WHAT IS “STEP 4”?
STEP 4 is three-five years of secular, religion-friendly curriculum, designed for use by students ages 11-adult, who read well.

Step 4 contains studies in History, Science, Study & Life Skills, Creative Writing, Reading, Spelling, and electives such as Music Theory, Music History, Acting, Animation, Literature Guides, Current Events, and Civics. We do not provide Math.  The focus of Step 4 studies is to develop critical thinking skills, vocabulary, literacy, self-sufficiency and self-expression, while thoroughly educating the student at a much higher than high School level, in each subject.

Additionally. Step 4 History, our most extensive study, covers many important areas of study for emerging adults, all in context with history.  These include politics, religion, economics, geography, art and science.  STEPS is designed to provide a complete education, well into college-level work.

DOES MY STUDENT NEED TO DO STEP 1, 2 OR 3 TO GET A STEPS EDUCATION?
No.  Each Step covers the entirety of each subject offered, but as the student goes up through the Steps, the materials become more detailed, and challenging.  Students start at the Step right for their age and literacy.  They do not need to go back to an earlier level unless they find themselves truly struggling, and for a significant amount of time.

IS STEP 4 FOR HOMESCHOOLING?  OR THE CLASSROOM?
Step 4 is independent study for homeschoolers, but it has been used with success in the classroom.

ARE STEPS 4 COURSES BOOKS?  HOW DO I GET THEM?
STEPS courses come as PDFs, online downloads.  When you purchase courses on our site, they are immediately sent to the email address you give us.

HOW DOES STEP 4 STUDY & LIFE BASICS WORK?
Like all STEPS studies, Step 4 courses are broken into daily lesson plans.  Each lesson plan is made up of small things to be done, in sequence.  The student does each step in the lesson plan, in order.  Sometimes, the course shows students art work, video, or photography – all found in sequence, in the lesson plan.  And in every lesson plan, the student uses what has been taught and does things, there are always activities. 

Over a period of three-five years, the duration of Step 4 studies, students develop improved reading and literacy skills.  Each student moves at their own pace in developing literacy, as in all their studies.  By the end of Step 4, a student should have developed excellent critical thinking skills, a huge vocabulary, a profound ability to communicate, and an exceptional grasp for this age of history, science and related subjects.  Additionally, the student will be facile at self-motivated, unassisted study – a skill that will serve the student well as they step into life.   

At this level, the Student does Information – Right Or Wrong, our best-selling course, and the first Study course for Step 3-4.  This course helps the student understand and spot truth, lies, or opinions when encountered in studies, or in life.   This can be followed by Advanced Information – Right or Wrong, a course we call You Or Them – Control Over Your Life.   This course covers in detail how outside forces such as peer pressure, advertising, and social expectations can influence our behavior – and how this can be avoided.

This is followed in Step 4 by Advanced How To Do Research, which provides powerful, modern ideas and tools that will benefit all the student’s efforts and studies, adding significant understanding and tools to the Step 3 version, and deepening the student’s ability and grasp on research.  There is also our best-selling Step 3-4 Manner’s Course, which helps the student define what good behavior is toward himself, and toward others.  These can be life-defining courses that open the door to success in all the student’s areas of interest!  For students doing all of STEPS, they are the required beginning of their education.

Step 4 Reading & Spelling Programs help accomplish one central objective of in STEPS curriculum– improved literacy.  The Reading Program revolves around the student’s interests, and helps him select the reading he’ll do rather than enforce specific reading.  Step 4 Study & Life Skills Courses are the foundation of a working education.  Included at this level is our Complete Spelling Program.    Spelling is entirely worked around the student’s own work the previous week.  Words he used but misspelled are placed on a list, and this is used to develop his work in spelling, the following week.  In this way (with a bit more detail), the student is learning to spell words he wants to use.

We also provide two courses intended to serve as a bridge from the end of STEPS studies, into life.  STEP 3-4 Artist’s Basics defines the traits common to successful artists (or people who are successful at anything), and helps the student develop those essential qualities.  This course can be done by any student interested in the arts, at the Step 3 or 4 level, but it should be done by anyone wishing to have a career in any of the arts, before graduating.

Step 4 Your Ambitions & Plans helps the graduating student determine and define his own goals, and then assists in the creation of long-term plans to accomplish those goals.  Any graduating student who knows what he wants to do with his life, at least as far as work goes, absolutely should do this course.

These “Basics” courses prepare the student to study successfully, to establish personal goals, and to follow through with real plans.  They are “basic” because without them, education can easily lack workable methods or goals!

HOW WELL DOES STEP 4 “TEACH” THE SUBJECTS”?
Very.  That’s what Step 4 is all about, a detailed education in every offered subject.  Each subject starts with the most basic ideas in that subject – usually a definition of the subject itself.  Info builds on info, and becomes increasingly detailed.  But the unique approach taken in STEPS allows students to understand the most complex information the first time they’re exposed to it.  Step 4 is the longest, most important of STEPS levels.  It is the Step that prepares the student to triumph in life. 

CAN I PURCHASE INDIVIDUAL COURSES TO FILL NEEDS IN MY CHILD’S EDUCATION?
Yes.  Each STEPS course is a free-standing, independent study. 

CAN I PURCHASE A FULL SEMESTER OF STUDIES IN STEP 4 STUDY & LIFE SKILLS ALL AT ONCE, OR A YEAR'S WORTH OF A CERTAIN SUBJECT?
These courses are generally purchased either independently, or in the case of Information – Right Or Wrong, and Advanced How To Do Research, they can be purchased as a part of a bundle, the first semester bundle for Step 4.

HOW QUICKLY COULD I START USING STEPS 4?
Start now.  You can start STEPS at any time of the year, 24/7/365.   Everything you need is pretty much included in the courses you will download, for STEP 3.  (Some courses require films or outside books, which are carefully explained, with links provided detailing where to find them.)

HOW MUCH DO I, THE TEACHER OR PARENT, NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STUDY SKILLS IN ORDER TO USE STEPS?  HOW MUCH DO I NEED TO DO?
You (teacher/tutor/parent) do not need any expertise in subjects your student is studying, using STEPS.   Not as a teacher, or in the subjects being taught.  You do not need a degree, or experience as a teacher.  Each course does the “teaching”.   Just follow the lesson plans, and keep your eyes open for fun opportunities related to whatever the student is studying.   The course does the teaching.

HOW QUICKLY CAN I MOVE MY STUDENT UP STEPS?
A student can move up at any time he has the literacy skills and maturity for the next level.  The student does not need to “complete” a lower level of curriculum to move up.  The student just needs to be able to successfully do the next higher level of curriculum as far as difficulty and literacy.  With STEPS, a student is never “behind” or “ahead” – each student moves at the pace they’re comfortable with, every step in every lesson plan, every course, every level. 

SUCCESS STORIES ABOUT STEP 4 SCIENCE STUDIES!
My kids love this reading program! It's easy to use and fun, too. Thanks so much!  M. T., Homeschool Mom and Professional Educator
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The Reading Program is a great way to organize and encourage your child to read on his/her own. On Advanced How To Do Research, my kids really learned how to find and evaluate source materials for their research projects using this course. I like the author's approach to Spelling - to have your student work on spelling the words they really use. This isn't a vocabulary builder. If that's what you're expecting, look elsewhere. I used this to improve my 14 yr old son's spelling. He went from 4th grade level to 8th grade level in a single year! 

We used Information Right or Wrong and highly recommend it. We are presently using Manners, and will begin the Step 4 American Civics course soon. Everyone should do this one!

The courses teach the way I attempt to: using the children's thoughts and opinions rather than true/false, right/wrong, or "seeking anyone's approval, but their own." I love being able to ask questions directly of the author and his experience with using these programs himself really helps him understand our needs. These products are great.  Recommended   K. B., Homeschool Parent
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As a Home Schooling parent, I think it is critical that my girls know how to get information for themselves. They need to learn 'How to learn' and that is amply covered in this course. "Research" breaks down into manageable chunks of learning, the information that the children need to be able to make astute enquiries of their own.  This information is written at the right level for the age group and was understood by my girls, even though it was perfectly suited to stretch them and make them think. Both Step 3 and Step 4 How to do Research offer the students an understanding of the resources that can be used to "Research" (get more information) and indeed goes further by offering ways and means of utilizing those resources!  Homeschool Mom in Australia, Professional Educator
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Information - Right or Wrong is a course that teaches the students to think for themselves and to evaluate the information as to fact or opinion. This course is complete and constructive - the children are taught to manage and indeed run their own education and to be a proactive participant in their journey.  I am thrilled to be seeing progress with my own girls as they begin to take charge of their work.  I would unhesitantly recommend this course! J. D., Homeschool Mom
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Information, Right or Wrong is a great course. I loved that the kids were learning to discern between Right and Wrong, fact or opinion. They are encouraged to think for themselves. My kids watched news stories during the election coverage and picked what was truth and what was opinion. It was great for them and for me, their mom, too.  S. W., Homeschool Parent
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I am homeschooling my 14 yr-old son & his 16 yr-old friend using STEPS courses, while working full time as a Technical Writer out of my home office. The boys have finished the How To Do STEPS Courses Course, and Information Right or Wrong. They are now working on Manners, 3 Step 4 Advanced How To Do Research Course, and will start the Step 4 Science 1, Pre-History, Creative Writing III, and Animation 1 course in November.

In just a few weeks they have both gone from writing one or two word answers to the STEPS exercises (I'm only doing this because you're making me do it...) to writing whole pages in response to the exercise questions.  I highly recommend this course and this curriculum!  Grateful Homeschool Mom in El Paso, TX
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My daughter is now 12 and after doing Advanced How To Do Research, her ability to do research, to evaluate useful sources and sift through the millions of bits of data available online for factual information has increased dramatically. No longer do I hear her complain, “But I don’t know where to find it!” She knows exactly which resources will be the most help for the specific project. The lessons are clear and to the point, guiding but not leading the student by the hand. In the end, the student will know how to begin their research project and spend more time doing research instead of wondering which source is better. They will already know. I love the way these courses focus on the student being in control of their own work. As a parent, I will not always be there to help her find things. This is one more useful life skill she now has. Thanks for a great product!  by D.M., Homeschool Mom