As someone who is starting the sixth year of homeschooling my children, I haven’t gotten to all of the extra work that homeschooling High School might involve. I know that you, dear reader, may be ready for that step and I wanted to find you someone who could answer your questions. Or even if you’re years away from having high school age children, I’m sure you have questions on how it works for homeschoolers.

Melissa is the director of my Homeschool cover. She has successfully homeschooled her boys. And she is such an encouragement to the ones of us who are still learning how to get our homeschoolers to college. Every year she gives a seminar on homeschooling high school. This year it will be on June 22. You can find more information here.

She wanted to go over some of the frequently asked questions she gets for homeschooling High School.

“When my oldest son was in 5th grade, I started learning more about homeschooling high school. I was TERRIFIED. I don’t have a college degree in secondary education. I wasn’t even great at geometry when I was in high school! How on earth was I going to teach high school level material to my own kids?

I started out by reading online about this homeschooling high school thing, and I attended a free seminar given by a local church school administrator. What I learned from these was that even I could homeschool high school. At the seminar I attended, the leader explained how to help my kids earn their high school diploma, different ways to go about teaching those hard subjects, and encouraged us to reach out and use local resources in our homeschooling. I left that day feeling like maybe this thing wouldn’t be as hard as I thought!

Now I’m almost on the other side. My oldest son just completed his first year of college with full tuition and room/board scholarship! My youngest son just completed his sophomore year of high school and his first year as a dual enrollment student at a local community college. Have I done everything right? NO WAY! I have made so many mistakes and if I could go back and re-do their high school years there are MANY things I would do differently. But, with a lot of prayer and research, you too can make it through those high school years. One of my favorite parts of homeschooling high school is that I’ve been able to spend time with these young men as they grow up. Just remember that homeschooling high school is only half book work. The other part is the relationship with your kids and preparing them to mature into well-adjusted, level-headed adults.

As a local church school admin myself, here are the top five questions I get concerning homeschooling high school and my answers.

1. Will they get into college? If they put forth the effort, they can absolutely get into college! Homeschool graduates get into colleges easily every year.
2. How do I teach the high school courses if I’m not trained in that area? There are so many resources available to homeschoolers these days. Utilize those for the subjects you don’t feel like you can’t teach. There are many local co-op classes and online courses taught by teachers that are trained in that subject.
3. How do I get a high school transcript? As the parent, you keep up with the classes your student takes, their grades and the credits they receive. There are many online services that will create a transcript for you. Or, find another homeschooling parent that has successfully created one and let them teach you how to do it. I promise it is way easier than it sounds!
4. How do I prepare them for life after high school? Think about everyday life skills that all adults need to have. How to balance a checkbook, make a dentist appointment, cook a meal, change a tire, do laundry, etc. When your child graduates high school, whether they move off to college, stay home for a while, or move out into their own home, they need to know these things. Adulting is hard enough without having to call your mom to find out how to make a dental appointment when you are 20 years old. The more prepared they are the easier the transition into adulthood will be for them.
5. Is the homeschool diploma accredited? Will it be accepted by colleges? No and yes. Homeschool diplomas do not reflect accredited classes unless your child has been enrolled in an accredited online program. Most colleges have no issue with a transcript from a homeschooled student. Keep good records on your student’s high school career including what books are used, copies of major papers or projects, books they have read, and extracurricular activities.”

Teaching the next generation about compassion is the true essence of paying it forward.

Compassion is the feeling of empathy towards other people and beings. At a very young age, children see the world through their own eyes, wants, and desires. Teaching children compassion is a crucial stage in their development. In fact, some studies suggest that their ability to feel empathy towards other people at an early age can affect their interpersonal skills when they reach adulthood.

Research cited by Very Well Mind suggests that learning compassion actually changes your brain. The study, after observing the brain activity of subjects, found out that compassion functions like a skill, which anyone can develop and improve through practice. Which is why it is best to teach children early.

In this article are some of the ways you can teach your child the meaning and essence of compassion.

Through role models

One of the most effective ways children learn is through mimicking. Moreover, it has been noted that most children look for figures to look up to and it is from them that they learn how to behave. Teaching compassion means walking the talk, according to a post by Huffpost. This means you should show your child through actions, what compassion is. If you see an opportunity to demonstrate compassion by helping a complete stranger, you should do so.

Another way is to introduce real life role models who are exemplary in showing compassion and empathy. Tackle how these ‘heroes’ display empathy and how your children can do too.

Volunteer your time

Incorporating teachings of compassion with a great childhood experience will ingrain the value in your children. Try volunteering together in a hospital or a home for the elderly. Spending time caring for others is a great way to teach empathy.. Grace’s article on ‘Have an Attitude of Gratitude’ recommends volunteering at an animal shelter, a local food bank, or even a crisis center. This can spark a new perspective that will stay with them throughout their lives.

Introduce Charity

The value of giving is one of the greatest facets of compassion you can teach your child and The Balance advises parents to encourage children to get involved in a charity. Giving them the opportunity to help pick out canned goods for food drives or setting up a charity box at home can help instill compassion in them. In fact, there are lots of ways to aid charities. Save the Children has a list of fundraising ideas that are perfect for families, and suggest turning Christmas, Easter, and Halloween events into charitable occasions. This adds a sense of fun to the proceedings and is more likely to encourage your children to want to do more. Likewise, encouraging them to donate old toys, clothes, and other belongings fosters the notion that charity is indeed rewarding.

Care for a Pet

Children’s author Elana K. Arnold believes you can also teach children compassion through looking after pets. Respecting and taking care of other’s needs before yours is the pinnacle of compassion. It does not have to be a big animal right away; Arnold’s son got a chicken, as this entails a major decision for the household. The goal is to teach them to take responsibility for others’ needs, unconditional love, and compassion for all living things.

We had the exciting opportunity to check out the new Cook Museum of Natural Science in Decatur and since it’s summer and we think you need to add this to your bucket list, we wanted to give you some tips before you go!

The Cook Museum of Natural Science is a state of the art natural science museum in downtown Decatur. It provides a hands on, immersive experience where people of all ages can explore, interact with, and learn about nature.

1. Perfect Day Trip:

The Museum is a quick drive from Birmingham, only about an hour and twenty minutes from just south of Downtown making it the perfect trip if you’re looking to do something different and still be back home in time for dinner!

2. You’re Going to Need Some Time:

There are 62,000 square feet in the museum, that’s a lot of opportunity for exploring. We highly suggest allowing at least 2 hours to see everything, we were there with no crowds and spent more than that trying to soak up all of the cool things to see, plus they have THE coolest sand table that you will probably need an extra hour for when your kids are ready to circle back around and play more at that exhibit.

3. Delicious Food Options:

Inside the Cook Museum of Natural Science is Alabama’s first Nature’s Table Cafe. Enjoy ‘clean eating’ at its finest with healthy wraps, sandwiches, salads, protein bowls, smoothies, coffee, and more, all made to order with the freshest ingredients. We highly recommend the Baha Turkey Jack sandwich, the peanut butter cup smoothie and the acai bow topped with granola. We got to try lots of menu samples but those stood out as our favorites!

4. Parking:

Free parking is located in 3 lots around the museum. Primary parking adjacent to the museum and 2 secondary lots located on Holly Street and Cherry Street

5. Exit Through the Gift Shop:

As with most museums and attractions, Cook Museum has a great gift shop that has some very affordable and fun things for the kids and adults. Even with a budget of about $5 or $10 your kiddo (or you) can walk away with a cool keepsake.

The Cook Museum of Natural Science is located at:
133 4th Ave NE
Decatur, AL 35601

Ticket Prices:

Adult (Age 15+) $20
Child (Age 2-14) $15
Infant (2 and Under) Free
Senior (age 65+) $17
Military (with Military ID) $17
Groups (15 or more) $17 for Adult, $13 for Child

Grand Opening Weekend Hours: June 7-9

Friday, June 7th 11am – 8pm
Saturday, June 8th 9am – 8pm
Sunday, June 9th 11am- 6pm

Normal Hours of Operation:

Monday – Thursday 9am – 6pm
Friday 9am – 7pm
Saturday 9am – 8pm
Sunday 12pm – 6pm

While drowning is 100% preventable, nearly 300 children under the age of five drown in pools and spas every year. According to Eric Lupton, President of Life Saver Pool Fence, the number one way to prevent drownings is through proactive parent supervision, but most drownings occur when a child was thought to be in the house but slipped outside without anyone knowing. In 77% of accidental drownings, the child had been seen 5-minutes or less before being missed. Here are 10 tips for keeping their kiddos safe.

1. Install high locks. Put locks on doors and windows that are high and out of reach. Some drownings happen because a parent didn’t know their toddler figured out the door knob. Don’t forget sliding glass doors as well.

2. Get door and window alarms  Families should install simple contact alarms for doors and windows that lead to the pool. The ring-type alarm sounds every time a door opens, alerting an adult.

3. No doggy doors. Pet doors should be permanently sealed off. Toddlers are known to mimic their pets and may follow them right out the doggy door and into the pool area, putting both child and pet at risk.

4. Pool safety fence. One of the most reassuring steps is installing a pool fence. Fences should be at least 4′ tall and have a self-closing, self-latching gate. Mesh pool safety fences, like Life Saver Pool Fence, flaunt an effective layer of protection with a transparent and aesthetically pleasing look.

5. Pool alarms. Surface pool alarms will trigger a sound inside the home when the water’s surface is
broken. However, a small child could quietly walk down the pool steps and slip under water without setting off the alarm, so they cannot be used alone.

6. Child immersion alarms. When you first move into a home, consider using a wearable immersion alarm, like the Safety Turtle, which triggers an alarm inside the house if the sensor gets wet. This is especially important when you are unfamiliar with the area.

7. Assign water watchers. When children are in the pool, assign one person as a designated Water Watcher. Active supervision means sitting close to the pool with your full attention on the child/children. Do a regular headcount never leave young kids unattended.

8. Clear out pool area after swimming. Always remove pool floats after swimming, especially toys that attract children to the water. Also, make sure to move any tables or chairs away from the pool fence so they cannot be used to climb over.

9. Swimming lessons. All children should receive swimming lessons. Some organizations even offer training for infants to roll over and float, and to swim to the edge of the pool in case they fall in.

10. CPR. Every adult should be trained in CPR. Check out community centers for classes. This training can make the difference between life, permanent disability, and death.