Homeschool - staying connected

The world has become a jungle of knowledge. Wherever you turn, youfind a new fruit that just has to be passed on to your child. In the middle of all the knowledge flying to and fro, we sometimes forget to talk and relax with our children. A mom who doubles as a teacher needs to leave the teacher behind and simply become mom for a few hours everyday.
Listen to your child. Do not just hear the words, but notice the emotion too. Many children find it difficult to express exactly what they want. Talk to your child about general stuff and allow him to be 'just a kid'. When you talk to your child, as for his opinions. Few things please him more. It also adds kilos to his self-confidence.
Most parents interrupt when their children talk. We, as adults, detest it when someone cuts across our lines. Kids keep mum because they are forced to be silent when we shut them up. But this is unhealthy and unfair. Allow your child to finish and then express your views in a rational manner. The child should have the confidence to confide in you.
Gentle parenting is the key to successful homeschooling. Be a parent first, and then a teacher.

Record keeping in Homeschooling

Social skills is an area of deep concern when it comes to homeschooling. Many critics point out that since man needs to hone his social skills, a homeschooling environment where social interaction is limited is detrimental to his growth and development. But studies have proved this wrong.
Children put into the fiercely competitive school environments lack the confidence to hold a conversation. Such children show little genuine interest in the topic of conversation and don't know how to interact with people of various age groups, especially their elders.
Children who learn at home are more aware of the implications and the purpose of their learning. They will ask intelligent questions and make accurate observations. Children begin their life by imitating their parents. Homeschooled children therefore pickup the sterling qualities they see in their parents. On the other hand, they are protected from the detrimental influences of their peers.
These children are thus better equipped with the tools necessary to face the world. The positive reinforcement that takes place in the homeschooling environment as opposed to being abandoned, embarrassed or ignored in a normal school environment strengthens their self-esteem. Children turn out to be better balanced andwell-rounded as they progress into adulthood.

Montessori Homeschooling

Developed from the work of Dr. Maria Montessori, this style ofteaching aims at duplicating natural laws that a child faces in life. Thus the aim of the teacher is to control the environment and not the child. It was observed that children who are left free to interact with their environment developed an innate self-discipline, love for order and natural curiosity.
The Montessori method of teaching is especially suitable to the preschooler who wants to do everything by himself. Finding ways in which your child can participate in the cleaning, washing, cooking, gardening and other 'adult' activities sets the perfect backdrop for the learning experience. By providing such opportunities for independence, the child's self-esteem also gets a huge boost.
Artistic, cultural and scientific activities abound in the Montessori 3-6 class. There is no TV, junk food, or computer. Material is selected carefully. The child is never forced to work. Instead he is encouraged to do things that interest him, and the teacher picks up the teaching from cues given by the child. The Montessori method focuses on the child's inborn ability to learn from his surroundings. Thus the teacher aims to encourage the natural curiosity of the child. He is never forced to learn or explore. When the child understands why he needs to learn something, he will love the learning process.

Homeschooling hours

How many, how often and when? These are some oft-repeated questions when it comes to homeschooling hours. Flexibility is of course one of the key underlying principles behind homeschooling. This flexibility applies not only to the curriculum but also to the number of hours. It is only natural that parents, especially if they have just started out on homeschooling should feel that their children should be at their books all the time when regular school-goers are at school. This is not only fallacious but can also be damaging and counter-productive.
One of the most ignored but glaring drawbacks of the public schooling system is the sheer waste of time and energy that it causes. Many periods are simply wasted away and the child effectively derives only 1-3 hours of study everyday. Then, there are days when the studies become too intensive and other days when it's only games and no work at all. There is a lot of 'invisible wastage' involved here.
Early on in your homeschooling practice, work out a schedule. It is advisable to stick to the same hours everyday. A routine makes it easier to learn and gives structure to the learning experience. It also tells the students that parents are strict about their learning. A routine also allows your child to free his mind from other activities and concentrate on studies. He knows that a particular time is strictly set aside for learning.
The actual number of hours that you need depends on the curriculum you have chosen and the learning style that suits your child. If you are dealing with a subject that seems to be more complex, you may need to sit with the child for a longer period. Using various techniques, it may be necessary to demonstrate what you are trying to teach. For instance, a lesson in Algebra may take more time than a lesson in English.
Homeschooling does not refer to the practice of sitting in front of the books and learning the printed matter. Field trips, watching documentaries, visiting factories and libraries also make up an important slice of the homeschooling process. It makes sense to intersperse these activities so that learning becomes fun. You may want to finish off the few hours of textbook learning in the morning and dedicate the afternoons to these kinds of activities.
Given the fact that too many public school hours are wasted in meaningless activities ranging from talking to extra-curricular activities, do not allow public school hours to dictate the time you should spend teaching your child at home. Remember that at home, he is getting a high-quality one-to-one time that is highly productive. About 1-3 hours of study is enough in the primary level. It is of course true that the more number of hours you put in, the more learning takes place. This is also the reason why homeschooling children are much smarter and more balanced than regular school going children.

Homeschool - Field trips

If you are going over a particular subject with the family andfeel that a field trip would be beneficial, then that's what you should do - go for a trip. If you are attached to a support group, you can plan to include other children too. Here are some guidelines that will help you plan:1) Collect the rates2) Allowed ages3) Special highlights4) Size of the group5) Timings6) Eating facilities
Inform your support group of all these details well in advance so that the necessary circulars may be sent out. On the appointed day, arrange to meet with other parents and children in a particular place. Plan the mode of travel and reach the place at least 10 minutes in advance.
The field trip is not just fun. So, let your kids bring their writing material. Allow them time to stare and admire. Do not hurry them along. Collect data beforehand so that you can clear doubts. Get help from a guide, if necessary. And most importantly, have fun and enjoy the time you spend with your children.

Homeschool burnout

When a parent takes on the responsibility of educating his or herchild, homeschool burnout is one of the more common issues they have to deal with. There are many reasons that lead to this burnout: an illness, a new baby, added responsibility, change in routine etc.
The symptoms of burnout vary from lack of patience to overeating and crying without any apparent reasons. Surprisingly, a burnout need not be such a bad thing. It is a wake-up call - an indicator that things are not going well and that you need to reschedule. Reversing or avoiding a burnout is possible if you get fair warning.
Firstly, lower your expectations. Do not be a perfectionist. Take the good days with the bad. Next, when something does not seem to work, look for alternative methods. Flexibility is a key factor. If tension starts mounting, take a break. When necessary, change the style of teaching. For instance, small children love to take on their spellings when they quiz an adult.
Avoid overkill. Do not pack too many activities for the sake of socializing your child. A worn out mom means a grouchy kid and that means no happiness. Get support from your spouse or a neighbor or a support group. Don't try to achieve everything by yourself. Homeschooling means 'happy schooling' - don't forget that.

Homeschooling with a disability

If you feel that your child suffers from a disability thatseriously hampers his ability to stick to a routine, then homeschooling is your best choice. The child will be constantly under your supervision. But he will be gaining a lot of quality education, in spite of his disability. This is rather surprising, considering how children with disabilities are stigmatized in public schools.
Goal setting is an important part of homeschooling a child with disability. Set the number of working hours per week for the child. A child with a disability may have his bad days. Structure the learning hours according to the needs and interests of the child. Use the computer. This way, he will have all the necessary information right at his fingertips while staying within the confines of his home.
Field trips and other educational activities are just as important. Get help from your support group. Visit places of interest and interact with other children in the group. Take your child out for some activities, so that he can socialize. Let him set his own pace with making friends. This will help in strengthening his self-esteem.
Above all, remember that homeschooling is just the same, even when your child suffers from a disability. You will just need to look for the right opportunities and the easiest alternatives to achieve the same goals.

Homeschooling - the darker side

It's not all hunky-dory and smooth sailing on the homeschoolingfront. Like all things in life, there is a downside that has to be seriously considered when you explore the homeschooling option. Though one man's bane may be another man's boon, there are certain common reasons for concern.
The responsibility of teaching your child rests solely on you. You cannot blame anyone else if your child is seen wanting in the skills that his peers excel in. If your child cannot do the things that are expected from other children of his age group, it reflects badly on you as an educator as well as a parent.
A critical part of homeschooling is the time that you have to spend with your children. You may have to give up your friends, shopping and other entertainment and dedicate all these to your child. This can become frustrating at times. You have to learn to take the aggravation with equanimity and wait for the rewards with patience and enthusiasm.
A parent who is dedicated to tutor his or her child single handedly does not realistically have much time left over for a career. This means that the family is robbed of an additional source of income. In turn, this may lead to stress over finances. You will have to train yourself to live on a strictly controlled budget. While this is a matter of habit, it does need some getting used to.
You cannot take a break when you feel like it. Feelings of guilt will assail you if you neglect studies just because you are feeling blue. You also fear that the child will take advantage of the situation. Even when you have given homework, you have to be around to give a helping hand. This means that anytime your child is around you, you are on duty! For some, this may mean working every waking hour. The child studying at home also needs to get out more. This comes from staying at home all the time. Interaction with adults and other children needs to be given special attention.
Children tutored at home cannot develop in the various directions that are open to children attending public schools. To achieve that kind of exposure, you either have to be a super-parent skilled in everything, or enroll your child to various activities. This may not only prove too costly, but also be counter-productive.
It is sometimes observed that homeschooled children do not do as well in SAT tests as their school-going counterparts. Without a diploma or a GED, some students find it difficult to get into the military.
Lastly, if you envision enrolling your child to a public school, there may be a certain period of emotional as well as social adjustment. A child who is used to being at home for the whole day and enjoying so much of uncontained freedom may have to undergo some distressing emotional upheavals before he or she gets used to the rigors of a regular school life.

Feuerstein Instrumental Enrichment

DefinitionFeuerstein Instrumental Enrichment (FIE) was devised after the second world war by Reuven Feuerstein, a child psychologist, while he was working with orphans who survived the holocaust. FIE is a school curriculum system which aims at enhancing the cognitive skills of pupils, especially those with special needs. Feuerstein believes that intelligence is modifiable and that it can grow if children learn how to think, FIE has been widely used in many countries.Instrumental Enrichment:Children are asked to perform tasks following a set of rules, these tasks include problem solving and analytical thinking. FIE materials are organised into a series of 14 workbooks, called “instruments”. The instruments are free of subject matters, they comprise paper and pencil tasks, and each instrument focuses on a specific cognitive function. The tasks gradually increase in difficulty level and abstraction. By using these tasks students develop strategies to solve problems which they can apply to life.Instrumental Enrichment workbooks: -Comparisons-Orientation in Space I-Analytic Perception-Illustrations-Family Relations-Categorisation-Numerical Progressions-Temporal Relations-Instructions-Orientation in Space II-Syllogisms-Transitive Relations-Representational Stencil DesignLearning Potential Assessment Device:Before children with learning difficulties can challenge their difficulties, they must be able to identify their cognitive weaknesses, they learn how to do this through an assessment tool called the “learning potential assessment device” or “LPAD”. The teacher uses 10 instruments to assess the needs of a child: organisation of dots, complex figure drawing test, reversal test, diffuse attention test, positioning learning test, plateaux test, associative recall, word memory test, tri modal analogies representational stencil design test, numerical progressions, organiser.The LPAD provides information about the pupils’ learning capacities and possible achievements. The idea is not to find out whether the pupils can perform a task and how well they do it, but to observe how they tackle the task, what kinds of instruction they need to understand it and to do it properly. Mediated Learning Experience:The role of the students and teachers differs from those in conventional education in that the teaching sessions are very interactive, students are never passive, their participation is essential. While teachers in conventional education act as “facilitators”, teachers who use the Feuerstein method are called “mediators” because they help their students learn how to think and they teach them how to learn. They assist the pupils by filtering the information and guiding them through exercises, they show them specific methods for interpreting information and problem-solving. The programme motivates pupils, it doesn’t encourage competition. Mediators claim that FIE enhances academic success and that it reduces behaviour problems. The programme can be used in a classroom or for individual tuition. It is spread over a period of 2 or 3 years and is split in 3 levels.
Who can benefit from Instrumental EnrichmentGenerally children with learning difficulties and behavioural problems; a Braille version of Instrumental Enrichment is also available.
ResourcesInternational Center for the Enhancement of Learning Potential (ICELP)47 Narkiss StJerusalem 91077Fax: (00972) 2 561 9815http://www.icelp.orgThe Hope CharityPO Box 100BarnetLondon EN5 1HXTel: 020 8930 6787The Hope Charity is an educational charity for children with learning and developmental disabilities. The cost of the assessment is £350 and one session costs £25.Books-Feuerstein R., Rand Y. (1998) Don’t Accept Me As I am. ISBN: 1575170256-Skuy M, Mentis M. (1998) Bridging Learning In and Out of the Classroom. ISBN 1575171147-Ben Hur M. (1994) On Feuerstein’s Instrumental Enrichment ISBN 0932935761-Rodriguez E.R.., Bellanca J. (1996) What Is It About Me You Can’t Teach? ISBN 1575170663Websites- http://www.newhorizons.org Good description of the method and survey- http://www.virls.com Virtual Learning Systems

How to Teach Your Children to Cook

If you're ready to teach your children how to cook, here are some simple tips for teaching them the basics, and giving them skills that will last them a lifetime! First of all, think safety. Any child that has to stand on a stool or chair in order to reach the stove is too young to cook. Start younger children off by letting them help set and clear the table, gathering ingredients, and stirring, mixing or adding ingredients. Next, set rules about handling knives and other sharp instruments and handling hot pans or boiling ingredients. Some parents start teaching their children to cook by showing them how to make things that don't require cooking first, and then graduating to letting them make food in the microwave. Create a relaxed atmosphere that is fun when teaching your kids to cook. Remember what it was like when you were learning to cook? Chances are, you made a few messes and broke a few dishes. It happens. Learning to cook should be fun, not drudgery, although there are certain responsibilities that go along with the privilege, such as cleaning up as you go along, and leaving the kitchen clean when you're finished. Start with the basics. Show your kids what the different utensils are used for, and the right way to use them. Teach them about herbs and spices, and using the right ingredients for the right dishes. Cooking is a great way to learn fractions and chemistry, and your kids might not even realize they're learning while they're having fun! Begin with simple recipes. There are some great cookbooks for kids on the market today, that include step-by-step instructions and pictures so kids can see what something's supposed to look like while they're assembling the recipe...let success build on success. Give your kids a chance to shine. As they learn to cook more complicated recipes, let them be responsible for planning -- and cooking lunch or dinner one night. Letting your kids plan the meal -- and even shop for the ingredients will help them to realize and appreciate the effort that goes into cooking. As your kids become more skilled, begin including foods from different cultures. Many recipes such as French crepes or Italian lasagna are not difficult to make, and your kids will develop an appreciation for many different kinds of food. Especially for younger children, having tools that are their own size not only make cooking more fun, but make it easier for them to participate. Kid-sized kitchen utensils can be found at many department or specialty stores. Make sure you take plenty of pictures -- you may not realize it now, but you're making memories that someday will be as delicious as that batch of chocolate chip cookies you're baking now!

Is Home Schooling on the Internet the New Wave of Education?

Do you have children in school - or are you planning for it soon? Have you asked yourself if public schools are really doing all they can to improve your child and educate him or her for the real world? Do you try to stifle desires to send them to private schools because of the cost or the perceived 'elitist' mentality? Have you ever had a day arrive when your child comes home worn out, agitated and frustrated and thought to yourself "I'd love to keep my child home and teach him myself - if only I had the time." Now, maybe you can. Here are some of the options. PRIVATE SCHOOLS COST MONEY Yes, private schools are sought by the wealthiest and most privileged of society. Although some would likely debate the benefits of private schooling over public schooling most parents probably have considered the option and would jump at the opportunity to give private schooling to their children if it appeared. Unfortunately, for most families, private schooling is simply not a reality. At a cost of $7000 and upwards, the ability to afford such education is beyond their means. Religious affiliated schools are less expensive, but still not an option for many families with a of cost several thousands per year. HOME SCHOOLING TAKES PARENTS TIME Traditional home schooling where the parent is the supervisor of the child's work is another option. With fantastic resources and helpful teachers to assist, it has been a form of education that can be the answer to parents who want the one-on-one education that public schools cannot provide. Home schooling has been the basis of society for thousands of years - long before schools came about. However, in today's society it can be difficult for parent's to maintain the supervision of assignments that is needed for home schooling. This may become even more of an issue as a child gets into the higher grades and parents are unfamiliar with the curriculum or are working and do not have as much time to assist them. INTERNET HOME SCHOOLING A new addition to education, the internet is now providing the ability for parents to give their child an enhanced curriculum, control over education, and online support. This will all cost much less than private school at an average cost of $900 per year. Older children can benefit from online teachers who are able to supervise the work - a huge benefit for working or single parents. Many accredited Internet schools offer similar courses to those available in private schools. Joel Turtel, who is the author of "Public Schools, Public Menace: How Public Schools Lie To Parents and Betray Our Children," says that busy working parents can give their kids a quality, low-cost education at home using the Internet. “K-12th grade Internet schools can take most of the homeschooling burden off parent's backs.” Perhaps this is the answer you've been looking for.