share all they want. They can even get off  topic and learn something that we never intended to learn that day. They can get ahead, or they can spend as long as needed for them to grasp a concept.

You might be thinking, "That sounds great, but won't a homeschooled child miss out?" Absolutely not!

Many families think that homeschooling will isolate their child, however, in South Carolina, homeschoolers are able to participate in sports and other extra-curricular activities at the school they are zoned for. There are also many homeschool sports leagues, classes, co-ops, honor societies, and other opportunities for extra-curricular activities without using the public school. The opportunities are plentiful! 

Homeschoolers can even take advantage of higher level learning. AP and dual credit courses are an option for homeschoolers. Online schools, like VirtualSC, allow students to take AP courses, and homeschoolers can take a dual credit course at their local college or online. Homeschoolers can also take advantage of CLEP testing to start racking up college credits.

Beyond the academic side of homeschooling, I am also thankful for the time my family gains through homeschooling. 

• Time to volunteer. 
• Time to hang out with friends. 
• Time to enjoy our home. 
• Time to be with family. 
• Time to pursue interests.
• Time to read.
• Time to play.
• Time to eat together as a family.
• Time to take trips any time we want.
• Time to take a day off, if needed.
• Time to get to really know each other.
• Time to just be.

My daughters are not spending most of their day away from home. We are not rushing out the door to make it to school on time. We are not spending evenings completing homework. We are not sleep deprived. Their school can be completed in less time because we do not have to switch classes, line up, or move at the pace of the class. 

Homeschooling truly is a blessing for my family, and I am very thankful for the opportunity to homeschool. Homeschooling is not for everyone, but for those who choose to homeschool, I believe they will have homeschooling at the top of their thankful list, too!

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Homeschooling!

Lara T Caldwell, TSCHAA Director

If you are interested in homeschooling in South Carolina or have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Mock Election

Mock Election

The Mock Election has ended.

The winner is 

Donald Trump/Mike Pence

Donald Trump/Mike Pence               58.8%
Hillary Clinton/Tim Kane                 15.8%
Jill Stein/Amaju Baraka                    2.6%
Darrell Castle/Scott Bradley              3.5%
Gary Johnson/Bill Weld                   12.3%
Evan McMullin/Nathan Johnson          5.3%
Peter Skewes/Michael Lacy                1.8%

SC Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum

SC Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum

TSCHAA Feild Trip 2016

History was always a subject that I hated growing up. It was presented as an endless list of dates and names that I could never memorize. There was no story - just facts. It wasn't until I began homeschooling my daughters that history began to come alive and become enjoyable for me.

Most of the history my girls learn comes from living books and field trips. We have enjoyed visiting museums and historical sites over the years, and we recently discovered the SC Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum in Columbia, SC. Because I felt the museum has so much to offer, I set up a tour for TSCHAA members.

Joe Long, Curator of Education

TSCHAA members were treated to a guided tour of the SC Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum, and Joe Long, our tour guide, brought history to life through the stories he shared about SC's involvement in wars. He didn't just share facts; he shared stories. These stories are what history is all about. History is more than dates and names that you memorize. History is about the stories of real people from the past.

TSCHAA Member

What really stands out about the museum is that it is filled with real stories that give you a glimpse into the past. From the binoculars and Bible that saved the lives of two soldiers who were shot, to the quilt that was made for a soldier who was injured in the line of duty, you get a peek into the lives of the people who served our country and state. You can see the now threadbare flags that were once flown so proudly during past wars and even see uniforms and weapons that were once used by the brave men who fought in SC. You also get a taste of life on the homefront as you read stories of the women and families who lived in SC.

Founded in 1896, the museum was started by a group of women who wanted to preserve Civil War artifacts and provide a memorial to the men who died. Today, it houses artifacts from the Revolutionary War to current wars. It is located at 301 Gervais Street in Columbia and is housed inside the SC State Museum building.

If you are looking for a way to learn about South Carolina's involvement in wars, I highly recommend that you check out the SC Confederate Relic Room and History Museum. The museum offers free Homeschool Fridays each month that are geared to students of all ages. You can learn more about the museum by visiting their site at www.crr.sc.gov.

Happy Homeschooling!
Lara T Caldwell, TSCHAA Director

SC Scholarships and Grants

Paying for college can be a challenge for many families. Thankfully, South Carolina has some amazing scholarship and grant opportunities for SC residents.

You are matched up with many of the scholarships and grants when you fill out your FAFSA (Free Application for Financial Student Aid) paperwork.

FAFSA started taking application on October 1st and will continue to accept applications through June 15th. Please be aware that money is available on a first come, first served basis, so the sooner you fill out your FAFSA, the better.

Scholarships and Grants available to SC residents:

(Please note that requirements and amounts can change. Always verify information with The Commission on Higher Education.)

**Students must have a graduation date on or before June 15th to qualify for SC scholarships. **

You are matched up through FAFSA or the College:

Life Scholarship -  You can get up to $5000.
Requirements:
2-year college - 3.0 SC UGP
4-year college - Earn 2 of  the following 3: 3.0 SC UGP, 1100 SAT/ 24 ACT, top 30 percent of graduating class
You can take a gap year before starting school. (The college matches you for this scholarship.)

Hope Scholarship - You can get up to $2800 at a 4-year college.
Requirements:
3.0 SC UGP
This scholarship allows a gap year before starting school. (The college matches you for this scholarship.)

Lottery Assistance - You can get $100 per credit hour (up to $1200) at  a 2-year college.

SC Needs Based Grants - You can get up to $2500 at a public college

Foster Care Youth Grant - up to $2500

College Transition Program- This is for intellectually disabled students seeking college certificates and is available at 5 SC colleges.

SC Tuition Grant - You can get up to $3200 at a private college.

Your association applies on your behalf:

Palmetto Fellows Scholarship

You can get up to $6700. There are 2 application times: Mid-October - December 15th (Early Award) or Mid-April - June 15th (Late Award).

If your association ranks, you can also qualify by scoring at least 1200 SAT/ 27 ACT , 3.50 SC UGP, and rank in the top six percent of the class.

If your association does not rank or you do not fall in the top six percent of your class, you must score a 1400 SAT/ 32 Act and have a 4.0 SC UGP.

You must start school the fall after graduating; you cannot take a gap year.

Other Useful Links:

Academic Common Market - You can get in-state tuition at out of state colleges if SC does not have a major you are wanting to pursue.

Other Financial Aid Opportunities 

www.sccango.org - South Carolina Can Go to College!

www.che.sc.gov - Commission on Higher Education

FAFSA - Free Application for Financial Student Aid


As you can see, SC has some wonderful scholarships and grants available for you!

Happy Homeschooling!
Lara T Caldwell, TSCHAA Director

Teaching Math

"You may think that your child will never grasp a math concept, but I challenge you to step back and give him/her time."

Before homeschooling my daughters, I taught middle school math in the Upstate of SC. My first year teaching, I taught 7th grade math. As we covered topics throughout the year, my inexperienced self assumed it was the first time the students had encountered most of the math concepts because the students acted like they had never seen the information before.

Imagine my surprise when I taught 6th-grade math the following year and discovered that a majority of the topics were EXACTLY the same! Yet, many of the students had not grasped the concepts, and they did not even remember learning the concepts the previous year nor could they apply those concepts beyond drill and practice during the current school year.

Math curriculums can be very repetitive throughout the years, especially in 4th - 7th grade. Math will often slowly build on each skill, but each year the skills are often taught as if the student has never seen them before and each concept is only taken a little farther. This repetitiveness can help math-inclined students build a strong foundation in math, but for students who struggle in math, this can cause math anxiety and a hatred for the subject. A student gifted in math can easily become bored because they are not learning new topics or challenged.

However, imagine if you covered math at your child's individual pace? A student with strong math skills can move ahead as needed, and a student with weaker math skills can take it slow or take a break from a formal curriculum until they are ready.

Many students need time for their brains to mature and the need to be realized to learn math. As homeschoolers, we have the awesome privilege to teach math at our children's individual pace. Maybe your child does not understand fractions until middle school. As a Third Option homeschooler, that's OK!

Maybe your child needs to spend time "playing" with numbers and building a foundation that they can later base more technical math concepts on. Don't underestimate the power of board games, real life, living books, and pretend play to build math skills.

"...a child could learn math - all of it grades K through 12 - in eight weeks. "

I recently read an interesting book excerpt that commented that "the Sudbury Valley School- a democratically managed, child-directed learning environment that has been around for almost 40 years - has demonstrated repeatedly that a child could learn math - all of it grades K through 12 - in eight weeks. Average (if there is such a thing), normal (never met one), healthy children, hundreds of them, learned it all, leading to admissions to some of the leading colleges and universities in the nation." (Have Fun, Learn Stuff, Grow by David Albert)

I am by no means suggesting that you wait until high school and teach your child math in 8 weeks. As a Third Option homeschooler, you are required to teach math each year. However, how you teach math concepts and what concepts you teach  each year are up to you. Perhaps your child would benefit from hands-on, playful learning in elementary school, and then in high school or middle school dive more into the nuts and bolts of math.

Perhaps struggling through fractions year after year is not the answer. What if you gave your child's mathematical mind time to mature? Then, you can cover fractions without any struggle at all.

"Many students completed as many as 4 math courses in one semester!"

Columbus State Community College discovered that they could offer math courses that allowed the students to learn math at their own pace. Many students completed as many as 4 math courses in one semester! Many of these students who had struggled in math in high school were finally getting it and moving quickly through math concepts. (Learning math at one's own pace)

Harvey Bluedorn from The Trivium Pursuit suggests waiting until age 10 before beginning formal textbook or workbook instruction because "it is about age 10 that the developmental light bulb comes on, and the child becomes capable of a great deal more mental and physical skill...Once all the developmental parts are there, most children can learn - in a few weeks - everything which they might have spent six years learning." (Research on Teaching Math)

"...most children can learn - in a few weeks - everything which they might have spent six years learning."

Our goal as homeschoolers should be to build a love of learning in our children. Because we are not tied to a specific timetable, we can allow our children to discover and learn math in their own time. If we are drilling students year after year in a concept that they aren't ready to comprehend, we are creating students that not only hate learning but also ones that are unable to apply anything they learn.

You may think that your child will never grasp a math concept, but I challenge you to step back and give him/her time. Provide real-world opportunities that build skills, and one day, you will look back and be amazed at how far your child has come!

Following the Third Option Law

Homeschooling under the Third Option is a wonderful choice for many South Carolina homeschool families. The Third Option allows families to choose the educational path that best fits their student's learning styles and interests. You are free to choose whatever curriculum (or no curriculum!) that you prefer. You are not tied to the public school calendar, and your student is not required to take a standardized test. 

With all the freedom you have as a Third Option homeschooler, there are still some legal requirements that you must follow. 

According to the Third Option (South Carolina Code of Laws SECTION 59-65-47), a homeschool parent must meet the following:

• Have a high school diploma or GED (You should have a copy of your high school diploma, GED, or college diploma.)
• Be the parent or legal guardian of the students they are homeschooling
• Be a member of a homeschool accountability association (There are many wonderful homeschool accountability associations. A directory of associations can be found at The SC Homeschooling Connection.)
• Have an instructional year that is at least 180 days (You should document these days for your records. You can mark a calendar, keep up with days in your plan book, or use a record keeping sheet similar to the one here. You can have more than 180 days, and you can complete those days any time during the year. You do not have to follow a public school calendar. If you withdraw your child from public/private school to homeschool, the days earned in school count toward your 180 days.)
• Have a curriculum that includes reading, writing, math, social studies, science, and in grades seven through twelve, composition and literature. (You can teach more than these subjects, but you must teach these subjects each year. You do not have to teach specific courses within these subjects, however, when choosing your high school courses, you should consider what courses are needed to qualify for admissions at the college of your choice. I recommend, at a minimum, following the requirements for a SC diploma. TSCHAA offers a graduation planning sheet found here. )

Educational records are maintained by the parent. A homeschool parent is in charge of keeping up with the following:

• A plan book, diary, or other record that indicates what is taught (This can be as simple or as elaborate as you choose - just document what you are teaching or what your child is learning and include the dates that you conducted school.)
• A portfolio of samples of student work (A portfolio is defined as a collection of work. You can put your child’s work in a folder, make a digital collection, or you can create a beautiful keepsake of your child’s learning - it is up to you. The goal is to have proof of schooling in the required subjects for each child.)
• Semi-annual progress reports (Progress reports are usually made at 90 days and 180 days. These can be formal like a school would issue and have numerical grades for each subject, or they can be informal and simply state how the child is doing in each subject- ex: satisfactorily, at grade-level, needs improvement in ....)

South Carolina is very homeschool friendly, and the Third Option Law allows flexibility with your record keeping. Most families find the requirements manageable and that their students thrive in the homeschool environment. 

Homeschool associations are ready and equipped to help SC families with their homeschool journies. As director of TSCHAA, I am happy to answer any questions that you may have. 

Happy Homeschooling!

Lara T Caldwell, TSCHAA Director

Free Curriculum and Resources for Your Homeschool

Homeschool curriculums can sometimes get a little pricey, but thankfully there are many free curriculums and resources available online. To assist you in your homeschool journey, I have compiled a list of free resources.

Many of these free resources make a solid stand-alone curriculum, and some can be used to supplement something you already own. Whatever you choose, remember that you are the teacher. You do not have to complete everything, and you can modify assignments as you see fit.

Free Curriculum and Resources For Your Homeschool

https://www.freedomhomeschooling.com/ - Great list of free resources!!!

Discovery K12 - Full non-Common Core traditional curriculum for grades pre-k - 12th-grade. It uses classic literature. 

SAS Curriculum Pathways - standards-based curriculum

CK12 - free online textbooks (these are also available free on Amazon to download)

Knewton - Adaptive learning engine. Knewton currently has math for grades 6 - 12, language arts for grades 4-6, and biology for grades 9-11 but will eventually have full learning content for all grades.

Guest Hollow High School Biology -This site uses a free ck12 textbook to create a high school biology curriculum.

Guest Hollow also offers other courses here.

All In One Homeschool - Complete Free Online Christian Homeschool Curriculum

Khan Academy - this is full of free courses!

GCF Learn Free- online tutorials on many topics, including math and technology

Homeschool Share - lapbook and unit studies

Jenny Phillips - all in one, easy to use

Clarendon Learning - thousands of elementary lesson plans!

CLI - Chrisitan Leaders Institute offers free College Level Courses with Dual Credit and degree/certificate potential 

Core Knowledge - https://www.coreknowledge.org/about-us/our-mission/

TEL Learning - TEL offers free courses AND on-demand dual credit/college courses for an affordable price

Writing Help:

SAS - Guides students through the writing process and helps them edit their papers - the Google Chrome version is AWESOME!

Grammarly - The free version finds 10 times more mistakes than your word processor.

Charlotte Mason curriculums:

Old Fashioned Education
Ambleside Online

Math:

https://www.scdiscus.org/az/tumblemath - uses picture books to teach math!!
Homeschool Math Online
Free Math Program
Math is Fun
Center for Innovation in Mathematics - grades 1-6
AAA Math
Pixar in a Box - learn how the Pixar artists use math and other skills to create their movies
ABCYa!
Flipped Math - high school courses in Algebra I and II, Geometry, pre-Cal, and Calculus
Financial Literacy - high school

Science:

MS Nucleus - K-12 Science
Free Middle School Science and Free Magazine
Guest Hollow - Chemistry, Botany, Biology, Anatomy - literature-based

Reading:

Letter of the Week 
ABCYa!

https://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/

Social Studies:

Government and election resources
Bringing Up Learners - World History
Guest Hollow - Free history for various ages and time periods

Handwriting Sheets Generator:

Handwriting Worksheets
ABC Teach

Art:

KinderArt

Homeschool Curriculum Reviews:

Cathy Duffy Reviews
The Homeschool Mom

Happy Homeschooling!
Lara T Caldwell, TSCHAA Director

The South Carolina Homeschool Accountability Association

It is back to school time in SC! If you are homeschooling under the Third Option Homeschool Law, you are required by law to join a homeschool accountability association. The South Carolina Homeschool Accountability Association (TSCHAA) is one of the many wonderful homeschool associations in SC.

I took over as director/owner of TSCHAA in October 2015. As an experienced homeschool teacher and a former public school math teacher, I understand the unique needs of the homeschool family, and I work hard to provide pertinent resources to help guide members during their homeschool journey.

TSCHAA is a state-wide homeschool association and offers:

• Affordable accountability
• Phone/email support
• An online support group
• Field trips
• Newsletters
• Discounts to HSLDA and SCHEA
• Transcript service for college entry
• Report card service
• Diplomas (TSCHAA partners with Gowns4Good to provide diploma covers)
• Free record keeping sheets

If you are interested in learning more about TSCHAA, please visit my website at www.tschaa.com or feel free to email me at admin@tschaa.com with any questions.

Happy Homeschooling!
Lara T Caldwell, TSCHAA Director