WHAT IS AN UMBRELLA? It is a homeschool organization which can be an already established private school, homeschool under the name of a school which maintains your records. An umbrella complies with the states educational requirements. By being a member of a particular umbrella, you would file health/shot certificates, attendance, curriculum and grades. If it is a local umbrella, they may have events and activities which members can participate in. Umbrella schools are not necessarily accredited. The umbrella may/maynot provide lesson plans ans assignments. Work may/may not be turned in for correction or teacher commnets. You as the homeschool teacher utilize whatever resources, curriculum, lessons, etc you want. The umbrella school may ask for a portfolio or you may be asked to maintain your personal portfolio. You as the teacher give your child grades. You as the teacher may administer standardized tests. The umbrella maintains your child's educational file and transcripts based on the progress/evaluation reports which you turn in. Some private Christian schools provide homeschool umbrella services. Click Association of Christian Schools (ACSI) for a list of schools.
WHAT IS A CORRESPONDENCE PROGRAM? In a correspondence program, the school sends you all the books, resources and lesson plans. The assignments and test schedules and time table is carefully laid out much like a distance college course. As your child completes the assignments, you send them into the school for correction and comments. The school then returns them to you. Most correspondence/distance education programs are accredited.
THE SCHOOL GIVES YOUR CHILD GRADES BASED ON THE PERFORMANCE OF TURNED IN ASSIGNMENTS AND TESTS. The school additionally maintains grades and transcripts and gives you periodic report cards. You cannot change the lesson plan/order, time table or assignments. You may file for an extension if you have not completed the class in the given time.
WHAT IS AN ISP? An Independent Study Program is something the public school may offer to a student in its school district. A private tutor may be assigned (depending on the program) Materials are provided by the school district. Classes are taught in conjunction with the public school educational program of that state. In essence the student is taught at home what he/she would be taught at the public school. California is one state that has an active ISP public school program. Check with the board of education of the state or school district which you will reside for any other public school ISP’s. DoDDS does not offer an ISP as definied above. However, you may want to consider IDEA if you would like to homeschool through a DoDD school program.
WHAT IS ECLECTIC HOMESCHOOLING? Eclectic simply means drawing from different sources. One can homeschool by using a complete curriculum like Bob Jones, Abeka, Calvert or Alpha Omega. However, an eclectic homeschooler may use Sonlight for and reading, Writing Strands for writing, Saxon for math, McGraw Hill for spelling, Tobin’s Lab for science and Beautiful Feet for history. The advantage of complete curricula is that lesson plans are written up for you to follow. When you use a mish mash of materials, lesson plans may or may not be included so more preparation time may be necessary for the homeschool teacher. Check with each publisher’s catalogs whether lesson plans and/or curriculum guides are available. Click on Eclectic Homeschool Online for great downloads, worksheets and links.
WHAT IS UNSCHOOLING? Unschooling is when one doesn’t necessarily follow a set curriculum although various curricula and homeschool materials/resources may be used. This method allows the student’s interest to guide his study. For example: Kadeem has taken an interest in ships. Kadeem and his mother begin researching ships: When were they first built? How were they built? How are they presently built? How has ocean transportation affected commerce, business, politics, military etc.? For art, Kadeem researches various ships and begins sketching kayaks, canoes, cutters, sailboats, luxury liners, etc. He then starts to build models. For math and science, Kadeem’s mom introduces him to Greek mathetician and inventor Archimedes. They explore the principle of buoyancy how ships like large air craft carriers can stay afloat through water displacement. They study geometric shapes and weights. Experiments are conducted to see which shapes float the best. Measurements and calculations are configured based upon studying volume and area, etc.
Contrary to its name, “unschooling” does not mean “not schooling.” As you can see, however, it does not utilize traditional schooling methods within a set curriculum. It’s definitely not conventional. But it maintains the child’s interest in learning, because it is what he wants to learn. Be advised that unschooling does take work. Like any thematic or unit study, it requires research and preparation time. In spite of that, it can be a rewarding learning experience for both child and parent.
Links:
Family Unschoolers Network
Unschooling.Com
Growing Without Schooling
WHAT IS CHARACTER-BASED EDUCATION? Character-based education is a unit study program using character-building concepts as its revolving them. For example, if “truth” is being studied, the homeschooler would think about why it is important to be truthful. What are the ramifications of not telling the truth? How do lies hurt people, work, countries, etc. What does the bible or other religious materials say bout truth? Who were some truthful people in history? (George Washington) How do we know? (story of cutting down father’s cherry tree). How did this characteristic help him in his career? (it made him a man of integrity and trust—qualities for good leadership) etc.
Links for Character-based and other thematic and unit studies:
Konos Curriculum
Weaver Curriculum
Homeschool Emporium
Simon Greenleaf Press
Beautiful Feet Books
Heart of Wisdom Unit Studies
Kaleidoscapes Unity Study
Unit Study Resource Link
CCHEA Unit Study Resources
Unit Study Resources
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