What worked for oldest daughter wasn't working for youngest daughter. I needed to rethink some things with regard to her curriculum, and my teaching methods. I had misunderstood her learning style as being auditory, when it was in reality - kinetic.

Recently, I ordered and received some new 6th grade curriculum for my youngest daughter. It's called Switched on Schoolhouse from Alpha Omega. We used it 6 years ago for my oldest daughter, and she loved it except for the math program, but they've improved it a lot in the past 6 years. It's completely computerized, has movies, little video clips, puzzles that are constructed as you answer the questions, and over all is very kinetically interactive. It grades itself, and with initial setting up of the calendar year, it makes it's own lesson plans! For the FIRST TIME, youngest daughter is excited about doing her schoolwork. She's been working on Mavis Beacon Typing, learning to type, which should help her brain's left / right connection, as well as eye hand coordination. She's been doing her work, getting great grades on the lessons completed thus far! I'm amazed! No nag... she wants to do it! She's doing it self started... not having to be told. She seems so very happy, and has told me several times how much she Loves her new schoolwork! I'm so shocked. I had always thought she was an auditory learner, as she is SO extremely talkative, but I see now that she's a kinetic learner and needs the hand interaction to make everything click.... I'm so happy and relieved, I can't tell you. It's like someone flipped the light-switch on with her. The cool thing is that this is all on the lap top, so it can go where we go, and it's self contained, and it's neat & tidy! No bits of paper all over. Love it! From a sullen someone who hated school, was incredibly miserable with anything to do with school, to happily running down the stairs to excitedly begin her school day.... is shocking! I can't believe the extreme change in her attitude in just 24 hours! It's incredible!

Oldest daughter wants to go to debate camp this Labor Day weekend in Colorado. I paid the deposit. I tell you, these kids keep me hopping! Her debate coach is really encouraging her to go to law school. RIGHT! Like I have that kind of money! Well, one of the debate families we have in our region have written a book describing how they circumvented the "typical" collage program, by looking into the credits required for 2 year, and for 4 year degree programs, then the CLEP tests, DANTES tests, etc., and studying for these, and then sitting for examination. These kids and many others, have been able to study on their own with preparation books, and then take the tests, and do 4 year degree programs in about 16-20 months. The cost of this type of degree program is like $3500.00 or so for a 4 year degree program instead of more like $35,000.00 in mainstream typical education. We are very excited about this idea.... See: www.globallearningstrategies.org  & http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html -

For kids who are self motivated to work hard and Want a Collage education to pursue their dreams, this is an affordable way to go! It is also helpful for those adults who would like to go to collage (but don't or can't travel back and forth to school, or have money restrictions) who can study for their degrees - this way, affordably.

I want to put a quick plug in for the NCFCA  http://www.ncfca.org; the speech and debate league she is competing with. This group is incredible. To listen to their speeches and debates - gives you renewed hope for the future of our country.

The book Accelerated Distance Learning by Brad Voeller (about $20.00 - see globallearningstrategies.org link above) tells you how it is possible and gives choices in resources to use, while the self published book from one of our own Homeschooler Debaters, College at Home Handbook by Becky and Adam Muldrow (mother and son) have a handbook on exactly HOW to go about it; How to study for examinations, When and How to enroll, and What to do in planning for testing w/ tables to use to plan out testing and costs. Adam describes his own experience of studying for his college CLEP tests - While going to high-school, taking his tests at the U of H testing facility, and from start to finish 3/02 - 12/03 - only 21 months to receive a 4 year degree with over 120 credits. He then sat for the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test), applied to and was accepted by the University of Houston Law Center and South Texas College of Law and was accepted by both. South Texas named him a Howard Warren Scholar for a total of $13,250.00 in scholarships, saying it was "based on his impressive academic record". I feel this is an incredible feat! Their email address is muldrows@earthlink.net  Don't know what the price of this booklet is, but I would think it's pretty reasonable.

This idea works for not only high-school kids wanting to get a jump on college, as well as older adults wanting to "go back to school and get their degrees". For those who want to specialize in a certain field, such as law or medical, and has to first acquire a basic education, this is a much more affordable way to go to get this done, so one can proceed to go into the specialty education they choose. This can easily MORE than cut the cost by 2/3rds. Hope this is interesting to you or someone you know, and possibly can be of financial relief and encouragement to others in the process of obtaining their degrees.