Homeschool Glossary

The 180-day requirement refers to state laws mandating that homeschool students receive instruction for at least 180 days per school year, mirroring the typical public school calendar.

A 504 plan is a formal document that outlines accommodations for students with disabilities, ensuring equal access to education under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings account designed for education expenses, allowing investments to grow tax-free when used for qualified costs like tuition, books, and supplies.

A Gentle Feast is a Charlotte Mason-based homeschool curriculum for grades 1-12 that emphasizes living books, nature study, and family-style learning across four-year rotating cycles.

A History of US is Joy Hakim's acclaimed 11-volume American history series that presents U.S. history through engaging storytelling, making it a popular spine for homeschool history studies.

A2Z Homeschooling (a2zhomeschooling.com) is a comprehensive online directory providing free secular homeschool resources, curriculum recommendations, and educational tools for families from preschool through grade 12.

ACE Scholarships is a nonprofit organization providing need-based partial tuition scholarships to help lower-income families afford K-12 private school education across multiple states.

The ACT is a standardized college admissions test measuring English, math, reading, and science reasoning skills, with homeschool students registering the same way as traditional students using the universal homeschool code.

ADHD accommodations in homeschool include flexible scheduling, movement breaks, fidget tools, hands-on learning activities, reduced distractions, and tailored curriculum pacing to match how ADHD brains learn best.

AP exams are standardized tests from College Board that let homeschool students earn college credit and demonstrate mastery of college-level coursework, with registration through local schools that administer the tests.

Abeka is a comprehensive Christian homeschool curriculum offering traditional, textbook-based education from PreK through 12th grade, featuring optional video lessons and an accredited academy program.

Above-level testing assesses gifted students using tests designed for older students, revealing their true academic abilities when grade-level tests hit a ceiling.

The absorbent mind is Maria Montessori's term for the unique way children from birth to age six unconsciously absorb knowledge from their environment, fundamentally different from how older children and adults learn.

An academic co-op is a group of homeschool families who meet regularly to share teaching responsibilities, with parents or hired instructors leading classes in various subjects.

Accommodations are changes to how a student learns or demonstrates knowledge without altering what they learn—like extended time on tests or audio versions of textbooks.

Achievement tests are standardized assessments measuring what students have learned in specific subjects, often required by states to verify homeschool academic progress.

Address change notification is the requirement in many states to inform educational authorities when a homeschooling family moves to a new address within the state or district.

Advanced Placement (AP) exams are College Board standardized tests that can earn high school students college credit. Homeschoolers can take AP exams without taking official AP courses.

Afterschooling is supplementing a child's traditional school education with additional learning at home, filling gaps in curriculum or enriching areas of interest.

"Ahead" refers to the common homeschool community perception and hope that homeschooled children academically outpace traditionally schooled peers through individualized education.

All About Reading (AAR) is a comprehensive, Orton-Gillingham-based reading curriculum that uses multisensory teaching methods to help children learn to read through visual, auditory, and kinesthetic activities.

All About Spelling (AAS) is a multisensory, mastery-based spelling program that uses letter tiles and systematic phonics instruction to teach encoding skills through visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning.

All American History is a two-volume U.S. history curriculum from Bright Ideas Press that teaches American history as an engaging narrative, covering exploration through the 21st century for grades 5-12.

An all-in-one curriculum (also called boxed curriculum) is a comprehensive homeschool package from a single publisher that includes materials for all core subjects, providing a complete educational program in one purchase.

Alpha Omega Publications (AOP) is a Christian homeschool curriculum publisher offering four distinct learning formats—LIFEPAC, Horizons, Monarch, and Ignitia—covering PreK through 12th grade across all core subjects.

Ambleside Online is a completely free Charlotte Mason homeschool curriculum providing detailed schedules, living book lists, and teaching resources for kindergarten through 12th grade.

Amendment filing is the process of updating your homeschool registration or notice of intent when significant changes occur—such as moving to a new address, adding a student, or changing supervisors—as required by some states.

American History is a foundational homeschool subject that teaches the political, cultural, and social development of the United States from pre-colonial times through the present day.

Analytical Grammar is a mastery-based English grammar curriculum that teaches systematic sentence diagramming through concentrated "seasons" of study rather than year-long daily practice.

Annual assessment is a yearly evaluation required by some states to verify homeschool student progress, typically through standardized testing, portfolio review, or evaluator assessment.

Annual notification is a yearly legal requirement in many states for homeschool families to inform their school district or state education department that they intend to continue homeschooling their children.

Answers Bible Curriculum (ABC) is a comprehensive, chronological Bible curriculum from Answers in Genesis that teaches Scripture in the order events occurred while integrating apologetics training from a young-earth creationist perspective.

Apologia Science is an award-winning, Christian homeschool science curriculum that integrates a biblical worldview with rigorous academic content, covering preschool through high school subjects including biology, chemistry, and physics.

An apostille is an official certification that authenticates documents for international use, allowing homeschool diplomas and transcripts to be legally recognized in countries that participate in the Hague Apostille Convention.

An apprenticeship is an earn-while-you-learn career pathway where students receive paid on-the-job training alongside a mentor, progressive wage increases, and earn nationally recognized credentials—all without accumulating college debt.

An aptitude test measures natural abilities and potential for learning specific skills, helping students identify career paths that align with their innate strengths rather than testing what they have already learned.

Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) is a universal education savings account providing approximately $7,000-8,000 annually for K-12 students to use on private education expenses including curriculum, tutoring, and educational therapy services.

Arkansas LEARNS is a comprehensive education reform law that created the Education Freedom Account (EFA) program, providing $6,864 annually per student for private school tuition, homeschool curriculum, tutoring, and other approved educational expenses.

Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) is a rigorous, discovery-based math curriculum designed for advanced and gifted students in grades 1-12, emphasizing deep conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills over procedural memorization.

ArtAchieve is an online, video-based art curriculum for grades K-8 that teaches drawing skills through multicultural art projects, with step-by-step instruction requiring no art background from parents.

Artistic Pursuits is an award-winning homeschool art curriculum for PreK-12 that combines visual art instruction, art history, and hands-on creative projects in an open-and-go format requiring no prior art experience from parents.

Assistive technology (AT) includes any device, software, or equipment that helps students with disabilities increase, maintain, or improve their learning capabilities, ranging from simple pencil grips to sophisticated text-to-speech software.

Asynchronous learning is an educational approach where students access pre-recorded lessons, complete assignments, and demonstrate learning on their own schedule rather than attending live classes at set times.

Atelier art refers to both a classical studio-based training method under master artists and a popular homeschool video curriculum by Arts Attack that provides structured art instruction for ages 4-16.

Atmosphere is one of Charlotte Mason's three instruments of education, referring to the educational value of a child's natural home environment including the people, relationships, values, and surroundings in which they live and learn.

Attendance exemption is the legal mechanism allowing homeschooled children to fulfill compulsory education requirements without attending public or private school, granted when families meet their state's specific homeschooling regulations.

An attendance log is a record documenting the days and hours a student engages in homeschool instruction, serving as proof of compliance with state requirements and providing educational documentation for transcripts and school transitions.

Audiobooks are recorded audio versions of books that allow students to learn through listening, providing access to literature and curriculum for students who struggle with reading or benefit from auditory learning.

Authentic assessment measures student learning through real-world tasks, projects, and portfolios that demonstrate meaningful application of knowledge rather than selecting answers on standardized tests.

Autism accommodations for homeschooling include environmental modifications, curriculum adaptations, sensory supports, and therapeutic services that create individualized learning experiences tailored to each autistic child's unique needs and strengths.

Automaticity is the ability to perform foundational skills—like recognizing words or recalling math facts—without conscious effort, freeing mental resources for higher-level thinking and comprehension.

BJU Press is a Christian homeschool curriculum publisher offering complete K-12 programs with traditional textbooks, video lessons, and a biblical worldview integrated across all subjects.

BJU Press Testing provides standardized achievement tests including Iowa Assessments and Stanford 10 for homeschool students, with both online and paper-based options available year-round.

No state absolutely requires a bachelor's degree to homeschool. Most states (40 of 50) have no educational requirements for parents, though a few include degree options within their qualification frameworks.

Balanced literacy is a reading instruction approach that attempts to combine phonics with whole language methods, using techniques like guided reading and independent reading alongside some explicit skill instruction.

The Barton Reading and Spelling System is a structured, Orton-Gillingham based tutoring program designed for individuals with dyslexia, featuring scripted lessons that non-professionals can use effectively.

Base ten blocks are three-dimensional math manipulatives representing ones, tens, hundreds, and thousands that help students visualize place value, addition, subtraction, and regrouping concepts.

Bayside School Services was a homeschool testing provider offering parent-administered CAT and CTBS tests for 34 years before closing their testing program, directing families to alternative testing services.

Beast Academy is an advanced elementary math program from Art of Problem Solving that teaches mathematical reasoning and problem-solving through engaging comic book-style materials and challenging puzzles.

Beautiful Feet Books is a literature-based history and geography curriculum using living books and Charlotte Mason methods to make learning engaging for K-12 homeschool students.

Behaviorism is a learning theory that focuses on how people acquire behaviors through conditioning, emphasizing observable actions and the use of reinforcement or punishment to shape learning outcomes.

"Behind" in homeschool circles refers to the pervasive parental fear that children aren't keeping pace with public school grade-level expectations—a concern that experienced homeschoolers recognize as rooted more in institutional thinking than educational reality.

A benchmark assessment is a test administered at regular intervals throughout the school year to measure student progress against learning standards, helping identify strengths and gaps before high-stakes testing.

Berean Builders is a K-12 Christian homeschool science curriculum created by Dr. Jay Wile, featuring hands-on experiments, a historical approach to science, and multi-level elementary courses that allow families to teach all children together.

Bible Study Guide for All Ages (BSGFAA) is a non-denominational Bible curriculum featuring 416 lessons that cover the entire Bible in approximately four years, with materials designed for simultaneous family study from ages 3 through adult.

BiblioPlan is a classical Christian history curriculum that covers world, biblical, U.S., and church history chronologically in a four-year cycle, with multi-level materials allowing families to teach all grade levels together.

Block scheduling is a time-management method that dedicates larger chunks of time to fewer subjects, allowing deeper focus and immersion rather than brief daily coverage of everything.

Waldorf block scheduling, also called main lesson blocks, is an educational approach where students focus intensively on one core academic subject for 3-4 weeks before rotating to a new subject, allowing deep immersion and natural learning rhythms.

Bloom's Taxonomy is a hierarchical framework categorizing cognitive learning into six levels—Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate, and Create—helping educators design activities that develop thinking skills from basic to advanced.

Blossom and Root is a secular, nature-based homeschool curriculum for ages 3 through 6th grade that blends Charlotte Mason and Waldorf approaches through living books, hands-on learning, and weekly nature study.

Bob Books are decodable phonics-based readers designed to teach children ages 4 and up to read using systematic, controlled vocabulary that builds confidence from the very first book.

A book list in homeschool compliance is a documented record of all instructional materials and reading resources used during the school year, required by several states as part of portfolio-based documentation.

BookShark is a comprehensive secular, literature-based homeschool curriculum for Pre-K through 10th grade that uses approximately 50 books per year to teach history, language arts, science, and reading through engaging stories rather than textbooks.

Boxed curriculum (also called "school-in-a-box" or all-in-one curriculum) is a complete, pre-packaged educational program where one company provides all materials needed for every core subject for an entire school year.

Brain Balance is a non-medical cognitive training program for children, teens, and adults with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other learning challenges, combining physical exercises, cognitive training, and nutritional guidance over 3-6 month programs.

Brave Writer is an award-winning homeschool writing and language arts program that prioritizes developing a child's unique writing voice before focusing on mechanics, offering curriculum and online classes for ages 5-18.

Build Your Library (BYL) is a comprehensive secular, literature-based homeschool curriculum for grades K-12 that uses Charlotte Mason methods including living books, narration, and copywork to teach history, science, and literature.

Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding (BFSU) is an inquiry-based science curriculum for grades K-8 that teaches scientific concepts through hands-on discovery, discussion, and logical reasoning rather than memorization.

Busy bags are self-contained, portable activity kits with simple learning activities that preschoolers and toddlers can complete independently, giving parents focused time to teach older children.

The California Achievement Test (CAT) is a nationally normed standardized test measuring reading, language arts, math, and spelling for grades K-12 that parents can administer at home to meet state homeschool requirements.

CLEP exams are standardized tests offered by the College Board that allow students to earn college credit by demonstrating subject mastery, saving homeschoolers significant time and money on college tuition.

CLEP tests span 34 subjects across five categories—composition and literature, world languages, history and social sciences, science and math, and business—each offering 3-12 college credits for passing scores.

The Classic Learning Test (CLT) is a standardized college entrance exam accepted at over 300 colleges that emphasizes classic literature and logical reasoning, with convenient at-home testing options for homeschoolers.

CTCMath is an online, subscription-based math curriculum for grades K-12 featuring short video lessons taught by an Australian teacher, with family pricing that covers unlimited children for under $200 annually.

Calvert is one of the oldest homeschool curricula in America, offering secular, accredited K-12 education through print materials (K-2) and online courses (3-12) with comprehensive lesson plans requiring minimal parent preparation.

Car schooling (or carschooling) is the practice of conducting educational activities during car rides, helping homeschool families transform drive time into productive learning through audiobooks, podcasts, discussions, and portable activities.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) provides hands-on career training across 16 industry clusters, with many programs now accessible to homeschoolers through part-time public school enrollment or community college dual enrollment.

A Carnegie Unit is a standardized measure of high school credit equal to 120-180 hours of instruction in one subject. This time-based system helps colleges and universities evaluate transcripts consistently.

Catch-up time refers to intentionally scheduled buffer periods in a homeschool routine that allow families to complete unfinished work, review material, or recover from disruptions without falling permanently behind.

Cathy Duffy Reviews is a comprehensive, independent curriculum review website featuring over 1,000 detailed evaluations of homeschool materials. Founded by homeschool pioneer Cathy Duffy, the site helps families select curriculum through thorough reviews, learning style assessments, and advanced search tools.

A Century Book (also called Book of Centuries) is a timeline notebook used in Charlotte Mason education where each two-page spread represents one century. Students record historical figures, events, and artwork as they encounter them, creating a personal chronological reference that grows throughout their education.

A certified teacher evaluation is a formal assessment where a state-certified educator reviews a homeschooled student's portfolio and progress, then provides written confirmation that the child is demonstrating adequate educational growth. Several states offer this as an alternative to standardized testing for compliance.

No U.S. state requires parents to be certified teachers to homeschool their children. This is a common misconception. Only 10 states require parents to have a high school diploma or GED, and 40 states impose no educational qualifications on homeschooling parents whatsoever.

The Charlotte Mason Institute (CMI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to researching and promoting Charlotte Mason educational philosophy. CMI offers the Alveary curriculum, teacher training programs, certification courses, and scholarly publications for homeschools, co-ops, and schools.

The Charlotte Mason Method is a literature-based homeschool approach emphasizing living books, narration, nature study, short lessons, and habit formation. Developed by British educator Charlotte Mason (1842-1923), the philosophy treats children as whole persons capable of engaging with great ideas across a broad curriculum.

Child-led learning is an educational approach where children have significant autonomy in deciding what, how, and how long they study particular topics. Parents serve as facilitators rather than directors, using the child's natural curiosity and interests as the primary driver of education.

Christian homeschool curriculum refers to educational programs designed to integrate Christian faith throughout all subjects. These materials present content from a Biblical worldview, often incorporating Scripture study, character development, and creationist science alongside core academics.

Christian Light Education (CLE) is an affordable, workbook-based Christian curriculum from a Mennonite publisher, serving grades K-12 with self-paced LightUnits that emphasize independent learning and biblical values.

Chronological history teaching presents historical events in sequential order from ancient times to the present, helping students build a coherent mental timeline and understand how one era leads to the next.

A church school is a legal homeschool option in certain states where families educate at home under the administrative umbrella of a church-affiliated school, often with reduced regulatory requirements compared to independent homeschooling.

A church-related school is a formal educational institution operated by a church that enrolls homeschooling families as satellite campuses, with parents serving as faculty members teaching at home under the school's administrative supervision.

Circle time in Waldorf education is a cherished morning ritual where students gather for songs, movement, verses, and rhythmic activities that engage the whole child—head, heart, and hands—creating a harmonious transition into the school day.

Class rank compares a student's GPA to others in their graduating class. Homeschoolers typically don't have traditional class rank since they're often the only student in their 'class,' but colleges understand this and evaluate homeschool applicants using alternative measures.

ClassWallet is a digital wallet platform that manages education funding for state ESA and scholarship programs, allowing families to purchase approved educational materials and services from a marketplace of pre-vetted vendors.

Classical Conversations (CC) is a community-based classical Christian homeschool program where families meet weekly to learn together, combining memorization-focused curriculum with parent-led instruction at home and group accountability.

Classical Conversations uses a three-year rotating curriculum called 'cycles' in the Foundations program, where students cover different historical periods and subjects each year before repeating the rotation with greater depth.

Classical education is a time-tested approach organizing learning into three stages—Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric—that align with children's natural development, emphasizing great books, Latin, Socratic dialogue, and the cultivation of wisdom alongside knowledge.

Clonlara School is an accredited private school founded in 1967 that offers a flexible, student-directed homeschool program for K-12 students, providing official transcripts, diplomas, and personalized advisor support.

Club Z! is the nation's largest in-home and online tutoring network, offering one-on-one instruction in over 300 subjects for K-12 students and adults, with specialized support available for homeschool families.

Co-op membership fees are charges homeschool families pay to participate in a cooperative, typically ranging from $25 to over $1,000 annually depending on the co-op's structure, services offered, and whether classes are parent-taught or led by paid instructors.

The Coalition Application is a free college application platform used by 160+ member schools, designed to increase college access for underrepresented students, with unique features like a digital locker where students can store materials starting in 9th grade.

The Coalition for Responsible Home Education (CRHE) is a nonprofit organization founded by homeschool alumni that advocates for child-centered homeschool policies and maintains research on state homeschool regulations.

Code.org is a free nonprofit platform offering complete K-12 computer science curriculum, from elementary block coding through AP Computer Science, with self-paced courses that homeschool families can use without any cost.

The CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) is a K-12 aptitude assessment that measures reasoning abilities across verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal domains, commonly used for gifted program identification.

Cognitive Load Theory explains how the brain's limited working memory affects learning, and provides strategies for presenting information in ways that optimize comprehension and retention.

A college application essay is a personal narrative (typically 250-650 words) that helps admissions officers understand who you are beyond grades and test scores, revealing personality, character, and potential contributions to campus.

College application requirements for homeschoolers mirror traditional students but typically require additional documentation including parent-created transcripts, detailed course descriptions, and academic recommendations from non-parent instructors.

A college preparatory track (CP) is a standard-level academic pathway designed to prepare students for four-year college admission, covering core subjects like English, math, science, and foreign language at rigorous but accessible levels.

Combined grades refers to teaching multiple children of different ages together using shared curriculum or lessons for subjects that translate well across age groups, such as history, science, and literature.

The Common Application is a standardized online college application accepted by over 1,100 colleges, allowing students to apply to multiple schools using one form. Homeschool families use it with the parent serving as both educator and school counselor.

A commonplace book is a personal notebook where students copy favorite quotes, poems, and passages that resonate with them—creating a curated collection of wisdom and beautiful language that becomes a lifelong intellectual companion.

Community service refers to unpaid volunteer work that helps your community while building character and demonstrating initiative—valuable for personal development and increasingly expected on college applications.

Composer study is a Charlotte Mason method where children become familiar with one classical composer at a time through repeated listening over a term, developing the ability to recognize that composer's unique musical style.

A composite score is a single number representing overall performance on a standardized test, calculated by averaging scores from multiple test sections—like the ACT composite that averages English, Math, and Reading section scores.

Compulsory attendance age is the legally mandated age range during which children must receive formal education—typically starting between ages 5-8 and ending between 16-18, depending on your state.

Compulsory education laws require children to receive education during specified ages (typically 5-7 through 16-18), which can be satisfied through public school, private school, or legal homeschooling.

Concurrent enrollment allows high school students to take college courses for both high school and college credit simultaneously, often at reduced or no cost, with courses typically taught by qualified high school instructors or taken at local colleges.

Connections Academy is a tuition-free, accredited K-12 online public school available in 31 states where certified teachers deliver state-aligned curriculum to students learning from home.

Constructivism is a learning theory stating that children don't passively absorb information—they actively build their own understanding by connecting new experiences to what they already know.

Consumer Math is a practical high school course teaching real-world financial skills including budgeting, banking, loans, taxes, and smart shopping rather than abstract mathematical theory.

Control of error is a Montessori design principle where learning materials are built so children can discover and correct their own mistakes without adult intervention.

Copywork is a classical educational practice where students carefully copy passages of excellent writing word-for-word to develop handwriting, spelling, grammar, and exposure to quality composition.

Core academic requirements are the foundational courses in English, math, science, and social studies that high school students complete for graduation and college preparation.

Core course requirements are the specific academic courses in English, math, science, social studies, and foreign language that colleges require for admission consideration.

Corporate scholarships are educational awards funded by businesses and corporations, available through direct company programs, employee-dependent benefits, or tax-credit scholarship organizations.

A correspondence school is an educational institution providing distance learning where students complete lessons independently at home and submit work for grading, receiving official transcripts and diplomas from the school.

A cottage school is a hybrid education model where homeschool students attend formal classes with professional teachers 1-3 days per week, completing remaining work at home under parental supervision.

Couch school refers to the relaxed, couch-centered approach to homeschooling where families gather for read-alouds, discussions, and shared learning in a comfortable home setting.

A counselor recommendation is a letter providing colleges with an overall perspective on a student's academic journey, character, and growth. For homeschoolers, the parent typically serves as the counselor and writes this letter.

A course description is a detailed document explaining what a homeschool student learned in each high school course, including materials used, skills developed, and how the student was evaluated.

A course syllabus is a comprehensive document outlining a course's schedule, topics, materials, assignments, and grading criteria. Homeschoolers use syllabi for state compliance, college applications, and their own planning and organization.

Course weighting adds bonus points to GPAs for advanced courses like AP, IB, or honors classes. While common in traditional schools, most homeschool experts recommend homeschoolers use unweighted GPAs and demonstrate rigor through other means.

Coursera is a major online learning platform offering 7,000+ courses from top universities and companies. Homeschoolers use it for supplemental learning, college preparation, and through Study Hall, actual transferable college credit.

A cover school (also called umbrella school) is an organization that provides legal oversight for homeschooling families, helping them meet state compulsory education requirements. Students are typically classified as private school students rather than traditional homeschoolers.

Cover Story is a middle school writing curriculum from Clear Water Press where students create their own magazine over one school year, learning to write poems, short stories, articles, and more through video-based instruction.

A Coverdell ESA is a tax-advantaged savings account allowing up to $2,000 annual contributions per child for education expenses. Funds grow tax-free and cover K-12 costs (including homeschool expenses in most states) plus college.

Crash Course is a free educational YouTube channel with 50+ course series covering subjects from world history to organic chemistry. Created by John and Hank Green, it's widely used by homeschoolers as a curriculum supplement.

Creating a Masterpiece is an award-winning online fine arts curriculum featuring step-by-step video instruction across 28+ art media, designed for homeschool students ages 5 through adult.

A credit hour is a standardized unit measuring educational time, where one high school credit typically equals 120-150 hours of instruction over an academic year.

Credit by Exam allows students to earn college credit by passing standardized tests like CLEP, DSST, or AP exams rather than taking traditional college courses.

A criterion-referenced test measures student performance against fixed learning standards rather than comparing students to each other, showing whether specific skills have been mastered.

Cuisenaire Rods are colored wooden or plastic rods of varying lengths (1-10 cm) used as math manipulatives to help children visualize number relationships, fractions, and arithmetic operations.

A cumulative record is a comprehensive file containing a student's complete educational history from K-12, including grades, test scores, attendance, and academic achievements.

A curriculum fair is an event where homeschooling families can browse, compare, and purchase educational materials from multiple vendors while attending workshops and connecting with other homeschoolers.

A curriculum hopper is a homeschool parent who frequently switches educational programs, often changing multiple subjects each year without clear purpose or giving curricula adequate time to work.

A curriculum junkie is a homeschool parent whose hobby is researching and collecting curriculum, often accumulating more educational materials than they could ever use.

A curriculum list is a document outlining the educational subjects and materials a homeschool family plans to use, sometimes required by states as part of homeschool notification or compliance.

A curriculum map is a visual planning document that outlines what subjects and topics will be taught across the school year, organized by time period, giving homeschool families a bird's-eye view of their educational journey.

Curriculum notification is a formal document submitted to education authorities detailing your planned homeschool subjects and educational program, required in some states as part of the legal homeschooling process.

A curriculum swap is an event or online exchange where homeschool families buy, sell, or trade used educational materials, helping families save money while keeping quality curriculum in circulation.

DIVE Math (Digital Interactive Video Education) is a video-based homeschool math program created by Dr. David Shormann that provides comprehensive video lessons for Saxon Math textbooks, plus standalone Shormann Math courses.

DSST exams (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) are credit-by-examination tests that allow students to earn college credit for knowledge gained outside traditional classrooms, with 38 subjects available and acceptance at over 1,900 colleges.

Daily Grams is a grammar review curriculum consisting of 180 short daily worksheets designed to reinforce grammar concepts through consistent, spiraling practice in about 10 minutes per day.

Davidson Academy is a free accredited school serving profoundly gifted students (99.9th percentile or above) through an in-person campus in Reno, Nevada and a fully online program available nationwide.

A declaration of intent is a formal written notice submitted to education authorities announcing your decision to homeschool your child, protecting your family from truancy allegations and establishing your homeschool as legally recognized.

Delight-directed learning is a homeschool approach that centers education around a child's natural interests and passions while maintaining parental guidance to ensure core academic subjects are still covered.

Denison Algebra is a video-based homeschool math curriculum created by David Denison specifically for students who struggle with math, offering patient instruction designed to build confidence and reduce anxiety.

Deschooling is an intentional transition period between leaving traditional school and beginning homeschool, allowing both children and parents to recover from institutional schooling and rediscover a natural love of learning.

Developmental milestones are skills most children achieve by certain ages—like walking, talking, or problem-solving—that help parents understand typical child development and identify when additional support might be needed.

A diagnostic assessment is a pre-instructional evaluation that identifies what a student already knows and where learning gaps exist, helping homeschool parents determine appropriate curriculum placement and teaching approaches.

Diana Waring History Revealed is a Christian world history curriculum published by Answers in Genesis that uses engaging audio storytelling, accommodates four different learning styles, and allows families to teach multiple children of varying ages together.

Dianne Craft is a special education specialist who developed Brain Integration Therapy and right-brain teaching strategies to help homeschooled children with learning challenges like dyslexia, dysgraphia, and attention issues.

Dictation in the Charlotte Mason method is the practice of having children write passages from memory after careful study, combining spelling, grammar, and punctuation instruction into one efficient exercise.

A digital homeschool portfolio is an electronic collection of student work samples, activity logs, and educational records stored using cloud-based platforms or apps, serving purposes from state compliance to college applications.

A homeschool diploma is a legal document issued by parents (as the homeschool administrators) certifying that their child has completed high school requirements. It is recognized by colleges, employers, and institutions nationwide.

Direct Instruction (DI) is a specific, research-backed teaching methodology using scripted lessons and systematic skill progression, developed by Siegfried Engelmann in the 1960s and proven effective in the largest educational study in U.S. history.

In Charlotte Mason's philosophy, discipline means the formation of good habits through gentle, consistent training—not punishment. She viewed children as disciples (learners) who need parents to "lay down the rails" of habits that will guide them throughout life.

Discovery K12 is a free, secular online homeschool curriculum platform offering 180 days of complete lessons for Pre-K through 12th grade across seven core subjects including reading, math, science, and history.

"Done by lunch" is a popular homeschool scheduling approach where families complete all formal academic work before noon, freeing up afternoons for play, enrichment activities, and family time.

"Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" is a classic art instruction book by Dr. Betty Edwards that teaches realistic drawing through perception-based techniques, helping students of any skill level learn to draw what they actually see rather than symbols.

Drive Thru History is an award-winning video curriculum featuring host Dave Stotts at actual historical locations, covering ancient civilizations, biblical history, and American history for middle and high school students.

A drop-off co-op is a homeschool enrichment program where parents leave their children with paid teachers for classes one to two days per week, without the requirement to stay on-site or teach other students.

Dual credit allows high school students to take college courses that count toward both their high school diploma and a future college degree, potentially saving thousands in tuition and accelerating the path to graduation.

Dual enrollment allows homeschool high schoolers to take college courses for credit, with 48 states plus DC having formal policies. Many programs are free or discounted, and ESA funds can often cover tuition in participating states.

Due process is a legal framework under IDEA that gives parents formal rights to challenge school district decisions about their child's special education identification, evaluation, placement, or services through impartial hearings.

Duke TIP (Talent Identification Program) was a pioneering gifted education program founded in 1980 that served over 2 million academically talented students through talent searches, summer programs, and online courses before closing permanently in 2021.

Duolingo is a free, gamified language learning app offering 40+ languages that works well as a supplementary practice tool for homeschoolers but lacks the systematic grammar instruction and speaking practice needed as a standalone curriculum.

Dyscalculia is a brain-based learning disability that affects mathematical understanding, number sense, and calculation abilities. It occurs in 5-10% of the population and is unrelated to intelligence.

Dysgraphia is a neurological learning disability affecting both the physical act of writing and written expression. It impacts 5-20% of children and is unrelated to intelligence or effort.

Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability affecting reading, spelling, and decoding abilities. It impacts 15-20% of the population and is unrelated to intelligence or vision problems.

An ESA application is the online process to access state-funded Education Savings Account dollars for private school tuition, homeschool curriculum, tutoring, and other approved educational expenses.

An ESA audit is a review of your Education Savings Account to verify funds are being used appropriately for approved educational expenses. Audits can be random or triggered by flagged transactions.

Your ESA balance is the total available funds in your Education Savings Account. Most states deposit funds quarterly and allow unused balances to roll over to the next school year.

ESA compliance means following state rules for Education Savings Account use: spending only on approved educational expenses, maintaining proper documentation, and submitting required quarterly reports.

ESA disqualified expenses are items and services that cannot be purchased with Education Savings Account funds, including entertainment items, household goods, food, and non-educational purchases.

An ESA marketplace is an online platform where families can purchase pre-approved educational products and services directly with ESA funds, eliminating out-of-pocket costs and streamlining approvals.

ESA receipt requirements specify documentation needed for Education Savings Account purchases: itemized receipts with vendor name, date, items purchased, and amount paid, uploaded within quarterly deadlines.

ESA reimbursement is the process where parents pay for approved educational expenses out-of-pocket, then submit receipts to their state ESA program for repayment of those costs.

ESA renewal is the annual process where families confirm their continued participation in an Education Savings Account program for the upcoming school year, typically through a renewal contract rather than a full reapplication.

ESA rollover allows families to carry forward unused Education Savings Account funds from one school year to the next, enabling strategic budgeting for larger educational expenses and even future college costs.

An ESA-approved vendor is a business, organization, or individual officially registered with a state ESA program to receive payments for educational products and services using public education funds.

ESA-eligible expenses are educational costs approved for payment using Education Savings Account funds, including curriculum, tutoring, educational therapy, testing fees, and certain technology and supplies.

Early college refers to programs allowing high school students to take college-level courses and earn college credits before graduation, often saving significant time and money on higher education.

Easy Grammar is a systematic grammar curriculum for grades 1-12 created by Dr. Wanda Phillips, known for its unique prepositional approach that simplifies sentence analysis by teaching students to identify prepositional phrases first.

Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool is a completely free, Christian online curriculum covering preschool through 12th grade, created by homeschooling mother Lee Giles to help families who thought they couldn't afford to homeschool.

Eclectic homeschooling is a flexible approach that combines elements from multiple educational philosophies—classical, Charlotte Mason, traditional, unschooling, and others—to create a customized learning experience tailored to each child.

EdX is a massive open online course (MOOC) platform offering thousands of university-level courses from Harvard, MIT, and 140+ institutions, providing homeschoolers access to college-level learning and AP exam preparation.

Editor in Chief is a grammar and editing workbook series from The Critical Thinking Company that teaches students to identify and correct errors in written passages, building practical editing skills through a puzzle-like approach.

An Education Freedom Account (EFA) is a state-funded savings account that provides families with public education dollars to spend on approved educational expenses, including homeschool curriculum, tutoring, and educational services.

An Education Savings Account (ESA) is a state-funded account that deposits public education money into a parent-controlled account, allowing families to pay for approved educational expenses including homeschool curriculum, tutoring, online courses, and educational therapy.

Education.com is an online learning platform offering over 30,000 worksheets, educational games, lesson plans, and activities for Pre-K through 8th grade, available through free limited access or premium subscription.

Educational freedom is the right of parents to direct their children's education according to their own convictions, including choosing alternatives to public schooling such as homeschooling, private schools, or customized educational approaches.

Educational neglect is the legal failure of a parent to provide for a child's basic educational needs, including not enrolling a school-age child in school or homeschool, permitting chronic truancy, or failing to address diagnosed learning needs.

Educational travel integrates travel experiences into homeschool learning, ranging from local field trips to extended road trips or international travel, using real-world exploration as a teaching tool.

Educeri is a subscription-based digital lesson plan platform offering nearly 4,000 standards-aligned, ready-to-teach slideshow lessons for K-12 across core subjects, built on the Explicit Direct Instruction methodology.

Elective credits are high school credits earned in courses outside the core academic requirements, allowing students to explore interests, develop skills, and demonstrate well-rounded education on transcripts.

Elective requirements are the number of non-core credits students must earn for high school graduation, typically 4-8 credits out of 24-26 total, with specific numbers varying by state and chosen graduation pathway.

Elemental Science is a comprehensive K-12 homeschool science curriculum that combines classical education methods with Charlotte Mason principles, featuring hands-on experiments, living books, and step-by-step lesson plans for parents.

An Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) is Arizona's education savings account program that deposits state education funds—approximately $7,000 per student annually—into parent-controlled accounts for approved educational expenses like curriculum, tutoring, and private school tuition.

Encoding is how information gets stored in memory, while retrieval is how we access that stored information. These two processes are the foundation of all learning, and understanding them helps parents teach more effectively.

An end-of-year evaluation is an annual assessment of a homeschooled student's academic progress, required in some states and optional in others. Options include standardized testing, portfolio review by a certified teacher, or professional narrative evaluations.

Enrichment classes are supplemental programs that complement core homeschool curriculum, offering instruction in areas like art, music, foreign languages, STEM, and physical education—often taught by subject specialists and providing valuable peer interaction.

An enrichment co-op is a parent-run homeschool group that meets regularly—typically weekly—to provide supplemental classes in subjects like art, drama, science, and physical education, with parents volunteering to teach topics they know well.

A homeschool enrollment form (also called a Notice of Intent) is an official document notifying your school district or state education department that your child will be educated at home rather than attending public or private school.

An enrollment verification letter (or VOE) is a document confirming that a student is actively enrolled in a homeschool program, commonly required for driver's license applications, work permits, and insurance discounts.

An equivalency requirement is a state law provision requiring homeschool education to be "equivalent" or "substantially equivalent" to public school instruction—though what this actually means varies dramatically and is often left deliberately vague.

Essentials in Writing is a complete video-based grammar and composition curriculum for grades 1-12, featuring on-screen instruction from teacher Matthew Stephens with step-by-step writing lessons that require minimal parent preparation.

Eurythmy is an expressive movement art developed by Rudolf Steiner that makes speech and music visible through purposeful gestures, serving as a core subject in Waldorf education from preschool through high school.

A homeschool evaluator is a qualified education professional who reviews student portfolios and conducts interviews to assess educational progress, providing an alternative to standardized testing in states that require annual assessments.

In homeschooling, excused absences function differently than in traditional schools since parents direct education and set schedules—but families still need to meet state-mandated instruction time requirements where applicable.

Executive function refers to the brain's higher-level cognitive skills—including working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control—that enable goal-setting, planning, task completion, and managing complex information.

Explicit instruction is a systematic, teacher-directed approach where skills are taught directly through clear explanations, modeling, guided practice, and feedback—leaving nothing to chance about what students need to learn.

Explode the Code is a systematic phonics curriculum from EPS Learning that uses the Orton-Gillingham approach to teach reading skills through workbooks spanning preschool through fourth grade.

Exploration Education is a hands-on physical science curriculum for grades K-10 that includes all experiment materials, online lessons, and video demonstrations—designed for independent, project-based learning.

Apologia's What We Believe series is a four-volume biblical worldview curriculum for grades K-8 that teaches children foundational Christian beliefs, apologetics, and how to view the world through Scripture.

Extracurricular activities are pursuits outside the core academic curriculum—sports, arts, clubs, and community involvement—that provide essential social, physical, and developmental benefits for homeschool students.

Extrinsic motivation is the drive to perform for external rewards or to avoid punishment—like grades, praise, or prizes—rather than for the inherent satisfaction of the activity itself.

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) is a federal law protecting student education records at federally funded institutions. While homeschools aren't subject to FERPA, these rights become relevant when homeschoolers use public school services or enroll in college courses.

Family Learning Organization (FLO) is a non-profit homeschool testing provider offering nationally normed standardized achievement tests that parents can administer at home without a teaching degree, serving homeschool families across all 50 states.

Family-style learning is a homeschool approach where children of different ages learn together using the same books, themes, or curricula, with expectations tailored to each child's developmental level rather than separating instruction by grade.

Farm schooling is a homeschool approach that weaves traditional academics into hands-on agricultural experiences, using real farm activities like animal husbandry, gardening, and food production to teach math, science, and practical life skills.

In Charlotte Mason education, "feast" refers to the abundant, varied curriculum of living books and rich ideas spread before children—an educational banquet where students encounter high-quality literature, history, science, and art across many subjects.

Festivals and seasons in Waldorf education are intentional celebrations woven throughout the year that connect children to natural rhythms, mark seasonal transitions, and create meaningful touchstones that structure both the curriculum and family life.

Homeschool field trips are educational outings to museums, historical sites, nature areas, and other venues that extend learning beyond home, offering hands-on experiences that make academic concepts tangible and memorable.

A homeschool field trip group is an organized community of homeschooling families who coordinate group outings to educational venues, sharing planning responsibilities while accessing group discounts and building social connections.

The file crate system is a homeschool organization method using hanging file folders in a storage crate to pre-organize an entire semester or year of curriculum materials by week, enabling parents to teach on "autopilot" after intensive upfront planning.

Homeschool filing deadlines are legally mandated dates by which families must submit specific documentation—such as notice of intent, annual assessments, or progress reports—to maintain legal homeschool status, with requirements and consequences varying significantly by state.

Financial Peace Junior is a hands-on financial literacy curriculum from Ramsey Solutions that teaches children ages 3-12 the fundamentals of earning, saving, giving, and spending money through interactive activities and a commission-based chore system.

Fine arts credits are academic credits earned through study and practice in creative disciplines like visual arts, music, theater, and dance, typically requiring 120-180 hours of instruction to earn one credit.

Fine motor skills are the small, precise movements made with hands, fingers, and other small muscle groups that enable children to perform essential tasks like writing, buttoning clothes, and manipulating small objects.

First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind is a scripted grammar curriculum for grades 1-4 that combines classical education principles with Charlotte Mason methods, using poetry memorization, copywork, dictation, and oral instruction to build grammar foundations.

Fix It! Grammar is a story-based grammar curriculum from the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) where students learn by hunting for and correcting errors in daily passages that tell an ongoing story across 33 weeks of instruction.

A fixed mindset is the belief that intelligence, abilities, and talents are static traits that cannot be significantly developed, leading people to avoid challenges and view failure as evidence of inherent limitations.

The Florida Family Empowerment Scholarship (FES) is a state-funded school choice program providing education savings accounts to Florida families for private school tuition, homeschool expenses, tutoring, therapy, and other approved educational costs.

Step Up for Students is Florida's largest scholarship funding organization, a nonprofit that administers the state's major school choice programs including Family Empowerment Scholarships, the Personalized Education Program for homeschoolers, and scholarships for students with unique abilities.

Flow state is a psychological concept describing complete immersion in an activity where a person experiences energized focus, loses track of time, and performs at their peak—making it an ideal condition for deep learning.

Fluency in learning is the ability to perform academic tasks accurately, at an appropriate speed, and with proper expression or flexibility—allowing students to focus on comprehension and higher-level thinking rather than struggling with basic skills.

Fluent Forever is a language learning method and app created by polyglot Gabriel Wyner that uses spaced repetition, pronunciation training, and image-based learning to help learners achieve genuine fluency without translation.

A foreign language requirement is an academic expectation for students to complete coursework in a language other than English, typically two to four years for high school graduation and college admission.

Forest schooling is an outdoor education approach where children engage in regular, hands-on learning sessions in natural woodland settings, developing confidence, resilience, and academic skills through nature-based exploration.

Form drawing is a Waldorf educational practice where children create freehand geometric patterns and shapes to develop fine motor control, spatial awareness, and prepare for handwriting and mathematical thinking.

Formative assessment is ongoing evaluation during instruction that helps teachers and students understand learning progress in real-time, allowing for immediate adjustments rather than waiting for final tests.

Foundations in Personal Finance is Dave Ramsey's high school curriculum teaching budgeting, saving, debt avoidance, and money management through video lessons, workbooks, and practical activities.

A four-day school week is a homeschool scheduling approach where academic instruction happens over four days instead of five, freeing one day weekly for field trips, appointments, enrichment, or flexible learning.

The four-year history cycle is a classical education approach where students study world history chronologically over four years—Ancients, Medieval, Early Modern, and Modern—then repeat the cycle with increasing depth.

A four-year plan is a comprehensive roadmap outlining all courses, credits, and activities a homeschool student will complete from 9th through 12th grade, ensuring graduation requirements and college prerequisites are met.

French in Action is a 52-episode video-based French course created by Yale professor Pierre Capretz, teaching language and culture through immersive storytelling without English translation.

The GED (General Educational Development) is a high school equivalency credential earned through standardized testing. Most homeschoolers don't need it—a parent-issued diploma carries equal or greater weight.

GPA (Grade Point Average) is a numerical measure of academic performance calculated by converting letter grades to points (A=4.0, B=3.0, etc.) and averaging across all courses.

Gameschooling is a homeschool approach that intentionally uses board games, card games, and other games as educational tools to teach academic skills, critical thinking, and social-emotional development.

A gap year is a period (typically one year) between high school graduation and college enrollment used for travel, work, volunteering, or structured programs that promote personal growth and career exploration.

Gather Round is a Christian, Charlotte Mason-inspired homeschool curriculum using thematic unit studies for multi-age family learning, covering all subjects except math from PreK through 12th grade.

Getting Started with Latin is a beginner-friendly Latin curriculum by William Linney featuring 134 short lessons that introduce classical Latin grammar through incremental, self-paced instruction.

Gifted education refers to specialized instruction designed for children with exceptional intellectual abilities, including strategies like acceleration, enrichment, and depth-based learning tailored to advanced learners.

Gifted screening is the formal assessment process using standardized IQ and achievement tests to identify children with exceptional cognitive abilities, typically defined as the 98th percentile or higher.

God's Design for Science is a Bible-based science curriculum from Answers in Genesis for grades 1-8, teaching life science, earth science, physical science, and chemistry through a young-earth creationist perspective.

God's Great Covenant is a classical Christian Bible curriculum from Classical Academic Press teaching the complete biblical narrative through the lens of God's covenant promises across four yearlong volumes.

Grade acceleration is an umbrella term for educational strategies that allow students to progress through academic content faster than typical, including subject-based advancement, early entrance, and grade skipping.

A grade equivalent score compares a student's test performance to the average performance of students at different grade levels, expressed as a grade and month (like 5.7 for 5th grade, 7th month).

Grade level is the organizational level of study corresponding to a student's age in traditional education, but homeschoolers often work across multiple grade levels based on individual readiness rather than chronological age.

Grade level police is informal homeschool community slang describing people who rigidly enforce or judge others based on traditional grade-level expectations, whether from within the family or externally.

A grade report (or report card) is a formal document tracking a homeschool student's academic progress and achievements, including subjects studied, grades, attendance, and teacher comments.

Grade retention is the practice of having a student repeat the same grade for an additional year rather than promoting them to the next grade level.

A homeschool graduation certificate (or diploma) is a document issued by the parent or homeschool administrator verifying that a student has completed high school requirements.

Graduation requirements are the academic standards and coursework a student must complete for a high school diploma. Most states allow homeschool parents to determine their own requirements.

Grammar instruction is the systematic teaching of rules governing sentence structure, ensuring effective communication through clarity and precision in speaking and writing.

The Grammar Stage is the first phase of the classical Trivium (ages 4-11), when children naturally excel at memorization and absorbing foundational facts across all subjects.

Grammar for the Well-Trained Mind is a comprehensive four-year grammar curriculum from Well-Trained Mind Press for grades 5-12, designed to build mastery through cyclical instruction and sentence diagramming.

Grapevine Studies is a hands-on Bible curriculum that teaches Scripture through a unique stick-figure drawing method, engaging auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners simultaneously.

Great Books refers to a curated collection of foundational texts from Western civilization used in classical education, where students learn by engaging directly with primary source works rather than textbooks.

Gross motor skills are movements using the large muscles of the body, including arms, legs, and torso, enabling big physical movements like running, jumping, climbing, and throwing.

Growth mindset is the belief that intelligence, abilities, and talents can be developed through dedication, effort, and learning, contrasted with a fixed mindset that views intelligence as unchangeable.

A growth score measures how much a student has learned and progressed over time, comparing their improvement to peers with similar starting points rather than measuring achievement at a single moment.

Guest Hollow is a homeschool curriculum company offering literature-rich, living books science courses including a completely free high school biology curriculum, plus anatomy, chemistry, physics, and botany.

Guided reading is small-group reading instruction where a teacher works with students reading at similar levels, providing targeted support as they develop reading strategies for increasingly difficult texts.

HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) is a nonprofit advocacy organization providing legal defense, legislative advocacy, and educational resources to over 100,000 member homeschool families.

HSLDA Transcript Service is an online platform for homeschool families to create, store, and print professional high school transcripts with automatic GPA calculation and 24/7 access.

Habit training is a Charlotte Mason method that systematically develops good habits in children—like attention, obedience, and truthfulness—through consistent daily practice, laying the foundation for character and making family life run more smoothly.

Handicrafts in Charlotte Mason education are practical, skill-building crafts—like knitting, woodworking, and sewing—that create useful items while developing fine motor skills, patience, and 'power over material.' They're intentionally distinct from disposable arts and crafts projects.

Hands-on science is a learning approach that moves beyond textbook reading to include real experiments, activities, and direct observation. Students physically conduct experiments and manipulate materials, making abstract scientific concepts tangible and memorable.

Handwork in Waldorf education encompasses practical hand skills—knitting, crocheting, sewing, and woodworking—taught in a developmental progression from kindergarten through high school. It's considered essential for cognitive development, not merely a supplementary activity.

Heart of Dakota (HOD) is an award-winning Christian homeschool curriculum spanning preschool through 12th grade. It features Charlotte Mason-inspired methods, pre-planned daily lessons, and integrated subjects centered on biblical teaching and living books.

Henle Latin is a traditional, grammar-intensive Latin curriculum published by Loyola Press and widely used in classical homeschool education. The rigorous four-year program emphasizes systematic grammar mastery before translation, preparing students to read classical and biblical Latin texts.

Hewitt Homeschooling Testing offers the PASS (Personalized Achievement Summary System) test, an untimed standardized assessment for grades 3-8. The $36 parent-administered test measures reading, math, and language arts, providing both homeschool and national comparison scores.

Homeschool high school diploma requirements vary by state but typically include 20-24 credits across core subjects. In most states, parents can legally issue their own diplomas—accreditation is not required for college acceptance, though transcripts documenting coursework are essential.

High-regulation states require homeschool families to meet multiple compliance layers beyond basic notification—including curriculum approval, standardized testing, professional evaluations, and detailed record-keeping. New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island have the strictest requirements.

The Hillsdale 1776 Curriculum is a free K-12 American history and civics curriculum from Hillsdale College. It provides nearly 2,500 pages of lesson plans, primary sources, and teaching materials emphasizing founding principles, the Constitution, and honest examination of American history.

History Odyssey is a secular, literature-based history curriculum from Pandia Press designed for classical homeschooling. The three-level program (grades 1-12) cycles through four time periods, using living books and portfolio assessment rather than textbooks and tests.

History Quest is a secular, narrative-based history curriculum from Pandia Press for elementary grades (1-6). Written as engaging storybooks meant to be read aloud, it brings history to life through storytelling, hands-on 'History Hops,' and deliberately inclusive multicultural perspectives.

History Revealed is a comprehensive Christian world history curriculum by Diana Waring (published by Answers in Genesis) for grades 5-12. It weaves biblical perspectives throughout history using audio lectures, living books, and Charlotte Mason methodology across three volumes from creation through the modern era.

A history spine is a foundational book or curriculum that provides the structured backbone for history studies. Families read through the spine chronologically, then 'jump off' into related living books, historical fiction, and projects—using the spine as an organizing framework while exploring topics in depth.

Hoffman Academy is an online piano education platform offering 300+ free video lessons designed for children ages 5-12. Created by teacher Joseph Hoffman, the curriculum emphasizes 'ear before eye' methodology—developing listening skills before reading music notation.

Home economics curriculum teaches practical life skills including cooking, sewing, budgeting, home maintenance, and personal finance. Homeschoolers can earn high school elective credit by documenting skill mastery through formal curricula or real-life learning experiences.

The Home School Foundation (now HSLDA Compassion) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization providing grants to homeschool families in financial need. Programs include curriculum grants, special needs children's fund, and disaster relief, with over $1 million distributed annually.

Homeschool transcripts are official academic records created by parents documenting a student's high school coursework, grades, and credits. Parents sign transcripts to make them official—no accreditation required—and colleges routinely accept them alongside course descriptions and standardized test scores.

A home study program (HSP) is a parent-directed educational approach where families educate children at home in compliance with state regulations. In some states like Louisiana, HSP refers to a specific formally-approved program; in others, it's simply terminology for homeschooling.

Most states do NOT require home visits for homeschooling, and parents generally have constitutional protections against warrantless entry. Officials typically cannot enter your home without a warrant, court order, or your voluntary consent—even in high-regulation states.

A homeschool affidavit is a formal, notarized legal document in which parents declare their intent to homeschool and outline their educational plan. It's required in some states as proof of compliance with compulsory education laws.

A homeschool binder system is an organizational method using three-ring binders to centralize lesson plans, weekly assignments, student work samples, attendance records, and compliance documentation in one accessible place.

Homeschool burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion from prolonged homeschooling stress. It affects both parents and students, leading to decreased motivation, disconnection, and a diminished sense of accomplishment.

A homeschool co-op (cooperative) is a group of homeschooling families who share teaching responsibilities and resources. Parents take turns instructing classes in their areas of expertise, giving students access to group learning and subjects that would be difficult to teach at home.

A homeschool convention is a multi-day event featuring workshops, keynote speakers, and vendor exhibit halls where homeschooling families can explore curriculum, learn teaching strategies, and connect with the broader homeschool community.

A homeschool diploma is an official document certifying a student completed high school through homeschooling. Parents can issue diplomas themselves, use diploma services for professional presentation, or obtain them through umbrella schools—all are legally valid in all 50 states.

A homeschool support group provides social connection and resources for homeschooling parents through flexible activities and gatherings. A homeschool co-op involves shared teaching responsibilities where parents take turns instructing classes, requiring higher commitment but offering structured academic or enrichment programming.

Homeschool Legal Advantage (HLA) is a legal defense organization operated by the Christian Law Association that provides free legal representation to homeschooling families. It offers protection for homeschool-related issues and broader religious liberty cases.

Homeschool Manager is a web-based homeschool planning software that helps families organize schedules, track grades, and maintain records. Created by homeschooling families, it offers 16 report types including transcripts and report cards for $39-49 per year.

Homeschool Minder is a web-based homeschool management software offering lesson planning, gradebook, attendance tracking, and 16+ professional reports including transcripts and report cards. It supports unlimited students for $39.99 per year.

Homeschool mom life refers to the multifaceted lifestyle of mothers who educate their children at home, balancing roles as educator, curriculum planner, household manager, and mentor while building community connections with other homeschooling families.

Homeschool Panda is an all-in-one digital homeschool planning platform that combines lesson planning, record-keeping, reporting, and a built-in social network for connecting with other homeschooling families.

Homeschool Planet is a cloud-based homeschool planning platform featuring over 3,100 professionally designed lesson plan schedules from major curriculum publishers, intelligent rescheduling tools, and comprehensive family calendar management.

Homeschool scholarships are financial awards available to homeschooled students for either K-12 educational expenses (through state ESA/EFA programs) or college tuition, with options including merit-based, need-based, and homeschool-specific scholarship programs.

Homeschool Skedtrack is a completely free, web-based homeschool planner offering automated lesson scheduling, grade and attendance tracking, report card generation, and transcript creation for compliance documentation.

Homeschool Spanish Academy (HSA) is an online Spanish language program connecting students with certified native-speaking teachers from Guatemala for live, one-on-one instruction via video conferencing, offering flexible scheduling and accredited high school credit.

A homeschool supplement is additional documentation that colleges require from homeschooled applicants, typically including transcripts, course descriptions, a school profile explaining your educational approach, and a counselor letter written by the homeschool parent.

A homeschool support group is an association of homeschooling families that provides mutual encouragement, practical resources, social opportunities for children, and shared activities like field trips, co-op classes, and parent meetups.

Homeschool Tracker (HST) is a cloud-based homeschool planning platform with over 20 years of market presence, offering lesson planning, flexible grading, transcript generation, and a unique lesson plan sharing feature with other HST users.

A homeschool transcript is a one-page academic summary documenting a student's high school coursework, grades, credits, and GPA, signed by the parent acting as school administrator and used for college applications, scholarships, and employment.

Homeschool-friendly colleges are institutions that treat homeschooled applicants fairly, accept parent-issued diplomas and transcripts, have clear admission policies for homeschoolers, and often provide dedicated support or recruitment for homeschool students.

Homeschool.com is a veteran online resource hub serving homeschool families for over 25 years, offering curriculum finder tools, unbiased product reviews, free printables and unit studies, and community message boards.

Homeschooling with Dyslexia is an educational resource and support organization founded by Marianne Sunderland, offering curriculum recommendations, parent courses, coaching, and community for families teaching children with dyslexia and related learning differences.

An honors course in homeschooling is a high school class with increased rigor, depth, and expectations compared to standard coursework, typically involving more challenging materials, deeper analysis, and additional time investment.

Honors designation on a homeschool transcript indicates that a course exceeded standard high school rigor, requiring documentation of the criteria used and ideally third-party validation through AP exams, CLEP tests, or dual enrollment grades.

Hooked on Phonics is a phonics-based reading curriculum using video lessons, workbooks, stories, and interactive activities to teach reading skills to children ages 3-8 (Pre-K through 2nd grade) through a systematic, multisensory approach.

Horizons Math is a spiral-method math curriculum from Alpha Omega Publications covering Kindergarten through 8th grade, featuring colorful workbooks, comprehensive teacher guides, and hands-on manipulative activities for mastery through repetition.

Horizontal alignment is curriculum coordination across different subjects within the same grade level, ensuring that learning objectives, instructional strategies, and assessments are consistent and complementary throughout a student's simultaneous coursework.

Hybrid curriculum refers to combining different educational approaches, formats, or curriculum providers to create a customized learning experience—such as mixing digital and print materials, using multiple publishers, or blending various teaching methodologies.

A hybrid school combines part-time classroom instruction (typically 2-3 days weekly) with home-based learning for remaining days, offering professional teaching and peer interaction while maintaining family involvement and schedule flexibility.

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legally binding document that outlines specialized instruction and services for students with disabilities in public schools under federal law.

IXL Learning is a subscription-based adaptive learning platform offering K-12 practice in math, language arts, science, and social studies through interactive exercises that adjust difficulty based on student performance.

Implicit instruction is a teaching approach where students acquire knowledge through exposure and discovery rather than direct, step-by-step teaching—learning happens somewhat unconsciously as they encounter material and recognize patterns themselves.

Independent curriculum is a customizable approach where homeschool parents select and combine individual educational resources rather than using a pre-packaged, all-in-one boxed curriculum.

Independent homeschool is a legal structure where parents file directly with their state or district as the teacher of record, taking full responsibility for meeting educational requirements without enrollment in an umbrella school or cover program.

Independent reading is when students choose and read books on their own with minimal adult assistance, building fluency, vocabulary, and a lifelong love of reading through self-selected materials.

In homeschool terminology, 'independent workers' refers to children who complete academic work with minimal direct instruction, reading lessons, managing assignments, and checking their own work largely on their own.

The Indiana Choice Scholarship is a state-funded voucher program providing families approximately $6,500 annually to attend participating private schools—notably, it's designed for private school tuition, not homeschool expenses.

The Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) is a writing curriculum teaching systematic structure and style through video instruction, used by homeschoolers and schools for over 25 years.

Instructional days refer to the number of school days a student receives academic instruction per year—a compliance requirement that varies by state, typically ranging from 172 to 180 days annually.

Instructional hours are the total time spent on educational activities during homeschooling. Most states require between 600-1,000 hours annually, though homeschoolers typically need only 2-4 hours daily due to the efficiency of one-on-one instruction.

An instructional time log is a record of hours or days spent on homeschool instruction. Required in some states for compliance, it typically includes dates, subjects covered, and time spent on each activity.

Interest-led learning is an educational approach where children's natural curiosities and passions guide what and how they learn. It recognizes that students learn best when genuinely interested in a subject and can be integrated into any homeschool style.

Intrinsic motivation is the internal desire to learn or engage in an activity because it's inherently interesting or satisfying, not because of external rewards like grades or prizes. Intrinsically motivated students pursue learning for its own sake.

Iowa Students First is the state's Education Savings Account (ESA) program providing approximately $7,988 annually per student for private school tuition and approved educational expenses. It is available to all Iowa K-12 students attending accredited private schools.

The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) is a nationally standardized achievement test for grades K-8 that measures academic skills across reading, math, language arts, science, and social studies. Many homeschoolers use it for state compliance or to track academic progress.

Jacob's Math is a classic high school mathematics curriculum by Harold R. Jacobs, known for its engaging, conceptual approach using cartoons, real-world applications, and humor to make algebra and geometry accessible and interesting.

James Madison High School is an accredited online private high school offering self-paced diploma programs for $1,269-$1,599. It's popular with homeschoolers, working students, and adult learners seeking an affordable, flexible path to a legitimate diploma.

Jay Wile Science refers to K-12 science curricula created by Dr. Jay L. Wile, including his current Berean Builders line. Known for hands-on experiments, engaging writing, and a biblical worldview, the curriculum covers elementary through high school science.

Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) is a nonprofit program offering advanced academic opportunities for gifted students in grades 2-12. Students qualify through above-grade-level testing and access challenging online courses, summer programs, and talent search recognition.

K12 (now Stride, Inc.) is a for-profit education company offering tuition-free virtual public schools, private online academies, and homeschool curriculum materials for students in grades K-12 across all 50 states.

The Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement (KTEA) is an individually-administered standardized assessment measuring academic skills in reading, math, written language, and oral language for ages 4 through 25.

Keystone National High School refers to two distinct accredited online schools: a Florida-based Christian private school (myknhs.com) and the Pennsylvania-based Keystone School (keystoneschoolonline.com), both serving homeschoolers with self-paced diploma programs.

Khan Academy is a free nonprofit educational platform offering video lessons, practice exercises, and mastery-based learning across math, science, humanities, and test prep from Pre-K through college level.

Khanmigo is Khan Academy's AI-powered tutoring assistant that uses Socratic questioning to guide students through problems rather than giving direct answers, available for $4/month or $44/year.

Kindergarten readiness refers to a child's developmental preparation for formal learning, encompassing academic basics, social-emotional skills, and physical abilities typically expected around age 5-6.

Kolbe Academy is a Cognia-accredited Catholic classical homeschool program offering PreK-12 curriculum using the Ignatian method, with enrollment options ranging from fully independent to full-time online instruction.

Kumon is a center-based tutoring program teaching math and reading through daily worksheet practice and mastery-based progression, costing approximately $150-$200 per subject monthly.

Lab science refers to science courses that combine theoretical instruction with hands-on laboratory work where students conduct experiments, collect data, and write formal lab reports.

Lab science requirements specify the number of science courses with hands-on laboratory components that students need for high school graduation, college admissions, and NCAA athletic eligibility.

Laminating Queen is playful homeschool slang for a parent who enthusiastically laminates educational materials like flashcards, worksheets, and charts to make them reusable with dry-erase markers.

Lapbooking is a hands-on learning method where students create interactive folder-based projects filled with mini-books, flaps, pockets, and visual elements that showcase their understanding of a topic.

A late filing penalty in homeschooling refers to the legal and administrative consequences families may face when they fail to submit required notification documents by state-mandated deadlines.

Latin study teaches the ancient language of Rome, emphasizing grammar, vocabulary roots, and logical thinking—particularly popular in classical homeschool education for building English skills and mental discipline.

Laurel Springs School is a WASC and Cognia-accredited K-12 online private school offering self-paced, mastery-based education with 233+ courses, known for serving student-athletes, performers, and homeschoolers seeking flexibility.

Learning Abled Kids is a comprehensive resource website founded by Sandra K. Cook, offering guidance, curriculum recommendations, and community support for parents homeschooling children with learning disabilities and differences.

Learning differences describe the unique ways some people process information, encompassing conditions like dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, and other variations that affect how individuals learn best.

A learning disability is a neurodevelopmental disorder causing persistent difficulties with academic skills like reading, writing, or math despite normal intelligence and adequate instruction.

A learning journal is a student-created record combining daily learning activities, reflections, and notes that documents the homeschool experience while developing metacognitive skills.

A Learning Management System (LMS) is software that centralizes course delivery, progress tracking, assignments, and grading in one platform—useful for homeschoolers managing multiple curricula or teaching groups.

Learning objectives are specific, measurable statements describing what a student will know or be able to do after instruction, used for planning curriculum and meeting state compliance requirements.

A learning pod is a small group of 3-12 students who learn together outside traditional school, typically with a hired instructor or tutor, offering homeschool families shared instruction and socialization.

A learning progression is a research-based framework showing how students develop knowledge and skills from simple to complex levels over time within a subject area.

VARK is a learning styles model identifying four preferences: Visual (images), Auditory (listening), Read/Write (text), and Kinesthetic (hands-on)—widely used but contested by research.

Learning trays are self-contained activity stations displayed on trays that invite young children to engage independently with hands-on learning activities, commonly used in Montessori and early childhood education.

LearningRx is a brain training franchise offering one-on-one cognitive skills training targeting attention, memory, and processing speed, with programs typically costing $10,000 or more.

Lesson plans are documented outlines of topics, activities, and objectives for instruction, used by homeschoolers for organization and state compliance where required.

Lessontrek is an affordable online homeschool lesson planner ($3/month introductory) with drag-and-drop scheduling, grade tracking, and multi-student management designed for ease of use.

A Letter of Intent (LOI) is a formal notification submitted to school authorities declaring your intent to homeschool your child, required in about 25 states with varying deadlines and content requirements.

Letter of the Week (LOTW) is a 26-week preschool curriculum teaching one alphabet letter per week with themed activities, crafts, and practice—popular but not supported by current literacy research.

In Charlotte Mason's educational philosophy, 'Life' refers to the academic component of her famous motto, emphasizing that children should be nourished with living ideas and engaging content rather than dry, disconnected facts.

Life skills education teaches practical abilities that prepare children for independent adult living, including financial literacy, household management, cooking, time management, and personal care—skills often overlooked in traditional schooling.

Life of Fred is a unique story-based math curriculum that teaches mathematical concepts through humorous narratives following Fred Gauss, a five-year-old math genius, making math enjoyable for reluctant learners while covering content from elementary through calculus.

Lifepac is a print-based, Christian homeschool curriculum from Alpha Omega Publications that uses consumable worktext units for independent, mastery-based learning across five core subjects from kindergarten through twelfth grade.

A light day in homeschooling is a scheduled day with reduced academic workload, focusing on fewer subjects or more relaxed learning activities while maintaining educational engagement during busy periods, illness, or when the family needs flexibility.

Lindamood-Bell is a research-based educational intervention company offering specialized programs that develop the sensory-cognitive skills underlying reading, comprehension, and math—particularly effective for students with dyslexia and learning differences.

Lingua Latina per se Illustrata (LLPSI) is an acclaimed Latin curriculum that teaches the language through immersion, with all instruction written entirely in Latin, allowing students to develop true reading fluency rather than translation dependency.

A literature-based curriculum uses quality books and living literature—rather than textbooks—as the primary foundation for learning, engaging students through narrative and story across subjects like history, science, and language arts.

Live online classes are real-time virtual learning sessions where homeschool students interact with instructors and peers through video conferencing, offering accountability and social connection that self-paced courses don't provide.

Living books are engaging, well-written works by passionate authors that present ideas through narrative rather than dry facts—central to Charlotte Mason's philosophy that children's minds need nourishing literature rather than dumbed-down textbooks.

A living books curriculum uses high-quality, narrative-rich books written by passionate authors to teach subjects like history, science, and literature, replacing dry textbooks with engaging stories that make learning memorable.

Living history is an educational approach that brings the past to life through immersive experiences—including reenactments, hands-on activities, narrative-rich literature, and museum visits—rather than relying solely on textbook facts and dates.

Living math is an educational approach that integrates mathematics with literature, history, and real-world applications, making math engaging and meaningful through stories and context rather than isolated drill-and-practice methods.

Living science is a Charlotte Mason-inspired approach to science education that uses engaging narrative books, hands-on experiments, and nature study to inspire wonder and deep understanding rather than relying on textbook memorization.

The Logic Stage is the second phase of classical education's Trivium model, typically covering grades 5-8, when students move from memorizing facts to analyzing relationships, recognizing patterns, and developing critical thinking skills.

Logic of English is a comprehensive, Orton-Gillingham-based literacy curriculum that teaches reading, spelling, handwriting, and grammar by demonstrating that 98% of English words follow predictable rules through its system of 74 phonograms and 31 spelling rules.

Loop scheduling is a flexible homeschool planning method where you cycle through a rotating list of subjects sequentially rather than assigning specific subjects to specific days, simply picking up where you left off each session.

Low-regulation states require minimal or no government oversight for homeschooling—typically just notification or nothing at all—with no mandatory testing, curriculum approval, or teacher certification requirements for parents.

MAP Growth is a computer-adaptive assessment from NWEA that measures academic achievement and growth in reading, math, language, and science, automatically adjusting difficulty based on student responses to provide precise measurement of each child's level.

MEP Math (Mathematics Enhancement Programme) is a free, rigorous math curriculum developed by UK universities based on Hungarian teaching methods, available for download and popular among homeschoolers for its conceptual depth and problem-solving focus.

A Main Lesson Book is a student-created, illustrated journal used in Waldorf education where children document their learning through writing, drawing, and painting—essentially making their own textbooks.

Mango Languages is a conversation-based language learning platform offering 70+ languages through interactive lessons that emphasize pronunciation, grammar, and cultural context—often available free through public libraries.

Master Books is a Christian homeschool curriculum publisher offering PreK-12 materials with a Charlotte Mason-inspired approach, known for short lessons, minimal prep time, and creation-based science content.

Masterly inactivity is Charlotte Mason's term for the deliberate practice of stepping back and allowing children to learn, explore, and solve problems independently—while remaining watchfully present and maintaining clear authority.

A mastery checklist is an assessment tool that tracks a student's progress toward specific skills or learning objectives, documenting what has been mastered rather than assigning traditional letter grades.

Mastery learning is an instructional approach where students must demonstrate thorough understanding of material (typically 80-90% accuracy) before moving to new content, recognizing that learning speed varies but all students can achieve mastery with adequate time.

A mastery-based curriculum structures learning so students must demonstrate complete understanding of current concepts (typically 90% accuracy) before advancing to new material, ensuring solid foundations before building further.

Mater Amabilis is a free online Catholic homeschool curriculum that applies Charlotte Mason's educational philosophy while integrating Catholic faith throughout all subjects, from preschool through high school.

Math drill is structured, repetitive practice of basic math operations designed to build automaticity—the ability to recall math facts instantly without conscious calculation, freeing mental energy for complex problem-solving.

Math facts fluency is the ability to accurately, efficiently, and flexibly recall basic math facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) with automaticity—going beyond memorization to include number sense and strategic thinking.

Math Mammoth is an affordable, mastery-oriented homeschool math curriculum for grades 1-8 that uses a self-teaching worktext format emphasizing conceptual understanding and mental math skills.

Math manipulatives are physical objects used to teach mathematical concepts through hands-on learning, helping students understand abstract ideas by making them concrete and tangible.

Math-U-See is a complete K-12 mastery-based homeschool math curriculum that uses distinctive interlocking blocks (manipulatives) and video instruction to help students deeply understand mathematical concepts before advancing.

Memoria Press is a comprehensive classical Christian homeschool curriculum from PreK-12 that emphasizes Latin study, great books, memorization, and the wisdom tradition of Western civilization.

Memory work is the systematic practice of memorizing and reciting foundational knowledge—from poetry and Scripture to math facts and historical timelines—through repetition, forming a cornerstone of classical education.

Mental math is the ability to perform mathematical calculations in your head without using paper, pencil, or calculators—developed through understanding number relationships and practicing strategic thinking techniques.

Metacognition is "thinking about thinking"—the ability to plan learning strategies, monitor understanding, and evaluate what worked. Research shows it adds 8 months of academic progress and is as important as IQ for learning outcomes.

Miacademy is a subscription-based online homeschool curriculum for grades K-8 offering video lessons, quizzes, and progress tracking across core subjects and electives, with MiaPrep extending through high school.

A microschool is a deliberately small learning environment serving 5-20 students, combining elements of homeschooling and traditional schooling with personalized instruction, often led by professional educators in homes, churches, or community spaces.

The middle school transition in homeschooling involves shifting from teacher-directed elementary learning to student-led independence, with increased curriculum complexity, longer study hours, and navigation of pre-teen developmental changes.

Military scholarships are education funding programs offered by the U.S. Department of Defense and military branches that provide tuition coverage in exchange for a service commitment, including ROTC scholarships and service academy appointments.

A minimum score requirement is the lowest acceptable performance threshold on a standardized test that homeschooled students must achieve to demonstrate adequate academic progress according to state law.

A moderate-regulation state requires homeschooling parents to submit notification to authorities plus test scores and/or professional evaluations of student progress, representing a middle ground between minimal and extensive oversight.

Modifications are changes to what a student is taught or expected to learn—fundamentally altering curriculum content, standards, or assessment criteria—unlike accommodations, which change how students access the same material.

Monarch is a fully online, self-paced Christian homeschool curriculum from Alpha Omega Publications covering grades 3-12 with five core subjects, featuring 85% automatic grading and over 50,000 multimedia elements.

The Montessori Method is a child-centered educational philosophy developed by Dr. Maria Montessori emphasizing self-directed learning, hands-on activities, and development of the whole child within a carefully prepared environment.

The Moore Formula is a homeschooling approach developed by Raymond and Dorothy Moore balancing three components—study, work, and service—while advocating delayed formal academics until ages 8-10.

A Morning Basket is a Charlotte Mason-inspired practice where homeschool families gather at the beginning of each day to explore shared subjects like poetry, music, art appreciation, and read-alouds together.

Morning Time is a daily homeschool practice where families gather together for shared learning focused on truth, goodness, and beauty—typically including read-alouds, poetry, music, art, and character development.

Mother Culture is a Charlotte Mason concept emphasizing that homeschooling mothers must continue their own intellectual and personal growth to remain effective educators and avoid burnout.

Mother of Divine Grace School (MODG) is a fully accredited Catholic classical homeschool program founded by Laura Berquist in 1995, serving over 6,300 students in grades K-12 across 28 countries.

Moving Beyond the Page is a secular, comprehensive homeschool curriculum designed for gifted and advanced learners, featuring literature-based, hands-on learning across language arts, science, and social studies.

Mr. D Math is a WASC-accredited online math curriculum for grades 5-12, offering live and self-paced courses that emphasize conceptual understanding through engaging video instruction.

Multi-age learning is an educational approach where students of different ages learn together in the same environment, allowing older children to mentor younger ones while all benefit from shared instruction.

Multi-level teaching is an instructional approach where one teacher educates students at different grade levels simultaneously, using differentiated expectations and assignments while teaching the same content.

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is a comprehensive framework providing differentiated academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support to students at increasing levels of intensity based on individual needs.

Multiple Intelligences (MI) theory proposes that intelligence is not a single general ability but a collection of eight distinct types, including linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic.

Multisensory reading instruction simultaneously engages visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile pathways to strengthen reading skills, particularly benefiting struggling readers and those with dyslexia.

Music in Our Homeschool is an online music education platform providing no-prep, 15-minute lessons for homeschool families from preschool through high school, created by music educator Gena Mayo.

My Father's World is a comprehensive Christian homeschool curriculum blending Charlotte Mason, classical, and unit study approaches, designed for family-style learning where multiple ages study together.

MySchoolBucks is a secure online payment platform for K-12 schools that handles cafeteria accounts, fee payments, and school-related purchases. It is not designed for homeschool ESA/EFA funding.

My School Year is an online homeschool planning and record-keeping system that helps families schedule lessons, track grades, generate transcripts, and create compliance reports for around $60 per year.

The Mystery of History is a four-volume Christian world history curriculum that teaches ancient through modern history chronologically from a biblical worldview, designed for grades K-12 with multi-age lesson activities.

NAIA eligibility for homeschoolers requires either an ACT score of 18+, SAT score of 970+, completion of 9 college credits, or approval through the homeschool waiver committee. Registration happens through play.mynaia.org.

The NCAA Clearinghouse, now called the NCAA Eligibility Center, certifies academic and amateur eligibility for Division I and II student-athletes. Homeschoolers must submit transcripts, core course worksheets, and test scores for individual evaluation.

NCAA eligibility for homeschoolers requires completing 16 core courses with a minimum 2.3 GPA for Division I (2.2 for Division II), qualifying SAT/ACT scores, and detailed course documentation through Core-Course Worksheets.

The National Center for Home Education (NCHE) is the federal relations arm of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), focusing on federal legislation, policy advocacy, and research affecting homeschooling families nationwide.

The National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) is a nonprofit organization that conducts and compiles research on home education, publishing statistics, academic studies, and the peer-reviewed journal Home School Researcher.

NOEO Science is a literature-based homeschool science curriculum for grades 1-8 that combines Charlotte Mason living books with hands-on experiments, offering biology, chemistry, and physics courses with included materials kits.

Nancy Larson Science is a fully scripted, hands-on elementary science curriculum for grades K-5 created by the author of Saxon Math K-3, featuring complete lesson scripts and materials kits requiring minimal parent preparation.

Narration is a Charlotte Mason teaching method where students retell or 'tell back' what they've heard or read, beginning with oral narration around age 6 and progressing to written narration around age 10.

NATHHAN (National Challenged Homeschoolers Associated Network) is a Christian nonprofit providing support, resources, and community for families homeschooling children with special needs, along with the CHASK adoption ministry.

The NHA diploma endorsement is an optional service from the National Home School Association that provides a seal or endorsed diploma for homeschool graduates who meet their requirements, costing $150 for members.

A nature journal is a personal record where students document outdoor observations through sketches, written notes, and collected specimens, serving as both artistic expression and scientific practice in Charlotte Mason education.

Nature study is a Charlotte Mason educational practice where children learn science foundations through regular, direct observation of the natural world outdoors, creating personal connections with nature before formal science instruction.

Nature-based science education uses the outdoor environment as the primary classroom, integrating scientific learning with direct natural world experience through approaches like Charlotte Mason nature study and Waldorf nature immersion.

A needs-based scholarship is financial aid awarded based on a family's financial circumstances rather than academic or athletic merit, using FAFSA data to determine eligibility for grants, work-study, and subsidized loans.

The New Hampshire Education Freedom Account (EFA) provides approximately $4,265 per student annually for private school tuition, homeschool curriculum, tutoring, and other educational expenses, with universal eligibility as of 2025.

No-notice states are the 11 U.S. states where homeschooling families have no legal requirement to notify any government agency, school district, or official that they are educating their children at home.

A non-public school is a legal classification for any school not operated by government, including private schools, religious schools, and in many states, homeschools that operate under private school statutes.

A norm-referenced test (NRT) is a standardized assessment that ranks student performance relative to a comparison group of peers, yielding percentile scores rather than pass/fail results.

The North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship is a state-funded voucher program providing up to $7,686 annually for private school tuition, available to all NC families regardless of income since 2024.

Northwestern Center for Talent Development (CTD) is a university-based gifted education program offering summer camps, online courses, and above-grade-level testing for academically talented PreK-12 students.

Notebooking is a student-centered educational method where children document their learning through personalized notebooks using writing, illustrations, and creative expression rather than pre-made worksheets.

Notgrass Bible is not a standalone curriculum but an integrated Bible component within Notgrass History courses, allowing students to earn separate Bible credit while studying American or world history.

Notgrass History is a Christian homeschool curriculum publisher offering literature-based history courses for grades 1-12, where high school courses can earn three credits: history, English, and Bible.

A Notice of Intent (NOI) is a formal document submitted to educational authorities—typically your school district or state department of education—declaring your intention to homeschool your child.

A notification-only state requires parents to submit formal notice that they intend to homeschool but imposes few or no additional requirements like testing, curriculum approval, or assessments.

Novare Science is a rigorous, mastery-based Christian science curriculum for grades 6-12 that uses a "physics-first" approach and emphasizes deep understanding over broad coverage.

Number sense is the intuitive understanding of numbers—what they mean, how they relate to each other, and how to work with them flexibly—that forms the foundation for all mathematical learning.

The OLSAT (Otis-Lennon School Ability Test) is a cognitive ability test that measures reasoning and problem-solving skills in students from pre-K through 12th grade, commonly used to identify gifted students.

Oak Meadow is a secular K-12 homeschool curriculum founded in 1975 that combines Waldorf-inspired education with mainstream academic standards, offering both independent curriculum packages and an accredited distance learning school option.

Occupational therapy (OT) helps children develop the skills needed for daily living—including fine motor abilities, sensory processing, and self-care—through targeted therapeutic interventions that can be accessed privately or through ESA funding.

Odyssey is a technology platform that administers Education Savings Account (ESA) programs for multiple states, providing families with a digital wallet to manage and spend state education funding on approved expenses like curriculum, tutoring, and tuition.

An official homeschool transcript is the formal academic record documenting your student's high school courses, grades, credits, and GPA, sent directly from you as the homeschool administrator to colleges or other institutions.

Ohio EdChoice is a state scholarship program providing up to $6,166 (K-8) or $8,408 (9-12) for eligible students to attend participating private schools, with universal eligibility for all Ohio K-12 students as of 2023-24.

Online curriculum refers to digital educational programs that deliver instruction through internet-enabled platforms, offering homeschool families options ranging from self-paced video lessons to live interactive classes with teachers.

An online homeschool community is a virtual network connecting homeschooling families for support, shared resources, curriculum recommendations, and social interaction across geographical boundaries.

Open-and-go curriculum is a pre-planned, all-in-one homeschool program that includes everything needed to start teaching immediately—no lesson planning, resource gathering, or extensive preparation required.

The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading (OPG) is a scripted, systematic phonics curriculum by Jessie Wise and Sara Buffington that teaches children to read through 231 lessons covering all 72 phonograms.

Orthographic mapping is the cognitive process by which readers permanently store words in memory by connecting their pronunciation, spelling, and meaning together—turning unfamiliar words into instantly recognizable sight words.

The Orton-Gillingham approach is a direct, multisensory method for teaching reading, writing, and spelling that engages visual, auditory, and kinesthetic pathways simultaneously—particularly effective for students with dyslexia and reading difficulties.

Outschool is a live online learning platform connecting independent teachers with students ages 3-18, offering over 140,000 interactive classes ranging from academic subjects to enrichment topics like coding, art, and special interests.

The PASS Test (Personalized Achievement Summary System) is a standardized achievement test designed specifically for homeschooled students in grades 3-8, featuring untimed administration and parent-friendly design.

The PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) is a standardized test that serves as SAT practice and the gateway to National Merit Scholarship competition, with homeschoolers registering through local high schools.

Pajama school is a colloquial term for homeschooling that references the flexibility to learn in casual clothing at home—often used affectionately within homeschool communities to describe the relaxed learning environment.

Paper is a 24/7 online tutoring platform that provides free, unlimited tutoring to K-12 students—but exclusively through school district partnerships, making it unavailable for direct homeschool enrollment.

Most states have no parent qualification requirements to homeschool. Only 11 states require parents to have a high school diploma or GED, and no state requires a teaching degree or college education.

A parent-participation co-op is a group of homeschooling families who meet regularly and share teaching responsibilities, with parents required to stay on-site and actively contribute to instruction or support roles.

Parental rights in education refers to parents' constitutionally protected fundamental right to direct the upbringing and education of their children, including the choice to homeschool—established through Supreme Court precedent dating back a century.

A park day is a regular, informal gathering of homeschooling families at a local park for socialization, free play, and community connection—typically requiring no membership, fees, or formal commitment.

A parochial school exemption is a legal provision that allows families to exempt their children from public school attendance by operating under a religious, private, or church school designation rather than standard homeschool regulations.

The PIAT (Peabody Individual Achievement Test) is an individually administered standardized achievement test that measures academic skills through a conversational, one-on-one format—making it popular with homeschoolers who want a less stressful testing experience.

Penn Foster High School is a regionally and nationally accredited online high school offering self-paced diploma programs with certified instructor support—bridging the gap between traditional online school and independent homeschooling.

Percentile rank indicates what percentage of students in a comparison group scored at or below your child—a 75th percentile means your child performed as well as or better than 75% of students in the norming group.

Performance assessment evaluates student learning through real-world tasks like projects, portfolios, and demonstrations rather than traditional multiple-choice tests—focusing on application of knowledge and skills.

A personalized diploma is a customized high school graduation certificate that homeschool parents can create themselves or order from printing services—legally valid in all 50 states when issued by the parent operating as the school administrator.

Phonemic awareness is the auditory ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words—a foundational skill that predicts reading success and develops before formal phonics instruction.

Phonics is a method of reading instruction that teaches the relationships between letters (graphemes) and sounds (phonemes), enabling children to decode unfamiliar words by sounding them out.

Phonics Pathways is a comprehensive, self-contained phonics curriculum by Dolores Hiskes that teaches reading and spelling through systematic synthetic phonics—popular for its simplicity, effectiveness with struggling readers, and minimal prep time.

Phonological awareness is the ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds in spoken language—including syllables, rhymes, and individual phonemes—without relying on written text. It is a critical foundation for learning to read.

Physical Education credits represent documented hours of structured physical activity that fulfill graduation requirements. For homeschoolers, one PE credit typically equals 120-180 hours of intentional physical education, which can include sports, dance, martial arts, and other fitness activities.

A physical portfolio is a tangible collection of educational records—typically organized in a binder or file box—containing work samples, activity logs, and documentation that demonstrates a homeschool student's academic progress throughout the year.

Piaget's Stages of Development is a theory describing how children's thinking evolves through four distinct phases: sensorimotor (0-2), preoperational (2-7), concrete operational (7-11), and formal operational (12+). Each stage represents qualitatively different ways of understanding the world.

Picture study is a Charlotte Mason method of art appreciation where children spend time quietly observing great masterpieces, one artist per term, developing attention, observation skills, and a personal relationship with fine art.

Pimsleur is an audio-based language learning program using spaced repetition and active recall to build conversational fluency. With 51 languages available, it emphasizes speaking and listening skills through 30-minute daily lessons.

Play-based learning is an early childhood educational approach where play serves as the primary vehicle for learning. Research shows children learn most effectively through active, joyful engagement rather than formal instruction during the preschool and early elementary years.

A homeschool portfolio is a purposeful collection of student work, activity logs, and educational records gathered throughout the school year to document academic progress. It serves both compliance purposes in states requiring evaluation and as a meaningful record of your child's learning journey.

Portfolio assessment is an evaluation method where a qualified reviewer examines a collection of student work samples and educational records to determine academic progress, serving as an alternative to standardized testing in many states.

A portfolio review is a formal evaluation where a certified teacher or qualified professional examines a homeschool student's collected work samples, logs, and records to verify adequate academic progress, as required or offered as an option in several states.

Portfolio-based admissions allow students to submit curated collections of work samples, projects, and documentation to demonstrate academic abilities and achievements to colleges, supplementing or sometimes replacing traditional transcripts and test scores.

Power Homeschool is a video-based online curriculum for grades PreK-12 powered by the Acellus Learning Accelerator. It features pre-recorded lessons from certified teachers, adaptive learning technology, and automatic grading at $79-99 per month per student.

Practical Life is a foundational pillar of Montessori education encompassing real-world activities—self-care, household tasks, and social graces—that develop concentration, coordination, independence, and order in children.

Pre-K homeschooling refers to educating children ages 3-5 at home before kindergarten. Since compulsory education typically begins at ages 5-8 depending on state, pre-K homeschool is entirely optional and works best with play-based approaches that build readiness skills.

Pre-recorded lessons are educational videos filmed in advance that students can access anytime, offering flexibility to learn at their own pace by pausing, rewinding, and replaying instruction as needed—a form of asynchronous learning popular in homeschool curricula.

The PreACT is a standardized assessment from ACT, Inc. designed for students in grades 8-10 that provides early ACT-style test experience and predicts future ACT scores, helping identify academic strengths and areas needing improvement.

The Prepared Environment is a foundational Montessori concept referring to a carefully designed, purposefully arranged learning space where everything has a specific place and purpose, supporting children's independence, concentration, and natural development.

Preply is a global online tutoring marketplace connecting learners with over 100,000 tutors for one-on-one video lessons in 90+ languages and 120+ academic subjects, with hourly rates averaging around $18.

Primary sources are original documents, artifacts, or records created at the time of historical events by people who witnessed or participated in them—letters, photographs, diaries, maps, and official records that provide firsthand evidence for studying history.

Homeschooling families have robust privacy protections under the Fourth Amendment. Officials generally cannot enter your home without consent or a warrant, cannot require mandatory home visits, and can only request records specifically required by your state's homeschool law.

A Private School Affidavit (PSA) is an annual registration filed with the California Department of Education that establishes a home-based private school, allowing families to legally homeschool with complete educational freedom.

A Private School Exemption is a legal framework in several states that allows homeschooling families to operate their home education as a private school, exempting children from compulsory public school attendance with minimal state oversight.

A proctored exam is a test administered under formal supervision to verify the test-taker's identity and ensure academic integrity. Homeschoolers encounter proctored exams for college admissions testing, earning college credit, and meeting state compliance requirements.

Prodigies Music is a video-based music curriculum for ages 2-12 that uses color-coded solfege (Do-Re-Mi) and engaging video lessons to teach musical fundamentals. Parents need no prior music knowledge to use the program.

A professional evaluation is a formal review by a qualified educator who examines a homeschooled student's portfolio and typically interviews the child to certify that adequate educational progress is occurring. States like Pennsylvania, New York, and Florida require these assessments.

Progress assessment in homeschooling is the systematic evaluation of a student's academic growth and skill development over time. Methods range from standardized testing and portfolio reviews to daily observations and self-assessments.

Progress demonstration is the formal process of providing evidence to state or local authorities that a homeschooled student is making adequate educational progress. It's how families prove compliance with state homeschool laws.

A homeschool progress report is a formal document tracking a student's academic development and achievements over a specific period. It serves both as a teaching tool and as compliance documentation in states requiring progress demonstration.

Project-Based Learning (PBL) is an educational approach where students learn through extended, real-world projects driven by their interests. In homeschooling, it emphasizes child-directed learning where students take primary responsibility for their education.

Proof of Enrollment (POE) is an official document confirming a student is actively enrolled in an educational program. Homeschoolers need it for driver's licenses, ESA funding programs, insurance discounts, and various activities requiring verification of school status.

The Quadrivium is the second stage of classical liberal arts education, consisting of four mathematical disciplines: arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. It follows the Trivium and together they form the complete foundation of classical learning.

A qualified tutor in the homeschool context is an individual who provides private instruction as a legal alternative to public school or traditional homeschooling. Several states offer a "private tutor" option that may require teacher certification but often involves fewer requirements than standard homeschool statutes.

The quarter system divides the academic year into four terms of approximately 9-10 weeks each, with breaks between quarters. Many homeschool families prefer this structure for its flexibility, regular reset points, and built-in breaks that help prevent burnout.

R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey is a hands-on science curriculum from Pandia Press designed for grades K-10. The acronym stands for Read, Explore, Absorb, Learn—reflecting its emphasis on active, experiment-based learning over textbook memorization.

ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps) is a college program that prepares students to become military officers while earning their degree. Homeschool students are fully eligible for ROTC scholarships, and federal law now requires public schools to admit homeschoolers into JROTC programs.

Radical acceleration refers to advancing a student three or more years beyond typical age-peers, often resulting in early college entry. Research consistently shows positive academic and social-emotional outcomes for appropriately selected students, and homeschooling provides unique flexibility for this approach.

A read-aloud is when a proficient reader reads text aloud to children, modeling fluent reading while listeners focus on comprehension and vocabulary. Research identifies it as the single most important activity for reading success, and homeschool families use read-alouds from preschool through high school.

Readiness skills are the developmental abilities that prepare children for success at different educational stages. They span five domains: social-emotional, cognitive, language and literacy, physical development, and approaches to learning. Homeschoolers benefit from flexible, mastery-based approaches to readiness.

Readiness theory is a developmental approach to education that emphasizes waiting until a child has reached appropriate physical, cognitive, and emotional maturation before introducing formal academic instruction. This philosophy significantly influenced the homeschool movement through Raymond and Dorothy Moore's "better late than early" research.

Reading Eggs is an award-winning online reading program for children ages 2-13 that uses interactive lessons, games, and over 4,000 e-books to teach phonics, vocabulary, and reading comprehension. It's used by over 20 million children worldwide and offers a 30-day free trial.

A reading log is a tracking tool homeschool families use to document books read, including titles, authors, dates, and student reflections. It supports both compliance documentation and building consistent reading habits.

Real Science Odyssey (RSO) is a secular, hands-on science curriculum published by Pandia Press. It covers life science, chemistry, physics, astronomy, and earth science for grades K-10 with detailed experiments and parent-friendly teaching guides.

Recipe for Reading is a multisensory, Orton-Gillingham based phonics curriculum published by EPS Learning. Originally developed for students with dyslexia, it uses systematic, sequential instruction suitable for struggling readers and beginning readers in grades K-6.

Recitation is the practice of memorizing material and presenting it orally before an audience. In classical education, it involves students standing and articulating memorized content—poetry, facts, Scripture, or historical timelines—with proper poise and enunciation.

Record confidentiality refers to the privacy rights surrounding homeschool educational records. Unlike public schools governed by FERPA, independent homeschools have greater autonomy over records but also full responsibility for their protection, storage, and appropriate disclosure.

The Reggio Emilia approach is an educational philosophy from Italy that views children as capable, curious learners who construct knowledge through exploration and relationships. It emphasizes project-based learning, the environment as a "third teacher," and documentation of the learning process.

Relaxed homeschooling is a flexible, parent-led educational approach that prioritizes the child's individual needs over rigid schedules. It uses shorter formal lessons while leaving ample time for interest-led learning, falling between structured school-at-home and child-led unschooling.

A religious exemption allows parents to excuse their children from compulsory school attendance based on sincerely held religious beliefs that conflict with formal schooling. Virginia is the only state with a specific statute providing complete exemption from homeschool oversight requirements.

Renewal filing is the annual notification homeschool families submit to continue their home education program for the upcoming school year. About half of U.S. states require annual renewal, while others need only one-time notification or none at all.

A homeschool report card is a document parents create to formally record their child's academic progress across subjects and grading periods. While most states don't require them, report cards help track progress, build transcripts, and ease transitions to other schools or college.

Response to Intervention (RTI) is a multi-tiered educational framework that provides increasingly intensive support to struggling learners before they fall significantly behind, using data-driven decisions to guide instruction.

Retrieval practice is a learning strategy where students actively recall information from memory rather than passively reviewing it, strengthening neural pathways and dramatically improving long-term retention.

Revolution Prep is a national online tutoring company offering private and small-group instruction for SAT/ACT test prep, academic subjects, and executive function coaching through full-time professional tutors.

The Rhetoric Stage is the third and final phase of the classical Trivium (ages 14-18), where students learn to express ideas with eloquence, persuasion, and original thought, building on the knowledge and reasoning skills developed in earlier stages.

In homeschooling, a rhythm is a natural flow where activities happen in a consistent order without specific times, while a routine is a set sequence of tasks that repeats daily. Rhythm emphasizes flexibility; routine emphasizes predictability.

RightStart Mathematics is a hands-on, manipulative-based math curriculum for grades K-8 that uses the AL Abacus and visualization strategies to build deep number sense and mental math skills.

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 US states. The right to homeschool rests on constitutional protections for parental rights established through Supreme Court cases, though specific regulations vary significantly by state.

Roadschooling is homeschooling while traveling, typically in an RV or through extended road trips. It combines traditional academics with experiential learning from destinations visited, using the journey itself as an extended classroom.

Rod and Staff is a conservative Mennonite publisher offering affordable, Bible-based curriculum for grades 1-10 across all major subjects, known for rigorous academics, traditional methods, and exceptional value.

A rolling start means beginning your homeschool year, curriculum, or program whenever you're ready rather than waiting for traditional fall start dates. It embraces the flexibility that makes homeschooling unique.

Rosetta Stone is a computer-based language learning program that teaches 25+ languages through an immersive, no-translation method, using images, audio from native speakers, and TruAccent speech recognition technology.

A rubric is a scoring guide that lists specific criteria for evaluating student work, with descriptions of what performance looks like at each quality level—helping parents assess assignments consistently and giving students clear expectations.

The SAT is a standardized college admissions test measuring reading, writing, and math skills. Scored on a 400-1600 scale, it's now administered digitally and takes about 2 hours and 14 minutes to complete.

SAT Subject Tests were one-hour, multiple-choice exams covering specific academic subjects like Math, Biology, and U.S. History. The College Board discontinued them in 2021, and AP exams are now the primary way to demonstrate subject-specific mastery.

SPED Homeschool is a nonprofit organization offering free resources, training, and support communities for families homeschooling children with learning differences, developmental disabilities, and other special needs.

SQUILT stands for Super Quiet UnInterrupted Listening Time—a music appreciation curriculum that teaches children to listen actively to classical music, focusing on dynamics, rhythm, instrumentation, and melody through 30-minute weekly lessons.

STEAM education integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics into an interdisciplinary approach that emphasizes creativity alongside technical skills—preparing students for innovation-driven careers.

STEM education integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics into hands-on, problem-solving approaches that prepare students for high-demand careers in fields ranging from software development to healthcare to renewable energy.

A satellite program (also called a Private School Satellite Program or PSP) is an arrangement where homeschooling families enroll in an established private school that handles state paperwork and provides administrative support while parents teach their children at home.

Saxon Math is a comprehensive K-12 mathematics curriculum using an incremental, spiral approach where new concepts are introduced in small steps and continuously reviewed, building long-term retention and mathematical confidence.

Scaffolding is a teaching approach where parents provide structured, temporary support to help children master new concepts, then gradually remove that support as the child develops independence.

Schema theory explains how the brain organizes knowledge into mental frameworks called schemas, which help children process, store, and retrieve information by connecting new learning to what they already know.

Scholaric is a budget-friendly online homeschool planning tool that offers lesson planning, attendance tracking, grading, and transcript generation starting at $3 per month for one student.

A school code is a unique identifier used on college applications and standardized tests. Homeschoolers use code 970000 for SAT/College Board and 969-999 for ACT registration.

School days requirements specify the minimum number of instructional days or hours homeschoolers must provide annually. Requirements vary significantly by state, ranging from no mandate to 180 days or 900+ hours.

A school profile is a 1-2 page document that provides colleges with context about your homeschool's educational philosophy, curriculum, grading system, and graduation requirements.

School readiness refers to a child's overall developmental preparedness across social-emotional, language, cognitive, physical, and general knowledge domains—not just academic skills like counting or letter recognition.

A school voucher is a certificate of government funding that allows parents to use public education dollars to pay private school tuition instead of enrolling their child in public school.

School-at-home is a structured homeschooling approach that closely replicates traditional classroom education at home, using packaged curricula, fixed schedules, textbooks, tests, and formal grading.

SchoolMint is a cloud-based enrollment management platform used by public and charter schools to handle applications, lotteries, and registration—not a homeschool tool or ESA vendor.

SchoolhouseTeachers.com is a Christian online homeschool platform offering 450+ self-paced courses for PreK-12 with a single family membership covering unlimited students.

A science fair is an educational competition where students design experiments, conduct research, and present their findings to judges. Homeschoolers can participate through regional fairs, virtual competitions, and co-op events.

Science Shepherd is a Christian video-based science curriculum created by physician Dr. Scott Hardin, offering rigorous courses from elementary through high school that students can complete independently.

The scientific method is a systematic process for investigating questions through observation, hypothesis, experimentation, and analysis. It teaches children how to think critically and learn about the world through evidence.

A scope and sequence is a curriculum document that outlines what content will be taught (scope) and the order in which it will be taught (sequence). It's your roadmap for the year's learning.

Scratch is a free, visual programming language from MIT where kids ages 8-16 create games, animations, and stories by snapping together colorful code blocks—no typing syntax required.

Seat time refers to measuring educational progress by hours spent in instruction rather than demonstrated mastery. Some states require homeschoolers to document instructional hours, while the broader education system is moving toward competency-based alternatives.

Second breakfast is homeschool community slang for the snack or meal kids eat mid-morning during school—because when you're home, the kitchen is always open and schedules are flexible.

Secular curriculum refers to educational materials that present subjects without religious content or perspective, focusing on evidence-based, academically neutral instruction.

See the Light Art is a Christian video-based art curriculum covering grades 1-12 that teaches drawing, color theory, and art appreciation with biblical integration—now streaming free on YouTube.

Self-Determination Theory (SDT) is a psychology framework explaining that humans are most motivated when three core needs are met: autonomy (choice), competence (mastery), and relatedness (connection).

A self-paced curriculum allows students to progress through coursework at their own speed rather than following a fixed schedule, spending more time on challenging concepts and moving faster through mastered material.

Self-reported courses are academic records that students enter directly into college applications rather than having official transcripts sent. Many colleges use this system for initial admissions review, verifying with official transcripts only after enrollment.

A semester credit is a unit of academic measurement where one full credit represents a year-long course (120-150 hours) and 0.5 credits represents a semester course (60-75 hours), based on the Carnegie Unit standard.

The semester system divides the school year into two primary terms (fall and spring) of approximately 15-18 weeks each, and is the most common academic calendar structure in U.S. education.

Sensitive periods are critical windows during early childhood when children are biologically primed and exceptionally receptive to acquiring specific skills—such as language, order, or movement—with unusual ease and intensity.

Sensorial activities in Montessori education are hands-on exercises using specially designed materials that help children refine their five senses by isolating specific qualities like size, color, texture, or sound.

A sensory diet is a personalized activity plan—developed by occupational therapists—that provides specific sensory input throughout the day to help children with sensory processing challenges stay focused, organized, and regulated.

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a condition where the brain has difficulty receiving, organizing, and responding to sensory information, affecting an estimated 5-16% of children and significantly impacting daily functioning and learning.

Sequential Spelling is a multi-sensory spelling curriculum from AVKO Educational Research Foundation that teaches spelling through word families rather than memorization, originally designed for students with dyslexia but effective for all learners.

Service academy prep refers to the academic, physical, and extracurricular preparation required for admission to one of the five U.S. military service academies, as well as official preparatory schools that help candidates strengthen their applications.

Seton Home Study School is a nationally accredited, Catholic PreK-12 distance education school based in Virginia that provides complete curriculum packages, grading services, academic counseling, and diplomas for homeschooling families.

Seton Testing Services is a nationally recognized testing provider offering standardized achievement tests, aptitude tests, and diagnostic assessments for homeschool families, with parent-administered testing available for most options.

Shiny curriculum syndrome is homeschool community slang for the tendency to constantly want to buy new curriculum materials, even when current materials are working adequately. It's driven by the belief that a better curriculum will solve homeschool challenges.

Shormann Math is a Christian, video-based math curriculum covering pre-algebra through calculus, created by Dr. David Shormann. It uses Saxon's incremental approach with integrated geometry while updating content for current SAT, ACT, and AP exams.

Short lessons are a core Charlotte Mason principle where academic subjects are taught in brief, focused time periods (10-45 minutes depending on age) rather than extended sessions, designed to capture a child's full attention and build concentration habits.

Shurley English is a systematic, teacher-intensive grammar curriculum for grades K-8 that teaches parts of speech and sentence structure through memorized jingles and an interactive "Question and Answer Flow" method.

Sight words are high-frequency words that readers learn to recognize instantly without sounding out. The term typically refers to words from lists like the Dolch Words or Fry Words that appear so commonly in texts that automatic recognition significantly improves reading fluency.

Simply Charlotte Mason (SCM) is a Christian homeschool curriculum provider offering Charlotte Mason-style lesson plans, living books lists, and educational resources designed to make the Charlotte Mason method practical and accessible for busy families.

Singapore Math is a mathematics teaching methodology developed by Singapore's Ministry of Education that emphasizes deep conceptual understanding through the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (CPA) approach, bar modeling for problem-solving, and mastery of fewer concepts at greater depth.

Singapore Math bar models are visual diagrams using rectangular bars to represent quantities in word problems, helping students bridge concrete understanding to abstract math concepts.

A six-week rotation is a year-round homeschool schedule where families conduct school for six consecutive weeks followed by one week off, repeating throughout the year to prevent burnout.

Skill progression is an approach where students advance through increasingly complex competencies based on demonstrated mastery rather than age or grade level.

A skills checklist is an assessment tool listing specific competencies students should demonstrate, allowing parents to track mastery and document progress without traditional letter grades.

Skillshare is an online learning platform offering thousands of creative and professional development courses, commonly used by homeschoolers as an affordable supplement for art, design, and elective subjects.

The Socratic Method is a teaching approach using guided questions rather than direct instruction, helping students discover answers themselves and develop critical thinking skills.

A Socratic Seminar is a structured, student-led discussion format where participants explore a text through open-ended questioning, building understanding collaboratively rather than competitively.

Sofa subjects are homeschool subjects typically done while sitting on the couch, usually involving reading aloud, literature, history through narrative, and other book-based learning.

A soft start is a flexible, low-pressure way to begin the homeschool day, allowing students to ease into learning through choice-driven activities before transitioning to structured academics.

Song School Spanish is an elementary Spanish curriculum from Classical Academic Press that teaches vocabulary through songs, chants, and multisensory activities for grades K-3.

Sonlight is a literature-based Christian homeschool curriculum that uses real books instead of textbooks, integrating history, Bible, and literature into comprehensive, ready-to-teach programs for grades K-12.

Sonlight History is a literature-based curriculum that teaches world and American history through biographies, historical fiction, and living books rather than traditional textbooks, making history an engaging family experience.

Spaced repetition is a learning technique where material is reviewed at gradually increasing intervals, leveraging how memory works to help students retain information long-term with less total study time.

Spanish for Children refers to language learning programs designed specifically for young learners, ranging from immersion-based approaches for preschoolers to structured grammar curricula for elementary and middle school students.

Special needs homeschooling provides customized, one-on-one education tailored to children with learning differences, developmental delays, or disabilities, offering flexibility that traditional school settings often cannot match.

Special needs scholarships are state-funded programs providing families of children with disabilities financial assistance for educational expenses including private school tuition, homeschool curriculum, therapy services, and specialized learning support.

Speech therapy is professional treatment for communication problems and speech disorders provided by speech-language pathologists, helping children with articulation, language development, and social communication challenges.

Speech-to-text (STT) is technology that converts spoken words into written text, allowing students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, or motor difficulties to write by speaking rather than typing or handwriting.

Spelling Power is a comprehensive, multi-level spelling curriculum that teaches students to master the 5,000 most frequently used English words through systematic, multi-sensory instruction in just 15 minutes per day.

Spelling rules are patterns and principles that guide how English words are written, providing a systematic framework for understanding letter-sound relationships rather than relying purely on memorization.

Spelling You See is a developmental spelling curriculum from Demme Learning that uses copywork, dictation, and color-coded pattern recognition rather than traditional spelling lists and tests.

A spiral curriculum revisits topics repeatedly throughout a child's education, introducing concepts at increasing levels of complexity each time rather than teaching to mastery before moving on.

Spiral learning is an educational theory where students revisit topics multiple times throughout their education, with each encounter adding complexity and depth to build lasting understanding.

"Spreading the Feast" is a Charlotte Mason metaphor for providing children with a rich, generous, and varied curriculum of living books and ideas across many subjects - feeding the mind as nutritious food feeds the body.

"Squirrel school" is homeschool slang for moments when planned lessons get derailed by distractions or tangents, referencing the easily-distracted dog from Pixar's "Up" who interrupts himself yelling "Squirrel!"

Standardized test requirements are state-mandated assessments that some states require homeschooled students to complete, typically using nationally-normed tests like the Iowa Assessments, Stanford 10, or CAT to demonstrate academic progress.

Standardized testing for homeschoolers involves nationally-normed assessments like the Iowa Assessments, Stanford 10, or CAT that measure academic progress compared to students across the country in core subjects.

The Stanford Achievement Test Series, Tenth Edition (Stanford 10 or SAT10) is a nationally-normed, untimed achievement test published by Pearson that measures K-12 academic progress in reading, math, language, and other subjects.

A stanine score is a standardized testing scale from 1-9 that groups student performance into nine categories, with 4-6 considered average. The term combines "standard" and "nine."

A state homeschool organization is a nonprofit membership group that provides legal information, advocacy, conventions, and community support for homeschooling families within a specific state.

Step Up for Students is Florida's largest nonprofit scholarship funding organization, administering education choice scholarships including the Personalized Education Program (PEP) that provides homeschool families approximately $8,000 annually for curriculum, tutoring, and educational services.

Story of the World is a four-volume world history curriculum by Susan Wise Bauer that presents history chronologically as an engaging narrative, designed primarily for elementary students with accompanying activity books, audiobooks, and hands-on projects.

Strewing is the practice of intentionally placing interesting items, books, or materials in a child's environment for them to discover on their own, without pressure or expectation, allowing natural curiosity to drive learning.

Structured homeschooling is a formal approach that follows organized curriculum with set schedules, clear learning objectives, and regular assessments, similar to a traditional school environment but personalized for the individual child.

Structured Literacy is an evidence-based approach to reading instruction that explicitly and systematically teaches the structure of language, including phonology, sound-symbol relationships, syllables, morphology, syntax, and semantics.

A student addition notification is a compliance document that homeschool families submit to notify their school district when adding a new student to an existing homeschool, such as when a younger sibling reaches compulsory age or a child is withdrawn from public school mid-year.

Study.com is an online learning platform offering video-based courses for grades 3 through college level, with over 88,000 lessons and the ability to earn transferable college credit through ACE-recommended courses at a fraction of traditional university costs.

Subject acceleration allows students to advance in specific academic areas where they demonstrate exceptional ability while remaining with same-age peers for other subjects, such as a fourth grader taking fifth-grade math but staying in grade-level language arts.

A subtest score is an individual score earned on a specific section of a standardized achievement test, such as reading vocabulary, math computation, or spelling, that measures performance in a particular skill area before being combined into composite scores.

Summative assessment is any evaluation performed at the end of a unit, course, or academic period that measures a student's mastery of learning objectives, including standardized tests, portfolio reviews, final projects, and end-of-year evaluations.

Summer slide refers to the academic skill loss students experience during extended summer breaks, with research showing children lose an average of one month of learning—particularly in math—when school is out of session.

Supervised instruction is a homeschool compliance model where parents provide education under the oversight of a qualified professional or institution, who monitors progress and evaluates academic achievement.

Switched-On Schoolhouse (SOS) was a computer-based Christian homeschool curriculum from Alpha Omega Publications covering grades 3-12, featuring automated grading and multimedia lessons. The program has been discontinued, with Monarch Online now serving as its successor.

Sylvan Learning is a national tutoring franchise offering personalized K-12 instruction in reading, math, writing, and test prep, with dedicated homeschool support programs recognized by the National Homeschool Association.

Synchronous learning is real-time education where instructors and students interact live, whether through video calls, online classes, or in-person co-ops—as opposed to asynchronous learning where students access pre-recorded content on their own schedule.

Table time refers to the dedicated block in a homeschool routine where children complete focused academic work at a table or desk, typically following morning time and lasting one to two hours.

Talent search programs are academic identification and enrichment initiatives that use above-grade-level testing to discover intellectually gifted students and connect them with advanced educational opportunities not typically available in regular school settings.

Tapestry of Grace is a classical Christian homeschool curriculum from Lampstand Press that uses a four-year historical cycle to integrate history, literature, writing, Bible, and fine arts for the whole family, kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Tax credit scholarships are school choice programs where individuals or businesses receive tax credits for donating to scholarship organizations, which then award funds to eligible students for educational expenses including private school tuition and sometimes homeschool costs.

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons is a scripted phonics program using Direct Instruction methodology that guides parents through teaching reading to children ages 4-6 in approximately 20 minutes per day over 100 sequential lessons.

A teacher-intensive curriculum requires significant direct involvement from the parent-teacher during lessons, with one-on-one instruction for each child rather than self-paced independent work.

No state requires parents to hold a professional teaching certificate to homeschool their children. While 14 states require some parental qualifications, these are typically a high school diploma or GED—not teaching credentials.

A teaching rotation is a system used in homeschool co-ops where parents take turns teaching classes or subjects to groups of students on a scheduled basis, distributing the teaching responsibility among multiple families.

Teaching Textbooks is an award-winning, self-paced math curriculum for grades 3-12 that uses video instruction and automated grading, requiring minimal parental involvement while preparing students for college-level mathematics.

Teaching to the test is an educational practice where instruction focuses primarily on preparing students for standardized tests rather than fostering genuine understanding, often resulting in narrow curriculum and shallow learning.

A term schedule organizes the homeschool year into distinct periods (typically 6-12 weeks) focused on specific subjects or activities, with planned breaks between terms for rest and flexibility.

The TerraNova is a nationally standardized achievement test for grades K-12 published by Data Recognition Corporation, measuring skills in reading, language arts, math, science, and social studies. Parents can administer TerraNova 2 at home without a bachelor's degree.

A test administrator is the person responsible for administering standardized achievement tests to homeschool students. Requirements vary by test: some allow any parent to administer, while others require a bachelor's degree or certified professional.

Test score submission is a compliance requirement in certain states where homeschooling families must administer standardized tests and report results to state or local education authorities, typically requiring scores above the 15th-33rd percentile.

A testing window is the specific period during which a homeschool student can complete required standardized testing. Windows vary by state—some mandate testing within a rolling 12-month period, while others specify particular months or grade-level deadlines.

Text-to-Speech (TTS) is assistive technology that converts written text into spoken audio, helping students with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning differences access curriculum materials independently.

Textbook curriculum is a structured homeschool approach using traditional printed textbooks, workbooks, and teacher guides organized by subject and grade level, providing a familiar classroom-style education at home.

The Good and the Beautiful (TGTB) is a faith-based homeschool curriculum emphasizing family, nature, and character, known for its beautiful design, integrated language arts program, and remarkably affordable pricing with many courses available as free PDF downloads.

The Gospel Project is a chronological Bible study curriculum from Lifeway that takes families through the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation over three years, showing how every story points to Jesus Christ.

The Great Courses (formerly The Great Courses Plus) offers university-level video lectures by expert professors across hundreds of subjects, making it a popular supplement or curriculum replacement for homeschool high schoolers.

The Reading Lesson is a 20-lesson phonics program by Michael Levin, MD, and Charan Langton designed to teach children ages 3-8 to read at a second-grade level through short daily lessons using a simplified phonetic approach.

"The S Word" is homeschool community slang for socialization—the question every homeschooling family hears repeatedly: "But what about socialization?" The term reflects both the frustration and humor with which experienced homeschoolers regard this ubiquitous concern.

The Science of Reading is a body of research spanning five decades that identifies how the brain learns to read, emphasizing systematic phonics instruction, phonemic awareness, and structured literacy approaches proven effective for all learners.

The Science of Relations is Charlotte Mason's core educational philosophy asserting that education is fundamentally about helping children form meaningful, personal connections with knowledge, nature, people, and ideas—rather than simply transferring information.

The Socialization Question is the concern most frequently raised about homeschooling: "But what about socialization?" Research generally shows homeschooled children develop strong social skills through co-ops, sports, clubs, and community involvement.

TheHomeSchoolMom is a comprehensive homeschool resource website founded in 2001, offering free state-by-state law guides, curriculum reviews, local co-op directories, and getting-started resources for homeschool families.

Thomas Jefferson Education (TJEd) is a homeschool philosophy developed by Oliver DeMille that emphasizes classics-based learning, mentorship, and developmental phases to raise leaders who think independently rather than follow prescribed curricula.

The Three-Period Lesson is a Montessori teaching technique that introduces vocabulary and concepts through three sequential stages: naming ("This is..."), recognition ("Show me..."), and recall ("What is this?").

Thurber's Educational Assessments was a North Carolina-based testing service that provided CAT and TerraNova standardized tests to homeschool families for over 20 years. The company has closed operations.

Timberdoodle is a family-owned curriculum company that curates award-winning educational materials from hundreds of publishers into grade-level kits, emphasizing STEAM subjects, hands-on learning, and critical thinking skills.

Time4Learning is a subscription-based online homeschool curriculum covering PreK through 12th grade, featuring interactive animated lessons, automated grading, and flexible month-to-month pricing without contracts.

A timeline in homeschool history education is a visual tool displaying historical events, people, and periods in chronological order, helping students see connections across time that they might miss studying topics in isolation.

Torchlight is a literature-based, secular homeschool curriculum for learners ages 4-13+ that emphasizes inclusivity, critical thinking, and diverse perspectives through living books and hands-on activities.

Tot School is a play-based early learning approach for toddlers (typically ages 2-4) that focuses on hands-on activities, sensory exploration, and fostering a love of learning through intentional play rather than formal academics.

A trade school (also called vocational school or technical school) is a postsecondary institution that trains students for specific skilled trades in 8 weeks to 2 years, offering a faster, more affordable path to employment than traditional four-year colleges.

Traditional homeschooling recreates a school-like environment at home using structured curricula, textbooks, scheduled class times, and formal assessments like tests and quizzes to track student progress.

Trail Guide to Learning is a complete K-8 homeschool curriculum published by GeoMatters that integrates history, geography, science, and language arts through literature-based, multi-age lessons designed for family learning.

Transcript hours are the documented instructional time a homeschool student spends on a subject, used to calculate academic credits. One credit typically equals 120-180 hours of instruction based on the Carnegie unit standard.

A transcript maker is software, an online tool, or a template that helps homeschool parents create professional academic transcripts showing courses completed, credits earned, grades, and GPA calculations for college applications and official records.

Transcript notarization is the process of having a notary public witness and certify a parent-educator's signature on a homeschool transcript. Most colleges do not require notarization, though some military recruiters and specific institutions may request it.

Transfer of learning is the ability to apply knowledge, skills, or strategies learned in one context to new or different situations. It's the core goal of education: using what you've learned beyond the original learning setting.

The trimester system divides the academic year into three terms of approximately 12-13 weeks each, offering a middle ground between the traditional two-semester system and the faster-paced quarter system.

The Trivium is the foundational framework of classical education consisting of three interconnected stages: Grammar (knowledge acquisition), Logic (critical thinking), and Rhetoric (eloquent expression), aligned to child development stages.

Truancy is the intentional, unauthorized absence from compulsory education. Homeschoolers who comply with their state's legal requirements are not truant, but improper documentation or failure to file required paperwork can trigger truancy allegations.

TruthQuest History is a literature-based homeschool history curriculum that provides study guides with Christian worldview commentary and extensive living book recommendations, allowing families to build their own reading-rich history program.

A tuition tax credit directly reduces your tax bill dollar-for-dollar based on qualified education expenses, making it significantly more valuable than a tax deduction which only lowers your taxable income.

A tuition tax deduction reduces your taxable income by the amount of qualified education expenses, lowering your overall tax liability indirectly. It's less valuable than a tax credit but still provides meaningful savings in states that offer it.

Tutor.com is an on-demand online tutoring platform offering 24/7 access to over 3,000 vetted tutors across 250+ subjects, from elementary math to AP courses, with sessions averaging $40 per hour.

A homeschool tutorial is a fee-for-service program where students receive instruction from hired tutors or professional educators in specific subjects, allowing parents to step back from direct teaching while maintaining their homeschool status.

Twaddle is Charlotte Mason's term for dumbed-down, trivial reading material that talks down to children and underestimates their intelligence - essentially junk food for the mind that fails to nourish intellectual growth.

Twice-exceptional (2e) describes children who are both intellectually gifted and have a learning disability or developmental challenge, such as giftedness combined with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or other differences.

A Type A homeschooler is a parent whose driven, organized, achievement-oriented personality shapes their homeschooling approach, typically gravitating toward structured curricula, detailed schedules, and measurable progress.

Typing.com is a free web-based typing curriculum offering K-12 keyboarding lessons, digital citizenship instruction, and coding basics, with a premium ad-free version available for $7.99 per student per year.

TypingClub is a free web-based typing curriculum by EdClub featuring 700+ lessons, gamified learning with badges and achievements, and specialized courses from Jungle Junior for young learners to grade-level programs aligned with educational standards.

An umbrella school (also called a cover school) is a private school entity that provides administrative oversight for homeschooling families, allowing students to be classified as private school students while being educated at home.

The unit study method is an interdisciplinary approach to homeschooling where learning is organized around a central theme or topic, integrating subjects like history, science, geography, and art rather than teaching them in isolation.

A university-model school (UMS) is a hybrid educational approach where students attend classes on campus 2-3 days per week with professional teachers, then complete the remaining schoolwork at home under parental supervision in what's called the satellite classroom.

An unofficial transcript is a copy of a student's academic record containing courses, grades, and GPA that lacks official authentication such as an institutional seal or registrar signature. For homeschoolers, any transcript the student handles becomes unofficial; official transcripts go directly from the parent-administrator to the institution.

Unschooler lite (or relaxed homeschooling) describes an approach that embraces many unschooling principles like flexibility and interest-led learning while maintaining some parent-directed structure, particularly for subjects like math and reading.

Unschooling is a child-led approach to education where learning happens through natural curiosity, real-life experiences, and pursuing interests rather than through formal curriculum, lesson plans, or structured instruction.

An unweighted GPA is calculated on a standard 4.0 scale where all courses count equally regardless of difficulty - an A in regular English and an A in AP Physics both earn 4.0 points. The maximum unweighted GPA is 4.0.

Utah Fits All is Utah's universal Education Savings Account (ESA) program providing scholarships of $4,000-$8,000 annually to K-12 students for private school tuition, homeschool curriculum, tutoring, educational technology, and approved educational services.

Varsity Tutors is an online tutoring marketplace offering 1-on-1 instruction in 3,000+ subjects through 40,000+ vetted tutors, with options including scheduled sessions, 24/7 instant tutoring, and specialized homeschool support through their School@Home program.

A vendor hall (or exhibit hall) is the marketplace area at homeschool conventions where curriculum publishers, educational services, and homeschool-related companies display and sell their products to families, typically offering convention-exclusive discounts.

Veritas Press is a classical Christian curriculum publisher offering K-12 educational materials, self-paced online courses, and live accredited classes through Veritas Scholars Academy, all built around the classical Trivium model of grammar, logic, and rhetoric stages.

Vertical alignment is the process of linking learning goals and skills across grade levels so that each year's content builds on what came before and prepares students for what comes next.

Video-based curriculum delivers instruction through pre-recorded or live video lessons taught by professional educators, allowing students to learn from qualified teachers at home while parents supervise rather than directly teach.

VideoText Algebra is a video-based homeschool math curriculum that combines Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, and Algebra 2 into one comprehensive mastery-based course with 176 short video lessons emphasizing the 'why' behind every mathematical concept.

A virtual classroom is a live, online learning environment where students and teachers interact in real-time through video conferencing, enabling immediate feedback and peer discussion—unlike self-paced online courses where students work independently through pre-recorded content.

A virtual field trip is an online, guided exploration of museums, zoos, historical sites, or natural wonders that allows students to visit locations worldwide from home—no permission slips, transportation costs, or fundraising required.

A virtual public school (VPS) is a tuition-free, publicly funded K-12 school delivering all instruction online—but unlike homeschooling, students are legally enrolled in public school with state-certified teachers, state-mandated curriculum, and required standardized testing.

Visual Processing Disorder (VPD) is a neurological condition affecting how the brain interprets visual information—not a problem with eyesight itself. A child with VPD may have 20/20 vision yet struggle with reading, writing, and visual learning tasks.

Vocational track (now commonly called Career and Technical Education or CTE) refers to educational programs preparing students for specific careers through practical, hands-on training—offering homeschoolers pathways to skilled trades, healthcare, technology, and other fields without requiring a traditional four-year degree.

Volunteer hours are documented community service activities that benefit others without payment—important for homeschoolers because they strengthen college applications, fulfill scholarship requirements like Florida Bright Futures, and demonstrate engagement beyond academics.

The WRAT (Wide Range Achievement Test) is a quick, individually-administered achievement test measuring reading, spelling, and math skills for ages 5-85+—popular with homeschoolers for annual assessment and learning disability screening because it takes only 30-45 minutes to complete.

Waldorf education is a holistic teaching philosophy founded by Rudolf Steiner that develops the whole child through arts, imagination, and hands-on learning across three developmental stages.

A weighted GPA factors in course difficulty by adding extra points for honors, AP, or dual enrollment classes, allowing GPAs to exceed the standard 4.0 scale.

The West Virginia Hope Scholarship is an Education Savings Account (ESA) providing around $5,200 annually for approved educational expenses, becoming universally available to all WV students in 2026.

Wet-on-wet painting is a Waldorf watercolor technique where paint is applied to pre-soaked paper, allowing colors to flow and blend organically while developing creativity and sensory awareness.

The What We Believe Series is a four-volume Christian worldview curriculum from Apologia designed for grades K-8, building biblical foundations through engaging stories and discussion-based learning.

Whole language is a reading instruction approach that emphasizes learning through meaningful literature and context clues rather than systematic phonics instruction, though research now favors explicit phonics methods.

Wide margin refers to notebooks with extra blank space for annotations, used in Charlotte Mason education for nature journals, commonplace books, and encouraging active engagement with reading material.

Wild + Free is a homeschool community and philosophy founded by Ainsley Arment emphasizing nature, literature, play, curiosity, and wonder while maintaining intentional academic structure.

The Wilson Reading System is a structured, multisensory reading program based on Orton-Gillingham principles, designed to help struggling readers and students with dyslexia through systematic phonics instruction.

Winter Promise is a Charlotte Mason-inspired, literature-based homeschool curriculum using themed, multi-age programs that integrate history, language arts, science, and character development through quality literature.

The Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP) is a statewide voucher program that provides families up to $13,371 annually to send their children to participating private schools instead of public schools.

A withdrawal notice is a formal letter notifying your child's current school that you are removing them from enrollment to begin homeschooling, preventing truancy concerns and officially ending their enrollment.

The Woodcock-Johnson (WJ) is an individually administered assessment that measures cognitive abilities, academic achievement, and oral language skills, widely used by homeschoolers for detailed academic evaluation and learning disability identification.

Word problems are mathematical exercises presented as text-based scenarios requiring students to translate real-world situations into mathematical operations and solve them.

A Montessori work cycle is an extended, uninterrupted block of time (typically 2-3 hours) during which children freely choose and engage in learning activities, developing deep concentration and independence.

Work samples are examples of student work—essays, tests, projects, and worksheets—collected to document educational progress, often required as part of homeschool portfolios for state compliance.

Workbook curriculum is a homeschool approach using consumable workbooks as primary educational materials, where students complete exercises, answer questions, and practice skills directly in pre-structured, page-by-page lessons.

The Workbox System is a homeschool organization method using numbered containers to divide daily schoolwork into individual tasks, helping children work independently through their assignments while tracking progress visually.

Working memory is the cognitive system that temporarily holds and manipulates information needed for learning tasks like reading comprehension, math calculations, and following multi-step directions.

World history is the study of human civilization from ancient times to the present, typically covering ancient civilizations, medieval periods, early modern eras, and contemporary global events across cultures and continents.

Worldschooling is an educational approach that uses travel and real-world cultural experiences as the primary learning environment, turning the entire world into a classroom rather than confining education to a traditional setting.

Write Source is a comprehensive K-12 writing and language arts curriculum that uses the Six Traits of Writing framework and a step-by-step process approach to develop students' composition skills from kindergarten through high school.

WriteShop is an award-winning homeschool writing curriculum using an incremental, step-by-step approach that breaks writing into manageable chunks and systematically builds skills from kindergarten through high school.

The writing process is a series of five stages—prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing—that writers use to develop ideas into polished compositions, making writing more manageable by breaking it into distinct, teachable steps.

Writing with Ease (WWE) is a classical elementary writing curriculum by Susan Wise Bauer that builds foundational skills through narration, copywork, and dictation before requiring students to compose original writing.

Writing with Skill (WWS) is a middle school writing curriculum by Susan Wise Bauer that teaches expository, analytical, and research writing through classical methods, preparing students for high school rhetoric and composition.

Wyzant is America's largest online tutoring marketplace, connecting students with over 80,000 independent tutors across 300+ subjects through a pay-as-you-go model that lets families choose their own instructors.

A year-end wrap is the intentional process of closing out the homeschool year—completing curriculum, organizing records, evaluating student progress, and preparing documentation that may be required by your state.

Year-round homeschooling distributes school days across the entire calendar year with frequent shorter breaks, rather than following the traditional nine-month schedule with a long summer vacation.

The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) is the gap between what a learner can do independently and what they can achieve with guidance—the sweet spot where meaningful learning happens through appropriate support and challenge.