Busting Homeschool Myths

When some people think of homeschooling, visions of moms clad in denim skirts and awkward children come to mind. The myths that surround homeschooling are often perpetuated by people who have never homeschooled their children, or have had very little contact with homeschoolers. These myths can leave homeschooling families confused and discourage new families from homeschooling. Read on as we debunk several of the most popular myths about homeschooling.

1. If I homeschool my children, they will never learn to socialize with kids their own age. This myth is probably the most popular myth that surrounds homeschooling, and nothing could be farther from the truth. Homeschoolers attend co­ops, are involved in various community activities, and often minister in their churches. Homeschoolers are accustomed to communicating with people of all ages. The socialization most homeschoolers participate in is far healthier than the socialization their public school peers receive.

2. My child may not learn as well at home. As a matter of fact, most children thrive while learning at home. Their unique interests, abilities and learning style can be taken into consideration when putting together their curriculum. Homeschoolers are free to work at their own pace, unlike public school students who have to stay within the guidelines set by public schools.

3. Hardly anyone homeschools their children. Over 2.5 million children are homeschooled each year in the United States alone. These numbers are estimated to rise as educational standards fall due to a lack of funding, Common Core curriculum, and violence in the schools. The United States has slipped from number one to number twenty four in world academics in the last fifteen years due to these issues. For our children to compete on a global scale, we have to take measures to improve the quality of our children’s education.

4. If my kids are homeschooled, they won’t be able to go to college. Seventy four percent of homeschoolers attend college, compared to forty six percent of public school graduates. Yale and Harvard actively recruit homeschoolers because of the academic excellence homeschooling provides. Homeschoolers have been admitted to colleges in all fifty states, and five foreign countries. Homeschoolers generally have GPAs that are 15­30 points higher than other students. Homeschooled students are more likely to complete their college degrees than public schooled students. Homeschoolers are used to working on their own, and have study and research skills most public schoolers lack.


5. There’s no way I could be qualified to teach my children, I don’t even have a teaching certificate! Parents are natural teachers. If that wasn’t true, our children would never learn to walk or talk. Parents love their children and want what’s best for them, and that translates into a desire to see our children succeed, academically, and in every other area of life. There are co­ops, online resources, and tutors to help parents along the way. With literally thousands of options, homeschool parents can customize their child’s education to fit their particular needs and interests. Homeschooling is the best option for educational excellence!!!

Planning to Finance College

With 74% of homeschooled students opting to enroll in college after graduation, many parents find themselves wondering how they will be able to afford the expense. The average college education costs roughly $100,000, that’s quite a chunk of change, especially when planning for multiple students futures. Graduating college with a mountain of debt is no way for our children to begin their adult lives. Read on for some tips on how to finance college with as little debt as possible.

●     The first step parents should take when working with their student to finance college is to fill out a FASFA, a federal form for student financial aid to determine whether or not you qualify for government grants. State aid is also available based on grades, activities, and community involvement. Military aid is an option for students who have served or plan to serve in the military.

●     Check into scholarships. Many homeschooled students are able to help finance their college educations by qualifying for scholarships. Church denominations often offer scholarships to students who have a pastoral reference. Check online or with the college of your choice for scholarships that your child may qualify for.

●     Attend a free college. Yes, they do exist. At College of the Ozarks, students are required to pay room and board and work a few hours on campus, the rest of their educations are fully covered.

●     Attend a community college first. Community colleges offer great student to professor ratios for a more personalized education. The campuses tend to be smaller, and are a great option for a student transitioning from homeschool to college. Community colleges cost thousands of dollars less for the same classes offered at traditional colleges.

●     Take college courses while still in high school. Many community colleges open basic classes to high school juniors and seniors to help them get a head start on their college degrees. This is a great option to gradually ease your child into a college setting. The savings in doing this can add up to few thousand dollars.

●     If your homeschooled student scored well on the SAT or ACT, apple for the honors program at the college they want to attend. Community colleges also offer this option. The program pays for some,if not all of the student’s tuition and fees.

●     There are many employers that will help their employees out with part or all of their tuition with a promise to work for the company for a certain amount of time. The benefits may start right away in some cases, but most companies require that you work for them a year before assisting with tuition. Search the internet for a listing of companies that offer this option.

Most colleges offer free tuition to the children of their employees. I have a friend that works in financial aid at a college and all three of her children have received their college educations for free. This is an excellent option for families with multiple children.

Reasons to Read to Your Child at Any Age

Some of my happiest memories growing up are those of my mother reading to me. I loved curling up in her lap, her gentle voice taking me on adventures overseas, galaxies, and through time. I learned to associate reading with love, comfort and contentment. It’s no wonder that almost forty years later nothing is as wonderful to me as curling up with a cup of tea and a good book.I read to my children from birth, well into their teen years. We love to sit by the fireplace on a snowy afternoon, bundled in blankets, sipping hot drinks as we drift off to magical places.

When we think of reading to children, we often think of non readers or very young children. The benefits of reading to young children are many, but the benefits of reading to children of all ages are just as many.

When you read to your child, you show them how good reading looks and sounds. An excellent reader pays attention to the voice, pace and volume of the piece that’s being read. Learning to read with expression and properly project your voice is a skill that will stick with your child a lifetime. Hearing a proficient reader express themselves through tone of voice also helps children to learn vocabulary words. Listening to a good reader is entertaining, and fosters a love for reading in children.

Reading out loud to your child helps with comprehension. When you read out loud to a child, the experience takes on a whole new dimension. The listener can get a better feel for the voice of the writing and gain a completely different perspective than reading a book alone. Reading out loud gives parents time to ask questions and point out important elements in the story that may have gone unnoticed otherwise. This dialog also gives parents a chance to bond with their children and spend quality time together.

Reading out loud exposes children to a variety of vocabulary words that they may not experience reading a book that’s at their grade level. Children who are read to learn to listen and use their imaginations in a way that children in our technology crazed world seldom do. All of my children have vocabularies far beyond their peers, and I attribute that to the time spent reading together. Even children who have trouble reading themselves can enjoy and benefit from being read to on a regular basis.

In today’s world, our children are programmed to have extremely short attention spans and expect instant gratification. Reading out loud helps them to learn to focus for long periods of time and delay gratification as they wait for the adventure to unfold. Considering eight out of ten children will be diagnosed with ADHD at some point in their school careers, the benefits of reading out loud are needed more than ever. Children who suffer from executive brain function dysfunction or Autism can benefit from this as well. Read more homeschool curriculum packages.

Five Ways to Make Online Homeschooling a Success

Online homeschooling offers parents and students a multitude of choices. The advantage of this is that each family can tailor a homeschool experience that is a perfect fit for their particular needs. Distance learning is quickly becoming one of the most popular options for homeschooling families all over the world. Read on for five ways to make online homeschooling a success for your family!!!

Choose how you will incorporate online homeschooling into your child’s education. Online schools offer everything from parent ­led curriculum, to complete instructional plans with certified teachers. Some parents prefer to use textbooks for some subjects and have their children study online for others. This is especially helpful for parents who have students in advanced classes or taking foreign languages. Other families utilize the complete programs that some online companies offer. This approach is great for families where mom works at home or outside the home, or simply prefers to leave the planning and teaching up to the experts while still ensuring the child gets a quality education.

Each child has a unique learning style, it is extremely important to learn how your child learns best so that you can tailor his or her education to suit individual strengths and weaknesses. Take into account any special challenges your child may have such as ADHD or dyslexia. Have a set time and place for homeschooling. Homeschooling offers families a lot of flexibility when it comes to the time and place school occurs. It is best to have a schedule for all household activities, including school work. When you decide on a location for homeschooling, take into consideration each individual child’s needs and abilities. For instance, one of your children may work well independently while another needs more accountability to get the job done. Have your child set goals and ensure that they are met. Most online academies offer goal setting with their complete curriculum packages.

Remember to supplement what your child is learning online with other activities. For instance, an exhibit at a local museum may complement an area your child is studying. How about signing your child up for a sport or class that goes along with an area of study? The point is to not restrict learning to homeschooling hours, learning is a lifelong process and it is our job to ignite a passion in our children to do so.

Keep your student connected. Online instructors and counselors love to hear from their students with any comments or questions they may have. One on one communication is one of the many advantages of homeschooling online vs. traditional textbooks and workbooks. Another great way to enhance your child’s online homeschooling experience is to involve them in any virtual or real life study groups that may benefit their studies. Check out what resources your library or community has to offer, you might be surprised. Interacting with their peers can give kiddos just the boost they need to get through a slump.

Teaching Your Child to Make Good Friends

“Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future” This popular saying has never been truer. With the ability to communicate with their friends virtually 24/7 it is more important than ever to make sure our children choose good friends that will encourage them in their walks with God. As homeschoolers, we have a little more control over the influences in our children’s lives than public scholars do.

Communicate

Like most other things, communicating with your child about his or her friends are absolutely necessary. It isn’t enough to assume that because a child comes from a Christian home that they will be a good influence on your child. Some of the most negative influences on my children have been the kids they attended church with. Convictions and standards vary from home to home and no one truly knows what goes on behind closed doors. So many children fall victim to child predators while visiting other people's homes or while out and about.

Talk to your child about character qualities that make a good friend and be honest about the dangers that can occur while at someone else’s home.

If your child begins a friendship with another child, it is a good idea to have the child over to your home before you let your child spend time with their new friends at their homes. Get to know your children’s friends parents. Get a feel for their values and morals and let them know your expectations as well.

Make Your House a Safe, Friendly Place
The best way to get to know your children’s friends is to make your home a safe, friendly place to hang out. This will give you a feel for the types of kids your children are friends with, and will also help you to address any issues that may come up.

Kids need a safe place to hang out, with adult supervision. Even the best kids can fall into temptation in the wrong circumstances. There’s nothing wrong with a little accountability.

Talk to your children about the rules of your home, and what they are expected to do if someone breaks them. Let your children know that you are approachable.

Set Guidelines
Make sure you set guidelines for friendships in advance. Sit down with your child and set up guidelines together. By involving your child in the process, it helps to head off conflict later.

Don’t just lay down a list of rules, explain why you are doing it and allow your child to add input. Keeping the lines of communication open now lays the groundwork for later years.

Communicating with your child about what makes a good friend and the guidelines you have set as a family for friendships and activities is important in helping your child choose good friendships. Above all else, pray for good friendships for your children and for protection from bad influences. Pray for wisdom in dealing with issues you may have with your children’s friendships. With good communication and God’s help, you can help your child choose good friendships.

Keeping Homeschool Records

Keeping accurate homeschool records is important to the success of your homeschooling. Records provide feedback to you as a teacher as to what works and doesn’t work. Most states have minimal record keeping requirements that must be met in order to legally homeschool your child in that particular state. Accurate records also provide a basis for transcripts for students that are applying to colleges or other educational programs. Lastly, accurate records can be a lifesaver if your homeschool is investigated by school authorities.

Record Keeping Basics 

Since record keeping requirements vary from state to state, we will cover the basics of keeping records for your homeschool here. It is advised that you carefully review your state laws in regards to the record keeping requirements for your state.

You can find basic record keeping materials online or at your local office supply store. Some have used a notebook to journal the progress for each child, others prefer a more “official” looking approach.

Regardless of how you decide to keep records, there are a few basic areas you will want to cover:
Quarterly reports give a brief summary of the subjects covered and the materials you used to cover them for that particular quarter. You should include a synopsis of any activities the student was involved in that pertained to your homeschooling. Some parents also include a report card or at least a record of letter grades received for each class. Daily or weekly planners are a great tool to keep learning on track and are required by many states.

Goal sheets are where you set goals for each student for the quarter or the school year. Many parents set spiritual, developmental, and behavioral goals for their children as well. Goal sheets are a great way to set a definite course for your homeschooling. Review goals with your spouse, and sit down with each child to discuss goals and concerns they may have for the upcoming quarter or year.

Photos from field trips or other activities your student has been involved in can help give added depth to your records.

Portfolios

Many states allow parents to keep a portfolio as part of meeting homeschooling requirements. Some parents keep a portfolio for each year as a way to record academic progress. Portfolios also make a great keepsake for your child to enjoy for years to come.

Please check your state laws in regards to portfolio contents if you are using a portfolio as a means to document your homeschooling.

A portfolio should include:

a cover letter
a brief synopsis of what subjects your student covered each quarter and the materials used to accomplish your goals
a listing of letter grades for each subject, if applicable quarterly samples from each subject studied
a listing of any books your student read independently activities your child is involved in that relate to his or her education
a listing of field trips, many portfolio evaluators enjoy some pictures in this section

Record keeping for your homeschool can be as simple or as complicated as you want, and is a great way to record your child’s accomplishments from year to year.