Home Schooling - The Great Debate

When considering their child's future, many parents limit their choices to public or private schooling. Very often the mighty dollar wins that debate. More and more however, parents are choosing to school their children at home.

There is no doubt the public schooling system is riddled with problems. Many Secondary School teachers will tell you their main role is behaviour management, rather than passing on anything of value. Your child may be subject to bullying, personality clashes with teachers as well as peers and a variety of unwanted influences. In recent times there has been the additional fear of violence, particularly following the series of school shootings.

Australia seems to have escaped the worst of the violent trends to date, but that does not mean that a public school education provides the best environment for your child. Many public schools are under-resourced and ill-equipped to deal with the demands of the fast-paced, rapidly changing society of today.

Home schooling provides the flexibility and freedom to provide the student with choices not necessarily available to them in a more strictly structured system. They are safe from harassment by others in the school community and have far fewer distractions from the topics under study.

Most people have a mix of positive and negative memories regarding their Secondary School experience. The experiences that formed these memories depend upon individual strengths, social skills and abilities (or lack thereof). A person's self-esteem can be powerfully affected either way, by the predominant tone of their High School experiences.

For a child being home schooled in a loving and supportive environment, the issue of self-esteem is far less critical than in the Secondary School environment.

However, home schooling is not without its issues. If the parents are not qualified teachers, what guarantee does the child have that he/she is receiving a better quality of education? It's true that not all qualified teachers are good teachers, but in the Australian school system there is always the reassurance of knowing that your child is being taught by a trained professional.

Then there is the much-debated socialization aspect of home schooling. It has been argued that Secondary Schooling is, in fact, first and foremost, a forum for social interaction. Imparting knowledge to the students runs a distant second in this philosophy. This emphasis on peer interaction would appear to put the home schooled child at a severe disadvantage. There are, however, home schooling networks available that help organize excursions and opportunities for many home schooled students to interact. This would minimize the impact of any lack of daily socialization with peers and adults outside of the family.

Another major concern for home schooling involves the family's finances. Many families struggle to meet the demands of day to day living. Families with both parents there can often ill afford to live on one income while the other parent schools the child. For sole-parent families the pressures are even greater. The Australian Government provides no funding for home schooling and is, in fact, undermining sole parents who are considering home schooling, by pushing single parents of school-age children to re-enter the workforce.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to home school will depend upon individual circumstances. It will be made by parents who have taken the time to become fully informed on the subject, and who are prepared for whatever challenges their decision entails.

Author Info:

Susan Ryan is a professional freelance writer with a wide range of writing skills and the ability to write in a variety of styles. Susan runs an online business called 'The Mighty Pen'. For further information, including a complete list of writing services available, please view her website at: http://www.themightypen.com.au

Homeschool Holidays - Special Days That Make Learning Fun!

When I was in school, I looked forward to holiday celebrations as a chance to eat cookies and take a break from the monotony of class work. However, as a homeschooler, I now realize that I can homeschool holidays to enhance our study of culture and history.

In our home, we use holidays to read fiction and nonfiction books, watch holiday specials and documentaries, and work on fun projects. Here are some suggestions for holiday activities and other ideas for homeschooling holidays:

New Year's Day, January 1 - Reevaluate the past year and set goals for the new year. Make party decorations and throw New Year's Eve party. Study art, party planning, time and calendars. Also study other New Year's celebrations around the globe.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, 3rd Monday in January - Commemorates the birth of Martin Luther King Jr. Read and recite MLK's speeches or watch them over the internet. Study the history of nonviolent protest and the Civil Right's Movement.

Groundhog Day, February 2 - If the groundhog sees his shadow on this day, there will be six more weeks of bad weather. If the sky is overcast and the groundhog does not see his shadow, spring will soon arrive. Study weather, weather forecasting, superstitions, and wives' tales.

Valentine's Day, February 14 - Bring cheer to those in a nursing home or VA hospital. Study Cupid, the Roman god of love, and other Greek mythological figures.

President's Day, 3rd Monday in February - Commemorates George Washington's birthday and Abraham Lincoln's birthday. Study the lives and contributions of both presidents, and memorize some of their famous quotations and speeches.

Leap Year, February 29 - Study time, calendars throughout history and the Earth's rotation.

Saint Patrick's Day, March 17 - Study Ireland and Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

Easter, Late March or Early April - Celebrates Christ's resurrection. Study Christianity and compare it to other major religions. Learn about the history and meanings of traditional Easter symbols.

April Fool's Day, April 1 - Read joke books and funny stories. Write jokes and comic strips. Develop public speaking skills by giving a stand up comedy performance.

Mother's Day, 2nd Sunday in May - Honor the women in your family. Study queens, famous women throughout history, and the women's suffrage movement.

Memorial Day, Last Monday in May - This day honors those who died in war. study the Civil War and Decoration day. Learn about other days of remembering the dead, such as the Festival of Lanterns in Japan and Dia de la Muerte in Mexico.

Father's Day, 3rd Sunday in June - Honor the men in your family. Learn about kings, famous heroes, and our country's founding fathers.

Independence Day, July 4 - Commemorates the signing of the Declaration of independence. Study the American Revolution and the United States flag. Sing patriotic songs and learn about our national symbols.

Labor Day, 1st Monday in September - This day honors working people. Learn more about the Industrial Revolution, workplace safety, child labor laws and labor unions.

Grandparent's Day, 1st Sunday after Labor Day - Make cards or gifts for grandparents. Study family history.

Columbus Day, October 12 - Commemorates the day Christopher Columbus reached America. Learn about famous explorers, oceans and sea travel.

Halloween, October 31 - Make your own costumes, and study sewing and drama. This is also a great time to learn about nocturnal animals.

Veteran's Day, November 11 - Commemorates the end of World War I. Visit a VA center or military cemetery. Study the World War I.

Thanksgiving, 4th Thursday in November - Discuss gratitude. Find ways to serve others. Study the dress, food, customs, and surroundings of the Pilgrims and Native Americans.

Christmas, December 25 - Commemorates the birth of Jesus. Make your own decorations and prepare a special meal. Learn about the origins of holiday traditions and Christmas carols. Create special family traditions.

Author Info:

Carletta Sanders is a homeschool mom of 3. For additional ideas and holiday activities, visit the Homeschool Holidays section of Carletta's website, Successful Homeschooling. For homeschooling information and monthly activities delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for her homeschool newsletter

Teaching Reading at Home From Birth On

Reading and Babies

Child development begins at birth, and so does reading instruction. From the moment babies are born they are learning the different sounds of the human language. Even before they can understand a single word, their ears are listening to the sounds and their brains are processing them. This is the first step a child takes along the path of learning to read.

If you have a baby, you should talk to your baby and read to her in order to prepare her for later reading activities. Once she is a toddler and can talk and sing, she can begin learning letters and their sounds. This comes earlier than most parents think. Children as young as two can recognize letters and associate sounds with them, with proper instruction. Pre-reading activities include reading aloud to children, singing the alphabet song, and pointing out letters to the children.

Reading, Writing, and Preschoolers

Three and four year olds are ready to begin learning a little more about how to read. After children have mastered the names of the letters in the alphabet and learned some sounds, they are ready to begin doing reading activities at home. This is the time to introduce phonics.

Phonics is a system of reading instruction that emphasizes the sounds that letters and letter combinations make. Children are taught to associate sounds with letters, and therefore can use those sounds to read and write words. You can spend ten minutes a day working with letter sounds and three-letter words, thus preparing your child for longer sessions in school.

Children are also learning to write at this age. When your child begins to show interest in holding a pen or crayon, you should help him learn to hold it correctly. As soon as he has mastered scribbling, help him form simple letters, like O or T. Reading and writing are taught side by side in school, so you can do the same thing when you are helping your youngster with reading activities at home.

Reading and School Age Children

With this good foundation, your child will be ready for her traditional education. Do not be surprised if she is ahead of her classmates when she first enters school. You may decide to home school her to keep her working ahead. Either way, she will feel comfortable when school starts because she will already know the basics. Many four-year-olds who are taught phonics can read before entering Kindergarten.

Once your child enters school, be sure to continue working with her at home. Do some reading activities every day. Even if all you do is read with your child, taking turns reading age appropriate material, you will be reinforcing what she is learning in school. This is the time to make reading fun, because the memorization and drills will be happening in school.

Another way to reinforce what is being taught in the school is to use the computer. Programs like Child Font can help your child practice and solidify the phonics skills that are necessary when learning to read. The computer is interesting to children, so utilize it as much as possible when helping your child with reading. Remember, to most children learning on the computer is playing, not education, so they will want to spend time working on their reading skills with the right reading program.

Author Info:

http://www.childfont.com/homeschooling-child.html
http://www.childfont.com

Homeschool vs Public School - Examining The Two Top Arguments

Many parents across America have decided to follow a recent and growing trend of removing their kids from public school systems and homeschooling their children. While it is viewed by many teaching professionals as detrimental to a childs educational development the parents who have taught their children at home will tell you its the best thing for their kids.When the battle of homeschool vs public school rears its ugly head both sides will argue their points passionately. But it seems that two main points always come up in an attempt to discredit homeschooling. Knowing what these points are will help you make a more informed choice for your family.

Argument #1 The Kids Are Not Developing Adequate Social Skills

This seems to be the main complaint against home education. Many so called experts feel that kids who are instructed by the parents in the home do not engage with enough of their peers to develop good social skills. While this maybe true in some cases it is extremely rare, and many home schooled children have on average as many friends that public school children have. Many parents use church groups, neighbors,playgroups and many other social resources to keep their children properly socialized. In fact the type of children your kids associate with can be more closely monitored when home schooling, while the public school children have more exposure to the bad apples!

Argument #2 Parents Cannot Teach As Good

This argument appears to be based on emotional response most teachers have to kids who are given a home education. Many teaching professional feel that their college education makes them superior when it comes to instructing kids. But if you look at the education statistics in America you can see how badly the public system has been performing. The failing system is one of the main reason parents remove their kids from the public schools and take their education into their own hands. And with the many different resources available today for these parents it is hard to argue their kids are receiving a less then adequate education. After all it has been proven time and time again that home schooled children have academic abilities that are as good or in many cases better then their public schooled peers. This is because the parents can concentrate on teaching and developing their childs weak points. This is not possible in a public school setting where the teacher must keep the class moving and cannot slow down or change course for one student.

There are many more arguments in the homeschool vs public school debate that can all sway you one way or the other. So if you are considering teaching your kids at home do some research and make a well informed decision based on facts and not just emotion.

Author Info:

For more information on the Home School vs Public School debate and additional Home School information log onto http://www.whyhomeschoolkids.com

Homeschool Science - What Do I Teach?

Many people think that they can only teach home school Science if they have a degree in Biology or Chemistry. Some may think that they need to purchase a whole laboratory full of supplies to be able to teach Science effectively. Here are some tips to help you understand how to teach Science with ease:

1. All subjects of Science can be classified into one of three categories - Life, Earth, and Physical. Whether you think of animals, the universe, the body or electricity, they can all be traced back to these 3 categories.

2. In the early years of school you only need to skim the surface of Science. Young children just need to be familiar with basic Science concepts such as how a seed grows, where animals live, the fact that there are stars and planets, and a basic knowledge of how their body works. This can be done with good books from the library and answering your child's questions about the world around them.

3. All the aspects of Science can be spread out over all their years of schooling. They don't have to know about every detail of Science in just a few years. Actually, you could spend a lifetime learning about Science and not know it all. As your child gets older you will dive into a little more detail about the aspect of Science you are studying that year.

4. Decide what aspects of the 3 categories you want to teach which years. You may decide to focus on each area for 4 years. You may decide to teach on each area for 2 years and then spend 1 year on each area in greater detail. Some categories of Science will be more interesting than others.

Realize that you are still learning about Science and if you model a sense of wonder about the world around you, your children will follow your example. Science is a field of study to encounter, not a subject to conquer. Some children will be more interested in Science than others, but all need to be taught some basic concepts about the world and how it works.

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.

Home Schooling Help

Are you thinking about home schooling but you don't know where to start? Are you overwhelmed with all of the homeschooling information out there? Do you need help sorting through the home schooling facts?

Well you've come to the right place.

I'll take you through, step-by-step, what you'll need to know to begin your homeschooling adventure.

First you will want to acquaint yourself with the home schooling laws in your state. The easiest way to do this is at the Home School Legal Defense Association web site. From their home page you can click on "in your state" found in the quick menu on the left hand side. Once you do that you will find a map of the states, click on your state and there you will find the home schooling laws of that state.

Second step is to decide how you will home school. Will you use an umbrella program or be totally on your own? What's the difference?

Umbrella programs include ISP's, Charter Schools, and distance learning programs.

An ISP is an independent learning program. It can be private or public. It includes anything from very basic record keeping all the way to providing curriculum.

A charter school is taxpayer funded, but more parent oriented. It's like a private school without the cost. Some charter schools offer home schooling programs. And some of those programs offer classes one or two days a week. The best of both worlds is their motto.

A distance learning program is similar to curriculum in a box or school at home. Lots of times work is done on the computer via the internet.

Being totally on your own requires the filing of paperwork with your state. And depending on your state there will be various degrees of accountability.

Not all of these programs exist in everywhere. Remember to check the laws in your state before proceeding.

Next you'll want to evaluate your level of home schooling comfort. It's not unusual for first time home schoolers to want more support. And it's not unusual to want mere freedom as your comfort level grows.

Now would be the time to start reading. I highly recommend "The Joyful Home Schooler" by Mary Hood,Phd, " A Charlotte Mason Companion" by Karen Andreola, and "The Well Trained Mind" by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer.

Reading these books will give you an excellent overview of home schooling from several different perspectives. Use these books to help you create your home school identity. You'll either be totally convicted by one of them or you will take some from each of them. Either way these books will prove to be useful as you decide what your homeschooling experience will be like. Be sure to read them while making your decisions.

Well that about does it for now. I think I've given you enough information to think about for a little while at least. From here you should be able take your first home schooling steps. Good luck!

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. And if you click on "information" and then click on "what about home schooling laws" you will find a link to the Home School Legal Defense Association.

http://www.home-education-works.com

Free Home Schooling Curriculum

Do you want to home school but you're not sure if you'll be able to afford it? Have you checked out the prices of home schooling curriculum only to be discouraged? Do you think you're out of options?

Well I'm here to tell you you're not! Home schooling can be about as costly, or inexpensive as you want to make it. You just have to know where to look to find those free home schooling curriculum materials.

For starters you might want to re-think your definition of curriculum. Is it something you pay a lot of money for? Does it come together all boxed up? Is it textbook like? Are there a lot of workbooks included? Many are like that, but you do have other options.

Before you do anything else plan your course of action. Make a list of subjects you want to cover. Say maybe math, science, history, and language arts. Then decide what you want to cover in math, science, history, and language arts. Be sure to take into account the ages of your children. The younger they are the easier it will be to save money. But take heart, you can always find ways to conserve.

Now let's use history as an example. You have decided to study American history. Great. First stop should be your local library. Second stop the Internet. There you will find a wealth of Internet home schooling information. From your library will come books and from the Internet will come lesson plans and free printables.

Do the same for science for science and language arts.

Math is a little trickier. For younger children you should be able for find free worksheets. Once you get into pre-algebra and above you will probably want to invest in a math program. I would recommend "Teaching Textbooks". And I would recommend checking out E-bay and other used curriculum sites; you very well might find a used copy.

As a sidebar, if you do purchase new books or workbooks be sure to tread lightly with them. And copy workbook pages whenever possible. Do this and you will be able to re-sell them yourself on E-bay or other used curriculum sites.

Try to steer away from textbooks and boxed curriculums whenever possible. Not only will you save money, but also your necessity for creativity will pay off with a better learning experience for your children. The books you find at the library and the information on the Internet will be much more interesting to them than the dry material found in conventional history and science textbooks. It's a win, win situation!

Author Info:

Linda Tyler a home schooling mom in San Diego, CA. Please visit my home schooling how to web site where you'll find lots of links to many "freebies". http://www.home-education-works.com

Homeschooling Supplements Including Dolch Words For High Functioning Special Needs Kids

Special Needs Kids often need teaching supplements in order to learn/understand what we are teaching them. As homeschooling parents, these are often hard to find and what we do find is full of busy, babyish art work that only distracts our highly distractible kids!

Snap Away Cards© have been designed specifically for the Special Needs Child. The first batch of cards are the Dolch Words that many educators insist are very helpful for our kids to learn. Snap Away Cards© are downloadable eBooks that you print out on your own printer using Business Cards - the kind that come 10 up on an 8 ½ x 11 inch page. You can get a box of these (1000 cards) at Sam's Club for $5.42!

There are lots of different ways to use the Dolch Words Snap Away Cards©:

• Use as teaching cards: hold your thumb over all but the first letter and let your child pronounce each letter as you move your thumb to show the remaining letters of the word

• Let your child look through all the cards and pick out the ones they know. Start a pile of words they know (Success Words) and another pile of words they still need to work on (Learning Words)

• See web site for further sorting activities

• Use as flash cards for review

• Show your child how to use these words to create a sentence

• Let your child use these words to create a sentence

A very important part of teaching High Functioning Special Needs kids is having options. Options that include different ways of teaching the same thing. That's one great part of the Snap Away Cards©, the options are endless!

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

Homeschooling For an ADHD Child - How To Effectively Home School an ADHD Child

Homeschooling children with ADHD shouldn't be that hard. A child with ADHD can be very trying, requiring an even greater investment in energy, patience, and love both on your part as well as the child's, and so the following is a list of tips and suggestions to make homeschooling for a child with ADHD a little easier:

1. Be Patient: Tough as it is, you have realize that homeschooling a child with ADHD will require a great deal more patience and commitment on your part, taking longer for them to settle and concentrate. If it feels like its getting too much for you, then remember two very important things 1) your efforts are for their benefit 2) a child with ADHD doesn't choose to be the way they are, or act the way they do. Accept the child unconditionally.

2. Fun time before teaching: Engage the child and make sure he is happy, content and satisfied, that he has had an opportunity to go to the bathroom, to have something to eat, and have some fun as well. This will pose less distractions and less demands on the attention of the child, meaning that they will focus more.

3. Hardest things first: start with the subject(s) the child dislikes the most, starting with the most difficult things at the start is a good idea because this is when the child attention and focus will be at a peak. It also means that if towards the end the child has a subject they enjoy, then they will see that as a "treat".

4. Place a priority on oral and verbal skills: most children who suffer from ADHD also suffer from other conditions and learning disorders, which impedes their learning making learning more difficult which in turn deters them from learning, and so it goes on a vicious circle. Therefore, concentrate on the oral skills first, once the child has mastered this then move onto the verbal. With the oral skills so developed, the sense of achievement should be enough for the child to be prepared to move onto more advanced things.

5. Make learning fun!: The usual implements and methods of learning wont work with a child with ADHD, you have to engage them and make learning an enjoyable and creative process. Thus ADHD child home schooling isn't that bad at all.

6. Positive encouragement and praise whether on its own, or reinforced with a reward of some sort is an excellent tool to help a child with ADHD. This will allow your child to feel more confident and also have a positive goal to work towards, creating routine and this will all help encourage your child study on their own. Let them feel loved and cared for, and always be truthful.

I hope these tips are of some use, and will help you with your child.

Author Info:

Discover the techniques to encounter ADHD in child when you visit http://www.adhdchildparenting.com and download free report on how to deal with ADHD child now.

Home School Programs - Make Sure You Don't Choose the Wrong Ones

If you are considering homeschooling your child, it is probably because you want the best education for your child. If you are planning on taking the time and effort it requires to home school your child, you should take the extra step and choose to home school programs that are beneficial to you and your child.

Why choose home school programs? Many times you can find organizations that help you receive quality service, curriculum, and programs. They can also help you understand the policies and practices of teaching your child at home.

When you locate organizations that have homeschooling programs, you can help you meet the required standards in your area. It is great to shop around for different home school programs depending on the method that you are planning on teaching.

It is also important to consider a program's reputation. It is great to know before investing in a program if it is an organization that you can trust. If you know someone who has purchased a program, ask them what they liked and disliked about it.

Not only can you find academic home school programs, but also ones that build on values and extracurricular items.

As you are looking around for home school programs, you can even find some that will aid your child who is planning on going to college. Sometimes graduating from a specific home school program will determine acceptance into your child's school of choice.

If you are planning on having your child take college classes from home, you can even find online home school programs that you can fit into your curriculum. If you do find a college that lets you take classes online, make sure that that college is accredited.

It would be horrible to spend two years diligently working on a degree, after all the tuition has been pain, to learn that the degree earned was useless. If this turns out to be the case, the associates degree will not transfer to another school.

When looking for home school programs take special thought of the desired learning that you want your child to have, your child's strengths and weaknesses, and interests.

Author Info:

Unleash the power of the right Homeschool Programs and join the Raise a Leader Revolution. Your child can be a True Leader and finally you don't have to worry about affording the best education for your child.

The Local Library - A Guaranteed Learning Adventure

Looking for a way to stretch your home school dollars? The local library is the answer. Since most of us operate on a modest income, finding ways to supplement curriculum for free is very helpful. Why purchase every creative thing you see when you can borrow?

As believers we are exhorted to be good stewards of our time and resources. Your local public library and/or the Christian school library associated with your home school group are excellent ways to be in God's will when it comes to stewardship. Libraries offer internet access for research, computer learning games, books, magazines, reference materials, DVDs, CDs, tutoring, special monthly activities, and so much more.

In my four years as a Christian school Librarian, I was amazed to see how little the resources we offered were actually used. I would get so excited when acquiring new materials and my elation would diminish when the students did not respond with the same enthusiasm.

So, how can we get our children excited about the library and all the treasures awaiting discovery? Here are some ways to spark their interest:

1. Make the library a regularly planned part of your home school routine. Using the library should be something your home schoolers anticipate as an exciting part of their week. Schedule weekly trips to exchange reading materials, to develop research and study skills, to use the online resources, to provide volunteer services, to work on a unit study or project, and/or to participate in a weekly library calendar item.

2. Know your librarian. According to Creative Homeschooling: A Resource Guide for Smart Families, "A home school family's best friend is a good librarian." (p.208) The Guide goes on to recommend developing a working relationship with the local librarian so that your children feel comfortable asking questions. Librarians are experts in the field of information. It is a science to organize information in a way that is most understandable and accessible to the user.

3. Plan to give back. Libraries need volunteers for various duties including: shelving books, leading book discussions, straightening, assisting new computer users, and reading to young children. The library is a great place for home school families to serve side-by-side.

4. Periodicals. There are many publications we as home school families will not afford ourselves at home. The library has tons! Plan a monthly library trip to peruse the magazine rack or assign a report based on current events best found in the newspaper. There are a variety of newspapers and journals, daily, weekly, and monthly, that your students can use to develop their research skills.

5. A change of scenery. Home school can get monotonous at times. Children are dynamic creatures with many interests. When the schoolhouse is your living room or your dining room table, boredom can creep in if we are not careful. The library provides another environment both literally and, within books, fictionally. It is a great place to feed their minds and stimulate their education outside of the four walls of your home. In addition, books introduce us to people and places we've never known before.

Plan some time at your local library. It's a guaranteed learning adventure!

Author Info:

For more information on homeschooling or to read additional articles by Codie Brenner, go to http://www.ispmom.com

Codie Brenner has a bachelor's degree in Journalism with a minor in Creative Writing from Pepperdine University. She is a freelance writer, Christian school Librarian, and home school mom.

Homeschool Reading Program - Instill A Love Of Reading In Your Boys

It can be discouraging for parents to develop a homeschool reading program for their sons. Boys are more likely than girls to say that they hate to read. Boys do get excited about reading, though, if it is approached in the right way and if they are given the right reading material.

As parents, we have the flexibility to design homeschool reading programs which will cater to the needs of our individual children. We also have a head start when teaching our children to read as parental involvement plays a big role in the success of our children's reading ability. The more our children see us reading, the more they will see the value of reading and want to learn to do it themselves.

• Boys Book Clubs - Start a book club just for boys. Try to include active outdoor activities which relate to the book. Think about providing snacks or a pizza party for each boy who successfully completes the book. Sports books are great to focus on for these kinds of clubs.
• Discuss the Value - Your sons may not realize how important reading can be for various careers. As part of your homeschool reading program, you will want to discuss different jobs your boys are currently excited about and let them know how important reading can be for those careers. If your sons can grasp the importance of reading, then will be more inclined to want to master the skill.
• Grab their Attention - It will be much more productive if you are able to introduce materials into your homeschool reading that will grab their attention rather than forcing them to read books that you want them to read. Forcing boys to read will not make them lifelong readers - it will turn them into resistance readers.
• Libraries and Bookstores - Take your sons to the library or a bookstore. Let them see the vast amount of reading material which is available to them. A great way to get your boys interested in reading is to let them choose the book they will read next.
• Male Role Models - Boys who are homeschooled often see their moms reading, but don't necessarily see their dads reading as well. It is important for boys to see men and other boys get excited about reading. A great way to get dad involved in the homeschool reading program is for him to read to your boys in the evenings. Be sure to choose reading material which is slightly more complex than that which your sons can read on their own.
• Peer Reading - If you have more than one child, have the older one help the younger in their reading. Boys look up to their older brothers and love to copy them. Reading with a brother tends to help the younger boys with their reading skills while helping the older ones to develop better communication and social skills.
• Read Aloud - Read aloud to your sons and have them read aloud to you. Unfortunately, once children learn to read on their own, this is a practice that is often abandoned. Reading aloud to your children is a bridge to more difficult reading that your sons will tackle independently later and should be included in every good homeschool reading program.
• Reading Materials - Most boys do enjoy reading, if they are given the right reading material. Look for the following when choosing reading materials to stimulate your sons desire to read:
  • Books which are based on their own interests or that will help them to gain information that they can share with their friends.
  • Stories they can relate to from their own life experiences.
  • Genres that interest boys usually include fantasy, science-fiction, mysteries and adventure books.
  • Books that jump right into the action and don't spend pages describing the beautiful setting.
  • If you are homeschooling daughters as well as sons, it is important to introduce them to different books as they usually have vastly different reading preferences... especially in the elementary and middle school years.
  • Studies have shown that boys often prefer to read non-fiction material. They are often intrigued by fact books such as the Guinness Book of World Records or the Farmer's Almanac.
  • Let your son subscribe to their own magazine - one which features sports, cars, science or technology are favorites among boys.
  • Sometimes boys just want to read for fun. They tend to enjoy books which feature crazy rules or gross details. You'll want to be very aware of what your sons are reading in this category. You may want to pre-read these types of books to make sure they are appropriate for your boys.
  • Comic books can get your boys hooked on reading. If they learn to love reading through comic books, they might be more willing to read their first novel once they become more confident in their skills.
  • Boys enjoy short books that they can start and finish in one sitting. Once they have learned to enjoy these types of stories, then they will be more willing to graduate to longer stories.
  • Older boys usually become very interested in music. Encourage these boys to read song lyrics and to write song lyrics of their own. They can attempt to write songs about their own school lessons. When lessons are put to music, they are remembered much longer.

Use these tips to develop your own homeschool reading program and you may never again hear your boys complain about having to read a book!

Author Info:

http://www.homeschool-your-boys.com/homeschoolreadingprogram.html
Michelle Caskey has been homeschooling her sons for five years. Michelle graduated from the Western Michigan University with a degree in English and Computer Science. Read more of her homeschooling articles at: http://www.homeschool-your-boys.com

How Do I Start Homeschooling Without Going Crazy?

If you plan to start homeschooling your children, you don't have to feel overwhelmed or inadequate. You are your children's best teacher because you love them and want them to have a quality education.

Your permission to teach your children comes from God, and your ability outweighs what a public education could give your child. Once you are committed to start homeschooling, you will be able to provide the best education for your children.

If you feel like you are lacking the skills and knowledge necessary to teach your children, you can learn right beside them. You can teach what you already know, and when you feel like your knowledge is limited, you can read out loud and learn together.

When you start homeschooling you will be concerned about money. Homeschooling can be free or low costing. If you can afford to purchase some curriculum items, do so prayerfully and with caution.

If you have a public library close by, you can use the vast resources there. Not only will you find a variety of books, but also magazines, research volumes, videos, tapes, homeschooling programs, foreign language aids, phonics tapes, and computer equipment.

You can also use the library in your home. You can affordably build your library by finding quality books at garage sales, thrift stores, and online.

Once you start homeschooling, you will realize that the process begins with the basics. One of the best things you can do with your child is read aloud. It is important to emphasize the importance of the written word at all ages.

If you start homeschooling your children at the age when they would normally go to public school, you can ease them into a routine. You can teach one subject at a time until you have seen some success. I suggest that you begin with phonics. Then you can move on to reading, handwriting, and creative writing. Basic math will eventually come into the picture.

You can find a variety of resources to help you teach these subjects. You can start homeschooling your children and feel successful. And the great thing is that you don't have to do it alone.

Author Info:

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.

Homeschool Plan - How to Decide What to Buy and What to Teach

When starting any project it's always good to have a plan. The same goes for homeschooling. If you don't have a plan of how you want to homeschool and what you need, you have a greater chance of getting frustrated. Here are a few simple questions you can ask yourself that will help you create a great homeschool plan for your family:

1. What do I have to do to notify my local school system that I want to homeschool? Each state has different requirements and options. Some states are more homeschool friendly than others. Your local school superintendent's office should be able to direct you in what you need to do. Some states just require you to take attendance and others want to know exactly what you will be teaching and how you will be teaching. There's no need to be intimidated by this process. The schools just want to make sure that the children are in capable hands. Since you have raised your children so far and are willing to spend hours each day with them, it shouldn't be too hard for you to provide the information that the school district wants to hear.

2. How does your child learn best? You might want to look into having your child take a learning style assessment online at the site below. If you already know how your child learns best, then you can choose your resources accordingly.

3. What is your teaching style? Are you flexible and able to go with the flow most of the time, or do you need a structured lesson plan that tells you exactly what to say? There are homeschool curriculum and resources to fit every teaching style. Just make sure you know yours before you purchase anything.

4. Do you or your spouse have any special skills or interests that you can teach to your children? This doesn't have to be your sole curriculum, but can certainly enrich your homeschool environment. If your husband enjoys fixing things, he can easily show your children what he does and allow them to help him. If you enjoy cooking or doing a craft, your children will probably want to know how to do what you are doing. Your personal interests will enrich the learning environment in your home.

5. Do your children have any interests or hobbies? These can be used in your homeschool plan as well. If your child enjoys making scrapbooks, they can develop their language and art skills and enjoy learning. If they enjoy nature, you can incorporate that into your homeschool plan too.

6. What are your educational goals for your children for this year? What aspect of History or Science do you want them to study? What language skills do you want them to develop? What Math concepts do you want them to master?

7. What is your homeschool budget? How much money are you able to spend? Are you aware of the free resources available for homeschooling and are you ready to use them?

Your homeschool plan doesn't have to be a detailed or involved thesis explaining everything that you plan on doing this year. I prefer a skeleton plan that is an outline of what I want to accomplish for the year. You should definitely write something down because it is a proven fact that people who write down their goals are 80% more likely to reach them. A simple written outline of your goals for the year should give you everything you need to have a successful homeschool year.

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.

Tips On Home Schooling

Let's face it but you have to realize that during the past few years home schooling has become increasingly popular. This is in addition to the more accepted arguments for or against home schooling. The reasons behind many families choosing to homeschool are many. It has to be remembered that before public schooling was considered the norm that home schooling was. Closer family relationships have also been found to be a result of home schooling.

Home schooling reasons are as diverse as the families involved in it. A family's current financial standing has not been determined as a correlating factor behind a families decision to home school. One of the most common reasons given for home schooling is the safety of the kids from dangerous public school situations.

Reasons For Home Schooling

Aside from the safety aspects ascribed to home schooling some supporters of home schooling feel that placing a child into the public school system at such an early age is not conducive to the best learning environment. The idea is has seen support from several arenas. Many proponents of home schooling cite the studies that have been done that give some merit to the argument that placing a young child into the public school system is actually harmful academically, socially and mentally.

Many proponents of home schooling state that children having such a high desire to learn should be given the best environment to do it in. Studies would suggest that a child will learn more and faster in a familiar environment. Home schooling gives them the chance to be educated at their own pace.

In Conclusion

In conclusion many opponents claim the child will lack in social development when placed in a home schooling environment. This is counter to those that support home schooling who suggest that it is the parents and their home life that sets the tone for the child's social abilities. In retrospect this makes perfect sense taking into account that a formal school environment may take up to 180 days each and every year.

Author Info:

Terry Graves discusses home schooling so you can understand it. Learn how home schooling works. To receive more information visit the home schooling resource website.