Homeschooling Pros and Cons: August 2008

Homeschool History - How and What to Teach

Many people think that teaching History to home school students needs to consist of boring lectures and reading many pages of a textbook. Just because that is how most of us were taught, doesn't mean that was the best way to learn about History. I, personally, have developed a true love for History from teaching and reading with my children that I never had from being in school. Here are some tips you can use when teaching your own children:

1. Use tools that can bring History alive for you and your students. Read "living books" or historical fiction. Use DVDs and interactive websites to take you to interesting historical places.

2. Help your children realize that History is more than just a bunch of facts. Everyone loves a story. Read engaging stories about people who lived in another era. When you have read enough historical fiction or biographies, the pieces of History start falling into place. Help them understand that History is a collection of stories of real people. They will be included in that story many years from now.

3. Choose an era of History to study. Don't make it too broad or too narrow. If you find that you put too much information into one year, then extend your study of that era of History into the next year if you like.

4. Have a master timeline and fill in the people that you study. It's fun to see how different people's lives overlapped. They can see that one person was born just before another person died.

5. Read about different people from the same period of History. This helps your children understand how History can be biased based on one person's opinion. The bias doesn't have to be seen as bad or good. It is just the story of History from that person's perspective. You could read about westward expansion from the settlers point of view and also from the Indian's point of view.

6. Use field trips, reenactments, and craft projects to reinforce the stories you are reading or the era of History you are exploring.

Learning about History can be a fun and enjoyable experience if you use a variety of resources and have the right perspective. Choose a period of History and find out all about the stories related to that period. Then use the other resources mentioned here and watch yourself and your children develop a greater understand of History.

Author Info:

For more tips on homeschooling, grab your free report "How to Homeschool using the Best Resources" at http://www.homeschool-how-to.com Heidi Johnson specializes in helping families find resources to simplify and improve their lives.

Used Homeschool Textbooks - 5 Things You Should Know Before You Buy

Homeschooling does not have to cost a fortune! By purchasing used homeschool textbooks, you can reduce your homeschooling cost.

There are many places to find used homeschooling materials online. Some homeschool curriculum providers have homeschool message boards where you can buy or list used homeschool books for sale. You can also find used books at Veg Source, The Swap, Homeschool Classifieds, This Little Piggy Stays Home, and Ebay.

If you would rather buy used homeschooling books in person, check local garage sales, thrift stores, library sales and used bookstores. Half Price books often has curriculum available for sale. You can also contact area homeschool support groups to see if they sponsor book swaps or used curriculum sales for homeschoolers.

In order to truly save money, be wise when making a purchase. Before buying used homeschool curriculum, you should:

Know what materials you need. Make sure you know exactly what materials you need for each subject for each child. Don't forget to put teacher's manuals, workbooks and flashcards on your list.
Know the exact name, grade level, edition and publisher of each product you want to buy. Check each product carefully before purchasing to make sure you are getting the materials you want.
Know the retail price of the materials. In order to make sure you are truly buying at a discount, make sure you know how much the materials would cost if you purchased them new. Write down the maximum amount you will pay for the materials before you begin looking. Include shipping and handling costs in your calculations if you are buying online.
Know the condition of the books you plan to purchase. If you cannot view the materials in person or look at pictures of the materials, ask the seller for specific details about the books. Find out if the seller smokes or has pets. Ask the seller if the books have any missing or damaged pages, or pages that contain writing.
Know the terms of sale. Make sure you understand the total cost of the products and how the seller wants to be paid. Ask how the items will be shipped and when you can expect them to arrive. Find out the seller's return policy.

Author Info:

Here are some additional tips for buying used homeschool textbooks.

Visit Carletta's website, Successful Homeschooling, to find other ways to lower your homeschooling cost.

Literacy Games - More Fun Than Football!

The pupils at our school in Hampshire absolutely adore these literacy based computer games. They spend much of their free time playing the games in order that their Nessy can grow and grow. Many of the children have bought the games CD to use at home because they are able to put their weekly spelling lists onto the games.

The literacy programme is an interactive, multimedia resource that teaches children of all abilities and ages to learn to read write and spell. The children at Chiltern have gained confidence and they have great enthusiasm for all the games and resources. There are 120 lessons which follow a structured, phonic approach and all the lessons are supported by printable card games, activity sheets, mnemonics and computer games. Simply put, Nessy provides a fun way to learn.

The programme is based on ten islands. These islands represent ten levels of achievement. Each island has ten lessons which come with worksheets, card games, interactive games and simple stories. We use all of these resources which help the children to develop specific skills in reading, spelling and auditory processing.Our classroom teachers didn't require specialist training as assessment activities direct them to the appropriate starting point for individual students. Recording sheets can be printed off for completion and learning is cross referenced. The product covers many learning objectives. It is a standalone product but could be incorporated into word, sentence and text level literacy work and is a brilliant teaching and learning tool. Colleagues have used the resource and they are all in agreement regarding its value.

There are many learning strategies and mnemonics used through the product to help children learn and remember difficult spellings and root word extensions. The 'Monster Words' proved very useful highlighting the difficult spellings 'ought' and 'aught' with mnemonics to aid memory whilst prefixes and suffixes are also focussed upon in detail through the Heads and Tails activities. Printed work is of a good standard, in colour, with choices for how to use the card games. There were no glitches with the program, installation and navigation was extremely easy and the children were using it within minutes.

Literacy games for school and home

The games CD is full of exciting games, excellent for children who need extra help with spelling and reading and is Ideal for home use.

The literacy games can be used by children without teacher or parent supervision and can be used to provide support for the Nessy Learning Programme. Nessy GamesPlayer follows a storyline where skills improve as they grow and keep their own pet Nessy.

Author Info:

Chiltern Tutorial School is a small junior school in Otterbourne, Hampshire, UK for children with learning difficulties including dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia. Come and visit our site and see how our Curriculum helps children be inspired about learning!

Visit School Teaching Resources to find out more about these literacy games: Nessy Learning Programme and the Nessy GamesPlayer and to try the demo's.

Homeschooling in the Summer? Is it Possible Or Necessary?

The thought of homeschooling in the summer can send some parents and students into a tailspin. Isn't schooling meant for just the school year? Just because you're not reading a textbook doesn't mean you're not learning.

If you look at the principle that we never stop learning, you can implement these simple principles into your summer and find that learning can take place with very little extra effort:

1. Routine - Make sure you keep up with a daily routine of getting up and getting ready and getting some things done around the house. Don't let your children stay up really late and sleep all day or just sit and watch TV. If children have something to look forward to in their day, they can get their routine done very quickly.

2. Reading - Encourage your child to keep up reading for pleasure. Buy them a special series of books they have been wanting or go to the library and find books with them in something they really enjoy. Librarians can help your child find good books that will hold their interest. My sister told her children one summer that they had to read 2 chapter books before they could watch television each week. Some children read their books right away and others took longer and played outside instead.

3. Projects - Summer is a great time for projects like cleaning out the garage and closets, planting and maintaining a garden, planning for the next school year, etc. If you don't want to involve your child in your projects, then help them develop their own project list. Do they want to press flowers, take apart a lawn mower engine, make a doll, build a fort or a wood project? There are countless projects that you and your child can dive into in the summer. Although it may not be homeschooling in the summer, they can learn a tremendous amount about many subject areas. They may even learn more than what they would learn from a home school curriculum.

4. Look for productive ideas - What are some productive things your children can do that they don't get to do in the winter? They can swim, ride bikes, go for walks, play with pets, visit grandparents, take pictures outdoors, grow plants, go to the zoo and other interesting places, plus many other activities that can work into a homeschooling in the summer plan. Our library has a book called "Tricky Pics" that shows you all kinds of ways to take pictures of yourself and others that are basically optical illusions. We did this several years ago but the film never advanced in the camera that came with the set, so all the pictures were lost. Now with the age of digital cameras I think my daughter will enjoy this project even more because she will be able to see the pictures right way and they won't be lost either.

Homeschooling in the summer could be renamed as "learning in the summer". Sometimes learning can take place in the summer to a greater degree than even in the winter because you have more time and resources available to you. Even though you might put your home school curriculum or teachers manuals on the shelves, I encourage you to explore the world around you and look for opportunities to learn and do all kinds of fun things with your children.

Author Info:

For more tips on homeschooling, grab your free report "How to Home school using the Best Resources" at http://www.homeschool-how-to.com Heidi Johnson specializes in helping families find resources to simplify and improve their lives.

Is the Classical Education Method Too Rigorous for Children?

Parents who are interested in a classical education often worry that the curriculum will be too rigorous for their children. Discipline and a challenging curriculum are definitely part of the classical education method.

However, this doesn't mean that education has to be boring. The classical education method actually reinforces the idea that students should be encouraged to do what they find naturally enjoyable during certain phases in their lives.

For example, children in grammar school are great at memorizing things. They enjoy reciting songs and rhymes. Sometimes they like it so much that they make up their own. In this method, the grammar phase relates to this inclination by concentrating on factual learning.

If you have ever had a child in the junior high years you are probably aware that children in this stage are very likely to question and argue. The classical education method applies this tendency to logic and reasoning.

In this phase, children need to learn how to argue based on the facts that they learned in the grammar phase.

When a child hits the third and last phase, normally in the high school years, students' interests shift from internal to external concerns.

Teenagers in this phase are more prone to have concerns how they are perceived. In the rhetoric phase, children are taught how to share their thoughts and ideas so that they are well understood.

A classical education helps children develop a true sense of success. Because the classical education method holds children to an objective standard, they obtain a better sense of what they can and cannot do. This type of educational method provides a practical and accurate assessment of a child's capabilities.

Learning, hard work, and fun can be intertwined. Learning in each of the stages should be enjoyable and challenging. When students learn according to the stage that they are in, it is easy to recognize that students love to learn.

Learning can be very exciting for children. This way of teaching increases an appreciation for education in children, and their desire to pursue additional knowledge.

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Discover How to Raise Your Child to Be a True Leader with Our Classical Christian-based Leadership Program. Great for Homeschoolers and Other Parents Who Want to Make Sure their Child Gets the Best Leadership Training Possible.

How to Choose the Best Homeschool Books for Your Kids

Many people think they have to spend a lot of money just to get worthwhile homeschool books and homeschool curriculum, but that isn't so. Just by researching on your own, you can locate plenty of resources to help you custom-make your own curriculum without losing all your money.

In my opinion it is so much better to make your own curriculum. That way, it won't be so hard to make last minute changes that suit the needs of your child. If you discover a method that works better for you and your child, you can easily add it.

We get together as a family to choose literature for the semester. We make it a goal to try and finish five to seven books in each semester. We don't go out of our way to buy specialized homeschool books for vocabulary or spelling. We just use the literature we've chosen for this.

For instance, my kids will work on words and definitions by writing them in a notebook. Next week, these will also be their spelling words. When we do history lessons, we study the time period of the classic literature we've been reading. Similarly, science lessons become an extension of the literature study when we review scientific discoveries of the period.

When we format our homeschooling like this, it leads to some fascinating discussions at mealtimes.

When you approach learning this way, you have the flexibility to make adjustments according to your child's interest: You can study a work of literature in-depth, or you can just cover the basic facts. Unlike the hard rules of homeschool books, you can freely make changes when you create your own curriculum.

When we study math, we do use homeschool books. However, we go to extra effort to turn the math worksheets into something more interesting: We try to make it so that the kids are applying math skills in real life situations. We do lots of cooking when we're working with fractions, for example.

It's important to understand your child's interests and needs, since this is a key component in creating curriculum for your child. When you build your own curriculum, you are better able to help your child in ways that the public school system couldn't. There is no need to spend a lot of money on homeschool books. You can use great literature as building blocks to create curriculum that fits your family's needs.

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Unleash the power of Homeschool Books and join the Raise a Leader Revolution. Your child can be a True Leader.

How to Find the Right Classical Education Curriculum

The Trivium is the basis of the classical education curriculum. As its name suggests, the curriculum is separated into three phases. The grammar stage is the first, and it corresponds with grades one through six.

Children at this stage in life haven't fully matured in terms of brain development and cognitive thinking abilities, so the focus is on teaching them concrete facts. The important thing is just making sure they learn facts.

Although some kids this young like to know the whys and hows of everything, their minds are really just equipped to absorb the whats. You can of course explains whys and hows to your child, but the focus is elsewhere in the grammar stage.

The whats create the foundation for the whys and hows later one. These are the tools your children will need to answer philosophical questions and develop higher thinking. For the most part, children in the first stage can't grasp or process reason.

This is largely due to their own lack of experience and background knowledge: They don't yet have the tools to process reason.

And therein lies the beauty of the grammar stage in classical education curriculum. Because the grammar stage is built up solely of facts, it builds the foundation upon which all other forms of learning will take place in the next two stages.

For the following two phases to be successful, they need this foundation in place.

The next phase in classical education curriculum is the dialect stage. Children can start this phase usually between grade 5 and grade 7.

A child's mind at this stage develops noticeably, exhibiting cognitive skills that allow him or her to mature to analytical learning.

The teaching methods don't abruptly change as the child progresses from one stage to the next. The methods used in classical education curriculum are cumulative. In the next stages, analytical learning is simply added to concrete learning.

The first stage is where the child learns facts and concrete information. It is in the dialect stage that he or she is also introduced to whys and hows. The dialect stage emphasizes the importance of understanding "why things are the way they are."

The dialect phase sets the stage for the child to apply the facts he or she has already learned, testing to see whether they are actually true. Encouraging this exploration and self-examination is an important step in developing the child's thinking skills.

In this stage of classical education curriculum, children are introduced to the importance and the need to ask questions, analyze, judge, and examine in a respectful way. There is no need to be disrespectful when asking questions.

By not getting defensive when children ask questions, parents and teachers can encourage a positive atmosphere. Setting a good example helps children learn that you can be respectful and disagree.

Classical education curriculum's final phase is the rhetoric stage, which typically begins in the 9th grade and ends in the 12th.

The subjects most often covered include math, writing, science, oratory, philosophy, language, history, literature, and music. This is the stage where all the phases are woven together and put into practice.

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Homeschooling Online - Home Schooling In The Eyes Of Federal Law

Home Schooling the United States has no specific Federal Law. As per the 10th United States Constitution Amendment, it makes clear the government has high regards for education and therefore all matters are bestowed in the hands of the states. US Constitution makes it pretty clear that the government shall neither interfere nor control with education, private or public. This, as a matter of fact is untrue.

So if this is true then certainly home schooling as per Federal Law is legal, that is because there exist no rule to suggest otherwise. Some of United States most famous Presidents came from home schools for instance - Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, all emerged from home schools. Why all the fuss if it's legal? As per Federal Level the whole matter is legal.

But as soon as the matter reaches to state level, it is a complete chaos, that because of poor understanding by local officials of public schools of the basis laws. Most of then are completely ignorant when it comes down to understanding the meaning of these laws. And to a certain extent the officials are not at fault, there exists no uniform laws and laws vary across different states. What is prevalent in New York may not be the same as in California.

Of all the states l pertaining to home schools in California could be termed the most complex. North Carolina has more leniencies but then too some regulations can baffle people. Till federal laws are not put in place this situation is expected to continue, the matter worsens as home schoolers are against any Federal bindings.

If home schooling is your way then what's the way to follow Federal Law! Do not scratch your heads; Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has all the answers for your requirements. They keep a complete eye on new bills that are introduced and also fresh laws of senate and the house, this helps home schoolers keep a track of new developments. The US Constitution clearly says that Federal government have no rights to create new laws & rules to attempt to control public or private education but this far from reality.

The No Child Left Behind Act is a prime example. This act surely gives a controlling like feel public & private schools. There are more examples wherein laws have been made to control education itself. HSDLA is basically a regulator assigned the imperative task of viewing the legislation in at federal government level and of each state while it also takes up the work of giving families of home school legal assistance when they get stuck in legal tangles.

Home schools; can they stay far from the reaches of legal hassles? Do there exists any laws protecting home schools? The tenth US Constitution Amendment is the rescue path. But if you require professional guidance it is best advised to consult a lawyer who has in depth knowledge of the legal issues that govern local and federal home school laws.

The matter be dependent on the legal wrangle of your issue, violation of First Amendment rights might take place. What you can do best would be to approach a HSLDA person, if they would be willing to help you out or would they be in a position to find you an appropriate attorney.

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Get the best practices in k12 internet homeschooling for your children and learn more about the home inspector schooling when you visit the premier homeschooling resources at the http://www.homeschoolingfordummy.com

Laying of a Firm Foundation

It is both the belief and doctrine of my husband and myself, to home educate our children with the Back to the Basics - The Biblical Principle Approach to Learning. We embrace the heart and words of Charles H. Spurgeon: ...If there be any doctrine too difficult for a child, it is rather the fault of the teacher's conception of it than of the child's power to receive it, provided that child be really converted to God. It is ours to make doctrine simple; this is to be a main part of our work.

Teach the little ones the whole truth and nothing but the truth; for instruction is the great want of the child's nature. A child has not only to live as you and I have, but also to grow; hence he has double need of food. When fathers say of their boys, "What appetites they have!" they should remember that we also would have great appetites if we had not only to keep the machinery going, but to enlarge it at the same time. Children in grace have to grow, rising to greater capacity in knowing, being, doing, and feeling, and to greater power from God; therefore above all things they must be fed. They must be well fed or instructed, because they are in danger of having their cravings perversely satisfied with error.

Youth is susceptible to evil doctrine. Whether we teach young Christians truth or not, the devil will be sure to teach them error. They will hear of it somehow, even if they are watched by the most careful guardians. The only way to keep chaff out of the child's little measure is to fill it brimful with good wheat. Oh, that the Spirit of God may help us to do this! The more the young are taught the better; it will keep them from being misled. We are specially exhorted to feed them because they are so likely to be overlooked. I am afraid our sermons often go over the heads of the younger folk-who, nevertheless, may be as true Christians as the older ones. Blessed is he who can so speak as to be understood by a child! Blessed is that godly woman who in her class so adapts herself to girlish modes of thought that the truth from her heart streams into the children's hearts without let or hindrance. We are specially exhorted to feed the young because this work is so profitable.

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The Mission of Biblical Christian Education (BCE) Academy is to provide our children with a biblical-learning voyage, to nurture their lives and to show them that Jesus Christ, the "Scarlet Crimson Thread" of our "Christian Biblical Heritage" does exists. It not only exists, but can and should be taught in every aspect of every school subject, and every aspect of their life. We teach our children with a complete Biblical Classical Christ-centered curriculum. Therefore, we have been blessed to write our own "Back to the Basics - The Biblical Principle Approach to Home Education" curriculum. All Glory and Honor goes to God! ... MORE INFO AT: http://www.bceacademy.com

The Home School - Learning Must Profit to Be Real

I am a teacher. I am supposed to teach English and how to write. I do succeed somewhat in my goal; at least I see improvement in my students' work. But I do not kid myself, because I teach inside the assembly-line factory model of education developed by the Prussians a hundred and fifty years ago and still used for what is called "school" today.

Writing, or any of the other subjects we teach, is not really what we teach. As John Taylor Gatto so aptly explains, the primary quality we teach is how to sustain sheer, inane, pointless boredom over years of life.

We teach something else. We place before the child, in today's world, the unending lesson that his work is worthless. That what she labors at is of no value to anyone. Once it has been marked red, into the wastebasket it goes. And of course, most of the red marks are a waste of time on the teacher's part. Most students never looked at them. Once the grade is seen, the paper, maybe representing hours of labor, is so worthless, that it is crumpled up and disposed of immediately.

And the child learns this truth, over and over, through, now, fourteen and fifteen years of unending work until graduation. "My labor has no value."

Another word for value is "profit." It is a simple fact of life that work that is of value profits. When children produce work that people value, a sentiment expressed by purchasing that work, then they know that they themselves have value. They can do something that people want and need.

As humans, we are hardwired to work, to produce value, with our hands, with our minds, with all of our ability. But worthless and pointless work strips the heart out of a person. Self-respect comes from serving others. Writing a paper on what you did over your vacation, a paper, thrown into the trashcan upon completion, serves no one. And the child's self-respect, bit by bit, follows his or her work into the same place.

Another word for serving others is "profit." What if we taught our children to serve others, to make things that people value enough to purchase? What if they saw people lining up to buy what they have created in their learning? What if we designed academic learning around the real and the practical? What if math was learned by designing something needed by the community? What if student writing was bound into a lovely little booklet, with student artwork included, that was raised to the level that strangers, walking in off the street, would say, "I want that. How much does it cost?"

What if our highschoolers were honored with an education that paid for itself, because what they did inside their learning was of significant value to others?

Student work thrown into the trashcan is not real. Student labor that is of value to others; that serves and benefits others is real. And I know from experience that young people, whose labor is needed and wanted by the adults in their lives, learn at least double the academic stuff in the same amount of time as most of the kids shunted off to today's factory schools.

Because, truth be told, those children are not needed or wanted anywhere else.

And they know that.

Author Info:

A different model of education is at the core of what http://www.yguide.org is about. If you want to learn more about education that is centered on value not boredom, visit us at http://www.yguide.org and click on The Home School to the left. Please sign up for The Home School Newsletter or take the surveys, I would love to hear of your experiences of teaching and learning that profits.

Ways To Teach Fluency - Discover One Easy Method That Works

Is there an easy way for children to remember what we teach them? The answer is yes! The way to do it is to teach your child a skill and then have him practice that skill daily under timed conditions. After your child gets a one minute score, have him record his progress graphically for physical proof of achievement. With this easy to follow method, you'll have the satisfaction of seeing your child become fluent in the desired skill.

Fluency is accurate performance that is quick, easy, and automatic (without hesitation). If a child is fluent in a particular skill, they'll have that knowledge forever. They will easily be able to remember it with no practice. In essence, a child with fluency will have true mastery of a skill.

Keep in mind that the significant differences between experts and beginners are speed, accuracy, and endurance. It is not enough to just have the knowledge; a child needs to be able to remember it, quickly access it, and use it when needed. So it's very important to teach to fluency in the basic skills, since your children will be building on this foundation.

How do you go about teaching fluency? One quick and objective way is to pick a skill your child needs to work on and set a goal. This goal should be in a fluent range, or a range that an expert would perform in. If you don't know what a fluent range is for a skill, time yourself doing that skill and have your students aim to reach your range.

For example, let's say you have a child Susan who knows her addition math facts, but is too slow. The fluent range for math facts is approximately 60-100 facts/minute. You would set the goal for Susan to accurately say at least 60 addition math facts in one minute. Your next step would be to have Susan practice daily with a worksheet of at least 60-80 addition problems while being timed for one minute. Susan would then graph her score. From the graph, you'd both be able to clearly see how Susan was progressing and make any necessary changes if needed.

You'll know Susan has achieved fluency once she is able to do at least 60 addition facts in one minute for three days straight. To be sure she has retained her fluency you would test Susan again weekly and then monthly.

Having children attain fluency in the basic skills is extremely important for their later success. It's not hard to have your children achieve fluency, but you have to follow a systematic process that works. It's a win-win situation for both the child and teacher as both get to see proven progress and results.

Author Info:

Isa Skrobola got her teaching degree at the University of Michigan. She has taught in various settings and has studied the best methods of education for over 10 years. She is currently homeschooling her six children, and wants to offer you more free information at http://www.childfluency.com

When Should You Homeschool High School?

For many parents and students, choosing homeschool high school can be a wise decision. A lot of people think homeschooling is mostly practical for younger children, but that isn't so.

In fact, there are homeschooling courses to prepare students for college. There are homeschool resources for children of any age. Homeschooling is nothing new. It's been practiced for a long time, and more parents find themselves seeking an option to public school education.

Parents are increasingly interested in having personal control over their child's education. A lot of this is a result of the immoral concepts taught in school, along with a curriculum that demands less and less. When parents choose to homeschool, they are able to direct and supervise what their children are learning. In essence, they teach subject matter that's most important to them. When you teach at home, you are providing a sense of security and getting more quality time with your child.

Are you attracted to the option of homeschool high school education? You'll want to learn about all the different resources you can choose from. Regardless of the kind of education you want for your child, you can be sure there is an option out there that will help you. If you want to tailor religion into your child's studies, you can apply it in curriculum and lessons for homeschool high school education. Different curriculums focus on the arts, or on science. Those are just a couple of examples out of the many different options you can choose from.

An additional homeschooling method involves student-paced learning. This means your child is able to progress at his or her personal learning speed. This allows your child to master each concept before moving on to the next exercise or lesson. It's very likely that your community offers homeschool programs that will work for you and your family. You should also be able to find theme-based units that teach a variety of subjects that revolve around a specific theme.

There are also all-in-one programs that address your child's education for an entire year. You might also consider researching homeschool high school curricula aimed at older children. It's certainly worth examining.

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Is Home Schooling In Your Future?

The end of the school year is fast approaching and it's time to think about next year's plans. Maybe you've grown dissatisfied with the public school system. Maybe you're tired of watching your children struggle. Or maybe they are bored and not moving at a pace that suits them.

Whatever the scenario you can't help but wonder if home schooling might be a better option for you.

Well it might be just the answer you are looking for.

It really is impossible for public schools to cater to every child individually. And it is unfair to expect every child to be ready to learn the same thing at the same time. But this is what happens and this is what is expected. Curriculums are designed for the average child and those who are ahead or behind have a more difficult time finding the assistance they require.

There in lies the beauty of home schooling. A curriculum can be designed specifically for each individual child. State standards are disregarded. What is important is what Kevin is ready to take on. For some that will mean reading at age 5, for others it will mean reading at 7 or even 8. Certain children will be ready to write sooner rather than later. And not all will proceed with math at the same rate.

Does it matter when something is learned and then mastered? Or simply that it is learned and then mastered?

Another plus for home schooling is the individual attention each child receives. If math is a struggle on Tuesday the book can be closed and picked up again on Wednesday. You'll be surprised at what a difference a day can make! If Suzie wants to read ahead 3 chapters, let her. Learning at home means no rigid schedules to stick to. If you find that the study of Egypt calls for a field trip to the local museum then you can just choose to pick up and go. If science calls for planting a garden then for heavens sakes plant a garden. Are you getting the picture?

Home schooling works well because each child is able to work at his or her own pace. Whether fast or slow or average. Grade level does not matter. Standards do not matter. What matters is what the child is ready to learn. And with this approach children tend to learn amazingly well.

If all of this is sounding good to you then I encourage you to research further. You will find a wealth of home schooling information on the Internet and at your library. You can also look up the local home schooling groups in your area, I'm sure they would be happy to meet with you.

Best of luck with your new home schooling adventure!

Author Info:

Linda Tyler a home schooling mom in San Diego, CA. Please visit my home schooling how to web site. How to get started, how to choose curriculum and how to save money. http://www.home-education-works.com

What is the Disadvantage of Home Schooling?

Many people feel as though they would be able to have a happy family life if they could take the time to teach their children at home. Although it certainly is possible for you to be able to homeschool your children and raise them to be well-balanced adults, there is a disadvantage of home schooling that you should take into consideration before making your final decision. As a matter of fact, there are several disadvantages and you need to find out if they outweigh the advantages in your particular situation.

The major disadvantage of home schooling seems to be the lack of socialization that it offers to the child. It certainly is true that the child will have less interaction with their peers than those who attend public school on a regular basis. For this reason, many parents who are home schooling in the same area have formed groups in order to make sure that their children have regular contact with their peers as well as to take field trips and do other interesting activities together.

One more disadvantage of home schooling is the cost. It can cost hundreds of dollars per year, just for you to be able to teach your child at home. Keep in mind that you will still need to pay school taxes in many situations so this money will be above and beyond what is already being paid. Even though money is not the main thing that should be considered in this circumstance, it certainly is one that should not be left out entirely.

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To find out if the benefits of home schooling outweigh the disadvantage of home schooling please visit http://www.homeschooling4you.com.

Hands on Experiences For Home School Children

As a home school parent it lays within our realm of responsibility to make learning enjoyable, interesting and effective. When setting up effective home school learning activities we should continually seek out various methods that we can creatively reinforce the learning modules with the actual events studied that day. This is a far simpler task then you may suspect.

When home schooling my grandson, I required in addition to his various academic programs something I refer to as survival training. For example, when we studied plants during his science lessons we also did some research on some useful herbs and medical plants. We felt these would benefit him in his survival training. As a result he ended up learning additional information on the extremely useful Aloe Vera plant. He quickly learned how to use it for various emergency treatments concerning burns, etc. He become quit skilled in its use. We did this with several different plants and herbs.

Another situation was in cooking. As he learned the principles of good nutrition he was gently led into the kitchen for some practical work. Here once again we combined his academic studies with some useful hands on work. I showed him how to make interesting and tasty meals from cans of food that was stored in our emergency food supplies. This worked out real good and gave him the confidence needed to safely cook in the kitchen.

Field trips present excellent opportunities to not only learn but to visualize new skills. As an example we took a field trip to Basto New Jersey. The student saw how the people lived a hundred years in the past. This developed new ideas and potential skills should they be needed in an emergency when all our modern facilities are no longer functioning. As you can see in this situation we blended our history lessons with a field trip and with our survival training. All neatly package together.

Math skills can greatly be increased with map reading and compass work while combining school work and survival training into one. Activities such as these instill a sense of responsibility and importance into a Child's small mind. He or she quickly learns that although they are small they can also do something important and valuable for the family. They learn that there are more significant items to learning then just their books. They get the actual hands on that is lacking in many of the public schools these days.

This same technique can be successfully transformed into many of the subjects and disciplines that the home schooled child requires to be successful both academically and as a member of our society. Just do a little brainstorming and proper planning and coordinating between their activities and in my case survival skills.

Be sure not to go overboard with your extra work. Make sure that the student receives the proper proportion of textbook training and practice in addition to the various survival skills training.

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For more information relating to survival visit us at http://www.firststateacademy.com

Home School Curriculum - How Do I Choose?

The availability of home school curriculum can be a blessing and a curse. There are many books and programs to choose from, but trying to choose can be quite overwhelming. There are a few basic thoughts you need to look into to try to help keep you from getting too frustrated in trying to choose what you will use.

1. Consider learning style - Look at how you and your child learn best. Do they like workbooks, creating notebooks, acting out a story. Knowing yours and your child's learning style can help reduce the amount of "wrong" curriculum that you purchase. If you have a clear picture of how everyone in your home learns best, then you can choose books or curriculum accordingly. This can save money and frustration in the long run. For a learning style test you can take online check

2. Look at many types of curriculum - This can be overwhelming too, but if you go into it just browsing you can gain a lot of knowledge about what is available to you. You can go to home school conventions, used curriculum fairs or have the curriculum sent to you by using "Curriculum Fair in a Box." A variety of sample curriculum is sent to you and you can browse over it in the comfort of your own home in your own time.

3. Plan Ahead - Think about what you want your child to learn or know at the beginning of a school year. Or better yet, if pray and ask God to guide you in what He thinks your child should learn this year. You can take a sheet of paper and list subjects across the top and the names of your children along the side. As you are looking at or thinking about what your child needs, you can jot that down in the proper column for each child. You might have many items under each subject for each child. Once you have written down all your options, then you can circle those that you feel are most important. Then when you go to look at books or resources to use, you will have narrowed down what you need to look for.

Choosing books, curriculum, and resources to use in a school year doesn't have to be an overwhelming task. If you know how your child learns best, know what is available, and focus on what you want to accomplish for that year you can save yourself quite a bit of frustration.

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For more tips on homeschooling, grab your free report "How to Homeschool using the Best Resources" at http://www.hjresources.com/freehs Heidi Johnson specializes in helping families find resources to simplify and improve their lives. For Learning Styles resources and "Curriculum Fair in a Box" check http://www.hjresources.com/hsrecommend and look under "Learning Styles" and "Curriculum Fair in a Box"

Is A Set Schedule For Home Schooling Important Or Even Needed

Many parents who are thinking of homeschooling and even those that already educate their children at home often wonder if they should maintain a set schedule for homeschooling their children. While many beginning home school parents sometimes feel that a regular day that mimics a public schools day is the best route it can sometimes have the opposite effect.

At the very beginning of your in home education program you should develop your schedule. Once this schedule has been developed you should stick to it and not alter or re structure it. By having a set routine in the home your child will learn easier and it will also help them set aside a certain time period for studying and academics. But the most important point of a set schedule is that it to the children that the parents are still in control and serious about home school work!

How many hours in the day you actually devote to study time is entirely up to you and should be based around the planned curriculum and learning potential of your child. So if your child is a math whiz but struggles in English you may want to devote more time to English studies and less to math. That is part of the beauty of home schooling, total flexibility and maximum learning potential for the child.

While you may feel that the amount of time you spend homeschooling is not adequate or does not compare to public school you should realize that just being somewhere longer does not mean learning more. One of the biggest problems in the public school system is that time is used inefficiently throughout the day. Many classes focus on non relevant topics and even topics of little importance. In fact when you look at how much time is spent settling into class, walking between classes the amount of time a child actually works on essential school work is around three hours.

When compared to the wasted time in public schools homeschooling is a great option for many parents who feel their children are not getting a good enough or targeted enough education in the public system.

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Learn more about Home Schooling and get useful tips for planning a Home School Curriculum at http://www.whyhomeschoolkids.com

Homeschool Lesson Plans Made Simple

Homeschooling your child using theme-based learning is a fun way to teach and learn. You can involve your child as you brainstorm a them from virtually any topic your child shows an interest in.

Young children might prefer themes around things like apples, the zoo, birds, stars, or a favorite author. Whenever you tailor your homeschool lesson plans around a theme, learning becomes a lot more fun and creative.

When you base your homeschool lesson plans on a thematic unit, you will also want to determine how much time you'll need to cover that theme.

You could spend anywhere from a week to a month on the theme, depending on how much your child wants to learn the content. I suggest spending only two weeks at most on one theme.

It's not difficult to integrate themes into homeschool lesson plans. You'll also come to realize just how much fun you and your child are having by learning so much through a particular theme.

You don't actually have to integrate all subject matter into a single thematic unit. In fact, you don't even need to do theme-based learning all the time when coming up with your homeschool lesson plans.

One of the most important things you can do is involve your child in planning the themes. Let you child have some freedom in choosing themes for the lessons.

By giving your child choices, you help build his or her interest in what you're teaching. I believe it's essential to involve your child as much as you can in all aspects of lesson preparation and planning.

Let's have a look at an example to see exactly how you would use themes in your homeschooling lesson plans. Let's say you chose apples for your thematic unit. That being the case, you might have a science lesson on how apples grow.

When we do math, we could work on fractions by dividing apples into slices. Learning about Johnny Appleseed could be a lesson for Social Studies. We could study books about apples. For Language Arts, we could write a paragraph about apples.

But there's more: We could turn those apple slices we used in the math lesson to create apple stamps for our art lesson. We could sing songs about apples. We could finish off with a cooking lesson and make apple bread or apple sauce.

The important thing to remember when you're putting together theme-based homeschool lesson plans is to use your child's interests. You'll make learning even more enjoyable when you use thematic units to enhance the curriculum you already have planned.

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Is Homeschooling Right For Your Child? Part 2

When deciding whether or not to homeschool, it is vitally important that you spend time thinking about your family's dynamics. Several things come into play here. Here are 4 critical issues you need to examine.

1. Do you enjoy your children? Do you truly delight in their personalities, creativity, and zest for life? Does it give you joy to see them conquer skills that they've struggled to learn? Do you have fun together?

Of course, sometimes your children you batty. We all have times when we're frustrated and impatient. If you and your kids really do not like being with each other it may be best not to homeschool. But don't discount the possibility that more time spent together may increase your family's capacity to enjoy one another.

2. How do you discipline your children? Do you get angry easily and regularly? Do you spank your children? If you do spank, how do you spank? There are some very compelling reasons not to spank. If you are spanking in anger or out of frustration, YOU ARE AT RISK FOR ABUSING YOUR CHILD. Get help. Be accountable to someone.

Do not homeschool your children if you do not successfully handle your anger. Do not homeschool your children without being committed to building a full "parental toolbox" that includes a variety of ways to discipline your children, without resorting to spanking.

3. Do both parents agree to homeschool? Homeschooling is a big decision that takes everyone working together. Both parents must agree in order for it to be successful. This is especially true in divorced or separated families.

4. Is your family currently encountering stressful times? Are you dealing with lost wages, a death, or serious illness? Are you facing a divorce or separation? Will you encounter any other major life changes? If so, it may be best to put off homeschooling for a year or so.

Homeschooling is a great choice for many families. But it's not for everybody. Take these 4 things into consideration when you are deciding whether homeschooling is right for you.

Author Info:

Richard and Jennifer Jarman are parents of three great children, and they publish a free e-mail newsletter for parents. The newsletter features short articles on subjects that parents care about, and news about toy safety and other parental concerns. Subscribe today and receive a FREE report, "The Right Way to Discipline a Child," by going to http://wholeheartedparents.com/Newsletter.html

Leadership Education - Motivate Your Child to Love Learning, Focus on the Process, Not the Product

Let's face it. When it comes to sitting down with our children to get some homework done, most of us want to get it over and done with as soon as possible.

Doing homework, whether it's for traditional school or for homeschooling, is usually not fun, especially when the child is struggling with the subject, and has no interest whatsoever in the content you are trying to push down his throat.

Can you relate? How on earth will you ever get little Johnny to read or write well? Why does little Sue always whine when it comes to doing math? Is this the norm, or could we possibly find a way to motivate them to learn with joy?

Just consider the following scenario: Dad is trying to help little Johnny, who is having trouble with his homework.

Without thinking twice, dad's number one goal will be to finish that homework in a presentable way, and as soon as possible. After all, there's a football game in two hours, and he doesn't want to miss it. He might even take Johnny along IF he does his homework well!

And this is where most of us miss it. The subliminal message of the parents attitude is: Let's get this over and done with as fast as possible, and let's do it good enough to make teacher happy.

Just think about it. What you are really focussing on is the end product of your effort. Have you ever asked yourself what happens in Johnny's heart while he is working with you?

Is he really learning the way he should? Is his attitude right?

If you have been teaching him to do his homework this way, it's probably not.

You are teaching him to produce an end result that will make his efforts look like a learning process. But in reality it is a counterfeit one.

The only way to change this is by focussing on the process of learning rather than the end product itself. We as parents need to ask ourselves what is going on in our child's heart while he is doing his homework.

Does he understand what he is doing, and how this relates to his life?

Is he content during the process?

Is he experiencing success or defeat while he's tackling the subject?

Are you instilling a healthy habit of diligence and of pursuing excellence in your child?

Maybe he looks happy, but is really only compliant with the requirements imposed on him. Maybe he is rebelling openly against the pressure of having to do something that requires effort on his part.

Both attitudes are wrong , and will lead your child to hate learning and to consider it to be a necessary evil for the rest of his life.

He will be a good employee, who dutifully meets the requirements imposed on him by others, but he will never develop the leadership traits he will need to pursue the goals he will require of himself.

On the other hand, if you focus on the process, it will take both of you much longer to achieve the end result. But, once it's there, it will be genuine and real.

Your child will have developed healthy learning habits, feel self-confident in whatever he endeavors to do, and will eventually come to the point of successfully educating himself to accomplish the tasks God sets before him, and do something noteworthy in his life.

And a child who's heart has been deeply respected during his learning age, will grow into an adult who possesses the character traits that are necessary to impel him or her to be the leader of tomorrow's generation.

Author Info:

You can prepare your child for leadership by instilling in him a love of learning through self-directed learning. Visit http://www.Self-DirectedLearningForSuccess.com for tips and tools for creating and growing in your own learning process, and that of your child. Learn how to teach your children to teach themselves in my FREE e-book: "The Power of Self-Directed Learning", and my FREE e-course: "Seven Steps to Consistently Change Your Life."

From Bettina Langerfeldt, who teaches people how to pursue their God-given gifts and talents by designing their own education with self-directed learning.

Homeschooling Support - 5 Ways to Develop an Extensive Homeschool Network

One of the most important components of successful homeschooling is good homeschooling support. Here are 5 ways you can receive the support and information your family needs to thrive:

Homeschool Support Groups - Homeschooling support groups are made up of families who meet regularly to provide each other with encouragement and social interaction. Homeschool support groups can be formal or informal depending their scope and purpose. Some groups limit membership to those who use a certain curriculum or hold specific religious beliefs. Inclusive homeschool groups are open to all families who educate their children at home.
Homeschool Coops - In homeschooling coops, or cooperatives, families join together to help teach each other's children. Coop courses can be taught by parents or paid tutors. When choosing a co-op, make sure you understand the required level of commitment for both parents and students.
Homeschool Message Boards - Homeschool message boards, or forums, are great places to receive support without leaving your home. Some homeschool forums focus on specific teaching methods and curricula, while others are open to all homeschoolers. These online communities are excellent sources of information and encouragement.
Homeschool Conventions - Homeschool conferences are great places to meet and learn from other homeschoolers. Many of these events feature workshops that provide information about homeschool curriculum and techniques. Some conventions also host home school curriculum fairs where you can view and ask questions about home school materials. When preparing for a homeschool convention, make sure you are aware of the rules of the event.
Community Groups - Many businesses and organizations host classes or activities that provide valuable learning opportunities for homeschool students. Check with community centers, athletic facilities, museums, churches, libraries and other local companies to see if they offer programs that can benefit your children.

Stay on the lookout for the many opportunities for support that are around you. Homeschooling is not always easy, and homeschool support can help you stay the course when the going gets tough!

Author Info:

Here is some additional information about homeschooling support.

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

What You Need to Know About a Cyber High School

You've no doubt heard all kinds of stories about Cyber High Schools - that it isn't school, your child won't learn, there's no social interaction, etc. Cyber High Schools are growing in popularity but because all states are handling this virtual education differently, there isn't a clear description of how cyber high school is handled and delivered. The commonalities in all the programs are that in most cases, the school district will give you a computer and pay for your internet connection for that school year and your curriculum is paid for by your home district. So, your child is going to school at home and online. Here's where the questions come in because most can't understand how a child can learn without a physical teacher at the blackboard. Here is a list of the most asked questions that may help you decide whether online school will work for your student.

1) If my child is really struggling in public school, can I move my son/daughter in the middle of the school year? Yes, in most cases, cyber charter schools have rolling enrollment. Some did that to attract enrollment in their first years and are now full with a waiting list. But don't give up. Some may be able to take you anyway, as these schools understand that students and parents coming to them in the middle of the year are most likely in a bad situation at their home school district.

2) Will this cost me anything? If your state has online charter schools listed on their Department of Education website, then most likely you can move your student to a cyber charter school at no cost to you. They send you a computer and will reimburse you for your internet connection. I actually wanted to use our own computer, and it's against their bylaws to do that (has to do with controlling how your child learns). AGAIN, all states are different and grappling with this issue in different ways, so the only way to know is to call the cyber or online charter school or distance learning contact at your state's Department of Education. Private, nationwide online schools are expensive so research carefully before take the plunge. Your home school district will have to pay the tuition for your child to move to a state cyber charter school (depending on your state's cyber charter laws). This makes school districts very unhappy as you can imagine. Be prepared for difficulty with school officials. I've had both situations. One district was downright nasty and still sends us letters saying "you chose to educate your child privately" and they aren't responsible,(evidently the legal-eze their lawyers told them to write). Another district was large enough that it wasn't even an issue. The best advice is don't warn them ahead of time and certainly don't ask their advice. It takes students out of their building, cuts their population and messes with federal money. Not your problem ... do what's right for your child.

3) How and when during the day does my child go to cyber school or do homeschooling? The answer is simple and almost too good to be true. On your schedule. Yes, your child shouldn't be home 8 hours a day playing video games and watching TV and then school at night. That may work for a few but it's not the peak learning time or environment. But remember, students really only need to be in school 5 hours a day. That's what they do in brick and mortar schools. It's all the passing to classes, lunch, bus time, etc. that creates a long day. In most states it's 5 hours a day for elementary and 5.5 for high schoolers. So if you can do the 5 hours from 8 to 1 and then work an afternoon shift, OR break up school into 3 hours in the morning and 2 later on, that works too. Take the bricks and mortar off your thinking and realize cyber school and homeschooling give you the opportunity to take your kids on a road trip AND school with the laptop, cram a lot of school into a few days and then go on a road trip...it's finally your choice.

4) Will my child lose or gain credits? ASK THIS QUESTION OF THE CYBER SCHOOL BEFORE YOU MOVE YOUR STUDENT. School districts vary greatly, even in the same community, so have the curriculum director at the cyber school check into this to make sure you aren't losing valuable credits. My child took drivers education in cyber school, and it wasn't counted at the next school she attended. Just be prepared for differences in what each school requires.

5) Can my child attend after school activities and participate in sports in our school district? In most cases, yes! Many school districts are very cooperative with homeschoolers and if you chose the cyber charter school route you could probably work out a deal. School districts like homeschoolers better than cyber schoolers at this point because homeschoolers aren't costing them anything. But make the homeschooling coordinator at your school district your friend and more than likely your son/daughter can play sports or participate in music or theatre.

6) Can I put my child in cyber school for just a year or two? Yes, it's just like enrolling and moving a child from any school. My child spent 8th grade in cyber school and then wanted to go back to regular school. That year she regained the confidence middle school had beaten out of her, she did well in her subjects and she didn't feel like a school failure anymore. It definitely served her well her freshman year. Please don't hesitate to email me if you want to talk about this because when I was doing it there were few to talk to. My family thought I was crazy ... school on the computer at home??? Which leads to the most important question ...

7) How will my child learn in cyber school? Cyber schools vary too, just like school districts. The good, stable cyber schools are really reaching for the stars with their technology. They have cyber classrooms, with software that allows your child to even virtually "raise their hand" to ask a question or respond to the teacher. Teachers and students talk on the phone, email back and forth and are in touch actually more than a classroom teacher at a brick and mortar school. Some classes need textbooks that will be mailed to you, other classes are completely online. Your child will make powerpoints, type papers and take tests just like regular school. The difference is your child will be able to work at their own pace, which makes all the difference.

8) Is there social support for my child if I homeschool? Yes, yes! However, you will have to find the homeschooling groups in your community and take advantage of all they offer, and that's a lot. They are highly organized, so much so that they've created "schools" where their homeschoolers can go a few days a week to learn the subjects parents aren't comfortable teaching ... science, languages, art, etc. Just in case you've missed the news for several years, homeschoolers have won the National Spelling Bee many years in a row. One on one education serves many kids very well and homeschooling has been bad mouthed for so many years, that their superb education gets lost in the rhetoric.

Author Info:

Nancy Sutton Smith is a cyber high school parent. She has homeschooled her children and used the services of 4 cyber schools in the last 10 years. Nancy is also a 6x regional emmy winner, broadcast professional, high school, college and adult educator, webmaster and owner of Sutton Bay Media Company, a video production facility creating marketing and fundraising videos. As a journalist and a parent, Nancy researched and produced many education stories relating to the growing cyber school phenomenon. She put all that information into a website call http://www.cyberhighschools.com - an informational site to help parents find cyber schools in their own states.

Timez Attack

This computer program teaches the times tables in a fun and engaging way for young mathematicians - and non-mathematicians! It's like something they would play on Nintendo or Game Boy ... but on this game, you need to answer the questions correctly (times tables) in order to get the golden key and advance to the level.

Being the sneaky mom that I am, I loaded it up and started playing it myself (turning up the volume very loudly!) Soon, both my kids were saying, "no mom - go here!", "push this button", "MOM ... you are gonna loose or walk over a cliff!!!" and the final, "Mom, you really need to let me play this game cause you are gonna loose." Can you tell I'm really bad a video games? Obviously, this game is very engaging and even though it starts out with very simple mathematics, the game itself is so fun, the kids don't realize they are learning - or reviewing facts they already know.

Timez Attack is a great game for High Functioning Special Needs Kids. It is easy for them to figure out - even this old mom figured out how to make it walk and such - of course, the directions are there if you want. But who needs directions when you can push buttons and make it work? My son who has Aspergers, ADHD and ODD figured it all out without any "directions" at all.

The only thing that might be tough for some kids is the timer. Some Aspergers kids or ADHD kids don't do well with the intensity a timer creates. I realize that with "normal" kids, this would not be a factor, but with our Special Needs Kids, it tends to be. It would be awesome if the creator could produce a different version, one with out the "timer" for our kids!

I would defiantly recommend this Computer Program. Oh, and did I mention, it's FREE! Yes, you can buy an upgrade version, but my kids are having fun and learning on the Free version.

Author Info:

Maggie McCormick is married to her best friend Dave. Their son has Aspergers/ADHD/ODD and their daughter is mildly ADHD. They have been homeschooling for over six years and have a Support Site for Special Needs Families. Come visit them at http://www.home.maggiemccormick.com

Getting a Distance Learning Education

Everyone likes to learn something new. We aim at getting more and more knowledge. But as we get elder we have not as much time for self-education and for normal education than we have had when studying at school, college or university. Furthermore we do not have so much time to attend any classes. Getting a distance learning education is the answer here.

Education enriches our daily lives very much. To prove these words just look at your life and your daily affairs more closely. This education that we receive provides us with the foundations for a good life. While many of us attend schools and traditional universities there are others who may not have this chance. For many different reasons though. But the thirst for knowledge is so high by humans that our society has developed a few alternative ways of education. For these people the different distance learning education courses provide proof that you can carry on with your education no matter where you are in life.

Distance learning options

As you look through the different long distance learning education resources you should keep in mind why you are enrolling in one of these distance learning courses. This will help you to identify the type of course or program that you want. You can find this information by reading the course descriptions which are usually provided.

There are a number of ways that you can choose your distance learning education.

The options include:

the internet;
the yellow pages;
your local colleges and universities;
your local community centers.

By gathering this information you will be able to judge if you have found any worthwhile distance learning education courses. The other item that you should be thinking of is choosing a suitable class. You should choose one that will stimulate your interests.

One of the best ways to find that you can choose a good distance learning education course is through the internet. By taking this route you will find that you can choose courses which are located in different countries. This will give you the chance to see some how these classes can help to improve the quality of your life.

Setting objects, deciding the course

Before you enroll for any of these distance learning education courses you should know the reason why you are taking these classes. While this detail is not all that important it can help you to narrow your search for classes. You will then see if you are looking for a class which is professional in background or cultural in content.

When you take a distance learning education program via the internet you will find that your education can be fun as well as informative. With the advancements which are being made to communications technology you will find that you choose to take your distance learning classes in a way that you are comfortable.

With the numerous distance learning education courses you will find that age, educational levels and where you live are no longer issues which will bar your educational future. There are no more barriers that you've been setting in your mind. You can take the distance learning courses to further enrich your education and your life. With these many different distance learning educational courses the world is now at your fingertips.

What else are you waiting for? Start moving towards enriching your life with more knowledge today. Our Guide will help you to get more useful information and tips about Distance learning.

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ExtraFindouts.Com
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Visit us right now at http://www.extrafindouts.com

Visit our Distance Learning Guide and Learn more about Distance Learning at
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Is Homeschooling Right For Your Child?

We homeschool our 5 year-old son. The other day a friend asked for advice about homeschooling her child. These kind of inquiries always throw me off a bit because there are so many things to consider: legal aspects, curriculum choices, physical education, socialization, the physical space used for schooling and storage, costs, record keeping, family dynamics...the list can be daunting.

My husband and I spent an entire summer actively researching homeschooling options--the year before our son was to enter kindergarten. We gathered a lot of information. Because of all the information swimming around in my head--and the fact that I am so very new at it--I often just mumble something about loving it. But that really isn't enough information to facilitate good decision-making. So, finally, I think I can articulate what I think is the first, most important thing to consider before homeschooling:

MAKE SURE YOU DO IT LEGALLY!!! Do not put your family at unnecessary risk by ignoring the law.

Homeschool regulations vary from state to state. The Homeschool Legal Defense Association provides summaries of the laws for each of the United States. State homeschool organizations can also be a good source of information. Research your state department of education. In my state the education code can be accessed directly through the department of education's web site. I was able to read the law myself and feel confident that I wasn't merely making choices based on someone else's opinions.

The state in which I live has a few ways to homeschool legally. We chose to enroll in an ISP (independent studies program). There are many types of ISPs, so it's important to find one that is a good fit. Ours provides us with administrative support (including filing paperwork and keeping cumulative records), opportunities to socialize (through Friday school and field trips), and the fun "trappings" of a traditional school (graduations, year books, etc.).

Our ISP gives us flexiblity by respecting our freedom to choose our own curriculum according to our son's needs and interests. Our ISP provides testing resources and experienced people to look over lesson logs. The tuition is reasonable. So far it has been a very good fit for us.

Homeschooling can be a great choice for your child. Do some research to see if it is the right choice for your family. If you decide to homeschool, everyone in your family will learn and grow from the experience. Just make sure you do things the right way, so you stay within the laws of your state.

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Your Christian Homeschooling Options

You have probably contemplated many reasons to homeschool your children. Some of your reasons may revolve around medical problems, lifestyle, or a better education. Christian homeschooling is another choice that is becoming more and more popular. Parents like the idea of supervising their own children's learning and encouraging Christian values along the way.

While absolute values are on the decline in public education, you have the opportunity to teach right from home in your homeschool.If you are a Christian and considering Christian homeschooling, you may want to think about a few things. First of all, if the intolerance of your religious preference in public school is troubling you, this might be a good decision. You have the freedom in your home to teach about God and the Bible along with your daily instruction. You don't have to worry about saying "God" and being criticized.

On the other hand, this may not be a great enough reason to homeschool your children. When a child's beliefs are practiced in a school setting, they can learn how to interact with others who are non-Christians. They can also be a good example to others and show them what Christians are really like.

There are also Christian private schools that use Christian teachings and doctrines in their curriculum. However, these types of schools are usually expensive. This makes the choice of Christian homeschooling a rational decision.

Other motives for homeschooling your children may be because of unsafe schools, or not wanting your children to change school after school if your family is in the military. If you find that your reasoning for homeschooling fits into a couple of categories, it is definitely an option you might want to consider.

If want to homeschool your children, Christian homeschooling is a great option, especially if you want to instill values into their education. There are many support groups that can help you decide on curriculum. Some support groups can help you determine how to help your children socialize, while others support you emotionally.

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Homeschooling the Teenager

As children start maturing into adults, parents may feel insecure about homeschooling. Many parents then discontinue the homeschooling process and happily hand over the reign to outside authorities. But is this really necessary? Is the strictly compartmentalized education provided in schools a better option?

If social concerns are worrying you, look for interest-oriented associations, clubs and societies. It's also an option in many school districts that homeschooled students are still able to participate in band, choir, sports, etc. You'll need to check with school districts about this. These offer a lot of support for leaders, opportunity for shared experience, and foster a sense of belonging. Make up your own group or share this responsibility with someone else. Home education support groups provide fantastic opportunities to meet your child's needs. This is the best way to develop intelligent, self-motivated, healthy and able young people.

If the growing burden of some of the higher level Math or Science seems to be beyond you, enlist the help of someone who knows more. There are also wonderful curriculum's out there done via video or other media to help. Another alternative is to enroll in a school just for that specific class, although you'll need to research what's available to you in that route. I know my son took a science lab class one semester at the local high school. For one class, he took an art class at a local art store and it was an incredible experience for him. We got creative in making a curriculum that fit both his needs and interests. You can even barter your own services and thus save some money. With homeschooling becoming more and more popular, support groups will have innumerable resources that help you find the right teacher for your child.

When my son was in high school, proper documentation was very important to me and figuring out the whole graduation process and further education. For us, we went through a school in Massachusetts called North Atlantic Regional Schools. This is a physical high school in MA. But they also provide documentation for homeschoolers. Even tho we lived physically in another state, my son graduated according to the state of MA. requirements, and ended up eventually with a high school diploma from this school, the same as if he had physically attended this high school. We were assigned a teacher who was a wonderful coach to help us with suggestions for meeting graduation requirements, and anything else we had questions on. We documented our work, sent in supporting paperwork, grades, etc. and at the end my son was given his high school diploma. They also sent supporting documentation out to colleges / tech schools as my son needed to continue his education. He eventually chose a technical school and was the youngest student this school ever had, and graduated from that school.

The underlying principle that guides homeschooling is this: any child has the innate capacity to grow, develop and achieve his or her full potential. All it needs is the right environment and all the right answers. Be the resource person to help find those resources that your student needs, it doesn't have to be you personally teaching that subject. Be there to provide these and think twice before you turn over this responsibility to a third party. We found homeschooling at the high school level to be very rewarding and wouldn't change a thing! Don't be afraid of it.

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By Valerie Garner - Exploring work life balance issues http://www.thecomfortablelife.com
Visit her other site for hand-poured soy candles http://www.joyfuldesignsinsoy.com

3 Traits That A Good Home Tutor Must Have

Are you looking for a home tutor for your kid? What qualify a good home tutor? If you intend to hire a home tutor, you need to know how to choose a quality one for your kid.

When it comes to home tuition, it usually costs more than sending your kid to a tuition centre for group tuition. With you having to pay more for a home tutor, it is natural for you to take your time and choose the right one for your child. During an one-to-one assistance with your child, the tutor will be able to give his or her full attention and the teachings will be more focused. If the tutor has the right life value and habits, he or she can also transfer these to your child subconsciously. You can see that there is really more advantages of giving your child home tuition when compared to sending him to a tuition centre.

Now, let me share with you 3 traits that a good home tutor must have:

1. Knowledgeable. A good tutor must be knowledgeable in the subject that he or she teaches. This is the most important criteria and you should always ask for grade reference of the tutor that you intend to hire. The tutor must also know how to establish rapport with your child by being able to connect and speak in the same language. Effective communication is very important for impartation of useful knowledge from the tutor to your child.

2. Motivating. A good tutor must be a strong motivator to encourage and motivate your child to study hard. In most cases, students need home tuition because they are not faring well in some subjects in school. When they see that they are not faring well, sometimes they might just give up hope. During a home tuition session, the tutor must be motivating enough to encourage and push him to work hard. By helping your child to build a strong mindset can help him in life, way beyond just achieving good grades in school.

3. Passionate about teaching. A good tutor must be passionate to teach and has a strong desire to impart knowledge to students. He or she must like kids and should not see tutoring as job. When the tutor is passionate, he will try his best to help his students achieve high grades in school.

Finding the right tutor for your child is very important if you want him to treat home tuition seriously and benefit from it. A good tutor is not just one who excels in the subject that he is teaching; he must also know the best method to impart knowledge effectively to your child and help him to soar in school.

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Find professional home tuition services from the website below:

Click Here --> Home Tuition services in Singapore.

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Home Schooling - Where Do I Start?

Whether you have decided to home school or are just looking into the option, there are some steps you can take to help you know where to start. The most important place to start is with your child assessing who they are and what they need.

1. Observe your children. How do they play? How do they interact with others? What do they enjoy doing and not doing? Do they enjoy loud or quiet? Do they enjoy creating or filling in the blanks? Answers to all these questions will help you know where to start when planning your home school.

2. What is your long term goal? Write down what you want your child to be like when they are 18 years old. You can be as detailed as you want. What kind of character would you like them to have? What kind of qualities would you like them to have? Remember that people who write down their goals are 90% more likely to meet their goals. Obviously, you don't have total control over how your child turns out. Much of who they become will be determined by the choices they make. You will be able to help guide those choices though.

3. Think about what you want your day to look like. Do you want to be completely involved in your child's studies or do you want them to be completely self-taught? How much time do you have to devote to home schooling? Do your children respect you and listen to what you say? If they don't do that now, then you may need to address that issue right away. Do you want a more flexible approach to your day or do you want a more structured schedule?

4. Look at what is available for homeschooling. This can be an overwhelming thought. I could write a whole book on what is available for home schooling. Basically, you just need to know how your child learns best, what kind of style you are comfortable with and go from there. Remember that more is not always better when purchasing books. You can always buy more later or borrow what you need from the library. I have resources available that send you a sample of many different types of curriculum that you can look at in your own home.

Homeschooling does not need to be difficult or overwhelming. When you know your child and yourself, you are able to view all the options available and make an informed choice.

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Home School Convention Shopping Success Secrets!

Are you ready for your home school convention?

It's almost that time of year again! The weather gets warmer, nature awakens, days grow longer, and the kids become restless.

The anticipation is not only for the warmer days of Spring, but the start of Home School Convention Season!

A home school conference or curriculum fair seems to draw home educators out of the wood work, don't they?

Even the most reclusive of us, get up at the crack of dawn, to throw on our most comfortable "tennies" and make the yearly trek to the home school curriculum mecca of the area.

As you prepare, consider these tips to help you pick the perfect products, save money and find home school shopping success!

1. Identify your child's learning style.

Knowing your children's learning style will help you choose curriculum that will work more effectively with your child and save you time and money!

The three basic categories of learning styles are:

Kinesthetic
Auditory
Visual

Kinesthetic learners like direct involvement - they learn by doing. Visual learners discover best by seeing and watching demonstrations. And auditory learners learn through verbal instructions from others or self = they like to talk! :)

Most children use a variety of learning styles depending on what they are doing or learning, but most show a dominant style.

Look for materials that will complement their learning style, to prevent frustration and home school failure.

2. Recognize your preferred teaching method.

As a home educator, you play and important role in the education of your child. The products, home school curriculum and resources you use, must suit your personality and style.

In the homeschool community, there are a variety of homeschooling or teaching methods. A few include:

Literature Based Learning
Unit Studies
Workbook Method
Unschooling
Classical Education
Charlotte Mason
Eclectic Homeschooling

Choose a method that not only works with your child, but that you like too! Some of these popular teaching methods serve as wonderful ways to learn but to prevent feeling like a home school failure, choose one that is a right fit for you.

Most methods can be tailored for your child's individual learning style.

3. Create your budget.

Figure out your budget before going to your home school conference to prevent over-spending and limit impulse buys.

Specials will abound at your home school convention, but a bargain is never a bargain, if you don't have the money or if it's not exactly what you need!

Do some research now.

Make the most of your home school convention experience, so you shop wisely, save money and invest only in the materials that are best suited for your children... and you!

Author Info:

You can homeschool your child successfully and affordably! From her personal experience as a home educator and group leader, Heather Gneco shares valuable insight to help you increase time, save money and provide your children the best homeschool experience possible.
For more homeschooling success tips, visit:
http://www.homeschool-curriculum-savings.com

Homeschooling Laws - Tips For Understanding Your State's Homeschool Laws

Relax! No matter what your friends and family members may have said, home education is legal in the United States. Each state has different homeschooling laws. Some states have very few homeschooling requirements, and others have extensive regulations that must be followed.

Here are some definitions that will help you understand the homeschool laws in your state:

Attendance - the minimum number of days or hours that a student must be taught.
Compulsory Attendance Age - the ages at which a child must receive formal education.
Notice - information that must be sent to the state providing notice of your decision to homeschool.
Qualifications - requirements that must be met by a teaching parent, tutor or other instructor.
Records - information that must be kept or reported to the state.
Subjects - areas of knowledge in which a student must receive instruction.
Testing - examinations to determine a child's level of academic performance.

According to the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, homeschoolers perform just as well in states with very few legal restrictions as they do in states with many legal requirements. Government oversight of homeschoolers has no effect on academic outcomes.

If your child was previously in public school, you may need to submit a letter of withdrawal from to your local principal or superintendent.

State homeschooling organizations and local homeschool support groups are great resources for helping you understand and comply with your state's homeschooling laws. To find out the homeschool laws for your state, visit the Homeschool Legal Defense Association.

Author Info:

Here is some additional information about homeschooling laws.

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

3 Skills Needed For Home Schooling Parents

Home school is different than public school. Home schooled children don't just learn facts and skills; they learn to love learning. They do more than just sit in desks writing spelling words and reciting multiplication tables; they learn how to think, how to create, how to explore, how to ask questions, and how to find answers.

Therefore, the job of a home school teacher has several characteristics that are different from the average public school teacher.

Finding Resources
Some parents fear that they will not have the knowledge or skills to teach their child what they need or want to learn. "What if my child wants to learn football? I don't have the skills to teach that," someone asked me. However, the truth is that it is not our job as home school parents to teach our children everything they learn. Rather it is our job to find the right resources and to teach our children how to find those resources for themselves.

For us, the library has become a tool for learning. When our science curriculum has a handout and a short lesson on birds, we run to the library and find about twenty books on the topic. Some of those books are boring, too easy, or too hard, and then some of them are just what we need.

Friends and family are also great resources for learning new things. Perhaps Gramps knows how to fish, or Grammy knows how to sew. Perhaps your neighbor knows something about basketball, and your coworker plays the violin. When people become learning resources, you teach children about community.

Being Adaptable
Plans fail. Curriculum grow stale. Children get bored. Eventually, you will need to adjust your plans, change your curriculum, and refresh your home schooling approach. What worked for one child will not work for another. What worked yesterday, might not work for today.

Adaptability is an important trait for a home school parent. Learning needs to be a living process, always changing, always new and fresh. When it becomes old and stale, children begin to hate to learn, which is what makes public school a poor option.

Loving to Learn
If we love to learn, our children love to learn. When we take interest in books, they too love to read. When we play music, they want to learn an instrument too. When we write, they want to write. When we create, build, fix, or bake, they want to do it too. When we search for answers to our questions, they too will ask questions and find answers.
Home school teachers need to unschool themselves, living the life of the historical explorers who innovated their world, like Michelangelo, Galileo, Isaac Newton, Christopher Columbus, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Edison.

Author Info:

Rita Webb is a homeschooling mom for three young children, aged two, four, and six. Rita researches many homeschooling resources and writes reviews on these materials in her http://mrkreview.blogspot.com blog

Homeschooling Pros and Cons

Reasons to homeschool, benefits and negative effects of homeschooling.

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When Should You Homeschool High School?

Is Home Schooling In Your Future?

What is the Disadvantage of Home Schooling?

Hands on Experiences For Home School Children

Home School Curriculum - How Do I Choose?

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Homeschool Lesson Plans Made Simple

Is Homeschooling Right For Your Child? Part 2

Leadership Education - Motivate Your Child to Love Learning, Focus on the Process, Not the Product

Homeschooling Support - 5 Ways to Develop an Extensive Homeschool Network

What You Need to Know About a Cyber High School

Timez Attack

Getting a Distance Learning Education

Is Homeschooling Right For Your Child?

Your Christian Homeschooling Options

Homeschooling the Teenager

3 Traits That A Good Home Tutor Must Have

Home Schooling - Where Do I Start?

Home School Convention Shopping Success Secrets!

Homeschooling Laws - Tips For Understanding Your State's Homeschool Laws

3 Skills Needed For Home Schooling Parents

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