Practical Homeschooling Tips - Affordable Online Home Schooling For Your Children

Home schooling is an expensive proposition. All the curricula cost money while some of them are pretty expensive. If you opt for online, then too it is expensive. Like most home schoolers you too could be a single earning family. One of the two stays back to teach at home. If you opt for home schooling material from online sources then it could be highly affordable.

You would be interested in finding online home schooling at affordable prices! Donna Young's website is among the best out there. Her site has many lesson plans and lessons for free. This is the best place to look if you have tight budget. Her site has many lessons for free that impart math to science to handwriting to history. There are just not free lessons but also free activities.

The site has lessons on how a chicken mummy can be made! This part comes in handy when learning about ancient Egypt. is where her lesson can be taken.

The Finally Fun Home Schooling Curriculum is another great website that gives online homeschooling that's affordable. This is site does not offer is lessons for free but incase you have in access of one child then it's a good package. This website can be termed as complete website having numerous lessons from science programs to math solutions to unit studies and more. For instance the full series of Magic School Bus book is there plus lesson plans, study guides, parent notes, vocabulary, and more.

You have the option of either full subscription to site material or else you can pick required material individually. When writing this piece of article the website was offering access to the site's full material and courses for $97 USD. The package is inviting when you have over 200 science, math, & history curricula. It covers the kid's entire schooling calendar for any play school all the way upto middle school curriculum. Does it sound a tad expensive well I spent $200 just for a math lesson for my child? I felt ignorant as earlier was not aware of this site. is the site where you can access all material

The internet can also be put to use by you to create your own Home schooling curriculum that's affordable to you. But having high school homeschooling at affordable rates is a mission to accomplish. Students at high schools need the knowledge of certain courses that is out of our grasp. Your learn the subjects of Biology and chemistry students need to attend lab classes and every home cannot have a fully equipped functional lab. At this stage home school groups join hands.

Yahoogroups.com is a great group of online resources. You can search for local groups and then join the groups that meet your needs the most. Many homeschool families earn small sums of money via teaching classes. Most probably it will be hard to locate chemistry or biology classes that meet your requirements. There exists home schools based online and offer courses where you can finish study material online, submit the lessons and a grade is received.

Home shcooling through online syllabus can be good if you are able to locate a high school that's affordable and that is accredited. This way even though the child is technically studying in a homeschool that really not exactly a home school but if the state is having stringent requirements this accreditation might prove beneficial.

Author Info:

Discover the debate on on homeschooling VS public schooling at http://www.homeschoolingfordummy.com You can also get free review on grace academy homeschooling

Life Provides Lessons for Home Schoolers

As home school moms it is important to look for ways to incorporate learning into activities we already have planned. Infusing everyday life with lessons is not difficult. God has created the world to speak of Him, even the rocks and plants would cry out about Him if we did not. Since our heavenly designer created all things, there are discoveries to be found and knowledge to gain built into life itself and the way we live it.

Let me give an example of what I mean.

My daughter loves horses and takes riding lessons each week. Her journey is an opportunity to learn not only about how to ride horses and care for them, a unit study on its own, but also one in character development, service, and responsibility. Everything associated with her venture is educational so why not make it a part of her education.

I suggest beginning with a mind map or brainstorm of the activities and interests already on your child's agenda. Follow these steps:

1. Write "activities and interests" at the center of a clean piece of paper (horizontal). Draw a circle around it.

2. Begin to draw legs out from the center circle listing off your interests and extracurricular activities. This can include lessons, sports, arts & crafts, church, play dates, class days, ISP meetings, etc. Include anything you do.

3. It would be helpful for both the parent and the child to complete their own brainstorm.

4. Compare mind maps when finished.

5. Take out a piece of lined paper, or if you like using the computer, open up your favorite word processor. Create a list using the information from the mind maps. (Keep in mind that not all the information on the mind map will be useful. Mind maps help sort through information to help you find the most important items associated with the topic.)

Once you have completed the brainstorm and list, you can begin to develop lessons. We have been able to use our daughter's horseback riding for lessons in creative writing, character development - responsibility, technology - blogging, physical education, and reading. Use the brainstorm exercise and get started capturing lessons from your life today.

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 soon-to-be homeschool mom.

Homeschooling Kindergarten - What Does it Take?

Kindergarteners are active and inquisitive, yet the thought of home schooling a Kindergartener can send any parent into a panic. They worry that they won't "do it right" or will choose the wrong curriculum. I've had many people come to me asking me what they should do for Kindergarten.

My answers are really quite simple. You taught this child to eat, drink, talk, use the bathroom (for the most part), and a host of other tasks that you don't even think about. Did you send your child to talking school or buy a curriculum to teach him how to talk? So here are a few "tools" I would use to teach my child:

1. Read to them for 30 minutes a day. It sounds simple, but it's very powerful. Children learn a tremendous amount of vocabulary and facts just by being read to. You can use picture books or chapter books or a combination of both.

2. Answer their questions. Most 5 and 6 year olds have plenty of questions. Just take a few moments at the time they ask the question to explain the answer to the best of your ability. If you don't know the answer, just tell them and then find the answer together.

3. Take them to interesting places. I'm not saying you should go to a science museum once a week. Just look for opportunities in the natural course of your life to take your child to places that might interest them. A construction site, bakery, farm, bowling alley, grocery store can provide some great learning opportunities.

4. Play games with them. You can carve out a game time each day or a few times a week. Children learn a tremendous amount of math, relational skills and even reading skills just by playing games. You can borrow games from the library or trade with another family if you don't want to go out and buy a bunch of games.

If your child enjoys workbooks, you can use those, but there aren't too many kindergarteners that do. Pay attention to how they learn and capitalize on that. Do they learn from listening or watching or doing? You have gotten them this far and you have much more you can teach them and learn from them.

Author Info:

For more tips on how to homeschool, 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.

How to Homeschool Your Child

If you've decided that homeschooling is the right option for you and your child, you're in for a wild roller coaster ride. Homeschooling is incredibly rewarding...but the challenges you will face are equally great. Nevertheless, if you know how to homeschool your child properly, you are likely to produce a well-adjusted and well-rounded child.

Most people will tell you that the first thing you should do if you want to homeschool is to check out the laws in your state. This is indeed important, but I believe that the best way to start is to find a local support group. This should be a group of like-minded people that are ready and able to give you all the support that you are going to need throughout your journey. The support group will help you to research the laws, offer snappy retorts to the inevitable criticisms you'll receive, and give your child a chance to interact with other children.

Then you'll want to research the homeschooling laws in our state. Some states require you to file an affadavit with the education department. Some states require a minimum educational qualification. Some require you to maintain a portfolio to measure your child's progress. Because each state is so different, it's important for you to research the laws thoroughly before you start homeschooling. Your support group should be able to guide you in the right direction.

One you know the laws and you have support, you are ready to select a curriculum. This is probably the most important choice you'll make, aside from the decision to homeschool. There are many curriculums available.

In order to decide which one is right for you, think about why you made the decision to homeschool. Were you unsatisfied with the education that is provided by the public school system? Do you want your child to receive a more spiritual-based education? Were regular teachers not able to give your child the support that he or she needed? The answers to these questions are going to affect the type of curriculum that you choose.

If a pre-written curriculum does not suit your needs, you can always create your own curriculum, or take the parts that do work for you out of different curriculum.

Set a schedule that you will follow in your homeschooling. In most cases, this discipline will help your child to study harder and learn more. Make sure you do not pack too many learning opportunities into one lesson. This may confuse your child.

Once you have done all these things, you'll find that you are homeschooling with confidence. You will be please at how quickly your child will grow.

Author Info:

Homeschooling - How to Avoid the Pitfalls

Homeschooling students is an option that many parents are exercising. Dissatisfaction with public schools, high costs of private schools, and increasing behavioral issues are some of the factors contributing to the high number of students now being home schooled.

If you choose to homeschool your child, the following things need to be considered:

1. Choosing a basic curriculum

2. Setting up a network of other homeschooled children

3. Utilizing local resources

4. Utilizing the Internet and its resources

You must choose a curriculum that will meet the needs of your child. Be careful that it is not entirely made up of worksheets. It should include hands-on experiences. Children remember the most by experimenting, building, creating, and simulating. Research what is available through the district, local book stores, and the Internet before making a decision.

Socialization can be a major problem with homeschooled children. They often don't fit in and have few friends. It is essential that you develop a network of other homeschooled children in the area. Plan field trips and outings that will allow the students to socialize as well as have an educational experience. Make sure that they participate in local recreation department sports, classes available in the area like karate or dance, local clubs such as Boy Scouts, and/or church activities. The more opportunities for interaction with other children their age, the better!

There are always lots of local resources available. Do not be afraid to use your local library for books, computer access, and other resources. In addition, plan field trips to the police station, fire department, and local government offices. Many times, there are parks and special interest exhibits in the area. In addition, often historical sites can be found where you live. The best part is that most of these places can be visited with little or no cost! Take advantage of all these opportunities.

The Internet is a must! If you do not have access in your home, set aside time to use the local library's Internet. You should use it to research lessons and information related to homeschooling topics. It can also be used to supplement what is currently being taught or to review what has already been taught. There are many educational sites for little or no cost.

In conclusion, homeschooling is a viable option for parents. However, it is essential that parents plan in advance to ensure that it is a successful experience for both the parent and child!

Author Info:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sherry Carroll has been an educator for twenty-two years. She has worked with regular and gifted education classrooms in grades 3-8, served as a SC Teacher Specialist with the SC State Dept of Education, and been a Curriculum Coordinator at an elementary school. She has received numerous awards and recognitions that include Teacher of the Year and Outstanding Work in the Area of Gifted Education.
Contact her at http://scberrysblog.blogspot.com

What Are The Pros and Cons of Homeschooling?

Even though homeschooling has been proven to be a successful method of education, there are still several debates about its effectiveness. To be honest, most people shuffle through the pros and cons of homeschooling to determine what they think.

Homeschooling obviously offers some of the greatest benefits in education; however, it is important that you understand some of the negatives before taking your child out of school and teaching him on your own.

It is then important for you to research the pros and cons of homeschooling before making any major decision. It is up to you to determine what the positives and negatives would be for your family.

Some of the most claimed pros of homeschooling include:

• Flexibility - Unlike traditional education, you have the ability to make adjustments with scheduling, location of learning, how your child is taught, and adding and/or removing parts of your curriculum.
• Customized learning - Learning can be adapted to meet a child's needs. You can fit learning to a child's capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses. You can also determine the pace and learning style. Children don't have to compete with other students for receiving one-on-one attention. They don't need to keep up with other students. A concept can be taught until it is mastered, and lessons can start and finish whenever you want them to.
• Practical lessons - Parents have the freedom in a homeschool setting to decide how their child will learn something best. For example, more field trips can be incorporated. Parents can also incorporate videos and research that help children.

Not only the pros, but also the cons of homeschooling should be examined:

• Reduced social interaction - Social interaction is needed to help develop communication and social skills. School-aged children need this type of interaction. Homeschooling parents often organize social activities for their children to make sure that they are developing these important skills.
• Time factors - It is really time consuming to be a homeschooling parent. Not only do you need time to plan, teach, and create assignments, you also need time to teach your children and help them through the lessons.
• Money issues - Because homeschooling takes so much time, usually one parent needs to forgo a career to teach the children. Sacrificing one of the sources of income can be financially difficult.

It is important that as you examine the pros and cons of homeschooling that you understand what is best for you and your family.

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.

Homeschooling Methods - With Home Education, One Size Does NOT Fit All!

Put away the chalkboard, desks and workbooks! Home education does not have to resemble traditional classroom education. When teaching at home, look for a method that fits your goals and your children's learning styles. Here are descriptions of the most popular homeschooling methods:

• Charlotte Mason - The Charlotte Mason method focuses on literature, short lessons and nature appreciation. In this homeschool method, children learn primarily through literature, which is referred to as "living books." Students acquire language arts and writing skills through the use of copywork, narration and dictation.
• Classical Homeschooling - Classical Homeschooling breaks learning into three stages known as the Trivium. These stages are grammar (birth through elementary school), logic (middle school) and rhetoric (high school). Each stage of the Trivium corresponds to a child's natural brain development. Classical homeschoolers focus on academic achievement, exposure to the great books of western civilization, and knowledge of Latin and Greek.
• Computer Based Homeschooling - Children who are visually oriented and prefer working alone may favor online or computer based homeschooling. Computer courses work well for children who are self-motivated and not easily distracted. These programs come with structured lessons and pre-planned schedules that help busy parents save time. Many of online courses also come with systems for grading and record keeping.
• Eclectic Homeschooling - This style of homeschooling involves choosing from a variety of methods depending on the needs of the child. An eclectic homeschooler may use traditional workbooks for some subjects and computer courses for others. Some eclectic homeschool families may even choose to unschool certain subjects.
• Montessori Homeschooling - The Montessori method focuses on learning through multi-sensory, self-directed activities. Parents serve as facilitators, not teachers, in a Montessori homeschool environment. Many Montessori activities mimic those that occur naturally in the home.
• Relaxed Homeschooling - Relaxed homeschoolers focus on tailoring education to fit the needs and goals of a child. In a relaxed homeschool, formal curriculum is used as needed, but many lessons occur naturally in the course of daily life.
• Traditional Textbooks - This method of homeschooling most closely resembles traditional school because of its reliance on textbooks and workbooks. Although some homeschoolers believe this style of homeschooling is dull and tedious, others enjoy the lesson plans, structure and successful outcomes of traditional workbook programs.
• Unit Studies - This homeschooling style combines the study of history, science, math and language arts into the study of a single theme. Homeschool unit studies are great for larger families who need to combine children of multiple ages, and hands-on learners who enjoy working on projects.
• Unschooling - Unschooling, or delight-directed learning, involves letting the child choose what he or she will study. Unschoolers focus preparing a learning environment and leaving their child free to explore it.

Home education will look different in each family, depending on the family's needs and goals. Take time to observe your children and assess their strengths and weaknesses. Don't be afraid to experiment until you find the homeschooling method that is right for you!

Author Info:

Here is some additional information about homeschooling methods Here is some information that will help you determine your child's learning style

Carletta Sanders is a homeschool mom of three and creator of the website, Successful Homeschooling.

Abeka Home School Curriculum - Is it Right For You?

The Abeka Homeschool Curriculum is the most popular homeschool curriculum available. Almost everyone who has even thought about homeschooling has heard of it. The company is based in Pensacola Florida. There are pros and cons to anything that you purchase. Here are some pros and cons to consider when looking at Abeka:

Pros -

1. Christian based - Abeka weaves a Christian message throughout all it's texts.

2. They tell you exactly what to say and do with your child. You know exactly what needs to be accomplished for a certain day. You can purchase teachers manuals, tests, lesson plans and textbooks.

3. The books are easy to resell when you are done with them because many people are looking for used Abeka books.

4. Advanced material - If you are looking for an advanced and accelerated method of homeschooling your children, then Abeka will give you that. Their second grade material is equal to first grade public school material.

Cons -

1. High burn out rate - Because of the accelerated material and strict lesson plans, many parents find it too difficult to complete all the material.

2. Expense - Abeka books are one of the more expensive curriculums you can purchase.

3. Many of the textbooks have the student work right in the book. If you want to preserve your textbooks for younger children or for resell, you will need to have your children do their work on a separate sheet of paper.

4. Many students find the textbooks are not very interesting and are much like public school textbooks where the material is dry and dull. Many students also burn out on Abeka because they have a huge amount of material to read and do and sometimes can't complete everything that is required of them.

As with any home school curriculum, it is good to look over the pros and cons and make sure you look at reviews of curriculum and pray about what you believe God would want you to use to teach your children.

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.

Self-Directed Learning - What Happens When Parents Don't Consider Their Child's Unique Gifts

Self-directed learning is a guaranteed way to develop our children's distinctive gifting.

Our children are individuals. Each one of them is uniquely created with a special combination of gifts and talents. And God has a wonderful plan for their lives.

Like each and every human being on this earth, our children have been given a special assignment. Each and every one of them is called to be a secret agent of God's love to a lost world, destined to make a difference and to leave a legacy for the generations to come.

Are we preparing them for this? Let's take a close look at the education most children receive nowadays.

Modern education sends every child through a program of study that is targeted toward a "generic" child.

It expects every student to be able to follow the same course of study in the same sequence, without considering innate aptitudes or individual differences that are crucial to a child's ability to learn.

Whether they are homeschooling or sending their child to a traditional school setting, most parents blindly trust a school curriculum's ability to impart an excellent education to their children. Curriculum's have become our "Educational Bibles."

When a child has difficulties in his learning process, parents will usually focus on the child. They will try to "fix" the child so he can accomplish the assignment dictated by the curriculum.

Parents need to consider that there may be something wrong with the educational methods they are exposing their children to.

Maybe it is not the right time. Maybe the approach is wrong. Maybe, just maybe, it might be something the child just isn't interested in and will never use in his or her whole life!

Children are all so different. It breaks my heart when I see them struggling at school with a subject that simply isn't their strength at all. We cannot put them into a cookie cutter!

That child may eventually give up trying and avoid any future effort of acquiring knowledge.

Learning has become boring. It has become something he'll want to have as little to do with as possible.

When he could be passionately pursuing his favorite subjects instead!

What can a parent do to help a child develop his gifts and talents successfully?

As always, the most important is the first step: We as parents have to realize that a curriculum, as good as it may be, is only a suggestion of what a child should learn. We have to be flexible and focus on what God put into each child.

Once a parent is aware of his child's individual gifting, he can be more sympathetic with the frustrations he faces at school and more helpful in finding alternative approaches.

Parents can identify their child's God-given talents and focus on these rather than on their weak areas.

Don't be afraid of learning gaps! Once your child has discovered that learning is fun, and has mastered the learning tools with a subject he loves, he will be a self-directed learner and feel confident enough to commit to his weaker areas.

Remember, the biggest learning gap any human being can ever have is that of not developing his God-given talents to their fullest potential so that he can successfully walk out God's plan for his life.

It is easy to teach your child to be a self-directed learner. Once you have decided to deeply respect his individuality, you will see him learn with passion.

Author Info:

I'd like to invite you to go for it! Visit http://www.Self-DirectedLearningForSuccess.com You'll find tips and tools for teaching your child to grow successfully in his own learning process. Learn how to unleash the power of your child's learning potential with my FREE e-book: "The Power of Self-Directed Learning". Additionally I will give you 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.

© 2008 Freedompioneer

Tips On Home School Academies - Making It Easier To Educate Your Child

What are home school academies? Are you interested in home schooling? Would you like to learn why home schooling may be a very effective choice for you and your family? Learn why home school academies allow you to effectively manage your curriculum.

Home school academies provide a large number of reasons why parents choose to educate their child at home. Some feel that their child will not get proper education on religion in a public school, whereas the others feel that under one structure their child can get proper education on knowledge, potential and self empowerment.

There are two kinds of knowledge, one is the specialized one that most of the public schools offer and the other being the general one, about religion etc, which is seldom used. Many parents teach their child at home to ensure that they are safe and well educated while the others enjoy seeing their child working.

Whatever the reasons for teaching at home, there are a number of ways available to make your child educated. Utilizing the advantages of the many home schooling curriculums available, parents can teach their child in a home schooling environment. And at the same time be assured that there child is not missing any key academic concepts.

Home school academies provide a number of resources that allow a family to successfully implement a consistent home schooling environment. This effectively allows families to focus on home schooling more and less on the supporting details.

Studies have shown that home schooling is a lot more effective when done with a systematic plan. These academies provide a lot of the needed resources to allow effective systematic home schooling.

WHAT IS A HOME SCHOOL ACADEMY?

It's basic purpose is to provide support to home school families. The sense of belonging with others, the sense of being in a school is fulfilled by these experiences. This feeling can be lost in traditional home schooling. Many academies provide students with plans of action, knowledge, and also educes or draws out a developed person from within.

These also help parents by offering a number of sequence plans, plan and academic subject tutoring, counseling and developing the faculties of their mind. Of course it also provides a much needed social aspect in allowing a meeting place for other parents. Other advantages being the school discounts that children get and the most important one is the children get a diploma from an actual school.

CONCLUSION

There are resources available to you in order to enhance your child's education. You just have to join a home school academy and take the advantage of all they have to offer. You still have the same means of experiencing the education of your child at home that the others get from the traditional school.

Your child can still accumulate great fortunes of knowledge as he would be directed through a highly organized and intelligent home academy. They in a similar way like a child educated through more public means will be ambitious and will not suffer from inferiority complexes.

Author Info:

Terry Graves makes it easy to implement home schooling, quickly & easily. Learn the essential keys to home-schooling. To receive information visit the home school academies website.

Corralling the Young'uns - 6 Easy Ways to Keep Kids Happy During Meetings

You've just started a homeschool group and you need advice. It's exciting and invigorating to meet with other homeschool moms, but it can be overwhelming keeping all the kids occupied and happy during your meetings.

Moms dream of sitting quietly with hot tea, steeped in intimate, uninterrupted conversation that warms the heart. But alas, here come the cowboys and wild Indians stampeding through the tiny living room knocking over teacups as they go. Freeze! What's a leader to do?

A little, simple planning can provide peaceful fellowship for the moms and meaningful activity for the kids. Adding a little structure actually adds freedom and subtracts stress. This proves especially true if your meeting place is small and you're dealing with energetic children.

Don't you wish you could bottle that youthful energy and sell it? Or just have it for yourself to use? Since that's not an option, there are several positive ways to direct that energy.

1. Create an imagination zone. A central place for imagination allows for the children to create, to problem-solve or to interact quietly. The zone can be as simple as the kitchen table or a blanket tossed on the floor.

When your guests walk in the door, have Legos sitting on the table or books on the blanket. Toys like Legos or K'Nex or Lincoln Logs stimulate individual creativity and also encourage kids to create together. Books such as nature encyclopedias or crossword puzzles or storybooks with lots of vibrant pictures can entertain a child for quite some time.

The next time you meet together, try covering the table with paper that's been taped down. Place colored pencils or a box of crayons on the table and let the kids create great masterpieces. Put board games on the blanket to encourage them to interact quietly.

Remember, the simpler the zone, the better. This keeps planning time for you low and creative imagining for them high. Go with your children's interests. Most kids like jigsaw puzzles, anything electronic, building blocks, drawing, and cutting and pasting. Of course you can always pop in a movie. As added bonus, make the movie educational.

2. Serve a snack. Serving a snack about halfway through the meeting provides a break for the children's attention span and redirects their energy. It's a good transition time between activities and snack time is always a hit.

Many medical journals claim that the link between sugar and hyperactivity is a myth, but many moms don't believe it's a myth. They have personally experienced the stimulating effects of sugar on their children. The Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia does state that "refined (processed) sugars may have some effect on children's activity," so to keep the peace, why not play it safe and just avoid the sugar.

Serve your healthy snack simply and make clean up a breeze by serving it in Dixie cups or on paper towels. Snacks that are winners every time include crackers and cheese, fresh veggies and dip, fruit slices, popcorn, finger sandwiches, juice, granola bars, and individual containers of applesauce or raisins. Providing a snack for the children does not have to be expensive or time-consuming.

3. Let them play outside. Even if you have a small yard or small space, playing games outside can be great fun. Games that we played as kids usually only require simple things like a ball or chalk or a Frisbee. Games like Duck-Duck-Goose, Four Square, Dodge ball, London Bridge or Hopscotch are timeless classics, as is a good old-fashioned jump rope.

Shy away from outside toys or activities that could make some parents really nervous like trampolines or swimming pools. Unless of course, everyone agrees that you're going to have a pool party and someone is designated to watch the children.

4. Meet somewhere else every once in a while. Plan to meet in a place that offers a playground or even in a library. A local park, mall or fast-food restaurant with a playground allows for interactive fun for the kids where the moms can still be close. Kids love the library with all the computers and walls and walls of books. Moms can enjoy peaceful fellowship while still keeping an eye on their own children.

5. Try a group project. Cooking, play dough, crafts, and stamping are great ideas for the kids to enjoy together, but they can be messy and will require more adult supervision. Moms can take turns coordinating and overseeing a simple group project while the others meet.

6. Enlist help. Older homeschooled students like high schoolers are an invaluable resource and many times have as much energy as the younger kids. They are a wealth of creative ideas and the kids look up to them. Don't be afraid to ask them to do it for free because it's good experience for them and they are learning valuable skills. You can always say thank you with a homemade gift from the heart.

Your plan does not have to be elaborate or perfect - a little planning goes a long way. Use these suggestions as starting points to corral the kids and keep them happy and occupied during your group meetings, leaving everyone relaxed and recharged.

Author Info:

Denise Hyde and Kristen Fagala of Homeschool Group Leader live and homeschool their kids on the Gulf Coast of Texas. They have had much experience corralling their young'uns during meetings when they served as officers of their local homeschool group. You can find even more exciting resources at their website http://www.homeschoolgroupleader.com or read leader tips and helps on their blog http://www.hgleaderblog.blogspot.com

Practical Homeschooling Online - Home Schooling Custody Laws

Custody is not a prime feature in home schooling laws and therefore custody laws could turn out to be problematical. It is more evident if parents reside in separate states. It is therefore advised that prior to deciding for home school flight, get the custody laws enlisted and get well versed to all the laws that govern home schooling laws affecting you.

If you have any custody issues with regards to home schooling, ensure that your ex-partner and you sort out all disagreements that where the child will take home schooling. If you decide then online home schooling shall be a good option. If you do not have full ideas of your state's custody laws then you should check them out, Home School Legal Defense Association's (HSLDA) homepage is the place where you can find all the info. The site provides a fairly good overview but some specific custody laws could still be missing.

Here you should try and consult an attorney who has considerable knowledge in this field so that you sure that you aren't violating any local or state laws. You can also visit HSLDA to seek advice as to where you can find an attorney who could meet your requirements at a local place.

There are quite a few laws that govern home schooling in California state. An existing judgment from Second Appellate District Court of LA taken on a family (home school) could have drastic effects for California home schoolers. This opinion on home schooling is based in a court ruling taken in a 1950's. In short the judgment says schooling from home is illegal in California state.

Feeling inquisitive, read all at http://www.hsdla.org. In California there exist some special laws for attendance and custody. If the child is enrolled in a private school or tuitions he is excused from obligatory public school attendance. Here below is one such California laws that defines attendance & custody in the following manners:

"...48200.5. in spite of Section 48200, any person living in Carson city and is either a legal guardian or a parent of a person who is undergoing obligatory education is allowed to seek admission of that particular person in a school district wherein the residence of parent/guardian is within Unified School District of Los Angeles subject to an agreement terms that allow transfers that have been permitted by the Unified School District of Los Angeles & Unified School District of Compton "

http://www.legalinfo.ca.gov/calaw.html is the source from where the statement has been derived. It must be noted that in California home schooling laws are very complex as the state is sans a statute for home schools. If home schooling then ensure you file the entire paperwork. Issues pertaining to custody & California laws give you enough reason to make everything doubly sure before taking a step. In case both homes of custodial parents could be used for schooling then that will be ideal. Despite the above noting its still better to go over to an attorney and take his advice if the school districts of parents are different.

If an overview of the home schooling custody laws are taken then they all appear to be pretty much indecisive, but attendance is compulsory and also a few more requirements. It is in your interest to adhere to state laws.

Author Info:

Discover how to get the best homeschooling grants for your homeschooling needs as well as tips and strategies for home schooling for k-4 when you visit http://www.homeschoolingfordummy.com, the premier online resources on homeschooling for parents

Home Schooling Dos and Don'ts

There are days when home schooling is frustrating or when you want to quit. These four rules keep homeschooling fun.

Home Schooling Rule #1 - Avoid the Ruse of Perfection

Perfection is a carefully veiled lie. It sounds great, but really it saps your energy and causes you to run in circles. The perfect schedule straps you down. The perfect organization system keeps you from stepping outside the box. The perfect curriculum prevents exploration. Perfection is a sterile imitation of life.

Life is changing. Life requires adjustment. Life breathes and grows and makes messes all around you. If you stumble into perfection, you will not be ready for the next problem life throws your way. You will not be ready to adjust to the new needs of your home schooling family.

Home Schooling Rule #2 - Don't Let Your Curriculum Trap You

Curriculum can get boring. Curriculum can be great for one child but completely miss the needs of another. Curriculum can be old and stale and stodgy. The great thing about home schooling is that learning is more than just a text book. Instead, learning is about life. Home schooling is about making learning your lifetime endeavor, and curriculum is just a springboard to many interesting topics.

Your job as the teacher is not to force the kids through their text books. Your job is to bring them to the well of learning and show them how wonderful it is to drink from it. The joys of reading, the wonders of science, the mysteries of history, the excitement of numbers: all these things are naturally a part of childlike wonderment. We just need to fuel it.

Home Schooling Rule #3 - Remember to Have Fun

"If you are not having fun, most likely the kids are not having fun either," my friend said to me. My favorite learning activity was when we did a unit study on flowers. Sure we read lots of books about the life cycle of the flower and the parts of the flower, but the most fun was when we picked different colored flowers and crushed them on paper. What a colorful mess that was! We added glitter and then cut the paper in the shape of butterflies: Art and science all in one.

Home Schooling Rule #4 - Don't Be Ruled by Fear

When fear becomes our motivation, we make faulty and unhealthy decisions. Fears of failure could lead to over schooling. Fears of the state requirements could lead to an excessive amount of testing. Fears of disapproval from parents, in-laws, and neighbors could lead to putting your kids accomplishments on display in a way that is not healthy. Fears of inadequacy could lead to overcompensating with tough curriculum or too much curriculum. Fears of not finding the perfect curriculum could lead to not picking any curriculum.

See my point? Fear twists our behaviors into something that is not healthy and generally causes us to walk either the road of perfection or laziness. A healthier perspective is to let go of all those fears and jump into the fun of learning, much like a child.

Conclusion

Jesus said, "Unless you become like a little child, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Home schooling is the opportunity to learn what it is like to have the faith of a child again: to love learning, to explore without reservation or fear, to trust that all things will work out in the end.

Author Info:

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

Homeschooling in the 21st Century - 7 Teaching Tips to Promote Student Learning as a Parent

Tip 1: Create a supportive learning environment.

Students are more inclined to succeed when provided with an accepting and supportive environment. It is paramount students enjoy positive relations with fellow students and teachers as part of a caring, inclusive learning environment. As parent/teachers participating in a homeschool setting we must be sure to positively engage our children in learning. When children experience negative emotions in combination with a learning experience they may try to avoid any future experiences at all costs!

Tip 2: Celebrate reflective thinking and actions.

When a student is able to stand back and understand the path that was taken on a journey in learning their ability to objectively see this solidifies the learning. The experience of reflection helps us to assimilate the new learning that is taking place. As a parent/teacher be mindful of looking only for correct answers. Having your child reflect on their work is more important than whether or not it was correct.

Tip 3: Enhance the relevance of new learning.

We are more likely to remember what makes sense to us. Developing relevant learning experiences for your learners will result in more effective learning. As a parent/teacher use your home, environment and curriculum as tools in learning. Everyday experiences need to be integrated into learning. Your student is NEVER too old to learn by life experience.

Tip 4: Give room for shared learning.

Effective teachers embrace their class as a learning community giving opportunity for all members - including the teacher - to take part in shared learning. Learning is taken further when students are encouraged to work and reflect on ideas as a group. I often reflect that some of my most poignant parent/teacher moments were when I was learning right alongside my children. There were times when I genuinely had no clue and investigated right along with the team. They often cottoned on quicker than me!

Tip 5: Connect new knowledge to prior learning experiences.

When new learning is integrated with prior learning students will benefit greatly. Effective teaching involves building methodically on what students know and have experienced previously and anticipating the needs that might arise. The advantage we have as parent/teachers is time. We are given many opportunities to re-visit concepts and tie them in with new ones. It could be 7.30 pm and life may spring an opportunity to tie in a piece of knowledge to solidify the learning for the day!!

Tip 6: Give opportunities to learn!

Dishing out worksheets and having students fill them in does not a learning opportunity make. Many students are not afforded the time to practice, engage with and transfer new learning. Effective teachers facilitate genuine opportunities for practice. As parent/teachers we can get a little wrapped up in getting a result. We must give our children the room to just explore concepts without assessment. Rehearsing the steps for creating a wonderful painting is as important as the painting itself.

Tip 7: Understand the impact of your own teaching.

Effective teaching practice requires teachers to inquire in to the impact their teaching is having on their students. Teachers need to understand where their students are at before they start. Teachers then need to understand what strategies they might engage in to effectively the given outcomes for their group. When we look at the results of our teaching we need to be able to understand how these results might change our future plans in approach. As parent/teachers we have to be brutally honest about what does and doesn't work. Having the courage to admit something is not working can be difficult. Getting over this hurdle and being able to change our approach as the needs of our students change will bring much success.

Essentially as teachers we are leading a group of people through experiences that will help prepare them for their future. Creating positive experiences creates positive learners and participants in society.

Author Info:

Teaching in the home is not always a piece of cake. Visit us at:
http://www.k12homeschoolsupport.com for more info and programs to make your program run smoothly.

10 Ways to Make Learning Math More Fun

Sometimes kids find math to be difficult. They do not show interest in simple problems involving multiplication, division, subtraction. Sometimes, mathematics becomes boring for them, simply because they find it hard. However, math should not be a problem for any child. Therefore, we have provided ten ways that will make math easy for children. These are little games and activities that kids like the most.

1. Whenever parents go to the local stores to shop, kids can calculate the tax they have to pay for the groceries that have been purchased. Children can also figure out the total cost of goods, by adding up the price of individual items that they have bought.

2. Dividing a pizza can be a great way to teach math. Kids can divide it among their family members. A good question that you could ask your children is: If your family consists of four members then how many pizza pieces will each person get? This is a simple and interesting activity to make division easy to learn.

3. Kids can calculate the number of pairs of different shoes in the house and then multiply the total number of shoes to the total number of pairs. By this method they can easily learn multiplication. They can choose any thing that you like. For example, they can make groups of chocolate candies. For instance, if each group has four candies and there are three groups then 'What is the total number of the candies'? Children can sort this out by counting them.

4. Children like watching television shows. They can make it more interesting by counting down the time of each commercial break and the time of the show by a stop watch. When the show ends, they can see how much time was given to commercials and how much to the show. This activity will make it easier for children to learn how to subtract things.

5. Kids who are computer literate can play various games that can make mathematics easier for them. These games consist of math drills so that children can easily learn math formulas that they find very boring or difficult to learn.

6. Math is not any thing abstract. It relates to our life in many ways. For example, if you have twelve candies and you have to divide them among four friends, how many does each person get? You will certainly divide them by giving one candy to each of your friends until the candies are finished. This is how you can learn math and have fun.

7. At early stages, you should practice only simple activities. When you have learned basic math skills then you can start slightly more complex activities with cards and pens. Practice only those activities that you are interested in. It will make the learning process much more effective.

8. Help your mom while cooking different recipes. You will learn measurement of various cooking ingredient. If you want to make this activity a bit difficult, take double or half the measurements of your recipe. It will give you a little challenge and a good recreational activity.

9. The things in your house have different shapes and you can learn about them by counting the sides of each shape.

10. You can become a master of mathematics by practicing various activities described here. Drilling helps a lot in math. Keep up a steady progress and increase your level of difficulty every now and then. You have to remain in touch with what you have already learned. If you don't do multiplication or subtraction regularly, they will become difficult for you. Without constant practice, math will become a boring subject for you. Remember math plays an important role in our lives. Our every day life is influenced by Math. There is mathematics in everything ranging from traveling to cooking. Therefore, spend some time practicing math problems every day.

Author Info:

Math Worksheets Center is home to over 8,000 highly quality printable K-12 math worksheets, lessons, quizzes, and homework. See it now: http://www.mathworksheetscenter.com

Collaborative Writing In College - Is Your Teen Ready?

High school graduates, whether bound for college or a job, need to be able do team work. In academic and office settings, many team projects involve writing a document. Collaborative writing can be daunting to anyone, but it can be especially hard on self-directed students.

Here are four ways to help teens prepare for the challenges of collaborative writing.

1. Teach youngsters to take responsibility.

Students who procrastinate, do sloppy work, or do not turn in assignments on time hurt themselves and everyone on the team. Teams work best when every member is willing to do his or her share and a little bit more.

2. Teach youngsters to be patient.

A team member who is used to taking an assignment and running with it can be perceived as dictatorial by more laid-back folks.

It takes time for a group of people to become a team. If your youngsters are hard driving, "type A" personalities, teach them to distract themselves with other work while their teammates blunder around trying to decide how to start the project. The team will not form any faster for all their impatience.

3. Give young writers a real audience.

If high schoolers' readers are usually friends and relatives who can guess what the writer intended to say no matter now badly the writing is botched. A college audience, by contrast, is more likely to include people of dissimilar background and interests. The sooner you expose students to readers who differ from themselves, the easier it will be for them to write collaboratively with a team.

4. Give students peer review opportunities.

Students have to learn accept suggestions and criticism if they are going to work on a team. They also have to learn how to say unpleasant things in kind and constructive ways. Repeated practice will help those who find peer reviews stressful and encourage those who enjoy them.

None of these recommendations is particularly difficult, but each requires some effort. You may find the best way to implement them is to join with other parents. Can you think of a better way to demonstrate the value of collaboration to your students?

Author Info:

Linda Aragoni is a writer, writing teacher, and editor of You-Can-Teach-Writing.com, the guide to enabling students grades 7-12 to become competent writers. Get a free copy of all five articles in the series "Is Your Teen Ready for College Writing? just by signing up for Linda's free monthly ezine by Aug. 1, 2008. Details at http://www.you-can-teach-writing.com/ezine.html

Copyright 2008, Linda Gorton Aragoni. You may reprint this article provided the whole text, the author's name, the links, and this copyright notice remain intact.

What Are The Benefits of Homeschooling?

In every family, there are great lessons that can be learned from each individual. When a family chooses to take the homeschooling route, these family bonds are strengthened. One of the greatest benefits of homeschooling is the relationship building that takes place in families who homeschool.

Not only do homeschooling families spend time learning, but also laughing, playing, and enjoying one another. A wise man once said, "We can teach our children to have courage, faith, and endurance and show them how to learn, and they can teach us to laugh, to sing, and to love." What more could you ask for?

Benefits of homeschooling don't end with relationship building. In a homeschooling environment, you can choose the best curriculum to encourage the love of learning. It is wonderful to have a curriculum that is flexible and determined by people (usually parents) who love the students.

In a successful homeschool, parents not only lecture or watch their children complete assignments, they participate in the learning. Parents can be active participants in their child's education by encouraging exploration and research. Parents can work with a child one-on-one and help develop strengths while minimizing weaknesses. Curriculum can also be designed around a child's interesting, making learning more personal, interesting, and fun.

Another benefit of homeschooling is that fact that parents can demonstrate what they feel to be ideal behavior and values. They can also teach why certain behaviors are unacceptable.

Homeschooling is so productive because there aren't 30 other children disrupting the learning that is taking place. This creates a learning environment that is not only ideal, but can maximize the time that is spent on a lesson. This is a great option because you not only focus on family bonds and relationships, but also a great education. One of the greatest benefits of homeschooling is providing your child with the type of education that you desire he/she has.

The benefits of homeschooling are endless. Regardless what others may think, homeschooling is one of the greatest things you can give your child.

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