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Homeschool

Learning for Mastery: Some Practical Issues

When I wrote about mastery learning last week, I discussed our 80% rule: if our children get below 80% on a test they fail, and we will relearn and reteach as necessary.  Why?  Because we want our children to master the material they are studying, and if they do not understand the material well enough to […]

80% Passing Grade: Learning for Mastery

My older children take chapter and lesson tests regularly, and if they get below 80% they fail.  In other words, if they get 79% or less they will redo the material, and I will reteach whatever is necessary. I’ve seen this concept raise eyebrows and meet with disapproval.  But is it really crazy?  Am I […]

“Would You Homeschool My Kids?”

“Would you homeschool my kids?” I’ve been asked that a few times.  This weekend someone asked me again, and I’m glad she was joking.  At least I hope she was. I’m not sure why people ask, but they do.  And my response is usually that it wouldn’t really work.  They can’t expect the results we […]

Review: Favorite Poems Old and New

I cannot remember where I first heard about Favorite Poems Old and New, but I do recall the excitement when I finally found it somewhere, second-hand and affordable. This sturdy volume of almost 600 pages is a treasure.  Last night Miss 12 was wandering around aimlessly, so we grabbed the book and settled down on […]

Our Un-Schedule with Grades 12, 10, 7, and 5

I always like to see how others run their homeschools and homes.  It’s interesting to see what works for people, and I often get an idea or two.  Assuming you may feel the same way, I’ve put our routine into words. Note that word ‘routine’.  It is not a detailed schedule like some I’ve seen.  […]