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Why Homeschool? In a nutshell, we homeschool for our children. But let's go a little deeper than that. Those of us who homeschool do so for many different reasons. Some of
us feel we can provide a much higher quality of education at home. We
may want to teach our children from a Biblical world view.
Some of our children do not learn well in a classroom setting, being
easily distracted or bored. Many of us desire the close family unit
that is possible by keeping our children together throughout the day
instead of split up into age-segregated classes. Usually, we desire to
keep contact with peer groups to a minimum, allowing our children to
become who they are created to be. Finally, there is the recent issue
of safety, or lack of it, in schools. We are expected to protect our
children as we bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the
Lord.
"In a nutshell: we The bottom line is that homeschooling is a lifestyle, and will require your resources and time. You need to be willing to do what is necessary to make the home education you provide an exercise in excellence and a delightful experience for your children. Here are a few thought-provoking articles:
Where Do I Start?As parents, you need to determine whether homeschooling is something you are willing to do. It requires a commitment of time, both for planning and schooling itself, and financial resources to purchase school materials. I suggest each family seek the Lord for a vision for their family. If the Lord prompts you to homeschool your children, then He will provide the grace and resources to do the job. I recommend the following steps:
Is Homeschooling Legal?
Homeschooling laws differ from state to state. I recommend you visit this web site to determine your state's regulations.
What Are Learning Styles?
Each child is created to be totally unique. There are no two alike, in appearance, personality or preferences. This uniqueness is often apparent in how children learn. One child may learn best by reading lots of books (visual) while another may have to try everything that they see in books (kinesthetic). A third child may learn best by listening to tapes and lectures (auditory). Most children have a combination of learning styles, but one style will be dominant. Determining learning styles aids parents in choosing curriculum, teaching methods and extracurricular activities. Visual Learners love watching videos and reading books with stimulating illustrations. I highly recommend Usborne, Eyewitness, Kingfisher and Dorling Kindersley books for these children. are a great aid for illustrating ideas and stories, especially the Bible. Providing a visual context helps these children to understand the idea or concept being taught. Older students should be taught to take notes while studying and/or listening to lectures to reinforce visually what they are hearing. 
Kinesthetic Learners are always doing something. They learn best through hands-on activities, in every subject. They are not content to merely observe, but must touch and manipulate everything they encounter. Unit Studies are ideal for these hands-on children because each fact or concept is taught through activities and reinforced in each subject. If unit studies are too labor-intensive for parents, field trips, crafts, activities, projects or whatever else you can imagine will bring any subject to life. Auditory Learners receive and retain information best through listening: reading aloud by a parent or sibling, story tapes and books on tape. Lectures can be performed and recorded by a parent that has a flair for the dramatic. History and story tapes can be found that would enhance any homeschool, but especially appeal to the auditory learner. For more information on learning styles, visit these sites:
Education Styles and MethodsYou are considering homeschooling your children, but do not know how you are going to do it. The following are some of the homeschooling methods used by different families. You will need to find the right fit for your family and lifestyle. Here are a few articles that might help get you started:
The following sections provide more detailed information on each of the teaching styles used by homeschoolers. The challenge is to match teaching and learning styles in your children.
Traditional Education MethodsTraditional homeschooling is similar to classroom learning, using textbooks, workbooks and traditional teaching methods. This is often the best place for new homeschoolers to begin because of the availability of a complete curriculum. Some believe, though, that the term "traditional homeschooling" is an oxymoron because they are antithetical. How can homeschooling be traditional since it is in opposition to school learning? Many families do adopt traditional teaching methods in their homeschool because these methods are tried and true for the classroom-type learner. This approach will not work for learning disabled children or ADHD children, though.
Unit StudiesUnit Studies take a topic and build lessons around this topic using library books, activities and crafts to increase retention of the material. For younger grades, its focus is on hands-on activities that make learning fun. Books are read aloud to the younger children. Older children do more research and self-study creating reports on the topic being studied. They are expected to do projects as well and enjoy the activities as much as the younger students. This approach is wonderful for children but a lot of work for mom. It takes a lot of planning and coordinating with trips to the library and gathering of materials. Is it worth all the hard work? Definitely. If you are an extremely organized person, this method woudl probably work well. If you need a lot of structure as a teaching mom, the unit study method will be challenging for you. for learning disabled children or ADHD children, though.
Literature ApproachThe Literature Approach to homeschooling uses literature or "living books" to teach history and science. This is very similar to the unit study approach in methodology. Some believe that textbooks are just dumbed-down, regurgitated literature. Why not go to the source for the information instead of relying on someone else's interpretation of history or science?
Charlotte Mason ApproachCharlotte Mason was an educator who believed in, above all else, not quenching a child's natural desire to learn. She believed in a child's natural ability to learn without the need for dry, boring textbooks. She used "living books" with her children, delightful books that children are naturally drawn to resulting in a true learning experience. One focus of the Charlotte Mason method is nature study.
Classical EducationThe Classical Education model is quickly becoming popular among Christian homeschoolers. It seems to make sense to many as an education model that will result in students who have received an excellent education. This is the goal. How you achieve this, though, is interpreted differently by those who use this approach. This year, we are incorporating many of the Classical Education subjects and methodologies with the stipulation that adjustments will be made for learning styles, learning disabilities and a tolerance of this method. In other words, we are experimenting with this method. I am of the belief that we can glean nuggets of wisdom from each education method, and that is how I am approaching the Classical Education model. What doesn't work for my children will quickly be tossed aside.
Eclectic HomeschoolingEclectic homeschooling is what most of homeschoolers do when they choose to teach the Trivium, use living books, have your children narrate to you what they just read, do a unit study when you begin learning about Ancient Egypt or Light and Color, and have lots of manipulatives of all kinds in your home for every subject. Okay, this is almost an exagerration, but actually describes our homeschool to a tee. I have read books on almost all homeschooling methods over the last 12 years and have tried different aspects until I found the aspects that fit with our homeschool. Because I also have special needs children, I could not embrace any one method excluding all others because my children just don't learn one way. In math, one might do well with a Saxon Math textbook alone. My daughter needs to use a large chalkboard and manipulatives in order to master a concept. My 12yo hates manipulatives because they slow him down. My 9yo has been reading for 5 years, but is barely writing. We make adjustments. There is no way he could take notes and write summaries of his reading assignments. He does almost all of his school work using computer curriculum. This is the eclectic homeschooling family!
Homeschooling on a ShoestringI confess, and my husband will attest to the fact that I am not a frugal homeschooler. I love continually building my home library with new and used books, love to purchase and read books on different homeschooling methods, and purchase manipulatives and items that make our homeschool lively and interesting. Maybe I do this because I am not very creative. Maybe I do this because I love homeschooling and feel that whatever I spend is a worthy investment. That said, when I first started homeschooling over 12 years ago, all the materials were borrowed. Well, that isn't exactly true. I purchased a couple of posters. The next year we moved out of state where I knew no one. I had to purchase all new materials. I ended up creating unit studies for my middle school son using the Bible, The Genesis Record by Henry Morris and various used textbooks that I began to purchase in thrift stores and used curriculum sales. An excellent education can be had on a shoestring. Pray for your homeschooling needs, visit used bookstores, used curriculum sales, and used curriculum websites. The wonderful articles below all contain valuable information on Homeschooling on a Shoestring.
UnschoolingUnschooling is a concept I struggle with. As I learn more about my own gifted son's learning style, I am becoming more convinced that this style of homeschooling is relevent for some children. Care must be taken to provide Christian guidance in any child's education, so with that word, here are some resources:
Where Do I Find Curricula?There are so many sources of homeschooling material these days, that it is now difficult to choose which materials are best for your children. I have tried to provide a list of resources by learning style or teaching style, also.
Complete PackagesThe following publishers/vendors sell complete curricula packages making textbook choices and recordkeeping easy for the new homeschooler:
General Resources
High School
Used Curricula
Visual Learner Resources
Kinesthetic Learner Resources
Unit Studies
Auditory Learner Resources
When my son began high school I realized that he was an auditory learner. I then began recording his textbook lessons and related stories and resources onto cassette tape. He would listen to these in his room and increased his retention rate noticeably. He much preferred this to reading chapters of text. Just a thought.
Online Lesson PlansThere is so much material in cyberspace. I have tried to provide links to some of the best, but do not take responsibility for the content of the following links. Please review any material carefully before using it with your children.
Homeschooling the ADHD Child has moved to . Homeschooling the Gifted ChildI just want to mention that many Gifted Children are misdiagnosed as ADD/ADHD. They may be ADHD as well as gifted. From this perspective, the following links may help the parent of the ADD/ADHD child as well as the gifted child. Articles
Activities
Additional Information
Resources and Curricula
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