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Bridgeway in the News

by Jessica Parnell | Aug 15, 2014 | 3 min read

With public schools in Philadelphia struggling to find money to open their doors this September, and parents across the nation raising questions about new Common Core standards, the spotlight on homeschooling education has never been greater.

As a result, national and local media outlets have been chomping at the bit to learn about homeschooling, and our own Jessica Parnell and Kimberly Kulp have been more than happy to oblige. Here’s a wrap-up of some of that media coverage from this very busy summer.

Put the brakes on road trip boredom with busy boxes

Family vacations are great, headaches are not. What can start off as a fun car ride to kick off a vacation can quickly turn into a rolling torture chamber once your little one’s get bored and cranky. To combat car-induced boredom, Kimberly Kulp created what she calls “Busy Boxes” to keep her kids entertained – and more importantly, learning – during any car ride or long-distance trip. Recently, she shared some of her expertise about how to build a busy box with SheKnows.com.

Are Video Games Helpful or Harmful to Our Kids?

Using video games and the web in the classroom? Not as far-fetched as you might think. It’s becoming the norm in many public schools: programs like Study Island, First In Math, Starfall, and RazKids are providing new classroom learning methods as well as a system for recording benchmarks and percentiles. However, many parents are still cautious of adopting these new approaches because they still see it as negatively affecting a child’s cognitive abilities. Jessica Parnell broke down the pros and cons for Sonoma Christian Home.

When Students are Athletes: Balancing the Equation

The daily life of a student athlete usually means early mornings and late nights. With that type of demand, how can parents and students keep up with a homeschool education? Actually, most homeschool families with student athletes find it easier than traditional education due to the flexibility that homeschooling provides. In a guest article on Crosswalk.com, Jessica shared the story of Raquel Padraza, student athlete and Bridgeway homeschooler, who describes her experience with Bridgeway as “awesome!”

College Admissions: 6 Must-Do Tips for Success

College applications are scary for both students and parents alike, but are immeasurably important for your child getting into the college of their dreams. For homeschoolers, it’s their opportunity to stand out and get noticed by admissions officials, so be sure to showcase your talents! Jessica talked with Sonoma Christian Home and gave six must-do tips for making a confident, successfully, and fully rounded application that will gain the attention of admissions.

Common Core, Testing, and Your Rights

It’s only natural to be concerned about homeschooling rights in the face of a major education change that leaves much of the power in the hands of the government with little parental involvement. Homeschool families aren’t mandated to follow Common Core standards, however they will soon face the reality that exams like the ACT and SAT will be aligned with Common Core. Our own Kimberly Kulp spoke with Crosswalk about exactly what homeschool families can do to prepare.

Dual Enrollment, Scholarships and Creative Ways to Cut Your College Tuition Bill

With the cost of college increasing yearly and showing no signs of abating, parents are desperate for ways to save money while ensuring their child receives a quality education. Many of them have turned to dual enrollment, where high school age students take college courses to earn credits before starting their freshman year. Jessica talked to Knowledge @ Wharton High School about how her daughter Abby saved $5,000 a year on college through dual enrollment.

Schools that Rock

Many parents don’t consider the option to homeschool because they think they’ll never be able to personally provide their child with the best possible education. That might have been true in homeschooling’s infancy, but it’s far from the truth today. With online resources, interactive learning apps, and resources from other homeschooling families, parents are free to create a curriculum that will inspire and excite your child’s individual interests. Jessica spoke with Natural Awakenings Magazine about how going the homeschooling route can help create a lifelong learner.

6 Telling Signs Your Child Has a Bad Teacher

With back-to-school season in full swing, parents everywhere are prepping their children for new subjects, lessons, and most importantly, a new classroom. However, no amount of preparation can prepare you for a teacher that just doesn’t resonate well with your child. It can be very detrimental to a child’s social, emotional, and academic growth. In fact, many families who homeschool started because a bad educational experience forced them to take back control of their child’s education. Kimberly spoke with The Stir to give parents some handy advice on identifying if your child has a bad teacher.

That’s all for now, but be sure to keep your eyes peeled for more Bridgeway in the News!

Jessica Parnell
Hello everyone! I’m Jessica Parnell — mom, homeschool evaluator, teacher, and CEO of Bridgeway Academy. In my 20+ years of experience as a homeschool mom and evaluator, I have had the privilege of meeting homeschoolers that take a variety of approaches to their education. It is their many stories and successes that inspire me in my own homeschooling and I love to pass on the knowledge that I have gained from them to other homeschooling families. The one constant that always remains true is that there’s no such thing as a “cookie cutter child.” Each child is fearfully and wonderfully made and as a result, learns and functions differently. It’s our job to ensure that we’re raising each child to fulfill their individual purpose and when we can teach in a way that inspires them, we are on our way to homeschool success. When I’m not writing or teaching my children, I like to ski, write and participate in triathlons. I graduated from Kutztown University with a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Masters in English and I am currently pursuing a degree in Neuroleadership.
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