Monday, May 31, 2010

Starting A Homeschool

By J. E. Burke

You've finally taken the leap and are ready to start homeschooling. The only question is how do you start? Don't be intimidated by the thought of starting a homeschool. You don't need a lot of expensive tools to homeschool, especially if your child is in kindergarten. To get started you will need to do three basic things: organize your home and homeschool, organize a planner for your curriculum and organize a schedule for yourself.

Many parents will find the most important aspect of running a homeschool is organization! There are many books and places on the Internet that will help you find the right forms to plan your schedule. There may be a few bumps in the road until you find a schedule that works for you. Starting a homeschool may seem overwhelming at first but the benefits outweigh the risks.

The number one thing parents seem to have trouble with is organizing the homeschool. You will need a central location to keep all of your school supplies so that you know where they are when you need them. A great way to store these items is a shelf with storage bins or a large cabinet that has four or five shelves. Additionally you will need a file cabinet to keep your child's work so you will be ready when record check time comes.

The rest of the supplies that you will need to keep you organized include a calendar with plenty of room to write, a day planner if you have so many activities that you can't keep track of them and finally a school planner for all of your child's curriculum information and activities. Many of the items you will need are easily found at large retail stores and are inexpensive. The planner for your curriculum is your guidebook to success. If you think you are overwhelmed now, imagine a month from now when you have no idea what you've done or what you should do next.

Running a homeschool requires planning, and plenty of it. Your teaching style may be eclectic but don't be sloppy when it comes to organizing your child's curriculum. As for buying the curriculum, don't buy it until you need it. Packaged curriculums are fine if you think you can't come up with your own ideas or you are new to the homeschooling routine. Many parents find that as they continue the homeschooling program year after year they become more comfortable with creating their own curriculums.

Schedule time for yourself and time for the whole family. Many new homeschooling parents forget to schedule time for other things when they are starting a homeschool. Purchase a planner or download one from the Internet to help you schedule effectively. Include your child's commitments, your family's activities and other simple things like grocery shopping and pampering yourself. Don't let yourself be consumed by homeschooling. Careful planning and organizing is the key to your child's homeschooling success and it will also help you keep your sanity.

To stay abreast of the current trends, information and resources available for homeschool parents, teachers and students subscribe to Homeschool Success News and/or similar publications.

If you need an online tutor, courseware or wish to offer your services as a paid online tutor contact the newsletter referenced above. Magic Learning Systems also provides excellent products to enhance the homeschool experience for teachers and students.

Dr. J. Elisha Burke

Editor, Homeschool Success Newsletter

jeb@homeschooltutorpro.com

[http://hsnews.homeschooltutorpro.com]

Copyright 2005 Burke Publications All Rights Reserved

Dr. J. E. Burke, Editor of Homeschool Success News,a minister and college instructor, has been involved in various educational and business enterprises via Burke Publications for 11 years. Dr. Burke is an educator, writer and motivational speaker on a variety of topics. He is also known for his expertise on nonprofit organizations and grant proposal writing. Contact: jeb@burkepublications.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J._E._Burke

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Homeschooling Information - Your Questions Answered

By Carletta Sanders

Are you looking for homeschooling information? Here are answers to the top 5 questions about homeschooling:

1. What are the benefits to homeschooling?

Homeschooling has many benefits for both the student and the family as a whole. Children who are homeschooled have an opportunity to learn at their own pace in a method that suits their primary learning style. They also avoid many of the negative social interactions that take place in public school, and develop close bonds with parents and siblings.

Homeschooling statistics show that homeschoolers outperform public school students academically. Homeschool students are also more likely to be actively involved in their communities once they graduate from high school.

2. What are the disadvantages of homeschooling?

Parents who homeschool take on primary responsibility for the outcome of their children's education. They lack the free time of parents who send their children to public school, and they also have to purchase their children's homeschool materials in addition to paying school taxes.

Homeschool moms and dads must seek out social opportunities for their children instead of relying on school activities. In some cases, they may also face criticism from friends and family members. However, for most families, the homeschooling pros greatly outweigh the cons.

3. What about socialization?

Homeschoolers are able to avoid much of the peer pressure, teasing and bullying that occur in school, and instead focus on developing positive peer relationships.

Homeschool students can participate in a variety of social activities through homeschool co-ops, homeschooling support groups, community activities, sports teams and other organizations. Many parents begin homeschooling thinking they will have trouble finding social engagements for their children, and end up finding they have too many activities to choose from.

4. Is homeschooling legal?

Parents have the legal right to homeschool in all 50 states. Homeschool laws vary from state to state. For more information about homeschooling laws in your state, visit the Homeschool Legal Defense Association's website.

5. Are parents qualified to teach their children?

Parents are their children's first teachers, and are more than qualified to home educate. Research has shown that the level of homeschooling qualifications has little effect on the a child's academic performance. Many pre-packaged curriculum programs come with teacher's guides and lesson plans that tell a parent how to teach certain concepts. Parents who do not have teaching certificates and college degrees can successfully teach their children.

Here is some additional homeschooling information.

Carletta Sanders is a homeschool mom of 3. For homeschool information and activities delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for her homeschool newsletter.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carletta_Sanders

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Getting the Right Homeschooling Information

By KK Yo

Public schooling has always been the mainstream education for most of the people. However, the concept of homeschooling has been catching up on the public over the last couple of years. If a parent chooses to, he or she can teach his/her kid at home. In fact, with the internet technology readily available now to most home, accessing homeschooling information is much easier than ever before. All you need is a computer and Internet connection to get into the world of homeschooling.

Public education can be truly a great life experience. The children get to learn how to interact with their peers. For me, I attended public school from kindergarten all the way through to senior year. I think I enjoy the process alot.. Sure, you will have some good and as well as some bad experiences. But the overall process was fun. Regardless, more and more these days, parents who wish to homeschool their children will need to be informed properly of the relevant homeschooling information how they can approach it in the right manner.

The key to a successful coaching is tenacity. You have to be discipline enough to stick to a daily regime in order to properly school your child. Useful homeschooling information can be found online and can certainly help you better understand this process before you start. Reading up on these readily available information will help one answer many questions such as "Are you qualified to teach your kid?", or "Are you truly going to challenge your children to the same level a public school would have?".

Some parents will find it much more convenient to homeschool their kid, or the safety of their child. All these reasons are valid. However, you cannot ignore the fact that your child need to interact with their peers as they grow. This allows them to adapt socially and make friends easier as they grow older. Your child's education is a big decision to consider for you as parent. Make sure you make the right and informed choice.

Read about Best HomeSchooling Programs if you intend to homeschool your kids. I have compiled several useful tips on homeschooling. Visit Online Home School to see how you can start educating your children.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=KK_Yo

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Some Basic Homeschool Information

By Mary Joyce

Thinking about going the homeschooling route? I'm not aware of any official homeschooling text book for parents that are out yet. So, here are some basic answers that you may have in the beginning. The reasons for homeschooling are as varied as the number of families now homeschooling. So with the reasons for homeschooling now behind us, let's take a look at some of the benefits of homeschooling as we move forward.

A home school schedule allows for the family to be together a much greater portion of the day and this leads to stronger family relationships and this generally will continue right through the sometimes difficult teen years. Also, when parents spend the entire day around their child they are much more in tune with the child's thoughts and feelings. Behavioral issues can be intercepted and addressed at a much earlier stage. Also, by using your homeschool schedule and your own homeschool lesson plan, you can spend more time in areas that your child needs more work before moving on. This is a definite drawback of the public system.

One area to explore and become familiar with in the pre homeschool stage is your local state laws. In a nutshell, in some states it is very easy to satisfy homeschooling requirements, while in others it is not so easy. Either way, do a little research on this subject because you must be familiar with whatever the home school mandates are for your area.

When it comes to homeschool curriculum many parents generally try to purchase textbooks and materials they need. There are hundreds of resources available to you on the subject of curriculum. One reminder would be not to overlook the idea of finding what you need in the used books and curriculum arena. A quick search of the internet will find you many resources.

And finally, looking down the road a bit.... What about college? A very large number of home schooled have and are attending colleges. Once you get underway or as soon as you feel you may have a direction on a college, simply contact the college and see if they have any specific rules or requirements concerning home schooled children.

I think the biggest reason to homeschool your child of all is that it is a wonderful experience. The immense amount of pride and satisfaction you will receive from this accomplishment is beyond compare.

Mary Joyce is a former educator, successful homeschool parent, and has written many articles on teaching your child at home for the Homeschool-Curriculum-4u website. Please visit http://www.homeschool-curriculum-4u.com for more of Mary's articles, resources on homeschool, ideas, and curriculum information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Joyce

Homeschool Information

By Mary Joyce

Getting Started With Homeschooling. Before jumping into all the decisions surrounding the actual teaching and homeschooling of your child such as: what curriculum, what books, what materials, the home school calendar, organize this, organize that.... Before you do any of that first get familiar with with this bit of homeschool information.....your state's home school laws, rules, and other regulations. Some states are quite easy and others require much more work. The HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) is a great place to start. Legally you do have the right to homeschool your child. Just make certain you comply with the individual state's regulations.

Homeschooling does require a huge time commitment on your part. And that commitment depends on the level of homeschooling you do. The subject that is being taught and even the ages of the children involved. One question that always seems to come up, particularly from outside influences, is whether the parent is

qualified to teach or not. If not the parent, then who? Who better to teach and homeschool the child? No one wants their child to be successful more than a parent. Plus, nobody would argue against a one to one teaching relationship between teacher and pupil and for the vast number of cases this is exactly the teaching environment in the homeschool classroom.

There is no right or wrong curriculum you can choose to homeschool. You have choices of anything from text books to home school computer software packages. The learning tools that you choose can be based on the children's ages or even the subject matter that is being taught. You can get text or software directly through the publisher, or at book fairs, or even flea markets and garage sales. Homeschool learning material is everywhere. And don't forget your public library. It's free!

Although the cost of all the materials you will need and use does require a significant investment, I think, however, that you'll find that homeschooling demands more of your time than it does your pocket book.

Be creative, and use your resources. Homeschool information is plentiful. Get out on the internet a just do some basic searching on homeschooling. You will find more information, ideas and support than you could ever need to use.

Mary Joyce is a former educator, successful homeschool parent, and has written many articles on teaching your child at home for the Homeschool-Curriculum-4u website. Please visit (http://www.homeschool-curriculum-4u.com) for more of Mary's articles, resources on homeschool, ideas, and curriculum information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Joyce

Friday, May 14, 2010

What is Homeschooling

The term 'homeschooling' basically refers to the process in which one or more children of not more than 2 families are instructed by parents or legal guardians, or a member of either household. The laws that define homeschooling vary from State to State. The legal requirements for establishing a homeschool also vary with the State.

For most children, the actual process of learning begins much before school. Many children already know their alphabets, the names of animals, colors and other more complicated stuff before they reach school. This is mostly due to the hard work of a member of the family who has taken the time to teach the child.
Homeschooling is just a natural progression from here. Instead of sending their children to a public school, parents make their own curriculum and teach their children in ways that best suit the child. This is homeschooling, in its most simplistic form.

Before you decide to go in for homeschooling, there are certain important matters for consideration. First off, meet with parents of other homeschoolers. Find out the pros and cons of homeschooling. Then ask yourself why you would want to adopt this method. This is a very important aspect, as the success of the program depends on the clarity and sincerity of your purpose.

Next, it is time to consider the expenses of homeschooling. It may cost anywhere between a few hundred dollars to a few thousand every year. More importantly, you are also effectively shutting out any job opportunity for one of the parents. It is only obvious that one parent will have to stay at home full time to manage the homeschool. A home-based business however is a great alternative.

Are you qualified to take on homeschooling for your children? Teaching is a continuation of your own learning process. With the advent of the internet, information is aplenty. There are various books and resources for those interested in homeschooling. Go through the various methods of homeschooling and choose one that is most suited to you. It helps if you know what kind of learning style your child has. Also, find out what your child feels about homeschooling before you start.

Every state has its own laws regarding homeschooling. For instance, in North Carolina, you must first file a 'Notice of Intent' to start a home school. In this you have to mention if the school is a 'Private church' school or a 'qualified non-public school'. The persons providing the education are required to have at least a high school diploma. You have to maintain an annual record of the child's attendance and disease immunization.

Every year, the child is required to undergo a standardized test. Each student attending the eleventh grade has to take a nationally standardized test. These are the requirements in North Carolina, but it is enough to give you a good idea of what homeschooling entails.

Homeschooling may seem like a lot of fun and freedom from the outside. However, things are seldom as simple as they seem. Homeschooling is a lot of added responsibility and hard work. But, if successful, it will forge a strong bond of love and respect between parent and child, while providing your child with the best form of education he needs.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Homeschooling Facts - 10 Things You Need to Know About Home Education

Author: Carletta Sanders

Although home education is becoming more popular, many myths about homeschooling are believed to be true. Here are some homeschooling facts all parents should know before deciding where their children will attend school.

  1. Homeschooled children can receive a high quality education. Homeschoolers receive an education tailored to their needs and learning styles. They can slow down or move forward according to their unique abilities. Statistics show they outperform both public and private school students on standardized tests.
  2. You do not need a college diploma or teaching certificate to educate your child at home. Although states vary in their requirements of home educators, parents who have not graduated from college can successfully teach their children. Parents can learn alongside their children in areas of weakness and purchase materials that tell exactly how to teach difficult subjects.
  3. Homeschoolers can attend college. Home educated students receive valid high school diplomas and are frequently recruited by colleges and universities. The college environment closely resembles homeschooling because the majority of a college student's time is spent studying outside of the classroom.
  4. Non-Christian parents also choose to homeschool their children. Homeschooling is not only for religious parents. There are many secular programs available for non religious families, and religious materials can often be tailored to meet a non religious family's needs.
  5. Homeschoolers do not need to be closely monitored by government officials. Most parents want what is best for their children and can be trusted to educate their children without government oversight. Studies show that homeschooling is equally successful in states with high and low levels of government regulation.
  6. Homeschooling is great for gifted or special needs children. Children who work above or below grade level need special attention that can't be provided in public schools. Home education allows them to move at a comfortable pace.
  7. Homeschooling is not expensive. Parents of all income levels can teach their own children. There are many ways to reduce the cost of curriculum and activities. Some families are even able to design their own programs and homeschool for free.
  8. Home education does not involve sitting at a desk all day. There are many different ways to homeschool. Some families use structured, textbook and workbook programs. Other families are very relaxed, and teach their children through everyday outings and activities.
  9. Homeschoolers don't miss out on childhood fun. Support groups offer activities like park days, science fairs, field trips and clubs. Homeschool schedules are so efficient that they leave students with more time to pursue their interests and take part in fun activities.
  10. Homeschool graduates will be prepared for the real world. Home educated students spend their days in a real world environment. With their parent's coaching and mentoring, they learn to meet and overcome challenges, and are adequately prepared for life after graduation.
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Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_614674_22.html

Thursday, May 06, 2010

How to Homeschool Your Child

Now that you have decided that homeschooling is the way to educate your child, get ready for the ecstasy and the anxiety - the road ahead is a bit bumpy, but the rewards more than make up for it. Producing a well-adjusted and well-rounded personality is no mean achievement.

First of all, it is important to check out your state laws on home schooling. Some states need an affidavit filed with the State's education department. There are basically 3 categories for homeschooling laws. These are: private school laws, home education laws and equivalency laws. Find your state laws. You may also need to maintain a portfolio that records the child's educational progress. It is important to look into the legal requirements BEFORE you start homeschooling. Some States also stipulate a minimum educational qualification for the parent or teacher.

Next, look for a support group. If you live in a friendly or curious neighborhood, well-meaning friends will try to dissuade you. At the very least, they may put a lot of uneasy questions in your mind. A support group that consists of like-minded people will insulate you from the criticism, pressures and questions of regular school-goers. Many groups organize fun events like visits to the zoo, museum, tours to the ice cream shops etc. And if your children hit it off with other homeschoolers, they will be able to build lasting relationships that do not fade when their friends change schools. These groups provide an important avenue for socialization.

The next important thing to do is to select a curriculum. Depending upon the method of homeschooling, you may choose various tools that aid you in this process. The internet is also a rich resource for homeschooling. Do some research and look into the material that is available.

Set certain ground rules. Homeschooling requires a lot of self-discipline and hard work. Here is a comprehensive list of the things you will need:
1) Eagerness to learn
2) Hard work and effort
3) Discipline
4) Time and patience
5) Flexibility
6) Enthusiasm

Consider why you want to opt for homeschooling. Your motives and your reasons are important pillars on which the whole edifice of your child's lessons depends. Also, consult with your children. Ask them what they feel about homeschooling.

Select a curriculum or custom-make a curriculum that best suits your child. Record keeping is an important part of homeschooling. Look into the various methods of record keeping. Set up a schedule. Your child does not have to learn 6-7 hours a day. Allow him or her to dictate the time. Flexibility and fun are the cornerstones of homeschooling. Do not stuff too many skills into a single term or year. Prepare a skill list. Make the child learn the skills that he is ready for.

Gentle parenting is the secret to successful homeschooling. Children make great advances in learning and show more enthusiasm. They also turn out to be surprisingly well balanced and well informed when they are taught at home.

Monday, May 03, 2010

Disadvantages of public schooling

When we consign our children to public schools, we feel satisfied that they are receiving 'quality education'. But, are we really getting our money's worth? More importantly, are the children gaining anything from this kind of a learning procedure?

Socialization is hailed as one of the greatest advantage of schools. This is the place where the child picks up the rudiments of social skills that help him survive. But in truth, a regular school-going child can interact only with his peers. He may bully younger children or fear older ones. He does not know how to behave with an adult. This is because in the school environment he interacts only with his peers. A homeschooling environment brings in a more natural social environment.

A regular school going child cannot read literature. He cannot keep silent or think in depth about any one thing. The artificial 'busy' ness imposed upon him by the school disallows quiet contemplation. Rowdy and destructive behavior, as seen among peers, is more noticeable in school-goers.

There is little long-standing knowledge among regular school goers because most things are learnt for the exam. There is no correlation of facts with life. The child may know a lot, but understands very little. This is where the homeschoolers beat the regular school goers. Ultimately, homeschoolers emerge more adept at facing the outside world.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Homeschool Online

If Johnny is fascinated by the blinking cursor and struggles to master the movements of the mouse, you may want to look into some of the recent developments in homeschooling techniques. Gone are the days when parents had to buy material from vendors and then pass it on to their children with explanations. Today, you get the full course details, material and test papers online.

Children love to sit with the computer. In addition to making them feel like an adult, the computer also makes use of the visual and sound medium to make learning fun and easy. Streaming video and audio show various scientific processes in great detail. The colorful pictures and the various techniques used help to effectively bind the data to the child's memory.

Many online resources have a fun testing center that aims to measure the knowledge and skill level of your child. Complicated math and science problems are dealt with deftly and elegantly.

A visit to an e-library can also be fun, especially when there is an audio clip that reads out the passage to you. E-learning has just begun to revolutionize the world of studies. If harnessed properly, a child can assimilate an astonishing amount of information from that great resource sitting right there at your table - your P.C.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Benefits of Homeschooling

Author: Princesshai
Date Published: 23rd April 2010

Education is one of the important branches of our society. When were just a kid we always been told to go to school. Our parent always said that we need education and have a degree in order to survive in this society that we have. Many of us thought that there are only two type of school its either public or private schooling. But many of us now a day are going for homeschooling. Home school have lots good benefits and advantage over the traditional educational methods offered through any of our public school and some of them are the following.
  • A study shows that the public school systems have not met the needs children with it comes to their educational standard. At homeschooling parents are allows to select the exact lesson plan or curriculum that they think is best for their children. While many public schools teach students subjects which are academically irrelevant or are it best left for the parents to teach.
  • In public school there are many students and only one teacher or professor. And because of that teacher are having a hard time focusing on each and every student. This makes them accidentally ignore some of the student who is not that active to participate. While in homeschooling parent or tutors are only focus on one or two student. They can always see which subject or student is in need for additional attention.
  • Homeschooling can control the learning mechanisms which allow the student’s specific interest and desire to grow, while continuing to provide a challenging level of learning that will keep the student learning ability to increase.
  • Students are provided with good learning tools such are books like workbooks and wordly wise books. Student are given activates using this kind of tools and parents or tutors can easily check it for any wrong answers. With this kind of situation student and parent or tutor can easily see which subject is in need of much attention.
  • Some students are born gifted and do well with all subjects that are being taught to them. With homeschooling students are given more challenging subject to improve their knowledge. Gifted homeschooled student are able to pursue their interests and development without the time constraints or curriculum limitations that are presents in the traditional learning environment.
  • Most student who go to any traditional learning environment do see moral and religious subject quiet boring that they didn’t give any attention to those subject. With homeschooling any parent and tutor can easy give books or any Christian Entertainment to make this subject more interesting to students.
  • Homeschooling also give good relationship between parents and their children. Because of the time and attention a parents as their children tutor can easy make them bond closely. Plus the parent and see the need and attention of each of their children on any subject that their having.
  • Excessive school bullying is a serious problem to some schools and it is a hard problem to resolve. In some cases like this homeschooling had been the solution to this kind of problem. A child who had been a victim of this kind of problem can undergo into homeschooling to bring back their focus on learning while giving a close parental guidance needed to overcome this kind of situation.
There are lots more benefits of homeschooling and a lot more ways that home school can be accomplished today. Some parents use available textbooks while some use the structured curriculum. Others combine this thing with their own teaching while others teach each lesson completely using their own resources.

We can all see that this kind of education process is completely flexible. It can be changes to the student’s needs and can also me increase as to how high the knowledge of a student has. There are many considerations to be made when choosing to home school, but for many, homeschooling has been a good choice that has proven to benefits both children and parents relationship with each other.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Homeschooling Methods

For many people, homeschooling may call to mind the picture of two or three children sitting at a table and writing feverishly in their workbooks, while mom or dad stands nearby. This is the not entirely true. There are different methods of homeschooling, and the method you choose will decide the curriculum and your style of teaching. Given below are some of the most influential and popular homeschooling methods.

The Charlotte Mason method:

Charlotte Mason is known as the founder of the homeschooling movement. A homeschooler herself, she was passionate in her zeal to lay out the foundations for an effective a complete homeschooling program that is fun and educational at the same time. This method focuses on all the core subjects with emphasis placed on classical literature, poetry, fine arts, classical music and craft. Mason used a variety of books from classical literature, which she called 'Living Books'.

Since this method encourages a passionate awareness of literature, the child is read to daily from the 'Living Books'. After this, the child is asked to narrate what she has heard. This process begins at the age of six, and by ten the child is expected to write her narrations in her book. Mason also advocated the use of 'Nature Diaries'.

After each short and interesting lesson, the child is asked to go to Nature and draw observations from Nature. Thus the child also gains a sense of respect for her environment. Mason believed that development of good character and behavior was essential to the complete development of the child's personality.

The Eclectic Homeschooling:

This is a mixture of various homeschooling techniques. Here, the innovative parents trust their own judgment and pick out the topics that make the best curriculum for their child. Such parents continuously look out for the best products that will meet the needs of their homeschoolers.

Most Eclectic homeschooling curriculums are improvised. This means that the basic curriculum is ready-made. The parents then make changes in the curriculum to accommodate the individual needs and interests of their children. The child's gifts, temperament, learning style and interests dictate the curriculum. Eclectic programs include visits to the museum, libraries and factories.

Unschooling:

A Boston public educator name John Holt laid the beginnings of the unschooling method. He believed that children learned best when they are free to learn at their own pace and when they are guided by their own interests. His message was to 'unschool' the child. This method is a hands-on approach to learning, where the parent takes definite cues from the children. There is no definite curriculum, schedules or materials. This method is the most unstructured of the various homeschooling techniques.

The Montessori Method:

This method began in Italy, when it was observed that children have acute sensitive periods, during which they undergo periods of intense concentration. During such phases, a child will repeat an activity till he gains a measure of self-satisfaction. The Montessori method depends on a prepared environment to facilitate learning. All the materials used in this method are designed to satisfy the inner desire for spiritual development of the child. The materials used progress from simple to complex, and are rather expensive.

These are just a few of the methods of homeschooling. Whatever the method, the underlying factor is flexibility and a keen interest in the desires of the child. The secret is to use the child's desire for knowledge to further his education.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Finding Homeschooling Information on Homeschool Message Boards

Author: Lamont Velez
Date Published: 19th February 2010

There are a number of ways to find homeschool message boards and other supports on the web the days. But before anything else, I think it is necessary for you to know the basic concept of homeschooling. For the newbies and the curious, note and understand the following details:

The term "homeschooling" actually means to educate your children at home rather than in public or private school. Homeschooling exists in a number of ways. One of the most common is unschooling or child-led education, that is, when you follow your children's natural interests and curiosities to educate them.

There is also the School at Home method is when you purchase the textbooks for all subjects and follow much the same ideology put in practice in traditional school. Also, there are the classical approach or trivium, Montessori method, unit studies, and the satellite school. You will know everything about these approaches when you consider participating on homeschool message boards.

But, where exactly on the web you can find and participate in homeschool message boards? I have a few sites below that you can visit if you are really serious of knowing the different aspects of homeschooling, or you just want to know and make friends with people who are also interested in homeschooling.

Homeschool Central

Homeschool Central now offers a number of areas covering homeschooling. They also have maintained a lot of homeschool message boards that you can join if you want to post advices, ask questions or post comments on the other users' posts. And, perhaps what's best about this site is that it offers not only its own homeschool message boards, but also other links to forums that discuss about homeschooling.


Teen Homeschool Hang

This site was designed and developed for one particular purpose - to provide homeschooled teenagers a way to hand out with other homeschoolers of their age from all over the world, and to supply interesting things to do and read online. It is also nice to know that this site is a safe site. So, teens can have fun exchanging thoughts on the homeschool message boards and parents don't have to worry. Also, this site is a Christian-based, but everyone is actually welcome. The managers and moderators of their homeschool message boards are current homeschoolers or recent homeschool graduates. So, whether you've been homeschooled your whole life or you just started heomeschooling, the Teen Homeschool Hang has a place for you online.

CRA California Homeschool

CRA California Homeschool message boards are the ideal place to go for California homeschoolers. This is where you can meet together online for support, questions, encouragement, and answers. Also, this is the exact place to share your homeschooling successes and struggles with the other California homeschoolers. What's more nice to know about the homeschool message boards maintained by CRA is that their forums are open to all homeschoolers, afterschoolers, and people considering homeschooling or those who are seeking information. You can also post inquiries about general parenting and family issues here as these matters are highly welcome.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Homeschool online

If Johnny is fascinated by the blinking cursor and struggles to master the movements of the mouse, you may want to look into some of the recent developments in homeschooling techniques. Gone are the days when parents had to buy material from vendors and then pass it on to their children with explanations. Today, you get the full course details, material and test papers online.

Children love to sit with the computer. In addition to making them feel like an adult, the computer also makes use of the visual and sound medium to make learning fun and easy. Streaming video and audio show various scientific processes in great detail. The colorful pictures and the various techniques used help to effectively bind the data to the child's memory.

Many online resources have a fun testing center that aims to measure the knowledge and skill level of your child. Complicated math and science problems are dealt with deftly and elegantly.

A visit to an e-library can also be fun, especially when there is an audio clip that reads out the passage to you. E-learning has just begun to revolutionize the world of studies. If harnessed properly, a child can assimilate an astonishing amount of information from that great resource sitting right there at your table - your P.C.

Friday, April 16, 2010

The Parent's Guide To Home Schooling!

Product Description :

Some 26% of parents in each of the American states consider home schooling for their children over normal public school classes. This is because of the benefits both the parents and the children get. Home schooling gives them the chance to interact on a personal level as no other system currently available.

There are four important reasons why parents opt for home studying for their children:
  1. social reasons
  2. academic reasons
  3. family reasons
  4. religious reasons.
All four of these reasons are explained in detail and helpful advice is imparted to those wishing to embark on the home schooling adventure. Anyone that is considering home schooling should absolutley read this book!

Details :
  • Publisher: James j. Jones (February 23, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B001TRE2VQ

Home School Information for Benefits

Why let Tim and Lisa learn at home than send them to school? Well, first of all, you don't have to wake them up at 7 every morning and bundle them off to school with umpteen numbers of instructions, and wait with an anxious heart till they return. Homeschooling gives you more control over the influences that affect your child. The growth and development of your child is removed from the realm of the unknown. You, and you alone can decide what your child needs to do or learn. Tailoring the curriculum to suit the needs and interests of the child is one of the most obvious benefits of homeschooling

Individual attention is another salient benefit of homeschooling. For instance, if Lisa needs more time to learn Math, then she can reduce the time for her English lessons. There are no fixed hours of learning per subject. This means that a child has the advantage of assigning more number of hours to the subject that seems tough WITHOUT any additional pressure. The amount of time needed to learn each subject will depend on the abilities and interests of the child.

The schooling of the child becomes an extended family activity. Parents get involved in every step of the learning procedure. Field trips and experiments become family activities. Thus, the child receives more quality time with his parents. The entire family shares games, chores and projects. Family closeness becomes the focus here. The child is also free of any negative peer pressure while making choices and decisions.

Competition is limited when it comes to homeschooling. The child does not need to prove his ability with regards to other children. His confidence remains intact. Since parents have a deep understanding of their child, they can plan the learning program to pique the child's interest. It is also possible to intersperse difficult tasks with fun activities. A tough hour with Algebra can be followed by a trip to the nearest museum.
Learning becomes fun. Parents can also tailor the curriculum to suit the learning style of the child. Some children learn through reading, while others need to write, and still others need to see objects in action.

Homeschooling allows parents to take control over the moral and religious learning of the child. Parents have the flexibility to incorporate their beliefs and ideologies into the child's curriculum. There is no confusion in the child's mind either because there is no variation between what is being taught and what is being practiced.

Lastly, more and more parents are getting disillusioned with the public school system. They believe that their children are being pushed too hard or too little. Other worrying issues pertaining to discipline and ethics also make the school system less welcome. Many repudiate the educational philosophy of grouping children solely on the basis of their age. Some parents themselves have unhappy memories of their own public school experience that motivates them to opt for homeschooling when it comes to their own children.

Homeschooling is the best way to teach a child if you have the time, the ability and the interest to follow through with his education. After all, nobody can understand or appreciate your child more than yourself.