It’s one of those skills we want our kids to have, but here’s the short & sweet version: Baby steps matter. Give your kids the intermediate steps along the way and you’ll reap the benefits. 

This isn’t one of those hidden skills kids may or may not need later on…public speaking is a critical skill that benefits children and teens for a lifetime. From your typical science fair presentations to job interviews and community leadership, the ability to speak confidently in front of others can open doors and foster success. For homeschooling families, this skill can be nurtured within the safe creative confines of your home, while beginning to expand to more varied social opportunities.

In this guide, we’ll explore practical tips, creative ideas, and free resources to help your kids grow as confident communicators, no matter their age or current comfort level.

Why Public Speaking Matters

The value of public speaking goes far beyond simply talking in front of a crowd. It develops skills that are vital for every stage of life:

• Confidence: Overcoming fears and learning to speak clearly builds self-assurance.
• Communication: Articulating thoughts effectively and persuasively is a cornerstone of success, not to mention effective writing.
• Critical Thinking: Organizing ideas and responding on the fly sharpens the mind.
• Leadership: Inspiring and motivating others stems from strong speaking skills.

Whether your child is outgoing or reserved, incorporating public speaking into everyday life packs their toolbox to thrive as they head out into varied life experiences.

Opportunities for Younger Learners

For younger children, public speaking can start with playful, low-pressure activities. Here are some ideas to get them comfortable with sharing their voice:

1. Storytelling Nights

Turn storytelling into a family event. Encourage your child to:

• Retell a favorite story or fairy tale.
• Create their own imaginative tale, using prompts like “What would happen if animals could talk?”
• Use puppets or stuffed animals to act out a story they read or one they made up.

These activities help build creativity, vocabulary, and confidence in front of an audience.

2. Show-and-Tell

Adapt the classic school activity for your homeschool setting. Let your child:

• Present a favorite toy, book, or piece of artwork.
• Share why it’s meaningful to them and answer questions from the family.

The interactive element of Q&A fosters quick thinking and conversational skills.

3. Mini Presentations

Give your child a chance to “teach” the family about something they love. Topics could include:

• Their favorite animal or hobby.
• A country they’d like to visit.
• A science experiment they’ve tried.
• A rather silly “would you rather” question that they sussed out.

I loved reading about a group of friends who would periodically have powerpoint parties where they would get together and share what they did for their jobs. It’s one of those moments where we get to shine sharing about something we do well… and public speaking is front and center!

Opportunities for Older Learners

For older kids and teens, public speaking opportunities can become more structured, preparing them for real-world scenarios.

1. Family Debates

Organize friendly debates on lighthearted topics like:

• “Is pineapple on pizza acceptable?”
• “Would you rather visit the mountains or the beach?”

Assign roles for opening arguments, rebuttals, and closing statements. This teaches reasoning, persuasion, and respectful discourse.

2. Dinner Table Discussions

Make mealtime a space for thoughtful conversation. Assign one person to lead a discussion on topics like:

• Current events or history facts.
• Hypothetical questions, such as, “If you could time travel, where would you go?”

These informal discussions build confidence in speaking and encourage critical thinking.

3. Video or Podcast Creation

Teens often enjoy creating content. Encourage them to:

• Record a how-to video.
• Start a podcast about their favorite hobby.
• Share book or movie reviews in vlog format.

We’ve chosen to integrate public speaking into our middle schooler’s history learning. She loves graphic design, as well, so this is really a 3 for 1 deal! At the end of each unit, she’ll get a week to create her slides in Canva, script her presentation, and then deliver it. We’ve given support and made it as low-stakes as possible at the start so that later on we can broaden the audience, use fewer notes, and add in additional gestures. 

Using the Free 30-Day Speaking Challenge

Looking for an easy, structured way to get started? Download our free 30-day public speaking challenge. Each day features a simple prompt to encourage practice, such as:

• “Pretend you’re giving a weather report.”
• “Teach your family how to do something you’re good at.”
• “Explain your favorite hobby to someone who’s never heard of it.”

This free 30-day challenge is designed for kids ages 8–18 and includes prompts for all skill levels. It’s a versatile resource that fits seamlessly into your family’s routine.

CurioSpeak: A Guided Approach to Public Speaking

For families seeking formal instruction, CurioSpeak classes provide expert guidance in small group settings. These classes focus on:

• Building confidence.
• Polishing delivery.
• Developing skills for specific scenarios, like presentations or debates.

While structured classes are not required, combining them with at-home activities creates a well-rounded approach to public speaking.

Other Free Opportunities to Practice Speaking at Home

There are countless ways to incorporate public speaking into everyday family life:

• Virtual Family Gatherings: Have your kids prepare and deliver a short speech during a Zoom or video call. It could be a joke, a story, or even a toast for a special occasion.
• Book Clubs: Create a family book club where everyone takes turns discussing what they’ve read.
• Community Engagement: Encourage older children to volunteer for announcements or presentations at local events, such as church services or neighborhood meetings.
• Scripted Plays or Skits: Let your kids write and perform short plays, complete with props and costumes.
• Improv Games: Play games like “Questions Only” or “Scenes from a Hat” to develop quick thinking and speaking skills.

Parent Next Steps

1. Model Confidence: Let your kids see you speaking confidently, even if it means embracing mistakes as learning opportunities.
2. Provide Constructive Feedback: Offer praise for their efforts and gently guide them on areas to improve.
3. Celebrate Effort: Highlight their progress and encourage them to keep trying.

As you go…

Helping your children develop public speaking skills doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With fun activities, family-led opportunities, and resources like our free 30-day speaking challenge, you can nurture confident communicators at home.

No matter your child’s age or personality, the journey to becoming an effective speaker is something they can progress in!

What’s your family’s favorite way to practice public speaking at home? Share in the comments

Melissa Muir, MAT, is a homeschooling mom of four and a licensed language teacher in the Commonwealth of Virginia for K-12 Language Learning. With years of experience working with children of all ages and a deep commitment to making language learning accessible, engaging, and personalized, Melissa knows what it takes to inspire language learners. She and her husband run Curio, which seeks to make writing, language-learning, and homeschool easier for families through live classes, resources, and self-paced materials. She shares homeschool and teaching content on YouTube.

The post Empowering Public Speaking at Home: A Family Guide appeared first on FundaFunda Academy.

In Conclusion…

Community service not only benefits the students involved but also the broader community. Being involved in something beyond oneself is an important experience for high schoolers, as it is an essential part of being a good citizen. Virtual community service can allow students to make a difference when their schedule allows, without having to worry about a big time commitment or transportation issues.

The post Virtual Volunteering: High School Community Service Opportunities appeared first on FundaFunda Academy.

**Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. You won’t pay any extra if you choose to purchase, but we might receive a small commission**

This post is part of a 10-day “Tips for Homeschool Moms Series” we are doing in conjunction with several other homeschool bloggers. Our theme is “Preparing Your Homeschooled Teen for College”. To see links to all of our posts and the other blogs, you can view this post. Now, here’s how to stand out as a homeschooled college applicant!

Transcript

While the transcript is an important part of a college application, many homeschool parents try to make it be more than it really is. It’s tempting to try and make a unique and interesting transcript, but this is not the best place for that. The transcript is one place where you should give colleges something standard-looking and not try to be too different. The rest of the application is the place to really stand out and show who you truly are.

However, there are some elements on a transcript that look nice and might help your student stand out in a positive way. For example, showing your student took AP or Dual Enrollment courses is great. This shows colleges that your students worked hard for their grades and weren’t just given an A by their parent. Additionally, strong test scores can showcase your student’s academic abilities. Be sure to include your student’s scores for the ACT, PSAT, SAT, etc. on the transcript. For more information on studying for these exams, you can check out this blog post from earlier in our series.

If you need more help with record-keeping and making the transcript for your homeschooler, there are plenty of resources available. Our blog post here talks about record-keeping for homeschooled high schoolers. HSLDA.org has several transcript templates in their high school area that are free to use. Get Ahead of the Class is another blog by an experienced parent that has some fantastic information about transcripts, college prep, and more.

Essays

If your student is applying to colleges that include a personal essay portion on their applications, this is one of their best places to stand out. Many colleges require an essay for application, but even if it is optional, be sure that your student completes this section. This is a part of the application they should not rush through! These essays need to be meaningful to the student and show their personality and character. While academics are important, encourage your student to focus on their life outside of the classroom in these essays.

So, what should your student write about? Well, a lot will depend on the exact prompt for the application they are completing. However, there are common themes across applications. Many will ask your student why they chose the major they are applying to enter. Here, your student could discuss a project or extracurricular that made them passionate about this topic. Schools also frequently ask applicants to describe an obstacle in life they have overcome or a challenge they have faced. This is a fantastic prompt to allow your student to discuss their character and resilience and help colleges see them as a whole person and not just another application. 

Whatever your student writes about, ensure that they take time to think through the prompt and make their essay the best it can be. These essays can definitely make or break an application, so don’t slack off on these!

(And parents – don’t be tempted to write the essay for your child – your role is to help your teen brainstorm ideas, as well as help editing)

Resume/Application Questions

In addition to essays, applications often have a section with short response questions and/or a place to upload a resume. These questions allow your child to mention awards, extracurriculars, sports, community service, employment, etc. They allow your students to show even more aspects of their life that might not fit on an essay or transcript. 

If your student makes a resume of extracurriculars and awards to upload to an application, they need to prioritize information so it fits on 1-2 pages. Naturally, it makes sense to prioritize the highest level awards and activities that they were most involved with or help leadership positions in. It is also good to try and include activities from a few different areas. For example, mention an academic contest, a sport, and a volunteer position instead of three academic contests. As a homeschooler, you have more time than traditional school students to do extracurricular activities. So, be sure those showcase who you are!

Recommendation Letters

If your student’s college allows recommendation letters, these are a must! Recommendation letters allow another person to testify to your student’s character and academic performance. Many schools will allow up to 2 letters. Typically, I would pick one person who could testify to my academics (teacher, mentor from an academic competition, etc.) and one person who could testify to my character outside of the classroom (leader at a place I did community service, sports coach, extracurricular leader, boss, etc.) This way, colleges could see different sides of my personality and know that I was involved in multiple activities. 

If your child has not yet started high school or is just beginning, one of the best things they can start doing now to prepare for college applications is building relationships with people who could write recommendation letters for them. The last thing you want to do is get to senior year and realize you have nobody you can ask! It also looks nice when the people writing the letters have known your children for several years and have plenty they can attest to. 

Blog Post Series

We hope this post gives you and your students some ideas on how to stand out as a homeschooled college applicant! This post is part of a 10-day “Tips for Homeschool Moms” series we are doing in conjunction with other homeschool blogs. Our theme is “Preparing Your Homeschooled Teen for College”. You can find all of our posts, as well as the other blogs and series topics linked in this post. Our partners have some excellent experiences and insight to share in their series, so please do check out their blogs!

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or other suggestions, please leave them in the comments below! 
Thanks for reading!

The post How to Stand out as a Homeschooled College Applicant appeared first on FundaFunda Academy.

**Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. You won’t pay any extra if you choose to purchase, but we might receive a small commission**

This post is part of a 10-day “Tips for Homeschool Moms Series” we are doing in conjunction with several other homeschool bloggers. Our theme is “Preparing Your Homeschooled Teen for College”. To see links to all of our posts and the other blogs, you can view this post. Now, onto our info on homeschoolers and scholarships to help you pay for college!

Finding Scholarships

Personally, I found many of my scholarships through online search engines. One of my favorites was Fastweb, as I felt it organized them well and had a variety of scholarships. I also used Niche, Cappex, and Unigo. There are plenty of options available, so your student can find the one that works best for them. 

If your student prefers searching on paper rather than online, you can check out this book. The Ultimate Scholarship Book is a yearly compilation of thousands of scholarships, contests, and grants for homeschoolers. The book is well-organized into various categories and types of scholarships, which makes it easy for your student to find what they are looking for. It’s a great resource to have on hand as your teen is searching! 

While it’s great to check wide bases of scholarships that are open to everyone, your teen should also look for homeschool-specific scholarships. These scholarships often have smaller entry pools meaning your student has a better chance of winning. One example is this essay contest by Techie Homeschool Mom. It is only open to homeschool students, and all it requires is an essay! 

Applying for Scholarships

Many scholarships have similar essay prompts, so it helps if your student has a few essays that they can tweak to apply to different scholarships. Do check the rules when applying and make sure this is allowed, though. And don’t submit an exact copy. You can use the general structure and ideas and change the wording a bit for different contests. Some common prompts are “What was an obstacle in your life that you had to overcome?” “Why did you choose (insert student’s major)?” and, “Why do you deserve to win this scholarship?” Your student can find others by Googling or by looking for patterns when applying.

When I was applying for scholarships in high school, I often found it a bit difficult to keep track of what was due when, and what I needed. To help, I organized a spreadsheet so that everything was in one place. It wasn’t anything fancy or complicated, but it made applying for scholarships so much easier. In my spreadsheet, each scholarship has its own row. The columns were: deadline, amount, where to find (usually a link to the page), components needed (essay, video, etc.), and date winners are announced. I usually kept them organized in chronological order by due date, with the soonest deadlines at the top. When I finished a scholarship, I highlighted the row in green and added the reminder to check for a winner announcement on my phone.

Additionally, if a scholarship has “optional” requirements, they often are not actually optional. Meaning, that applicants who complete these steps will be considered before applicants who didn’t. So, if a scholarship says it requires an essay and a recommendation letter is optional, your student should be submitting the essay and the letter. Also, make sure students thoroughly read through the requirements for submission to ensure they are not missing components!

More Information

We have more resources available if you would like to read or listen further about homeschoolers and scholarships. This post has more ideas about where to find scholarships. And this book by Monica Matthews discusses strategies to improve your odds of winning scholarships. If you prefer listening, we have podcast episodes on “Finding, Tracking, and Winning Scholarships” and “Completing Online Scholarship Applications” over on the Homeschooling with Technology podcast.

Blog Post Series

We hope you find this information about homeschoolers and scholarships helpful! This post is part of a 10-day “Tips for Homeschool Moms” series we are doing in conjunction with other homeschool blogs. Our theme is “Preparing Your Homeschooled Teen for College”. You can find all of our posts, as well as the other blogs and series topics linked in this post. Our partners have some excellent experiences and insight to share in their series, so please do check out their blogs!

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or other suggestions, please leave them in the comments below! 
Thanks for reading!

The post Homeschoolers and Scholarships appeared first on FundaFunda Academy.

**Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. You won’t pay any extra if you choose to purchase, but we might receive a small commission**

This post is part of a 10-day “Tips for Homeschool Moms Series” we are doing in conjunction with several other homeschool bloggers. Our theme is “Preparing Your Homeschooled Teen for College”. To see links to all of our posts and the other blogs, you can view this post. Now, our info on record-keeping for your homeschooled high schooler

The Essentials

Of course, when thinking about record keeping, GPA likely comes to mind quickly. However, as a homeschool parent, you might be unsure of how to calculate GPA for your student. It is important you do this accurately, as nearly every college your student applies to will request this information. Thankfully, there are resources to help you. This free GPA calculator from Bryan college can help you figure out your child’s GPA on a standard 4.0 scale. 

Additionally, you need to keep information on what classes your student took in each year of high school. You will need to include the curriculum or program you used for the class, how many credits the class counted for, and, of course, your student’s grade for the course. When students are homeschooled, some colleges ask for more detailed information on the curriculum and material covered in courses to ensure your student is up to speed on the subject. You can save yourself a lot of time during application season by collecting this information as you go!

For more information on essentials for record-keeping, you can visit this link. 

Extracurriculars

In addition to keeping track of grades and academics, you need to keep a record of your student’s extracurricular activities. Sports, competitions, academic teams, etc. all fall into this category. When recording info about these events, there are a few key details to be sure you include. First, how many years your student has participated. Second, about how much time per week they spend on the activity. Third, any awards or leadership positions in the event. That info covers the major questions that college applications ask.

You should also keep track of your student’s volunteer and community service work in a similar fashion. The same information about the length of service, time spent per week, and leadership positions are relevant here. You should also make note of what tasks your child was doing at the place they volunteer. This will help them if they need to expand on their community service work to answer an essay prompt. 

Extracurriculars are extremely important on your student’s transcript to help colleges see who your student is outside of the classroom. Stay tuned later this week, as we will be publishing a post on standing out as a homeschooled college applicant where we talk even more about the role of these activities!

Miscellaneous

While applying for colleges, there were some questions that surprised me as I didn’t realize I would need to keep track of such things. Thankfully, I recorded many of these activities on an activity tracker I received from the High School Challenge from FundaFunda in the summer before my freshman year. One of the benefits of signing your student up for this challenge is a detailed activity tracker they receive! This tracker helps get your students involved in the record-keeping process, and it contains tracking for many areas one might not initially think of. Here are a couple of things I’m glad I kept track of.

First, I had two applications ask me to list my top ten favorite books I have read and why. Thankfully, I read quite a bit, so this question wasn’t a struggle for me. So, if your student keeps track of books they read, which are their favorites, and why these books stood out to them, they will be well-prepared for this question!

Second, I had some applications ask me about what I did during the summers. Make sure your teen keeps track of any summer employment, camps, volunteering, summer classes, etc. Colleges like to see that a student did something productive or educational during the summer months! 

Blog Post Series

We hope you enjoyed these tips about record-keeping for your homeschooled high schooler! This post is part of a 10-day “Tips for Homeschool Moms” series we are doing in conjunction with other homeschool blogs. Our theme is “Preparing Your Homeschooled Teen for College”. You can find all of our posts, as well as the other blogs and series topics linked in this post. Our partners have some excellent experiences and insight to share in their series, so please do check out their blogs!

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or other suggestions, please leave them in the comments below! 
Thanks for reading!

The post Record Keeping for your Homeschooled High Schooler appeared first on FundaFunda Academy.

**Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. You won’t pay any extra if you choose to purchase, but we might receive a small commission**

This post is part of a 10-day “Tips for Homeschool Moms Series” we are doing in conjunction with several other homeschool bloggers. Our theme is “Preparing Your Homeschooled Teen for College”. To see links to all of our posts and the other blogs, you can view this post. Now, our info on how homeschoolers can earn college credit in high school!

First Steps

Before your student begins researching colleges, it helps to have some idea of what they are looking for. Any sort of beginning question to jump into searching with is great. The search could be a name of a college they think they like, or it could be something like “Best university engineering programs,” or even simply “colleges in (state you live in).” Getting started is the important part, and your student can expand their research from there. 

There are a number of online resources to help your child dig deeper in their college exploration. In this podcast episode, we discuss a number of free ones that your child can utilize. It’s a good idea to have your student look into many schools in the beginning. Any school that they have a passing interest in is worth researching a bit. They might find something amazing at a university they never expected to apply to. There’s no harm in collecting as much info as possible, and it will help your student feel confident they are making the right choice when the time comes.

If your student needs some more help getting started, consider enrolling them in the High School Challenge. We offer this contest here at FundaFunda each summer to motivate kids to enjoy college prep. This challenge guides students through a number of tasks that aid in their college research. Additionally, students earn points for each challenge they complete, and the top students win prizes!

Factors to Consider

When you are exploring college options with your homeschooler, there are several factors to keep in mind. It might be helpful to make a list or spreadsheet with different categories and type information about each college as you learn about it. Then, you can organize this info into pros and cons for each school. This will aid in the decision-making process and help ensure your student makes an informed choice.

First, your student should consider the financial aspect of college. They need to think about what money they have, what family might contribute, if they are willing to take out loans, etc. This likely needs to be a family discussion. As they are looking at colleges, see what the tuition and estimated total cost is. Also, have your child see what academic scholarships they might qualify for. Then, you can see if these numbers line up with the funds available, or if your child will need to find other options. 

They should also consider how far they want to move for college. Do they want something close to home, or are they prepared to travel to a different state? If moving states, out-of-state tuition is of course a factor to consider. Your student should also consider travel expenses and plans for transportation. Aside from distance from home, your child should also make sure the college is in a location they are comfortable living in for several years. 

Additionally, you should look at the college itself to ensure they offer a program your student is interested in. Other factors to consider at the college itself include student body, size, housing options, sports, and academic strength. While this might seem like a lot, your child can pick the areas most important to them and focus on those. 

How to Explore

In this day and age, technology has created a variety of options for touring colleges from the comfort of your home. Many universities have options on their website to take a virtual tour of the campus and buildings. However, even if they don’t, your student can walk around the outside of campus using Google Streetview or a similar service. These virtual tour options are something your student should definitely take advantage of for any college they are considering. 

However, even with the invention of virtual tours, there are still aspects of an in-person tour that can’t be replicated digitally. I recommend having your student tour the schools they plan to apply to if possible. If it’s not possible to tour all of them, definitely at least tour their top choices. Face-to-face tours allow students to get a firsthand feel of the campus, talk to students, and see if the atmosphere is a good fit for them. They are also a great time for your student to ask questions. For information on what questions to ask, you can view this blog post.

And, of course, word of mouth is always a powerful tool for gaining information about colleges. If your students have friends, coworkers, relatives, etc. who went to a college they are interested in, have your child sit down to discuss the experience with them. Current students and alumni often have the type of raw information you can’t get on a university-led tour. This can help your students see the university from a student perspective to see if it is still a good fit for them.

Blog Series Info

We hope you enjoyed these suggestions on exploring college options with your homeschooler! This post is part of a 10-day “Tips for Homeschool Moms” series we are doing in conjunction with other homeschool blogs. Our theme is “Preparing Your Homeschooled Teen for College”. You can find all of our posts, as well as the other blogs and series topics linked in this post. Our partners have some excellent experiences and insight to share in their series, so please do check out their blogs!

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or other suggestions, please leave them in the comments below! 
Thanks for reading!

The post Exploring College Options with your Homeschooler appeared first on FundaFunda Academy.

**Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. You won’t pay any extra if you choose to purchase, but we might receive a small commission**

This post is part of a 10-day “Tips for Homeschool Moms Series” we are doing in conjunction with several other homeschool bloggers. Our theme is “Preparing Your Homeschooled Teen for College”. To see links to all of our posts and the other blogs, you can view this post.  

Do make sure that you and your teen consider how AI might change any careers they might consider. Some jobs might be come obsolete but most will just incorporate AI into the career. However, less people may be needed for certain careers while new career paths may open up – all factors to take into account!

This episode of the Homeschooling with Technology podcast, Preparing our Children for Jobs of the Future, is worth listening to.

And this tool, JobsGPT from SmarterX.ai helps assess how much different aspects of specific jobs can be done by AI, which is also helpful when considering careers.

Here are some ways teens can narrow down fields they are interested in.

Electives

Electives can be a great way for your child to learn some information about a field and decide if it is something they want to study in college. In high school, I was torn between a variety of different majors. However, after taking a psychology class as an elective, I fell in love with the subject and decided on that as my major. Electives helped me explore many different subject areas with low commitment so I could decide what I was willing to pour four years of studying into in university. 

Internships

Internships are a fantastic way to get firsthand experience in a specific career interest. In addition to helping your child gauge interest in the field, they also look great on applications. Students will also meet various other workers in the field who could serve as mentors or references for them if they decide to continue in the area. Networking is an incredibly valuable tool, and internships can be a great way for your students to start this process early. 

Job Shadowing

Even if you can’t find a full-scale internship, job shadowing might still be an option for your student. If you have a friend or family member who works in a field your child is interested in, have your child ask if they could spend a day at the person’s work. While your child won’t be getting the hands-on experience they would at an internship, the knowledge of seeing how certain jobs work is still incredibly beneficial. Additionally, job shadowing for a day or two is a fairly low commitment. So, this means your student can shadow at many different jobs to get an idea of which ones interest them most.

Career Exploration Curriculum

7 Sisters offers a book that is specifically for career exploration! This workbook guides students through some questions and research to help them identify fields that they might be interested in and well-suited for. Additionally, it provides some great starting points for conversations between parents and students about college prep. 7 Sisters also offers this collection of blog posts on ideas for career exploration for homeschoolers for you to read further. 

Summer Camps and Programs

Summer camps don’t have to end when your student becomes a teenager! Many colleges offer summer programs for high school students to explore study areas they are interested in. Or, for some students, Governor’s School might be an option. Governor’s School is a selective and academically rigorous program for students to complete classes in a field they are interested in during the summer. 

More Suggestions

If you’d like more suggestions on career exploration for homeschooled high schoolers, check out this blog post Vicki Tillman wrote for us. Here, she shares several more ideas to help guide your student’s experience. If you would like a quick, easy, free starting place for your student, consider this Career Exploration Questionnaire. 

Blog Series Info

We hope you enjoyed these suggestions on career exploration for homeschooled high school students! This post is part of a 10-day “Tips for Homeschool Moms” series we are doing in conjunction with other homeschool blogs. Our theme is “Preparing Your Homeschooled Teen for College”. You can find all of our posts, as well as the other blogs and series topics linked in this post. Our partners have some excellent experiences and insight to share in their series, so please do check out their blogs!

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or other suggestions, please leave them in the comments below! 
Thanks for reading!

The post Career Exploration for Homeschooled High Schoolers appeared first on FundaFunda Academy.

**Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. You won’t pay any extra if you choose to purchase, but we might receive a small commission**

This post is part of a 10-day “Tips for Homeschool Moms Series” we are doing in conjunction with several other homeschool bloggers. Our theme is “Preparing Your Homeschooled Teen for College”. To see links to all of our posts and the other blogs, you can view this post. Now, our info on how homeschoolers can earn college credit in high school!

Advanced Placement (AP) Exams

AP exams are tests students can take to place into higher-level college classes and earn college credits. They sometimes have classes that go along with them, or your student might study for them independently. For more information about AP exams in homeschooling, you can check out this blog post.

Most AP exams consist of a multiple-choice section and a free-response/ essay portion. Exams receive a score from 1-5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the best. An AP exam score of 3 is generally considered “passing” and is where colleges begin awarding credit. However, some schools only award course credit for scores of 4 and 5. I scored a 5 on AP Psychology and AP English Composition. This transferred to my university as credit for 1 psychology course and 3 English courses!

With the general info on AP exams covered, here are a few pros and cons to consider before you decide to sign your child up for any. 

Pros

Most colleges accept at least some AP exams but make sure your student checks what schools accept what exams. Many schools will award credit for a 3 or 4 on the AP exam. At some schools, a 5 on one AP exam could test your student out of three or more classes! Taking even one or two AP exams per year could make a huge dent in the college course load if your child scores well.

All students in a certain subject are given the same exam, so homeschoolers are tested directly against other students. This can be a great way to show college admissions workers that your students are at the same level as their peers in public school, even if the college doesn’t give credit for the exam.

Cons

With the AP exam, you have only one shot per year to do well on the test. The tests are offered on a specific day and time each year, and that is the only chance to take the exam unless you qualify for certain exemptions. If your child has testing anxiety or other factors that influence their test scores, AP exams might not be the way to go. (You can retake the exam in a following year and get the previous score removed – info can be found on the Collegeboard website – but it is a hassle)

You will need to find a location for your child to take the test. Your homeschool umbrella partner might offer a location, but some do not. I personally received permission from a local private school to take mine there. You will have to call around and see what options there are near you. This might not be a con if you live in a city or suburb, but it could be if you would have to travel far for the exam. Here is more information on how to go about finding a test site. Note also that you need to secure a location by mid-November!

Dual Enrollment

Dual enrollment involves taking a class either online or at a university that satisfies a high school requirement while also earning credit for the college class. These classes are often offered at community colleges, so your student has the option to enroll there. This allows them to get an authentic college class experience while still in high school, which is incredibly valuable!

Colleges have varying policies on what dual enrollment courses they will or won’t accept. I dual enrolled in many classes at a community college, and I, fortunately, received credit for all of them at the state university I am attending now. However, I had friends who took multiple dual enrollment courses only to later realize none of them would transfer to their preferred college. As with the other two selections on this list, have your student do their research before they commit! 

Now, for the dual enrolment pros and cons!

Pros

Even beyond the credit opportunities, dual enrollment is a fantastic place to learn relevant academic and personal skills. Being in a classroom setting (if classes are in-person), working on group projects, and learning from various professors’ teaching styles are valuable experiences. Students can get a feel for what a college environment is like, which is beneficial before college. 

While many students take dual enrollment at a community college, there are several online options as well. Bryan College is one reputable, online source of dual enrollment courses. These online options provide some flexibility for students who prefer online learning or who have busy schedules.

Cons

Depending on what types of funding exist in your state, dual enrollment classes can be expensive. In Tennessee, I was able to take one dual enrollment class per semester for free starting my junior year. However, the community college I attended had some other funds I was able to pull from to cover more classes. Be sure to research and see what is available in your area!

Unlike AP and CLEP exams, not all dual enrollment courses are created equally. Unless the admissions counselor knows the college, they won’t know how rigorous the course was. However, the fact that the student is taking a class at a college level will still look good on applications.

College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)

CLEP exams are similar to AP exams in that your student will take one exam to determine if they are awarded college credits. There are many options for prep and study materials online, such as the official CLEP guides.

These exams are graded on a scale of 1-100, and schools typically begin awarding credits at around 50pts. Some offer one class credit for any score above 50, and some offer more credits for higher scores. Your student will have to look into policies at schools they plan to apply to and see what CLEP exams might work for them.

Here are some of our pros and cons for CLEP tests. For even more info, take a look at this blog post from 7 Sisters Homeschool.

Pros

CLEP exams can be administered any day of the year, so there is flexibility on when your child takes the test. Additionally, there are both online and in-person testing options. These factors make CLEP exams a much more convenient and accessible option for many families.

The CLEP exams span a wide variety of topics and offer more options than the AP exams. This allows your child to take a test that they are more confident that they will perform well on. 

Like AP exams, because all students take the same subject exam, colleges can see that your student measures up to other students in their classes. Again, this helps to show that your child is learning and comprehending the material and is not just being given a grade.

Cons

Many schools do not accept CLEP or only accept them for select topics. Have your child check the policies at the schools they are interested in. If the schools don’t accept CLEP, you might want to look for another option. 

Prep materials available for CLEP exams are a bit more limited than for AP. There are certainly still options to choose from, but students might have slightly fewer resources than they would for other options on this list.

Blog Series Info

We hope this post has opened your eyes to ways how homeschoolers can earn college credit in high school! This post is part of a 10-day “Tips for Homeschool Moms” series we are doing in conjunction with other homeschool blogs. Our theme is “Preparing Your Homeschooled Teen for College”. You can find all of our posts, as well as the other blogs and series topics linked in this post. Our partners have some excellent experiences and insight to share in their series, so please do check out their blogs!

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or other suggestions, please leave them in the comments below! 
Thanks for reading!

The post How Homeschoolers Can Earn College Credit in High School appeared first on FundaFunda Academy.

**Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. You won’t pay any extra if you choose to purchase, but we might receive a small commission**

This post is part of a 10-day “Tips for Homeschool Moms Series” we are doing in conjunction with several other homeschool bloggers. Our theme is “Preparing Your Homeschooled Teen for College”. To see links to all of our posts and the other blogs, you can view this post. Now, onto preparing for the ACT, SAT, and PSAT as a homeschooler!

General Exam Info

Before we begin, let’s talk a bit about each of these tests. The ACT and SAT are college entry exams, and universities often use these scores for admission and scholarship consideration. While several schools have gone test-optional for admission in recent years, these tests are still important for many schools and academic scholarships. Even if your teen ends up attending a school that doesn’t require test scores, it is better to take it than to not take it and be limited on schools one can apply to. Most schools accept either the ACT or SAT, so your child can try both and submit the scores for whichever they perform better on.

The PSAT, on the other hand, is not used for college admission. It is a test both to practice for the SAT and to try and qualify for National Merit. National Merit is a competition based on PSAT scores that students will be considered for if they take the PSAT in their junior year of high school. The semi-finalists are chosen from each state based on test scores. Then, to move on, students provide letters of recommendation and a personal essay. There are scholarships awarded to Finalists. Even if your student does not make it to this level, however, there are a number of commended students in each state who scored well, but not high enough to continue in the competition. This honor looks great on college applications, and is an accomplishment your teen can be proud of

With that, let’s move into our discussion of prep resources for each of these exams!

ACT Resources and Info

The ACT tests students in four areas: English, math, reading, and science. Additionally, there is an optional writing component students can take. Reading comprehension is crucial for the ACT, as even the science section is primarily interpreting graphs and data. As this is a timed test, students should also be prepared to work efficiently. They should be prepared to use the process of elimination and critical thinking to make an educated guess on questions when they aren’t certain. There is no penalty for guessing on the ACT, so it is best to answer every question.

Taking practice tests is a great way for students to familiarize themselves with the test layout and practice working in the time limit. The Princeton Review offers review books that include test strategies and 6 full-length practice tests. These are a perfect intro to the ACT if your student has never taken it before, and they can also be a good refresher for students who have. 

FundaFunda’s ACT tutor Lea Bosse did a blog post with 10 Tips to Improve your ACT Score. She designed out ACT Intro class for students who have never taken the ACT before. This course will help students get an idea of what to expect when they take the exam. She also offers her one-on-one tutoring to students who want to improve their ACT score. This tutoring helps students target areas that need improvement, boost confidence, and increase their score. 

SAT Resources and Info

The SAT  consists of three sections: Reading, writing and language, and math. Like the ACT, there is an optional essay portion. Previously, the SAT counted off points for incorrect answers, meaning it was better to leave questions blank than to guess. However, the SAT changed this rule a few years ago. It is now like the ACT and has no penalty for guessing. The main difference between the content of the ACT and SAT is the lack of a science section on the SAT. Many students who prefer language arts to math and science perform better on the SAT. The SAT also allows for slightly more time per question than the ACT. This is important to consider if your student tends to need more time to complete exams. 

Like with the ACT, the best way to increase your student’s comfort with the SAT is through practice tests.  The Princeton Review has prep books for the SAT.  If your teen wants some quick practice without doing a full test, they can visit this website. They offer a free “SAT Question of the Day” in each subject category. Additionally, the PSAT is very similar in content to the SAT, so taking the PSAT before taking the SAT can be great preparation.

Because the SAT is vocabulary-heavy, websites like Vocabulary.com are great for review, and they can be used on the go. They have a basic word quiz that anyone can play for free, or you can pay for specialized SAT vocabulary practice. Of course, you can also make your own flashcards for your student to study with using Quizlet or some good old-fashioned pen and paper  

For even more options, you can view our blog post here on SAT resources for homeschoolers with suggestions for improving each subject area. 7 Sisters homeschool blog also has a comprehensive post with lots of resources for homeschoolers to study for the SAT. I recommend looking through both of these posts for more ideas. Then customize your plan to whatever works best for you!

PSAT Resources and Info

The PSAT covers the same three subject areas as the SAT, minus the optional essay section. The time limit, format, and content between the two tests is almost identical. This is why it’s important for your teen to take the PSAT to practice before taking the SAT. As mentioned above, junior year is when students qualify to compete for National Merit. However, freshmen and sophomores can and should still take the PSAT as practice. This way, they will be well-prepared when junior year comes!

Students can use many of the resources we list for SAT practice to prep for the PSAT as well since the content is so similar. The Princeton Review has PSAT prep books as well that contain test-taking strategies and practice tests. Additionally, we have a blog post with some more ideas for PSAT practice. For help specifically on the math section, this YouTube channel is fantastic. He walks through entire practice tests of math and explains each problem in detail.

If the PSAT is your student’s first standardized test in high school, it might also be their first time using a scientific calculator in a timed format. Students often see that they are allowed to have a calculator and assume that will make the math section easy. However, having a calculator helps nothing if you don’t know how to use it! This YouTube video says it is SAT calculator tips, but the info applies to PSAT math as well. And, make sure your student knows to charge their calculator before the exam! I made the mistake of forgetting this one time, so I feel it necessary to caution others  

Blog Series Info

We hope these tips make preparing for the ACT, SAT, and PSAT as a homeschooler a bit easier! This post is part of a 10-day “Tips for Homeschool Moms” series we are doing in conjunction with other homeschool blogs. Our theme is “Preparing Your Homeschooled Teen for College”. You can find all of our posts, as well as the other blogs and series topics linked in this post. Our partners have some excellent experiences and insight to share in their series, so please do check out their blogs!

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or other suggestions for test prep, please leave them in the comments below! 
Thanks for reading!

The post Preparing for the ACT, SAT, and PSAT as a Homeschooler appeared first on FundaFunda Academy.

As you begin homeschooling in high school, you are likely thinking about everything your child needs before they graduate. Between state credit requirements, tests such as the ACT and SAT, portfolios, and more, you and your student have a lot on your plates to ensure they graduate on time. However, it’s important not to forget the more general life skills that your child needs if they want to continue on to higher education. Here, we have put together a list of skills high schoolers need before college. As you read this list, consider what your teen already knows and what they could stand to improve on, and then make a plan to strengthen any weaker skills. 

** Some links in this post may be affiliate links. You won’t pay any extra if you choose to purchase through the links, but we might receive a small commission on your purchase**

This post is part of a 10-day “Tips for Homeschool Moms Series” we are doing in conjunction with several other homeschool bloggers. Our theme is “Preparing Your Homeschooled Teen for College”. To see links to all of our posts and the other blogs, you can view this post.

Skills High Schoolers Need Before College

Naturally, there are countless skills we could include on this list. However, we chose to focus on skills that are often overlooked but are important for success in college.

Computer Skills

Much of our world operates digitally in this age, and the education realm is no different. Even if your teen takes solely in-person classes at college, they will certainly have assignments to complete that involve technology skills. Making slideshows, typing in Google Docs and Microsoft Word, and even basic video recording/editing are common projects in college. If your teen needs some help getting started in this area, check out the Computer Applications class and Intro to Google Drive unit study we offer here at FundaFunda! These courses will help prepare your teen with practical computer skills they will use throughout their lives. If you as a homeschool parent need ideas on incorporating tech into your schoolwork, listen to our weekly podcast Homeschooling with Technology!

Note-Taking

Note-taking is a crucial skill for teenagers to be familiar with before college. Teens must figure out a method that works for them to organize information quickly and effectively. It’s important for them to be able to recognize a topic, outline main ideas, and summarize critical information. Have them practice summarizing information from their textbooks or an online video in various methods (Cornell method, outlining, etc.) If they are not familiar with different note-taking methods, check out this video for an overview of some popular ones.

Critical Thinking

The ability to think critically and form one’s own opinion is something that will serve teens throughout their entire life. In college, this is a skill that your student will need both inside and outside of the classroom. In many of our classes here at FundaFunda, students are asked to reflect on what they have learned, or provide an opinion on a topic they have learned about.

Test-Taking

While it isn’t the most fun skill to learn, test-taking strategies are a necessity both at college and for college entry exams like the ACT/SAT. Test-taking combines a variety of different skills: time-management, process of elimination, trusting your instinct, and more. Signing your teen up for the PSAT can be a great way to practice test-taking before the ACT and SAT. You can also practice these strategies at home in your regular curriculum. However you choose to develop these skills, your child will certainly be thanking you after their first midterm in college

Time Management

Time management is, in my opinion, the most important skill for teens to master before beginning college classes. Without it, deadlines, assignments, and other responsibilities quickly become overwhelming. Teens need to be familiar with adhering to due dates for assignments and projects. A great way to practice this skill is by taking co-op or online classes that follow deadlines and have weekly assignments. This way, teens are used to turning in work on a schedule before college. If you need recommendations, you can of course look at our selection of full-semester online classes

Summarizing a Paragraph

Summarizing information in one’s own words is a highly overlooked skill, but it is crucial to know. It is common for college professors to assign students long textbook readings and/or lecture videos and ask them to summarize the main ideas of the information in a paragraph or two. Students must be able to do this without plagiarizing and while managing to pick out the important information. This is a great skill to practice at home with your student’s reading, be it textbooks or leisure, or even videos they watch! For more information, you can listen to this podcast episode from the Homeschooling with Technology Podcast. 

Operating in an Online Classroom

Regardless of whether your child is taking in-person or online classes at college, there will likely be some aspects of the classroom that are virtual. Professors often utilize discussion boards, digital drop boxes for submissions, and Zoom office hours. Your student must be prepared to operate in a virtual setting if needed. It is also good to experience both synchronous and asynchronous classes so your child is ready for either. Our classes contain online assignments with due dates and teacher feedback on submissions, but are asynchronous and do not have scheduled class meeting times (with the exception of Spanish). True North Academy offers synchronous online classes with scheduled meeting times each week (some classes are from a Christian worldview). Both types of classes are great to ensure your child won’t be fully unfamiliar with online classrooms when they reach college.

Blog Series

We hope this post has given you some insight into skills high schoolers need before college! This post is part of a 10-day “Tips for Homeschool Moms” series we are doing in conjunction with other homeschool blogs. Our theme is “Preparing Your Homeschooled Teen for College”. You can find all of our posts, as well as the other blogs and series topics linked in this post. Our partners have some excellent experiences and insight to share in their series, so please do check out their blogs!

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or other skills you think are important for high schoolers to learn before college, please leave them in the comments below! 
Thanks for reading!

The post Skills High Schoolers Need Before College appeared first on FundaFunda Academy.