Search Results for: why and how homeschool

Dispelling Some Homeschooling Myths, by Lori R.

…about the government school system is universal. Myth: Homeschooling is a cover for parents that are too lazy to take their kids to school. There may be a few bad apples in the barrel, but homeschools must be doing something right. Homeschooled kids continue to outperform their public school peers. And according to a report by US News, “students coming from a homeschool graduated college at a higher rate than their peers and earned higher grade point averages along the way.” Homeschooled children have also fared well in academic competitions. According to the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, “although homeschoolers make up approximately 2% of the US school-age population, they made up 12 % of the 251 National Spelling Bee finalists, and 5% of the 55 National Geography Bee finalists. Three of the past seven spelling bee winners have been homeschooled. Last year’s homeschooled winner of the geography bee was 10…


Surviving Homeschool, by M.

…laundry, or helped them with a skinned knee, so what do I know of multiplication tables or science? I may just be Mom, but now I’m a homeschooling mom– ultimately responsible (along with my husband) for their entire education. Not only do I need to education them on living life but also on the academics for life. How will I do it all? Luckily in my first year of homeschooling, by accident I ran across an article written by another homeschooling mom (I can’t find her site now) that laid it all out for me. This acronym encapsulated everything that I wanted to bring to my homeschool. It was short, witty, and amazingly right on target for me. That acronym was A.R.T.: A stood for attitude, R is for relationship, and T translated into teaching. I wanted that for my homeschool, but my next hurdle was how. I seriously thought,…


Homeschool for Less Than $30 a Year, by Kathryn T.

It’s that time again.  Spring, you say?  No, it’s curriculum sale time!  Every spring, homeschooling support groups used book sales and homeschool conventions sprout like tulips.  March, April, and May are the season for planning and obtaining next year’s curricula. If you have considered homeschooling as an educational alternative for your children or would like to stockpile educational materials for potential hard times ahead (whether or not you homeschool currently), now is the time to be looking.  Homeschooling does not need to be expensive to be effective.  In fact, it is possible to home educate well for under $30 per year, per child. First, it is important to understand the basics of homeschooling and homeschooling philosophies.  To familiarize yourself with how to approach home education, you can get books from the library, such as The Well-Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise or Homeschooling Year by Year by…


Three Letters Re: Homeschool for Less Than $30 a Year

James: We homeschool our three children and all of them have never been to a public or private school. I would like to add to the homeschool article.  It is possible to educate younger children for minimal amounts of money, but when they get older there are things to keep in mind.  Colleges have entrance requirements.  They require high school students to have completed certain classes such as advanced math and science subjects. Two foreign language classes are also required. My oldest is planning to start dual enrollment next school year.  She just had to take the SAT at a cost of $50.  She may need to retake it depending on her scores – for applying for scholarships.  Also there is drivers education which is available now for homeschoolers at a cost of $60-to-$100, if I remember correctly. Part of the beauty of dual enrollments is gaining both high school…


Why and How to Navigate the Homeschooling Waters, by Funtripmom

…doesn’t matter if you have a doctorate or never graduated high school. All you need is patience, a good attitude, and the willingness to seek out resources you feel will fit how your child learns. There are great books and resources, specifically for homeschooling. Some communities have homeschool coops for activities, such as field trips, sports, and the arts. If you aren’t very good at math, find a math tutor. There are many retired teachers willing to share their knowledge with the younger generation. If your child loves cars, find a mechanic that is willing to teach him. Maybe he could even work out an apprenticeship. Homeschooling has been around since the beginning of humanity. Parents have always taught their children how to survive, which is homeschooling. I am a college graduate, but that hasn’t really helped me in homeschooling my children. Patience is what I really need on a…


Letter: Best Homeschool Materials for TEOTWAWKI

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…Diane Waring are two great ones for history. Even though we have finished with homeschooling, I have kept them in case we need them for grandchildren, or others. The Ancient Civilizations is from creation through the birth of Christ. Romans Reformers and Revolutionaries starts there and goes to around 1800. You take the time of study, use the textbook and the Bible to study what is going on around the world. The Bible is the foundation of the studies, especially in Ancient Civilizations. Every day you read scripture for the time that you are studying. History seems to be one of the things they are trying to rewrite. This curriculum is my way of saving the truth for my future family. T in NM Great information. We are trying to prep for homeschooling of my 2yr old. This is very, very helpful. A note to all on a budget (like…


Homeschooling Nuts and Bolts – Part 2, by R.B., EdD.

…associations to join which can really be of service to you. Homeschoolers frequently are eager to share their experiences, and help one another. The Portfolio. Essential to our son’s entry into public high school at the end of his two years of homeschool was the presentation of a portfolio. In that light, SAVE OR TAKE PHOTOS OF EVERYTHING. We submitted his written reports of all his travels, a very complete list of every course and his performance in it, pictures of him at work using an etching press in art class and various science activities, records of all his other activities. Remember this is to be submitted to public school authorities who are bound to be skeptical of homeschool education. The portfolio we submitted was about 400 pages altogether, and was approved without reservation by the high school administration. But even if you do not plan to go back into…


Letter Re: Being Prepared to Homeschool

As a home-educated graduate and home school parent who happens to be a prepper, I have given a great deal of thought to homeschooling after a collapse as my children are not grown. There are those who are already home schoolers and those who have not and will not consider homeschooling unless there is a SHTF scenario. This article is written for the latter : those who would like to set aside educational materials for their children and their progeny in the care of a true SHTF scenario. While it would certainly be possible to buy a few workbooks at Costco and consider it done, I recommend that you sit down and discuss your thoughts on education as a family. If you have a son or daughter who aspires to be a medical doctor or who is a history buff you will need to take your families ideals and natural…


Homeschooling During the Crunch, by Nathaniel

…with their neighbors, first just to barter, and later to gather socially. Society eventually rebuilds, and as it does so, leaders are needed to fill the gap—people who are able to communicate effectively and think critically about the problems they face. How are such leaders raised? In part, through their education. We’ve already established that traditional educational services will almost certainly be non-operational once the Schumer hits the fan, so survivalists must look elsewhere for a solution. Essentially, that solution is some form of homeschooling, because when society isn’t functioning, your children will have no one to learn from other than you. Are you ready for that? Some of you already homeschool your kids—that’s great. But regardless of whether you already do or not, you may not be prepared for the day when there are no more easily obtainable textbooks, no more homeschool co-ops, no more video lectures, and no…


Letter Re: Surviving Homeschool, by M.

I am always excited to read about others Home-Schooling or “home educating” their children. I am a veteran of home-schooling our four children through high-school (or secondary school, for our international friends). They are all now married with small children of their own, and each have become competent adults with a sober view of the future. When we started, home education was only a few years legal in my state. Before the birth of our first child, we had already met two families of “renegade home schoolers” who were educating their children at home secretly because they were appalled by the state of our public education locally and could not afford a private school. They shared their passion for their children and for education with us “newlyweds” and in doing so they planted the seed that would later become our own. Back then, finding good curriculum was a chore! The…


Surviving Science, by Funtripmom

What happens if you decide to homeschool and you failed science class, not just one science class but practically all of them? On the other hand, what happens if you decide to homeschool and you got an “A” in chemistry, but you never did anything to merit that grade, and therefore you don’t know the first thing about chemistry? That about sums up my science class record. I either didn’t do very well or I passed with flying colors all to the tune of helping the teacher grade papers. At the time I loved it. I thought, “This is grand! I don’t have to do the work, and I pass anyway!” However, it wasn’t grand, at least not as I look back on the experience. I really could use that knowledge right about now. What happens if you decide to homeschool and you get to LEARN science right along with…


A Classical Education: The Greatest Educational Opportunity for Our Children by J. M.

My wife and I are preppers primarily for our children.  Though we have lived rich, full lives, they are not yet even adolescents.  If what we are prepping for happens, it will be this generation that will rebuild this nation to greatness.  We want them to be equipped intellectually and spiritually.  We want them to understand the influences of the Greeks, Romans and British that helped our Founding Fathers craft the greatest nation this planet has known.  I refuse to entrust America to those that do not understand these truths or those that are not up to the task. When asked what school our kids attend, I used to say that “We homeschool our children.”  Now I more accurately say, “my wife homeschools our children and I wholeheartedly support it.”  By the time my workday is done, the kids are done.  No homework – that’s one of the great blessings…


“Wild” Gifts For Children’s Survival, by Linda Runyon

Childhood these days is a lot different experience than when I was that young. I have photographs of me, as a baby, sitting on a blanket outside our home and looking at the weeds and grass around me. Even then I was fascinated with wild growing plants, and that was the foundation of my lifelong affinity for wild food survival. These days it seems that childhood is an ongoing assault on the senses, from TV to constant, loud music to vaccination needles that contain mercury, and on into school, where there’s the confusion of ill-advised curricula that discourages actual learning. It’s no wonder that an ever-increasing number of conscientious parents are opting out of that. The number of parents who choose to homeschool their children has been steadily increasing over the last 13 years, according to the Home School Legal Defense Association– an organization dedicated to helping homeschooling parents deal…


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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…Very few parents pay attention to this important detail. Capt Nemo A random thought on more armed security in schools, they become (re)education camps! We might be doing their dirty work for them! Be careful what you wish for! ski and hike I know many home schooled kids who really lack in social skills. Homeschooling because your kid doesn’t fit in, is different, or is bullied, doesn’t solve the underlying problem. Homeschooling because your kids are getting a crappy public school education is a great reason. Homeschooling to keep a kid safe is another great reason. Yet I know many homeschooled kids who are isolated, left on their own without parental involvement or supervision to complete their assignments, subjects, units, workbooks, or whatever you want to call it, but just play video games all day in their bedrooms. Homeschooling done right is a way better option than public school, but…


Letter: A Letter To Homeschooling Parents

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…pray that it will inspire you as you nurture and train the souls entrusted to you by God. With you on the journey, Homeschool Leader   We started our homeschool journey a couple years back– three. As I see results and interact with the people involved, I have never been more convinced we are on the right track. The school is populated with bright eyes and fresh faces that do not hesitate to carry on a conversation with any passing adult at the school. There is a stark contrast in maturity level between homeschool and public school children that is increasingly evident. I’m writing this and studying for my General Ham license while recovering from total knee replacement surgery on one knee. Sitting this still drives me nuts, but at least I am getting something done. We thank God every day for leading us to where we are. – S.L….