THE COLFAXES DIDN'T START TEACHING THEIR BOYS AT HOME TO GET THEM INTO HARVARD - BUT THAT'S WHAT HOMESCHOOLING ACCOMPLISHED! For over fifteen years, David and Micki Colfax educated their children at home. They don't think of themselves as pioneers, though that's what they became. Unhappy with the public schools, the Colfaxes wanted the best education possible for their four sons: a program for learning that met the evolving needs of each child and gave them complete control of how and what their children learned. The results? A prescription for excellence-Harvard educations for their sons Grant, Drew, and Reed. (Their fourth son is still too young for college.) Now the Colfaxes tell how all parents can become involved in homeschooling. In a straight-talking book that reads like a frank conversation among friends, they tell what they did and how they did it: their educational approaches, the lessons they learned, and what materials-books, equipment, educational aids-proved most useful over the years. Best of all, they show you how you can take charge of your children's education-in an invaluable sourcebook that will help you find a rewarding and successful alternative to our failing schools.

This practical, hands-on guide from the No. 1 homeschooling Web site gives readers everything they need to create a customized education plan that works with children's unique intelligence and learning style. Veteran homeschoolers and interested newcomers alike can benefit. (July)

Transform ordinary ho-hum homeschooling into legendary success with the same techniques used by Thomas Edison, Teddy Roosevelt, Agatha Christie, Louis Armstrong, and other famous homeschoolers. Parents will be inspired to break free of conventions, unleash their child's unique creative genius, cultivate determination, and create an authentic atmosphere of learning.

All across the country, in traditional public, public charter, and private schools, entrepreneurial educators are experimenting with the school day and school week. Hybrid Homeschools have students attend traditional classes in a brick-and-mortar school for some part of the week and homeschool for the rest of the week. Some do two days at home and three days at school, others the inverse, and still others split between four days at home or school and one day at the other. This book dives deep into hybrid homeschooling. It describes the history of hybrid homeschooling, the different types of hybrid homeschools operating around the country, and the policies that can both promote and thwart it. At the heart of the book are the stories of hybrid homeschoolers themselves. Based on numerous in-depth interviews, the book tells the story of hybrid homeschooling from both the family and educator perspective.

Defining Hybrid Homeschools in America: Little Platoons explores the idea of hybrid homeschools, where students attend a formal school setting for part of the week and are homeschooled the rest of the week. Eric Wearne observes that school choice in America typically comes in two forms: programs set up for disadvantaged students, and the more common form of choice that wealthy parents can exercise—paying private tuition or moving to a more desirable school district. While disadvantaged families in many places and wealthy families everywhere can exercise choice when it comes to schooling, a sizeable group typically gets left out of those options—the large number of families who are too wealthy to access state or local programs, but not wealthy enough to pay for private schooling or moving expenses. Wearne argues that this is a long-term weakness for school choice in America; the middle class is generally a well-off demographic, but is almost completely unserved when it comes to this large aspect of their children’s lives. However, one low-cost option has arisen to address this niche: hybrid home schools. Wearne cites existing research to argue for this model’s efficacy for the middle class as a strong example of a healthy civil society and examines how policy definitions are breaking down and evolving in education as we challenge the existing definitions of schooling.

Home educating high school is not a one-size-fits-all experience. It is a journey unique to every student; an quest documented through specific paperwork requested or required by employers and college admission offices. How is a young adult's distinguishing education and exemplary character communicated in a resume, on a transcript, or through portfolios? Celebrate High School equips parents and students of any educational philosophy with easy-to-follow explanations, ready-to-use examples, and experiential narratives from families who have successfully walked the home education high school path. This book was purposefully written and specifically designed from the author's personal experience and research, as well as her and her husband's work with homeschooling families spanning more than twenty years.In the first chapter, Magnificent Make-A-Difference Middle School, parents are equipped with practical tips to help middle schoolers manage their time, organize their work and living space, and find resources. This chapter prepares the parent for Chapter 2, Navigating the Middle School Academic Maze; Chapter 3, Middle School Record Keeping; and Chapter 4, Future Possibilities. Chapter 5 encourages parents to look at the student's long term goals to plan with the end in mind and finish well. By the end of Chapter 5, parents are ready to dig into Chapter 6, Meeting College Admission Requirements. Chapter 7 outlines specific details for High School Record Keeping including course work and credits, writing course descriptions, creating and formatting transcripts, obtaining and documenting community service and extracurricular activity hours, compiling a reading list, requesting letters of recommendation, and preparing for testing and college entrance. The Finishing Well chapter closes the book with words of encouragement for parents in the last year of homeschooling high school. Celebrate High School helps parents celebrate the accomplishments, the efforts, the time, and the energy put forth by the student and the family. It is an opportunity to look back and appreciate the people who poured into and shaped the life of the graduate--the parents, grandparents, mentors, and other significant individuals. Celebrate High School entreats parents to celebrate not only the academic achievements, but also the discovery of the student's strengths and how those strengths have the potential to impact future employers, campuses, the nation, and the world.Parents who have used Celebrate High School say:"Entering high school at home was an easy transition for us thanks to Cheryl's book, Celebrate High School. Easy step-by-step instruction for developing a four-year plan, writing course descriptions, understanding graduation requirements, and creating transcripts make this resource invaluable. With this book, Cheryl's many hours of research and experience is right at your fingertips.""Celebrate High School covers essential details to successfully navigate homeschooling through the middle and high school years. I appreciated the easy-to-read format as well as the wisdom Celebrate High School imparted, offering our family freedom in selecting courses that allow our children to develop their strengths while building a competitive transcript."