Interview with Memphis Homeschool Internet Support (MHIS)
By Jennifer Hanks, April, 2003
E-Mail: mhisgroup-owner@yahoogroups.com
Web Site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mhisgroup
Description: MHIS is a Christian Internet Support group open to any homeschool family in the Memphis/Shelby County area. Our goal is to provide opportunities for prayer, encouragement, assistance and fellowship through various vehicles that members suggest. Have a prayer request - post it! A field trip or service project idea - email, see who's interested, organize and do it! Need help with a subject? Ask the group! Sell that curriculum you're done with. This group is designed as an alternative/addition to the monthly support group meeting - make it all it can be as long as it's Christian and Homeschool!
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Interview Questions:
1. David, please tell us about your homeschooling background:
Our journey into the homeschool movement began in 1988 when my younger brother, Tyler, encountered difficulty in 4th grade. Like many children, he was slapped with the label "learning disabled" and segregated to "special needs" classes. After three years of failed formulas and mounting frustrations, he became suicidal. As a last and desperate attempt, our parents decided, against the counselor's advice, to try home education. Immediately, things changed for the better. "He stood up," Mom would tell people. And it was so wonderful to see our family pulling together. Still, I was the biggest skeptic back then. But when I saw how successful my brother was and how much fun he was having, I thought, I want to have fun learning! In short, I was so sold on how home schooling was helping families that I went to college to get degrees in Bible and Family Studies so I could study this movement more. I was blessed to be able to do my master's thesis on families, with a large part of research on homeschooling in America. I immersed myself in home school books (especially all of Gatto's books), tapes, research, workshops and more. I felt really called to work in God's homeschooling movement in some capacity some twelve years ago.
When God led me to Gateway to work with wonderful people there I was so very excited! Working at Gateway Christian Schools was such an all around educational experience. I learned the ropes of office administration, computer programming, solid home education philosophy, legal matters, customer relations, and a wide variety of other things. And even more, I really began to understand how a strong appetite for learning in the whole family leads to success. I've written a small online book entitled "A Heart for Learning" about all I've learned in the last few years. Now, doing what Gateway does, but online, is a vision come true. God has just really swung the doors open for us. We just praise Him everyday for using us in this.
2. Why did you decide to begin HomeLife Academy? April and I had talked about the possibility of started a Church-related school in the future. We just didn't think it would happen this soon. But it was so obvious God wanted us to start HLA. We've both taught and tutored for years, as well as worked side by side in the homeschool office at Gateway. I used to joke with everyone in the Gateway office about my "dream school:" You'd walk into the office and say, "Computer, please pull up the Nathan Lee Parkerson file and fax a Driver's Liscence form to the family," and it would do it. Well, offering this online version of a CRS is just short of that reality. God seems to have blessed me with the gift of administration. And he's delivered several families with years of practical experience to us to make available to you as counselors. So, when Dan Johnson (our wonderful web developer-that's a mouth full!) offered to build the HomeLife Academy web site, we knew it was God's timing. We're so excited to be using 21st century technology to bless homeschoolers and God's home schooling movement. (Also, see OUR FUTURE VISION at the bottom of the About Us page.)
3. What services does HomeLife Academy offer? What are the similarities and differences in HomeLife Academy compared to other area Church-related schools?
First, with HomeLifeAcademy, it's easy to register online, keeping your information safe and confidential with a secure socket layer (SSL). You can view and edit your personal and student information at any time. Also, using HomeSchoolReportingOnline, grade reporting has never been so painless. Just log in when you are ready and report the grades for your student(s). Grade point averages (GPA) and total days of attendance are calculated for you instantly. You can also make changes when needed, order official transcripts, and build a portfolio of activities and notes that can help your student get into college or just become a journal of memories for future reference.
Second, when you register online, you will receive confirmation of enrollment within 24 hours in the form of a letter that you can print out and keep for your records. If needed, a record request will immediately be mailed or faxed to the previous school, officially withdrawing your child from that school. Start teaching your son or daughter at home today!
Third, our growing high school staff is experienced and helpful. You can start planning today by studying the pages below and downloading planning sheets. If you enroll a student in eighth grade or higher you will be assigned a Personal Guidance Counselor (PGC) that will follow you all the way to graduation, helping you with
* Course selections
* Credit requirements
* Grading / Transcripts
* ACT / SAT preparation
* Portfolios
* Graduation details and
* College placement (if desired)
http://homelifeacademy.com/high_school.php
I really haven't found another CRS in TN that has the online capabilities we do. Our goal is to provide you with the maximum amount of freedom in homeschooling and the greatest level of ease in record keeping. God has brought such a wonderful and talented staff together to do just that!
4. What does HomeLife Academy require of its homeschool members? Are there curriculum or testing requirements? We ask that (1) every family agree to a code of ethics; (2) At least one parent must have a high school diploma / GED to teach high school; (3) A list of the titles and/or publishers YOU have chosen; (4) Previous school's name and address (if transferring from another school); and (5) a Suggested Offering: $50 for 1st child, $20 for each additional, $100 max. Includes instant, online grade reporting (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Cash, Check, or Money Order accepted).
As far as curriculum, the first step, before registration, is to choose your books. Although the large number of curriculum choices may seem a little overwhelming at first, we prefer not to dictate your curriculum. It is our opinion that education is best when you custom design an educational plan to meet the specific needs of your student(s). When you use a wide variety of books and resources, your home will become a rich environment where learning is natural and fun, not forced. In doing this, most parents spend an average of $200-$300 a year per child (you will be required to list the titles or publishers of the books at the start of registration). You are welcome to use a standardized grade-level curriculum if you wish; but remember, every child and young adult has different learning styles, interests, strengths, and weaknesses. Sometimes a textbook approach, or scope and sequence, may seem easy, but you can run the risk of burning out while trying to force feed the daily assignments. At home you have the luxury of using real books from the library and book stores. Establishing a literature based educational plan, where the student gets to help you choose good books to read, can make learning a life-long interest. You may include field trips and real life learning experiences in your daily education (ie. learn fractions and measurements in the kitchen). Any activity or reading material that has good educational value may be included; the more the better. The goal is to learn in the easiest way possible. To learn more, link to our philosophy of education, A HEART FOR LEARNING, in the Get Started page.
As far as testing goes, HomeLife Academy is a Category IV church-related school, exempt from state accreditation. For Tennessee residents, this means we happy to NOT require testing (see our Laws pages for more details). However, you may order one from Bob Jones University. Home educated students have consistently scored 20-30% higher on standardized tests than their public school counterparts (see ). We recommend reading our "three things to consider before you test" in the FAQ under testing.
5. What are the benefits of being online? How does that work? (1) We check email all day long. When you register, we are sent a notice immediately. We go to your education plan and other information to either approve your family or email you a request for additional information. (2) If approved, we send you a Confirmation of Enrollment with pertinent information, including your username and password. You can use this password to login and change/update your information. (3) We send a record request to the previous school (if needed). Once we receive the records, we enter the subjects and grades in your student's file and send you an email letting you know that "Previous school records have been received and entered. You may view your student's file(s) online by going to the Grade Reporting page and clicking "Open My Student's File." (4) We make a file folder for your student(s), place a copy of the application and the records in the folder and file it. (5) We email you a bi-monthly newsletter with testimonies from successful home educators. (6) We email you a reminder in January and May to enter your student's grades and attendance. And (7) we answer the phones from 8-4 M-F for any questions that you might have.
6. The online grading system sounds wonderful! Can I also get hard copy transcripts or information easily? No problem. You may download an application and a grade form, and mail or fax it that way if you prefer. If you ever have computer problems give us a call and we'll mail the forms to you.
7. How can I reach someone at the Academy if I need assistance? Can I talk to a real person or can we only interact online? You may call the office at 901-380-9220 or email for administration questions. Our counselors are going to also be available with email and their own personal phone line. Call anytime if you need help getting started or advice teaching. HomeLife Academy is staffed with experienced home educators that are ready and willing to help. Also, if you need prayer you can call or, eventually, post your prayer request and email address. Others will pray for you and respond to you when you need it the most. Prayer is at the heart of all that we do. God is at the heart of all that we do.
8. What vision or plans do you have for the future of HomeLife Academy? In addition to the DVD and VHS workshop and documentary videos, the Lord has given us a vision beyond HLA. A couple of things we're praying about for the future is to develop software and a jumpstart kit that will help churches start their own home school programs. The home school movement is growing at a rate of 7-15% per year. We want to make it easy and inexpensive for churches to get started by providing them with a "ready-to-load" web site package, complete with training materials, documents, forms, etc., all for a low price. My brother is a fantastic web and software developer and would head up this endeavor.
And second, I'd like to develop a sister ministry called Families in Christ (
http://www.familiesinchrist.com ) which would focus on marriage enrichment and parenting materials. I completed a masters in Family Studies, which focuses on problem prevention (communication skills, conflict resolution, parenting, etc.) instead of therapy. The goal is to be proactive instead of reactive. The majority of couples are waiting until it's too late to try to learn the skills required to have a successful marriage and family. The marriage and family counseling fields have grown exponentially in recent years as a result of failing marriages. We have a vision for helping families lay solid foundations for marriage, parenting, and home schooling success. The three go hand in hand.
9. How can I get more info and what do I need to register? Just login to
http://www.HomeLifeAcademy.com to read more. Then go to the Registration tab and we'll be glad to serve you with the rest.
Thanks Jennifer!
BEGINNING YEAR #6!!