1. You must have a plan: Figure out which direction you are going in with your home school education plan before you start. Do your research to see what is available and make a choice. Day 1 of home schooling is not the time to scramble around looking for school work for your child.

2. Have a scheduled time for school work: Yes homeschooling should be flexible when you need it to be for Doctor appointments, shopping or special occasions but try to keep to some type of schedule and stick to it. Pick a schedule that works best for you and your child and stick to it. It will be so much easier for you and your child if they know they have a set time to get their work done.

It will be much harder if every day you are trying to find the time to fit school in when it really should be a top priority.

When we decide to home school our children we make a commitment that we need to take seriously. It only hurts our child if we do not teach them as we set out to do. You only get out what you put into it. It is so easy to just put it off until tomorrow. Children can easily fall behind too, so scheduling is important.

3. Have a set bedtime: This is important in our house because children can easily get off track and if they are going to bed at a different time every night it is kind of hard to stay on a set schedule for school. Also children need to be well rested so they can have a easier time understanding and retaining the information that is taught to them.

4. Establish consequences: Home school is not the equivalent of no school at all and children must be made to understand that from the beginning. No child is perfect and at times they may not feel like doing their work. They have to made to understand that home schooling is real school and if they attended a brick and mortar school they would have to do the work presented to them by the teacher.

At times in the beginning of our home school journey a couple of my children have had what I refer to as a home school is no school, type day.

I swiftly let them know that home schooling is just as important as if they were sitting in a traditional classroom and that they would face consequences if they did not complete their work as I knew they could.

Once they realized that they would lose privileges such as viewing their favorite television programs, playing video games on the weekends or even playing with their favorite toys just the same as if they neglected to do their work in a traditional school the problem cleared right up.

My children knew I meant business and they eventually adapted to our home school schedule. It can be a little hard on them at first especially if they are used to attending a brick and mortar school. What you view as school time they may view as complete freedom and a long vacation until they get used to and fall in line with the schedule.

5. Have fun: Home schooling can be a fun and wondrous adventure if you choose to make it that way. Enjoy the time with your child.

Make the lessons fun with activities that go hand in hand with what you are teaching them. Do science experiments. Teach your child to prepare easy recipes. You could have themed parties or fun times with arts and crafts like painting, working with clay, making homemade cards or jewelry etc.

You can also take them on fun educational trips. Young children love these type of activities and you can enjoy them together.Make the most of your home schooling education plan. It can be a wonderful experience for you and your child.

Alice Coaxum is a happily married mother of four beautiful girls a dog and one frisky cat. She home schools hers daughters and taking care of her family is a top priority to.

She is a partner with Vitamark and runs Wahms Beautiful Deals Traffic Exchange and loves networking and meeting new people. http://wahmsonline.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alice_Coaxum

Foreign language study can serve a few purposes. First, it is a wonderful way to learn about English. When you study a foreign language and learn about verb tenses and grammar, it can increase knowledge of the English language. It can also help you understand the differences between languages – for example, some have articles (the) and other’s do not.

Second, a foreign language is great critical thinking. It is often a way for colleges to see how well your child studies and learns, and if they have the study skills necessary for a new language. It does take effort and thought. Much like math, a language is easier to learn when you do it daily, even if small amounts if necessary.

Third, not all countries speak English. In fact, one of the biggest complaints about Americans is that they think everyone does speak English. One reason for the “rude American” stereotype is when people insist on speaking English-only in a non-English speaking country. In order to successfully interact with people in other countries, whether as a guest or as a missionary, speaking their language is considered the polite thing to do. Even if it is just an attempt at their language, it can make all the difference.

If you cannot fit a second language into your normal homeschool week, there are options. You can search for a college that does not require a foreign language. You can strive for an AA degree from a community college, so that a foreign language requirement may be waived. You can incorporate natural language learning, rather than textbook learning. For example, you might learn Spanish during a mission trip to Costa Rica, interacting with native speakers, rather than sit in front of a computer doing Rosetta Stone.

There are a huge variety of languages to choose from; languages that are spoken around the world, languages that form the basis of scripture. American Sign Language is accepted at most universities, and it is a great language for kinesthetic learners. Latin is accepted almost everywhere as well, and it can be a great fit for a logical or non-linguistic child.

Need help homeschooling high school? Lee Binz, The HomeScholar, helps parents homeschool to college. She is an expert in how to craft a winning homeschool transcript. You can find Lee online at TheHomeScholar.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Binz

Online Homeschooling Programs

There are a lot of different types of online homeschooling programs that you can choose from now. Some of them are actually for free, while you will need to pay for others. Regardless of which way you decide to go, free or paid, these lessons will be very valuable for you. This is because they will offer you more structure in terms of learning, timing and goals. Each of these areas has a framework that you can use to facilitate your child’s learning.

Homeschool Lesson Plans

You will find that a lot of these homeschool plans are actually quite easy for both parents and children to follow. Regardless of what subject is being taught, you will be able to find online lesson plans for it. Since there are so many different types of homeschool lesson plans available, you are going to have to take some time to carefully review them to ensure that they will suit your child’s needs.

Homeschool Computer Programs

There are also a lot of different types of computer programs and computer software packages that you can use to help your child get the most out of their learning experience. It is also important to note that sometimes homeschool lesson plans will be a part of the software that you choose but this will be dependent upon each individual software developer. Sometimes this software is free and will offer you and your child a refreshing alternative to the textbooks and printed worksheets that you will otherwise be using. Allowing your child to do some of their homeschool work online will also provide a different approach to learning. This type of an interactive experience will facilitate even more learning. It will also help to keep your child’s education exciting and fun since this will provide them with a hands-on approach to use.

Darius has been writing online for a while now and has a lot of different interests. You can check out some of his websites at http://www.usedrestaurantfurniture.org and http://www.meridianphonesystem.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darius_Raeisi

The best thing about this curriculum is its incremental nature. It builds upon the foundations, line by line and percept by percept. The incremental teaching method slowly and gradually unfolds the intricate and significant structures of mathematics. The curriculum enables the learners to grasp and absorb the concept in chunks. Moreover, the curriculum emphasizes a lot on the retention of these concepts.

The curriculum is divided into three portions. It systematically links instructions, practice and assessment with each other. It simplifies all the concepts for the parents. The curriculum also suggests ways to improve the understanding of their children. It is based on simple and familiar terminologies and algorithms. After thorough instructions, the curriculum has practice exercises to keep on revising the previously introduced concepts. Finally, every chapter has cumulative assessment section. It consists of worksheets, based on the previous questions and problems.

The Saxon math, a home-school math curriculum is augmented with marvelous features to guide and teach you at every level. The home-school curriculum caters all levels from primary through middle to the high level homeschooling.

The Saxon Math curriculum is designed to teach the basic mathematic concepts such as patterns, geometry, time and comparison and ordering of numbers. The curriculum extends to teach basic addition, subtraction and multiplication concepts. The primary level curriculum focuses on the manipulative math. It offers a manipulative kit to help students to apply their learning in hand-on play. Thus, the Saxon primary grade math proffers a solid foundation of early elementary basics, enabling students to successfully branch out into excellent performance in the upcoming grades.

The Saxon middle grade curriculum smoothly shifts the learners from manipulative and worksheet math to textbook approach. It emphasizes on algebraic and geometric concepts. Following its iterative approach, the new concepts are merged with the older concepts. The new chapters include reviews of the previous concepts. It comprises of upgraded levels of learning ad teaching. The middle grade curriculum holds investigative approach to give an in-depth treatment of math concepts. For convenience, parents can have the solution manual, which offers step-by-step solutions to the problems.

Saxon high grade math curriculum covers algebra, geometry, advanced math and calculus. Algebra offers quite a challenging but enjoyable experience to the students. It explains the concepts with self teaching examples and thus develops a habit of understanding and inferring the concepts independently.

Apart from all its advantages, it has some weaknesses too. According to some instructors, though it provides solid mathematical foundation, but it is quite slow for the bright students, as reworking the same problems everyday makes it boring for the students with a quick pick.

Are you seeking for some Saxon Math help? Visit our recommended site for comprehensive information about saxon math homeschool curriculum

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carlton_Watson

I started getting concerned when they mentioned the book “Discovering” for algebra and geometry, and said “It’s also the series our school district has chosen.” First of all, any time our school district chooses anything, run the other way. They have a 46% graduation rate. That is our local high school:-)

“Some of the highest-paying and most competitive careers are in science, technology and medicine – all math-intensive fields. Meanwhile, more colleges and universities are requiring applicants to take up to four years of math in high school.”

That is a very good reason to teach math, and a very good reason to be conscientious about it. I would also like to point out that it is not all about pay either. Nursing, for example, is a math-based careers that is more about mission than money.

But do you have to choose between math “investigations” vs. extensive explanations and practice? I love the fact that homeschoolers can have it both ways. You can take a traditional textbook and add supplements that encourage understanding. But you know, some kids need more practice, and some kids need more explanations. Some kids just flat out need more hands on activities! I am not sure how one math book can serve the needs of every student.

I know that homeschoolers feel very concerned about upper level math. How much harder would it be if you were a non-homeschooling parent? Imagine trying to help your child with homework when you did not choose the book, have not seen it all year, do not have a video or an 800 number to call. What a nightmare! My friend had a child who used the Discovery book in public school. The schools were not able to help her and so they hired a tutor. Even the tutor who had a math degree could not figure out the Discovery book!

It was interesting to see them comparing these math books to the whole language vs. phonics debate. I remember thinking that different children learn to read in different ways, and that a mixture of the two can help. Math may be the same way.

Lee Binz, The HomeScholar shares some of her time each week to provide free homeschooling advice to parents. She also shares many free homeschool resources to help parents in the noble cause of homeschooling their kids through high school. Find more information at TheHomeScholar.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Binz

1. High Quality Video and Audio Recordings: Some programs out there have really taken the time to put together some quality material online for people wanting to learn to play the piano. The video and audio recordings that you can download will help you see and hear first hand what you are going to be playing. For those that learn well by playing by example, this method of piano lessons works extremely well.

2. Different Approach to Learning: Music lessons, piano or otherwise, always include learning theory; while some people might enjoy the technical side of things and have no problem learning it, most of the time this is the subject that people tend to hate. But online lessons that you can download are now teaching people in a very fun way, using games to teach this previously boring part of reading music and understanding timing.

3. Convenient and Cost Effective: You can save a lot of time and money by using piano lesson software; not only will you not have to pay for lessons each and every week, but you won’t have to pay for the gas to get you there. Highly motivated people who want to learn to play the piano will find taking piano lessons at home online an extremely cost effective and fun way of learning. If you are homeschooling, this can fit it very nicely into your curriculum schedule. The programs don’t cost very much and are perfect for teaching any age and any skill level.

This article discussed homeschool piano lessons and 3 benefits of using online piano software and instantly downloading lessons to your computer. High quality video and audio recordings make learning a breeze since you can see first hand what you need to do and theory is made fun with some creative games. Since you are probably homeschooling your child in other subjects, this method is extremely convenient, cost effective and fits nicely into your daily learning schedule.

Of course not all of the programs that let you download piano lessons are created equal.

To learn more about online lesson options, visit Homeschool Piano Lessons.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jess_Kasey

First, the pros. Pre-made curriculum is easy for you, the parent/teacher to use. Just follow the instructions, do the suggested activities, give the tests provided and make your way through the course. All the lessons are laid out for you. If you need other resources, you will be told which ones to get. Presumably, the material has been put together by an “expert” in the field. For some children and in some subjects (math, particularly), the step-by-step approach offered by these curricula can work very well. You can see your child’s progress by the number of pages they are covering and by their performance in the tests provided with the course. How and what to teach are no longer a worry and tracking progress is easy. If you are beginning homeschooling, this can be very comforting.

Now, the cons. Although commercial curricula make it easy for the teacher, they do not necessarily make it easy for the student. The quality of the material available varies wildly, from well laid out, child friendly units to poorly planned, barely comprehensible junk. Buyer beware. Second, by necessity, commercial curriculum is aimed at a general audience. Like the lessons taught in school, it is designed to work for most kids, most of the time. It may or may not work for your child. One of the greatest benefits of homeschooling is the ability to tailor what you do to meet the particular needs of your child. Pre-made curriculum, by definition, cannot do that. Third, and in my opinion, the most damning argument against commercial curricula, is that they propagate a school-like attitude towards learning. Anything not “on course” is implied to be unimportant. Learning is seen as simply something to get finished with. Progress is measured by the number of pages covered and the number of marks on a test. You know your child. You don’t need to be told whether or not they are learning.

If you decide to explore this option, here are a few tips. First, always try to get a sample lesson or two before you put your money down. Second, be wary of all-encompassing curricula that claim to cover everything a child should know. If you want your child to learn exactly what they learn in school, send them to school. Third, remember, just because you buy a set of lessons doesn’t mean you have to use them all or limit yourself to what is included. Although, as you can tell, I am not a fan of this kind of learning, we have taken parts of what is out there and used them successfully as supplementary material. Pick and choose. Use what you need and discard the rest. Don’t let “professional” educators get between you and your child.

Gordon Edwards has been homeschooling his 3 children for 19 years. Currently, one daughter is attending University on a scholarship and one will be starting University a year earlier than her “schooled” friends. His son would be in grade 7 but he has never attended a school.

Gordon’s interest is to help others get the most out of their homeschooling experience and to guide those just starting out.

If you are just starting with homeschooling, you might be interested in Beginning Homeschooling: Encouraging Curiosity in Children.

Or you might like some tips on choosing a microscope for your child.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gordon_C._Edwards

Even perfect strangers may express concerns over your ability to meet the needs of your child, but the needs of the parent are often ignored. Let’s address some of the concerns parents of high schoolers face.

Burn out

Is it possible for a loving, patient, attentive parent to become burnt out from the endless demands for their attention? I will allow for the possibility that there is one parent who is so extremely competent as to never face burn out. This is written for the rest of us.

What can you do to overcome burnout while homeschooling high school?

Remember you do not have to do it all. Have clear priorities. Stick to doing those tasks which are most important. Perhaps you will need to take a break from some outside obligations for a while. That is okay. Learn to say, “No.”

In addition, realize that as you homeschool high school, your student should be learning to work more independently. That doesn’t mean your role as a teacher is obsolete. You still need to offer guidance, answer questions, grade tests and record information, but you should also transition into the role of coach and counselor while helping your teen develop self-discipline and independent learning skills.

Expenses

As you homeschool high school, you may find that it can be a pricey endeavor. You are no longer making popsicle stick puppets. You’re dealing with some heavy-duty subjects with heavy-duty price tags. Your student will need to take Biology. Biology requires a microscope. And slides. And a frog that smells of formaldehyde. Just like clothing, school costs more when it comes in big kids’ sizes.

How can the average family cope with the expenses of homeschooling through high school?

We live in a glorious age where we have public libraries, online resources and Ebay at our disposal. Used curriculum can be purchased for a fraction of what it would cost new. If you have a homeschool support group, you may know people who would be willing to allow you to borrow or purchase their gently used curriculum.

Teaching Weak Subjects

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. It can be downright fun to teach a subject that is your cup o’ tea. Unfortunately, the school day isn’t a tea party and you must also cover the courses you dislike.

How can you make sure your child’s education is not suffering due to your weaknesses?

As you homeschool high school, make use of co-ops, private tutors, or video and computer courses. I suggest that you earmark a larger portion of your homeschooling budget to cover your weaker subjects. For the mom who can’t trill a Spanish “R” to save her life, Rosetta Stone’s Spanish program on computer can worth every penny.

Feeling of Impending Doom

What if all of those skeptics were right? What if you really aren’t capable of educating your child at home and having that child grow into a happy, worthwhile adult?

How can you cope with your own insecurities while accomplishing what needs to be done?

Find some support. If you have friends who have already graduated a homeschooled child, learn from their experiences. If you have friends who are currently homeschooling a high schooler, lean on each other.

Even if you don’t know a single person in real life who falls into one of those categories, you don’t have to walk this path alone. Find an online forum for homeschooling parents. You may have to try out a few forums before finding one that feels like home.

Organization

How can you keep up with the necessary paperwork for homeschool transcripts when you haven’t even completed your student’s baby book? For those of us who are not naturally organized, that is a daunting concern.

You can overcome your organizational challenges and prepare professional transcripts for your teen directly from your home computer.

Follow this link for more information about preparing homeschool transcripts that will get your child accepted to college.

Follow this link for more information about curriculum, graduation, diplomas, prom, class rings and other challenges you may face as you homeschool high school.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carletta_Sanders

We live in a world that likes instant gratification and immediacy, so time is not something that we like to wait on. But sometimes, instant gratification does not have the longest term byproduct. Think of the weeds that sprout up quickly in the spring. They don’t live very long, do they? In my back yard, we’ve had some particular challenges this year. A very cold winter complete with an overabundance of rain has wreaked havoc on our grass. Add to that the fact that we have two, yes two, Great Danes just a little over a year old, and you can imagine that the wear and tear on our lawn has been great. I see a lot of weeds coming up, but not as much St. Augustine this spring.

However, that St. Augustine grass is there. I can see pockets of it. It will need nurturing and extra care and attention, but it can come back. With a little effort, time, and a lot of patience, I will eventually be able to say that I’m tired of cutting the grass this summer, just as I’ve said in other years. But for now, it looks as if the weeds are winning the battle and may die out leaving me a lot of dirt.

This is similar to homeschooling in a way. As homeschoolers, we see pockets of growth in our children, but sometimes we focus on the weeds. We are busy instructing and training, but sometimes we exaggerate the weed-killer necessary instead of the fertilizer. Both are needed.

As a Christian, I regularly seek the scriptures for guidance, but on occasion, I will also look to the Hebrew texts. It was in the Jewish culture that Jesus grew, so the Hebrew texts can be fascinating. In the Hebrew Talmud, I recently saw an intriguing quote. It said, “When you teach your son, you teach your son’s son.” Patience. Expectation for the future. These things take time, but as homeschoolers, perhaps it will be helpful to keep this in mind. We may be teaching our own children now, but it is those same children who will impact the next generation, so whether we see it immediately or not, we are indeed impacting the future – for many years to come.

We see this principle in the Bible, too – Luke 8:8 is the punch line for the parable of the sower. “Other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” So be patient in teaching. Take care to fertilize and pull a few weeds. Remember that homeschooling is not a quick fix, and above all, know that what you are doing to educate your children is a gift for future generations to come, even if you don’t see the immediate results.

If you would like to get more information on college prep, educational coaching, homeschooling, or curricula for middle school and high school, please visit our website, http://www.nationalhomeschoolacademy.com. To download your free “Casting Your Vision Statement” guide, click here. http://www.nationalhomeschoolacademy.com/default.aspx?name=nha.support

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Camille_Rodriquez

Which home schooling curriculum is right for you and your family? Is one home schooling curriculum the right one for all your children? Or does each child need a different approach from their home schooling education?

It’s been my experience that before you go “shopping” for your home schooling curriculum online you need to sit down, find a quite time and consider both your needs and the needs of your child. This is a very important consideration when choosing your best home schooling resource. Your needs are as important as you child’s needs. You’ll be the one teaching the home schooling curriculum. You have to feel comfortable with your choice. Don’t make the mistake of choosing a home schooling online curriculum that appears ideal for your child, if you cannot cope with the time and personal resources needed to achieve the ideal. You and your child will suffer in the long run.

Rather choose a home schooling program that you feel comfortable with and can manage. Once you get into the routine of home schooling, you’ll soon find your feet. Your confidence in your ability to teach will grow. I always say, “Who better to teach your children than their own Mother?” It won’t be long before you’re able to prove to yourself, that you are the best home school teacher for your child.

When it comes time to choose your homeschool curriculum online, I’ve found the following questions to be helpful, in making that final purchasing decision:

* What is the end goal for my child?
* Do I want to concentrate on an academic home schooling curriculum, a creative home schooling curriculum or a combination of the two?
* What is my belief system
* What are my Religious beliefs, if any?
* Do I want to teach my children my belief system as part of their home schooling program?
* Do a want a home schooling curriculum that demands a strict schedule or a more flexible schedule?
* What is my budget? Remember you’ll not only be buying the home schooling program. You’ll be buying everything from crayons to science experiment kits!

Once you’ve answered these questions you’ll find you have a better understanding of which home schooling curriculum would best suit both you and your children. Now you can shop for your home schooling online curriculum with a positive attitude knowing which home schooling program would be best for your family.

Always bear in mind that every Homeschool family is different. Your neighbour’s choice of home schooling curriculum may work brilliantly for her, but not suit you at all. There is a home schooling program out there to suit everyone, it’s just a matter of knowing what you want from you home schooling curriculum.

I’ve been Homeschooling for nearly 2 years now. To learn more about finding the right Home Schooling Curriculum visit my site at Our Homeschool Journey for more information.

Feel free to distribute this article in any form as long as you include the resource box.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Mulder