Homeschooling: Break? Year Round? First Day of Homeschool? Q & A

I did not want you to be left confused. I feel like explaining things that are difficult for some people to understand. I decided to do this in the form of a Q &A, but ask and answer the question myself. The questions people have asked of me.

Q: Do you take a summer break, or do you homeschool year-round?

A: Niether and Both. We do relaxed homeschooling and tidal wave homeschooling, a form of education which means that we are like the tide coming in and going out.

We try to do as best we can to get to where I consider to be “at grade level” in each subject for each child. We do not ever stop working on this, but we are also not always concernd about this.

We have ebbs and flows. Sometimes, with much effort, we learn a whole bunch and progress a lot in a period of time (this sometimes looks like an accelerated school for the gifted or early college, and sometimes looks like a 1900 one-room schoolhouse). At other times, we are more like unschoolers. Sometimes, we have a day that looks like montessori school. Sometimes, we have a field trip day. When people visit or we visit others, we have a day completely dedicated to only socializing. When we visited Grandma Preece or when Uncle Steven came over, we dropped all of our concerns and cares, and just visited. The kids learn plenty by visiting and socializing with others.

Q: Homeschoolers do not have to start school when the public schools begin. Isn’t that right?

A: This has a long answer, too. We do not have to, but because of classes we signed up for, we do.

We enroll in some classes not led by me but by teachers my husband and I chose or hired. One of these is free and it is The Church Seminary Program. (Oh, did you catch that? I almost used the acronym). Early Morning Seminary this year begins the same day public school begins in my area. This means that although we do not really care when homeschool begins or ends, I can choose a day when I can say something officially begins. It is the day Seminary begins.

The hired teachers and has also chosen certain dates to begin their classes, vacation days and end dates. Likewise, many homeschool parents join “co-ops,” which are groups of homeschoolers who get together and do learning together. These co-ops have a set schedule. A co-op has a start date, vacation dates and end dates, too.

I would not want to have the first day of homeschool for the kids which have teachers who’ve given them start-dates, and not have this for the younger 4. After all, the younger 4 are so looking forward to “doing homeschool” officially again. Their siblings are officially starting and so are their neighborhood friends and cousins.

This would be when I to the part called “get the kids ready for the first day of school (by clothes shopping at the back to school clothing sales) as a mom” and the part where I do “put in full-time hours of preparation of the homeschool room, planning and getting ready for homeschool to officially begin on August 27, like a paid public school teacher,” at the same time. (The second part includes getting in on back to school curriculum and supplies sales).

Speed Tour of my Recently Cleaned and Re-Organized Homeschool Room

Of course, many teacher moms do this. They get their own gets ready and sent off, and they also go to the school all day for a couple weeks to get their public school classroom ready.

This “Photographer Mom” is prepared to do “First Day of Homeschool 2018” photos next week!

It’s just a little different. I do not get paid and I do not have to get someone to tend the kids while I go off to work. They are here and I am here, which means I do the prep work and they wish I wouldn’t because it means I am not giving them the attention they would like. It is hard on the kids here, as they are eager to “officially start school” again, and frustrated that their mom is working on prepping and pretty much just letting them “fend for themselves” (except the littlest, who at least gets fed by mom and gets a lot of attention because he demands it).

I hope this helps everyone to understand my world so that they are not confused. There are so many different ways to homeschool. Sometimes, there are jokes or memes on the internet that give one impression, and the people who do not know that all homeschools are different get so upset when things are not the way a youtube video says they are.

This one is a funny one by “It’s a Southern Thing.”

Tell me, are the others exaggerated? Yeah. So do you think the homeschool mom one is? Think about it. I am a homeschool mom and I still laughed at it. I was not upset by the inaccuracy. I know it’s all exaggerated and it is a joke. It’s very funny. If you like it, subscribe, because all of their videos are just as humorous!

For the record, homeschool moms and kids do get dressed in day clothing because they are very busy. We get dressed for the same reasons that you get dressed during the summer. Also, homeschool moms usually put together or join in on a “Not Back to School” park day or party on the first day of local public school. We all know when school starts, including those who do unschooling! We all look forward to getting the museums and parks back to uncrowded. We love it when school starts and are very aware!

I am most like the photographer mom, by the way. I am very sentimental, an artist and a graphic designer, after all! So, yeah, homeschool moms are all different, too, and we have personalities that are all different from the personalities of other homeschool moms. We love our variety and differences!

Guidance Requested, Please!

I have a favor to ask of you.

1) Please read Common Core Diva’s post from today about what education and labor are going to become (from birth to death or for the people from preschool to elderly).

2) Please read my comment on her post.

3) Please tell me what to do as a homeschool mom. I am lost and do not know what to do.

Thanks!

This is the wall I feel is being built to enhance control at the expense of liberty.

I Feel Like a Smooth, Old Mountain Now

As a homeschool mom, I feel solid like a smooth, old mountain now. I do not feel as I did when I was newer to homeschooling. Then, I felt an excitement from the newness and the riskiness of it all. I was rebelling against society’s “normal.” Now, I plug away, doing much of the same day after day, week after week and year after year. I feel the compounding of years of experience and learning. I feel like my older children have a strong, good foundation from many years of steady work on my part, my husband’s part, and their parts. I feel a love and partnership with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and The Holy Ghost.

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I do not feel anxious or worried that my children will not turn out fine. I feel a smooth, soft joy and a love for them which I feel will help me accept whatever life they choose and whatever they become. I do not worry about test scores. They will be taking the ACT and GED tests, but I plan to be pleased with them even if they possibly take a long time to pass the GED and get a score on the ACT which would get them into our local Weber State University. They are great people. They are prepared enough for life for their ages. I am pleased and happy.

Homeschool Room Spring Cleaning Motivation Video

I homeschool many children. We have a large homeschooling family. Our style is Relaxed Homeschooling. We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Here is a quick video to watch for motivation to clean your homeschool areas of the house or homeschool room. Enjoy and get energized! If you like it, please sign up to receive my posts (which are not very frequent) in your E-mail box when they come out. If you are a WordPress blogger, please subscribe to my posts on WordPress Reader. Thanks!

Enjoy this very short video!

Motivation For You! Watch me Clean My Homeschool Room

 

Related posts

Housecleaning is Part of Homeschooling

Does Your Family Do Housework on the Sabbath?

Classroom Set-Up: Back to Relaxed Mormon Homeschool

Just Start Cleaning and Ask them to Help

Making Space for a Better Homeschool

 

Weber State University Homeschooled Student Early College and Regular Admittance; and Scholarships

Today I visited Weber State University and met with multiple experts on campus. This university has different rules for different situations. I think I got it cleared up today. None of this is on their website. It is all information you have to beg for, investigate and really dig hard to get. I really think it would be better for them to post all of these things clearly on their web site and for them to print all of these things in a brochure made specifically for the homeschooled!

Weber State University Academic Scholarships for Homeschooled Candidates

The following are requirements for Homeschooled Candidates only:

Presidential Scholarship

ACT composite 31+

8 semesters, tuition & fees, valued at $25,000

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Trustee’s Scholarship

ACT composite 27-30

2 semesters, $1,750 per semester

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Dean’s Scholarship

ACT composite 23-26

2 semesters, $1,000 per semester

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Keep in mind, applying for scholarships every year is my recommendation. Even if a candidate only receives a 1 year scholarship, they may apply for and receive another one each year following that first year. My husband did that. My husband also received a $1,000 scholarship from a non-profit organization. Applying for one scholarship each week is a good idea, in my opinion. A candidate may put one scholarship on top of another. It will save even more money.

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Early College Admittance for Homeschooled Students 10th through 12th Grades (Ages 14-18)

A candidate who is a Sophomore, Junior or Senior who is Homeschooling High School can be admitted to the Early College program with a 21 composite score on the ACT. No GED exam is necessary. When the candidate is a minor (under 18), they must also have the permission of their parent or legal guardian to be admitted to the program.

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Regular Admittance (not in Early College Program) of the Homeschooled, to Weber State University, (Ages 16-18)

To be admitted at an early age (before the time when peer high school class would be graduating from high school), candidates must have ACT score of 21 and must pass each GED exam with at least a 145 and have a total for all GED exams of 600. The GED exams cannot be taken until the candidate is aged 16. When the candidate is a minor (under 18), they must also have the permission of their parent or legal guardian to be admitted.

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Regular Admittance of the Homeschooled, to Weber State University, at least the year after the peer graduating class has graduated, ages 18 or 19+

When the candidate is one year beyond the year when his or her peers have graduated from High School, the homeschooled candidate must either:

1) Candidate has an ACT score of 21 to be admitted (36 is the highest possible score); Or,

2) Candidate must have passed each GED exam with at least a 145 and have a total for all GED exams of 600. (There are 4 exams, which may be taken on separate days. The highest possible score on each exam is 200. The highest possible total score is 800.)

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Dec. 2, 2017 (In answer to a question about FAFSA for children)

FAFSA: Early College students and those attending before the age of 18 can get federal financial student aid (FAFSA). Students under the age of 18 must have a co-signer to apply for FAFSA and must not be enrolled in a public school or a charter school, because they are federally funded just like the FAFSA and a person cannot be receiving benefits from 2 federally funded programs at the same time.

Sources:

1) This article from HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association) explains that homeschooled candidates do not need a GED to be consider to be high school graduates. They just need a homeschool diploma.

2) I spoke with Mona Lisa Harding on the phone on 12-1-17 and she told me all of her kids, even one starting college at age 10 and a half, got FAFSA. She said they would not have been able to afford college had they not used FAFSA, because they are a (financially) poor family. Mona Lisa and her husband Kip wrote a book called “The Brainy Bunch,” and have a website as well. They are very kind, helpful people who are amazing, yet who act like they are not amazing or extraordinary at all (as humble as any people could possibly be). I highly recommend their book. Even if you don’t do what they do, it is a great resource for all homeschool parents! She also said we should only give our money to homeschool-friendly junior colleges, colleges and univeristies, and that I need to find out from all the local higher education schools, which ones love homeschooled candidates the most, and support those ones. She recommends making sure that our kids know how to regularly write a good 5 paragraph essay, have written a 5 page research report with a bibliography, have completed courses in Algebra, Geometry and Trigonometry in homeschool. She urges us to have created for our child a High School transcript showing completion of classes recommended by the Junior Colleges or Community Colleges in our area, or which we plan to have our children attend online. She uses and Excel Spreadsheet for her childrens’ transcripts. She gave me so very much great advice and has even more in her book and on her website, and an opportunity to pay her for a phone consultation! The Brainy Bunch book website

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Please read this great article written by Lee Binz about how to determine whether a college or university is homeschool friendly. I love this article!

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Additional communication from Weber State University:

December 2, 2017

Rachael Combe sent me an E-mail that said:

“No, from my knowledge we will not be considering GED scores in the near future.  We realize that not all students have the same testing capabilities.  If your daughter believes that she should be considered for a higher scholarship based on other factors aside from her ACT results, she can write a statement to scholarship@weber.edu requesting consideration.  The Financial Aid and Scholarship Appeals Committee will then evaluate her eligibility.”

That is good news! I am glad there is a way for homeschooled candidates to present their other accomplishments for consideration by a scholarship appeals committee. That is very good information! Since public schooled candidates have GPA’s as well as an ACT, it is rough for our children to have everything weighted on only their ACT score! It really is unfair. The fact that they have such an appeals committee is a good thing! It is too bad that no Admissions Appeals Committee has been mentioned. Rachael from the scholarship office said that there are scholarships for those who receive a 15-17 and a 17-20 on their ACT. This indicates that these people are admitted with these low scores, when our homeschooled children must each receive an ACT composite score of 21 to be admitted! This is very off-balance. It makes me think that this university is not very homeschool friendly.

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Sources:

Scott Teichert, Director of Admissions, Weber State University, 11-30-2017 (Student Services Center)

Samantha Burroghs, Academic Advisor (Early College Program) at Weber State University, 11-30-2017 (Student Services Center)

Rachael Combe, Weber State Academics and Merit Scholarship Specialist, Weber State University, 11-30-2017 (E-mail)

Early Literacy in Homeschool

Here is my video on YouTube about teaching little kids to read and write with the Montessori Method and with Preschool Prep Co. mini books. Enjoy!

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Early Literacy in Homeschool

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Homeschool and Opt In, Dual Enrollment, Sexuality and Homosexuality Within Marriage and Transgenderism, Utah Public Schools Fall of 2017, and teaching a Christian Perspective of this to your Child(ren)

I  believe long titles are cool. How could I possibly shorten that?

Someone just replied to a post stating that they wish it were “opt in” to what you want taught to your children rather than “opt out.” I replied that her wish has already come true. The laws in Utah already make it that way! I homeschool my kids because I decided not to opt in to anything. Some moms homeschool their kids, but can legally do something called dual enrollment. They can decide into which classes in Junior High or High School their children will enroll. They can decide in elementary school, which subjects their children can learn in the public school. The rest, they teach at home through homeschooling.

For example, if in the elementary years, I want to have my kids in homeschool, but I want them to go to elementary school for science, I can do that. The teacher can let me know on what days and at what time science is taught and I can take my child to the school just for science. In Junior High, if I wanted my child in just choir and orchestra, I could put my child in just those classes.

So, crazy amazing as it is, homeschooling is not as bad as people think. You just have to sign an affadavit that is stamped by a notary public and turn it into your school district, which says you will be responsible for the educatin of your child(ren) who are named on the affadavit.

If the parent does not want their child in public school for a class but wants someone else to teach it, they can hire a teacher or tutor. In homeschooling facebook groups, ther are abundant invitations to enroll in classes taught by others by paying a fee. They are in many countiesm so sometimes, a parent will drive their child to another county for a class. Children who are homeschooled are not limited in socialization like people think. They are exposed to many different people in diverse locations, who have diverse religions and different cultural backgrounds! The parent and the child together get to choose the teachers and classes, though!

Utah SB (Senate Bill) 196 of 2017 Session, Passed into Law by Governor Herbert
Link to copy and paste, to share: https://le.utah.gov/~2017/bills/static/SB0196.html

This coming fall in Utah, it will be legal for the kid to be exposed to the advocacy and teaching of and about homosexuality within marriage, and about transgenderism at any age. This will be something Equality Utah will be very willing to teach on behalf of the teachers who do not want to teach it themselves. This can be taught with any subject: health, the family curriculum, P.E., music, art, math, science, language arts or social studies. Their may be math story problems which mention homosexuality. Grammar can be taught with homosexuality and transgenderism mentioned in the sentences to be worked with.

In short, this fall, I do not recommend public school if you are against your child learning these things from others. I teach my kids about transgenderism and homosexuality. They are very aware it exists and know how to be kind to everyone. I can teach it myself. I do not need to trust the public schools, which will trust Equality Utah with it. If your child is in a public school in Utah and you feel you have no choice, pray that your child will have a Christian teacher who will teach your child about it. That is the best you can possibly get!

In Utah, I bet it will be done as it has been done in other states. Sexuality, Homosexuality within marriage and transgenderism will likely be taught in Health class and in school-wide assemblies via large films created by Equality Utah, after which Equality Utah members will have a discussion and will lead a Q and A session with the youth. They may have already been arranging these assemblies wi school princlipals over the summer months. It may be possible to find out from the school, when these assemblies will happen. Then you can either not send your child that day or you can make sure to talk to your child on that very day right afterit happens and discuss what they learned with them, from a Christian perspective.

Here is a link to the bill passed in the 2017 session and allowed into law by Governor Herbert. It passed because Equality Utah sued the Utah State Board of Education and said they would drop the suit if it passed. Utah SBof E. was convinced they could not afford the risk of letting it go to the Supreme Court (under President Trump’s very Christian Republican administration). Cowards, I say! I am very upset. I knew about and fought this bill by calling many ward members locally, on the phone. Most of them had already taken to heart Equality Utah’s propoganda about suicidal bullied transgender and homosexual kids. I say this is propoganda because they even stated themselves in the speeches given when the bill was presented in committee, that they have no proof that suicides are caused by transgenders or homosexuals being bullied. In fact, they do not even have proof that those who committed suicide were transgender or homosexual persons. They just want to use all the suicides and claim they were all homosexual or transgender people and bullied.

I think the suicides could be caused by all the pressure in the schools from testing. I think the Common Core is a big factor in suicides committed by school children. I think another factor is that mentions of God or Jesus not being allowed in pubic schools. God and Jesus and the Holy Ghost are the best suicide preventions! People need Christianity because they need a good reason to live. Knowing that they are children of God and God loves them really is a big deal!

How Can a Homeschooled Person Get a Utah High School Diploma: Guide to the T.A.B.E. and the G.E.D. Test

I started investigating this about 3 years ago and I am still learning about it. After conversing with a friend about it, she told me I should share what I have learned with other moms who homeschool their kids. My friend told me more institutions are now requiring an official Utah High School Diploma. I have also heard that employers require it of some, even after a Bachelors Degree is achieved. It seems ridiculous but I think it is true. Some employers, colleges and Universities just want that silly piece of paper that many homeschool moms laugh about. This is not news to me, which is why I have been researching it for 3 years. It is my hope that sharing this helps many homeschool moms and homeschooled kids to get an official Utah High School Diploma.

The Passing of the G.E.D. Test Battery Can Get A Person an Official Utah High School Diploma!*

I hope the abbreviation, “G.E.D.” does not strike fear into your hearts or make you run screaming into the next room, covering your head from desire to avoid it. It may. It may be that you do not believe in tests, or that you have read my previous post about the Fascist, Socialist and Communitarian indoctrination in the G.E.D. test. If the test causes you to feel great worry and fear, I hope that after finishing the reading and printing off onto multiple pages for reference, this post, you will feel much more at ease because of how well you know you have prepared your child-student for all of this. I hope you will feel confident that your child will be able to fake it and pretend he or she has been fully indoctrinated, much like a spy (covert operative) would, knowing the truth and armed with it. I know that if you have been a good homeschool mom and have taught your child-student the truth about things first, then your child-student will not be indoctrinated by the G.E.D. test. This post will help you to know a bit about the test so that you may warn and prepare your child-student for this test and to not become indoctrinated. He or she will indeed have to fake having been indoctrinated—- I can promise you that! I hope you will print out this blog post and use it as a guide in helping you get an official Utah High School Diploma for yourself or your child-student after he or she turns 16!

Here are the basic things your child will need or will need to do in order to take the G.E.D. test at your local school district’s Adult Basic Education (A.B.E.) Office. The G.E.D. test is an online test, but a person cannot take the official test from home. The only place that officiates this test in my area is the district’s A.B.E. Office.

Note: I am going to assume that you are homeschooling legally because you filled out the affadavit. If you are not, this process will be different. Check with your school district offices and ask them what to do.

What You Need:*

1. An official Utah photo I.D. card showing that he or she is 16 years of age (a driver’s license if he or she has one).
2. An official letter filled out by a professional at your local school district office called, “Adult Education Program and/or GED Testing Application for 16-18 Year-Old Non-Graduates,” which my district has nicknamed “the drop form.”**
3. The taking of two other tests at the Adult abasic Education Office of your local school district, in order to qualify to take the G.E.D. test in your district. These are: a. The TABE Online Locator test for the Test of Adult Basic Education (T.A.B.E.); b. The passing of a T.A.B.E. 10 Complete Battery (meaning your child-student has achieved at least a 10th grade level education. If your child-student does not qualify for the TABE 10, but only a lower TABE, they will give your child the option of taking a $40 class with the district that will teach your child what he or she needs to know to be able to achieve readiness for the TABE 10 Battery. Your child can still take the TABE 9 Battery.
4. Completion of the “Utah Futures” Packet, available at the same district Adult Basic Education Office.
5. For the days of each of the G.E.D. Battery Tests: Photo I.D., approved G.E.D. electronic scientific calculator and (recommended) a healthy snack and water bottle.
6. Cost of G.E.D. test. 

*Sources: Weber Adult Education Phone Conversation 801-476-3920 and conversation at my school district office.

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Here are some things I have learned about the tests from the YouTube videos of official G.E.D. 🎓 High School graduates, from the McGraw Hill T.A.B.E. guide and from the two G.E.D. test guides I have been reading.

The T.A.B.E.’s Online Locator (30 questions in 37 min.):

The TABE Online Locator test will be a summary (shorter) test, quizzing the student on some of the same knowledge that is on the T.A.B.E. 10 Complete Battery. It will determine whether the student knows things that a 10th grade graduate should know. If the student passes the locator test to show they are at the level expected of a student in an accredited school at the beginning of 11th grade, they will then take the T.A.B.E. 10 Complete Battery. When they pass that, they are qualified by the district to take the G.E.D. test.

• Reading: The student must 10 out of 12 questions correct to take the TABE 10.
  
• Math: General Math (8 questions) & Applied Math (8 questions). The student must get 10 out of 16 correct to take the TABE 10.
  
• Language: The student must get 10 out of 12 correct to take the TABE 10.

If the student does not get the scores required above, he or she will be given the option of taking a class to prepare him or her for the TABE 10. They can take the test again at the the end of the class. Another option is to continue to teach the child, yourself, from home, then take them back in for the test again later.

T.A.B.E. 10 Complete Battery (3 hrs.):

The student must bring his or her own pencil. (Source: Weber Adult Education)

• Reading: 50 Reading Comprehension Questions in 50 minutes
• Math: 2 Math Sections. Math Comprehension: 40 questions in 25 minutes; Math Application: 50 questions in 50 minutes. 
• Language: 3 Sections. Language Mechanics: 20 questions in 14 minutes; Vocabulary: 20 questions in 15 minutes; Spelling: 20 questions in 14 minutes

Source: Trivium Test Prep T.A.B.E. Book (link below)

TABE Online Workshops

Free Online Tests by Mometrix

Free online T.A.B.E. Study Guide

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T.A.B.E. Test Prep including Online Flash Cards

T.A.B.E. 3 Book Test Prep by McGraw Hill including Workbooks and Multiple Practice Tests

T.A.B.E. Test Prep Secrets Book Including Strategies and Practice Tests by Mometrix

T.A.B.E. Practice Test and Strategies by Trivium Test Prep

T.A.B.E. Levels

• L= Literacy, grades 1-1.9
• E= Easy, grades 2-3.9
• M= Medium, Grades 4-5.9
• D= Difficult, grades 6-8.9
• A= Advanced, grades 9-12.9

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The G.E.D. Complete Battery:

The G.E.D. Complete Battery (taken on a computer) does not need to be taken all at one time, or even on the same day. One could study for and take one test at a time. The Tests are:

G.E.D. Reasoning Through the Language Arts Test (3 sections):

Section 1 (35 min.) and Section 3 (60 min.):

Grammar and Reading Comprehension

75% of these are from non-fiction sources: 

This 75% includes these or pieces similar to these: I.R.S. forms, voter registration forms, job applications, newspapers, magazine articles, workplace memos, workplace instructions, the Bill of Rights, the U.S. Constitution, other historical documents, opinion pieces about contemporary or historical civic, socio-economic or socio-political issues (a chance for them to indoctrinate the person), technical manual instructions (such as how to set up, build or use a product), history or science or social studies textbook sections

25% of these are from literature sources:

This 25% may be intermixed with the above, and asks questions about pieces taken from (mainly public domain) novels, plays, poetry, short stories and so forth.

Section 2, Extended Response Essay (45 min.):

In this section, not only does the student prove ability to write an essay correctly, spell correctly and use correct grammar, but the student must also be like the judge in a Speech & Debate Tournament. I have been one of these many times and through it, I have learned how to decide not which student in Lincoln-Douglass Debate is most correct or aligned with my opinions and world-view, but which student has main points that back up his or her assigned position, which best backs up his or her points best during the debate, and which has the best sources, data and facts. This is what the student must do. They must note for which side the best evidence, data and sources is given by the test writers. They must write an essay showing why this point of view is correct. They must do this regardless of their own world-view, knowledge or opinions. They cannot use outside sources, even if memorized. This is the part wherein your student must see himself or herself as a covert operative or spy. He or she must go along with this horrible way of writing an essay which excludes opinion, world-view, research and knowledge in favor of allowing the test-writers to tell them what is truth and what is not from their world-view and opinions.

This test is written to make sure people have been taught social studies concepts which are aligned with Agenda 21. If the student understands the evils of Agenda 21 (which I have blogged about in my Political posts), then the student will know just exactly what they are looking for. They are looking to see that the student has been properly indoctrinated. Whether or not the student believes the Agenda 21 wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing DECEPTION, the student must pretend he or she does for the duration of this essay. I highly recommend first educating your child about how this doctrine is deceptive. Only then will yo feel safe allowing your child to covertly operate on this test in order to deceive the essay readers trained by those serving the evil elite.

Sources: “Cracking the G.E.D. Test 2017 Edition,” by the Princeton Review, 2017, “GED Test for Dummies, 4th Edition,” by Murray Shukyn with Jane Burstein, Learning Made Easy, 2017, My own knowledge of Agenda 21 and the like (see my blog posts on the topic).

What to expect on the G.E.D. Language Test:

• To do a whole lot of reading
• To be expected to type a great amount for the 2 essays. (Make sure your child-student is good at keyboarding).
• To have a great deal of vocabulary understanding and ability to read fast and still have a great reading comprehension level.

Extended response essay covers a controversial civics or political social studies topic. In the essay portion, the student will have to argue for the side that has the most or the best evidence in the test, even if you disagree with it. The student must state in the essay that the other side does not have enough solid facts or only has opinions.

Source: This Youtube video made by a girl who took the test and vlogged about it.

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G.E.D. Mathematical Reasoning Test (2 Sections, 115 min.):

Part 1, General Math, no calculator allowed (5 questions)

Part 2, Problems Common in many Workplaces, calculator allowed (41 questions)

Many questions will be word problems with multiple choice answers, but they will be in multiple other formats as well, including fill in the blank, drag and drop (it is on computer), hot spot and drop-down menu. About 1/2 of the questions will be based upon data, diagrams or charts presented on the test. Education 2030 Incheon (Korea) Declaration (2015) and Goals includes a demand for researchers to go find data which will back up Agenda 21 goals. For the data to have the desired affect on people, people must rely on the data put before them to determine what is true. The G.E.D. and Common Core in the schools must be assured that High School Graduates do not to question data, diagrams or charts, but accept them as truth. Please, before you prepare your beloved offspring for this type of test-taking, teach them how to question EVERYTHING, spot deception, do their own research and ask GOD for wisdom about what is TRUTH. After you have done this, teach them about the deceptions on the test. Teach them that accepting data, diagrams and charts as truth is not wise because of the evil people in the world who wish to deceive all people.

Sources: “Cracking the G.E.D. Test 2017 Edition,” by the Princeton Review, 2017, “GED Test for Dummies, 4th Edition,” by Murray Shukyn with Jane Burstein, Learning Made Easy, 2017, My own knowledge of Agenda 21 and the like (see my blog posts on the topic)

Details about what will be included in the G.E.D. Math Test:

• general math: addition, subtraction, number sense, figuring percentages, decimals, multiplication, division, fractions, order of operations and so forth (very small part of the test)
• Pre-Algebra
• linear slopes with x and y
• plotting x and y on graph
• linear equations with x and y
• linear fractions with x and y
• graph 6 different points on a coordinate plane. x is always first. (x,y). Left or right first, up or down 2nd.
• perimeter of a complex shape (divide it into a number of basic shapes, like a series of separate rectangles. Figure it out that way)
• area rectangle, cyllindar, circle, etc.
• A= (Pi) times (Radius squared) and opposite (Here is the area. What is it in the Pi R squared formula?
• Story Problems. Do not get hung up on what is possible or not. Do not try to figure out how it is logiclaly possible. Just do the mathe they want you to do.
• Problems making the student figure out interest in a bank account or on a debt with amount deposited each time and the interest rate, given. I= PRT, Interest equals principle tmes rate times time. Turn rate given (3.5%) into a decimal (0.035) before multiplying. End answer is in years. If you are given months, figure out how much time it would be in years.
• Problems like: $68.50 was original price. You paid $18. How much of a discount did you get on the item when you bought it? You need to know how much of a percentage $18 of $68.50 is. Formula is “No over O,” N-0/0, N is New Price. O is Original Price. 
• -.41 would mean you got 41% off.
• Slope intercept form y=mx+b. m is the slope. b is the y-intercept. m= rise over run (rose/run)

Source: MathTalk YouTube Videos about the G.E.D. Math Test, starting with this one (part 1)

G.E.D. Social Studies Test (about 35 questions in 70 min.):

Again the questions will be multiple-choice, hot-spot, drag and drop and fill-in the blank. These are approximate break-downs:

• Government and Civics (truths mixed with lies), 50%. (They will refer to our United States of America as a DEMOCRACY, guaranteed. Our government was set up by our founding fathers as a CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC. Make sure your child knows the truth and is aware that the constant use of the word “democracy” by the writers of the test is done in order to deceive.
• U.S. History (from the perspective of Fascists, Communitarianists and Communists who hate our country, Liberty and the U.S. Contitution), 20%
• Economics (from the perspective of those who love the idea of a fascist, communitarian and communist world government), 15%
• World Geography (from the perpective of those who hate sovereignty and the idea of American greatness, who love Agenda 21 and the idea of a world government), 15%

Sources: “Cracking the G.E.D. Test 2017 Edition,” by the Princeton Review, 2017, “GED Test for Dummies, 4th Edition,” by Murray Shukyn with Jane Burstein, Learning Made Easy, 2017, My own knowledge of Agenda 21 and the like (see my blog posts on the topic).

What to expect on the G.E.D. Social Studies Test:

• Example from the Economics section of an actual test: Answer questions from a graph about Importing & Exporting through Canada
• Requires reading of large amounts of text to find the information needed to answer a series of questions about its content
• Requires the reading and interpretation of really strange types of graphs which the student may never have seen before
• Questions are worded in a tricky way to confuse and trick the student
• Essay topics on an actual test: Chart showing that men get paid more than women, freedom of speech issues with the flag burning, when blacks got their rights for the first time
• no extended response essay (there used to be)

Source: This Youtube video made by a girl who took the test and vlogged about it.

G.E.D. Science Test (about 34 questions in 90 min.):

The test will include short passages and graphs and charts. Tricky wording such as “Which one of these is not false?” (meaning ‘which one is true?’) is employed on this science test, so prepare your child-student for this. The type of questions will again be multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, drop-down choices, drag-and-drop, hot-spot (labeling) and 2 short answer essays. Please know your science vocabulary words. Although almost all of the questions haveThe main themes are Human Health and Living Systems, and Energy and realated systems. 3 topics included are:

• Physical Science & Chemistry, 40%: conservation, transformation, flow of energy, work, sound, light, heat, motion, forces, chemical properties and reactions in living systems. 

• Life Science, 40%: human biology and health, animal and plant biology, ecosystems, organisms, molecular biology, DNA, and evolution. Examples: label the parts of a flower 🌺, interpret a graph about DNA mutation (for evolution indoctrination).

• Earth and Space Science, 20%: basic eath and space science, astronomy, environmentalism (global warming and climate change science to indoctrination). Example: Answer questions about the affect of ants 🐜 on rainforests based on data presented.

Sources: “Cracking the G.E.D. Test 2017 Edition,” by the Princeton Review, 2017, “GED Test for Dummies, 4th Edition,” by Murray Shukyn with Jane Burstein, Learning Made Easy, 2017, My own knowledge of Agenda 21 and the like (see my blog posts on the topic),  and This Youtube video made by a girl who took the test and vlogged about it.

G.E.D. Test Guides for Homeschool moms to use in preparing their child-students for the GED test

Related Posts:

Socialist Indoctrination in G.E.D. Test Prep Book by the Princeton Review

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Get Up to 10 College Credits for Scoring High on the Post-2016 G.E.D. Test!

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How at Weber State University, via CLEP and DSST tests, Homeschoolers Can Do the Equivalent of Early College/ Concurrent Enrollment

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Agenda 21 and ICLEI: A Crash Course

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Education 2030 Incheon Declaration

Dealing with Dyslexia in Homeschool Reading Instruction

The first thing I did a couple of years ago was take him in for an eye exam. He needed glasses for far-sightedness, which means things are blurry when up-close. This gave him trouble with worksheets and reading. When that was figured out, his reading improved a huge step, but something was still not right. 

Having a few other children whom I had taught or helped teach to read, I knew this was not the same. He was struggling with things my other children had not struggled with. Researching online, I came to an educated guess that he is dyslexic. I also came to the conclusion that dyslexia does not make it impossible to learn to read. It just makes its instruction take more time and patience. 

Today he read about 6 pages in “Frolic and Do-Funny” and all of the other books in the photo completely.  I have been having him read to me every day for about an hour. I stop when I can tell he is getting tired of it and worn out (which is easy to tell). I am happy that he is getting faster at reading, makes mistakes less often and recognizes more words. It has been hard work but it is becoming worth it now.

I love the joy on his face now as he can enjoy the stories more readily now because he is reading faster and more smoothly. I know we still have a long way to go to get him reading as well as his siblings, but that is okay. It is now becoming a more enjoyable journey. I love sitting with him and having him read to me!

I saw many strategies for dyslexic reading instruction online. I think the best method is simply love, patience and time. It is having the child read to you every day while you love your child. It is knowing that it is okay that your child has been told that word 300 times and still does not recognize it yet. It is telling your child what the word is in a calm voice yet again because you know that dyslexia is hard and you are okay with your child taking his or her time learning that word.

Large Family Style Sports

Today I am going to address something personal and close to home not only for me, but for many large families who are noticing that they cannot keep up with the small families who have every one of their children on a recreational team this season.

We have a large family. I cannot find it right now, but I know I read somewhere once that a large family chose to replace community league recreational t-ball, softball and baseball, with going to play at a baseball diamond as a family. This sounds so much better for my family than what we are trying to do right now.

With a large family, community recreation league ball means that every child has different practices and different locations for practices, sometimes on different days but sometimes the same day at the same time. This splits up the family, but since we cannot leave the younger children home alone, we must take everyone along and let the younger kids play on the playground. For a mother who has dishes to do and cannot be there with the dishes and dishwater, this is a ridiculous waste of 2 hours a day and 6 days a week (12 hours a week)!

This would not be a big deal were it one practice or game once a week, but we have a large family. It is too much. It is every single night. Many nights, it is a few games a night or a few practices per night. We are never home in the evenings. We do not have time to make dinner, eat dinner and clean up dinner together. We do not have time to clean the house and prepare for the next day of homeschooling, which is really very important. It is also very exhausting. I have no prep time to prepare for the next day of homeschooling. We have no time to fold and put away laundry.

When my husband and I are watching and caring for the children not in the game or practice, and also watching the child in the game, we really am not getting the kind of workouts we would get were we actually running fast and hard. We mostly watch and stand still. We do a bit of chasing of a toddler or preschooler now and then, but it is not enough for the workout we need.

We like having our kids play basketball and baseball. We like our kids to swim. I think we need to find a free court once a week in which to play basketball, just us, in basketball season, together as a whole family. I think we can find a spare field in the spring and summer and early fall to play baseball together as a whole family. We can get a yearly family membership in the local swimming pool and teach our kids to swim. Our family really is large enough. We could do it! I really think we should. All of us would be scheduled at the same time and all of us could participate and exercise. It would be a unifying family time of exercise and the children would even get more participation time.

If we want it to be a larger social thing for the children, it can be. I know there are other families that would love to join us and have their entire family play ball at the same time, along with our family. Extended family and friends would gladly join in if invited. Strangers would see us and ask if they can join in. At the pool, we will have other children all around us. We will not be isolated socially.

Pictures? Yes, photos are wonderful. We can also snap photos, just like we do with rec sports and swim lessons. We can create a different kind of family memories. After all, we are different, being that we have a large family and we homeschool our children.

Our family is large and a large family is not extinct but rare. Large family living does not fit into the culture of the world around us. We have to be creative and have a different lifestyle than that of the mainstream. We have to figure out how to live a large family life in a way that makes our family happy and healthy, spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally and socially. This is my solution. I hope we can do it after this year’s obsessive baseball season is over! This mom is fed up with recreational sports. They just do not work with large family life at all!

Related post, which I commented on: 

Recreational Sports: Should Large Families Participate