by The Homeschool Highschool Podcast
How-to's to help you plan the high school years
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Publishing Since
5/30/2023
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April 15, 2025
This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Cinema Studies for ELA Credit in High School.<br /> <br /> <br /> Cinema Studies for ELA Credit in High School<br /> When we taught English/Language Arts in homeschool co-op and umbrella school, we had all kinds of teens in our classes. We had teens who LOVED literature and teens who were not fans of reading.<br /> <br /> The teens who did not enjoy reading sometimes felt overwhelmed with BOTH reading and literary analysis assignments. They would roll their eyes and say,<br /> <br /> "It's too much, it's too hard. And it takes me so long just to read 'cause I'm a slow reader and then I have to think about all these things."<br /> <br /> Sabrina thought, "Storytelling is storytelling. And good storytelling is good storytelling. Literature analysis skills can be learned with any good story- even stories on a screen."<br /> <br /> So, so we ended up with <a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="https://www.7sistershomeschool.com/product/cinema-studies-for-literature-learning-and-composition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cinema Studies for Literature Learning Full-Year ELA Bundle</a>. One of the cool things about the curriculum is that was so cool is that it leveled the playing field for students in the classroom. Students who loved literature and those who did not, all enjoyed participating in literature analysis because the story was accessible.<br /> <br /> <a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="https://www.7sistershomeschool.com/product/cinema-studies-for-literature-learning-and-composition/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"></a>Click image for full description.<br /> <br /> Also, we noticed that the Honors-level teens who were burning themselves out could have a more fun, but still Honors-level course for their transcript!<br /> Cinema Studies for Literature Learning Full-Year ELA curriculum is like all 7Sisters curriculum:<br /> <br /> * No busywork<br /> * Adaptable to different levels of rigor, according to your teen's interest, abilities, and goals<br /> * Not boring!<br /> <br /> Even the included syllabus is a "suggested syllabus" with suggestions for adapting it to different kinds of schedules and different levels of rigor.<br /> <br /> Because there's not ONE right way to homeschool English in high school.<br /> <br /> One thing that we get asked all the time is, does this cover like books for the year? And the answer is no. Teens still need to be reading actual reading material. That's why the Cinema Studies for Literature Learning ELA Bundle includes several fun books.<br /> <br /> However, most of the Bundle is movies! In fact, this thirty-two week, two semester curriculum will cover fifteen different movies.<br /> The way the Cinema Guides work for students<br /> Teens will watch the movie. Then, they will watch it again (not the same day) with their cinema studies guide.<br /> <br /> In that second viewing, students discover that they can get hold of the ideas and richness of the story. The real literature analysis begins and makes the movie so much more meaningful. Finally, students finish up their guides with any additional activities listed in the guide.<br /> How Cinema Studies for Literature Learning Bundle work when you purchase it<br /> Here are steps for parents when you purchase the bundle:<br /> <br /> * When you make your purchase, on your transaction screen you will see links to download the five files that are a part of this bundle.<br /> * Go ahead and download each of those files by clicking on it and saving it somewhere where you can find it on your computer later in your downloads or on your desktop.<br /> * One of the files contains a zip file. When you open it, you will find all of the literature study guides for the books and movies in this bundle.<br /> * Another file that is all of the answer keys for parents to use for ease of grading.<br /> * There is a file for the writing and public-speaking guides. This includes guides for the research paper,
April 8, 2025
This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: Inspiring Teen Conservation Project with Nathaniel Mack.<br /> <br /> Photo used with permission from Nathaniel and Natalie Mack<br /> Inspiring Teen Conservation Project with Nathaniel Mack<br /> This episode of Homeschool Highschool Podcast will inspire your teens to believe that they, too, can do things that make a difference! Natalie Mack and her son Nathaniel join Vicki to discuss his project for the Maryland Conservation District.<br /> About Natalie Mack<br /> As most folks know, Natalie is our <a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="https://www.7sistershomeschool.com/about-7sisters-homeschool-helps/bios/7sisters-cousins-club-meet-the-cousins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7Sisters' Cousin</a> and friend. She helped military homeschool association and podcast. Natalie has done a TEDx talk. She has helped military families on behalf of HSLDA. The list goes on and on.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Natalie has been homeschooling for more than twenty years. She and her husband have five children, so four have been homeschooled to college. All of those are now college graduates. Now, her youngest (Nathaniel) is starting 12th grade.<br /> <br /> Natalie's family is a military family so they have lived all over the world.<br /> About Nathaniel Mack<br /> Nathaniel got interested in conservation and just environmental science in general during middle school. He was noticing that environmental issuer were often on the news. This got him interested in what he could do in his community.<br /> This interest in healthy environments has been an interest of his.<br /> For example, when he was elementary age, Nathaniel and Natalie were at the commissary (grocery store for military families). The bagger at the checkout asked, "Do you want plastic or paper?"<br /> <br /> Natalie answered that she wanted plastic bags. Nathaniel gasped and said, "Mom, you know where the plastic goes!"<br /> <br /> So, his parents noticed his interest and helped him get started in several organizations that practice conservation and environmental science. Nathaniel explored his environmental issues with camps such as like <a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="https://dof.virginia.gov/education-and-recreation/youth-education/camp-woods-wildlife/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Camp Woods and Wildlife,</a>the <a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/youth-conservation-corps" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Youth Conservation Corps,</a> 4H Camp, and Boy Scout summer camp.<br /> Youth Conservation Leadership Institute<br /> Then in 2023, he got started with <a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="https://vaswcd.org/ycli/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Youth Conservation Leadership Institute,</a> which is part of Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District. In that program, Nathaniel worked with advisors, parents, and others in their county to select s a project that they wanted work with.<br /> His project was reducing soil erosion and increasing pollination within his neighborhood park.<br /> In preparation for the project, he attended training sessions on Zoom and had some books to read on the basics of conservation practices, environmental science, and pollination processes. He also learned how to network, oversee projects and people, build communication skills, motivational skills, fundraising skills, and how to advocate with authority figures. Nathaniel worked with his neighborhood board to earn permissions to carry out the project.<br /> <br /> He was granted permission to install environmentally-safe erosion control netting along the Potomac riverbank and flood plain in his community park, as well as permission to plant milkweed for monarch butterflies.<br /> Nathaniel needed volunteers to carry out the project<br /> He created flyers to post around the community to tell about the project and invite involvement. Nathaniel also shared information on social media. His local homeschool friends and Scouting troupe joined him for park cleanup,
April 1, 2025
This week on the Homeschool Highschool Podcast: How to Write an Outstanding College Application Essay.<br /> <br /> <br /> How to Write an Outstanding College Application Essay<br /> When I served as academic advisor to our local homeschool upperclassmen, I read hundreds of their college application essays. Once in a while, a teen enjoyed writing that essay. However, most of the time, teens dreaded the chore. Sometimes, they felt funny about talking about themselves. Other times, they were afraid of failing.<br /> <br /> We found out that if we could give them specific tools to understand what, why, and how to write their college application essay, teens felt more empowered.<br /> Many, but not all, colleges require admissions essays<br /> There are several different sources for college applications and the accompanying essays. (Here's more information on the whole <a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="https://www.7sistershomeschool.com/homeschoolers-guide-to-college-applications/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">college application process.)</a><br /> Many colleges participate in the Common Application<br /> When your teen writes their application essay for Common App, it is sent to all the colleges they choose to apply to on the App. This saves lots of time and effort. Common Application sometimes changes the choices of essay prompts and extra information, sometimes not. They give <a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="https://www.commonapp.org/blog/announcing-2025-2026-common-app-essay-prompts" target="_blank" rel="noopener">details on the essay instructions</a>.<br /> HBCUs: Common Black College Application<br /> <a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="https://commonblackcollegeapp.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Common Black College Application</a> covers the application process to sixty-seven different colleges. That application does not require an essay. However, some HBCUs do require an application essay. It is always a good idea for your homeschool high schooler to check the colleges of interest's websites.<br /> For lower income students, check Coalition for Colleges<br /> <a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="https://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coalition for Colleges</a> helps students prepare for and apply for college. Teens set up an account and are guided through the process.<br /> Colleges that do not require essays<br /> There are some! In this case, the admissions decision-making process is weighted more heavily on the transcript. (All the more reason to make sure your teen has a college-attractive transcript.)<br /> Colleges that have optional essays<br /> Some of them make college application essays optional. If it is optional, we recommend you write one. This gives your teen a chance for the college to get to know them, to stand out and sparkle. If there are a thousand students applying for 500 openings, your teen can be one of those 500.<br /> <br /> Whatever you do check the college website and see what they are looking for!<br /> Tips for writing the college application essay<br /> Most of the time, college application essays will need to be between 250 and 650 words. (It is wise to check the websites of colleges of interest to clarify if their requirement is different.) To help your teen imagine what this will look like:<br /> <br /> * 250 words might be two or three paragraphs<br /> * 650 words could be six or seven paragraphs<br /> <br /> Tip #1: If the college allows 650 words, use all 650 words.<br /> Just make sure that your teen is not simply filling space. Make the most of those words.<br /> Tip #2: Follow the given essay prompt(s)<br /> Colleges want your teen to write about the prompt they provide. They use this restriction to help them compare your teen to the other applicants.<br /> Tip #3: Start early<br /> I often told my homeschool advisees to choose their essay prompts and write their essay in the summertime. Life is often a little less hectic during the summer, so it is easier to get this stressful essay done!<br />
Amy Roberts
Pam Barnhill
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Durenda Wilson
Sarah Mackenzie
Sonya Shafer
Brandy Vencel, Mystie Winckler, and Abby Wahl
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Jennifer Pepito
Sally Clarkson
Hillary Morgan Ferrer & Amy Davison
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Blaze Podcast Network
Lisa Bass
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