Picture: Photo courtesy A to Z Home's CoolA homeschooler getting some schoolwork done
Howstuffworks "How Homeschooling Works"
Howstuffworks "How Homeschooling Works" by Katherine Neer is a fantastic resource for those of you pondering whether or not to homeschool your child. You'll find helpful tips on getting started, various homeschooling "methods," and links to other great homeschooling sites.
Picture: Photo courtesy A to Z Home's Cool
A homeschooler getting some schoolwork done
Picture: Photo courtesy A to Z Home's CoolA homeschooler getting some schoolwork done
A controversial chapter in education: unschooling - Growing Up Healthy
A controversial chapter in education: unschooling - Growing Up Healthy - MSNBC.com
Here's a MSNBC article on "unschooling." Like "homeschoolers, unschooled children don’t attend traditional class. Unlike most homeschoolers, however, unschoolers do not follow any sort of curriculum. Children are allowed and encouraged to set the agenda and pace using their parents, their own lives and their homes and communities as resources."
Here's a MSNBC article on "unschooling." Like "homeschoolers, unschooled children don’t attend traditional class. Unlike most homeschoolers, however, unschoolers do not follow any sort of curriculum. Children are allowed and encouraged to set the agenda and pace using their parents, their own lives and their homes and communities as resources."
The Ten Most Important Things You Need To Know About Homeshooling
I've been looking for a Top Ten List like this one for homeschooling. Visit www.homeschool.com.
The Ten Most Important Things you need to know about Homeschooling - Homeschooling Articles - Homeschool.com - Your Virtual Homeschool
The Ten Most Important Things you need to know about Homeschooling - Homeschooling Articles - Homeschool.com - Your Virtual Homeschool
Chapter 5: A Day In The Life...
In this chapter, read about the different ways that homeschooling "unfolds" in the various households already homeschooling their children. Hopefully you'll get the picture of what it's really like...
5.1 A Day in the Life...
A Day in the Life...
...of a homeschooling family in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. This homeschooling mother says, "For those starting out, I just want to quickly assure you that home education is not difficult. It is something that can fit naturally into your day or evening. Home based learning does not need to be overwhelming, highly structured, rigid or expensive. Home education is a choice that should fit your life style." Read though the link above to see a discussion thread of families sharing their homeschooling "day in the life" stories to get a better sense of what that might be like.
...of a homeschooling family in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. This homeschooling mother says, "For those starting out, I just want to quickly assure you that home education is not difficult. It is something that can fit naturally into your day or evening. Home based learning does not need to be overwhelming, highly structured, rigid or expensive. Home education is a choice that should fit your life style." Read though the link above to see a discussion thread of families sharing their homeschooling "day in the life" stories to get a better sense of what that might be like.
5.2 Think Pink : A Day in the Life of a Homeschooler
Think Pink : A Day in the Life of a Homeschooler
This is a link to blog by a mother who homeschools her two young girls. In this blog, she shares "with you what any given day might hold in our home as we go through the process of learning together." She included some cool pictures, too!
This is a link to blog by a mother who homeschools her two young girls. In this blog, she shares "with you what any given day might hold in our home as we go through the process of learning together." She included some cool pictures, too!
5.3 Average Day in Homeschooler's Life
Average Day in Homeschooler's Life
by Joshua Meeks (Grade 9)
If you want a child's perspective, read this link. ;-)
by Joshua Meeks (Grade 9)
If you want a child's perspective, read this link. ;-)
5.4 A Day in the Life of Homeschool Mom - Homeschoolblogger.com
A Day in the Life of Homeschool Mom - Homeschoolblogger.com
Ah, the life of a homeschooling mom...I'm sure my wife, Maria, can relate.
Ah, the life of a homeschooling mom...I'm sure my wife, Maria, can relate.
Chapter 4 - Homeschooling FAQs
Author Patricia Lines addresses some of the most common questions that parents have when considering whether or not to homeschool their children.
KidSource Online: Homeschooling
KidSource Online: Homeschooling
4.1 Welcome To The World Of Homeschooling
The Fletcher Family in Ohio answer a lot of the common questions people have about homeschooling--I really like their approach...that it's a family "lifestyle choice for us as well as a style of parenting we wanted to embrace."
Read Frequently Asked Questions answered by The Fletcher Family of Ohio.
Read Frequently Asked Questions answered by The Fletcher Family of Ohio.
Chapter 3 - Homeschooling In Action...Stories That Will Inspire You!
In this chapter, you will read about real homeschoolers who will likely warm your heart and almost surely inspire you. Enjoy.
3.1 Home-schooler teaches others to read
This is an inspiring story from MSNBC.com about a little 8-year-old homeschooler who helps others to read...WOW!Home-schooler teaches others to read - Making a Difference - MSNBC.com
In our experience, homeschooling gives the family time to tackle projects like the annual Young Author's Competition. Alexandra, Cameron, and Brandon have all written and finished books (including illustrations and binding), which took a lot of time to complete. I think many parents would agree that writing a book is a very worthwhile pursuit, but let's face it...what keeps many children from attempting it is the time involved, not to mention parents who are "time-challenged" to help after work.
Maria integrated the Young Author's book projects into the kids' everyday learning units. It worked...not surprisingly, many of the award winners throughout our local school district in all age categories were homeschoolers.
3.2 Home schooling on the rise
This article discusses the continual rise in the number of families turning to homeschooling as an education alternative for their children.
Home schooling on the rise - Nightly News with Brian Williams - MSNBC.com
What always amuses me is how stubbornly hardfast the lines are drawn on either side of this debate. Maria and I homeschool out of choice, not fear. Our children are still part of the unified school district and the teacher assigned to our family has been working closely with Maria for over eight years. We have a lot of flexibility, yet with Leslie's guidance, we know we're keeping up with statewide requirements at all times.
Alexandra joined public school in 5th grade and is now a 7th-grader in middle school. Cameron will join her this coming school year. So, I guess you can say we have one foot in homeschooling and one foot in the public schools. We don't see our choice as one or the other--instead, we blend our options and it doesn't feel like two different worlds for our children.
Home schooling on the rise - Nightly News with Brian Williams - MSNBC.com
What always amuses me is how stubbornly hardfast the lines are drawn on either side of this debate. Maria and I homeschool out of choice, not fear. Our children are still part of the unified school district and the teacher assigned to our family has been working closely with Maria for over eight years. We have a lot of flexibility, yet with Leslie's guidance, we know we're keeping up with statewide requirements at all times.
Alexandra joined public school in 5th grade and is now a 7th-grader in middle school. Cameron will join her this coming school year. So, I guess you can say we have one foot in homeschooling and one foot in the public schools. We don't see our choice as one or the other--instead, we blend our options and it doesn't feel like two different worlds for our children.
3.3 Teaching children well, from home
Here's an article that features a mother who decided to homeschool her daughter diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder.
Teaching children well, from home - Health - MSNBC.com
In this article, someone brings up the "S" word--"socialization." Many think that homeschoolers will lack socialization skills if "sequestered" in their homes instead of "integrating" with other children in a public or private school environment.
I don't agree. Of course, I have a rather large family, so the kids have built-in socialization opportunities. I've actually found the flip side to this argument to be true. My children have learned to express themselves without fear of censorship from other "less tolerant" children and have grown comfortable with being "individuals" in addition to being part of a group (in this case, a family), which is no small task given the cliqueishness of our schools. This is nothing new, either. Part of the drama of growing up is learning to deal with cliques that you wish to be a part of or who may not wish to include you.
My children dance, play sports, write, draw, play with neighborhood kids, go to the amusement park, play video games, chat on the Internet, listen to music on iPods, go to sleepovers at the homes of friends...not exactly the antisocial family-in-the-mountain picture some have of homeschoolers.
Maria did go through a period (primarily due to financial restraints) when she made our own draperies, painted the whole house, and created (with the help of the kids) various decorative crafts for the house--I did tease her that considering she was also homeschooling several children, she only had to learn to kill her own meat to be classified as a full-blown "mountain woman!" ;-)
Teaching children well, from home - Health - MSNBC.com
In this article, someone brings up the "S" word--"socialization." Many think that homeschoolers will lack socialization skills if "sequestered" in their homes instead of "integrating" with other children in a public or private school environment.
I don't agree. Of course, I have a rather large family, so the kids have built-in socialization opportunities. I've actually found the flip side to this argument to be true. My children have learned to express themselves without fear of censorship from other "less tolerant" children and have grown comfortable with being "individuals" in addition to being part of a group (in this case, a family), which is no small task given the cliqueishness of our schools. This is nothing new, either. Part of the drama of growing up is learning to deal with cliques that you wish to be a part of or who may not wish to include you.
My children dance, play sports, write, draw, play with neighborhood kids, go to the amusement park, play video games, chat on the Internet, listen to music on iPods, go to sleepovers at the homes of friends...not exactly the antisocial family-in-the-mountain picture some have of homeschoolers.
Maria did go through a period (primarily due to financial restraints) when she made our own draperies, painted the whole house, and created (with the help of the kids) various decorative crafts for the house--I did tease her that considering she was also homeschooling several children, she only had to learn to kill her own meat to be classified as a full-blown "mountain woman!" ;-)
3.4 What do you think about Homeschooling? And why?
I like this person's response to this question on the relatively new Yahoo! Answers website...what do you think?
Yahoo! Answers - What do you think about Homeschooling? And why?
Yahoo! Answers - What do you think about Homeschooling? And why?
3.5 Cool Homes - Homeschooling Families' Home Pages - A to Z
Ann Zeise created this website that is literally a virtual neighborhood of homeschooling families from all over the U.S.
Checkout the family at House #19 ;-) Thanks, Ann!
Cool Homes - Homeschooling Families' Home Pages - A to Z Home's Cool Homeschooling - 9/30/98
Checkout the family at House #19 ;-) Thanks, Ann!
Cool Homes - Homeschooling Families' Home Pages - A to Z Home's Cool Homeschooling - 9/30/98
