Focus On the Prize When Homeschooling

Marketing to families who home school has increased in the USA as families who homeschool have increased. Publishers, book stores, school supply stores, and even entertainment centers are trying to tap into the "home school market". No doubt it is nice to have choices, but it can be overwhelming as you choose your child's curriculum and create your year long plan. I have put together some tips that can help you when you are preparing for your child's school year.
1.Do what best suits your child's learning style. There are a number of free online learning styles inventories. Find out what learning style works best for each of your children before tackling the job of buying curriculum.

2.Know your child's strengths and weaknesses. Make an index card for each of your children with their learning styles, strengths, weaknesses, areas of multiple intelligence, academic goals, etc. Use the index cards when shopping for their curriculum and planning their school year.

3.Take advise with a grain of salt. What worked for your best friend's child, who is now on the dean's list in college, may not work for you and your family. Be patient and keep in mind that nothing you do today is set in stone. You set the pace and supplement the curriculum as you see fit.

4.Grade level is relative. The publishers of curriculum companies designate the grade levels for their curriculum. Their goal is to sell curriculum. Your goal is to educate your child. Be more concerned with the content and goals you set for the year than the grade level. Don't be afraid to use national and state standards to give you an idea of what is expected from other students at your child's "grade level".

5.Use field trips. Plan a few educational field trips in your calendar to places that offer education guides of the site. Many facilities offer free or low cost activities for home school students.

6.Don't be afraid to ask for help. Use your local home school association, tutors, community colleges, learning centers, etc. to help you in the areas you don't feel confident to teach.

At One on One Learning Center, Inc we offer a variety of services to assist home school families.
The beauty of homeschooling is that you can deliver instruction to each of your children in the way that best fits their needs and your family's values.

Back to School with Less Stress

The thoughts of a new school year bring stress on everyone, even the teachers and parents. Some experience stress because they are so excited about returning to the hussle and bussle of friends, after school activities, and the challenge of learning. Others are glad to have a routine and opportunity to socialize with their friends again. Not all students look forward to the ending of summer vacation and the beginning of a new school year. I know that is hard for some to believe, but it is true. There are students who dread every aspect of school. No matter the opinion or the type of schooling, the first day of the new school year is real to us all.


Public school, private school, home school, or virtual school all have a beginning and ending date. I have comprised a list of ways to make this new beginning a little less stressful for all.

1. Visit the School: This is important even if you know the school. Attend orientation or open house. These activities are not just for new students. It helps create a mind set that school is about to start. It is also a good way to discuss the positives about the previous school year.

2. Buy School Supplies: This can be laborous when done in a rush. Set aside time to buy the supplies with the student. The reluctant student needs something to like about school, even if it is only his bookbag.

3. Pack Light: Be careful not to overload the bookbag on the first day. Only take the essentials. The bookbag will be heavier with textbooks on the trip home. Sometimes elementary and middle schools ask for supplies that will be shared with the entire class. Drop these supplies off at the school prior to your child's first day of school or send them in gradually. This will be one less thing to worry about on the first day of school.

4. Get into a Routine: Get back into your school time eating and sleeping patterns at least one week prior to the first day of school. It takes more that one good night of sleep and one good breakfast to have a good first day back.

These are just a few tips. Enjoy your learning. It never stops.

~Becky Matthews

Help, It is Homework Time!

At times, homework can be a chore to say the least. Here are a few tips on how to turn the chore of homework into a daily routine at your house.


1. Keep up with homework assignments and test dates in an agenda or notebook.

2. Use a household calendar to mark all test dates and activities.

3. Set a regular homework time.

4. Use a timer for study breaks. Take a 5 to 15 minute break after each 1 hour study session.

5. Study in a quiet place, at a desk or table. This will help you stay alert and on task.

6. Write down any questions or concerns you have about the homework and contact your teacher for clarification.

7. Review your homework with a responsible adult.

8. Reward yourself for studying with your favorite snack, a quick chat with a friend, or any other activity that may motivate you to stay on task and complete your assignments.

These are just a few tips that may help homework time at your house become a daily routine.
~Becky Matthews

Tips to Get Better Grades

Getting better grades may require just a few skills and tricks.


Here are some tips to help you become a confident learner and experience success.

1. Write down at least one success you have experience and discuss it with a friend.

2. Set academic goals. A long term goal may take you a year or longer to achieve. A short term goal is usually accomplished in less than a year. Set at least one academic long term goal and short term

goal. The short term goal should help you reach your long term goal.

3. Keep a success journal and include your progress towards your academic goals.

4. See yourself reaching your goal and experiencing success. Share your goal with your close friends and family who will encourage you.

5. Encourage yourself with positive self-messages. "I can do this." "I am making progress."

6. Encourage others and lend a helping hand.

7. Write down assignments in an agenda or calendar.

8. Keep a record of your grades for each class in your notebook.

9. Review your notes and reading materials daily.

10. Begin studying for a test by preparing flashcards, graphic organizers, etc. of the subject material when you begin a new unit. This keeps your thoughts and ideas organized on paper and in your brain. No more cramming.

Planning, preparing, and positive messages are the 3 key ingredients to making better grades.
~Becky Matthews

The Sun and the Power of Knowledge

Genesis 15:12
And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

The Sun is a marvel to behold. With a linear diameter of 864,000 miles and a mass 332,000 times greater than Earth we stand in true amazement of our closest star. Composed mainly of hydrogen and helium it has a mean distance from earth of about 93,000,000 miles. The photo attached to this note shows a stellar flare that was caught on film in December 2005. The star II Pegasi is located more than 135 light-years from Earth. The explosive energy has been calculated at 50 million trillion atomic bombs. Most scientists agree that if the 2005 explosion would have been on our Sun, we would have suffered death on a global scale on Earth.

This short study of stars and their power made me think of a lot of things. The first mention of “sun” in scripture is in Genesis 15:12. The Lord is sharing some information with Abram. He tells him that Abram’s offspring are going into slavery. They will be slaves for four hundred years. After that time has passed He will deliver them and give them an inheritance. It is a mixed message of sorrow and blessing. In many ways, like our Sun. It can be a blessing of warmth and light to make things grow. It can also be a scorching brand when there is no balance of wind and rain on the Earth’s crops. Many things in life can have positive and negative outcomes when misapplied. Education falls squarely into this category.

Abram had been given some knowledge. He chose to share that knowledge with his family. The knowledge (or promise in this case), that he was given affected many generations to come. It does till this day. You should realize that your knowledge can be put to good use for yourself and for many of your family to follow. You have a wonderful opportunity to broaden your knowledge base. You can use it to seek a better paying job. You could use it to encourage someone younger to see how important it is to maintain good grades in grammar school and college. Knowledge is a “building block” system. Many components rest upon each other. Your reading skills can help your learning process or they can hinder it. Please take the time to evaluate all of your skills. One on One Learning Center, Inc. would be an excellent place to start using your “power” for good.

~ Bobby Matthews

The flare was seen in December 2005 on a star slightly less massive than the sun, in a two-star system called II Pegasi in the constellation Pegasus. It was about a hundred million times more energetic than the sun's typical solar flare, releasing energy equivalent to about 50 million trillion atomic bombs. Fortunately, our sun is now a stable star that doesn't produce such powerful flares. And II Pegasi is at a safe distance of about 135 light-years from Earth.