Home School Me!

Homeschooling is often misunderstood. Many people question the quality of homeschool educations. We humans tend to compare things that may seem new to us to the things that are familiar to us. Therefore, Homeschooling routinely gets compared to public school system. I don’t mind that it gets compared to the public school system, simply because there really is no comparison. Consider the following facts:

1. A greater number of homeschool children go on to higher education and college than their public school peers.
2. Records show that homeschool children get better grades than their public school peers.
3.  A higher percentage of homeschoolers graduate from high school.
4. Homeschool curriculum tends to be more accurate and timely than the obsolete/dated textbooks and curriculum used in public school.
5. More than 95% of homeschoolers are able to recognize and speak authoritatively on issues of government and politics, while only 55% of their public school counterparts are as savvy.

The public school system was started with political motives supply a workforce for economic growth. This chiefly benefitted a few wealthy businessmen with political clout. It was never intended to freely educate and equip our nation’s youth to be entrepreneurs; to be independent; to dream the American dream unless that included falling in line to be an employee.

It is our job as responsible parents is to be able to make sure that our children have adequate resources to secure for them the education they need and deserve. The intent of homeschooling is and should be just that - schooling at home. This is how a true education can be accomplished as proven by the statistics above.

Randall & Karen Webster have been enjoying the advantages of Homeschooling their 5 children for over 10 years. They offer advice and tips through a FREE 5-part Mini-Course at http://www.FrustrationFreeHomeschool.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/homeschooling-articles/enjoying-the-advantage-of-homeschooling-is-it-misunderstood-942619.html

Homeschooling is an education option that is widely debated by comparing and contrasting it to public school. There are always two sides to every story, and there are many topics that always seem to come up in these discussions. This article will focus on one of the popular questions: socialization, by sharing our family’s experience as it relates to this discussion.

Homeschool Kids Don’t Have Socialization

This one pops up a lot. I find it hard to understand what people mean when they say this, or why it is usually the first thing they think of when the topic of homeschooling comes up. If they mean that sending your child to spend 8 hours a day with a bunch of kids their age in relatively unsupervised conditions is going to help develop their socialization skills, I am baffled even more.

Kids need much attention. When they are in a public setting, especially on their own, they feel the need for attention, but learn to seek it the way their peers do by example: whining, screaming, manipulation, hitting, etc. I’m not saying that my kids never whine, scream or hit, but we make it unfruitful for them to do so - they don’t get what they want. To be consistent with denying their whining or screaming until they ask in a normal tone of voice or accept that no is your final answer may take 5 or even 15 minutes – for the immediate battle and a weeks to win the war. This requires a flexible environment that is rarely available in a public setting. Our experience is that being consistent in denying whining and screaming is that they quickly learn not to do it. Reinforcing this over time it then becomes a way of life.

In the public school setting kids are relatively unsupervised during activities such as lunch, recess, changing classes, gym class, bus trips, assemblies, etc. Anything goes to get what they want. They quickly learn that manipulation of various forms works to get the attention they seek. However, if they aren’t one of the “group” they may suffer verbal and sometimes physical abuse that causes them to withdraw and not want to seek communication or relationship with anyone. It only brings pain. Kids can be so cruel to one another.

If you wanted your child to learn how to bowl would you send them to a group of kids their age, or would you seek a mentor who knew how to bowl? The skill of socialization is the same as any skill. They stand to learn a skill quicker and more complete when mentored by a few that are more mature in that skill. Kids learn more how to “survive” than how to properly socialize in a public school setting. They are more likely to get more loving, supportive attention at home than in a public setting. If you communicate with your kids in a truthful mature manner they will learn to get and receive attention the same way.

My wife and I both attended public schools growing up, and we have been enjoying the advantages of homeschooling our children for over 10 years. We understand that homeschooling is a choice, and that it is may not be for everyone. Hopefully this helped you see both sides more clearly. We hope to address some more of the debated questions in future articles.

Randall & Karen Webster have been enjoying the advantage of Homeschooling their 5 children for over 10 years. They offer advice and tips through a FREE 5-part Mini-Course at http://www.FrustrationFreeHomeschool.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/homeschooling-articles/advantage-of-homeschooling-socialization-938551.html

Now for the homeschooler!

We Created this Student Edition with Homeschoolers in Mind. The Learn & Master Piano or Guitar Student Edition is a Complete 2-Year Piano or Guitar Curriculum Designed for Home Study. It Contains Our Complete Piano or Guitar Course plus: 68-Page Teacher’s Guide (With Full 2-Year Scope-and-Sequence) and 1 DVD Teacher’s Resource.

Homeschooling is simply not to educate your children at home and inculcate the best in them. It’s more than that! You need to plan and organize the curriculum for each of your child very efficiently and effectively. Moreover, there is very much a need of time management to cater the needs of each of your child. There are many factors that go into creating and maintaining a successful and effective homeschooling program. A poor time management can easily break the homeschooling program.

All of us want to accomplish great things via homeschooling – to see progress every day. None of us want to waste time looking for planning materials or completed work. Homeschooling education does not have the benefit of set schedules and time frames. Although this seems appealing to homeschooling parents, but mismanaged timing problems can become chaotic if not managed well in time.

It is very necessary to understand your schedule and how you manage to do things. Once you examine your way of working, it would be helpful to you as you can schedule your tasks with proper time management. Few important tips and suggestions are given to make your time management work effectively:

•    Try to develop a routine among your children by giving them a plan or task to follow. Once they start following a routine, time will be managed accordingly.

•    It is important to understand the subject that you are to teach your children. It helps to save a lot of time, which otherwise can lead to mismanagement and poor training of your children.

•    It is good to collect the resources and supplies well before time so that parents do not suffer later on, simply by collecting box of supplies when needed. This will also help you to focus your efforts on the subjects.

•    It is better to understand the learning style of each of your kid so that there is no mismatch that can lead to losing interest of your child in their lessons.

•    Try to avoid those things that can rob your time. Over commitment to outside activities, too many activities for your children, use of telephone are big time robbers. You can opt for alternatives to avoid such circumstances.

•    Keep your priorities in order and manage your time according to what can be accomplished in your life.

•    Your child is the source of evaluating and criticism that can help you to change the lessons and schedule when required. Students will tell you when lessons are taking too long, or when time could best be used on other tasks.

•    Make a planner that helps you to keep a track of everything that you do while homeschooling your children.

•    Time management is a proactive work. It is important to understand its value and make improvement before it runs out of your hands.

Ms Tamma DeHart originator of hssegue.com, an interactive homeschool support community serving the interests of parents involved in home school support,homeschool forms,homeschool classifieds,homeschool programs.For more details,visit home school support, california homeschooling, homeschooling

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/homeschooling-articles/time-management-homeschooling-some-useful-tips-939960.html

Homeschooling is an education option that is widely debated by comparing and contrasting it to public school. There are always two sides to every story, and there are many topics that always seem to come up in these discussions. This article will focus on one of the popular topics, by sharing our family’s experience as it relates to it.

Debunking the Myth: Homeschooling takes a lot of time

The public schools where we live begin around 8:00 am and let out around 3:00 pm. That is 7 hours each day that the child is away from home and in the public school building. When you add the time to get to and from school its closer to 8 to 9 hours per day. This is equivalent to someone working full time. Plus the kids we know that attend public schools have homework nearly every night. This adds another hour. Then there are the extra-curricular activities that they may choose to stay late to participate in.

Our experience has been that we spend an increasing amount of time on “school” as the child gets older. One hour per day is plenty for kindergarten, two hours per day for 1st through 4th grade and about four to six hours for junior high and high school grades. This includes all homework and research papers, etc.

Our kids have done well on the standardized tests and their annual evaluations with this approach. So I’m confident that we covered everything required and more. This has allowed time for other priorities like household chores, helping with the family business, helping a friend and free time.

Homeschooling does not require as much time for the student as the public education system requires. Then there is the teacher or parent’s perspective. As homeschool parent you will need to spend the times listed above with your child daily plus about another 30-60 minutes per day to prepare, review, plan, etc. When you have clear goals and work together, it doesn’t need to take that much time. Once you get through a grade with one child it gets even less time consuming with the next.

Randall & Karen Webster have been enjoying the advantage of Homeschooling their 5 children for over 10 years. They offer advice and tips through a FREE 5-part Mini-Course at http://www.FrustrationFreeHomeschool.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/homeschooling-articles/advantage-of-homeschooling-more-family-time-940261.html

One of the biggest challenges for homeschooling parents is to decide upon the curriculum that suits their child needs. What might feel comfortable to one child may not be so for the other one. Homeschooling supplies have exploded with its increasing demand. The question is how to select the right one? In some cases, children do get bored with textbook based curriculums. What would be the right option for such children? The answers are discussed below.

It is believed and discovered by many families that the customized educational program is the best way the children get most benefited from. The parents try to merge several homeschool resources to develop a special program for each child. Although it is quite creative, but mingling too many resources to form one program can be quite confusing and frenzied.

There are preschool textbooks for homeschoolers who have not yet entered into the wonders of school and learning. Preschooling children have little minds and take homeschool as playtime with the preschool homeschooling textbooks. The love to work with these homeschooling textbooks as fun and adventure. The best homeschooling supplies for this age group of children would be songs, storybooks, games, fun tools etc. Check in with the curriculum what you need to teach your kids this week. The curriculum will also provide with ideas how to fill your days.

The elementary homeschool textbooks provide curriculum on elementary subjects like maths, science, history just like the curriculum in public schools. But in homeschools, you can give your child the freedom to concentrate on the subject he/she is interested in. Many times an entire elementary curriculum for homeschool follows a student throughout their entire elementary years. Keeping with one curriculum set will ensure your child has a consistent homeschool education. As long as your child continues to learn with a curriculum for homeschool, there will be no reason to look for new homeschooling supplies every year.

There are two different educational tracks for students entering a high school. One is the student entering a work force and other is joining a graduate college. In a high school homeschool, students are more open to their own education. Finding the right curriculum for homeschool, your high school student can be ahead of other students when it comes to college applications.

The significance of choosing the right curriculum for your home and your child is to do some mental homework. If you don’t understand what’s meant by learning styles, do some reading. Spend time thinking about how your child tackles their daily work. It might be possible that the resources you have chosen for your child’s learning might not interest them and can hinder in their process of learning. It is therefore essential to check the curriculum according to your child’s tastes.

homeschooling support,homeschooling,california homeschooling,Organizing a homeschool,home school support, homeschool support, homeschool forms,homeschool classifieds, homeschool programs, homeschool information, online homeschooling

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/homeschooling-articles/curriculum-planning-for-homeschool-937365.html

Hey!

I just got an email from my friend, Cindy Rushton.  She is “pumped” about her Ultimate Homeschool Expo resource library.  Actually, she is so “pumped” that she has just shared a sneak peek into her Membership Site.

You see one of the neat things about the Ultimate Homeschool Expo is that everything is ONLINE as more than a convention–it is the ULTIMATE homeschool resource library.

With every online event that Cindy plans, she builds a private, exclusive Membership Site that includes everything from the UHSE in one place–it has audios (from all of the sessions and from the bonus gifts that her speakers give to us), ebooks, complete unit study guides, articles, printable notebooking pages, cookbooks, on and on. I can’t believe all of the things that we receive for only $39.95. It is truly ULTIMATE!

Anyway, back to the reason that I am sharing with you…

Cindy just sent me permission to give you a sampler of one of her free gifts that is included on the Membership Site. I am so excited to give it to you! It is a audio and ebook set that she actually sells on her website, but she is giving away on the Membership Site. Here is the link:

Let’s Get Ready for a New School Year Super Set!

Let’s Get Ready for the New School Year Mommy Planner…
Ebook by Cindy Rushton

Need some help gearing up for the new school year? Wish you had a friend to take you by the hand and help you plan your year? You will LOVE this! It includes a quick Mommy Planner with a potpourri of planning sheets from all of Cindy’s products to help you get started on the right track with your homeschool planning. It is full of goodies! AND YOURS…

Download Part One
http://www.cindyrushton.com/pdfs/GearingUp1.pdf

Download Part Two
http://www.cindyrushton.com/pdfs/GearingUp2.pdf

PLUS! Companion Audio!
Let’s Get Ready for a New School Year–Audio

Download by Mp3
http://www.cindysdesktop.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/GetReadyNewSchoolYear.mp3

Isn’t that FUN?

You know the saying that a picture captures a thousand words,well…what about a a gift like this???  And, just think…this is only ONE of the awesome gifts included on the Membership Site. There are hundreds more!

Take my word for it, you will WANT a ticket to this event and access to all of the wonderful resources. Grab your ticket here:

http://www.myma.in/?Cindy

Sincerely Yours,
Faithe

It might be a matter of surprise, but the fact is that more than 2 million children are home schooled in US alone. With its growth, many new changes have been introduced in the curriculum of homeschooling. Community colleges, organization and groups, retail stores have started providing discounts to the homeschooling children. Becoming a recognized education program, many families have started giving names to their home schools, although the strength might be as low as 2 children only. Thus giving your homeschool an official name is both fun and beneficial.

What’s more important is to let your children be a part in choosing a professional name for the homeschool. Hold a family meeting to decide the name for your homeschool. This would give them an edge over their thinking capability too.

The question that always pops up in the mind of students and parents of a homeschool is what the need of a name for the homeschool is. The reason is simple: a child’s confidence boosts up when he/she is asked the name of the school they are studying in. There they have an answer. It acts as a sense of identity for your kids. They can confidentially tell that they are studying in a homeschool that has a name.

Choosing a right name may be fun, but you need to be bit careful while selecting a meaningful name for your homeschool. There are a few ways through which you can choose a name for your homeschool.

The first way to choose a name can be based on your religious beliefs. Since many families believe that public schools conflicts their personal beliefs, hence they prefer choosing a religious name for their home run school.

Another most popular way to come up with a name is using your location. Location name is preferably chosen by public schools, hence you can opt a name for your homeschool like that. Location may include your town name or street name. For example Louisville Road Academy or Blue Oak Study program.

Family name can also be used to notify your homeschool. You can use your family tree and check out for the name of your ancestors whom you would like to honor. Don’t forget to add ‘academy’ or ‘school’ after it. Memorizing a family member or a hero can be great fun e.g. Roosevelt Memorial School.

Parents can contribute their creative thinking in choosing a name for their homeschool, based on their teaching style. Some examples would be School of Knowledge or Hands on Academy etc.

You can also decide a name by using something that interests you or your child. If you love nature, you can choose a name like Greenview School of Education or Mother Earth Academy.

Ms Tamma DeHart originator of hssegue.com, an interactive homeschool support community serving the interests of parents involved in home school support,homeschool forms,homeschool classifieds,homeschool programs.For more details,visit home school support, california homeschooling, homeschooling

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/homeschooling-articles/name-for-your-homeschool-how-to-choose-it-932774.html