There are a whole slew of excellent sites on the web on homeschooling. This page will reflect some of our favorite sites and what we are doing right now. It will increase with time. So please be patient with us right now. Thanks!
Why We Homeschool
Places to Visit
Sayings
Curriculum
Visual Perception
In October 1995 the decision to homeschool David was made. It was one of the best decisions ever made. Taking nothing away from the public school education, as the 3 oldest attended and graduated from public school. David needed something different. It has been a pure joy, watching him grow and learn.
Many arguments are made for and against homeschooling. I advocate the choice. Each parent must look at what is best for their child in the spectrum of education. Everyones lifestyle, priorities, are not the same. Just as every school district and each teacher is different.
Without homeschooling I never would of learned of David's visual perception problem. We are only 1 of 21 families in this county that homeschool. Please don't take that as the school system is outstanding. We live in the one of the poorest counties in the state. Education is not a high priority here. No, the 3 oldest did not attend school here all 12 years.
Whether you homeschool or send your children to public school. I have found some very interesting places. Some are lessons, others are programs. Currently we are studying the Rev War Period. We started last year with the founding of America. Last September we took a trip to Williamsburg VA. Talk about excellent timing! There was a homeschool conference going on when we arrived. The materials acquired!!!
As we are studying history the best place I have found for links to different historical sites is by a teacher.
WWW Wonderful
World of Homeschool Humor - we all need some humor in our lives, and
homeschooling provides a lot of humor!
Lytingale's
Homeschool & Education Resources - this is an excellent site for mailing
lists, education resources, testing, and mailing lists. Lots of great
links here
The Homeschool
Zone Newsletter
It has been with interest that I've been reading how today's children
don't know a lot of the old sayings. David learns a saying a week,
draws a picture, and has to find a way to use the saying at least three times
in a week. It's rather comical when he quotes them to others. Especially
his peers. Here are a few that he has learned:
Actions speak louder than words
Beggars can't be choosers
Let bygones be bygones
Look before you leap
One rotten apple spoils the whole barrel
A place for everything and everything in its place
The show must go on
An apple a day keeps the doctor a way (his favorite)
Beat around the bush
Clean bill of health
The straw that broke the camels back
On its last legs
Practice makes perfect
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again
There is no set curriculum that is used. There are a lot of workbooks
bought, trips to the used and new book stores, and many trips to the library.
The guidelines that are used for what he should know at a certain grade
level are obtained from a series of books by E.D. Hirsh - "What Your ___
Grader Needs to Know" These books begin at Kindergarten, and go thru
the 6th grade. During 'school' classical music is playing. We
say the Pledge Allegiance and pray before the start of everyday.
David and I discuss a topic that he would like to study and then we take it from there.
Some things we have done with the Colonial Period
We have made a time line using banner paper. Each century is a separate roll. The roll is then divided into decades as columns, then each year is listed. When he reads a book, or learns about a person, or an event it is placed in the appropriate year. To make the historical aspect more real to David, we add our ancestors - birth, death, marriage, and any significant events - on the timeline also.
Made a pretend house. Marking off the approximate dimensions of the typical colonial home we then placed several items in the 'house'. Completing the lesson on the lack of space, we added 10 people in the house (all friends - boys his age and teenagers), spending 10 minutes inside was more than enough time for everyone!
When first starting to homeschool David would constantly rub his eyes, and squirm as if he had pent up energy that needed to be released. His 1st grade teacher had tried telling me that he had ADD. He could read a word on a page, and then not read it 2 sentences later.
Upon receiving the state homeschool magazine, there was an advertisement about visual perception. The decision was made to take him to the doctor. Lo and behold, that was his problem. His eyes.What a difference the therapy made in his self esteem and in his life.
About now you're asking okay, what is it? A person can have 20/20 vision, yet not be able to see the board well, or read well. It's where the eyes do not adjust quickly enough to various scenes. Such as going from word to word while reading. Or looking from the board to paper. Or watching the pitched ball.
I'm a big advocate of ruling out this possibility as to me, it has become fashionable to be classified ADD. Also schools use the labeling as an easy out for not teaching children. Besides do we not promote something in which we have been personally effected by and been pleased with it?