Tim Tebow, who is quickly becoming one of the biggest NFL icons in history, is also receiving a lot of attention surrounding laws which have passed, or are being considered, in many states. The Tim Tebow Laws allow homeschool students rights to play sports with their local public and private high schools. These laws were quickly referred to as "Tim Tebow Laws" based on the fact that he is one of the most famous and prevalent athletes who has successfully attended and graduated from homeschool, yet was able to play football with his local public high school on his way to his NFL career. The first Tim Tebow Law passed in 1996 in Florida, while since then at least 14 other states have accepted and passed similar laws.
Opponents of this bill feel it is not fair for homeschooled students to be able to participate at the same level in public school sports because they cannot possibly meet all of the same requirements as the public school students who are expected to have a specific level of attendance and grade point average. Many states require their athletes to meet about 13 eligibility requirements to remain on the team, the argument is that most homeschoolers only meet about six or seven of these requirements. When it comes to meeting or matching GPA requirements some public school athletes and their parents feel it is not fair for them to have to work for their grades under a completely unbiased situation when many homeschooled students are taught by parents, family, or friends that are in a more biased situation. There is some controversy as well regarding the amount of time a homeschooled student may be able to dedicate to working out and training, in comparison to the average public student. Which brings up the debate on whether public schools will then be able to start recruiting for top athletes within the homeschool system?
Supporters of the Tim Tebow laws believe homeschooled students should have the same rights as public school students, after all parents of homeschooled children pay the same amount of taxes as all the public school students’ parents. In fact, most homeschool parents pay even more on average for their student’s education than those subsidized within the public school system.
Tim Tebow has been a great example of success within the homeschool community. For many years parents who wished to homeschool their children have been criticized and accused of not being able to provide the same level of education, socialization, and extracurricular activities as public school. These laws have the potential to help homeschool parents involve their children in more social and extracurricular activities.
The State of Virginia has recently passed their own Tebow law even after some highly contested debate. According to the Home School Legal Defense Association, twenty-five states now allow homeschooled students to play sports in public schools with varying restrictions. Tennessee is currently deliberating whether to provide greater access to athletics for home-schoolers. Mississippi and Alabama are both expected to consider pursuing similar legislature this year.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Virtual School, Another Public School Option?
What is a Virtual School?
Is virtual school another public school option or another type of schooling all together? In most cases when one talks about a virtual school or online schooling they are talking about a type of public schooling that takes place in a non-traditional environment, with most of it being online. A virtual school may also be referred to as a cyberschool. Not all online classes are accredited and may not lead to a degree, diploma, or anytime of viable certificate that will help further one's job prospects. Virtual schools as a whole are considered part of the public schools systems and are accredited and designed to provide students with a degree, diploma, or other type of certificate proving they have received an accredited education that is as valuable and as "official" as any other public school education.
With the Internet technology that is now available, a virtual classroom is not only possible, but in fact very efficient. Students that can't attend a regular public school because of health issues, traveling, or for any other reason, can get personalized instruction, listen to lectures, have all their homework evaluated and graded by a professional teacher, all without stepping foot inside an actual public school building. For younger students, most virtual schools with require that a parent/guardian, or other responsible adult is directly involved in making sure the student is getting the assignments, completely and submitting them in a timely matter, and doing the work on his/her own. Class sizes range greatly, anywhere from 25 to 200 students in each section. Students will do a lot of work on their own but may also have opportunities to work in groups via a wide range of online platforms.
What is the cost of attending a Virtual School?
Most virtual schools are free or have minimal material fees involved, because they are part of the public school system. This makes them a viable option for many families that are unhappy with the public school environment but can't afford to send their child(ren) to a private school or charter school because of tuition, materials, uniform costs etc. There are both advantages and disadvantages to virtual schooling and it will be an individual decision on whether or not cyberschooling will work for you. One of the biggest disadvantages is that it may be hard to stay focused. When a student is left to his own, especially at home or on the road where there tend to be a lot of other distractions around, this can be a problem. Other complaints are that the student does not get adequate socialization, but like homeschooling there are many other opportunities for socializing outside the traditional school setting.
Selecting a Virtual School
Finding a reputable online school can be difficult but thorough research will help. Verify the schools accreditation, history, reputation, teacher and admin qualifications before you apply. Compare costs, curriculum, and expectations before making a decision. Make sure the student has the chance to talk with the teacher beforehand to make sure they are a good fit and have the same goals and expectations. The more you know before hand the better success you will have. Talk to the school district or state school board to find out more about the virtual school and the experience that others have had. If you are looking at a particular program like the Connections Academy you can look for reviews from parents or students that have been involved in the program previously to find out the pros and cons.
Virtual school may not be the best for everyone, some people need the motivation of a classroom and peers, others do better when they are not worried about keeping up with the rest of the class or being compared to other students or being put on the spot when they may not know the correct answer. There are many situations in which a virtual school could be an excellent option, weigh the pros and cons and reevaluate often to make sure the student is getting the education he/she needs and desires.
Is virtual school another public school option or another type of schooling all together? In most cases when one talks about a virtual school or online schooling they are talking about a type of public schooling that takes place in a non-traditional environment, with most of it being online. A virtual school may also be referred to as a cyberschool. Not all online classes are accredited and may not lead to a degree, diploma, or anytime of viable certificate that will help further one's job prospects. Virtual schools as a whole are considered part of the public schools systems and are accredited and designed to provide students with a degree, diploma, or other type of certificate proving they have received an accredited education that is as valuable and as "official" as any other public school education.
With the Internet technology that is now available, a virtual classroom is not only possible, but in fact very efficient. Students that can't attend a regular public school because of health issues, traveling, or for any other reason, can get personalized instruction, listen to lectures, have all their homework evaluated and graded by a professional teacher, all without stepping foot inside an actual public school building. For younger students, most virtual schools with require that a parent/guardian, or other responsible adult is directly involved in making sure the student is getting the assignments, completely and submitting them in a timely matter, and doing the work on his/her own. Class sizes range greatly, anywhere from 25 to 200 students in each section. Students will do a lot of work on their own but may also have opportunities to work in groups via a wide range of online platforms.
What is the cost of attending a Virtual School?
Most virtual schools are free or have minimal material fees involved, because they are part of the public school system. This makes them a viable option for many families that are unhappy with the public school environment but can't afford to send their child(ren) to a private school or charter school because of tuition, materials, uniform costs etc. There are both advantages and disadvantages to virtual schooling and it will be an individual decision on whether or not cyberschooling will work for you. One of the biggest disadvantages is that it may be hard to stay focused. When a student is left to his own, especially at home or on the road where there tend to be a lot of other distractions around, this can be a problem. Other complaints are that the student does not get adequate socialization, but like homeschooling there are many other opportunities for socializing outside the traditional school setting.
Selecting a Virtual School
Finding a reputable online school can be difficult but thorough research will help. Verify the schools accreditation, history, reputation, teacher and admin qualifications before you apply. Compare costs, curriculum, and expectations before making a decision. Make sure the student has the chance to talk with the teacher beforehand to make sure they are a good fit and have the same goals and expectations. The more you know before hand the better success you will have. Talk to the school district or state school board to find out more about the virtual school and the experience that others have had. If you are looking at a particular program like the Connections Academy you can look for reviews from parents or students that have been involved in the program previously to find out the pros and cons.
Virtual school may not be the best for everyone, some people need the motivation of a classroom and peers, others do better when they are not worried about keeping up with the rest of the class or being compared to other students or being put on the spot when they may not know the correct answer. There are many situations in which a virtual school could be an excellent option, weigh the pros and cons and reevaluate often to make sure the student is getting the education he/she needs and desires.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Oak Meadow Curriculum Review
If you are interested in learning about a new homeschool curriculum for your homeschooling plan, read this Oak Meadow Curriculum review on one of the best and most renowned homeschool curriculum programs for elementary, junior high and high school age children. The Oak Meadow Homeschool curriculum has been around since 1975 and over the years has helped literally tens of thousands of families find effective ways to teach their children at home.
About Oak Meadow
There are many reasons to consider teaching your children from home. Finding a steady and creative way to teach your children may seem like a daunting task, but once you find a program like the Oak Meadow curriculum, you can be on your way to having a successful homeschool education experience, for both you and your children. The Oak Mead curriculum offers tools, study programs and other practicum for children ages kindergarten through twelfth grades. You can take advantage of this ready-made homeschool curriculum for any age student you have at home, and even multiple curriculum programs if you have more than one child. You can purchase the curriculum materials and invest in this all-in-one program getting everything you need to teach your children from home. Each course consists of 36 weekly lesson plans that cover all subject areas as well as a variety of assignments, homeschool activities, and readings. With the lesson plans you also get access to a teacher manual as well as any other supplementary materials that are required for that course. It is super easy to get started with the Oak Meadow Curriculum to begin teaching your students to ensure they are academically prepared for their continued education and their future secondary education when it comes to college or attending a university.
How to Use the Oak Meadow Curriculum:
When you use the Oak Meadow Curriculum, you have the option to order the all-inclusive package, or you can simply order supplementary information and tools if you want to add the Oak Meadow program to an existing curriculum you’ve already created. Or if you’ve used the Oak Meadow curriculum for certain aged students in the past but need to order additional materials to continue that educational age group, you can go ahead and simply just order the tools you need. You can order them via the regular mail service, or you can also take advantage of the online delivery system.
Many Oak Meadow reviews from parents and students who have used the program indicate that the program is perfect for parents that are looking for a homeschool program that offers a structured course that can also accommodate for flexibility and creativity in learning. This is a great way to create a strong academic background for each one of your children that you plan to homeschool. The possibilities of changing around the curriculum to fit your own homeschool needs is super easy with the Oak Meadow Curriculum. Simply check out the Oak Meadow website to learn more about this program and to look into the cost to determine if it is worth it for your homeschool program.
About Oak Meadow
There are many reasons to consider teaching your children from home. Finding a steady and creative way to teach your children may seem like a daunting task, but once you find a program like the Oak Meadow curriculum, you can be on your way to having a successful homeschool education experience, for both you and your children. The Oak Mead curriculum offers tools, study programs and other practicum for children ages kindergarten through twelfth grades. You can take advantage of this ready-made homeschool curriculum for any age student you have at home, and even multiple curriculum programs if you have more than one child. You can purchase the curriculum materials and invest in this all-in-one program getting everything you need to teach your children from home. Each course consists of 36 weekly lesson plans that cover all subject areas as well as a variety of assignments, homeschool activities, and readings. With the lesson plans you also get access to a teacher manual as well as any other supplementary materials that are required for that course. It is super easy to get started with the Oak Meadow Curriculum to begin teaching your students to ensure they are academically prepared for their continued education and their future secondary education when it comes to college or attending a university.
How to Use the Oak Meadow Curriculum:
When you use the Oak Meadow Curriculum, you have the option to order the all-inclusive package, or you can simply order supplementary information and tools if you want to add the Oak Meadow program to an existing curriculum you’ve already created. Or if you’ve used the Oak Meadow curriculum for certain aged students in the past but need to order additional materials to continue that educational age group, you can go ahead and simply just order the tools you need. You can order them via the regular mail service, or you can also take advantage of the online delivery system.
Many Oak Meadow reviews from parents and students who have used the program indicate that the program is perfect for parents that are looking for a homeschool program that offers a structured course that can also accommodate for flexibility and creativity in learning. This is a great way to create a strong academic background for each one of your children that you plan to homeschool. The possibilities of changing around the curriculum to fit your own homeschool needs is super easy with the Oak Meadow Curriculum. Simply check out the Oak Meadow website to learn more about this program and to look into the cost to determine if it is worth it for your homeschool program.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Bob Jones Homeschool Review
If you are looking for a homeschool curriculum for your children, you might want to continue reading our Bob Jones homeschool review to find out if this type of homeschool curriculum fits what you plan to teach your children. In our Bob Jones homeschool review, we will cover the basics of the Bob Jones curriculum to help you determine if your current homeschool system would work well with the Bob Jones homeschool program.
Bob Jones Homeschool Curriculum:
As part of the Bob Jones homeschool curriculum, parents have the opportunity to choose a detailed homeschool curriculum through the Bob Jones textbook series or through the Bob Jones Homesat (home satellite) distance education program. Either way, or through a combination of both learning structures, parents have the opportunity to use biblical and academic oriented methods of learning. The idea behind the Bob Jones homeschool curriculum is to offer homeschool tools for children ages K-12. This is a great way for parents to follow this entire method of homeschool learning from start to finish. Bob Jones homeschool reviews from across the web praise the BJ curriculum as a great option for parents to find an organized and systematic way to cover all of the material that must be taught as students progress throughout school from a biblical and academic stand point.
Many parents that are looking for a way to include the religious aspect of learning in with the academic have found success in using the Bob Jones homeschool program. There are a couple of different ways you can go about using the Bob Jones Textbook curriculum or the homesat program. You can do a combination of the two or you can simply choose one or the other, according to what will fit your needs best as a homeschooling parent.
Bob Jones Textbook Curriculum:
The Bob Jones Textbook program focuses more on parents that plan to play the most active role as the educator. These are organized and prepared for parents that plan to stay on a structured schedule of learning for their children. The textbook also provides parents with a great opportunity to teach their children on the level of learning in which they are comfortable. It works well with parents that might have a different or non-traditional learning schedule, but still provides them with a great opportunity to continue teaching and learning at their own pace.
Parents can follow the structure of the textbook curriculum at home and can even use the Bob Jones program in conjunction with other homeschooling curriculum and programs if they choose to do so.
Bob Jones Homesat Program:
Alternatively, the homesat program works in a different manner, but has received tons of praise from parents and students of the program. The Bob Jones homesat program works more like a visual practice by integrating lessons via live satellite from teachers at the Bob Jones school campus. This is a great opportunity for parents that are looking for the homeschool experience but are not looking to provide 100 percent of the educating. This is a great way to mix and integrate other types of learning in with your child’s homeschool education. The biggest thing to consider about this Bob Jones Homeschool review is the fact that not only does Bob Jones offer a variety of ways to help you develop an easy-to-use and follow homeschool teaching method that will work for your children, but it is also a great system to integrate with another homeschool curriculum that you might already have in place.
Bob Jones Homeschool Curriculum:
As part of the Bob Jones homeschool curriculum, parents have the opportunity to choose a detailed homeschool curriculum through the Bob Jones textbook series or through the Bob Jones Homesat (home satellite) distance education program. Either way, or through a combination of both learning structures, parents have the opportunity to use biblical and academic oriented methods of learning. The idea behind the Bob Jones homeschool curriculum is to offer homeschool tools for children ages K-12. This is a great way for parents to follow this entire method of homeschool learning from start to finish. Bob Jones homeschool reviews from across the web praise the BJ curriculum as a great option for parents to find an organized and systematic way to cover all of the material that must be taught as students progress throughout school from a biblical and academic stand point.
Many parents that are looking for a way to include the religious aspect of learning in with the academic have found success in using the Bob Jones homeschool program. There are a couple of different ways you can go about using the Bob Jones Textbook curriculum or the homesat program. You can do a combination of the two or you can simply choose one or the other, according to what will fit your needs best as a homeschooling parent.
Bob Jones Textbook Curriculum:
The Bob Jones Textbook program focuses more on parents that plan to play the most active role as the educator. These are organized and prepared for parents that plan to stay on a structured schedule of learning for their children. The textbook also provides parents with a great opportunity to teach their children on the level of learning in which they are comfortable. It works well with parents that might have a different or non-traditional learning schedule, but still provides them with a great opportunity to continue teaching and learning at their own pace.
Parents can follow the structure of the textbook curriculum at home and can even use the Bob Jones program in conjunction with other homeschooling curriculum and programs if they choose to do so.
Bob Jones Homesat Program:
Alternatively, the homesat program works in a different manner, but has received tons of praise from parents and students of the program. The Bob Jones homesat program works more like a visual practice by integrating lessons via live satellite from teachers at the Bob Jones school campus. This is a great opportunity for parents that are looking for the homeschool experience but are not looking to provide 100 percent of the educating. This is a great way to mix and integrate other types of learning in with your child’s homeschool education. The biggest thing to consider about this Bob Jones Homeschool review is the fact that not only does Bob Jones offer a variety of ways to help you develop an easy-to-use and follow homeschool teaching method that will work for your children, but it is also a great system to integrate with another homeschool curriculum that you might already have in place.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Homeschool Lesson Plan Templates
Homeschool lesson plan templates are not very easy to find, mainly because a homeschool lesson plan tends to be very individualized for the particular family and subject. What works for one family may not be what works for another. That said, there are a lot of websites and ideas that others give to get you started or help you organize your thoughts to create a lesson plan that works for you. The general idea of a homeschool lesson plan is to organize all the material that has to be covered by breaking it down into a workable schedule for your homeschool.
What is a Homeschool Lesson Plan?
Every homeschool lesson plan is different and every homeschool approaches lesson planning in a different way. Some like to get a general schedule for the year, for example lets say you have a total of 30 math lessons that need to be covered. First, figure out how many weeks you will have school and then divide the total number of lessons by the number of weeks. If you do 30 weeks of school, you will have 1 math lesson per week. Do this for each subject and then decide which subjects will be covered each day. If each of the 30 math lessons cover one main topic you can choose one topic to cover each week and then create monthly or weekly lesson plans that detail how you will cover that topic. For instance if week one is about basic addition, you may introduce the topic on Monday with some simple examples and a game. Then the remainder of the week will work on practicing and reinforcing the skills and concepts needed to thoroughly teach the concept.
Don't forget to leave some wiggle room in your schedule because we all know "life happens". Emergencies come up, people get sick, we decide to take a trip, we need a week off for holidays, etc. If you don't have a little wiggle room you will likely get to the end of the year and not have all your lessons covered. Often if you take a quick glance through the lessons you will find short ones that can be combined or similar topics that you can teach together. Also, if you are planning a homeschool field trip day take advantage of that and go somewhere that you can teach two or three concepts at once, or plan to go to a couple of different places to incorporate more than one subject into the day.
Homeschool Lesson Plan Template
For some, having a simple template for each lesson is the best way to keep the day organized and make sure that you have a plan for each child and a record of each subject or topic that is covered. A simple lesson plan template can make sure your records are accurate and all the material and goals are covered. The following lesson plan template is just an example and will vary with your individual needs.
Name:
Date:
Grade Level/Year:
Activity Summary/Goal: In this activity (Child's Name) will learn ______ by doing __________
Objectives: This lesson will cover (topic) to fulfill requirement (state requirement). Steps to meet objective:
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
Materials: For this activity we will need (make a list of the materials you will need)
Evaluation/Assessment: What method will be used to evaluate if your goals and objectives were met.
Using a simple outline like this and keeping it in a binder by child, with dividers for each subject, will give you a record and quick reference to ensure that each of the state requirements are being met. Whatever lesson plan you use, it needs to be what works for your and your homeschool environment. Some people prefer to use a computer or homeschool software, others like something they can write out and customize. Whatever type of homeschool lesson plan you choose, take advantage of the work you put into it and keep it as a record. These lesson plans can also come in handy if you are homeschooling more than one child and using the same curriculum as you can reuse them from year to year .
Sources:
www.educationbug.org
What is a Homeschool Lesson Plan?
Every homeschool lesson plan is different and every homeschool approaches lesson planning in a different way. Some like to get a general schedule for the year, for example lets say you have a total of 30 math lessons that need to be covered. First, figure out how many weeks you will have school and then divide the total number of lessons by the number of weeks. If you do 30 weeks of school, you will have 1 math lesson per week. Do this for each subject and then decide which subjects will be covered each day. If each of the 30 math lessons cover one main topic you can choose one topic to cover each week and then create monthly or weekly lesson plans that detail how you will cover that topic. For instance if week one is about basic addition, you may introduce the topic on Monday with some simple examples and a game. Then the remainder of the week will work on practicing and reinforcing the skills and concepts needed to thoroughly teach the concept.
Don't forget to leave some wiggle room in your schedule because we all know "life happens". Emergencies come up, people get sick, we decide to take a trip, we need a week off for holidays, etc. If you don't have a little wiggle room you will likely get to the end of the year and not have all your lessons covered. Often if you take a quick glance through the lessons you will find short ones that can be combined or similar topics that you can teach together. Also, if you are planning a homeschool field trip day take advantage of that and go somewhere that you can teach two or three concepts at once, or plan to go to a couple of different places to incorporate more than one subject into the day.
Homeschool Lesson Plan Template
For some, having a simple template for each lesson is the best way to keep the day organized and make sure that you have a plan for each child and a record of each subject or topic that is covered. A simple lesson plan template can make sure your records are accurate and all the material and goals are covered. The following lesson plan template is just an example and will vary with your individual needs.
Name:
Date:
Grade Level/Year:
Activity Summary/Goal: In this activity (Child's Name) will learn ______ by doing __________
Objectives: This lesson will cover (topic) to fulfill requirement (state requirement). Steps to meet objective:
Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
Materials: For this activity we will need (make a list of the materials you will need)
Evaluation/Assessment: What method will be used to evaluate if your goals and objectives were met.
Using a simple outline like this and keeping it in a binder by child, with dividers for each subject, will give you a record and quick reference to ensure that each of the state requirements are being met. Whatever lesson plan you use, it needs to be what works for your and your homeschool environment. Some people prefer to use a computer or homeschool software, others like something they can write out and customize. Whatever type of homeschool lesson plan you choose, take advantage of the work you put into it and keep it as a record. These lesson plans can also come in handy if you are homeschooling more than one child and using the same curriculum as you can reuse them from year to year .
Sources:
www.educationbug.org
Friday, October 14, 2011
Homeschool Software
Homeschool software can include a number of things to help keep your homeschool organized. From lesson plans and assignment sheets to progress reports and transcripts, homeschool software can help improve the accuracy of your homeshcool records. Depending on the current system you have and what your current homeschool software needs are, there are a number of different options. Some homeschool software is free, you only pay shipping and handling, others may charge a dollar or two and can select the specific software you need. Other homeschool software systems are fully inclusive with everything needed to keep your homeschool organized and on track with options to purchase new curriculum when you need it.
When you are looking for homeschool software there are a number of things to consider, do you just need homeschool curriculum, do you need to track hours and attendance, are you going to need to print records, transcripts, grades? Before making any homeschool software purchase, gather as much information as you can. If you know other homeschoolers in your local area, find out what they use, what they like and don't like and how much they paid. If you are going to purchase homeschool software online, read some reviews but look for reviews that are legitimate. Many companies with post reviews themselves to make their product or service look better than it is, others will write negative reviews about their competition to make them look bad. If possible try to correspond with actual users to get a better idea of what is possible with the software to determine if it will meet your homeschool needs.
There may be other things you need to consider if you are looking to do any advanced work like creating homeschool worksheets, playing music, or anything outside of general lesson plans and record keeping. If possible talk to a representative from the company offering the education software. Explain to them what you want to do with the software and find out if it will be able to meet these requirements. While talking with the company find out about upgrades or updates. If the company plans to continually update and improve their service will they charge each company for the updates or will they be provided at a discount or even for free? Ask about support. Once you purchase the software will you be able to talk with someone online, on the phone, or only through email? With any software there are going to be some questions about how to set it up, how it works, etc. Make sure that someone will be available to answer your questions as they arise.
One last thing to consider is system requirements. If you purchase the software and try to install it only to find out that your system doesn't meet some minimum requirements, you are going to be very frustrated. Make sure that the homeschool software will work with the system you have before you purchase it. Find out if there is a refund/return policy and exactly what that policy is. Don't wait until the last minute to purchase your homeschool software. As with any purchase you need to have some time to do some research and find the right product for your needs. Just because something works for one person doesn't mean it will work for you. If you have no other resources go to social networking sites like Twitter or Facebook to get some real feedback and suggestions. Creating a network with other homeschoolers can be very beneficial for many reasons. We can all use a new perspective and fresh look on things every now and again.
When you are looking for homeschool software there are a number of things to consider, do you just need homeschool curriculum, do you need to track hours and attendance, are you going to need to print records, transcripts, grades? Before making any homeschool software purchase, gather as much information as you can. If you know other homeschoolers in your local area, find out what they use, what they like and don't like and how much they paid. If you are going to purchase homeschool software online, read some reviews but look for reviews that are legitimate. Many companies with post reviews themselves to make their product or service look better than it is, others will write negative reviews about their competition to make them look bad. If possible try to correspond with actual users to get a better idea of what is possible with the software to determine if it will meet your homeschool needs.
There may be other things you need to consider if you are looking to do any advanced work like creating homeschool worksheets, playing music, or anything outside of general lesson plans and record keeping. If possible talk to a representative from the company offering the education software. Explain to them what you want to do with the software and find out if it will be able to meet these requirements. While talking with the company find out about upgrades or updates. If the company plans to continually update and improve their service will they charge each company for the updates or will they be provided at a discount or even for free? Ask about support. Once you purchase the software will you be able to talk with someone online, on the phone, or only through email? With any software there are going to be some questions about how to set it up, how it works, etc. Make sure that someone will be available to answer your questions as they arise.
One last thing to consider is system requirements. If you purchase the software and try to install it only to find out that your system doesn't meet some minimum requirements, you are going to be very frustrated. Make sure that the homeschool software will work with the system you have before you purchase it. Find out if there is a refund/return policy and exactly what that policy is. Don't wait until the last minute to purchase your homeschool software. As with any purchase you need to have some time to do some research and find the right product for your needs. Just because something works for one person doesn't mean it will work for you. If you have no other resources go to social networking sites like Twitter or Facebook to get some real feedback and suggestions. Creating a network with other homeschoolers can be very beneficial for many reasons. We can all use a new perspective and fresh look on things every now and again.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
New Study Shows Homeschool Rules!
A recent Canadian study, published in the Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science, shows homeschool students perform better in the core academics of math and reading. The homeschool vs. public school debate has been going on for decades, and while this study will not resolve the arguments behind the debates it proves that homeschool students are not inferior to public school students. Hopefully with enough of these studies colleges and universities will become more accepting of homeschool students and offer them more opportunities.
The study compared standardized testing results of 37 homeschool students and 37 public school students, between 5 and 10 years of age. The public school students typically tested at their grade level (or slightly above) while the homeschooled students performed about 2.2 grades higher in reading and half a grade higher in math.
The study pointed out the importance a structured and organized homeschool in a child's ability to excel academically. A subgroup of 12 homeschooled kids that were taught in a manner known as "unschooling", which is an environment where teachers, textbooks, and formal testing does not exist, were also evaluated. This subgroup showed significantly lower scores on all seven academic measures. The differences between the students in a structured and unstructured school setting vary from one to four grade levels in certain tests.
It is great to know there are so many homeschool parents taking such an active role in their child's education, and that homeschooled students are finally getting some of the credit they deserve. As with any discipline of education, the more involved parents are in their child's education the more likely the children are to succeed and excel in their academics. Way to go homeschooler's! Keep up the good work!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Back to School Homeschool
Back to school for homeschool is different than what many think of when they think back to school. Because homeschools have unique routines and schedules, homeschoolers don't have set days that school is in or set days that they are off. However, back to school can apply to homeschoolers just as much as it does for public school, private school, or any other school. For parents it may mean getting new curriculum for the upcoming school year, new supplies, and setting up a lesson plan. Parents and students alike can use back to school time to organize the house, school space, set a schedule, and discuss plans for what they would like to accomplish during the school year. This may include discussing ideas for field trips and activities and setting up a schedule to see what needs to be arranged ahead of time, what time of year will be the best to do each, and make a schedule for what will be coming.
Back to school can be stressful, even back to school for homeschoolers, but just like any other back to school activities, making a list of what needs to be done and setting out a schedule and list of responsibilities can help ease stress and make sure that everyone is equally involved in the planning. When each member of the family knows what his/her responsibilities are and when they need to be accomplished, it will be easy to make sure that everyone is involved and that everything gets done. Everyone will be able to enjoy the sense of accomplishment and no one person will have to be overly stressed trying to do everything alone. Back to school time can be a great time to get the house cleaned top to bottom, take inventory, and get everything organized.
Back to school activities for homeschool can be very different in every household and can be very flexible, but once a plan is made everyone needs to stick to it in order to accomplish everything and to teach responsibility and accountability. One of the best things about homeschooling is that practical life skills are used every day to help teach our children all the things they need to know to be responsible, successful adults. For those that have a hard time sticking to a plan or remembering the exact plan, consider a form of parent contract that will keep everyone organized and let each individual know what is expected of them. If your homeschool has a method for rewards or positive reinforcement, be sure and include that in the contract so that everyone can see what they are working towards. Rewards could be anything from a special treat or favorite dinner, to a fun family outing. If possible, involve everyone in the planning so that everyone has a say in what they would like to be in charge of and the type of reward they would like to see. Being involved in the planning stage helps ensure that each person is committed to the plan.
Even though back to school can be a lot of work, coming up with some back to school activities can make it fun for everyone. A little bit of planning and organizing can go a long way in easing stress and getting a lot done. Visit Let's Homeschool for a lot of great resources for homeschool curriculum, homeschool subjects, curriculum reviews, homeschool support groups, and much more.
Back to school can be stressful, even back to school for homeschoolers, but just like any other back to school activities, making a list of what needs to be done and setting out a schedule and list of responsibilities can help ease stress and make sure that everyone is equally involved in the planning. When each member of the family knows what his/her responsibilities are and when they need to be accomplished, it will be easy to make sure that everyone is involved and that everything gets done. Everyone will be able to enjoy the sense of accomplishment and no one person will have to be overly stressed trying to do everything alone. Back to school time can be a great time to get the house cleaned top to bottom, take inventory, and get everything organized.
Back to school activities for homeschool can be very different in every household and can be very flexible, but once a plan is made everyone needs to stick to it in order to accomplish everything and to teach responsibility and accountability. One of the best things about homeschooling is that practical life skills are used every day to help teach our children all the things they need to know to be responsible, successful adults. For those that have a hard time sticking to a plan or remembering the exact plan, consider a form of parent contract that will keep everyone organized and let each individual know what is expected of them. If your homeschool has a method for rewards or positive reinforcement, be sure and include that in the contract so that everyone can see what they are working towards. Rewards could be anything from a special treat or favorite dinner, to a fun family outing. If possible, involve everyone in the planning so that everyone has a say in what they would like to be in charge of and the type of reward they would like to see. Being involved in the planning stage helps ensure that each person is committed to the plan.
Even though back to school can be a lot of work, coming up with some back to school activities can make it fun for everyone. A little bit of planning and organizing can go a long way in easing stress and getting a lot done. Visit Let's Homeschool for a lot of great resources for homeschool curriculum, homeschool subjects, curriculum reviews, homeschool support groups, and much more.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Summer Homeschool Programs
What Are Summer Homeschool Programs?
Since the states (which license and approve home schools) do not require summer school, a homeschool summer school can serve any purpose that the participants choose. Summer can be a time to remediate or keep up material already learned, preview what's to come, introduce new topics that don't fit during the regular school year, or tieing into community offerings. Here are some different summer programs that a homeschool could undertake:
Since the states (which license and approve home schools) do not require summer school, a homeschool summer school can serve any purpose that the participants choose. Summer can be a time to remediate or keep up material already learned, preview what's to come, introduce new topics that don't fit during the regular school year, or tieing into community offerings. Here are some different summer programs that a homeschool could undertake:
- Remedial Work If the homeschool students could use some review and extended work about concepts or working with skills or strategies that they didn't fully master during the regular school year, rather than having them start behind in the fall, the summer can be used to help them become more secure with the material. With summer being outside the "we have to get this done by this date" scheme, you can take the time to try different approaches and methods to assist students with material that didn't quite take the first time.
- Extra Credit It's bonus time! What would your student really like to study or what is an interest that they don't even realize could be part of their schooling? It could be anything that strikes their fancy: stamp collecting; architectural drawing; Korean; gardening; flute lessons; entomology; square dancing; cowboys; aliens.
- Introduce a New Subject Is there a major new challenge coming up in the fall? Whether it's time to start Algebra, Geometry, French, or Biology, a relaxed introduction in the summer can provide a foundation for an easier time when the school year starts again.
- Community-Linked Programs Many communities have a wide variety of summer programs, including sports, theater, family entertainment; summer reading programs; and more. Summer can be a time to nurture community ties.
- Online Study Interested in trying out an online study option? Met a subject area that you don't feel completely comfortable teaching? Summer might be a good time to try out an accredited, well-regarded online program.
- Recreation Recreation can be educational, too! From camping trips to rock climbing to cross-country tours to visits to other parts of the world, homeschoolers can learn about geography, zoology and botany, culture, ethnicity, languages, and more.
- Cross-Grade Activities and Projects During the year, children may need to work separately on grade-level appropriate projects and skills in many cases, but during the summer, you can try out activities where everyone contributes at his or her level. Planting a family vegetable or flower garden, building a tree house, planning a trip, training a new pet, learning to bake, inventing a board game, creating a family web site, participating in geocaching, forming a family musical ensemble, can all be summer homeschool projects.
- Combination Or, you could mix and match aspects of all these suggestions to create a mix that suits your homeschool.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Secular Homeschool
What is a secular homeschool and how is it different from any other homeschool? It is often thought that the main reason people choose to homeschool is because they want their child(ren) to have a more religious base to their education. Thousands of people search for information on Catholic homeschools, Christian homeschooling, or Bible-based homeschools every day. The main difference in religion based home schools and secular homeschools is not so much in structure, or even subjects that are covered, as it is the fact that parents choosing to use a secular homeschool method are doing it because they don't feel like the public school system is providing the quality of education they would like or because they feel like the schools in their area are dangerous or not able to handle a special need of their child(ren).
The word secular, according to thefreedictionary.com means "not specifically relating to religion or to a religious body". The public school system has certain federal regulations that must be followed in regards to teaching anything from a religious point of view. On the opposite end of the pendulum are Christian, Muslim, or other religious based schools where the curriculum is almost all based on religious principles. Secular homeschools, rather than basing all of the teaching and educational materials around a base religion, tend to focus on providing their children with an excellent, safe education without using a single base for shaping the curricula or methods of teaching. Some types of homeschooling that often, but not always, follow a secular homeschool approach include: Montessori, Waldorf, Eclectic, and Unschooling. These types of schools tend to focus more on the child's interests, educating the "whole" child, and using a variety of teaching methods to ensure a broad but thorough education for each child.
Secular homeschool is a term sometimes used to help parents/teachers in their search for homeschool materials, be able to easily find resources that are not religious in base. Because there are so many religion based home schools it can become frustrating for parents trying to find homeschool curriculum that is not based on religious teachings. There are many websites that focus completely on secular homeschool education, these websites can be a great resource for materials, support groups, extra-curricular activities, and much more. Having a network of people to share information, ideas, and tools with makes the whole homeschool experience more enjoyable and successful for everyone involved.
There is no real need to define or categorize a homeschool but, especially when searching for homeschool information online, the more narrow the focus the easier it will be to find the results that each homeschooler is looking for. If a homeschool teacher searches for homeschool curriculum in Google, he/she will have literally millions of results to sift through. Narrowing that search to secular homeschool math curriculum narrows the results to only 183,000 results. This still seems like a ton of information to sift through, but the fact that you have weeded out millions of sites makes the task much more manageable. For general homeschooling information visit letshomeschool.com or educationbug.org.
The word secular, according to thefreedictionary.com means "not specifically relating to religion or to a religious body". The public school system has certain federal regulations that must be followed in regards to teaching anything from a religious point of view. On the opposite end of the pendulum are Christian, Muslim, or other religious based schools where the curriculum is almost all based on religious principles. Secular homeschools, rather than basing all of the teaching and educational materials around a base religion, tend to focus on providing their children with an excellent, safe education without using a single base for shaping the curricula or methods of teaching. Some types of homeschooling that often, but not always, follow a secular homeschool approach include: Montessori, Waldorf, Eclectic, and Unschooling. These types of schools tend to focus more on the child's interests, educating the "whole" child, and using a variety of teaching methods to ensure a broad but thorough education for each child.
Secular homeschool is a term sometimes used to help parents/teachers in their search for homeschool materials, be able to easily find resources that are not religious in base. Because there are so many religion based home schools it can become frustrating for parents trying to find homeschool curriculum that is not based on religious teachings. There are many websites that focus completely on secular homeschool education, these websites can be a great resource for materials, support groups, extra-curricular activities, and much more. Having a network of people to share information, ideas, and tools with makes the whole homeschool experience more enjoyable and successful for everyone involved.
There is no real need to define or categorize a homeschool but, especially when searching for homeschool information online, the more narrow the focus the easier it will be to find the results that each homeschooler is looking for. If a homeschool teacher searches for homeschool curriculum in Google, he/she will have literally millions of results to sift through. Narrowing that search to secular homeschool math curriculum narrows the results to only 183,000 results. This still seems like a ton of information to sift through, but the fact that you have weeded out millions of sites makes the task much more manageable. For general homeschooling information visit letshomeschool.com or educationbug.org.
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