Home Schooling Methods

By Buck Larsen

More and more parents are looking for an alternative form of public education. Many are taking part in an upswinging trend called homeschooling. From the homeschoolers point of view, there are many advantages. Some include one on one instruction tailored to the individual student's needs, more efficient use of instruction time, a safer environment under parental control and, in many cases, religious instruction.

However, there are obstacles standing in the way of successful home schoolers. This ranges from a lack of social contact with peers to lack of expertise in curriculum to actually being able to get into and compete at the college level.

Five basic methods have been recognized for students to receive adequate home school instruction.

1. Unschooling or natural learning has its main focus on allowing the student to determine studies based on their individual interests. Textbooks may or may not be used depending on sources needed.

2. Unit Studies ties a topic together by using different parts of the curriculum to express points of view. A topic may be studied from a science, English, math, history, art, etc. view points.

3. Charlotte Mason educated her students with little to no homework, short, ungraded lessons, free afternoons, discipline, and ideas or culture. Testing was done by the student telling the teacher what they had done or read.

4. The Principle Approach is a philosophy that promotes the belief that all truth is ultimately God's truth. Students are taught to research, reason, relate and record their work on a subject, basically from a Biblical point of view.

5. The Classical Method teaches students to be thinkers. It basically breaks down into teaching three or four different levels of thinking during the student learning years at increasing levels of difficulty.

Home schooling is legal in all 50 states in the USA and most of Europe but laws widely vary. With the use of the Internet, there is no limit to what the home teacher and students can learn and study. Flexible, self paced material is a major drawing point to any home schooling setup.

Options for educational choice provides parents with alternate educational opportunities for their student. One option open to parents is Competent Private Instruction (CPI - the formal instruction to children of compulsory attendance age outside the traditional school setting). Each state has its own rules and laws as to Competent Private Instruction.

There are some areas which cause some concern to the home schooling teacher.

One is math. Most home school teachers do not have the expertise to help their students over the trouble spots, especially in the upper level or college preparatory mathematics. Video tapes and other resource books are helpful, but it still comes down to being able to show the student how to get through the process.

Increased reading speed and comprehension is another area that is a major hurdle. There is plenty of computer software available to help the slow reader overcome some of their problems.

A third area of concern is making sure that the home schooler is prepared adequately for college. Are there any differences in enrolling a home schooler compared to a high school graduate? Does each college have its own set of criteria to admit a home schooled applicant? How does one prepare for an ACT test?

Home schooling can be a very rewarding process, but it is important to set up procedures to meet expected goals. Those aspiring to give their children a home school education must look at the big picture and adjust their teaching methods accordingly.

About the Author (text) Buck Larsen has been an avid mathematics teacher in champion the cause of home schooling. His website, http://www.thenewhomeschooler.com, is a wealth of information. The site particularly emphasizes math basics and speed reading skills as well as different techniques of home schooling.

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Advantages to Home Schooling

By Larry Slater

There are a number of advantages to home schooling programs, and by considering these, along with the disadvantages; parents can decide if home schooling is a good choice for their family. Advantages to home schooling include better socialization, education, and family connections. Children receive a unique kind of education through home schooling, and parents should learn all they can about the subject before making a choice about starting such a program. Home schooling can work for every child if the parents are dedicated to teaching.

Although many people question the socialization aspect of home schooling, research has been done and shows that home schoolers have many advantages in the socialization area. For example, not all children of the same age develop mentally at the same rate, even though they are usually thrown into the same class at school. When your child is home schooled, age barriers are more easily overcome and he or she can develop friendships with other children of the same intelligence and maturity level, regardless of age. Children also can use educational time as purely academic, instead as of social time, as is often the case in school settings. Home schooling removes this distraction.

Because of this, children have more of an opportunity to learn. This is not the only way in which children who are home schooled are able to achieve more academically. Home schooling also allows students and their parent-teachers to specifically build a program based on student needs. Home schooled children work at their own pace for every subject, and so have a better opportunity to fully learn that subject before moving on to the next concept. Home schooling also gives children the chance to participate in unique learning events such as monthly field trips and educational games. Learning can be less of a chore and more fun for home schooled students, which makes this a good option for children who have behavioral problems in traditional school settings.

Lastly, home schooling creates a bond between children and their families. There is less sibling rivalry, and brothers and sisters can thus learn from one another. Students also create a unique bond with parents, who serve as teachers. Home schooled families are often very close-knit. Parents can also teach family values during educational lessons that are not normally instilled into a child during school. This can be very beneficial both when the child is young and as the child enters the tough teen years. Because more time is spent with the family as a whole, home schooling can be rewarding for everyone on every level. These advantages to home schooling cannot be overlooked, and you should research them fully to find out if a home schooling program is right for your family.

For more valuable information on Home Schooling visit Home School Resource.

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Home Schooling Information

By Jakob Culver

There are many reasons why parents find that home schooling is the best choice for their children. Some choose to teach their children at home because they can decide the curriculum, avoid peer pressure, and know that their child is safe.

Home schooling requires a lot of time. Although some parents find that it brings the family closer together.

There is a common feeling that by home schooling, the child may develop their own opinions and not feel forced into things because of peer pressure. By the family spending time together and being taught by family members, there is a family unity that is built.

Home schooling can be taught by any parent with or without a higher education. Basic knowledge is fine when teaching your child. There are many teaching aides to help assist you in educating your child.

Whether you choose to get a home schooling package or use an unstructured program that you develop yourself, you will still need to decide what kind of education your child will be needing. Try to build a program or obtain a program that will fit your child’s interests, and be beneficial to their education.

This will also help you teach your child in the manner in which they are most receptive. This will keep them excited about learning. By getting individual help that they would not normally receive in a public school.

With imagination and creativity you can benefit your child in many numerous ways. Only you know your child best and understand their needs. Teaching your child at home can be the best option for your entire family.

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Home Schooling Online

By Jimmy Sturo

When you are home schooling your children, getting support from your local school system isn’t always possible. Nowadays, there are many options and resources online that can be utilized. Since most people have an Internet connection, home schooling online is a good way to make sure your child is getting the education needed to develop real world skills.

There are many ways you can home school online. Some traditional high schools offer online programs. An advantage to home schooling online in this manner is that a local school system is available to make sure your child is receiving the proper testing and studying the proper subjects. They usually supply a curriculum and have a system of checks and balances to make sure your children are studying required subjects. Home schooling lets your children learn about things that interest them, but it doesn’t mean they should ignore other skills.

You can home school online using any of the various resources. There are plenty of home schooling websites that offer curriculum examples, lesson plans and forums and resources to help develop a support network.

You can use online resources for research and to get creative lesson plan ideas. There are websites devoted to providing lesson plans. Others concentrate on offering support. You can also use online encyclopedias and dictionaries for research. The Internet makes it possible to home school online from anywhere in the world.

Home schooling is a wonderful option for many parents. Home schooling online can make the process more fun and interesting for your children and help offer a solid support system.

Home Schooling provides detailed information on Home Schooling, Home Schooling Curriculums, Christian Home Schooling, Home Schooling Online and more. Home Schooling is affiliated with Online Distance Education.

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Budget Home Schooling

By Michael Russell

Home schooling can be a rewarding experience for the entire family. However, it can also be hard on your pocketbook. Frugal home schooling is becoming a popular term among most families living on limited income or for those wanting to cut back on expenses.

The internet is a valuable source that most families can't live without. From researching essay papers to curriculum, anything you need to search for is available online for free and right in the convenience of your own home. Online auctions are a great way to purchase used curriculum programs and books. A trip to your local library will probably fit most of your needs. Not only do you get to borrow books for free but it makes a fun family outing. Before heading off, make a list of the books and topics you need to borrow so you don't forget what's needed.

If you are a member of a home school group, suggest starting a swap meet or book sale of used curriculum and other teaching aids. This is a great way to buy good material for reasonable prices as well as selling some material you no longer use. Do you know someone that has a book or program you would like to use? If they're not using it, then ask them if they wouldn't mind you borrowing it. If you have a book or program that they could use, consider either trading or just borrowing from each other for a short time.

Look in your local paper for garage sales and yard sales that have books and craft supplies. Be creative while looking around, something you may not normally think about using could be perfect for a certain craft or science project.

Field trips can be a great change of pace when home school gets repetitive. Often museums are free or cost a minimal amount to tour. Some of your local businesses may be willing for a small group to tour their premises. This is a great way for children to see first hand how certain businesses are operated. Be sure to call them first to make arrangements.

Curriculum will be your most expensive part of home schooling and one of the most important. Before purchasing your curriculum consider the following: Does it fit your religious beliefs and your family's moral standards? Does it fit your teaching style as well as your children's learning style? Is the program designed to be used with multiple children or upcoming children? Will additional material need to be purchased for it to work with more then one child? Will it be become outdated in a year or two or will it last numerous years? Could you buy it used or substitute it with a similar but less expensive program? Is the program truly needed or could you get by without it? Check out curriculum review websites to see what works for other home school families. By finding out why or why not certain programs work for other families, it may help you decide if the program is right for your family. Home schooling can be budget friendly by taking the time to research programs and by buying only what programs your family actually needs.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Home School Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

A Beka Home Schooling

By Diane Crawford

The A Beka curriculum is a very popular choice for many homeschooling families. It is also used in quite a few Christian schools across the country.

The A Beka Books were developed at Pensacola Christian College. They are based on experience and information gathered over a period of fifty years in the classrooms of Pensacola Christian Academy by many writers. They are unique in that they do not use any currently published works for their curriculum, but instead research and develop their own. Dr. and Mrs. Arlin Horton are the founders of A Beka Book, and the series is named after Mrs. Horton, whose first name is Rebeka.

The A Beka home school curriculum is fundamentally Christian based. The main goal of this program is to ground children in the Christian faith. Every aspect and subject points toward the Christian worldview. It is a workbook based curriculum and is very detailed. It goes step by step through each concept and is very comprehensive. This is a good curriculum for those home school families who are very organized or need a highly structured program.

There are three choices when working with the A Beka Book home school program. There is the A Beka Academy DVD option, which provides two options. The first is the Fully Accredited College Preparatory Program in which A Beka keeps all of the records. The second is the Non-Accredited program in which the parent keeps all the records. Each covers the exact same material. The only difference is the price. Basically, in addition to the workbooks, the DVDs feature teachers who help to explain the subjects in greater detail.

The second option is the A Beka Academy Traditional Parent-Directed option. This is a fully accredited college prep program. A Beka provides you with teacher manuals that explain exactly how to follow and teach the curriculum. You teach the material and A Beka keeps your records for you. It is very much like a traditional school without the school building. You send in all of the work and tests and they grade them and issue a report card. There is an academic calendar along with progress reports. This is much the same as the DVD option minus the DVDs.

The third option is the Textbooks/Materials for Home Schooling. This is simply the curriculum. There is no other involvement from A Beka besides the materials. You will keep all the records and set your own pace. You can order the entire program or just the items that you feel are appropriate for your child. Many parents who choose this option will use parts of another curriculum along with the A Beka materials.

A Beka Book is a good choice for home school families. It is very Biblically based and structured. It sets a strong foundation during the early years in core subjects such as reading and math, and continues to challenge students all the way through high school. The A Beka Book home school curriculum is a great tool with which to teach your child and offers many options.

Looking for more info on A Beka Home Schooling? Head on over to http://www.homeschooling4you.com

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An Introduction to Home Schooling

By Keith Londrie

Home schooling has gained greatly in popularity over the years. Many parents feel the education system is not doing its job to educate their children. Some parents have decided to school their children themselves. This form of schooling takes place in the home and is structured in a similar manner to the regular school experience. I have noted that in families where a child is recieving home schooling, that the child tends to be a little further ahead than his/her peers.

Parents work with the school to provide an education that is equal to the one they would receive in a regular school setting. The children must have learning sessions in topics such as math, reading, science, and history. There must also be some form of physical activity during the day, comparable to gym. The physical activities used in home schooling are many times used as a positive reinforcement to keep good study habits.

Of course, like most things, home schooling has its advantages and disadvantages. It is up to you to decide is home schooling is right for your children.

Advantages include a more focused learning environment. Without the distraction of other students, children will be able to concentrate on what is being taught. It is also a more relaxed atmosphere. Children are comfortable in their own homes, aren’t embarrassed to be wrong, and won’t feel the social pressure to conform to others’ opinions. These all can be great pluses for home schooling.

There are also drawbacks to home schooling. Social skills are not developed as quickly. The children are often sheltered from life situations such as not being included in a group or being the best in the class. These children can sometimes feel uncomfortable in social situations because they are not used to them. By allowing the child personal interactions with their peers, you can get over this disadvantage rather quickly.

Home schooling is a decision that should be made based on the child’s attitude and social adjustment. While it can be a wonderful experience stimulated with learning and free thought, it can teach children not to rely on community, which is something we all rely on at some point during our lives. Ignoring this could make settling into college or a career a lot more difficult than it has to be. Not saying that a child will not fit in, just that it can prove to be harder. There are also steps you can take to make this transistion as smooth as possible.

Keith Londrie II is a well known author. He has written many great articles on many topics, including home schooling. For more information, please visit http://www.home-schooling-info.info/ You may also be interested in Keith's other offerings at his site http://keithlondrie.com

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