Category: Homeschooling Resource

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Field Trip Ideas For Homeschoolers

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One of the best we can learn is from going to museums, field trips and actually seeing and doing how things works. Regular public schools also have field trips to educate the children. When you are homeschooling, you can customized and cater the field trip according to your child’s interests. You can check out various museum and other ideas at museum and more site.

Homeschool – Field trips

If you are going over a particular subject with the family and
feel that a field trip would be beneficial, then that’s what you
should do – go for a trip. If you are attached to a support group,
you can plan to include other children too.

Here are some guidelines that will help you plan:
1) Collect the rates
2) Allowed ages
3) Special highlights
4) Size of the group
5) Timings
6) Eating facilities

Inform your support group of all these details well in advance so
that the necessary circulars may be sent out. On the appointed
day, arrange to meet with other parents and children in a
particular place. Plan the mode of travel and reach the place at
least 10 minutes in advance.

The field trip is not just fun. So, let your kids bring their
writing material. Allow them time to stare and admire. Do not
hurry them along. Collect data beforehand so that you can clear
doubts. Get help from a guide, if necessary. And most importantly,
have fun and enjoy the time you spend with your children.

Check out:

Homeschool Reference Books for Parents

Best early education homeschool curriculum

Homeschooling poster: Cheap, fun and educational

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Homeschool FAQ Homeschool Parenting Tips Homeschooling tips

How to Grade Your Homeschooling Child

Homeschool and Grade your Child is one of the thing that many new homeschooling parents worry about and to make sure they are doing it right way that public school does it. If you ever wonder about here some ideas to help you with it.

How great must a parent feel spending time with her child at home, see her grow, discover and explore the world! Be all the way with her during her learning and explorations.

In America, homeschooling has been gaining popularity due to several reasons given by parents or they have seen the applicability to their child’s unique situation. But, laws pertaining to this new alternative approach to education vary from state to state and there are different interpretations to it by school districts.

Homeschooling does not mean bringing school to home because it will defeat the purpose of homeschooling which is to enjoy learning and have more time to socialize outside rather than spend the day at school and at night they bury themselves in their homework.

Often, this choice of educational approach is decided by the family due to certain unique situations like special children in the family. Others just simply want to be a hands-on parent to his or her kids’ learning and explorations.

In engaging to homeschooling, there are certain things you need to sacrifice like your time and finances. It will be taxing and would take too much of your time as a mother. No more pilates or yoga class for the moms or even office outside the home. For the breadwinners, it will be financially constraining because homeschooling is very expensive.

But try to weigh the benefits from the disadvantage of homeschooling your child:
•    The curriculum programs offered most often are very open and flexible.
•    The best teacher you can give your children: you.
•    Parents are active partners in the children’s learning activities
•    Parents as role models being reinforced as they work closely together with their kids, and,
•    How learning can be fun!

If you as a family are really decided on homeschooling your child, you have to go through the process of reviewing the options available for you considering you have a special case, check out your child’s learning styles so you have to spend time with him and be flexible.

How about grades? Grading you child’s performance is very important especially if the state inspects you. Grades of your homeschooled child should be filed neatly and be well-organized.
Grades should be your concrete measure about your child’s performance. It will tell you much about what your child or how much he has mastered though this might be overwhelming work especially paperwork to be checked. Also, you cannot give scores to an effort like grades do. They put numbers to almost anything.

If your family is ready, has studied all other options and all are positive, then you can experience that learning is fun!

Check out:

Homeschool Reference Books for Parents

Best kindergarten curriculum I love! Sing, Spell, Read and Write

Homeschool Curriculum

Mary Pride’s Complete Guide to Getting Started in Homeschooling

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Homeschool Parenting Tips Homeschooling Resource

Learning About Homeschooling

I always get asked about homeschooling as people in generally do not know too much details about it. Here some details to learn 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.

Check out:

10 Things to Consider Before you Start Homeschooling

Homeschool Reference Books for Parents

Best early education homeschool curriculum

Best kindergarten curriculum I love! Sing, Spell, Read and Write

Homeschool Curriculum Reviews

Getting Started

Homeschooling poster: Cheap, fun and educational

Homeschooling via DVD Videos

Categories
Homeschool Curriculum Homeschool Parenting Tips Homeschooling Resource Homeschooling tips

Best Homeschooling Reference Books To Read

If you are new to homeschooling, curious about homeschooling or veteran homeschooler who wants to try out a new ways to teach at home, there are plenty of books out there. I have read them all (okay, most) and I am sharing the top and best of best homeschooling books for you here so you do not have to waste your precious time reading duds.

1. The Unschooling Handbook : How to Use the Whole World As Your Child’s Classroom

This 240 page book shares Unschooling, a homeschooling method based on the belief that kids learn best when allowed to pursue their natural curiosities and interests, is practiced by 10 to 15 percent of the estimated 1.5 million homeschoolers in the United States. There is no curriculum or master plan for allowing children to decide when, what, and how they will learn, but veteran homeschooler Mary Griffith comes as close as you can get in this slim manual. Written in a conversational, salon-style manner, The Unschooling Handbook is liberally peppered with anecdotes and practical advice from unschoolers, identified by their first names and home states. The book also includes resources such as one teenager’s sample “transcript,” a typical weekly log of a third-grader’s activities, and helpful lists of magazines, online mailing lists, Web sites, and catalogs. Griffith, a board member of the Homeschool Association of California (and the author of The Homeschooling Handbook), names Margaret Mead and Thomas Edison as two examples of those who have profited from unschooled childhoods, and further claims that research validates support for this controversial form of education. The “evidence” she cites, however, is predominantly theoretical writings from noted educators about the benefits of child-centered learning. The handbook suffers from a mild case of the Lake Wobegone syndrome–every unschooled children is seen as an above-average self-starter on the verge of genius–yet despite this overly rosy approach, the book is a well-organized guide for homeschoolers and other families contemplating the “un” life.

2. Homeschooling for the Rest of Us: How Your One-of-a-Kind Family Can Make Homeschooling and Real Life Work

Here what back book Jackets says
“Overwhelmed?
Wonder how others do it all?
Not sure you’re cut out for homeschooling?

It’s time to break a myth: Homeschooling families aren’t perfect. In fact, real-life families like yours can be–and are–successful homeschoolers! That’s the life message of Sonya Haskins, who is dedicated to helping everyday families meet the challenges of home education and enjoy its countless benefits.

In this practical, encouraging guide, Haskins shares tried and true ideas for how to:

Discover a realistic vision of homeschooling for your family
Help your child get excited about learning
Find a routine that fits your goals and lifestyle
Nurture a biblical worldview in your child’s heart and mind
And much more

Whether you are already homeschooling or just considering it, this book offers the support, answers, and flexible strategies to help you succeed. Great resources for many homeschooling parents.

3. The Ultimate Book of Homeschooling Ideas: 500+ Fun and Creative Learning Activities for Kids Ages 3-12

This comprehensive collection of tried-and-true—and generally inexpensive—ideas provides the best-of-the-best homeschooling activities that can be done anywhere, anytime, and by anyone. As a homeschooling parent, we are always looking for new and creative ways to teach our child the basics. Look no longer! Inside this innovative helper, you’ll find kid-tested and parent-approved techniques for learning math, science, writing, history, manners, and more that you can easily adapt to your family’s homeschooling needs. And even if you don’t homeschool, you’ll find this book a great teaching tool outside the classroom. You’ll discover fun and educational activities for kids ages 3 to 12, including how to:
·Create maps based on favorite stories, such as Treasure Island or The Wizard of Oz
·Make letters out of French fries as an alphabet learning aid
·Explore architecture by building igloos, castles, and bridges with sugar cubes and icing
·Review spelling words by writing them on the sidewalk with chalk
·And many more!

4. The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child: Your Complete Guide to Getting Off to the Right Start

This was so useful when we started homeschooling and I use it even now for reference once in awhile. Here one reader said in her own words. “This book was so amazing I am lending it out to people who aren’t even thinking of homeschooling… it was just so wonderful to read! I was about to start homeschooling my oldest and didn’t have any idea where to start. Lisa Dobson addressed each of my fears and questions… and I don’t even know her! This book is so down to earth that it will put anyone at ease, and the advice she and the many many other homeschoolers give is so practical. I started using the information immediately. There are two wonderful features I would like to detail for you: first of all, she takes nine different styles of homeschooling, explains them thoroughly, and then takes you through “A week in the life” with a family using each. As a new homeschooler, this helped me immensely by helping me eliminate those philosophies which I know would not work for our family, but find some philosophies that I will research further. The second feature are the abundance of “What I Wish I had Known the First Year” highlights throughout the book. You will not regret this purchase! ”

5. 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum: Choosing the Right Curriculum and Approach for Your Child’s Learning Style

This 320 pages book is must for every homeschooler.The key to successful home education, homeschool veterans will tell you, is determining your educational philosophy and marrying it to your child’s learning style. Then you can make an informed decision in choosing the right educational curriculum for the child. This is the formula for success. In 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum, homeschool guru Cathy Duffy can help you accomplish these critical tasks. Cathy will give you her top choices from every subject area, approaching everything through a Christian worldview perspective. This book is a critical volume for the homeschooling community.

6. Home Learning Year by Year: How to Design a Homeschool Curriculum from Preschool Through High School

If you are like me, I like to know what to teach year by year so I know I stay focus and know what my child is learning what he supposed to know and learn. Finally, homeschoolers have a comprehensive guide to designing a homeschool curriculum, from one of the country’s foremost homeschooling experts. , Rebecca Rupp presents a structured plan to ensure that your children will learn what they need to know when they need to know it, from preschool through high school. Based on the traditional pre-K through 12th-grade structure, all the way until college to ease your mind on education at home.

7. The Complete Home Learning Source Book: The Essential Resource Guide for Homeschoolers, Parents, and Educators Covering Every Subject from Arithmetic to Zoology

This huge mega 880 page is true reference for me and many other experience homeschooling parents I know. There’s so much packed into it about so many interesting and unusual resources, with something for everyone. It’s gratifying to see a reference book so well done. The Complete Home Source Book is quite literally a huge delight. The subtitle says it well: The Essential Resource Guide for Homeschoolers, Parents, and Educators, Covering Every Subject from Arithmetic to Zoology. The book is nicely organized into subjects of study, and the subject titles are thoughtfully printed at the page edges in dark blocks to show even with the pages closed. Each entry is tagged with the age group for which the resource is intended. Symbols are used to identify whether the resource is: a book, curriculum, kit, video, software, magazine, audio, game, on-line resource, hands-on activity, or catalog.

8. Homeschool Your Child for Free: More Than 1,400 Smart, Effective, and Practical Resources for Educating Your Family at Home

This book title caught my eye and I had to buy it as frugal stay at home of 2 kids, I could use saving so this book intrigued me. This book is 480 pages long and Comprehensive and clear, Homeschool Your Child for Free gives you access to free instructional material–from reading-readiness activities for preschoolers to science projects for teens–to help build a strong foundation that will last into adulthood. You don’t need to drain your bank account to guarantee a good education for your child. With a computer and the Internet, you have the largest library and laboratory right at your fingertips–all for free!

9. Free Range Learning: How Homeschooling Changes Everything

Free Range Learning presents eye-opening data about the meaning and importance of natural learning. This data-from neurologists, child development specialists, anthropologists, educators, historians and business innovators-turns many current assumptions about school-based education upside down. The book’s factual approach is balanced by quotes and stories from over 100 homeschoolers from the U.S., Canada, Germany, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Mexico, India and Singapore. These parents and kids are the true authorities on alternative learning. Written for interested parents and educators, Free Range Learning will also encourage and excite those who want their children to have the benefits, but who are timid to approach homeschooling.

10. The Well-Adjusted Child: The Social Benefits of Homeschooling

If you are on fence about homeschooling or even curious just because? This is the book for you. Overall, I would say this book does a good job of refuting, point-by-point, the most common misconceptions about the lack of socialization of homeschooled children. Although I had a few problems with it (quite a bit of repetition and somewhat outdated statistics), the book presented a fairly comprehensive argument that homeschooling does, in fact, provide children many benefits where socialization is concerned.

11. Homeschooler’s Book of Lists, The: More than 250 Lists, Charts, and Facts to Make Planning Easier and Faster

I first found this book through our local library system. After checking it out from the library, I looked through it and decided that this book was worthy of purchase! One of my favorite things about the book is the companion CD which includes every list from the book – ready to print out! I expect that we’ll print out certain pages & use the printout to easily research various topics on the internet or at the library. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who homeschools but also to parents with kids in public school. This 560 pages book is still my go to reference book on my book shelf.

12. Homeschooling For Dummies

I never felt like I was dummy for anything but this book sure opened up my eye when I was new to homeschooling as when it came to homeschooling I had lot to learn few year ago. Every other homeschooling book I ever picked up had an agenda — they wanted you to do things this way or that way, and preached that no other way of teaching could possibly work at all. HOMESCHOOLING FOR DUMMIES explains the pros and cons of many different teaching methods without proclaiming that any one of them is the *only* answer. Most importantly, the author shares her experiences with things that worked and things that failed with her own kids, and how she continually reshapes her teaching approaches. It felt great to finally hear someone say “find what works for your kids and do it”!!!

What are you favorite reference books for homeschooling?

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Common Homeschooling Misconception: Socialization

For many parents who are not homeschooling or interested in homeschooling always have a big misconception about socialization if you are homeschooling. While I have talked about it in my previous posts called frequently asked questions but I wanted to write about more in detailed here as it is one of most asked question about homeschooling.

Well first there is difference between social life and socialization, according to Mrs. D,

Socialization is knowing how to act appropriately in various situations and is best taught by adults who care about the child.

Socialization is not the same as having a social life. Remember this when you hear the dreaded “S” word from others. Your homeschooled kids will have as many friends and activities as they want and you allow (and likely more time than their PS peers to enjoy them).

They will be socialized by their parents and other caring people who will help them learn appropriate behavior in different situations- at home, in public, in informal and formal activities. They will have many opportunities to learn and practice social skills as they will be interacting with the real world on a regular basis.

I think Mrs. D is right about it. But you know what? Many people have the misconception that homeschoolers are isolated at home all day, with little or no contact with the outside world. What is your experience? Has your family struggled in this area? What social activities do your children participate in? Do appropriate social skills come naturally to your children or do you have to work at it?

That is not true, I have 2 young kids and they are out in sport classes, field trip, playing in park, taking a hands on experience classes to make volcano, dinosaur fossils or planting new flowers with other mixed age kids. Here are a few ways that homeschooler kids and parents can keep social life active!

Homeschooled students can have a very busy and abundant social life. For some, this happens naturally, others have to work a little harder to arrange activities for their children. Here are a few of the many activities homeschooled children participate in:

  • Other homeschoolers: Many homeschool families participate in homeschool group activities such as field trips, park days, coop classes.
  • Sports programs: Students can participate in city sports, homeschool sports programs, and some public schools open up their sports programs to homeschooled students.
  • Youth Groups: Many homeschool students join clubs and programs like 4-H, scouts, youth groups, etc.
  • Friends: Play dates are often arranged with friends.
  • Volunteer Work: Some homeschooling families volunteer at nursing homes, feeding the hungry and other community opportunities.

Sometimes, problem with homeschooling is that parents and kids can have “too much” socialization AKA too many activities to deal with. Many parents actually have to actually make an effort do studying or alone time to make sure kids and teens get plenty of rest and down time as well.

As you can tell, socialization is overrated in public school, now with some public school are cutting recess time to 15-30 minutes so they can cover more teaching, kids have less and less time to interact with peers at the school. It is activities such as sports, field trip that makes good opportunity to make new friendship when you spend quality time together.

Check out:

Homeschool Reference Books for Parents

Debunking Homeschooling Social Concerns

Homeschooling: Frequently Asked Questions

More Homeschooling Questions Answered

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Homeschool News Homeschool Parenting Tips

Homeschooled Kids Seek to Join Activities At Public School

Many homeschool kids and teens are seeking some sports or otherwise activities at public school, and it seems to gaining some momentum. For many parents and kids it is win-win situation, for others it might be not right, you decide.

STRASBURG, Pa., June 16 – Mary Mellinger began home-schooling her eldest sons, Andrew and Abram, on the family’s 80-acre dairy farm five years ago, wanting them to spend more time with their father and receive an education infused with Christian principles. Home schooling could not, however, provide one thing the boys desperately wanted – athletic competition.

But the school district here, about 60 miles west of Philadelphia, does not allow home-schooled children to play on its teams. So Mrs. Mellinger reluctantly gave in and allowed the boys to enroll in public high school, where Andrew, 17, runs track and Abram, 15, plays football and both perform with the marching and concert bands.

“We grieved about losing the time we had with the boys,” Mrs. Mellinger, 41, said outside the 150-year-old red brick house where Mellingers have lived for seven generations. “It seems so unfair. We’re taxpayers, too.”

Mrs. Mellinger’s plaint has become the rallying cry for an increasing number of parents across the country who are pushing more public schools to open their sports teams, clubs, music groups and other extracurricular organizations to the nation’s more than 1 million home-educated students.

This year, bills were introduced in at least 14 state legislatures, including Pennsylvania’s, to require school districts to open extracurricular activities, and sometimes classes, to home-schooled children, say groups that track the issue. Fourteen states already require such access, while most others leave the decision to local school boards.

But many districts strongly resist the idea, citing inadequate resources, liability issues, questions about whether students would be displaced from teams and clubs, and concerns about whether home-schooled children could be held to the same academic and attendance standards. In some states, districts also lose state aid when children leave to be home schooled, although that is not the case in Pennsylvania.

The push for access is in many ways a new chapter for the home-schooling movement, which for years viewed public education as a hostile, overly regulated system that should be avoided at all costs.

But as the movement has gained more acceptance and grown in size and diversity, more parents want their children to be involved in school activities like chess, basketball or Advanced Placement courses, say home-schooling advocates and educators. Even people who do not want the services argue that other families should not be denied them, seeing access as a civil rights issue for people who pay school taxes.

“We found enough activities within the home-school community to satisfy our needs,” said Maryalice Newborn, who runs a support network for home-school families outside Pittsburgh. “But if somebody else wants to participate, shouldn’t they have that right?”

Christopher Klicka, senior counsel for the Home School Legal Defense Association, a nonprofit group based in Virginia, said polls showed that a majority of home-school parents remained wary of letting their children participate in public school activities. But as earlier battles over the right to home schooling fade from memory, that attitude is likely to change, he said.

“The further we get from those early days, when there was real persecution, the more people will forget,” Mr. Klicka said. “And they will want equal access more.”

In Oregon, Colorado and other states that distribute aid based on enrollment, some districts have begun encouraging home-schooled students to take courses, typically in advanced subjects like calculus or foreign languages, said Mike Griffith, a policy analyst with the Education Commission of the States, a nonprofit group.

But most states do not provide per-pupil aid for extracurricular activities, so there is less incentive to allow home-schooled students to participate, Mr. Griffith said.

In Pennsylvania, where the number of home-schooled students has risen steadily in recent years to more than 24,400 children, more districts each year are allowing those students to participate in extracurricular activities, and sometimes classes.

Read more at NY Times article

 

I know a few moms in my knowledge take part in Sports activities with local school and it seemed to be fine for them, I have not tried it myself for my kids yet. Have you tried it? What is your take on it?

Check out:

10 Things to Consider Before you Start Homeschooling

Homeschool Reference Books for Parents

Best early education homeschool curriculum

Best kindergarten curriculum I love! Sing, Spell, Read and Write

Homeschool Curriculum Reviews

Getting Started

Homeschooling poster: Cheap, fun and educational

Homeschooling via DVD Videos

Categories
Homeschool Curriculum homeschool-Children Homeschooling Resource

Free Homeschooling Videos

As a teacher I know the value of good picture and good educational video that can enhance the learning experience. As they picture is much better compared to thousand words. Then it must be that moving pictures (video) must be worth a million words. My kids love watching videos, and sometimes I let them watch educational videos and educational games, so they think they are having fun but actually are learning at the same time.

Here are some Homeschooling free Videos for Further Learning about Homeschooler and its issues: You can check our our DVD curriculum ideas and educational posters ideas to supplement and enhance learning at home.

Sample Videos of Children’s Learning

ABC Phonics Song

Counting 1 to 10

Dry Ice Science Project

Learning Spanish

Addition and Substraction Rap

How to Tell Time (Analog and Digital)

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Homeschool Parenting Tips Homeschooling Resource Homeschooling tips

Getting Started To Homeschooling

Once you  have decided to start homeschooling, you will need step by step guide to get you started off in right foot. Here are some simple steps for your homeschooling guidance that may help you get started in Homeschooling.

Getting Started in Homeschooling

1. Making a Decision:

Choosing to do homeschooling is not for everyone and requires planning. Once you have read up information here, decide if that is something you and your child is ready to take on. Decision to homeschool is not easiest and it does not have to be all or nothing. You can decide to homeschool one year at the time, but give it your best shot if you decide to go for it.
2. Start off on right way:

Starting off right will make you new adventure in homeschooling much smoother as with any new thing you start. Here are some simple steps to get it organized and plan for it.

  • Get your mentally ready as a family
  • Set up area for homeschooling in home
  • Set up a time table and organization so you will stay focus on schooling
  • Decide what type of schooling you will be doing such as setting up school your self, using public school or charter’s school’s homeschool or independent study program.
  • Have school supply list ready and buy record keeping planners and oranizers
  • Keep all kids vaccines, birth certificates in school file cabinet just like local school. You may never need to show it anyone, but have it ready just in case.
  • Find a local support group for you and your child.

3. Legal issues:

Homeschooling is legal in 50 states of US and Canada and other countries but rules are little different everywhere. Find out Local Homeschooling Legal Laws and follow it to stay legal and proper.

4. Find Support:

Once you decide on homeschooling, find support from your child, spouse, friends and relatives as you need. The most important support are from your kids and spouse as they will be facing it daily. In addition to this, you may want to find local homschool support group of other like minded homeschooling families to meet for park days, play dates or field trips together. When you are starting out, this support is very crucial and helpful.

5. Learning Style:

Find out what is your child’s learning style is, some kids learn better verbally, while some do better by visual approach by seeing things and there are others who learn best by actually trying it out. You may find that your child may fall in to 2 or more categories of learning style and that is okay too. This will help you as a teacher to teach best way for your child.

  1. Visual Learner
  2. Auditary or Voice learner
  3. Tele Kinestic Learner

Find more about different learning style: Here

6. Decide if de-schooling is needed:

If you are starting to homeschool at preschool level and your child never has been to public school, this step is not needed. De-schooling is process for many kids who have gone to public school and whatever reason now trying out to homeschool. Many times kids are taken out of school because of bullying, emotional issues and problems with learning has happened in regular school, these students will need time to get rid of unplesant feelings, routine and schedule of schooling for while in order to get back to learning again.

You can find out more about deschooling here: Click here.

7. You can start School in Midyear:

Let us suppose, your child in public school is having some issues with school and does not want to go, can you start homeschooling mid year? of course, you can. Just like you can change school in mid year, if you move to different city or state, you can do that staying in same place with homeschooling. You do not need to wait for school year to end to make uncomfortable situation continue with your child. You need to find right legal homeschool ways to ask for school to transfer his record to your new homeschool entity, just follow the process that is legal in your area to make sure you do not any hassle from school administration.

8. Choose Curriculum:

There are many homeschooling educational companies that sell curriculums for homeschooling parents. There are several ways to choose a curriculum that is right for your child’s age and his or her skill level. Most of them do not have to cost lot of money and even those do cost money have better return over the years so do not skimp on certain things and save on other issues.

  1. Use public library, PBS and Internet to supplement education
  2. For preschool and KG levels not much curriculum is needed, basic phonics program, reading to them, colors and shapes will do.
  3. You can check out some curriculum at library before buying it online as there are many online companies selling homeschooling curriculum in various levels.
  4. You can choose online or video based educational series
  5. Your child can take classes by independent vendor teaching program on subject you know little about.
  6. Some basic things you can teach your child, such as reading, cooking, simple math, algebra, science projects and more.
  7. You can choose to buy grade level curriculum which will cover all required subjects to learn or you can buy different subjects from different vendors, eclectic learning works for many homeschooler. For example, a kindergartener can read 2nd grade level language arts program and 1st grade level math program and KG level social studies, you can do that in homeschooling.

9. Keep it fun:

Some families have class setting just like public school, and they do all worksheets and follow course work, other families are more hands on and unschooler where kids lead learning happens. Whatever your teaching style is, make sure to focus on fun of learning and not to make it like displined rigid environment with unbreakble rules. Learning happens when kid’s mind are open and eager, so make it fun and interesting for them.

If your child is having fun learning about butterflies, even though class time might be over, continue talking to him or her that is best time learning can happen. Homeschooling is all about flexibility and focusing on child.

10. Take time to Live and fun:

Switch off the teacher mode once school is over and be mom or dad. That is one of the hardest thing for some homeschooling parent to do, as they are constantly seeing an oppurtunity to teach or show something cool to a child.While learning can happen in every ordinary things we do in life, sometimes just be mom or dad and let kid have time to play and imagine. Limit Television and Un-necessary Internet time.

Whatever you do, have fun to in order to engage and teach and strengthen the bond between you and your kids.

Check out:

10 Things to Consider Before you Start Homeschooling

Homeschool Reference Books for Parents

Best kindergarten curriculum I love! Sing, Spell, Read and Write

Homeschool Curriculum Reviews

Categories
Homeschool FAQ Homeschool Parenting Tips Homeschooling tips

Homeschooling FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

If you are new to homeschooling or have questions before you get started, please check here. We have tried to answer most frequently asked questions here.

1. What is Homeschooling?

Homeschooling is where usually one parent takes responsibility of their child education. It is one of the most flexible and easy to adapt education system as it adapts to child’s skill and pace they can learn. That means learning classes from private vendors, community colleges, co-op schools, and at home. Everything we do in daily life can be learning experience, so education continues even after school hours.

2. What is not homeschooling?Myths about Homeschooling:

Some people consider that only poor people, lazy people do homeschooling and kids do not learn much at home. This is hardly the truth. There are many rich and famous people have done homeschooling in past and current time. Please check out famous homeschooler articles for current actors, musicians and other famous people who are homeschooling their kids right now.

Other popular myth is only Christians do homeschooling. While there are many Christian who do homeschooling, many homeschooler are various religion or not religious at all. Some are doctors, engineers, teachers, some are from constructions, janitors and so on. Homeschooler like you and me, normal human being who wants to be charge of their child’s education.

3. Come on, it is not legal is it?

Homeschooling is legal in 50 states of USA, Canada. Some other countries in Asia and Europe have varied legality for homeschoolers, some are more friendly then others. Every state and country have their laws, some are very basic to just let your current school district know about, some school also offer homeschool or independent study program that parent can do home. We are in process of putting data up for each 50 states and other countries, so watch this space.

4. What about Socialization? Will not child be lonely?

One of the major concern for new homeschooling family is lack of social aspect that traditional school may bring. It is also keeps from potential people from trying out homeschooling. However, homeschoolers get plenty social time with other children and adults when they have field trip, park days and classes being taken at vendor’s or at co-op. Sometimes, there are also sports, scouts and other social aspects that any other traditional school going kids do plus more. Kids can be part of soccer team, pen pal, art camps, piano and other music gathering along with educational part of school that will be sure to give plenty of social time to talk, learn and play together.

Many homeschooler kids do well with kids their own age along with adult conversation as they are part of mixed ages social gathering just like in real life.

5. Why people choose to homeschool?

Why would anyone want to homeschool when there are free public school available? Many parents or kids choose to homeschool for following reasons;

  1. Your child can learn things he or she is interested at his or her pace.
  2. If your child is gifted and ahead of learning, he or she might get bored learning things he or she already knows.
  3. If your child is behind in learning, he or she might be confused and feels frustrated as he or she may not understand concept being taught.
  4. If you child has a special need, traditional school teacher or kids may not be able to give right kind of attention he or she may need.
  5. Special need kids or gifted classes can be expensive, tough to find for some parents.
  6. If you child needs a special attention in some subject, traditional schooling may not be able to provide with large student to teacher ratio.
  7. With homeschooling, kids get to learn things they are interested while keeping up with what is required by law to study basic skills.
  8. Some parents like homeschooling as it strengthen the family bond between them and siblings.
  9. Learning can be part of real world for example, learning colors and shapes while doing grocery fruit shopping for early learning,  learning math while paying money to cashier and so on.
  10. Flexibility to choose subjects and time. For example, if you child loves animals, he or she can spend 2 hours on animal science while visiting a petting zoo or watching birds, you are not bound by bell of class to stop when child is interested in more learning.

6. What to watch out for in Homeschooling?

Homeschooling is not easy way out, it requires proper planning and discipline to doing school work while living daily life of chores and other necessary things. Here are some of the things to consider when choosing to homeschool.

  1. One parent might have to give up income to stay home to teach kids. Loss of income can be huge deal for many families.
  2. If you are single parent, you can still do homeschooling while working part time or making other adjustment but it can be tough.
  3. Loss of private time; If you have small kids you will know this already, parents do not get much personal time to do things they enjoy. If you homeschool that means your kids and you will be mostly together, unless they are in some private class, so lack of time is something to think about.
  4. Sometimes, parents may not think they can teach their kids or have enough knowledge. That can bring issues to teaching.
  5. There is not much information and acceptance about homeschooling in world, specially some areas so one may feel isolated, and criticized about their choices. There are legal entity that supports homeschooling parents such as HSLDA.
  6. Convincing your spouse, friend or loved ones might be tough for some parent who wish to try homeschooling.
  7. You will still have to do all required learning by your state and you will have to keep records like school for your own record.
  8. House chores such as cooking, cleaning and doing other necessary things will have be planned with school class activities.

7. How much homeschooling costs?

Homeschooling can cost little to thousands of dollars per semester, it depends on how you teach and what resources you can use. Homeschooling does not have to be expensive though. There are free resources available to all tax payers regardless they choose public school or private, you can use them; They are public library for learning materials, educational videos, reading, phonics programs, free museum days, pbs children and educational shows, internet, you tube sites.

There are some costs for taking classes, buying boxed curriculum, paid field trip, sports, piano/music classes, art classes and so on. Some of the expense people have to do it, even for free public school. You can minimize the expenses by buying used curriculum, buying what you need and reusing them with other children and selling them once you are done to keep cost at reasonable budget.

8. If my Child is homeschooled, can he be qualified for good college later on?

This is one of the major concerned for any new potential homeschooler and it is valid question. To answer it in short term: Yes, your child will be able to go to good college or even IVY league college even if he or she is homeschooled. Matter of fact, some of the best college actually seek out homeschooler kids to recruit fot their college. According to stats, homeschooler kids tend to have higher ACT scores compared to traditional school counter parts, which helps. Universities like Stanford and Purdue have homeschoolers kids in engineering, sport scholarship as well. So, there are good chance for your homeschooler for admission in college and university to be admitted.

9. If my child is homeschooled, will he or she be able to fit in normal society?

While it is true, homeshcooling done in smaller group class or at home, many homeschooler do not have practice raising hand to ask question or stand in lines, in most cases homeschoolers fit in very well in society as well or sometimes better compared to other kids. How so you ask? Well, if you see in traditional school class, kids are approximately same age, (plus or minus 6 months), so kids in school do not get much practice to converse with other ages of kids or adults. How many time you work as an adult in office where you see people same age as you? Hardly never, so when you actually homeschool, one tends to be around, younger kids to older adults, just like in real life situation at life and in office, kids tend to be better prepared to handle world in most cases.

Traditional school has other issues such as bullying, guns and violence which is much less when one is homeschooling or one parent is there to intervene right away; At school, there are good teachers who look after kid’s benefit but typical high 20-40 students to 1 teacher ratio does not make it easy for them to watch all of them.

10. What if I am out of US and Canada, can I still homeschool?

Homeschooling has its roots in America and it is legal in all 50 states and Canada, other countries have followed the suit and many countries have small to big homeschooling community. You may want to search on net for your local area homeschooling program to be sure to find support community. You may want to look at look in our resource area as we are in process of updating and adding details that can be helpful to homeshcooler no matter where they live.

Further Reading:

Homeschooling Resouces

Homeschooling Articles

Homeschool Curriculum

Homeschool Reference Books for Parents

Categories
Homeschool Curriculum Homeschooling Resource

DVD Curriculum: Is It Right For Your Homeschooling Journey?

If you have been homeschooling for sometimes you know that you can not possible know and teach every subject to your child. That is why many homeschooling parent uses various methods of teaching the subjects that they know little about or not comfortable teaching their child. That is why there are many co-ops, online schools and DVD schooling to supplement to education in all area.

One thing to remember that there are many DVDs and Online Stream videos available for homeschoolers, there are many private companies are selling these DVD or video on demand for educational purposes. Prices can be high, but you will most likely get series of DVDs to cover whole subject for many school years. So, if you think of it as an investment over many school years, it can be beneficial.

Things We Like about Educational DVDs:

  • Teaching subjects you do not know much about
  • Compare to onsite classes, much cheaper
  • If you buy series DVDs, you will get complete scope
  • Most series can be used for many school years, different ages
  • Can be reused with other child, siblings
  • Can be viewed again and again, until one masters the concept
  • Can be resold once done using it
  • Various topics, subjects and grade level options

Things to Consider For DVD educational Program:

  • Series of DVDs can be expensive investment (See above)
  • There are vast choices to pick from, it can be overwhelming.
  • If you can get a sample viewing it is best, otherwise make sure they have a good return program
  • Do research before buying so you do not waste money looking for right program.
  • Buy it from reputable company if possible.

A Few Good DVD Curriculum Suggestions:

Choosing any type of curriculum, specially videos learning is personal and individual bases. Here are a few DVDs program that we have seen, heard of or have used that we liked. There is no point writing about bad ones, as no one should be wasting money, specially homeschooler. Pick and choose what suits you and your child.

Lesson Booster 8 Series Set:

This is a complete 8 Program Series educational video program. Each Lesson Booster video presents real-life scenarios demonstrating the feelings that young students often experience, as well as present ways to cope with and handle these emotions. It is from K-7 Grade suitable.

Students will learn the importance of respect, self-esteem, anger control, and problem-solving within a school setting. These programs are created for both grades K-3 and 4-7 as a supplement to any guidance curriculum. Each program includes a DVD and a CD-ROM with a lesson plan for implementing the content.

Click here to Learn More: Guidance Lesson Booster Video Series (8 DVDs)

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The Complete English Grammar Series

This video series program is shown by Karl Weber, M.A., is a professional writer, editor, and teacher. He is the author of many popular video programs and test prep guidebooks, and has worked on books with such noted personalities as former President Jimmy Carter, Ambassador Richard Butler and more.

This Program comes with 10-volume English Grammar Series makes the tricky rules of English grammar easier to learn than ever before – whether you’re new to English or you’ve been speaking it for years! Perfect for classroom use or self-study, these DVD programs use easy-to-follow examples and practice exercises from everyday life to help you master even the most complicated English grammar topics! It is also very helpful in verbal examinations such as SAT, TOEFL, GED, and GRE.

Click here to learn more: Complete English Grammer Series (10)

The Complete Calculus Series

This is 9 videos serises that is taught by Harold D. Shane, Ph.D., who is a Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at Baruch College, City University of New York, where he taught for over 30 years and was the Department Chair for 14 years and written many math related books, reviews and articles.

Calculus learning and teaching can be very intimidating for many. Not any more, Now you can master an entire year’s worth of college-level calculus quickly and easily with Video Aided Instruction’s “Calculus I” and “Calculus II.” The ultimate resource for AP high school students, college students, and adult learners, these sets cover the standard topics taught in calculus classes and are jam-packed with practice questions and strategies for tackling even the most challenging problems. These programs are also perfect for students of physics, economics, engineering, and other fields. Now it’s easier than ever to overcome math anxiety, earn high grades in school, or relearn forgotten math – all with your own private teacher! Nine DVDs/18 Hrs.

Click here to Learn more: Complete Calculus Series (9 DVDs)

Your Baby can Read: Early Development

This is one of the bestselling programs for young kids before age of 1. It comes with 5 DVDs. Long-term research shows that children who are taught to read by age four, read better than same-IQ, same-socioeconomic status children who are taught at ages 5 or 6. It shows and teaches babies, toddlers, and preschoolers written language during the window of opportunity for learning language. Promotes the learning of “natural phonics”! Includes remarkable footage of babies reading.

The program is good but shot bit amateurish style and many things are repeated for reinforcing learning. It is mostly for child under 2.5 years.

Click here to Learn More: Your Baby can Read: Early Development

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The Complete Algebra 1 Made Easy for Students Series:

Math is one of the toughest subject for some parents to teach. If you are one of the math wiz, you may not need this program for rest of us, this is a great complete Algebra math learning and teaching series.

This DVD box set contains ten DVDs and, ten CDROMs. The titles contained are: Real numbers & exponets, Adding & subtracting real numbers, Multiplying & dividing real numbers, Variable expressions and equations, Algebra 1, made easy for students, Polynomials, Systems of linear equations, Graphing linear equations, Solving inequalities and Factoring. Everything you want to learn about Algebra in One program.

Click here to Learn more: The Complete Algebra Made Easy for Students

More Educational DVD Resources:

If you want to learn more about DVD programs, specific to age or subject, please check out below resources. I use DVD curriculum for science, reading and math. It does not replace mom the teacher,  but it supplements some of the concept from professional perspective much better compared to what might have and it is much cheaper then sending your child in in-person class.

All Image Sources:Educational DVD Products