Category: K12 Homeschooling

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Online Charter Homeschool is Growing

There are more and more people are homeschooling through charter school and now online education charter school to teach their kids at home. Online schooling has many benefits and some issues. Not everyone agrees, if that is a good thing or not. As debate for online charter school increases among parents, only you can tell if it works for your and your family. We like many family, use some online class, some in classroom classes and some subjects are taught at home with right homeschooling curriculum.

 Source: NY Times

Half a million American children take classes online, with a significant group, like the Weldies, getting all their schooling from virtual public schools. The rapid growth of these schools has provoked debates in courtrooms and legislatures over money, as the schools compete with local districts for millions in public dollars, and over issues like whether online learning is appropriate for young children.

One of the sharpest debates has concerned the Weldies’ school in Wisconsin, where last week the backers of online education persuaded state lawmakers to keep it and 11 other virtual schools open despite a court ruling against them and the opposition of the teachers union. John Watson, a consultant in Colorado who does an annual survey of education that is based on the Internet, said events in Wisconsin followed the pattern in other states where online schools have proliferated fast.

“Somebody says, ‘What’s going on, does this make sense?’ ” Mr. Watson said. “And after some inquiry most states have said, ‘Yes, we like online learning, but these are such new ways of teaching children that we’ll need to change some regulations and get some more oversight.’ ”

Two models of online schooling predominate. In Florida, Illinois and half a dozen other states, growth has been driven by a state-led, state-financed virtual school that does not give a diploma but offers courses that supplement regular work at a traditional school. Generally, these schools enroll only middle and high school students.

At the Florida Virtual School, the largest Internet public school in the country, more than 50,000 students are taking courses this year. School authorities in Traverse City, Mich., hope to use online courses provided by the Michigan Virtual School next fall to educate several hundred students in their homes, alleviating a classroom shortage.

The other model is a full-time online charter school like the Wisconsin Virtual Academy. About 90,000 children get their education from one of 185 such schools nationwide. They are publicly financed, mostly elementary and middle schools.

Many parents attracted to online charters have previously home-schooled their children, including Mrs. Weldie. Her children — Isabel, Harry and Eleanor, all in elementary school — download assignments and communicate intermittently with their certified teachers over the Internet, but they also read story books, write in workbooks and do arithmetic at a table in their basement. Legally, they are considered public school students, not home-schoolers, because their online schools are taxpayer-financed and subject to federal testing requirements.

Despite enthusiastic support from parents, the schools have met with opposition from some educators, who say elementary students may be too young for Internet learning, and from teachers, unions and school boards, partly because they divert state payments from the online student’s home district.

Other opposition has arisen because many online charters contract with for-profit companies to provide their courses. The Wisconsin academy, for example, is run by the tiny Northern Ozaukee School District, north of Milwaukee, in close partnership with K12 Inc., which works with similar schools in 17 states.

The district receives annual state payments of $6,050 for each of its 800 students, which it uses to pay teachers and buy its online curriculum from K12.

Saying he suspected “corporate profiteering” in online schooling, State Senator John Lehman, a Democrat who is chairman of the education committee, last month proposed cutting the payments to virtual schools to $3,000 per student. But during legislative negotiations that proposal was dropped.

See source and full article here: NY Times

Online curriculum has its benefits and issues. Many homeschooler and public school teacher use combination of online curriculum to use 100% online schooling or supplement their educational process. If you choose online curriculum, make sure it is from reputable company with options to change curriculum choices just in case it does not work with your child’s learning style.

Check out:

Distance Education: A Systems View of Online Learning

Engaging the Online Learner: Activities and Resources for Creative Instruction

How do you educate your child at home?

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Fun Learning K12 Homeschooling

Tips For Raising Tadpoles

tadpole

Image source: Our Class Web

Once you have tadpoles from either friend’s pond or from a pet store, you have to know more about general care of taking care of tadpoles. As you have seen it in how to raise tadpoles, here are more tips about general care taking instructions. Without taking proper care tadpoles can die.


Image source:Tadpole Habitat

You can use any good size container for your tadpoles such as;

Other thing to consider are that make sure keep container in

  • Either outside if weather is good but make sure the container has 3/4 shades
  • Can keep them inside with proper lighting
  • Keep them in shallow water
  • Place rocks and smooth gravels can be added at bottom
  • As tadpole matures, it will need a space to get out of the water, so add large stone or submerged wood so it can come out. Remember frogs are amphibian, that means they will need to leave close to water but need to comes out on land as well.
  • Provide shade, aquatic plants and smooths stones for tadpoles to hide and feel secure inside the container. Feeling safe and secure is also important part of raising the tadpoles.
  • Many tadpoles do better with leafy underwater plants according to many tadpole expert sources so use those.

Type of Water to Use:

Always use fresh, spring water without any chlorine. Tap water that most house have has chlorine and it is deadly for tadpoles.

  • Use de-chlorine bottle in tap water. You can let the water sit overnight before using it.
  • Many pet stores, online stores sell it and are inexpensive.
  • Or you can let tap water sit under Sun for 4-5 days to get rid of chlorine before using it inside the container.
  • Water may need changing every week or so, depending on the size of the container.
  • Always take out about 1/3 of original water and keep 2/3 of the old water when replacing with new fresh spring water. As changing 100% water does not go well with most tadpoles.
  • There are also ready made kit available for raising tadpoles kit at home which may be easier for your child and you.

What to feed the tadpoles:

Tadpoles diet depends on type of species they might be. It is often hard to tell what type of frog the tadpoles are until they matures, sometimes you will know the type of species. Regardless of the type of species knowledge, it is generally assumed that majority of tadpoles are herbivores or vegetarians.

  • Frozen leafy lettuce such as romaine or spinach are best option. Just freeze them and crumble and feed them.
  • Some experts suggest boiling the lettuce or spinach to feed them, that will work as well, but boiling will reduce some of its nutrients, so some people suggest just using frozen leaves, as it will be mushy enough for them to chew and eat.
  • You can buy tadpole food, or fish food or crushed algae tablet to feed the tadpoles as well.
  • Feed small amount daily.
  • If your tadpoles seemed to be always on top layers usually means they do not have enough food so give them more.
  • If water becomes muddy or dirty fast, either they are getting too much food or you have not changed the water in a while. See above to see how to change the water tips. (change 1/3 at the time only)
  • Tadpole can stay without water for sometimes but do not keep them too much away from water or hold it your hand.
  • Always clean your hand before handling feeding, changing the water for them

Tadpoles to Frog Process:

Changing from tadpole to frog process, the metamorphosis is simply amazing to see. Depending on type of species, tadpoles can turn in to frog in a few weeks (6 to 8 weeks), while some species have known to take up to 2 years for the metamorphosis from tadpole to frog. Knowing what species you are raising will make process much easier. If you do not know, have patience, eventually it will happen for sure.

How the change happens:

Usually toward the end of tadpole life cycle, you will see tadpole getting back legs. It will start with back legs and they will form front legs in next step.

There will be more changes such as body shapes, loss of gill, lung getting developed and digestive changes will occur this time too. What it means for most tadpoles to frog change is their diet will change form herbivore to carnivore diet.  They will also lose a tail around this time. Many tadpoles will eat very little when they are going through this metamorphosis so there is nothing to worry about if you see they have lost their appetite.

Once the tadpoles starts getting legs and losing tails, it is a great idea to make water more shallow and give them stone of wood perch for them to land on. As without their gills they may simply drown if they do not have place to land on solid surface, so place some large smooth stone, wood etc for them. Some species may need to be removed from water completely once tail is gone, so if you get it from store, friend try to find out about type of species as much as you can so you can care for them better.

What to feed the frogs? Feed the newly developed froglets small crickets, fruit flies, bloodworms, and other small insect and invertebrate foods.

Can you release frogs in to fresh water pond or lake?

If you tadpole/frog species is non native (find out from frog book or internet), it is recommended that you do not release them in to native area as it might create an issue with native species. So, you should create a area in large aquarium or back yard pond to keep and raise them.

If you have native tadpoles and frog species, it can be released in pond or lake. If you decide to release them, do it as soon as possible after metamorphosis such that they will have a best chance to adapt in to the wild in lake or pond area.

 Related Articles:

 How to Raise Tadpoles

Learning About Tadpoles

Where to get Tadpoles

 

Categories
Fun Learning K12 Homeschooling

How To Raise Tadpoles

Image: Tadpoles

Raising tadpoles can be fun and educational for kids, as they will get to see life cycle from tadpoles to frog. Before you start, here are a few things to know so you can successfully raise tadpoles at home. This article shows how to raise tadpole, if you want to know more details about tadpole raising, how to feed and what type of container and feeding needed please check out our other article, Detailed Caring tips for Raising Tadpoles.

Things to know before you raise tadpoles:

  1. In order to raise tadpoles, you’ll need a suitable container, like an aquarium, fishbowl, or garden pond. You can start in glass jar at home too.
  2. Tadpoles likes shade and avoid direct Sun. Be sure it has good shade – about 3/4 shade is ideal for them.
  3. Tadpoles absolutely depend on having fresh, clean water. Chlorine is deadly to tadpoles!If you take the water from a local stream, creek or pond, be sure it isn’t polluted. Ideally, you can get it upstream from any suspected sources like factories, sewers, etc.
  4. If using tap water, let it stand exposed to full sunlight for 5 to 7 days. This will allow the Chlorine to be removed by evaporation.
  5. If you don’t have that much time, you can buy de-chlorinating drops at your local fish-carrying pet store.
  6. You can get also ready made tadpole raising kit available which has everything you will need to get started.

What do I feed tadpoles?

Frog and toad tadpoles are vegetarians, (unlike the tadpoles of newts and salamanders), and are very easy to feed.

They seemed to love lettuce! You can boil the lettuce for 10 to 15 minutes, drain it, and keep it in a baggie in the freezer. Give the tadpoles a pinch every few days. you can also give them water reptiles food sometimes, but not instead of lettuce! You can feed them tadpole or fish food as well.

Other thing to know is that tadpoles of some toads and frogs can morph from placid plant eaters to fierce cannibals if their pools threaten to run dry or if food is scarce. By becoming meat eaters that snack on other tadpoles, the cannibals speed up their development, hoping to transform into toads before the water or food run out. so be sure to feed them enough! But don’t forget, too much food will get the water all dirty.

If your water gets dirty really fast, slow down on the feeding, and be sure to replace the dirty water with some fresh spare water.

How long will it take from Tadpole to become Frog?

The length of time a tadpole takes to develop really depends on what kind of frog it came from and on the environmental conditions. some tadpoles can remain in their tadpole stage as long as 8 months, while others only take 6 to 9 weeks! So be patience. Some species of frog have known to slow down process during colder climate. You can read kids A Tadpole Grows Up (Scholastic News Nonfiction Readers: Animal Life Cycles) for easy to show the transformation and life cycle as it happens.

When the tadpoles start getting close to developing legs, they will need some sort of perch so they can get out of the water. You can create ledges using stones or even tilting slopes of plastic in tanks.

At the point where they aren’t big enough to eat crickets but are too large to eat lettuce, you can try starting them off with small insects. A good substitute is blood worms which are usually found in pet stores that carry fish.

The tilt of the ledge may be important depending on what type of frog you have. Young tree frogs can climb smooth vertical surfaces such as the plastic pond liners and glass, but the ground dwelling frogs will need a rough slope when the time comes to climb out of the water.

Related Articles:

Learning About Tadpoles

Where to get Tadpoles

Tips for Raising Tadpoles

Categories
Homeschool Curriculum Homeschooling tips K12 Homeschooling

Where To Get The Best Homeschool Curriculum Packages

kit1

By Jared Wright

If you’re new with home schooling education, finding the right homeschooling curriculum package for your child can be a bit of a challenge. Before you find the right homeschooling programs for your child, assess your kid first. Know his level of learning and all his learning needs. You may find that these particular education resources may be okay for him and this one is not. Assessment is indeed key to the success of homeschooling.

Internet is an extensive place to find the right curriculum package for you child. Try to be meticulous however as not to force your child into a curriculum is not approppriate for him. Certainly, the best homeschool curriculum packages are Customized for your child based on his learning needs. This include his learning capabilities, needs, and desires. Consequently, it will motivate, challenge and enrich your child’s learning experience.

However, if for some reasons you do not want to customize your child homeschool education, you may opt for pre package homeschool curriculum. This means that you just have to choose from the package choices available for preschool, high school and so on and so forth. Moreover, you may alternate subjects also, again depending on your personal and your child’s preference.

What does a Homeschool Curriculum Package includes? In a homeschool curriculum package, it often includes, but is not limited to the Teacher Materials as well as the Students Materials. In the former, expect to see manuals, teacher editions and keywords answers and the like. On the other hand, the latter include text books, worksheets and work books.

Tips on Choosing a Homeschool Curriculum Package:

Before you purchase a homeschool curriculum package online or from your local stores, you may check these tips to guide you in choosing a home school program for your child.

First, you need to know your child’s current condition. Determine your child’s learning needs and your short term and long term goals. Assess your child if you’ll be homeschooling a child for a year or more. In addition, know if you want to teach your child according to the Christian philosophy, another faith or secular.

Second, try to discover your core values. Understanding your core values as well as your child would greatly influence your homeschool curriculum choices. Find out your views on education, your role on your child’s education, your child’s responsibilities and even what success means to you.

Third, be at ease with one or more of the home schooling methods. Don’t give up that easily and try not to change methods every now and then. You’ll know what fits you and your child because the right one would show your core values mentioned earlier. Here are some of popular home schooling methods or approach that you may adapt: Literature or Textbooks, Self-teaching, Unit Study, Principle Approach and Delight Directed.

Fourth, select your home school curriculum and make adjustment. Do not let the product of someone else’s core values become a hindrance for your child to be successful. Don’t waste time with what you don’t need.

Finally, do not overstress yourself and your child. Remember that homeschooling should be fun and a memorable time for you and your child.

Finding the best homeschooling programs? Look no more. We have fantastic information on where to find the best homeschooling curriculum at our site. Visit us online today.

Homeschooling Tips and Our Best Homeschooling Curriculum Packages Choices

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Fun Learning K12 Homeschooling

Where To Get Tadpoles


Tadpole Kit

One of the great way to learn about frog life cycle is to raise tadpoles at home. Until recently I did not know how popular raising tadpole was for many kids. It is fun, educational and if done right, easy enough if you follow a few tips. One of the big thing I get always asked is, where to get tadpoles? As many of us live in big cities, finding tadpoles is not always easy. But it does not have to be complicated if you just know where to look and ask. You can find various type of tadpole raising kit that will make your starting out easier, it does not have to be expensive but right tools and food so that you can raise life properly.

Finding tadpoles is easy, but gathering them can be a challenge sometimes. Never remove tadpoles from public areas such as parks, refuges or conservation areas. Ponds, small lakes and creeks are ideal places to catch tadpoles with a small mesh net. Always ask permission on private property. Don’t collect more tadpoles than your tank or aquarium can comfortably hold and never collect more than a few. Most important, know how to take care of tadpoles before you collect them.

Here are a few possible ways to get Tadpoles for seeing life cycle of frogs.

  1. First of all, if you live near creek, lake where you see frogs, that might be a good place to start getting tadpoles. Just make sure it is safe and legal for you to take tadpoles from lake area.
  2. Other thing to do is ask someone you know who might have many frogs in their large yard, they very well have hundreds of tadpoles and can share some with you.
  3. What to do, if you live where there are no creeks, lakes or people with ponds that have tadpoles? Do not worry, there are still a few ways to get tadpoles from online places or local pet stores.

Here are some choices from online places:

Grow Frog Kits

Frog Kits

Planet Frog

Other Frog and Tadpole related Products:

Alex Toys Rock Pets Paint Kit, Garden Frog


Midwest Products Mosaic Frog Stepping Stone kit

Related articles

Learning About Tadpoles
General caring tips about raising Tadpoles
How to raise Tadpoles

 

Raising tadpole from MDC online
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Homeschool Curriculum K12 Homeschooling

Robinson Self-Teaching Homeschool Curriculum

What is Robinson Self Teaching Homeschooling Curriculum?

When I first heard about Dr Robinson’s self study homeschooling curriculum, I had to do more research as I did not know much about him or his study method before buying anything for my child to teach. What I found was interesting and inspiring indeed.

Dr. Robinson is a scientist who works on various aspects of fundamental biochemistry, nutrition, and preventive medicine. He is President and Research Professor of the Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine. His wife Lauralee, who was also a scientist, homeschooled their children until her death in November 1988, when the children were 12, 10, 8, 6, 6, and 16 months. During the past ten years, Dr. Robinson and the children have continued their homeschooling by developing a program entirely based upon self-teaching.

Here is a write up from Robionson site itself saying about his Robinson Self Teaching Homeschooling Curriculum.

From phonics to physics, these 22 CDs and a set of Saxon math books are all that you need to give your children a superior education. You can use this curriculum to supplement your children’s current schooling or as a stand-alone education using the included self-study methods.The Robinson children teach themselves (as do the 60,000 children now using this system) ­ so well that their 11th and 12th grade work is equivalent to high quality 1st and 2nd year university instruction in science, history, literature, and general education.

They also teach themselves study habits that do not depend upon planned workbooks, teacher interaction, and other aids that will not be available later in life.

They teach themselves to think.

Dr. Robinson has spent less than 15 minutes per day teaching all six children…

Many home schools are limited by the burden of teaching that is placed on parents. Dr. Robinson has spent less than 15 minutes per day teaching all six children ­ ages 6 through 18. Yet, both of his oldest students scored over 1400 on the SAT (over 1500 on the new SAT) and received two years of advanced placement in college. The younger children are doing as well.Teach your children to teach themselves and to acquire superior knowledge as did many of America’s most outstanding citizens in the days before socialism in education.

Give children access to a good study environment and the best books in the English language and then ­ get out of their way! All Curriculum books may be viewed on the computer screen and printed with included software.

This unique curriculum will save you hours of teaching time each day and will give your students an opportunity to develop superior knowledge and life-long study habits.

One caution ­ do not use this curriculum unless you are willing for your children to be academically more learned than you.

Source: Robinsoncurriculum

So what is so special about this course? And why does it make it a good choice for any homeschooler?


Robinson Self-Teaching Homeschool Curriculum

There are several keys to learning, one of them that I believe in that a child learns by example, by seeing. I never taught or had class on my child how to stand and walk on two feet. My son did that simply by observing his parents and others around him. Environment has to be right, new positive habits needs to be created with right curriculum and quality books.

This course, says this is the only and one curriculum you will need to teach your kids. I personally think my kids need other stuff as well, but this comes darn close to it as it has vast information and knowledge that kids needs for KG to 12th grade. From phonics to physics, these 22 CDs and a set of Saxon math books are all that you need to give your children a superior education. You can use this curriculum to supplement your children’s current schooling or as a stand-alone education using the included self-study methods.  The Robinson children teach themselves (as do the 25,000 children now using this system) so well that their 11th and 12th grade work is equivalent to high quality 1st and 2nd year university instruction in science, history, literature, and general education.

What is Included in the Curriculum?

120,000 Page Library Resource 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica 1913 Noah Webster’s Dictionary 2,000 Historic Illustrations 6,000 Word Vocabulary Teacher Progress Exams Keyed to Books Outstanding Science Program Very High Academic Quality Proven Methods of Self Study.

  • Printable books/materials on CD
  • Complete Course of Study
  • 12 Years of Education – 22 CDs
  • 120,000 Page Library Resource
  • 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica
  • 1913 Noah Webster’s Dictionary
  • 2,000 Historic Illustrations
  • 6,000 Word Vocabulary Teacher
  • Progress Exams Keyed to Books
  • Outstanding Science Program
  • Very High Academic Quality
  • Proven Methods of Self Study
  • Vocabulary, Phonics, and Math Flash Cards

Here are a few sample of books by some of the best authors included in the curriculum

The Life of George Washington by Josephine Pollard. “The main purpose of the work [is] to give to its young readers a distinct and vivid idea of the exalted character and priceless services of Washington.” Other books by Pollard: Our Hero General Grant, Christopher Columbus and the Discovery of the New World, The Bible for Young People

Original Children’s Classics: Bobbsey Twins (11 volumes); Tom Swift adventures (8 volumes); 26 Horatio Alger volumes; Five Little Peppers and How They Grew; Heidi; Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farms; The Boy Knight: A Tale of the Crusades by G.A. Henty

History: Life of George Washington by Washington Irving; War Between the States by Alexander Stephens; The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government by Jefferson Davis; The Life of Stonewall Jackson by R.L. Dabney; Picturesque America: A Delineation by Pen and Pencil, 2 volumes edited by William Cullen Bryant

Here is what some of the parents have to say about the Robinson Self Teaching Homeschool Curriculum

She is enjoying learning much more By FR

I can definitely see using this curriculum through high school. I love the Robinson curriculum. We are in our third year of homeschooling, with “older” children who were accustomed to testing and quizzes and spoon-fed material. Math was miserable for the high-schooler and me until this year (we started RC on 8/4/97). She is gaining confidence and is actually enjoying it! My 11-year-old giggled at some of the antiquated phrases (“Oh, pooh!” said one of the Rover boys in book No. 16), but he is learning and developing an interest in history for the first time. I can definitely see us continuing this curriculum through high school for both of them.

He is doing better then Public School: Review by SBB

This is our first year of homeschooling our sixth grader. The Robinson curriculum was recommended by a friend in our church. The ability to work at his own level and speed has made the difference for our son. He is actually doing more work than he did in public school and is enjoying the work. I know it sounds too good to be true, I thought the same thing. But through prayer and a step of faith, I have found that the Lord will be faithful.

Review by – fb in TX

If your children are learning to hate school ….

I was using all of Abeka’s stuff and their day became drudgery.  They were not liking school at all and they had no time to read except for snippets of information.

Now they love history, they love math, and they enjoy reading!

When we started they had to get the definitions of the definitions because they were still dumbed down.  They still have to live a dictionary but they are having a lot of fun.

I did use the Abeka language book because I needed it to correct their work.  I let them use a computer to take advantage of the spell checker and a spelling game.  The husband is still addicted to TV but even that is being curtailed over time.  So I don’t make an issue of it.

It took about a year to make the transition to using the Robinson Curriculum but wow, what a difference.

How much this curriculum sells for?It is complete 12 years of education Curriculum:

I have seen the best price on Amazon or By Robinson site, which both sells around for $200. I think it is great value since it covers 1-12 grades and covers so much information and it is well worth it. If you order through amazon, you may get free shipping to your home.

Click here for the Best price on Robinson Self Teaching Homeschooling Curriculum.

All Image Source: Robinson Education Kit and Robinson Product Site

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Homeschool-Family Homeschooling Resource Homeschooling tips K12 Homeschooling

Homeschooling Record Keeping Ideas

One of the frequently asked question about homeschooling is  about Record keeping in Homeschooling that public school keep and try to do it at home. There are several ways to keep proper records.

Check out:

Setting the Records Straight: How to Craft Homeschool Transcripts and Course Descriptions for College Admission and Scholarships

The Homeschooler’s Plan Book Plus!: Planning and Record-Keeping Pages Plus Hundreds of Great Ideas for Classroom Management, Brain-Stretchers, Student

A topic that frequently comes up in meetings and forums that deal with homeschooling is record keeping. The importance of record keeping cannot be ignored. It is not only legally required in various States, but also provides important milestones in your
child’s learning experience. An interest-initiated homeschooling approach means that the topic of studies is far ranging and
multifarious. Thus, it can be something of a challenge to write quarterly reports for the school district, when it is difficult
to classify learning into neatly pigeonholed areas.

Record keeping is important not only for the sake of regulations. It is also an exciting way to record and document the learning
process of the child. When most of the learning is done through play and there is no clear cut index of topics that have to be
covered, it is necessary for the parent to keep some sort of a log which records the child’s progress.

The records you keep can be as simple as a daily journal, or as elaborate as a software program. If you participate in a support
group, you probably have set forms and requirements. But even so, keeping track of daily work makes reporting easy and efficient.

There are various record keeping methods used by various homeschools. Some of the more popular ones are:

Journal:

This can be maintained by the teacher or the student. This basically aims to keep a log of what was learned and what was
done. Recording memorable events that happened in the course of the year is a great way to reminisce later on.

Daily planner:

Lay out the plans and the assignments for the week in a teacher’s planning notebook. Check each item as it is covered. Maintain a
separate area where any additional things can be recorded. This includes educational trips, visits and videos etc. Any extra
topics that were covered are also recorded in this area. Make a summary every quarter.

Portfolios:

This consists of a collection of varied materials that show what the child has achieved and done during the course of study.
Portfolio assessment is a very effective way to chart the child’s progress. It gives structure to the otherwise loose and flexible
form of schooling called homeschooling. A drawing portfolio will consist of some paintings or sketches that are considered the best
in that quarter. A language portfolio may consist of essays, stories, reading-logs, spelling samples or letters. Progress in mathematics, fine arts, history, science and social studies can all be recorded this way. The biggest advantage is that portfolio
assessment places control in the hands of the children. Having a tangible record of what they have established eggs them on to
greater heights.

Other than the above-mentioned systems, there are also purchased record-keeping systems that lay out a good checklist. Some of
these allow one to personalize the organizer. Irrespective of the methods used, record keeping in one form or the other is
essential. Your child’s future may well depend on the well-maintained record that you have meticulously kept over the
years.

You can find our more homeschooling record keeping ideas here.

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Homeschool FAQ Homeschooling tips K12 Homeschooling

How to Become a Home School Teacher:

There are a few ways to become the best homeschool teacher to your kids.  The Evolution of Parents to Home School Teacher

Have you ever wished to become a teacher? Have you ever wanted to educate children with the right skills and concepts in order to survive life’s challenges?

If you are a parent and you believe in the benefits of homeschooling, then, you could be a homeschool teacher! In this way, you will not only fulfill your dreams but you are also able to fulfill and be a part of your child’s through education.

With homeschooling, you have the option to teach your own child in ways that are patterned in a particular homeschool curriculum. Hence, the learning process is not limited with the rules and regulations set by the typical school system.

In homeschooling, the parents-turned-home-school-teacher can freely incorporate the right values and knowledge that they want their child to know.

However, most parents feel that it is a great responsibility to handle their child’s education. Some even think that they are not appropriate for the role because they do not even have education units in the first place.

For a more comprehensive outlook of the issue, here is a list of some tips that you can use in order to become a good homeschool teacher:

1. Have the yearning to teach their children

It does not need some specific technical requirements in order to become a homeschool teacher. What you need to have is the yearning to teach your children. It’s your desire to let them know everything they need to know in order that they will be equipped with the right kind of knowledge.

2. Believe in your children

Teaching your children how to learn things and how to achieve something in life will all be put to waste if you will not believe that your children can definitely achieve something and be successful. In this way, you will be able to teach things that you believe your child can do very well.

3. Familiarize yourself with your children’s wants

In order to be a homeschool teacher and in order to ensure quality education, it is best that you familiarize yourself with the program itself. Try to dig deeper concerning the ins and outs of the program.

Indeed, becoming a homeschool teacher does not necessarily mean you have to do what the other teachers do in other schools because learning in a typical school is different from homeschooling. What is important is that you should have all the love and the interest to teach your children to learn things in this world.

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Educational Toys Homeschooling tips K12 Homeschooling

Educational Toys: Doll Houses

dollhouse1

Creative Play Learning:

Educational Toys can be fun to just play with that dollhouse that your little girls want so they can play house. Easy let them help you build it first.
Build a Doll House:

Building a dollhouse can be fun and educational for your children giving you family time and teaching new techniques all in one. When working on their dollhouse the girls will learn to be creative, use scissors, sew, draw, glue and use a staple gun all with your assistance.

By using a large box they can draw on the door and windows, use the scissors to cut them out and making their own decisions on the window and door shapes. When they cut the doors only cut top, bottom and one side so it can be opened and shut. Suggest to them that they can add some shutters on the windows and color them in with markers.  Drawing flowers and a bush or two on the corners to dress the outside up will make an impressive creation for your child.

Once the outside is done put some carpet down on the bottom using whatever you want.  Use four pieces for the floor cut into different sizes if they want using different colors to divide the box into rooms. For the curtains on the inside glue along the top of each window and stick a piece of cloth there to hang them up and maybe cut up the center and tie them back to open the curtain gluing the tie back to each side. The house is finished inside now they have to put some furniture in it.

Involving in Decision Making:

Letting your child decide what furniture, they want and let, them glue Popsicle sticks to cardboard to make table and chairs; you can also use egg cartons to the chairs and maybe a table. Giving them assistance is great but let them be in on it.  This will help build their self-esteem and confidence especially when it is finished and they have their dream house.  Make sure the furniture is large enough for their dolls to sit or lay on. You can even use a small butter bowl for a table by turning it upside down and letting the make a tablecloth to put over it using the needle and thread to sew the hem around the bottom.

Letting the girls make their own decisions and designing it will teach them hard work is worth the effort when it is finished. If you do this as a family project, you can give them ideas and assistance teaching them to be creative.
How to unleash imagination:

Once the house is done, they can learn personal skills. Like setting, the dinner table with doll dishes that they have in their toy box stuck in the closet. They will be learning to play together giving them skills to get along and enjoy being with each other. Let them ask the little girl next door to come over and they can have a pretend tea party for the dolls, another skill learning to get along with people outside the home.

Building a dollhouse has given your girls a lot of new knowledge; they have learned to be creative, drawing, coloring with markers, and using scissors. Learning to share the same house, and the skill of getting along with other people outside the home can help your child develop social skills. They have learned to use sticky glue, using the egg cartons show them another item they can be creative with and self-esteem with confidence by having something they helped to make. Showing your child that if they want something, working for it is all in learning and having fun and getting what they want.

Click here to see types of Doll Houses

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Educational Toys Homeschooling tips K12 Homeschooling

Educational Toys: Learning Through Crafts

arts

Does your child like to draw and make things?

Try find some toys that are crafty and making things always makes them so proud if they can give to someone as a present especially.

Your children can do with crafts, which are simple, challenging, fun, inspiring them to learn new skills. They will learn coordination, how to be creative, counting, and reading to. The amount of skills they learn is depending on what they are making.

Click here to see Drawing supplies

Creative Learning through Craft Ideas:

Crafting can become a way of having fun starting at any age really; usually around age 5 is a good time to have fun with them. Start small and as they learn one thing try something else, this will give you family time.

Try weaving as a craft and if you don’t know how you can learn too. Beginner’s kits can be sold at most craft stores with all the supplies to make your project. Get two of them and both of you can learn something new together. Your child will learn how to count stitches, and reading the instruction with illustrated pictures making it easier to follow.

Weaving Craft Ideas

Make a Tick-Tack-Toe game so they can learn to recognize the X’s and O’s. They’ll learn that losing is all that bad when having fun after they made it themselves. At the fabric store get a piece of felt material and with a maker draw you boxes on it. Get some colored cardstock and draw some X’s and O’s to let your child cut out this will teach your child how to use paper scissors.  Cover the cardstock with clear contact paper. The game is done and now your child will learn to play a new game.

Paint the Wild Nature Tic-tac-toe Kit By Balitono

How about Make a Plate Kit is a fun way to let your child make something for the table or a gift to give grandma. Your child will learn to draw picture and learn colors. Let them do the drawing and sent it to the company and they will mail it back on a plate safe to eat off.  They’ll be so proud when they can eat off their own plate that they made.  Your child will learn the gift of giving if it is given to Grandma.

Toysmith 4M Plate Painting Kit #3512

Creativity for Young Ones:
Teach your children age 5 through 6 how to make potholders. Let them be creative by mixing their own colors together and coordination is being used here as well. They’ll love it when they see mom using it at the stove.

Harrisville Designs Potholder Deluxe

Teaching your child to tell time is a fun project for them to make and learn. Get a cheap clock and take the top off. Remove the clock hands so you can get the plain backing off.  Let them cut out 12 pictures of different animal and let the glue the animals next to the numbers. This is teaching your child how to use scissors; they will learn how to use glue and can learn to tell time with the pictures or by the numbers. When the project is done hang it up in their room just for them. Now you can teach your child how to tell time at the age of 4 instead of 5.

Telling Time Flannelboard Figures Flannelboard Lesson Set – Kit

How about suncatchers that are cute and cheap to make. Let your child glue 2 old CD’s together and decorate one side of it.  You can buy different foam shapes at the craft store to glue on. Let your child be creative at making flowers, sun faces, or fish even.  This will teach them to make the decision of what they one to make for the face, putting colors together, and how to use glue. Glue a piece of yarn, string or fishing line of the back to hang it up in the window.

Suncatcher Group Activity Kit, Construction 12/Pkg

Check out all arts and craft activities and kit here.

Image source: Amazon