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

10 Things to Consider Before you Start Homeschooling

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How to avoid Burnout When Homeschooling

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When you are home with kids and teaching them, there bound to be burn out at some point of time. Homeschool burnout does not have be difficult to deal with, if we take some precaution to avoid it and make homeschooling more fun and enjoyable for you and your child.

When a parent takes on the responsibility of educating his or her
child, homeschool burnout is one of the more common issues they
have to deal with. There are many reasons that lead to this
burnout: an illness, a new baby, added responsibility, change in
routine etc.

The symptoms of burnout vary from lack of patience to overeating
and crying without any apparent reasons. Surprisingly, a burnout
need not be such a bad thing. It is a wake-up call – an indicator
that things are not going well and that you need to reschedule.
Reversing or avoiding a burnout is possible if you get fair
warning.

Firstly, lower your expectations. Do not be a perfectionist. Take
the good days with the bad. Next, when something does not seem to
work, look for alternative methods. Flexibility is a key
factor. If tension starts mounting, take a break. When necessary,
change the style of teaching. For instance, small children love to
take on their spellings when they quiz an adult.

Avoid overkill. Do not pack too many activities for the sake of
socializing your child. A worn out mom means a grouchy kid and
that means no happiness. Get support from your spouse or a
neighbor or a support group. Don’t try to achieve everything by
yourself. Homeschooling means ‘happy schooling’ – don’t forget
that.

Check out:

10 Things to Consider Before you Start Homeschooling

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Possible Public School Disadvantages

Post author By Homeschooling Mom
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Many people think of homeschooling often because of possible disadvantages of public schooling system.

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

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

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

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

What are you reasons for thinking about homeschooling?

Check out:

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

Homeschooling poster: Cheap, fun and educational

Getting Started

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Homeschooling Curriculum : Early Education kit

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Curriculum For homeschooler is important aspect of teaching at home. It does not have to be expensive and yet teach your child all essential that she would learn otherwise at fine teaching institute in ideal world. Here are a few curriculum kits that I like, by asking homeschooling parents around.

The reason I like kit for curriculum is in one shot you get every subject that child is supposed to learn during that year and I do not have to go and buy other separate homeschooling materials. I may buy separate if that is something my child is interested and focus on learning about it. These curriculum choices for prefect for early education at home or supplementing with public school system, from preschool, kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd grade.

Here are a few best selling curriculum sets.

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 and shot naturally. What I like is that many things are repeated for reinforcing learning for little ones. It is mostly for child under 3 years or preschool ages.

See more early education curriculum information here.

Early Education Curriculum: A Child’s Connection to the World

Early Education Curriculum: A Child’s Connection to the World, 4th edition, focuses on the process of planning and implementing curriculum across all content areas, for children from infancy to age 8. New research, perspectives in the field, and issues of new mandated standards are covered. This edition introduces a bind- in- book CD- Rom that contains new activity plans, lesson plans, assessment forms, curriculum webs, room arrangements, and puppet patterns, as well as a four- color insert on outdoor play.

Click here for more information on: Early Education Curriculum: A Child’s Connection to the World

2010 HORIZONS AOP (Alpha Omega), PRESCHOOL, PRE K KINDERGARTEN HOMESCHOOLING CURRICULUM SET

With the fun, engaging Horizons Preschool Curriculum Set, preschoolers are introduced to social studies, language arts, math, phonics, and science. To add variety and depth to this foundational curriculum, additional topics such as health and safety, arts and crafts, music, and physical education are included. This program, which is faith based and filled with hands-on activities, can be easily adapted to a variety of daily schedules and program objectives with a flexible organizational structure. The Preschool Curriculum Set contains all 180 lessons packaged in two student books, two teacher’s guides, a sing along music CD, and a resource packet. Basic flashcards and other manipulative are included in the resource packet. An optional package of recommended multimedia is available separately.

Click here for more information on: 2010 HORIZONS AOP (Alpha Omega), PRESCHOOL, PRE K KINDERGARTEN HOMESCHOOLING CURRICULUM SET

Great Source Every Day Counts: Teacher’s Guide Grade 1

I would recommend Everyday Counts to anyone who wants to teach a lot of math in a little time each day. I used the third grade edition when teaching in the school system and saw my students’ math scores soar. Now that I am homeschooling my Kindergarten son, I am very happy to have the option of offering this experience to him, too. I only bought the Teacher Edition, so I need to create some of the items from the kit, but no big deal. Also, some of the activities need to be modified a bit for use at home instead of in a class situation with 25 contributing students. For instance, instead of a class birthday graph, we’re graphing the birthdays of our family and friends. Same result.

Click here for more information: Great Source Every Day Counts: Teacher’s Guide Grade 1

Sing, Spell, Read and Write : Kindergarten Level 1 Combo Kit

The Combo Kit is packed with enough language arts instructional material for two full years. Featuring age-appropriate lessons for the younger child, the kindergarten portion of this kit covers the first 15 steps of the 36-step Level 1 program. Two kindergarten student workbooks are included featuring larger print and fewer words per page. Topics covered include letter recognition, letter sounds, manuscript writing, and beginning reading. Boxed: 18″ x 12″ x 6″.

Sing, Spell, Read & Write is a learning-to-read curriculum that uses a 36-step program of carefully sequenced systematic, explicit phonics instruction to build fluent independent readers. The program has a proven, nationwide track record and the soundness of such an approach is strongly supported by current research on brain function, language acquisition, and reading.

You can read our review of this product here.Click here for more information: Sing, Spell, Read and Write : Kindergarten Level 1 Combo Kit

Math 1: Homeschool Kit (Homeschool Math Grade 1)

This math program provides a solid, basic foundation in math. I like the way that it integrates all different math skills throughout the year instead of isolating geometry, addition, subtraction, measurement, etc. by chapter. We have skipped lessons because they are too elementary for my seven year old.

The meeting book is nice to have for keeping up with calendar, weather, and number lines. The series provides review constantly so the child is expected to remember skills learned previously. We will continue to use Saxon Math next year. The concepts are presented in the most simplistic format, one small piece at a time. They are able to achieve mastery with one task before they move on to the next new concept. This does so much for their self-esteem and, I believe, builds in children a confidence in their math abilities that can last a lifetime.

Click here for more information: Math 1: Homeschool Kit (Homeschool Math Grade 1)

Manipulative Kit for Saxon Math K-3

We’ve enjoyed using the manipulatives set. My younger children love to sort the teddy bear counters and play with the pattern blocks. My issue is with the linking cubes as stated in the other reviews. We are currently using Saxon 1 and the manipulative we use the most are the linking cubes. My son and I have a very hard time putting them together. I stopped using them because they are so frustrating and make a lesson take forever with unsnapping and snapping the cubes. I’ve resorted to using the single cube blocks in my children’s Fisher-Price Trio Blocks set. If you have the trio blocks they are a great substitute for the difficult linking cubes.

Click here for more information: Manipulative Kit for Saxon Math K-3

Hooked on Phonics: Learn to Read Kindergarten System

Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read-Kindergarten teaches kids ages 4 to 6 the basic skills needed to become confident readers now and in the future. Along with musical audio CDs and workbooks filled with activities and stories, the program includes a library of original books, flash cards, and reward stickers kids love. PLUS, there is an interactive CD-ROM filled with activities and games designed to make learning fun.

Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read-Kindergarten introduces:

* Letter sounds & short vowels

Contents include:

* 1 interactive CD-ROM with 28 fun learning games (PC and MAC compatible)
* 3 audio CDs to guide your child through the program
* 5 sets of flash cards to teach letter names, letter sounds, and sight words, and for Word Play games
* 1 workbook that includes fun activities and 17 great stories
* 24 original books to get your child reading
* 2 colorful progress posters with reward stickers
* Parent’s guide that’s easy to use

With Hooked on Phonics, you do not need to be an expert on Phonics because they teach you every step of the way ! and when i say they teach you every step of the way, i really meant every step of the way! Baby steps literally ! how to correctly pronounce the sounds and decode the words!

Click here for more information: Hooked on Phonics: Learn to Read Kindergarten System

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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:

Homeschooling poster: Cheap, fun and educational

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How to Grade Your Homeschooling Child

Post author By Homeschooling Mom
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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:

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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Learning About Homeschooling

Post author By Homeschooling Mom
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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

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

Homeschooling poster: Cheap, fun and educational

Getting Started

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Best Homeschooling Reference Books To Read

Post author By Homeschooling Mom
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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

Post author By Homeschooling Mom
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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.

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Homeschooled Kids Seek to Join Activities At Public School

Post author By Homeschooling Mom
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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?

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