Top Journals for 6th Graders

January 22, 2024January 22, 2024 / Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

6th grade seems to be the grade nobody quite knows what to do with. Are they middle schoolers or elementary? Should we call them kids still? Fun-Schooling allows families to let their 6th grader find independence and autonomy in what can be a confusing season of growing up.

Since most areas place 6th graders in Middle School, we also suggest you check out our post of tips for Fun-Schooling Middle School.

Our journals are super flexible in terms of age. You’ll see kids age 8 through 18 using the same journals. It’s all in the materials you use alongside them. Kids can repeat the same journal- especially core journals. Some kids have done the same core 4 or 5 times!

The Top Fun-Schooling Journals for 6th Grade

Bundles for 6th Graders

Bundles are great for this age because they invite independence and provide structure. We include a lesson plan kids can follow along with.

Here are our 6th grade bundle options. Click the image below to be taken to the suggested lesson plans and journal descriptions. We have one bundle that’s more girl focused, another that’s boy focused, and one for kids with Dyslexia/ADHD or other learning challenges.

The journals from these bundles are available for sale individually on Amazon and most are PDFs on our website as well.

More 6th Grade Journals

These journals are also popular for 6th Graders

We suggest working through the single-country journals starting at this age if you haven’t started them yet, see our bundles for suggestions on the order to do them in. Start with your country’s journal first, if possible.

All About Dogs- Fun-Schooling Journal– Cover every subject with a fun dog theme. Kids will learn about dog breeds, jobs, and more. Even includes math practice!

Inventions & Inventors Students will study 30 of the most impactful lessons of all time. Space is included in back for them to research inventions of their own interest too.

Grades 6 to 8 Fun-Schooling Journal is one of our most in-depth core journals. This is a Christian-based journal with tons of variety and Bible study included.

Top 30 Grammar Mistakes dives into the most common Grammar mistakes and gives students plenty of practice using proper grammar rules.

Tropical Birds Research Journal Students will research, finish activities, color, and enjoy breathtaking photography of 26 different tropical birds.

Yum-Schooling 15 recipes to teach children how to bake, calculate, measure, spell, use logic, serve others, apply science, and be creative. Create delicious dishes to share with the whole family while working on building your skills and learning.

What other journals is your 6th grader using? Share in the comments to help other families!

Make sure to check out

About the Author- Amanda Osenga is a Fun-Schooling mom in Columbus, Ohio. She is also the social media manager and a Virtual Assistant for Thinking Tree. Her family combines Thinking Tree books with the Charlotte Mason method using books from Ambleside Online and Wildwood Curriculum. In her free time, Amanda is an avid reader and loves to be outdoors.

Mom of 15 is Ready to Talk About Teenagers! “I’ve had 12! People were wrong about what to expect!”

January 19, 2024February 6, 2024 / Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

I’m a Mom of 15, and most of my kids are teenagers now.

I have three littles ones. The rest are 13 and up. It’s a lot of fun! I can’t tell you how much I love having a house full of teens!

My kids are smart, funny, resourceful, kind, and responsible. They have great personalities and are using their talents to do cool things in the world.

They love each other, their parents, and God.

When my kids were little, people used to say “Just wait until they’re all teenagers!” Like it was going to be this horrible thing. I feel like we did something right. I think it’s been investing in them, loving them, and planting good seeds. We’re an example of what we want them to become.

Our kids are amazing and they bring so much joy. Our life is full and busy. Every day is a party. They are so much fun and bring me so much joy!

I am so proud of who my children have become.

For a while, I didn’t want to speak up about raising kids because I didn’t know how mine were going to turn out. I was hesitant to share my parenting strategies. So many stories out there about people who were showing off their parenting skills with elementary-aged kids who went nuts as teens!

I was worried my kids would rebel as teens and make a fool of me. Why? Cause that’s what everyone was saying! I was believing I could plant good seeds, pull the weeds and give my children a life like a well tended garden… and I believed they would thrive as teens and beyond.

So many people said it doesn’t matter how you raise your kids in the end, once the world and pop culture suck them in… my kids are kinda dominating pop culture 😂😂😂😂 and being smart, wise and kind!!!

Don’t miss my daily episode of “30 Seconds at Sarah’s House.” What to expect when you are a mom of 15 and all but three kids have hit the teen years!

Most of my kids are about a year apart, some closer! What’s it like now that most of them are teenagers? A bunch of my kids were adopted from Ukraine when they were 6 to 16! We tried our best to read a lot of books, took a couple parenting classes and now we are finding out what it’s like to parent teens and young adults!

I have a lot to say and share. Follow me on YouTube to see my family in action. I hope it inspires you in your parenting journey.

Top Journals for Middle School Students

December 15, 2023March 19, 2024 / Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Fun-Schooling helps Middle Schoolers transition from their childhood years to teen years by providing a perfect balance of structure and flexibility. Students can cover all the required subjects- and electives- in a non-threatening way. Your Middle Schoolers will be able to work at their own pace, pursue their interests, and work on a lifelong love of learning.

Lots of the journals Middle Schoolers use are also popular High School options. So check out both of our High School journal suggestions here and here.

The Top Fun-Schooling Journals for Middle School Students

Bundles for Middle School Students

Bundles are great for this age because they invite independence and provide structure. We include a lesson plan kids can follow along with.

Here are our Middle School bundle options. Click the image below to be taken to the suggested lesson plans and journal descriptions.

The journals from these bundles are available for sale individually on Amazon and most are PDFs on our website as well.

More Middle School Journals

These journals are also popular for Middle Schoolers

50 Creative Writing Prompts- Teen Girls and Teen Guys– Writing prompts with art to help your student get writing!

Reading Time– 180 pages to for your student to document what they are reading. Includes several different options for how to track their reading life- both personal and school books.

Grades 6 to 8 Fun-Schooling Journal is one of our most in-depth core journals. This is a Christian-based journal with tons of variety and Bible study included.

Travel Dreams– 30 Fascinating Cities– Students will study each city as if they are planning a trip, covering various topics such as food, fashion, culture, history, navigation, tourism, architecture, and much more.

All About Butterflies– 200 Activities for students who are interested in butterflies, flowers, ecology, science and nature.

Pirate Pronunciation– If your Middle Schooler has not yet completed this journal, now is the time! This pirate-themed book includes cursive, art, poetry, story writing, comic creation, and more. It will teach even the most reluctant learners these important basics.

The Athletes Fun-Schooling Journal & Olympic Research Handbook For students who love sports! Cover all the required academic subjects and dive into the wonderful world of sports.

Life Skills Provides 36 essential skills to know before launching into adulthood. Includes fun hands-on activities and lots of practice opportunities.

Explorers & Pioneers– Students will research over 30 historical figures from worldwide and the ages. We have chosen to focus on a diverse assortment of men and women who impacted the world through their discovery, exploration, and pioneering efforts.

How to Make Money An interactive guide to uncovering passions, igniting ambition, and providing the practical tools needed to set and accomplish financial goals. Great for students to discover what they’d like to do in the future.

PEEK INSIDE these journals and more here

What other journals is your Middle School student using? Share in the comments to help other families!

Make sure to check out part 1-

Homeschooling Middle School, Drama Free!

December 15, 2023December 15, 2023 / Sarah Janisse Brown / 2 Comments

I have talked to countless moms who say their experiences in middle school are partly why they choose to homeschool. Middle school can be a confusing, overwhelming, and sometimes painful time. Fortunately, homeschooling middle school allows us to mitigate some of this. This is a transitional season between childhood and young adulthood. Today we’ll talk about whys to make it a delight!

How old are most Middle Schoolers?
7th graders are usually 12-13 years old & 8th graders are usually 13-14 years old.

Typical Academic Ability for Middle Schoolers

May want to plan and take ownership over a lot of their schooling and scheduling.
We highly encourage this!
Complete most work independently but may still need some help/ enjoy working with you- friend learners will especially enjoy working with someone else.
School day is about 4 hours with lots of time left to explore their interests.
Can comfortably read independently.

Math abilities-
Solid knowledge of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
May still need assistance with long division and may not yet know all their multiplication facts.
Becoming more comfortable with fractions, decimals, and percents.
Can solve word problems.
Accurately count out money/ give back change.
Basic understanding of geometry.
Working on how to follow a receipt and convert to different amounts.
Can begin to focus on the math skills they’ll need in their everyday life.

Language & Grammar skills
Can appropriately use slang & metaphor.
Know most of the basic parts of speech.
Can write a short composition.
Some kids will still do best dictating to you and having you write or drawing instead of doing much writing.
Most are competent spellers for high frequency words and can sound things out w/ relative accuracy for other words.
Can give a good retelling/narration either verbally or in writing of what they’ve read.
Handwriting still needs to be practiced and lots of kids this age are working on cursive.
Copywork is still important & helpful.

Can be a challenging age as they move towards more independence and yet still need their parents.

Remember– This blog series is based on the average level for the grade/age. The bell curve is extremely important to remember throughout this series. Some children will fall outside of this average. We’re homeschooling middle school for a reason- so we can customize our children’s education to their unique academic level and needs.

Middle School Developmental Milestones

At this age, lots of kids get serious about their majors and developing the skills & knowledge they need for their future & may even start a business. This is also the age where families start focusing more on Life Skills and the tools they’ll need in adulthood.

Kids this age often have deep friendships, are passionate about pursuing their interests, and not as interested in traditional “play” anymore. Socially they understand body language, nuance, jokes, sarcasm, and puns more. Though these skills will continue to develop through adolescence. They may want to spend lots of time on sports, crafts, hobbies, and other activities. It’s not unusual for middle schoolers to spend hours perfecting something they’re learning about or working on a new skill.

Hormones are shifting intensely during these years. Some kids are fully in puberty by now and should have a good understanding of the changes they are/will go through and what puberty is. They’re often much more physically mature than mentally/emotionally- which can throw parents for a loop! Emotions can be wild and intense!!! Coordination, balance, and the way their body moves may be awkward/clunky like toddlerhood. Some may want to start dating (!) or have boy/girl friends.

Students at this age w/ learning disabilities, special needs, and learning differences are aware of their unique abilities. It’s an important time to help them see their super powers and unique gifting while also finding ways to help them develop a love of learning. This can be especially true for kids coming out of public school who may need a season of deschooling before doing much school work.

Middle Schoolers are notorious for questioning things more. They are wired to no longer take things at face value. This is a stage of rapid brain growth and you’ll see that in the questions they ask. Many like to start in debate at this age.

Let your Middle School students deep dive into their interests

Common Challenges Homeschooling Middle School & Tips to Overcome Them

Have a student who is sometimes spacey, distractible, or seems obsessed with something?
It’s 100% normal at this age. We jokingly call it the “Brain Dead Stage.”

Students who want to rush through or skip their work-
Check out this post for tips!

Students who have no idea what they want to major in–
This post should help.

Students at this age may get overwhelmed or shut down with too many choices-
Try combining multiple subjects into one study. This is a good age for unit studies and in-depth journals.

Tips from Middle School Moms

E.A. says- “Give them more freedom, let them make more choices and give them more responsibility for their learning—they will rise to the occasion I have found that my middle school boys don’t love all the coloring….so we skip that, 1 loves the mazes, the other doesn’t so do what they like…that’s ok middle school is a hard time of child one day/teen the next and they sometimes want to do “little kid” things and then the next day “that’s for babies” sometimes it is hard to keep up lots of prayers, lots of conversations and lots of hugs (if that’s is ok today )”

R.P. says- “One thing I’ve noticed with my middle schoolers is giving them the freedom to choose their learning/projects based off interests. One of mine strongly dislikes math but is super passionate about horses so we incorporated math in with the horse thinking tree book (measurement, calculating fence posts vs length needed etc) it’s made a big difference. I may request a presentation but it doesn’t have to be a written paper, sure make it a PowerPoint& verbal presentation “

L.G.- “My middle schoolers (grades 7 & like to do a combination of Fun schooling Journals, online Unit Studies or online courses in their majors. We also regularly incorporate games and movies as part of their learning. They like to get out of the house a couple times a week for library events, as well. I find variety works well for them. For Math they like Life of Fred, but we are taking a break and doing Kitten Math, a super fun book that uses practical math skills. The kids pretend they are fostering kittens. They all beg to do this book so it’s definitely worth a break from their regular math curriculum. They are also having fun learning Latin and Greek roots as a card game. I love teaching vocabulary through roots, as it gives them so much decoding ability when it comes to new and unfamiliar words. Mostly, I follow Sarah’s excellent advice and allow them to focus on their passions.”

S.H.- At this age, I feel like it’s especially important to keep prioritizing relationships over academics. Let them sleep. Let them eat good food (ALL of the food ). Let them take the reins as they grow & mature, and give them the freedom, the gift of time, to grow into the young man or woman God intended them to be. It’s a time to expose them to all sorts of different things & unique experiences so that they may discover their passions & dive into them fully.

We hope this helps you feel more prepared as you’re homeschooling your middle schooler.
Check out our post with the most popular journals for this age to plan your Fun-School Middle School.

Concerned about gaps in your child’s education? Check out this post.

Parenting Teens is a Delight for Me. Yes, Really!!!

December 1, 2023December 1, 2023 / Sarah Janisse Brown / 1 Comment

I have a really fun and peaceful relationship with my adult kids and my teens. They love spending time with our family and come to me for advice and ideas. I believe a lot of this success is attributed to the fact that our parenting style was not stagnant- it grew and changed with our kids.

When your children are little babies and toddlers the role of the parent is a lot like a “Lifeguard”. Your job is to keep them alive because they can’t survive without your constant care and intervention. They have not developed their own logic or understanding of danger. Of course you are so much more then a lifeguard in this season- but if you are not fulfilling the role of lifeguard the consequences can be devastating.

When your children are growing beyond preschool stage, and before they hit the tweens the role of parents is no longer lifeguard but often you find it necessary to play the part of “Law Enforcement” and “public safety”. You are teaching them about boundaries, behavior, rules, and providing consequences when they test the limits. You are making sure they don’t get caught up into habits of lying, stealing, sneaking, and going into dangerous situations that they are unaware of. You are choosing friend groups for them and keeping them out of trouble. You are so much more than police-mom, but if you don’t informed healthy boundaries at this point the consequences can be devastating.

Once they reach the tweens they usually know the rules, they are developing character, they have tested the basic boundaries and are ready to get in the game! They are really for responsibilities, and new freedoms! They have built relational skills, learning skills, life skills under the supervision and guidance of the parents and now they no longer need mom and dad to be the police.

At this age they need a “Coach”. This is when life with your growing kids gets fun! It’s about empowering them to become who they were meant to be, while you give them encouragement, support, and fair discipline- taking them out of the game and having meaningful talks on the bench when they abuse their freedom or display immaturity – losing privileges until they prove they are ready to play fair.

Thanks to your coaching, your young teens now begin to understand who they are, where they are going and what they want in life! Once again the parent and child relationship changes. If you stay in the lifeguard stage or police-mom mode when your preteen needs a coach, and you don’t listen and given them the attention they need as they navigate these transitional stages the consequences can be devastating. It’s tempting to try at this point to be a bigger tougher police-mom – but that’s not going to benefit anyone.

You now become an “Mentor” helping them to evaluate their options, and giving them wise advice to help them grow into adults. You model for them what life looks like in the real world and teach them how to operate in it by your side.

You intentionally create time and space for open communication and take time to listen and speak into their lives. You are proactive and available, and your kids know that you will hold them accountable, and be there supporting and encouraging them as they prepare to launch. You intentionally give them more and more freedom, space, responsibility and ownership of their own path.

You are no longer the lifeguard, the police-mom, or even the coach – your relationship with your child is becoming one built on mutual respect, as they get older – though the parent still has the authority to pull the plug or take away the keys if the child abuses their freedom or engages in stupid and dangerous behaviors. Mom is still the boss, but your goal is to teach them to be their own boss. In general they should have a peaceful growing happy relationship with the parents who no longer treat them like babies or little kids. If they are constantly resisting and avoiding you- it’s probably cause you are stuck in a parenting style better suited to little kids. Grow up, and they will too. When they feel trusted and respected they will shine. But that doesn’t mean to throw them to the wolves, allow them to hang out with gangs, or give them unlimited time with an unlocked phone.

Once your kids are declared “adults” you no longer have a place of legal authority or obligation. If your kids grew up feeling like mom and dad were just playing police year after year, they are going to get out and avoid contact, because they finally have freedom, and that means freedom from your aggressive parenting style. If you were a good coach and a kind advisor in the tween and teen years you will have a new role in your relationship with your adult kids… they will seek you out as a trusted “Consultant” they will come back to you on their own terms, when they need advice, help, guidance and support. The relationship becomes one that looks friendship between two adults who care deeply about eachother, where the younger respects and honors the older, and values their advice and support.

If you think back on your relationship with your own parents, if your relationship with them was struggle and still is, there is a good chance they never outgrew one parenting style or another as you grew up, and you always felt like you were being controlled, policed or not trusted… and maybe you wanted out. Maybe they were helicopter parenting who constantly swooped into rescue mode, when you needed to learn how to handle your own problems. Maybe they didn’t take on a role of protector or guide at all, maybe they were so focused on their busy lives that they expected you to make it on your own, maybe they were too permissive and failed to provide boundaries from a young age, leaving you to fend for yourself.

Whatever the issues might be, you are a parent who cares deeply enough to homeschool and you were willing to sacrifice so much to do this! You want to create a safe and vibrant environment for them to grow, and as you do- don’t forget to grow too.

Are your kids struggling with their relationship with you? Maybe it’s time to quit the police role and start parenting more like a coach. Maybe they need a mentor, not a lifeguards.

What parenting phase are you stuck in?

(Just a quick note, as I wrote this post I was mostly thinking about my relationship with the children born into my home, and the stages of parenting that began in the early days of childhood. I also am parenting five kids who came to our family five years ago after experiencing unspeakable abuse and abandonment, along with five years in a government run orphanage in Ukraine. Parenting kids with trauma is a whole different thing. I have shared a bit about that here and in a podcast with Durenda Wilson. )

Homeschooling High School | Preparing Your Child For Their Future Callings and Careers

November 20, 2023March 19, 2024 / Amanda Osenga / 1 Comment

One of our focuses is having teens choose a major from a young age. We do this so they can focus on building the skills needed for their future careers and callings. Fun-Schooled teens who choose a major can graduate High School having already started their own business- or with an impressive portfolio to jump right into the work world. Last month, we talked about homeschooling college-bound teens. Today we will focus on homeschooling High School when your teen plans to enter the workforce after graduation.

Top Tips for Homeschooling High School

We said this last month, and it’s worth repeating today. Ensure you know the legal High School requirements for where you live. The HSLDA is an irreplaceable resource for understanding your local laws. Also, check out our comprehensive guide on assigning credits to journals.

If your student is not already actively selecting their school materials, now is the time to start. Let them select some, or all, of their journals and the resources they’ll use alongside them. It works well to offer 5-10 choices for your students to select from if they get overwhelmed by too many options. You can do this with journals and book selections.

Get help from your community as needed. This track focuses on the skills kids need to step into their future careers and calling. You may not know exactly what they need to know and that’s ok! Give your child a chance to interview a few people in their desired field to get answers. Shadowing and internships can provide valuable information and build skills.

It’s okay to repeat a journal completed at a younger age. Because students combine journals with academically appropriate materials, they will get a different experience. High Schoolers can go more in-depth than they did when they were younger. Plus, we know there will never be 100% retention on any subject of study. Repeating a journal will allow your student to get closer to mastery and pick up things they missed last time.

FAQs for Homeschooling High School

What if my student has no idea what they want to study?

Parents often tell us asking the question, “What is your future career or calling,” elicits a lot of “I don’t know” answers. It’s a huge question and can feel heavy for a lot of teens. We suggest asking “What do you want to do?” and “What do you want to know?” This can apply to things they want to do and know right now at this stage in life if needed. As they hone their skills, they’ll think through what they’d like to do later in life. Here are a few more tips for using these magic questions to jumpstart learning.

How do you select materials that are High School level appropriate?

Many Fun-Schooling families like to pursue Charlotte Mason-based book lists to select materials. Ambleside Online, Wildwood, Simply Charlotte Mason, and Sabbath Mood Science are popular options. From 7th grade up, these programs use High School and College level materials. Simply Charlotte Mason also has a great book finder that allows you to narrow down books by grade and search for a specific subject or keyword. You can also search “living books + (subject)” to find more.

Other families head to the library and ask librarians for help. If you do not live near a library, most libraries have a free option to chat with a librarian online and get suggestions- or you can call. They’ll be able to help you choose age-appropriate materials and provide lots of great suggestions.

You may also get support from your local public high school. Some public schools are more supportive than others of homeschoolers. We’ve heard of teachers being willing to sit down with homeschool families and offer suggestions for materials.

As mentioned above, interviewing someone in the student’s desired field is a wealth of information. They likely have books and resources they’ll lend your student- or can provide plenty of titles and websites.

What about learning gaps?

Don’t fear “gaps.” All students come into life with gaps; learning everything we are taught is impossible! Once they’re in the workforce, they are so well equipped to know how to learn that they’ll be perfectly capable of filling in any gaps. Students can take courses at a community college if there’s something specific they have to know for their future career or calling that they can’t teach themselves. Check out this post for a few other thoughts on gaps.

How does Fun-Schooling help a student prepare for their future career or calling?

We have written several blogs about this which I will reference below. The short answer is that Fun-Schooling lets students dive deep into their field of study. It teaches them how to learn and gain skills. Students are set up for success for a lifetime no matter what career path or calling they choose- or how many times they change their path throughout their lives. The skills they will develop at home will help them find success no matter what they hope to do one day.

How and Why to Choose a Major at a Young Age
Choosing a Major & Why 13 Is the Magic Number
Transitioning Toward Adult Life
Raising Employees?

What are the top journals for High School students to use?

Find out the most popular journals High Schoolers preparing for their careers and callings in this post–

More tips for high school homeschoolers

About the Author- Amanda Osenga is a Fun-Schooling mom in Columbus, Ohio. She is also the social media manager and Virtual Assistant for Thinking Tree. Her family combines Thinking Tree books with the Charlotte Mason method using books from Ambleside Online and Wildwood Curriculum. In her free time, Amanda is an avid reader and loves to be outdoors.

Top Journals for High School Students

November 20, 2023November 20, 2023 / Amanda Osenga / 2 Comments

Fun-Schooling journals provide students with the skills they’ll need to be successful in their future careers and callings. Students get to dive deep into their desired field of study and enter the workforce after graduation with 4+ years of mastery behind them.

High Schoolers can use any of our journals. These featured journals we’ve created specifically to help teens dive into their careers and callings. Just because a journal isn’t featured here, doesn’t mean they can’t use it! And teens can repeat journals they completed at a younger age alongside different age-appropriate materials. We often have students who continue using Fun-Schooling journals as young adults to continue learning.

The Artist Fun-Schooling Journal Art majors of all abilities will be challenged by various art prompts and encouraged to explore their creative interests. Students will approach learning as a whole and cover math, reading, language arts, and more while studying art.

The Animal Lover’s Fun-Schooling Journal Designed for students majoring in animals. Great for students who are going into zoology, veterinary medicine, or another animal-based field.

The Athlete’s Fun-Schooling Journal Document learning in multiple school subjects while also exploring different sports. Covers traditional sports such as basketball and baseball and unique sports like breakdancing and kayaking. Students will even learn about chess as a sport!

Camera Quest offers students the chance to do a deep dive into the world of photography. Students will learn techniques and get lots of practice.

Design a Dress Students majoring in fashion will get to design dozens of different dresses. Also popular for teens who are exploring modesty and their own sense of style.

The Baker’s Fun-Schooling Journal & The Chef’s Fun-Schooling Journal For students majoring in culinary arts, cooking, and homemaking. Also helpful for students to learn how to cook before they live on their own.

Guide to Birthwork A research guide for aspiring mothers, midwives, doulas, lactation consultants, childbirth educators, nurse-midwives, and OB-GYNs.

Life Skills Provides 36 essential skills to know before launching into adulthood. Includes fun hands-on activities and lots of practice opportunities.

High School Homeschooling Handbook allows students to cover all the major subjects in one journal. Students can select materials that fit in with their passions and future goals while completing this journal.

The Singer and the Songwriter journal and creativity journal Step-by-step exercises to inspire and improve your songwriting skills. As well as easy-to-follow steps through exercises and workouts designed to enhance your vocal skills.

The Songwriter’s Fun-Schooling Journal For songwriting and theater majors of all abilities. While studying songwriting, students will approach learning as a whole and cover art, math, spelling, language arts, and more.

The Writer’s Fun-Schooling Journal Students majoring in writing or who will need writing for their future careers will love this journal. Includes writing prompts, character development, storyboards, oral practice, lyrics, tips, and more.

PEEK INSIDE these journals here

What other journals is your High School student using? Share in the comments to help other families!

Make sure to check out part 1-

More About Fun-Schooling High School

About the Author- Amanda Osenga is a Fun-Schooling mom in Columbus Ohio. She is also the social media manager and Virtual Assistant for Thinking Tree. Her family combines Thinking Tree books with the Charlotte Mason method using books from Ambleside Online and Wildwood Curriculum. In her free time, Amanda is an avid reader and loves to be outdoors.

Top Journals for College-Bound Homeschoolers

October 17, 2023October 17, 2023 / Sarah Janisse Brown / 2 Comments

Are overwhelmed about how to prepare a homeschooler for college? Do you wonder if your homeschooler can get into college? Concerned about ensuring your college-bound homeschoolers will be successful in their courses? Today we’d like to offer a few suggestions to help bring peace of mind and set your homeschooler up for success in their next stage of life.

College-bound homeschoolers can use any of our journals. However, a few have found a particular niche/ families say they’ve been especially helpful in preparing their students for college. We even have students who continue using Fun-Schooling journals in college for notes, research, and journaling!

High School Homeschooling Handbook/ Just for Teen Guys High School Handbook contains almost 500 pages for your student to document learning in all the required subjects. Some students have even used this to show their prospective University during interviews.

All About Money– Economics & Business. This is especially important for college-bound homeschoolers pursuing a business or finance degree. Moms tell us it is usually enough to fulfill a High School economics credit. Use it alongside Whatever Happened to Penny Candy by Richard Maybury. Many families also like to use the Life of Fred Financial Choices book.

10/12 Subject Portfolio is an attractive and easy way to document learning in multiple subjects all in one place. Students have used this for college admissions meetings to show their work and edreading ucation. It’s also one of the most popular options for college students to be able to keep track of all their notes in one notebook.

How to Write Research Papers and Essays is an essential guide written by a college professor. It is a must for college-bound homeschoolers that they’ll reference again and again.

American History Timeline is a comprehensive journey through American history. This is one of our most in-depth journals. Students can use documentaries, podcasts, and books to meet the required hours for their high school credit. Many families like to pull books from Charlotte Mason-based booklists like Beautiful Feet Books and Ambleside Online to bring history to life.

Learn Any Foreign Language allows students to learn any language naturally and flexibly. Many Universities require a Foreign Language for admission. This is a journal students may want to bring with them to college as they continue their language learning.

Make Your Own Book of… we have about a dozen “make your own” journals. These are blank inside and the perfect place for students to take notes, make a portfolio, and document their learning. Students also like to bring these to college to take notes.

Master Class allows students to create their own portfolios as they work their way through online or in-person classes. We’ve had many Fun-Schoolers present these to college admissions counselors to display their work.

Picturing the Past is a Charlotte-Mason-based picture study journal of 75 historical paintings. Students use this as a guide for not only understanding art but also to gain a better foundation of history. It is especially great for college-bound homeschoolers looking to study history or the arts.

Pondering the Past exposes students to 30 works of Classical Literature. Some students use it as is for a general overview of the books. Others get more high school credits by reading some, or all, of the books. It’s also a popular journal to combine with Picturing the Past and the American History Timeline to build a more comprehensive picture of each historical era.

90-Day Homeschooling Planner allows your student to manage their school tasks, chores, appointments, and goals in one place. Help them build a habit of using this in High School, and they can continue using it in college.

Brain Games build skills in creative thinking, problem-solving, logic, reasoning, math, reading, spelling, and more. Plus, they’re a great way to relax and give your brain a break! College students also enjoy them as a nice reprieve after a busy day of classes.

Top 30 Grammar Mistakes dives into the most common Grammar mistakes and gives students plenty of practice using proper grammar rules. Even if your child completed this in a younger grade, repeating it to pick up rules that didn’t “stick” is a great idea. Many families like to combine the Life of Fred Grammar books to fulfill one (or more) credits- and they can often test out of intro-level college grammar with these books + this journal.

Spelling Time: Top 150 Misspelled Words helps students learn the most often misspelled words in a fun and engaging way. This is another journal worth repeating more than once to ensure each word is properly learned.

Viking Vocabulary is our most advanced Language Arts journal. We specifically wrote it as a college-prep journal. Students will learn tools invaluable to them in their college education. They’ll also build a stronger vocabulary and have fun learning about Vikings. Use alongside the Viking section in American History Timeline to do a deep-dive into all things Vikings!

Pocket Core Journals- These are 60-Day core journals that cover all the basic subjects in a smaller size. Students love these for on-the-go learning. Two cover options, boats and birds. They are also popular with students who have learning or physical disabilities or other learning challenges as they have much less writing space on each page.

What other journals are you having your college-bound homeschoolers use? Share in the comments to help other families!

Make sure to check out part 1- Is Fun-Schooling Enough for Students to Go from Homeschool to College?

More About Fun-Schooling High School

Is Fun-Schooling Enough for Students to Go From Homeschool to College?

October 17, 2023October 17, 2023 / Sarah Janisse Brown / 2 Comments

“I love this approach, my children are delighted to learn. I’ve never seen them light up like this before with schoolwork. But is it enough for them to get into college?” I’ve answered dozens, if not hundreds, of messages like this from mothers over the years. We’ve seen many Fun-Schoolers successfully go from Homeschool to College. While our students can’t walk into their high school guidance counselor’s office, today we’ll offer a few tips and resources for your college-bound student.

To Dos for College Bound Homeschoolers

First and foremost, make sure you know your state/country’s legal High School requirements. Your child’s ability to graduate with a valid diploma depends on ensuring the proper laws are followed. We have found the HSLDA to be an irreplaceable resource for understanding your local laws. This is good research to do in between 8th and 9th grade before your student starts high school.

Next, check with the school(s) your student plans to apply to. You can’t start too early. Freshman or Sophomore year is a good time to start looking. Ask specifically for resources for homeschooled students. As home education has grown in the last few years, many Universities provide guides for what they’re looking for from kids who didn’t attend traditional school. Also ask about standardized tests, prerequisites, and credit requirements for admissions.

Ensure you know how to write a strong transcript and assign credits. Last year we wrote a comprehensive guide to doing this as a Fun-Schooler. Don’t forget about volunteer work, jobs, clubs, athletics, etc. when considering what to include on this transcript!

How does Fun-Schooling prepare a student to go from homeschool to college?

One of the biggest advantages we’re giving our children through Fun-Schooling is teaching them how to learn vs teaching them how to study. Schools teach kids to study for a test and memorize rote information. We ignite a love of learning in our children which helps store the information for the long-haul. Fun-Schooling parents with kids in college have told us how impressed professors are with students’ abilities to learn and hold onto information vs spitting it out for a test and then forgetting it.

Fun-Schooled students often work above their “grade level,” and in many cases can test out of courses once they get into college as well. By giving them a chance to deep dive into their passions and providing them with a broad feast for learning, they’ll often come into college able to knock out several courses before they even begin.

Don’t fear “gaps.” All students come into college with gaps, it’s impossible to learn everything we are taught! Students can take courses at a community college if there’s something specific they have to have in order for admission. Once they’re in school, they are so well equipped to know how to learn that they’ll be perfectly capable of filling in any gaps. Check out this post for a few other thoughts on gaps.

Tips from Fun-Schooling Moms

Here are a few tips from Moms who have Fun-Schooled and then seen their kids go from homeschool to college-

Jennifer- “Better to be over on transcript than have no idea what you’re doing!”
Samantha- ” If one college is asking for you to jump through outrageous hoops because you’re home educated then try another. Some schools require FAFSA even if you don’t qualify for financial based aid in order to issue and awards and merit. Make sure any dual enrollment you do will actually transfer, not all do. Look out for free application days through common app or the schools.”
Laura- “Start in 7th grade with your child investigating careers, what degrees are required for various degrees, do they need an AA/AS or a BA/BS, or will they need to go onto grad school, etc. Have them start with state schools and examine entrance requirements and degrees offered — if they are interested in social work but looking at a school that doesn’t offer that program, then they know to cross that off their list. Have them look at what courses are required in majors of interest — if Calculus 3 is going to be required and the student detests math, then there is a need to reevaluate plans or learn to enjoy math . Once the students have researched, work with them to set up their high school plans, coordinate courses the college requires for admission, state homeschool requirements, and any additional passions they wish to pursue. Explore dual enrollment options in your area – some states provide free or reduced rates for high school students taking dual enrollment at local community colleges. Explore study skills – while some kids intuitively know how to study, take notes, etc., others need step-by-step instructions in things like Cornell Notes and the SQ3R method for reading a text. The majority of post-secondary schools are only concerned with transcripts listing course titles and grades/GPA and test scores. Still, others, particularly private or smaller schools, might ask for course descriptions, lists of books read, etc., so it’s always a good idea throughout high school to have your student keep a running doc of books read. While some schools are test optional now for admission, some states or colleges still use test scores to qualify for merit money. I always recommend taking the SAT and ACT once and then re-taking the one they scored highest on. There are plenty of free or low-cost options to study for the SAT/ACT, so there is no need to pay hundreds of dollars for test prep classes. Using the Thinking Tree Journals is great prep because it helps the student take ownership of their learning and teaches them to read, watch, listen, explore, and then record their viewpoints. I will put a plug in for exploring Purdue Owl, how to cite appropriately in both MLA and APA papers, and the importance of using recognized sources – not just google searches and Wikipedia . Help your student learn to find resources for topics they don’t understand in their math or science, such as Quizlet, crash course videos, or other YouTube videos. If your student is not accustomed to using a TI83/84 calculator, then have them use YouTube videos to learn the basics. Make sure by the end of Junior year that your student knows the application dates, particularly at more selective colleges. Some colleges use application dates for things like housing priority, etc. If you have a student with a documented disability, you’ll want to apply for accommodations to the ACT and College Board (SAT) by the end of the 10th for testing in 11th. Your student should also reach out to potential college Accessibility Offices to determine documentation requirements to apply for college accommodations and to inquire about typical accommodations offered to students with disabilities similar to them. If your student has a disability, it is also wise to begin learning to use certain devices or resources such as Learning Ally and Bookshare, Livescribe pens, notability, screen reading software, speech-to-text, Grammarly, etc. In addition, it is a good idea for them to role-play requesting accommodations and how to approach professors once approved by the accessibility office if the student is not already accustomed to requesting accommodations and discussing their needs and how their disability impacts them.”
Rosanna- “Just because a college says something on their website doesn’t mean it’s what they do AND sometimes they have things NOT on the website they want- we applied to one school that said we needed to submit a full list of all materials studied /books used, and test scores for Homeschooled students- our girl was accepted and although she opted to NOT go there this year, they never asked for any of that info. Also, private schools can also be as cost effective as public universities because they give tons of scholarships. Take advantage of school visit days if you are close, because they often give scholarships for that- my son had a $1000 knocked off his tuition for going to the full day event. Another $1000 for having a friend who was an alumni write a letter of recommendation. If your kids are ready, dual enrollment is a great way to cut cost- if they know what they want to do and where they are headed ask for a list of comparison classes needed to transfer- our school has partnerships with 20+ schools in our state my son was able to print a list from his desired school of what classes he needed to take at his school to start his transfer with the proper credits. I wish I would have pushed a little harder for at least 1 class per quarter for my older two- in dual enrollment- it is free in our county/state except for lab fees and books- my last one will be taking advantage of it next year. I would say 1/2 of the students at the CC my daughter is starting at for her AA-Transfer degree are in Running Start (Our dual enrollment). ALWAYS fill out the FASFA- even if you have money saved – as said above it is used for more than grants. If your child has a diagnosed specific learning disability, know that many schools require a diagnostic test done in the last 3-5 years to access services … You also want to empower your student to advocate and talk to the staff as much as you can- they are the student, they are owning their new life and unless they sign paperwork to include you, you can’t even see their financial information, talk to anyone about anything at the school, etc. “
Elizabeth- “In my experience (have graduated 2 from homeschool) anything that was “missed” in homeschooling education can quickly be learned or they can take a class at community college to fill that gap…they will figure it out as long as they have a passion for learning and that is what funschooling does—it ignites their passion for learning and they have to take ownership of the learning”
Tammy- “Call the schools and talk to them about what they require and concerns you have! They want to help. My dyslexic daughter wrote a beautiful essay as one of her entrance essays about living with dyslexia. I think, we as parents worry too much sometimes about our kids when they will be perfectly fine. I know I had a melt down a few months ago, and you guys were amazingly encouraging! Unschool on my fellows moms and dads! keep going!”

Find out what journals college-bound homeschoolers most love to use in this post–

More tips for college-bound homeschoolers

Check out this recent conversation in our Facebook group about Fun-Schoolers going from homeschool to college for several real-life stories from Moms
Fun-Schooling for High School Credit
Selecting Journals and Assigning Credit for High Schoolers

Mom of 15: I Followed My Passions and Discovered This…

October 7, 2023October 7, 2023 / Sarah Janisse Brown / Leave a comment

Before the kids came along, I considered myself an artist, a writer, and a traveler. I was filling my life with art, creativity, and wonder. I used to travel Europe selling jewelry and art to fund my passions.

After becoming a mother, my passion became my children. Around 3 years into motherhood, I began to remember how much I loved art and poetry. I started to add a few of my passions back into my life. My husband started working four days a week. I took Fridays to dive back into my passions.

I began reading, writing, and small art projects. I purchased paintbrushes and acrylic paint and covered my home with murals. That turned into a small business decorating other’s homes. Then I started teaching moms homemaking, homesteading, and creative skills. We let our little ones play while we learned together.

There was one thing I didn’t do lots and lots of moms my age were doing. Spending time on TV and the Internet. I found when you have little kids, you’re going to be exhausted. The default can be turning on a show and putting them in front of a TV. We didn’t have a TV so that was never an option. I didn’t want that to be the example I set for my kids of adulthood. As parents, we are our children’s greatest teachers. The life we model for them is what their perception of adulthood is. Do we really want them to think being an adult is about working so much you’re exhausted and then starting at a screen watching other people live their lives the rest of the time?

As my kids reached school age, I started customizing their education around their passions. They take their passions seriously and become experts in their fields of interest. All of my kids start businesses in their early teens. Creativity and beauty has kept my children from becoming addicted to screens and technology.

Well-meaning family and friends have expressed concern my kids are missing out on aspects of “standardized” education. Yet my children have skills and talents kids in traditional school don’t have or have to wait until their 20s, 30s, or 40s to develop. I let them let go of things that are irrelevant and they’ll never need to know.

When a child’s education revolves around what they love, there’s no struggle or fight.

Our modern day workforce is all about skills, talents, and ability more than degrees and head knowledge. My children will be able to have specialized careers in their fields of passion. They’ve been studying since they were young and most of my children are making their own income before they ever move out as legal adults.

The way I raise my children looks very different from what you would see in a schoolroom because the childhood happening in our house looked like a lot of fun, adventure, exploring, creating, community, and more. Everyone is contributing their own gifts.

This is all because I set the model for them of pursuing my passions and letting it fuel my actions and career path. I want my children to look at the model I set of adulthood and be excited.

Today I have 15 children age 8-24. I delight in my teens and we have so much fun together. You have one life to live and it shouldn’t be boring. This is what I want my children to know and how I want their education to look. What about you?

Find my whole talk on this subject in the video below. And subscribe to my YouTube channel for more videos like this.