Author Archives: Mary Adalbert

Fall is here and the colors are amazing here in Pennsylvania! As homeschoolers you have the benefit of a flexible schedule that allows you to take field trips and spontaneous breaks to enjoy the beautiful season.  But, where should you go and what should you do? Now is the time, given nature’s beautiful eye candy and that October is National Go on a Field Trip month to take some fun field trips! Here are our top pics for October field trips that combine beauty and brains.

Great October Field Trips

• Get out and hike! Find a local hiking trail near you on com and then hit the trails with a trail guide, nature journal, and a good hiking stick! Make it more fun with this fall scavenger hunt from creativehomekeeper.com. Study leaves and mulching using these great leaf lessons.
• Take a spontaneous scenic drive. Seeing the fall foliage is great, if you live in an area where seasons change. Often it’s best seen from the car window on your way to a new adventure. Find a diner in a small town, go antiquing, or hit up a museum. Make it fun and spontaneous by stopping at new places that interest you as you drive. October field trips call for spontaneity and fun! Be sure to enjoy and journal about the views along the way! Here are the best fall foliage drives according to travelandleisure.com.
• Be for the birds. Autumn migration is another wonderful aspect of fall. Why not focus on learning about birds and then go on a bird watch? Audobon.com has their list of the best fall birding trails and great birding activities to engage in at home before and after your field trip.
• Fly with the butterflies. Birds aren’t the only winged creatures that migrate during the fall. Monarch butterflies travel between 50 and 100 miles a day towards their winter home in Mexico. Start by watching this amazing documentary “Flight of the Butterflies.” Then, why not hatch a few monarchs of your own and then release them at a local park or nature preserve. Track monarchs and report your sightings!
• Spice up your science with pumpkins. Nothing says October field trip and fall homeschooling like a study of pumpkins! But, you can go way beyond pumpkin patches and jack-o-lanterns. Sure, take an October field trip to a local pumpkin farm, then try your hand at this science experiment or explore math with any one of these lessons from ourjourneywestward.com.
• Visit and buy local. Farms are a great way to study and celebrate fall, and make for easy October field trips! No matter where you live you can find a local farm and study what’s growing and what you should be enjoying on your table this season. Ask for a farm tour and speak with the farmer about the scientific principles of planting and irrigation they use during fall. Use this list from localharvest.com to find a farm near you.

October is a month that screams “field trip!” Take advantage of the fun that fall brings and get out together to enjoy the season. No matter what you choose to do for October field trips, be sure to keep your homeschoolers engaged and log your hours!
What October field trip is calling your name? Tell us in a comment below!

Bridgeway Academic Advisor Angela Schmoyer specializes in supporting students with special needs and learning disabilities. Angela lives along the Kittatinny Ridge of the Appalachian Mountains in Pennsylvania, very close to historic Hawk Mountain, the first raptor sanctuary in North America. Along with her children, Olivia and Maxwell, and husband Justin, Angela loves hiking the nearby Pinnacle to enjoy the scenery along one of the primary migratory bird flyways in North America.

While the kids are a little young to make the full climb, the family also enjoys exploring the nearby Bartrum Trail along the Schuylkill River, where they can ride their bikes and witness first-hand how a once sludge-filled river has been made whole again.

Making things whole appeals to Angela. Very much. A gift she has worked diligently to realize throughout her life.

A graduate of Kutztown University, she earned a dual degree in Elementary Education (K-6) and Special Education (Newborn-Grade 12). She applied those growing skills by teaching in the Allentown School District for three years before taking a few years off to begin raising her children.

Here at Bridgeway, Angela is the academic advisor for students K-8 and is particularly adept at working with special needs students who have learning challenges such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, auditory processing disorder, autism, ADHD and others. She takes the time to provide extra support and input to other Bridgeway advisors when they have questions about their special needs students.

She shares that many of the special needs students who utilize Bridgeway homeschool curriculum are not always part of the more specific HOPE Program run by our affiliated Essential Learning Institute (ELI).
“The reason many parents decide to homeschool is because their children are behind in traditional schools and not receiving the help they need,” Angela says.

Even though she is an expert in teaching students with special needs, she works with top gifted students as well. In fact, one of the families she advises has both a National History Bee winner and a child with dyslexia who is an elite swimmer.

“I love what I do as an academic advisor and am so happy to see my students succeed in their education here at Bridgeway,” Angela says. “ I serve families in grades K-8 across the United States and throughout the world.”

Bridgeway Academy has empowered a cadre of qualified academic advisors to support, assist, advise, and keep records and transcripts for its homeschooling families. We can do it for you! Learn more about how to join the academically accredited programs that allow Bridgeway families to homeschool with confidence.

This is special. Very special.

Especially for children with special needs.

Bridgeway Academy’s Florida-based homeschooling families with special educational needs (SEN) children are now eligible for the PLSA Florida Gardiner Scholarship to reimburse costs for our Customized package.
Bridgeway Academy President and owner Jessica Parnell says that the scholarship’s affiliation is a validation of the difference the Bridgeway approach makes in the lives of all learners.

“I am thrilled that the PLSA Gardiner Scholarship committee recognized what a powerful option Bridgeway’s Customized homeschool program is for struggling learners. We tailor the curriculum to what works best for each child. Then, we provide one-to-one teaching resources that walk parents through how to deliver that instruction in a way that encourages success and a love for learning.” — Jessica Parnell

One current student already receives the PLSA Gardiner Scholarship, formerly the Personal Learning Scholarship Account (PLSA), which provides educational funds for children with special needs ranging from autism to Down syndrome.

Qualified families can receive up to $10,000 in reimbursement for education and therapies.

Students exhibiting a wide variety of special needs – including autism spectrum disorder, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, Spina bifida, Williams syndrome, Phelan-McDermid syndrome, and intellectual disabilities with severe cognitive impairment – are eligible for the scholarship.

“One of my favorite success stories was a 10th-grade student who had struggled for years,” Jessica explains. “Once we were able to identify what he needed to succeed and take him back to gain the skills he had missed, his whole outlook for the future changed. He went from an at-risk teen to a young man currently pursuing a law degree.”

The non-profit Step Up for Students, which administers the PLSA Gardiner Scholarship, approved Bridgeway this fall. More than 20 publishers that Bridgeway utilizes, covering both secular and Christian curriculum, are pre-approved for use by the scholarship recipients.

The Gardiner Scholarship is unique for Florida students and allows children with special needs the right to receive personalized education through approved programs. It was renamed this year in honor of Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner, who championed the program’s creation. He and his wife Camille have three children. Their son, Andrew, has Down syndrome.

Bridgeway’s innovative methodology for constructing homeschool curriculum makes a difference for students and helps them succeed. All Bridgeway students undergo learning style and personality assessments to customize a curriculum package and teaching program based upon the way that individual student learns best.

In order to be reimbursed by the Gardiner Scholarship, you must keep track of receipts for:

• • Bridgeway’s payment receipt for the Customized package.
  • The curriculum box packing slip that proves you used approved curricula publishers.

Bridgeway’s current Gardiner Scholarship recipient added the Support level, which includes record-keeping, report cards, accreditation, transcripts, college recommendation letters, plus highly trained academic advisors to walk you through every step of your educational journey.

The advisors offer curriculum choices and aid parent-instructors if learning difficulties arise. Online tests and writing assignments are graded by our academic advisors. Students are encouraged to re-do the assignments in order to record their best work.

To learn more about how you can receive reimbursement for Bridgeway’s Customized package, download your free white paper.

Bridgeway Academy has helped educate more than 25,000 homeschool students since 1989. Let Bridgeway make a difference in your life.

There’s nothing worse for a parent than finding out that your child is being targeted or bullied. Statistics show that over 77% of students claim to have been bullied at school, with 1 in 4 the target of repeated bullying. Over 42% of students have been cyberbullied, and that’s the most dangerous type of bullying as it is the hardest to stop.  Michael Edwards and his parents know all about the pain and terror that bullying brings into a child’s life. They also know the triumph and joy that can come from taking control of their child’s education and social experiences through homeschooling. Homeschooling has taken Michael from bullied to boundless, and has enabled him to believe in himself again.

Michael, a history- and train-loving high schooler with Bridgeway, switched from private school to public school in 8^th grade. And that’s when the trouble started.  Michael was being repeatedly bullied, coming home with bruises, along with even more damage to his self-esteem. After repeatedly seeking help from teachers and administrators, it was clear to Michael’s parents that something needed to change. Michael hated school and simply didn’t want to learn there any longer.

After two hard years, Michael’s parents decided that enough was enough and began their homeschooling journey. Homeschooling with Bridgeway Academy was a great fit from the start. Michael loves the independence and flexibility that homeschooling has given him and his family. Beyond taking his work wherever he goes and being able to volunteer at the library, Michael has found that he loves learning again because he’s able to focus on his education and not the bullies.

He especially enjoys history, saying, “I love learning about all the things going on when I wasn’t here. I really enjoy learning about the different wars and understanding other people’s experiences.” Mom loves the independence Michael is continuing to develop, the Christian curriculum they have chosen together, and the caring support Bridgeway offers.

The flexibility of homeschooling has also allowed the Edwards family to jump into a new adventure: opening a train shop! As a train-loving family, the Edwards’ fulfilled their dream of starting a model train shop just last year. The location is perfect, right next to the Norfolk Southern railroad. Michael can work right alongside his parents in the shop, build relationships with customers, and speak with the nearby railroad workers, learning about careers in the railroad industry.  All of which he wouldn’t be able to experience at a traditional school.

“I am not sure if I plan to go to college right after school or start with Norfolk Southern,” Michael said. “I love talking with the engineers and would like to be on their team one day, learning the skills needed to work on the railroad.”

Some of Michaels advice to students is “Make sure that you put your mind to what you want in the future and take steps now to reach those goals.  If you work hard, you can accomplish anything.”

We know that you will accomplish many things in your life Michael, and we are proud of the passions you have already pursued!  Keep working hard, as we know you will succeed.

Homeschooling has given Michael new hope while offering an amazing journey for his family. If your child struggles with bullies, consider homeschooling today to give your child the gifts of safety, confidence and a chance to fulfill their dreams. Call us today at 800-863-1474.

With Columbus Day quickly approaching, why not dive into Christopher’s story by adding a few activities and lesson plans into your social studies routine?  Learn more about his life and become part of his adventures with our favorite, engaging Columbus Day lesson plans for homeschoolers of all ages.

You can never cross the ocean until you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Christopher Columbus

Elementary Columbus Day Lesson Plans

• • Learn through literacy by reading Jean Fritz’ book, “Where do you think you’re going, Christopher Columbus?” Then analyze the man and his accomplishments together.
  • Print out this printable book for early readers and explore the world of Christopher Columbus through the fun activities!
  • Read and discover just what Columbus himself was thinking through this primary source analysis of Columbus’ letters.
  • Put on a Reader’s Theater production where everyone has a part. But, who will be Columbus?
  • Looking for unit or book plans? Enchanted Learning has some amazing lessons, printables, maps and activity books to get you started!
  • Learn more about navigation and mapmaking, then complete this map activity page.

Middle and High School Columbus Day Lesson Plans

• • Start your Columbus Day lesson plans by checking out some videos from history.com or the in-depth Christopher Columbus series from Biography.com!
  • Learn all about the tools that early navigators used to find (or not find!) new lands.
  • Discover more about Columbus through examining artifacts found through excavation with the lessons from the Library of Congress exhibit 1492: An Ongoing Voyage.
  • Dive into primary source documents to do an in-depth analysis of the Age of Exploration, including motives and the negative impact this era had upon Native Americans.
  • Analyze the Columbus Doors and their significance. Then, create your own “door” telling your life or family story!

How are you going to celebrate Columbus Day with your homeschoolers? What are your favorite Columbus Day lesson plans? Tell us in a comment below!

We’re back with our Homeschool Myth Busting series and ready to tackle individual versus group learning. On a regular basis, families hear that their children won’t be able to learn outside of a classroom and won’t be prepared, once they get to college, to learn in a group setting. This is one of the more frustrating myths of homeschooling because it’s rooted in a misconception about the nature of learning and education. Ready to understand the benefits of children learning at their own pace and in an environment that best suits their individual needs? Then, read on!

The Truth about How We Learn

Traditional schools apply a scattergun approach to learning. They shoot out the concepts and hope it hits each individual student. But, with the amount of different learning styles, needs, and personalities at play in a large classroom, the expectation that all students will understand each lesson and concept, taught in one way, is unrealistic for both the student and the teacher. In contrast, studies have shown that individualized learning that focuses on the unique needs and learning style of each student are more effective and produce better results. According to nationaldropoutprevention.org,

Individualized instruction provides the opportunity for students to learn at their own pace, in their own way, and be successful.”

As homeschoolers, we understand this because we’ve been individualizing instruction for each of our students since Day One. But, how does individualized instruction and learning at your own pace help kids be more successful? Here’s how:

• Learning at your own pace means more gains for your learners. When we teach students individually, we are able to monitor their progress and move quickly through those lessons that they’ve mastered while taking more time for those they’re struggling to grasp. Homeschooling allows you to set the schedule and pace for your learner based upon their personality, needs and progress.
• Learning at your own pace provides more confidence. Nothing stalls learning like frustration. When you allow your children to learn at the pace and in the way that best suits them, you eliminate the frustration that would cause them to feel insecure or “stupid.” Homeschooling means your student will get the attention and focus they need to feel successful.
• Learning at your own pace allows you to speak individual learning languages. Each child is unique, so how can we expect everyone to learn in the same way and at the same pace? Homeschooling allows you to individualize curriculum, lessons and activities to your child’s unique learning style. And, in doing so, their brain will be able to retain more information and make lasting memories. Find out your child’s learning style today!
• Learning at your own pace and in “your” way is more fun! When we create lessons and use curriculum that matches our students’ interests and passions, learning is more enjoyable. Homeschooling does just that, allowing you to integrate your student’s hobbies, passions and favorite activities right into their lessons and learning. Make Earth Science come to life by going outside and planting the seeds they are learning about.  Not only will they be more engaged, but they will remember the lesson and be excited to learn more!

The next time one of your friends or family members challenges you on how your learner will succeed outside of a classroom, remind them of these realities about learning at your own pace. Their long term successes will be evident soon enough! Then, have your child show and tell them all about how homeschooling is working for them with their own words. Nothing says “success” like an articulate homeschooler who has been empowered to learn well at their own pace!

Is there anything more fun than celebrating historic holidays through unique homeschool units? Not for us homeschooling nerds there isn’t! September 16^th is Mayflower Day, the historic day that the Mayflower Pilgrims set sail from England to settle on the distant and dangerous shores that would one day become Virginia. This important day in our nation’s history deserves to be celebrated with a few awesome lessons that will be a perfect fit for any homeschool style and portfolio. Here are our best Mayflower Day lessons for homeschoolers.

Online Mayflower Day Learning

• • Start your Mayflower Day celebration by learning about the history of the Mayflower, of course! My top three sites for learning the most about this topic would be History.com, mayflowerhistory.com, and plimoth.org.
  • Take a virtual tour of the ship and learn all about sailing, rigging and life on the Mayflower.
  • Study this interactive map to learn about the route the Mayflower took to get to its final destination in the new world.
  • Learn all about the pilgrim’s experiences on the Mayflower and in the new world through this video series by history.com.
  • Watch “Mouse on the Mayflower” as a family!

Hands-On Mayflower Day Projects

• • Make a cut-out diagram of the Mayflower and memorize ship vocabulary.
  • Create an “If You Sailed on the Mayflower” fact book in the shape of, you guessed it, the Mayflower!
  • Start your unit on Thanksgiving with this Mayflower wall graph and Thanksgiving Unit from fallingintofirst.blogspot.com.
  • Choose what best suits your child’s learning style from these 100+ Mayflower Projects!

Rich History Lessons for Mayflower Day

• • Read If You Sailed on the Mayflower by Ann McGovern, then take your pick of these great lessons from edhelper.com.
  • Study the Mayflower Compact, its foundations in Christianity and the impact it had upon the future government of the colonies.
  • Roll play and analyze the Mayflower Compact. Then, create your own Compact as a family.
  • Learn about the myths of the Mayflower, many of which you may believe yourself! Have your students write an essay or play about these myths and how history is documented or “made” through misconceptions.
  • Create a comic strip or satirical play regarding the irony surrounding the Pilgrims and their experiences with Native Americans.

How are you going to celebrate this important historic event? Tell, or show us, us in a comment below!

A great benefit of homeschooling is that your students will have ample opportunity, and time, to explore the creative arts. At a time when public and private schools are limiting the arts because of funding and a need to build their academic game, homeschoolers everywhere get to keep paintbrushes and pastels firmly in their hands. From formal art classes to unit studies to informal creative projects, there are many ways to integrate art into your homeschool day. But, many parents feel unprepared and wonder just how to teach homeschool art in a way that will have a greater impact on their students. If you’re in the camp that is wondering how to teach homeschool art, the solution couldn’t be simpler! Find the key to unlocking your homeschool artists by using one of these 3 homeschool art methods.

1. Formal Homeschool Art Curriculum– There’s a lot of great homeschool art curriculum out there that will ensure your students get a rich, focused art class. The benefits of these programs include a written curriculum to guide you through each lesson, goal, outlined project, and even supplies! If you’re looking for a more formal, planned way for art class, this is the option for you! Atelier is the most widely known and used homeschool art curriculum in the USA. But, don’t discount more focused curriculum options like Creativity Express, an online course that teaches the basics of art and animation, or Draw to Learn, which integrates Bible and art together. If you want art history, check out Meet the Masters, a FREE PDF art history survey curriculum.
2. Integrating Art Everyday– If you don’t want to add another “class” to your already packed homeschool day, it’s OK! Arts education can be done alongside your current homeschool studies quite easily, and all you need are a few art supplies and a bit of creativity. We find the best way to pair studying art history is with social studies or literature curriculum. Each week explore and study an artist from the time period you are currently covering. Be sure to show pictures of their work, dive into their lives, and then imitate or replicate their pieces. Integrate drawing into science by having your students draw or photograph experiments, animals they are studying, or nature. Arts education doesn’t have to be formal to be beneficial!
3. Live Online Art Classes– For those students who need formal art credits or want to really dive into arts learning (and love technology), live online classes are just the homeschool art classes you’re looking for! In one hour or 90 minutes a week, your budding artist will meet with students around the world online to explore art history, architecture, and more. Creative classes that mash up different subjects like Pictures and Poetry or Exploring Art Today will appeal to students who think they “hate” art. The best part, you’ll gain the peace of mind knowing your students are fully engaged and exploring art while adding some much needed free time to your schedule!

It’s clear that arts education is beneficial both academically and socially, allowing students to express themselves, help develop social and communication skills, and enhance academic growth and performance. Students who participate in the arts are four times more likely to reach academic goals, a fact the nations leading the world in science and math have realized by making their arts programs mandatory. Studies also show that arts education positively impacts a student’s SAT and ACT scores. Students who participate in the arts all four years score more than 40 points higher in both math and verbal reasoning. Plus, young kids who take art classes in Preschool have a better vocabulary, social awareness, and are happier overall!

Ready to reap the benefits of arts education for your homeschoolers?

Start planning your art courses today, or take a look at Bridgeway’s Live Online Art classes!  From now until August 31st, 2016, all Live Online Classes are 10% off with coupon code BACKTOSCHOOL.

However you choose to participate in homeschool art, be sure to log your hours and show how proud you are of your student’s work. Cover the refrigerator, frame your favorite pieces, and praise your Picassos! You’ll create lifelong art lovers who appreciate creating and admiring art, an enriching trait that will be passed down from generation to generation.

The start of the school year is almost here and with it comes strong reactions. Many houses are divided with excited, go-getting parents on one side and reluctant, summer-loving kids on the other. If you are looking to get your students on board and excited to start the year, you simply must make it special. Celebrate the start of the school year with food, friends, and fellowship and you will bring a smile to even the most reluctant homeschooler. Give them something to look forward too with a few homeschool back-to-school traditions.

8 Family Friendly Homeschool Back-to-School Traditions (From My Family to Yours!)

1. Meal Planning– Allow the kids to help you plan a week’s worth of their food favorites. From breakfast to lunch to dinner, they will be fueled to start the school year and look forward to each meal. Here are a few great meal planning printables and breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas to get you started.
2. School Shopping: Everyone loves new school supplies! Take your kids on a trip to your favorite school supply store armed with a supply list and budget. Not only will they be excited to start using their supplies, but they will also practice budgeting and math skills!
3. Paper Presents: Who doesn’t like a surprise gift? Take a few well-chosen school supplies that fit your learner’s personality (fun sandwich containers, special pencils, stickers to decorate notebooks, etc.) and wrap them up. Start each day of your first week of school with a present for each child. They will jump out of bed to see what goodies they get to enjoy each day!
4. Celebration Breakfast: Make each morning special by serving up a different, fun breakfast. Think pancakes in the shape of their grade, oatmeal with a topping bar, or homemade cinnamon rolls. The smell of something sweet cooking will bring them running to the table.
5. Back to School Binder: Here is a fun way to celebrate the start of the year and hold school memories and photos: a back to school binder. Purchase or upcycle a 3-inch binder and spend time on the first day of school having each child decorate the cover with creative materials like paints, duct tape, washi tape, etc. Keep the binder with your child’s school supplies and add pictures, art projects, and milestones throughout the year.
6. Study Buddy: Give your little ones a friend to start school. Purchase a small stuffed animal to be their “study buddy” for the year.
7. Back to School Time Capsule: Commemorate the year by creating a time capsule filled with pictures from the first day and predictions about the upcoming year. You can even bury it so that no one is tempted to peek at it throughout the year. Fill out this beginning of the school year questions worksheet to include in the capsule. Be sure to open it at the end of the year to see what predictions were correct!
8. Party: Motivate your learners to do well the first week by setting goals and celebrating achieving them at the end of the week with a fun back-to-school party! Goals can include getting up on time, not complaining, completing work, journaling daily, etc. Make it about your students and their individual needs. Offer awards for the best attitude, most punctual, most excited, etc. during the party. Of course, you’ll have to finish with a sweet treat! Try this giant school bus cookie!

Getting the best start to the school year is important to every homeschooling parent. By making your first back-to-school week unique and special, you will be on your way to a wonderful year filled with homeschool memories and successes.
What are your homeschool back-to-school traditions? Tell us in a comment below!

Summer is coming to a close and, while chasing fireflies and late night Olympic binges may still be on your calendar; your family needs to start thinking about preparing for the school year. What better way to get your homeschoolers back into the routine of learning than by rocking their world (literally) with outdoor science studies. And, this week is a great time to get started because next week is National Science Week! Grab your supplies, including an observation notebook and Scientific Method, cheat sheet, and get ready for “Backyard Science Camp.” Take homeschool science outdoors for National Science Week with these 15 next level science experiments for all ages.

15 Outdoor Science Experiments for National Science Week

1. Make S’mores Oven Outside: Learn all about the science of heat with this sweet experiment!
2. Seeds and SIP’s: Explore the world of seeds and irrigation by making your own sub-irrigated planter out of a 2 liter and a few packs of seeds.
3. Rock Their World: Discover how to find and identify different minerals and stones. All you need is a magnifying glass and vinegar!
4. Roll Around Fun: Explore the world of roly polys, also known as pill bugs, with this series of preschool-elementary based activities from capriplus3.com.
5. Shadow Buddies: Turn your children into human sundials while learning about shadows and how the earth moves in this Human Sundial Shadow Experiment.
6. Evaporation Exploration: By using recycled caps and lids your little learners will dive into the water cycle and evaporation.
7. Light It Up: Fire meets dandelion. What’s going to happen? Learn about what makes dandelions special in this fun experiment!
8. Fruit-Cano: Take chemistry and volcanoes to the next level by adding a watermelon to your basic baking soda volcano experiment.
9. Baking Boats: Don’t put the baking soda away just yet! Continue to explore chemical reactions with a touch of physics by making a baking soda powered boat.
10. Bubble, Bubble: Nothing says “summer” for young kids like bubbles. Make bubble snakes with this easy bubble experiment that even little hands can do!
11. Next Level Bubbles: What can you use to make giant bubbles? Math meets science in this bubbly experiment! Take a tour around your house scanning for circles and experiment with bubbles and size.
12. Dirty Dozen: Gather different household materials to create filters while you learn about porous materials and water safety in this water filtration experiment.
13. Campground Science: Take science week to the campground with some campground science experiments from sciencebuddies.org.
14. Wacky Water Balloons: Explore density and heat in this water balloon science test. Be sure to make good use of those balloons afterwards with a good ‘ole balloon battle!
15. Origami Surfing: Origami meets wind power. Your older science geeks will love this hands-on weather experiment! Be sure to try different shapes and styles of origami to take this experiment up a notch.

Turning your backyard into a laboratory is easy with these 15 fun Science Week activities. And, if you journal and log hours, you’ve already got a start on your science requirements for the year! Now that’s the smart way to end your summer!
Which experiment are you going to try? Tell us in a comment below!

“Trust and Never Quit.” This is Bridgeway Academy senior, Taylor Lawson’s favorite life quote. She knows it takes determination, willpower, and faith to make it as a Top Level 10 Gymnast, and she has applied those to her the rest of her daily. Being part of the J.O. National Team and placing 4th in the All-Around category in Nationals, Taylor Lawson has her eyes on the prize and knows what it means to succeed. We would like to share her success and how homeschooling with Bridgeway Academy has supported her in all her dreams.  

Starting her gymnastic career as an energetic, bubbly 2-year-old because her mother wanted an outlet for her energy, Taylor excelled right away. She quickly found that being at the gym and competition were her passions. She set her sights on competing at the Elite Level Status and qualified as a Junior International Elite at the age of 10. The demanding schedule of practice and competition resulted in her decision to homeschool. Despite her mother’s concern that Taylor would not want to school at home, they lept into homeschooling. They soon found that, though homeschooling was a great fit for Taylor given her demanding practice schedule, they needed a homeschool provider that suited their unique needs and offered more flexibility.

“A friend of mine recommended Bridgeway Academy, and I immediately loved it! It felt like everyone was on my team, and that they were there for me whenever I needed additional help. At one point my mom asked if I would like to go back to private school and I said, ‘No. I can’t. There is no other school I have enjoyed more than Bridgeway.’ ”

Taylor joined the Bridgeway team and has never looked back.

Because of her unique and ever-changing schedule, Taylor loved the flexibility and creativity Bridgeway allows. One of her favorite benefits is the ability to take her school work with her. “Whenever I traveled to competitions, I bring my reading and writing assignments so that I can get things done on the plane or in the car.” She especially loves working at her own pace, not being weighed down by an entire class of students and their individual needs. “My classes are tailored to me. My favorite subjects are Biology and Math, and I can take courses that will set me up to succeed at my dream college,” Taylor says.

“Bridgeway has impacted my life in ways I can’t explain. I thank God for the talent he has given me and the friends, family, coaches, and resources to continue on this journey.”

When asked how Taylor manages to succeed both in the gym and when hitting the books, Taylor responded “You have to trust that God will get you through it, but that you can’t give up. Every gymnast has to learn how to get back on their feet and push ahead.  Just remember if things aren’t going right today, you can try it again tomorrow. Just don’t give up.”

Congratulations Taylor on all your amazing achievements! We, at Bridgeway Homeschool Academy, are so proud of you and are looking forward to cheering you on in Germany for the Turnkunst International Competition.

You’re an athlete, which means the month of August most likely brings a huge smile to your face and a flutter to your heart. We know you’re as excited for the Olympic season as any other, a time when your role models and heroes show their skills in the very sport your life revolves around. And you’ll learn so much from their efforts as you watch them reach their goals. But, you may be left wondering how they got there. How did they make it, reach the gold? What’s behind the leaping, diving, running, and other amazing skills are years of physical and mental efforts and careful goal planning. How to chase your dreams and actually reach your goals isn’t just about how hard you practice, it’s about how hard you plan.

Chase Your Dreams Into Reality with These 5 Steps

Step 1: Visualize Your Dreams. When you chase your dreams you often spend long hours in the gym, on the field, and watching play video, and then there is school work and family time on top of that. Life can be tough and stressful, especially when you’re in school and have NCAA demands on top of a rigorous practice schedule. How do you push through the hard times and stay focused? Only by visualizing your goals will you be able to reach them. See yourself on the podium this summer when your favorite athlete, or their competitor, wins gold. See yourself making the final shot, the perfect dive, the perfect landing off of the beam. The more you see it, the more real it will be and the deeper you’ll be able to dig when the going gets tough.
Step 2: Write out your dreams and the steps you’ll need to take to get there. So, you can see yourself on the podium, but how are you going to get there? Chasing your dreams the smart way means running on a clear path. And good planning starts with writing it all down. Make a list of the specific goals you’ll need to reach, be it time, scores, or championships, that will help you to reach your dreams. Write them down and mark them off as you complete each one, remembering to set the bar higher and higher as you go. When you fail, and you will, go back to your list and think through what steps you may have missed that you can add. The key to staying focused is to know where you’re headed, so chart it out!
Step 3: Know the requirements. Being a champion is hard work, on and off of the field. If you want to be an elite athlete, you’ll need to meet NCAA requirements in high school. This means knowing exactly what’s required of you, from grades and courses to transcripts. Know what you need to accomplish for NCAA, and you can follow those guidelines to play your sport in college. Unsure of NCAA requirements, find out more here. And you don’t have to go it alone. An accredited homeschool partner  can help you ensure that you meet the bar NCAA sets every time.
Step 4: Work the right way. So you want to be a superstar on the field and in the classroom? Long hours training and practicing can leave little time for schoolwork and no time for friends and family. Homeschooling gives you freedom to chase your dreams and reaching your educational goals without having to sacrifice the flexibility you need to achieve them in your sport. And your work goes where you go! Find out more about accredited, flexible, and NCAA supported homeschooling here.
Step 5: Listen to good coaching. Your coach is in your corner, your biggest source of help and support outside of your parents. Let them help you in chasing your dreams. And, just like all good athletes need good coaches, all academic champions need academic coaches. Don’t carry all the stress and burdens of your academic future.  Allow an expert coach to help you reach your academic goals every step of the way. From grade reporting to college applications to algebra help, the Academic Advisors at Bridgeway Academy are there to guide and support you to pursue your excellence wherever it may lead you.

What are your athletic and academic hopes and dreams for the future?  Tell us in a comment below!