Posted: 10 Aug 2010 04:00 AM PDT

Press Release Source: Insight Schools On Tuesday August 10, 2010, 7:00 am EDT

PORTLAND, Ore., Aug. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The number of K–12 students who are homeschooled in the United States and the number of K–12 students who take courses online in the country are both on the rise. There are 1.5 million homeschooled students in the US – growing between 7 and 15 percent per year – and the fastest growing part of this population is teens (NCES Issue Brief). Likewise, more than 1 million K–12 students now take all or part of their education online – an increase of 47 percent in just two years (Sloan Consortium). As a longtime educator, I not only expect these numbers to continue increasing, but I predict we'll see much more crossover between these previously separate education paths.

Oftentimes, when students and their families decide to homeschool or enroll at an online school, their motives are similar. Consider the following:

The desire for a personalized learning model
The security of a safe and comfortable learning environment
A flexible schedule
More time to be with family members or to work at a job
Accelerate one's education progress
Not having to worry about bullying, peer pressure and other negative influences
A more efficient use of time

As more and more families seek alternatives to traditional school, we're seeing an increase in students blending homeschool and online education. Every family and situation is different, but regardless of the circumstance, a tough decision has to be made when homeschooled students enter their high school years. In the past, the choices have typically been a) continue homeschooling through high school or b) start at/return to a traditional brick & mortar school.

Now, thanks to public online schools, like Insight Schools, families have a choice that offers different options for student–centered learning that didn't exist just a few years ago – eliminating the either/or choice of the past. Insight Schools and other online education providers are allowing students to enroll full–time as well as part–time. A full–time option allows students to take a full course–load in the environment they're accustomed to and still have their parent by their side, while part–time enrollment gives them the option of taking a class or two while still receiving instruction from their parents for their remaining courses.

This has caused a sigh of relief from some parents, as the idea of teaching a certain subject induces stress for many. Other parents have said they think their student could benefit from a certified subject matter expert's instruction and are appreciative to have that option. Common examples of areas for which homeschooling families turn to online education to supplement their family's homeschool curriculum include: foreign languages, computer training, upper–level math such as Calculus or Algebra II, and dual–credit classes to get a head start on college credits.

Homeschooling families also see value when it comes to the opportunities for socialization and support at Insight Schools. When some people imagine what an online learning environment looks like, they often picture a student working in isolation, which is far from the truth. For example, At Insight, we hold frequent social events, such as field trips, movie nights, pizza parties, seasonal dances and prom throughout the school year to give classmates who know each other online the chance to meet face-to-face. In addition to interacting with other students online in a safe environment, our teachers are available around the clock via phone, text, email, IM and video chat to offer a strong support system.

No matter what route families take, the bottom line is this: teens need to be challenged, motivated and supported to stay on track to pursue their aspirations post-high school, whether that's entering college, the workforce, the service or any other career path. There is no doubt that a homeschooling atmosphere will continue to produce thriving learners, but for those looking for support or alternatives, online learning can ease the anxiety that comes from high–level instruction requirements and ultimately offer a smoother path to a diploma.

Insight Schools is the nation's leading network of online public high schools offering a rigorous curriculum, experienced state–certified teachers that know how to inspire, and a diploma recognized by colleges and universities nationwide. To learn more call 877-25-INSIGHT or visit www.insightschools.net or www.twitter.com/InsightSchools.

Keith Oelrich is the Founder and CEO of Insight Schools. Over the past decade, Oelrich has established himself as one of the foremost leaders in the online education field. His passion to develop a student–centered high school alternative inspired him to found Insight Schools in 2005. He was recently honored for "Outstanding Individual Contribution to K-12 Online Learning" at the 2009 Annual International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) Virtual School Symposium.

Five Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Fast-talking Braun not your standard Nationwide rookie

Posted: 10 Aug 2010 07:44 AM PDT

Colin Braun has never been one to take things slow.

Most NASCAR fans only know him as the 2008 Truck Series rookie of the year and a member of Roush Fenway's Nationwide stable. But his past tells a much different story.

"The biggest thing is trying to forget what I did in trucks and not compare the two."

By the time he was six, he was racing quarter midgets. From 8-14, he was driving for factory go-kart teams in Italy, Monaco, and Japan. He won two national titles, at 15 (Formula Renault TR1600) and 16 (Formula TR 2000 Pro Series), after making the move to cars.

He has set marks for the youngest driver of a Daytona Prototype (17), youngest driver in North America to win a major auto race (Brumos Porsche 250 at Daytona at 17 years, 9 months and 7 days old), and youngest driver to stand on the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Not bad for a kid from a town smaller than most graduating high school classes.

How'd he get there from Ovalo, Texas, a town the Texas State Historical Association said had a whopping 225 residents as of 2000? Side note: Braun said that population number may be a high estimate.

He lived there until he was 18, preparing for life via homeschooling and driving whenever he could. His dad was a race engineer, so Braun never had any trouble getting involved in the sport.

"Being in a small town in Texas didn't matter too much as we always traveled and were on the road," Braun said. "We started racing go-karts around the country and that just kept opening doors."

Eventually he landed with RFR, where he's toiling in his first season in Nationwide. Hard as it is to believe, Braun doesn't have a classic Texas drawl. Instead his mouth moves nearly as quickly as his cars.

Since he's always been a fast mover and a quick climber, he doesn't spend a lot of time worrying about anything beyond the immediate future.

"I'm just so focused on what I'm going to do next week or the week after that and how to get better and learn," Braun said. "I haven't really thought about the future or where I fit in or what's going to happen. I just focus on getting the next race or the next week figured out."

He's 23rd in the standings, having missed five races this season. For two early in the season, Cup veteran Matt Kenseth filled in. For three others, Brian Ickler took control of the wheel after coming over from the Truck Series.

But in the races Braun has run since Kenseth's two-race venture, the No. 16 has been in the top 15 in six of the nine races.

"Having Matt go run those races made the expectations a little different for me," Braun said. "I had a better benchmark to go out and race for. The biggest thing that helped was being able to talk to Matt those two weekends. He helped me to understand what he works on during practice, how he makes it better, all that good stuff."

Another bonus for Braun was the addition of crew chief Rick Viers to the team in June. Viers has a strong history in NASCAR, and Braun said the experience the new chief brings to the table makes it that much easier to blindly follow.

"He's the kind of guy that you know he's just, for whatever reason, just a natural leader," Braun said. "He's not a voice-raising, screaming kind of guy. He gets respect by being a good person and doing things the right way. It just gives you a lot of confidence, and that's something he's helped me with."

Perhaps Viers can help Braun with Bristol -- "The hardest tracks for me are short tracks, but that makes it that much more fun to figure out," Braun said -- as they move to complete this first full season. Braun is third in the rookie of the year competition, only nine points behind teammate Ricky Stenhouse Jr. despite having made two fewer starts.

Braun has never had much trouble at Texas Motor Speedway, the track he considers home. He finished in the top five in his final three Truck races there, and was 13th earlier this season in his first Nationwide race on the large oval.

But as he's learning, expecting something in Nationwide because it happened in a Truck is generally a bad idea.

"The biggest thing is trying to forget what I did in trucks and not compare the two," Braun said. "They do drive different and handle different. When you're driving a truck, it felt one way, and if you try to get the car to drive the same way, it's not going to work. That's one of the things I've learned, and am still learning."

Fast and furious, his schooling is still coming on the road.

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School expenses may be tax deduction

Posted: 09 Aug 2010 10:14 PM PDT

BATON ROUGE – Louisiana families are reminded to retain receipts as documentation for back-to-school items that might be eligible for the Louisiana School Tuition and Expense Tax Deduction.

The deduction applies to 50 percent of the cost of eligible items, up to $5,000 per student.

Eligible expenses include:

• Elementary and secondary school tuition

• Purchases of school uniforms required by the school for general day-to-day use.

• Purchases of textbooks, curricula, or other instructional materials required by the school.

• Purchases of school supplies required by the school.

• Homeschooling expenses are eligible as well.

In order to claim the deduction, you must be able to claim the student as a dependent on your Louisiana Individual Income Tax Return.

Deductions for eligible expenses paid during 2010 can be claimed on state tax returns due by May 16, 2011.

More information is available at www.revenue.louisiana.gov/schooldeduction.

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Counselors suggest getting into routine a week before school starts

Posted: 09 Aug 2010 09:00 PM PDT

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For the past few months, students have been at the pool, soccer camp or sprawled across the couch with TV remote in hand, enjoying the lack of structure that summer brings. Now that August has rolled around, heading back to school is somewhat of an adjustment for everyone involved — students, parents and guardians, teachers and school officials.

Lauren Baker, guidance counselor for Amherst Elementary, said the most challenging aspect for elementary students seems to be physically getting back into the routine. "You see a lot of dragging those first couple of days." Cedar Bluff Middle School guidance counselor Betty Anne Domm agreed. "It's hard for them to get used to going home and studying and doing all the things they need to do," she said. Anne Troutman, guidance counselor at Hardin Valley Academy, agreed. "I feel like when we look back on the first of the year, if students are missing homework assignments, it's because they're not back into the routine yet," she said.

The couselors said when creating a school routine, start with bedtime. "The week before, if possible, inch up bedtime by about 15 minutes each night and get up 15 minutes earlier," Baker said. "It's a gradual thing." She also suggested doing a dry run of what the routine would look like during the school year.

Domm suggested that a specific place for students to study be set up free of distractions and with all the supplies they need. "Have that set up and go ahead and talk about their schedule when school starts — when they're going to have free time, how much time they'll have for homework, where they'll need to cut back on TV time, telephone time," she said.

Troutman encouraged high school students to remember that the first few days of school count, too. The grading system in high school is different because it is cumulative, she said. "So every little homework assignment counts. If they are missing early assignments, those are zeros, so that counts for the total points."

The counselors also suggested many actions parents can take themselves to kick off a great year. Troutman encouraged parents to read everything that their child brings home. "They need to ask, 'What did your teachers give you?' " she said. "Parents need to sit with their students and look through that opening of school paperwork, because a lot of things come home."

Domm agreed. "Sometimes parents feel like they've had another child go through (so) they think they know it all now, but teachers all have different criteria," she said. "It's a good idea for parents not to assume that everything is going to be the same as in the past."

Troutman also encouraged parents to check the school's website for information before the school year begins. There they can find information on summer's required reading and events at school. "For example, we are having an open house within two weeks of school opening where parents can come in and walk through their students' schedule, where they can meet the teachers," she said.

Sometimes parents' anxiety about their student starting school can rub off on the student, Baker said, especially on kindergarteners. "Many loving parents have anxiety because there's a lot less control in that environment," she explained. "The more secure the parents feel, the more secure the students feel."

Heather Duncan, a homeschool mom and freelance columnist for the News Sentinel, suggested homeschooling parents set a routine before they plan to start classes. "One of the things we are doing is posting our schedule in writing," she said. She also said it's important for the homeschooled students to clean their desk space. "We are planning on starting in about two weeks … organizing desks, making a list of supplies we might need, because unlike teachers in schools, we have to do all that on our own."

Duncan suggested getting the students involved in planning the curriculum, like helping choose what books they'll read and planning field trips to get them excited. "It's more about preparing their attitudes," she explained.

So as students and parents look to a fresh start, Domm encouraged all involved not to worry. "We are all a team," she said. "We are all working for the same goal that the child succeeds to the best of their ability."

Jessica Boyd is a freelance contributor to the News Sentinel. She may be reached at jesswboyd@gmail.com.

Five Filters featured article: "Peace Envoy" Blair Gets an Easy Ride in the Independent. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Homeschooling

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

“Online Courses Offer Options, Support for Homeschooling Families” plus 3 more

“Online Courses Offer Options, Support for Homeschooling Families” plus 3 more

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