Can A Homeschool Student Succeed in College?

The misconceptions about homeschooling families are like mosquitoes; extremely annoying and too numerous to count.  One of the most popular myths about homeschooled kids is that they're not properly socialized, won't fit in with their peers, and aren't prepared for life beyond lessons from Mommy at the kitchen table.  Here are some comforting facts and statistics for homeschoolers from The Journal of College Admission:

Homeschool Students Have Better College GPA's

The study conducted by Michael Cogan, the director of institutional research and analysis at the University of St. Thomas, shows that homeschool students not only earn a higher GPA on average the first semester at college than other freshmen, they maintain the GPA advantage all the way through their senior year.

Homeschool Students Are More Likely To Graduate College

66.7% of homeschoolers who start college will earn a degree, compared to 57.5% of their peers.

Homeschool Students Do Better on the SAT and ACT

The homeschool average on both the SAT and ACT have been consistently higher than the national average.  These standardized tests are an important factor in college admissions and financial aid. 

Homeschool Students Are More Likely To Attend College

According to studies done by the HLDA, 74% of homeschool students will earn college credits, compared to 46% of their peers.

For all those well-meaning friends and family, (or those nosy acquaintances!) who fret about homeschoolers not being "socialized":

Homeschool Students Are More Likely to Participate in Community Activities, and More Likely To Vote As Adults!

This information comes from a study of over 7,300 adults who are homeschool graduates. 

All in all, the data on homeschooling through to college is very positive.  Because homeschooled kids can learn at their own pace in every subject, many are able to earn some college credits before they even finish high school.  Many universities specifically seek out homeschool students because of their high success rates in secondary education, and most colleges will accept a portfolio in place of high school transcripts (including Harvard, Princeton, Brown, and other top-notch schools).  Parents can feel good about their decision to educate their own children; when the achievements of homeschool students are weighed against those of their public-school peers, the kitchen table doesn't look so bad after all!

 

Ancient Rome For Kids

Our family has only studied Ancient Rome on a first grade level thus far, but all the books we used would be useful for any child in elementary school, and even beyond.  There is quite a selection of great books on ancient civilizations for kids, but here are the ones we found most useful this year:
 


DK's Eyewitness series never disappoints us; this year we used it primarily for the pictures, but I'm sure it'll become even more valuable to us as my boys get older.  The book also comes with a CD of clip-art that you can use to make your own worksheets.


Ancient Rome! by Kaleidoscope Kids has a lot of fun facts about Ancient Rome, including a look at how many English words are derived from Latin, but we used it primarily for the simple craft projects.  We didn't actually purchase this book, we got it from our library, and that was fine for us.  Of all the books on the list, we used this one the least.


Classical Kids is a book of projects and activities for both Ancient Rome and Greece.  A lot of the projects are very simple, which was great for us but might be a little boring for older kids.  I'd recommend this book for grades 1-3, though I do think I'll use it again in fourth grade.


Life In Ancient Rome is a beautifully detailed coloring book with captions; I will definitely use this all the way through high school.  I photocopied the pages I wanted so that I'll have it to use again with my younger son, and also when we learn about Rome again in the future.  The coloring pages include Roman architecture and landmarks, such as the Colosseum, and also scenes from ancient Roman life.  A true gem, and very inexpensive.  Highly recommended for all!


Sadly out of print, The Orchard Book of Roman Myths is a good book to get from a library.  The book covers fifteen myths from Ancient Rome, including that of Romulus and Remus, as well as several about the Roman gods.  (Familiarity with the Roman deities will come in handy when you study the solar system!)  The pictures are colorful and wonderful; this book is a great introduction to Roman mythology for young children.

Scandinavian Stories For Kids

Scandinavian folklore is the folklore of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and the Swedish-speaking parts of Finland.  Most Scandinavian lore focuses on mythological creatures and their interactions with humans; trolls are a particularly common element.  One of the wonderful things about traditional Scandinavian tales is that there are often many strong, intelligent female characters, which will please those parents weary of the damsel-in-distress theme so prevalent in the folklore of most European cultures.



Master Maid, by Aaron Shepard and illustrated by Pauline Ellison, is sadly out of print.  I encourage you to track it down in your local library system if you can.  It's a great story for reading aloud, and is an accurate version of an old Norwegian story.  Leif is a headstrong young man who ignores the advice of his elders and seeks employment from a troll, only to discover that the tasks he is given are impossible to complete.  With the advice of a maid in the troll's household, Leif manages to get even the most impossible jobs done.  Irritated, the troll decides to eat Leif, but he and the maid escape together.  The ending is a happy one, of course, but it also features a special twist that will delight and amuse adults.



In Jane Yolen's Sister Bear, little Halva finds a fuzzy, white bear cub in the woods and brings it home to raise as a pet.  The bear is so clever and loving that she becomes known as "Sister Bear", and helps the family by bringing home lots of food.  One day Halva decides to take Sister Bear to meet the King of Denmark, who enjoys unusual things.  Along the way, the pair seeks shelter in an isolated cottage and end up beset by trolls.  Halva and Sister Bear band together to fight off the troll attack. The illustrations are superb; special attention is given to the authentic Scandinavian clothing and traditional embroidery.



The Princess Mouse, by Aaron Shepard tells the tale of Mikko, who is old enough to marry and must follow family tradition by cutting down a tree and seeking a bride in the direction pointed by the fallen tree.  Mikko's older brother arranges for his tree to fall in the direction of the home of the girl he wants to marry, but Mikko's tree points into the forest.  Walking in that direction, all Mikko finds in a tiny mouse, who declares that she would be a worthy bride.  Mikko falls in love with the mouse's sweetness, and after he and the mouse both pass tests of skill, he decides to marry her.  On the wedding day,  Mikko's wedding guests mock his bride, and his older brother punts the mouse into a river.  When she emerges, she's no longer a mouse but a human princess, who takes Mikko back to her castle.  This old Finnish folktale emphasizes that it's not what's on the outside that counts!



Also out of print but worth tracking down is The Maiden of Northland: A Hero Tale of Finland by Aaron Shepard.  A story from the Finnish myth cycle, the Kalevala, this book is better suited to slightly older children.  The story, told in verse, is the legend of Vainamoinen (the greatest of the magicians, who could never find a woman to marry him) and Ilmarinen, the greatest of the blacksmiths, competing against one another for the hand of Aila, the Maiden of Northland.  Aila has no intention of marrying either of them, but her mischievous mother takes advantage of the situation.



D is for Dala Horse is a great alphabetical introduction to Scandinavian cultures, featuring a poem for each letter of the alphabet.  Topics include the Norwegian Bunad, Puffins, Jokkmokk, and Reindeer.



Astrid Lindgren, the author of Pippi Longstocking, does a great job with this little story about the Tomten, a little gnome who helps look after and protect farmsteads.  Traditionally, the Tomten (or Nisse, if you're Norwegian) will check on all the farm animals at night.  If the animals are well cared for, the tomten will help look after the farm and the family that owns it.  If the owners are cruel to their animals, the tomtens will take revenge.  American readers will probably recognize the tomten/nisse as the inspiration for the "garden gnome".  This book is a perfect, quiet, read-aloud for young children.  If you like it, try The Tomten and the Fox by the same author.


One of several of Jan Brett's books with a Nordic theme, Trouble With Trolls is the story of Treva, who climbs Mt. Baldy with her dog Tuffi.  Along the way, they meet up with five trolls who are intent on stealing Tuffi, but clever Treva outwits them and escapes.  As usual, Brett's illustrations are delightful, and children will enjoy the subplot of a little hedgehog drawn on every page.



Written by professional storyteller Tanya Batt and illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli, this book will send a tingle of excitement down your spine as you journey on a breathtaking adventure to the magical land that lies east of the sun and west of the moon. Combining the themes of three classic wonder tales "East of the Sun, West of the Moon", "The Black Bull of Norroway" and "The White Bear King" this exquisite fairy tale takes its roots from the Scandinavian tradition, but its story and its message ("where there is no trust, there can be no love") are universal. Book description from Amazon.com.


While the origin of the epic poem Beowulf isn't technically Scandinavian (it's a Saxon work, the oldest known poem written in English), the main character of the story is the Norse hero Beowulf, who helps save the Danish King Hrothgar and his people from the monster Grendel. The Hero Beowulf by Eric Kimmel is an exciting condensed version for children, told as a simple narrative rather than in verse. Yes, the tale of Beowulf is gruesome and Kimmel doesn't change the content - Beowulf still defeats Grendel by ripping off the creature's arm. The gore factor could be a plus or a minus depending on your child's personality; for my kids, it's always a bonus!



The Race of the Birkebeiners by Lise Lunge-Larsen is an exciting true story from Norwegian history.  In 1206, in the midst of the bitter Norwegian winter, the Birkebeiners ("birch-leggers", in English) must save the infant Prince Hakon from a rival tribe who wish to kill him and put a king of their own on the throne.  Skiing through the snowy mountains as fast as they can, the Birkebeiners end up taking shelter in a barn that has been completely buried beneath the drifts, and miraculously keep the baby alive by feeding melted snow.  King Hakon ended up being one of Norway's most powerful kings, and brought peace and prosperity to his kingdom.  My boys love this book so much that I bought it, and we read it every winter.

Things To Make and Do

For homeschoolers, or any family that enjoys doing art and craft activities at home, here are a few of our favorite books and projects from the past couple of years.  Just click on any of the photos to find out more about the product! 

Note:  I DO NOT RECOMMEND Sandy Lands Sand Art Kits.  I was so disappointed with them and really regret wasting my money.  To read my review of the Sand Art, click here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2483N7E84QTOB/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

Books:



Usborne has a really great line of these activity books.  I've included here the three that we own and use regularly, but you'll find that there are many more with different themes, such as fairy tales, monsters, animals, and individual holidays.



Science Things to Make and Do has been especially useful to us as homeschoolers; it's easy to find projects to accompany our curriculum.



A larger, more comprehensive activity book from Usborne, I'd recommend this for anyone who wants a great collection on many different topics.



 I love the idea of using hand- and footprints in craft projects!  What a great keepsake! 



Calendar Kids also features art made from hand- and footprints.



Memory Makers has not only arts and crafts, but also includes poems, writing prompts, and drawing samples organized by monthly theme.
Kits and Projects:



My kids loved the Orb Factory Sticky Mosaics.  I can't wait to get some more; there are lots of different themes, including Pirates, Unicorns and Ponies, Jungle Adventure, Enchanted Forest, and more.  For younger children, there are simpler versions called My First Sticky Mosaics, also with many themes. 


If you're feeling especially ambitious, tie-dying t-shirts is a lot of fun!  I recommend doing it outside.  Lots of adult supervision is required, but kids will love being able to wear their own art.



This Monster Lab was our first experience with Shrinky Dinks, and we had a lot of fun with it.  There are other kits along this line, such as the Fairy Garden.  However, for half the cost you can get Shrinky Dink kits that don't include the backdrops.  Choices include Mermaids, Pirates, Dinosaurs, Jewelry, and many others.

The Seven Voyages of Sindbad for Children - From the Tales of the Thousand and One Nights

Of the 1,001 stories Shahrazad told King Shahriyar to save her own life, the tales of Sindbad the Sailor are probably the best known.  Ludmila Zeman does an amazing job of adapting the stories for children and turning them into beautiful picture books that beg to be read aloud.  Click on any of the books to find out more about it!


This book covers two of Sindbad's seven voyages. Children who like exciting adventure stories will be thrilled by Sindbad's visit to the mysterious island that turns out be a gigantic whale, his ride on the talons of the great Roc, and his escape from the pit of vipers with pockets full of precious diamonds. The beautiful illustrations are bordered with motifs from Persian rugs, capturing the Arabian flavor of Shahrazad's tale.


Of Ludmila Zeman's three beautiful picture books covering Sindbad's seven voyages, this one is the most likely to upset younger or sensitive children. As captivating as the first, with stunning illustrations in the same style, this book is great for children who enjoy death-defying adventure and don't mind an element of horror. First Sindbad's ship is taken over by hordes of vicious monkeys, and the escapees are immediately captured by a bloodthirsty giant who proceeds to roast the captain over an open flame. Sindbad gets away, only to have his companion swallowed whole by a giant snake. The book is beautiful and the story gripping. Highly recommended for children who can handle the somewhat gruesome content.


The third of Ludmila Zeman's gorgeous tales of Sindbad the Sailor is as impressive as the first two. Shipwrecked by sea monsters, attacked by a hairy island creature, and enslaved by elephant hunters, poor Sindbad continues to have it rough. But in this book, we finally get the happy ending - Sindbad risks his own life to save the beautiful Fatima from being burned alive, and takes her home with him to live happily ever after with their children and the riches he acquired on his voyages. The book ends by reminding readers that wealth is earned, and nothing is more valuable than love.