Tuesday, July 26, 2011
The Old Schoolhouse Magazine for Homeschooling
Want to see what the magazine is like? Well right now you can view it on line for free! Just click on the link below!
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Unit Studies by Amanda Bennett
Homeschooling During the Primary Years
Homeschooling during the primary years can be fun and very stress-free. A lot of parents get worried that their kids won’t learn everything that they need to. But with the right resources you can keep your kids on track and develop all the necessary skill sets for high school and beyond.
The primary school teaching style can be a lot more intense than the highschool equivalent. Primary aged children require constant attention to their learning. Every day the learning process begins again and every day you need to practice concepts and learn new things for a successful learning progression. Drills, testing, and practice are absolutely necessary. This requires a lot of time, so be prepared to be very involved in their learning. Planning each day’s material is very important because smaller children can be easily confused and get lost. Proper planning is crucial.
While you may not be using a specific program during the primary years, outside materials can be very helpful to help you get an idea of what your child should be learning at certain ages. Don’t be afraid to use your own judgment either. You too were in primary school once upon a time. That can serve as a great guide to help you determine what should be taught. How you decide to teach things is entirely up to you. The nice thing about the primary years is that you can use a variety of real life events to teach mathematical concepts and other important primary concepts. There is so much scope for fun.
I find the kitchen is the heart of the home and the laboratory. Practicing reading by reading labels not only teaches nutrition but also provides practice for word and number recognition. Cooking with measuring cups teaches fractions and reinforces simple mathematics. You can take basic concepts and teach them using every day objects and activities. If you choose not to introduce these concepts in this way, you can still use real situations to reinforce simple learning. The nice thing about homeschooling is that the world (your home) can be your child’s classroom, whether they are “in school” or at play. The task of schooling during the primary years is to lay basic concepts for middle and high school.
Having the kids at home during the primary years also gives you the chance to zero in on your child’s specific difficulties and correct them early, before they become stumbling blocks in your child’s academic career. This is the time to make sure that all the basic skills such as reading, writing (both grammar and hand writing), and math are well established so that your children are ready for high school. Also, other challenges can be remedied during this time, such as speech impediments and dyslexia. These challenges can be easily overlooked by teachers in schools who have the daunting task of teaching and caring for a whole classroom.
In the primary school years don’t forget that your usual homeschooling resources are also at hand: online websites and search engines, local homeschooling groups, state associations, and libraries to access any resources that you might need. Many parents find specific programs helpful in the primary years and others find the eclectic method of using a variety of books and resources helpful and best for their kids. Use what works!
Melissa Murdoch has a passion for life span development and education, and believes wholeheartedly that a healthy society begins at home. For further information on how to get started in homeschooling, please visit YourHomeschoolCommunity.com.
Source: http://www.homeschool-articles.com/homeschooling-during-the-primary-years/
The primary school teaching style can be a lot more intense than the highschool equivalent. Primary aged children require constant attention to their learning. Every day the learning process begins again and every day you need to practice concepts and learn new things for a successful learning progression. Drills, testing, and practice are absolutely necessary. This requires a lot of time, so be prepared to be very involved in their learning. Planning each day’s material is very important because smaller children can be easily confused and get lost. Proper planning is crucial.
While you may not be using a specific program during the primary years, outside materials can be very helpful to help you get an idea of what your child should be learning at certain ages. Don’t be afraid to use your own judgment either. You too were in primary school once upon a time. That can serve as a great guide to help you determine what should be taught. How you decide to teach things is entirely up to you. The nice thing about the primary years is that you can use a variety of real life events to teach mathematical concepts and other important primary concepts. There is so much scope for fun.
I find the kitchen is the heart of the home and the laboratory. Practicing reading by reading labels not only teaches nutrition but also provides practice for word and number recognition. Cooking with measuring cups teaches fractions and reinforces simple mathematics. You can take basic concepts and teach them using every day objects and activities. If you choose not to introduce these concepts in this way, you can still use real situations to reinforce simple learning. The nice thing about homeschooling is that the world (your home) can be your child’s classroom, whether they are “in school” or at play. The task of schooling during the primary years is to lay basic concepts for middle and high school.
Having the kids at home during the primary years also gives you the chance to zero in on your child’s specific difficulties and correct them early, before they become stumbling blocks in your child’s academic career. This is the time to make sure that all the basic skills such as reading, writing (both grammar and hand writing), and math are well established so that your children are ready for high school. Also, other challenges can be remedied during this time, such as speech impediments and dyslexia. These challenges can be easily overlooked by teachers in schools who have the daunting task of teaching and caring for a whole classroom.
In the primary school years don’t forget that your usual homeschooling resources are also at hand: online websites and search engines, local homeschooling groups, state associations, and libraries to access any resources that you might need. Many parents find specific programs helpful in the primary years and others find the eclectic method of using a variety of books and resources helpful and best for their kids. Use what works!
Melissa Murdoch has a passion for life span development and education, and believes wholeheartedly that a healthy society begins at home. For further information on how to get started in homeschooling, please visit YourHomeschoolCommunity.com.
Source: http://www.homeschool-articles.com/homeschooling-during-the-primary-years/
Advantage of Homeschooling: Socialization
Homeschooling is an education option that is widely debated by comparing and contrasting it to public school. There are always two sides to every story, and there are many topics that always seem to come up in these discussions. This article will focus on one of the popular questions: socialization, by sharing our family’s experience as it relates to this discussion.
Homeschool Kids Don’t Have Socialization
This one pops up a lot. I find it hard to understand what people mean when they say this, or why it is usually the first thing they think of when the topic of homeschooling comes up. If they mean that sending your child to spend 8 hours a day with a bunch of kids their age in relatively unsupervised conditions is going to help develop their socialization skills, I am baffled even more.
Kids need much attention. When they are in a public setting, especially on their own, they feel the need for attention, but learn to seek it the way their peers do by example: whining, screaming, manipulation, hitting, etc. I'm not saying that my kids never whine, scream or hit, but we make it unfruitful for them to do so - they don't get what they want. To be consistent with denying their whining or screaming until they ask in a normal tone of voice or accept that no is your final answer may take 5 or even 15 minutes – for the immediate battle and a weeks to win the war. This requires a flexible environment that is rarely available in a public setting. Our experience is that being consistent in denying whining and screaming is that they quickly learn not to do it. Reinforcing this over time it then becomes a way of life.
In the public school setting kids are relatively unsupervised during activities such as lunch, recess, changing classes, gym class, bus trips, assemblies, etc. Anything goes to get what they want. They quickly learn that manipulation of various forms works to get the attention they seek. However, if they aren’t one of the “group” they may suffer verbal and sometimes physical abuse that causes them to withdraw and not want to seek communication or relationship with anyone. It only brings pain. Kids can be so cruel to one another.
If you wanted your child to learn how to bowl would you send them to a group of kids their age, or would you seek a mentor who knew how to bowl? The skill of socialization is the same as any skill. They stand to learn a skill quicker and more complete when mentored by a few that are more mature in that skill. Kids learn more how to “survive” than how to properly socialize in a public school setting. They are more likely to get more loving, supportive attention at home than in a public setting. If you communicate with your kids in a truthful mature manner they will learn to get and receive attention the same way. There are plenty of opportunities to socialize with other kids at home, in church, with homeschool groups, or in your neighbohood.
My wife and I both attended public schools growing up, and we have been enjoying the advantages of homeschooling our children for over 10 years. We understand that homeschooling is a choice, and that it is may not be for everyone. Hopefully this helped you see both sides more clearly. We hope to address some more of the debated questions in future articles.
Randall & Karen Webster have been homeschooling their 5 children for over 10 years. They offer advice and encouragement through a Free 5-part Mini-Course at Frustration Free Homeschool.
Source: http://www.homeschool-articles.com/advantage-of-homeschooling-socialization/
Homeschool Kids Don’t Have Socialization
This one pops up a lot. I find it hard to understand what people mean when they say this, or why it is usually the first thing they think of when the topic of homeschooling comes up. If they mean that sending your child to spend 8 hours a day with a bunch of kids their age in relatively unsupervised conditions is going to help develop their socialization skills, I am baffled even more.
Kids need much attention. When they are in a public setting, especially on their own, they feel the need for attention, but learn to seek it the way their peers do by example: whining, screaming, manipulation, hitting, etc. I'm not saying that my kids never whine, scream or hit, but we make it unfruitful for them to do so - they don't get what they want. To be consistent with denying their whining or screaming until they ask in a normal tone of voice or accept that no is your final answer may take 5 or even 15 minutes – for the immediate battle and a weeks to win the war. This requires a flexible environment that is rarely available in a public setting. Our experience is that being consistent in denying whining and screaming is that they quickly learn not to do it. Reinforcing this over time it then becomes a way of life.
In the public school setting kids are relatively unsupervised during activities such as lunch, recess, changing classes, gym class, bus trips, assemblies, etc. Anything goes to get what they want. They quickly learn that manipulation of various forms works to get the attention they seek. However, if they aren’t one of the “group” they may suffer verbal and sometimes physical abuse that causes them to withdraw and not want to seek communication or relationship with anyone. It only brings pain. Kids can be so cruel to one another.
If you wanted your child to learn how to bowl would you send them to a group of kids their age, or would you seek a mentor who knew how to bowl? The skill of socialization is the same as any skill. They stand to learn a skill quicker and more complete when mentored by a few that are more mature in that skill. Kids learn more how to “survive” than how to properly socialize in a public school setting. They are more likely to get more loving, supportive attention at home than in a public setting. If you communicate with your kids in a truthful mature manner they will learn to get and receive attention the same way. There are plenty of opportunities to socialize with other kids at home, in church, with homeschool groups, or in your neighbohood.
My wife and I both attended public schools growing up, and we have been enjoying the advantages of homeschooling our children for over 10 years. We understand that homeschooling is a choice, and that it is may not be for everyone. Hopefully this helped you see both sides more clearly. We hope to address some more of the debated questions in future articles.
Randall & Karen Webster have been homeschooling their 5 children for over 10 years. They offer advice and encouragement through a Free 5-part Mini-Course at Frustration Free Homeschool.
Source: http://www.homeschool-articles.com/advantage-of-homeschooling-socialization/
Homeschool Buyer's Co-op
I LOVE the Homeschool Buyer's Co-op! The membership is free! You get to buy homeschool curriculum at a group discount! And you can even earn Smart Points toward your purchases. Just follow the link below to find out more!
I just ordered the Happy Scientist one year subscription for $5.00! He has some really nice experiments that you can do with your children!
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