• The A to Z Guide to Home School Field Trips, edited by Gregg Harris, www.noblepublishing.com.

• http://dir.yahoo.com/Science/museums and exhibits.

• www.fieldtrip.com.

-----TIPS FOR OVERCOMING OBSTACLES-----

Many parents have faced and overcome the same obstacles you may encounter in your homeschooling journey. In addition to asking homeschooling veterans for their advice, consider some of the following suggestions:

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Tip #8 Winning over friends & relatives
If you have some skeptical relatives or friends, you’re not alone. Many homeschooling families have won the respect, and even changed the opinions of nearby critics through simply providing positive social interaction and allowing their children’s educational success to speak for itself. You can make a difference by explaining why you are homeschooling, having your child put together a scrapbook or portfolio showing samples of his best work for the year, reporting standardized test scores, having your child write articulate letters, or encouraging him to perform some voluntary service demonstrating strong language, math, and/or social skills.

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Tip #9 Tackling the "hard" subjects like calculus or latin
Maybe you could trade calculus for French lessons! Many homeschooling parents have found they can round out their children’s education by trading teaching time in their areas of expertise—usually referred to as co-oping. Other options include private tutors (could be a friend or coworker) and community college classes.

• The Complete Guide to Successful Co-oping for Homeschooling Families by Linda Koeser and Lori Marse.

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Tip #10 Making a transcript
The key here is not waiting until just before college. Help your student start planning his transcript as he's getting ready to enter the high school years.

• Creating Transcripts and Issuing Diplomas by Inge Cannon, EducationPLUS, www.edplus.com. Inge also teaches Transcript Boot Camps and offers a Home School Transcript Generator (computer software).

• The Homeschooler’s Guide to Portfolios and Transcripts by Loretta Heuer, M.Ed.

• Homeschooling High School: Planning Ahead for College Admission by Jeanne Gowen Dennis.

• Homeschoolers’ College Admissions Handbook: Preparing Your 12– to 18–Year–Old for a Smooth Transition and And What About College? by Cafi Cohen, www.homeschoolteenscollege.net.

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Tip #11 Adjusting to life on one income
Many families have faced this challenge and share the innovative ways they found to meet their goals.

• Miserly Moms, Frugal Families, and Miserly Meals by Jonni McCoy, www.miserlymoms.com.

• Get More for Your Money: Proven Tips for Thrift from a Single Income Family by Trish Garvis

• Food Coops, www.foodcoop.net.

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Copyright 2004 Home School Legal Defense Association
P.O. Box 3000 · Purcellville, VA 20134-9000 · Phone: (540) 338-5600 · Fax: (540) 338-2733 · E-mail: info@hslda.org