Sep
01

Strategies for Homeschooling Gifted Children

Homeschooling high school can be challenging enough to undertake with normal high school kids, but throw in a student who is significantly advanced or gifted, and some parents might be tempted to call it quits!  How can you keep up with a kid who’s studying statistics, anatomy and physiology, and Greek, and asking for more?!  Both my sons were gifted, so I know how difficult this can be.  Fortunately, there are some practical things you can do to make the process easier and more manageable.

The first strategy that I find useful is called “acceleration,” which means that you allow your children to work faster. This strategy requires you to let go of the whole parent-teach-the-student model, because your job is not just to teach your children; your job is to help your children learn how to teach themselves.  Fortunately, there will be times when you realize your child already knows a subject, perhaps because they have learned it by osmosis, so you can spend less time on that subject.

At high school level, it’s important to remember that when your child finishes a standard curriculum, you can give them high school credit for it. You don’t have to make them sit in front of you as the teacher for 150 hours before you give them credit for a course. As soon as they’re done with a curriculum and know the material, go ahead and give them the high school credit.  There’s no rule that requires them to spend 150 hours studying something in order to earn a credit.

If your child doesn’t need the activities in order to learn the information, it’s okay to skip those, as long as they’re learning.

You can also skip unnecessary activities in a curriculum. If your child doesn’t need the activities in order to learn the information, it’s okay to skip those, as long as they’re learning. It’s also okay to administer a pretest for a subject, and simply skip the information they already know, or you can work fast through a curriculum and find out what they know first, and then move ahead.

When you don’t use acceleration, and you work at the usual standard pace that children are used to, it can induce boredom. When people tell me they’re struggling with a lack of motivation in their teenagers, or their kids hate school or they’re bored, often it’s because their student is moving at too slow a pace.

Make sure to assess your child’s level first, and begin a curriculum at the point where they will actually learn new information. In this way, you allow them to learn at their own level, and remove those artificial barriers to how much they’re allowed to learn.  The result will be a student who’s more interested in what they’re learning, and more motivated to pursue their studies.

 

About the Author

Matilde Berry

Visit Comprehensive Record Solution for gather more details about Homeschooling gifted children strategies. For furthermore detailed information on homeschooling it is possible for you to get through internet searching or even you can visit us here.

 

Permanent link to this article: /homeschool/2012/09/01/strategies-for-homeschooling-gifted-children/

Aug
23

A Homeschooler’s Guide to Comparing Colleges

One of the hardest parts of the college process is whittling down all the choices to a manageable few.  There are thousands of great colleges out there, but you’re looking for the one that will be perfect for your child!  Fortunately, there are some great tools available to help you decide whether a potential college makes the cut.

To begin a basic comparison of different colleges, take a look at resources such as US News and World Report’s “College Guide,” “Profiles of American Colleges” by Barron, or “Four Year Colleges” by Petersons.  These books rank colleges in a variety of different areas, and allow you to compare actual statistics between individual colleges.  They won’t have more than one or two pages on each college, so even though the books are huge, the amount of information you have to read about each college is pretty small.

The graduate school admission rate is also a helpful statistic to look at, whether your child plans to go or not.

There are some very interesting statistics you’ll find about colleges. One of the things that I found most interesting was the four-year graduation rate. This can be pretty important, because if a college is less expensive but it takes a student six or seven years to graduate, the cost of that college will actually be significantly higher than it appears. Another important statistic is the school’s student employment rate after graduation.  Although there are multiple factors in this situation, it’s important to know whether most of the graduates from that school get a job within a reasonable amount of time.

The graduate school admission rate is also a helpful statistic to look at, whether your child plans to go or not. Those statistics can tell you about the quality of advising by the college, how academically prepared they are, and whether they’ve really done a good job of educating their students.  If you do have a student who wants to go into medical or law school, look specifically at this number. There are some colleges that have an enormously high admission rate to graduate school about 98% to 99%. Other schools have a significantly lower admission rate, maybe 50% to 70%.

A particularly important statistic for most families looking at college is the average price that students pay, sometimes listed as the average amount of financial aid (in which case you would subtract that from the sticker price of the college). The cost of college has very little to do with the sticker price that’s listed in a view book or even in the phonebook-sized college statistic books, because financial aid can vary so much. Look at the price that students actually paid for a college, because this will help you know how to compare schools in the all-important area of financial aid.

About the Author

 

Noemi Ardell

Check out Homeschool through High School for gathering more details about Homeschooling gifted children strategies.

 

 

Permanent link to this article: /homeschool/2012/08/23/a-homeschoolers-guide-to-comparing-colleges/

Jul
15

The Underlying Convictions of Homeschooling

The rate of children who are now into homeschooling has gone up to 15% each year. Parents make decision to homeschool their children not because of convenience. The reason is more than that.

Most parents who homeschooled their children are from Christian homes. Their decision is guided by Christian convictions.

The Convictions

In Proverbs 22: 6 it says Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. This verse is the underlying principle why Christian parents want to homeschool their children.

Today’s generation is overly exposed to media and modernity that may present twisted values. Children ages 0-13 years old desperately need parental supervision. Otherwise, their minds and values will be corrupted. They might focus on material things and might grasp the wrong concept of stewardship and relationship.

It is important for every Christian to live a godly life to set an example to the community. This Christian value can only be taught at home, and sometimes be perverted by the worldly views and living.

This of course is not to shelter the kids from the harsh reality of the world. But in this crucial stage of growing up, parents should guide and train the children in living godly lives. Homeschooling provides the avenue for children to learn the spiritual beliefs that parents find valuable. This is the time to equip the children on how to live a good life that is commendable before the society especially before God.

Testimony is very important to Christians. Deeds are not their basis of salvation, but it is somehow the result of who they claim to be. It is important for every Christian to live a godly life to set an example to the community. This Christian value can only be taught at home, and sometimes be perverted by the worldly views and living. This is one factor why parents choose to do homeschool so that young kids will not be distracted, and parents are always around to guide them whenever there is confrontation with harsh reality. At home, the children will be taught how to respond properly when pressures of the world tend to provoke them.

Confinement as others may put it, but this is only temporary. When they become teenagers, they are given the freedom to choose either to continue their homeschooling or attend regular schools. Should they choose to continue education in traditional schools, then parents are confident that their children are equipped with strong spiritual values.

About the Author

Maria Abejuela

If you want to read more inspirational articles, please visit my blog here.

 

Permanent link to this article: /homeschool/2012/07/15/the-underlying-convictions-of-homeschooling/

Jun
23

How Homeschooling Can Improve the Bond of the Family Unit

There are a lot of kids and families that are homeschooling now and it’s not a bad idea to start doing so. Homeschooling used to be an idea that wasn’t widely accepted but now it is the norm and more and more families are doing it each day. Homeschooling has its advantages and family time is one of them.

As parents continue to have problems with regular public school systems, homeschooling will continue to be on the rise. There are concerns such as peer pressure, bully, drugs, and even violence that can occur at school that parents don’t want their kids to go through. So because of it, a lot of kids are being taught at home by their parents who have developed their own curriculum for their child to follow.

By taking up homeschooling, you can lay rest assured that the family bond will be strengthened. A lot of people feel that homeschooling allows a parent to raise their child in a more natural and loving environment – totally different as opposed to if they would attend a public school. Plus, kids who are educated at home are shielded from the harmful influences that public school brings.

By taking up homeschooling, you can lay rest assured that the family bond will be strengthened.

When you homeschool your child, everyone in the family is involved. Both parents get to spend quality time with their kids and both parents are aware of what their kids are learning in school – so there is no debate as to whether your kids are learning everything that they need to be learning.

Plus, parents have far more control over the moral values that should be learned at a young age. Something as small as a trip to the library can become the basis of a homeschooling lesson – all while spending time with your kids too.

One thing you need to be aware about however is that the homeschool family’s income is solely dependent on the parent who has a career. Because of this, proper planning of field trips, lunches, and other expenditures should be taken into full consideration while deciding what to spend money on.

But these financial decisions don’t have to be a hamper on the family. You can teach your kids about money and how to save by teaching them budgeting tips. They can learn how to save money and understand the value of having a family budget for emergency income.

Being home with your kids at all times will only inspire a home that is loving and caring, and this is something that you should pride yourself on. Knowing that your child is growing up in a safe, secure, and educational environment is something that money can’t buy – but is something that homeschooling can bring.

Homeschooling your child is a rewarding experience that you will find fun and educational at the same time. You can lay rest assured that your kids are learning exactly what they need to learn, and that they will be prepared to take on the world when they are done. Good luck on your homeschooling adventures as it will prove to be an exciting and fulfilling experience.

Adrian HargrayAbout the Author:

Learn homeschooling tips you can use to teach your child at home successfully. To learn more, visit the following website for more details: http://www.instant-downloadz.com/parentshomeschooling.html

Permanent link to this article: /homeschool/2012/06/23/how-homeschooling-can-improve-the-bond-of-the-family-unit/

May
02

Key Factors in Homeschool Curriculum Selection

There are many parents who invest a lot of time in searching for homeschool curriculum and then making the selection. This is so because they do not have a proper guideline as to what key factors they should have and prioritize when selecting a homeschool curriculum for their child.

However, it is important to withhold some significant factors that can have an incredible impact in such an endeavor. The first and foremost thing that you need to keep in mind is the duration of homeschooling. If it is going to be a temporary venture, you can borrow homeschool curriculum material from the nearby local schools. And yes, if it would be long term one, it is important to consult an expert who shall provide the important curriculum material as per his/her age and grade.

It is important to take into account all legal education laws of the existing state you are living in since that would help selecting any particular curricula for your child.

You can have a check on HSLDA, Home School Legal Defense Association, in United States that can further help you with any queries pertaining to homeschool curriculum. They may provide you with all legal information concerned with homeschooling in the US and other countries as well.

Your faith and your religious standing matters a lot in this area since you might want some modifications in the conventional curriculum for your child. Hence, it is recommended to keep your faith in the forefront as well. A majority of the resources are for Christians, but there are of course other religions.

It is important to take into account all legal education laws of the existing state you are living in since that would help selecting any particular curricula for your child, especially about the subjects that would be mandatory to be taught to all the students.

In homeschool teaching, it is important that the curriculum is selected in accordance to the sole goals and objectives of the child, affiliated with his/her education. Also, there are many homeschooling methods, and it is important to select one to determine adequate selection of homeschool curriculum.
Elaborating on various homeschool methods, they are inclusive of a variety of methods. Some of the easily available are: Charlotte Mason, Montessori, Relaxed, Virtual, Waldorf, Unit Study, Literature Study, Textbook/Workbook, Montessori, Classical, Thomas Jefferson etc. It is important to give priority to individual potential of your child and then build a pyramid of his homeschool curriculum.

When you have chosen a particular homeschooling method, you can search some programs that might be helpful for the course. This can be done via online browsing, participating in forums and having conversations/discussions with homeschoolers. This shall help you with more ideas pertaining to modern day homeschool curriculum. There are many homeschool curriculum fairs that might take place in your vicinity and you can attend them to have a close look at the materials. You may even ask further questions about the materials and have better enhancing ideas.

All this would help you choose an adequate scheme of studies for your child and you can acquire the curriculum once you have made a selection you feel would grant worthy education to your child.

 

About the Author:

Do you want best homeschool curriculum for your children? Smantha Watson suggests that, for comprehensive information, visit her recommended site http://www.child-central.com

 

Permanent link to this article: /homeschool/2012/05/02/key-factors-in-homeschool-curriculum-selection/

Apr
10

Homeschool Graduates in the Work Force

Each year, more and more homeschoolers are graduating and moving into the world. Many choose to take their education further and attend college. The good news is that more and more colleges have altered their admissions policies and are accepting, even actively recruiting children. There are also a large group of homeschool graduates who chose to not attend college and head directly into the work force. The question is though, how are they doing?

Homeschoolers who have made the jump into the workforce are getting good feedback from their employers. The national food chain, Chick-fil-A® is so pleased with their homeschooled employees that they actively recruit them. Characterizing homeschoolers as smart, ambitious and very driven, recruiters are pleased with their high level of loyalty and diligent work ethic.

Characterizing homeschoolers as smart, ambitious and very driven, recruiters are pleased with their high level of loyalty and diligent work ethic.

Employers have discovered that the same work ethic that brought homeschoolers through their education carries over into their careers. In fact, homeschoolers seem to view work as simply an extension of their education. Children are being described as self-starters who are reliable, creative, intellectually prepared, and read voraciously and watch television less.

Most people are aware of the axiom, “it’s who you know.” Because homeschooling is a relatively new phenomenon, there may not seem to be a huge “gold old boy” network out there for them to exploit. The truth is that homeschooling is a tightly knit community with more and more of its proponents in positions of influence, and this community can be very effective at finding jobs. There are however, plenty of pointless bureaucracies and short-sighted managers out there to make prospects difficult. In some companies, employment is dependent upon a diploma that is certified by the state or the possession of a General Equivalency Diploma, or GED.

A GED has been described as a test that dropouts can take to be given a second chance at a formal education, making GED holders the equivalent of dropouts. This situation is hardly the equivalent to a high school diploma and an employer who demands that of a homeschool graduate clearly show his ignorance or bias.

Because of their homeschool background, they are ready for the uncertainties of a changing economy, the ups and downs of the business cycle, and are prepared to deal with bosses, customers, and all of the other people in the business world. Homeschool graduates are as prepared as any high school graduate and may be more suitable for an uncertain future. Students are raised as individuals, not farmed out of institutions for plugging into the workforce.

About the Author:

Mimi Rothschild is a homeschooling mother, writer, children’s rights advocate, and Founder and C.E.O. of home education company Learning by Grace, Inc. She and her husband of 28 years reside with their 8 children right outside Philadelphia, PA.

Rothschild launched Learning By Grace, Inc. because she believed that our nation’s public school system has failed parents and students. Learning By Grace, Inc. offers online education through a multimedia-rich curriculum to PreK-12 children across the country and throughout the world. An accomplished author, Rothschild has written books regarding education published by McGraw Hill and others. Her Daily Education News Feed consists of articles and essays dealing with alternative learning methods.

Permanent link to this article: /homeschool/2012/04/10/homeschool-graduates-in-the-work-force/

Mar
06

Is Homeschooling Good for Students?

Homeschooling has proved itself with the excellent academic achievements of homeschooled children. It is obvious that great care is taken by the homeschooling parents to do the best they can to ensure their children’s work is of a high academic standard.

Homeschooling is, however, not only about academic achievements.  Nor is public schooling all about it, either.

Education is a complete package, with a big part of it, being effective subject instruction and achievement.  During the education process, children learn other valuable skills that are just as important as academic achievement.

Structure and Routine

The school system is structured and follows a specific routine. Children get use to the idea of deadlines for projects and assignments and the negative repercussions if deadlines are not met. This is a vital learning process preparing children for adult life and careers. In homeschooling parents should be aware of this and make sure that children are treated the same as they would have been in a formal school situation. It is very easy to have a less structured situation in homeschooling and if the parent is not strict about this it can later become a problem.

Strict Parent-Teacher

Teachers in public schools are objective and treat all the children the same. Children can be very manipulative and teachers are use to this. A parent will always be less objective where his or her own child is concerned. It is human nature and there is nothing wrong with it. A parent that is also the teacher of the child will have to be vigilant and learn not to give in to children’s manipulation. This is one of the first things the parent-teacher must learn to have a successful homeschool.

Goals

Learners in public schools are exposed to a variety of subjects. The more variety they have the better informed choice they can make about the subjects they want to major in. These subjects will have to be chosen with the focus on the career path they want to follow.

Socializing and extra-curricular activities

In public school children are automatically exposed to this. The parent responsible for homeschooling will have to ensure that the homeschooled child have the same opportunities he or she would have had in a public school.

It is very clear that most of the responsibility to make homeschooling as good as any other form of schooling rests on the parent. If the parent is ready for this and takes everything into consideration before homeschooling starts, there is no reason why homeschooling can’t be good. It will even be better that any other form of schooling with all the other positive things a child gains from homeschooling.  A caring parent is better than a caring teacher. One-on-one teaching is always better than fighting for attention with 20 or 30 other kids. Family bonds are tighter and the school day would be shorter leaving time for other fun activities.

 

About the Author:

Allan Tan is the co-founder of Free Online Homeschooling. He provides more helpful information on Negative Effects Of Homeschooling and Free Homeschooling Curriculumthat you can read up in the comfort of your home on his website.

 

Permanent link to this article: /homeschool/2012/03/06/is-homeschooling-good-for-students/

Feb
29

The Drawbacks of Homeschooling and What You Will Miss Out On

Homeschooling is not as predictable and subtle as you would think it to be. In fact, there does exist a downside to homeschooling that most parents never consider, but should be fully recognized before going down the homeschooling route. Even though homeschooling will be better for some kids rather than others, some things need to be thought about before you start teaching your child from home.

The first thing you need to know is that your child’s education lies in your hands. If your child doesn’t display that skills that kids their age should be showing, then your skills as an educator will be frowned upon. So it’s your responsibility that you teach your child everything they need to know at their age, and that they understand that the material that they have learned.

One of the drawbacks to homeschooling on your part is the amount of free time that you will have to give up for homeschooling. This includes, time with friends, free time for yourself, and even time with your kids. Even though you will be spending time with your kids while teaching them, the amount of free time having fun will be dramatically cut short.

While this may frustrate you at times, you should know that this is an inherent part of the job. You will have to be patient with your child as they continue to learn and develop, and will have to accept the downside of homeschooling as well as the good.

Another thing that you will have to consider is that your career may be put on hold. If you do decide to take up homeschooling and your career is put on hold, then the family’s source of income will more than likely be left up to one parent. This may lead to stress and arguments over finances, and affect your abilities as a homeschooling parent. You will have to learn how to live on a budget, and will have to get used to living on low means.

Of course all of this is negated if one parent makes a considerable amount of income, but if they don’t, then the scenario above applies.

Proper preparation is necessary so that means you have to be on your guard at all times to be their for your child.

Another thing you need to know is that rest breaks will have to be cut to virtually zero. You can’t just decide not to teach your child today simply because you’re feeling down. You have to do the job everyday no matter if you’re feeling bad or feeling good – just like a regular teacher.

When you assign homework, you have to help your child also because even though you are the teacher – you will also have to play parent when your child needs a helping hand. This means whenever your child is around, you have to be there to help. There are very little breaks as your child needs you for assistance at virtually all times.
You have to make time for your child to get out and mingle also. You can’t keep them in the house all day and expect them to clear their minds everyday. You have to introduce them to other kids so that they can play and go have fun. This is an integral part of homeschooling – you have to figure out how they are going to meet and greet with other kids.

All of these thing need to be considered when homeschooling your child. Proper preparation is necessary so that means you have to be on your guard at all times to be their for your child. With a little patience and determination, it should be a piece of cake. Good luck with your homeschooling endeavors.

Adrian Hargray – About the Author:

Learn homeschooling tips you can use to teach your child at home successfully. To learn more, visit the following website for more details: http://www.instant-downloadz.com/parentshomeschooling.html

 

 

Permanent link to this article: /homeschool/2012/02/29/the-drawbacks-of-homeschooling-and-what-you-will-miss-out-on/

Jan
27

Free Printable Homeschool Worksheets: Things to Consider?

If you home school your children, you will quickly realize how important printable homeschool worksheets can be. If you are trying to develop a curriculum for your home-schooled child, you may be able to save a lot of time and money by using free online home school worksheets. However, while they can be a helpful tool and seem like an attractive alternative to a homeschool, they do have a number of limitations.

There are numerous online resources that offer online worksheets that you can download and use for your children’s homeschooling for free. They cover practically all subjects under the sun. Different homeschool worksheets are available that are suitable for all types of curricula, and they can help enhance what you are teaching.

Aside from helping you assess your child’s comprehension of a subject matter, printable home school worksheets also provide something for your child to do while you work on other things. This means that you can be free to run your home while teaching your child at the same time, because the worksheet simplifies the homeschooling job for you.

Home schooling can be expensive and difficult to implement, especially on a tight budget. If money is tight, homeschool worksheets that you can get for free can take the place of a textbook. The worksheet will be able to teach pretty much the same things that a textbook will, and yet you won’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on books. Although some worksheet resources charge a small fee, you will be able to access thousands of printable worksheets that you can use for homeschooling.

Home schooling can be expensive and difficult to implement, especially on a tight budget. If money is tight, homeschool worksheets that you can get for free can take the place of a textbook.

Different worksheets are available for different areas of study at home. If you know what your child will be learning for the year, you can already find worksheets for homeschooling on that particular topic.

In choosing a worksheet, it is important to review the source and check the material. Ensure that the material and answers are accurate. Evaluate the worksheet by completing it yourself. The worksheet should provide information clearly and accurately. Make sure it is exactly what you need to homeschool your child.

Homeschool worksheets have pros and cons that depend on the type of material the worksheet deals with. One advantage is that worksheets are very handy if you want to give your child something to do. Some types of worksheets are very easy to grade and can be completed without much input from you. Worksheets can also give you a good idea of how much your child was able to understand of the subject matter.

While worksheets for homeschool can assist in home schooling, they cannot take the place of a proper homeschool curriculum. One disadvantage they have is that they often focus on one subject area only, without integrating the whole curriculum. They can also be simplistic and give the impression that the student understands more than he actually does.

So, free homeschool worksheets that you can print are available online: Some of them may be excellent, but you will have to make sure that they are accurate and suitable for your curriculum or child.

Permanent link to this article: /homeschool/2012/01/27/free-printable-homeschool-worksheets-things-to-consider/

Jan
21

Homeschooling Tips for Mothers

Henry ward Beecher once said, “The mother’s heart is a child’s class room”. This is quite true. Being a mother, you can teach your child through the process of homeschooling. This is one of the best options if you want your child to be safe from the dangerous public situations and inculcate strong family bonds in him or her.

For moms, this is the most exciting and rewarding journey to play the role of both as a mother and teacher. These days quite a number of such homeschooling moms could be found in church and towns. However, there are certain steps to follow, not only to be successful in homeschooling, but also prove to be beneficial for the mothers.

Here are some homeschooling tips for mothers, to help guide them through the process of teaching.

Be clear with your approach:

First make a firm decision to opt for homeschooling and you should have a strong reason, why you opted for it. There could be many reasons such as safety of your child, individual attention in academics, religious or philosophical. You should be very much clear with your approach, before you plan out for your homeschooling program of your own and execute the program to guide your children in the right track.

Update yourself with homeschooling programs:

Usually education laws change and vary in different towns and states. It would be better if you can consult the local school district authority to know the basic requirements of the homeschooling programs in your area. Some of the schools may require a strict curriculum, whereas others may specify particular subjects to be covered.

Be flexible and patient:

Till now you were playing the role of a mother, but now having decided to homeschool your child, you become a teacher as well. It is a very difficult job, as some moms could be pushovers. But, on the other hand the teacher’s qualities in you would expect excellence, as the target or goal is productive education.

Discuss with other homeschooling parents:

Internet or the local community groups are the best way to find other homeschooling parents. Parents can meet to discuss about the kids’ science projects, field activities and seek support and advice. However, once there is a get together, new ideas may open up to adopt new process for homeschooling. You can discuss various homeschooling approaches or methods, which could be implemented and prove to be effective. This kind of discussion or get-together can also help to broaden views and the social life circle, which would help the kids too to interact with other home schooling kids.

A working relationship could be developed:

Try to develop a working relationship with your child by sitting together and setting the goals. This will make him feel more attached to the studies, as you are also working with him.

Be organized and fix a time and place for studies:

You must have noticed that those who have home offices have a specified area or place to conduct business. There is no involvement in family activities during the working hours. Similarly, when you start a homeschooling, its better to keep a specific place for kids, where they can study at the fixed time. The place should be well lit, neat and clean. A secluded area in the home would keep away any kind of distraction. Or the kids may not be able to concentrate and develop interest in studies.

Design a method to evaluate your child:

There are programs, which are set to evaluate the child either yearly or quarterly wise. This includes an oral test, project report, test, or anything as per the criteria of the programs.

There are children who have succeeded in achieving the best results and these are the same children raised by a homeschooling mother. Follow the above mentioned tips and you could train your child to be the best, as you are able to provide not only the academic knowledge, but also to induce moral and spiritual values.

 

About the Author:

Kris Koonar advises you to get a High School Diploma from a fully DETC accredited school. Citizens’ High School offers Homeschooling programs in all 50 United States that can be signed up online. Phone and email support at all level. Sign up for more information on Diploma Programs Here. http://www.citizenshighschool.com/chsinquiry.htm

 

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