I’ve added the last three types of reviews I currently have planned. Please let me know if you want more added. Currently we have Book Reviews, Movie/Video/DVD Reviews, Music Reviews, Curriculum Reviews, Product Reviews, Event Reviews, Video Game Reviews, and Website Reviews.

Also let me know if you think different information should be included in each. The data collected for each varies based on what’s being reviewed, but all include the name/title, a rating (1 to 5 stars), review text, and a section for parents only for us to provide guidance to each other on what concerns we should have for our children. I can add fields and change fields as necessary.

All of these are available by selecting Reviews/Ratings under the Tools menu.

Please note that these are only available to those who have upgraded to the family plan, and you may need to allow access by clicking on the names of your family members in the “My Family” widget in your dashboard when you log in.

Curriculum Reviews and Product Reviews have been added to Hschooler.net. They can be found with Music, Book, and Movie/DVD/Video Reviews by selecting “Reviews/Ratings” from the “Tools” menu.

I’ve added Music Reviews to Hschooler.net. They can be found with Book and Movie/DVD/Video Reviews by selecting “Reviews/Ratings” from the “Tools” menu. Let’s hear what you think of the latest music you’ve been listening to!

I’ve added Hschooler.net user reviews for books and movies. I’ll be adding more soon. In the meantime, jump in and start writing reviews of your favorite books, movies, and videos!

Hschooler.net is now open for new registrations. Feel free to sign up. Upgrading to a family account will provide full access to everything in the service. Family upgrades cost $5 per year, but have a 3 month free trial, during which you can cancel your upgrade if you don’t see the value.

Please provide feedback, especially on any problems you encounter, to russ.mcguire@gmail.com.

See you at Hschooler.net!

A USA Today article provides statistics from a recent U.S. Department of Education report on homeschooling.

Some of the key findings:

• “As of spring 2007, an estimated 1.5 million, or 2.9% of all school-age children in the USA, were home-schooled, up from 1.7% in 1999.”
• “36% of parents said their most important reason for home schooling was to provide ‘religious or moral instruction’; 21% cited concerns about school environment.”
• “The ratio of home-schooled boys to girls has shifted significantly. In 1999, it was 49% boys, 51% girls. Now boys account for only 42%; 58% are girls.”
• “In 1999, 63.6% of home-schooling families earned less than $50,000. Now 60.0% earn more than $50,000.”
• “6.8% of college-educated parents home-school, up from 4.9% in 1999.”