Archive for the 'Homeschooling' Category

by Carletta Sanders
Homeschooling preschool gives you an opportunity to encourage your child to love learning and exploration. You don’t need an early education degree to teach your preschooler. Here are some simple ways to homeschool preschool:

• Your child can learn basic math and reading skills by acting as your little assistant. Involve your preschooler in your errands and activities. Have your child assist you as you measure ingredients for dinner, count the number of apples to put in the grocery sack, and keep track of the time until your next appointment.

  Helping with household chores is a great way to strengthen small motor skills. Chores also help your preschooler develop responsibility and feel like part of the team.

• Talk to your child throughout the day. Read labels and signs to your preschooler, and explain why you do things a certain way.

  Remember that you are primarily a parent, not a teacher. You don’t need to prepare fancy lessons on community helpers, health and safety. Simply go about daily life with your child and answer any questions he or she has along the way.

• Reduce television and computer time to less than an hour each day. Spend afternoons playing at the park or taking nature walks around your neighborhood.

  By staying physically active, you are establishing a foundation of health and fitness, and helping your child develop gross motor skills.

• Create a learning environment in your home by providing your child with materials that encourage imagination, creativity and open-ended play.

  Stock an area of your home with different types of paper, paint, markers and other art supplies. Stock another area with blocks, cars, trucks, trains and miniature people. Fill a box with various clothing items, pots and pans, toy food and other materials for pretend play. Then set up a quiet area with math manipulatives, puzzles and books. You now have a preschool in your home!

• When you begin formal lessons, keep them short and simple. End the lessons before your child is ready to stop.

  If you notice your child becoming frustrated, end the activity for the day. One of the best ways to teach your budding student is to read to him or her daily.

Your preschooler has plenty of time to learn the details of reading, writing and arithmetic. Take time during these early years to focus on the basics and make learning fun!

Here are some additional tips and ideas for homeschooling preschool.Carletta Sanders is a homeschool mom of 3. For homeschool information and activities delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for her homeschool newsletter.

Article Source: Homeschooling Preschool - 5 Ways to Make Learning Simple and Fun

by Self-Storage-Owner
Homeschooling is hard work and life circumstances often put a parents decision to homeschool to the test. First of all, Mom was not always Mom. She once was a single girl who probably had an idea of what she wanted to be when she grew up. Now, whether it was an astronaut or to be a mother homeschooling her brood, it makes the actual task no easier.

When the time comes to be a full time mom, she has to decide whether or not she will go back to work. By the time homeschooling has come around, she is probably use to a routine with her home duties. She has probably been planning the transition into homeschool for some time and has developed lessons and dates with other homeschooling moms and even play groups with their children.

However, some families choose to homeschool and perhaps Mom and Dad have both had a career up until that point. Whether it is for religious reasons, poor public school performance, or expensive private school tuition, going from a Careerperson to Homeschool Teacher is a big jump.

There will be a strain on the Homeschool Teacher, be it Mom or Dad, because they will miss the business world and the interaction with coworkers. However, teaching your children is a busy and full time job, so a motivated homeschool teacher will rise to the challenge and push himself or herself.

Another strain will be financially. Even the most well-thought-out plan will have a few unexpected costs. Perhaps you did not realize how much Billy would love playing the keyboard so now he wants a piano. Even smaller things like the cost of a book, a trip to the Science Center, etc will begin to add up. After all, your tax dollars for public school will still be deducted, regardless of where your children are being educated.

If your household use to be a two-income family, and is now a one-income family, there are some sacrifices you will have to be prepared to make. Perhaps it means eating out a few less times per month. You could overcome some food cost by planting a small garden, and what a learning experience for the children!

Sometimes, families who homeschool their children have to find more creative measures to make ends meet. For example, a family with a walk out basement might decide to close access to the upper level and renovate the area, making it a small apartment. This could become a nice place for someone to live who is looking for rental homes . Of course, one should always be choosey when inviting a tenant into their home.

Another option is to become a tenant and look for rental homes in your area. While a family with children will most likely not comfortably fit into an apartment on the third floor of a complex, rental homes are a great answer to get around paying a mortgage and still have your own space.

There are other savings to looking for rental homes as well. The maintenance of owning a house can be tedious, let alone cost a small fortune for major repairs. Rental homes would require the property owner to maintain the structure and upkeep. And if you are very handy, perhaps the owner would credit your rent for any work you do. If your kids are old enough, they could even learn some handiwork and help out.

The trick to balancing homeschooling and finances is to be creative and turn everything into a learning experience for your children.

Source : Real Estate Management

Self Storage News : http://directory.selfstorageowner.com/news.php

Article Source: Overcome Financial Strain of Homeschool

by Carletta Sanders
One of the most important components of successful homeschooling is good homeschooling support. Here are 5 ways you can receive the support and information your family needs to thrive:

1. Homeschool Support Groups - Homeschooling support groups are made up of families who meet regularly to provide each other with encouragement and social interaction. Homeschool support groups can be formal or informal depending their scope and purpose. Some groups limit membership to those who use a certain curriculum or hold specific religious beliefs. Inclusive homeschool groups are open to all families who educate their children at home.

2. Homeschool Coops - In homeschooling coops, or cooperatives, families join together to help teach each other’s children. Coop courses can be taught by parents or paid tutors. When choosing a co-op, make sure you understand the required level of commitment for both parents and students.
3. Homeschool Message Boards - Homeschool message boards, or forums, are great places to receive support without leaving your home. Some homeschool forums focus on specific teaching methods and curricula, while others are open to all homeschoolers. These online communities are excellent sources of information and encouragement.
4. Homeschool Conventions - Homeschool conferences are great places to meet and learn from other homeschoolers. Many of these events feature workshops that provide information about homeschool curriculum and techniques. Some conventions also host home school curriculum fairs where you can view and ask questions about home school materials. When preparing for a homeschool convention, make sure you are aware of the rules of the event.
5. Community Groups - Many businesses and organizations host classes or activities that provide valuable learning opportunities for homeschool students. Check with community centers, athletic facilities, museums, churches, libraries and other local companies to see if they offer programs that can benefit your children.

Stay on the lookout for the many opportunities for support that are around you. Homeschooling is not always easy, and homeschool support can help you stay the course when the going gets tough!

Here is some additional information about homeschooling support.Carletta Sanders is a homeschool mom of 3. For homeschool information and activities delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for Carletta’s homeschooling newsletter.

Article Source: Homeschooling Support - 5 Ways to Develop an Extensive Homeschool Network

by Jeff Safin
There is no doubt that home schooling in California is one of the hardest states to do it in. This is because the requirements are pretty strict. This has led to some rumors going round that home schooling in California is illegal, but that is definitely not true.

As in all states, home schools in California should use an accredited and recognized school curriculum, or an ISP (Independent Study Program) that can come from an area public school or from a private, but accredited source.

Capability to Teach

It’s more than likely that you have also heard some rumors suggesting that in California you must have a certified teaching license in order to participate in homeschooling.

While it is helpful for a teacher to have a teaching certification, the law in California actually states that someone who is running a home school in California has to, simply, be ‘capable’ of teaching.

Evidently, this statement can be interpreted in a very vague sense. In this way, home schooling has a sort of vague quality in California.

In a privately run or a publicly run school it will be the people in charge of running the school who decide whether or not there teachers are capable of teaching, plus of course their initial certifications the teachers have already obtained to get their teaching job.

But when you look at the situation in a homeschooling environment things are pretty different, since the teacher and the parent of the child are normally the same person.

Starting your home school in California

Even if you only have one child to tutor, you should make the effort to go and declare yourself a private school, this may seem like hassle but it will clear up a lot of questions.

One additional option open to you is to sign up your child or children at your local public school, but contrary to what other parents do, you will register for an independent study program that you yourself will implement with your child at home.

Whatever option you choose to take, you shouldn’t have any real problems in starting your California homeschool.

A Tutor

A home school requires a “tutor.” In most cases, this tutor will be one of the parents in the home, but it could also be a third party who is hired by the family to be the tutor of the child or children.

As a parent you will not be required to be a certified teacher to homeschool your children, but it goes without saying that you should be above capable of teaching.

But quite understandably most parents if hiring a tutor to homeschool their children will want to see certifications from that tutor.

Setting up your homeschool in California is going to take a little work and implementing it, especially if you are the tutor, will definitely required dedication and planning, but the benefits it can bring to your child should make it all worthwhile.

If you have found this Writing interesting on A California homeschool program come and visit our site for a lot more How To Home School Your Child materials.

Article Source: Californian Home Schooling: Just As Legal as Any Other!

by Geni
Defensive driving is a term that not everyone truly understands. Everybody likes to think that they are a reasonably safe driver, perhaps not perfect but generally doing a good job. And that’s true. Most of the time, a driver who is involved in a collision has a clean driving record and wasn’t doing anything wrong. Think about it: other than in cases of shared liability, usually half of the drivers in a car crash aren’t at fault.

Luckily, though, there is something you can do even if you are already a good driver — you can take a defensive driving course to learn techniques for preventing the accident that is not your fault. While it’s not possible to control the actions of other drivers, you can control how you react to them and begin to more accurately anticipate them so that you are not in the lane when they drift over, or in the intersection when they run the red light, or stopped in front of them when they slam on the brakes a few seconds too late.

It’s more convenient than ever to get this type of education, by participating in a defensive driving online program. These courses are also used to satisfy court-ordered traffic school or supplement a good-driver discount program in some areas, but anyone can take the course at any time, simply to become a more skilled defensive driver.

To take an online course in traffic safety, simply do a little research and find one of the many schools online that offer defensive driving classes. Because you are not taking the course to meet any governing body’s specific requirements, you can select any defensive driving course you like, so be sure to look at the reputation and overall “feel” you get from the school. That will guide you in finding the provider that is right for you.

Once you’ve picked a school, there’s usually a small payment, between $20 and $40, give or take, to register for and complete the class. You can complete this transaction totally online, and then go directly to the course material. There, you’ll find safe driving tips as well as the latest information on changes in laws and general wisdom in driving technique. For example, many experts no longer recommend the “10 and 2” hand position on the steering wheel, because with power steering and steering column airbags, a lower position is safer and more comfortable. You will also discover what the current laws are in your area, for things such as mobile phone use while driving, and where it is illegal to smoke in the car if there is a passenger under 18 present (California recently enacted this law).

You can wait until a judge orders you to take defensive driving, or never take it and hope for the best. Or you can take advantage of the convenience of online delivery methods and register to brush up on your driving skills, possibly preventing an accident that would otherwise be lurking around the next corner.

Geni waxman,

Expert author on “Defensive Driving Course”. These courses confirms your state requirement of traffic school, defensive driving or driver improvement. For more details please visit Defensive Driving Course.

Article Source: Useful Information About Online Defensive Driving Course

by Carletta Sanders
Are you looking for homeschooling information? Here are answers to the top 5 questions about homeschooling:

1. What are the benefits to homeschooling?

Homeschooling has many benefits for both the student and the family as a whole. Children who are homeschooled have an opportunity to learn at their own pace in a method that suits their primary learning style. They also avoid many of the negative social interactions that take place in public school, and develop close bonds with parents and siblings.

Homeschooling statistics show that homeschoolers outperform public school students academically. Homeschool students are also more likely to be actively involved in their communities once they graduate from high school.

2. What are the disadvantages of homeschooling?

Parents who homeschool take on primary responsibility for the outcome of their children’s education. They lack the free time of parents who send their children to public school, and they also have to purchase their children’s homeschool materials in addition to paying school taxes.

Homeschool moms and dads must seek out social opportunities for their children instead of relying on school activities. In some cases, they may also face criticism from friends and family members. However, for most families, the homeschooling pros greatly outweigh the cons.

3. What about socialization?

Homeschoolers are able to avoid much of the peer pressure, teasing and bullying that occur in school, and instead focus on developing positive peer relationships.

Homeschool students can participate in a variety of social activities through homeschool co-ops, homeschooling support groups, community activities, sports teams and other organizations. Many parents begin homeschooling thinking they will have trouble finding social engagements for their children, and end up finding they have too many activities to choose from.

4. Is homeschooling legal?

Parents have the legal right to homeschool in all 50 states. Homeschool laws vary from state to state. For more information about homeschooling laws in your state, visit the Homeschool Legal Defense Association’s website.

5. Are parents qualified to teach their children?

Parents are their children’s first teachers, and are more than qualified to home educate. Research has shown that the level of homeschooling qualifications has little effect on the a child’s academic performance. Many pre-packaged curriculum programs come with teacher’s guides and lesson plans that tell a parent how to teach certain concepts. Parents who do not have teaching certificates and college degrees can successfully teach their children.

Here is some additional homeschooling information.Carletta Sanders is a homeschool mom of 3. For homeschool information and activities delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for her homeschool newsletter.

Article Source: Homeschooling Information - Your Questions Answered

by Tutors Tutor
Essential Requirements to Be a Tutor

Tutoring Requirements

Self employemet tutors are free to choose when and how to tutor. In order to start you own tutoring business it is essential to be a true professional. A good reputation is mostly based on a good service. The following suggestions can help you make a check list of all the right aptitudes you will need to be on top of your game!

- As explored in the last article, it is essential to be confident: a thorough knowledge of your subject and a good aptitude at passing on your skills is foundational to all tutors.

- Always be punctual and reliable. This is the least clients expect from you and can make you look unprofessional if you overlook these basic requirements.

- Chose an appropriate dress code for a professional approach. Remember, you must reassure the client that you are serious, especially during the first meetings.

- Develop a good rapport with the student and parents. Express your self clearly, be articulate and direct. This sends the right type of message and helps both parents and students to relax. If English is not your maternal language and that you make a special effort to be clear and articulate, it will give you extra respect and consideration from you client. It is essential to be able to communicate with parents and pupils in English even if your classes are in your maternal language.

- Be well organised, and prepare each lesson in advance. Never waste your client’s time!

- When meeting with your client for the first time, have a complete CV prepared, along with references and a CRB disclosure. These documents should be available to the employer from the start, so that they can be fully assured of your competence and trustworthiness before taking any further steps. This helps to establish a base of professionalism and trust from the start.

- Assess your student’s abilities in order to adapt your lessons to each individual. It is your role to decide of the level, methods and content used during your lessons, but you must do so in a knowing, attentive way, by being receptive of your student’s needs and abilities.

- A tutor should be able to give enthusiastic and enjoyable lessons. The ability to make your subject interesting is a gift, but can be improved on. Be constant in your enthusiasm and leave your mood / personal life at the door: this is the true mark of the professional Tutor.

- Give reasonable outcome expectations and a plan for both students and parents from the start. It is their right as clients to be involved as much as possible.

- You will need to provide, or be provided with a suitable area of study. The study area needs to be clean and tidy and more importantly, free of interruptions. It would be very unprofessional for tutors to leave their phone on, or accept interruptions by family members. Be polite and gentle but firm. Make sure both you (as the tutor) and the student remove any outside interruptions from day one (Turn off those phones, and close that door).

Location is covered in more detail in the next article.
Next >> Where To Tutor From

TutorTutors tutor has been tutoring in Oxford for the last 11 years and hopes to provide tuition resources to tutors world wide

Article Source: Tutoring Requirements

by Vipann Kumarr
The whole home education movement began back in the sixties, with the hippies rebelling against all things government run, but since then, it has grown into a legitimate method of schooling. In fact, home schooling has become so big that colleges and universities now accept applications from children who have never been to school without question. But like any major decision involving your child, you have to weigh the pros and cons before deciding if home education is the right choice for you and your family.

Over the years, home education has received a bad rap due to parents who keep their kids at home, but dont actually teach them anything. These children often emerge from the cocoon of their home life as adults with severe disadvantages. They are not able to interact well socially and their knowledge of basic academic subjects is very low. When people see this, they assume that home education is not a good thing. Also, many people are against home education because they believe that the school teachers are better equipped to teach children than parents. The facilities in the school are better in many areas, particularly the lab and the library. For obvious reasons, gym class is quite different in the school environment as well.

However, not all home education is badly done. There are parents who are very well equipped to teach their children and as long as they realize when they are out of their league, there is no problem, as a tutor can be hired. Also, there are several very good curriculums available specifically for home use that are easy to follow both for student and parent. As long as care is taken, there is no need for social ineptness in the average home education student. There are a multitude of activities and classes that children can take to provide them with a social experience. In fact, many areas have home education groups where families who home school get together for various activities. The parents can discuss children and teaching difficulties while the students play games and sports and just generally interact with other young people their own age.

While it is true that classes such as phys. Ed. and science can be more difficult at home, there are ways around this. One way is to invest in lab equipment as a group, with several families pitching in to buy the required equipment. Also, many schools allow students from home educated families to participate in just one class without problems. This depends on the school and the area it is in, so its best to ask first. Home education can be a very rewarding venture for the right people, but you do need to realize that it is not a vacation. Studying at home means a lot of hard work and less motivation, since you have only your own family to spur you on.

For those who are not very disciplined, home schooling is not a good option. Weigh the choices, talk to other people who are already teaching their kids at home and then make an educated decision.

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Article Source: A Few Advantages And Disadvantages Of Home schooling

by Carletta Sanders
Although the cost of homeschooling curriculum, supplies and activities can certainly add up, home education does not have to be expensive. Research has shown that homeschooling can be successful regardless of how much or how little a parent spends. Here are 10 steps to inexpensive homeschooling.

1. Set a budget for how much you want to spend for each child per year and resolve to stick to it. Make sure consider the cost of curriculum, books, magazines, supplies, support group dues, legal association dues and outside activities.

2. Use your local library. In addition to providing books and reference materials, public libraries sometimes host story times, reading programs, book clubs, writer’s groups, support groups, field trip and volunteer opportunities.

3. Look for free homeschooling materials. You can find textbooks, audio books, novels, lesson plans, printable worksheets and even complete curriculum programs online.

4. Purchase used homeschool books. You can find used curriculum at local used book stores, garage sales, thrift shops and homeschool support group sales. There are also many websites that facilitate buying and selling used materials.

5. When buying new, purchase discount homeschool books. Many online stores like Rainbow Resource and Christian Book Distributors offer great discounts on new materials from popular providers. You can also buy fiction and non-fiction books from Scholastic Book Club’s monthly flier for cost savings.

6. Ask your favorite retailers if they offer an educator’s discount. Homeschool parents often qualify for teacher’s discount programs. If the store requires you to show an official letter or ID card before taking advantage of the discount, print one from your home computer.

7. Purchase high quality materials that can be handed down to younger siblings. Preserve consumable materials by having your child write answers on a separate sheet of paper. You can also cover workbook pages with plastic sheet protectors and have your child write with dry erase markers.

8. Make your own lesson plans, tests, worksheets, flash cards and manipulatives. When possible, avoid purchasing teacher’s editions and answer keys.

9. Find low cost extracurricular activities. Schedule field trips for discount or free admission days, or obtain a group discount by attending with other homeschool families. Take music, dance or art lessons from another homeschool mom in order to save money on the cost of tuition.

10. Look for ways to earn income from home. Re-sell used curriculum, tutor students from other families, provide lessons in your areas of expertise or start an at home business.

Homeschoolers who are determined and committed, can significantly lower their homeschooling costs. Some parents who are especially resourceful even manage to homeschool their children for free!

For information about homeschool discounts and free curriculum, visit Carletta’s website Successful Homeschooling. For homeschool news and monthly activities delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for her homeschool newsletter.

Article Source: Affordable Homeschooling - 10 Tips that will Save You Money

by Carletta Sanders
Finding used homeschooling books may take time, but it can also save you money. By purchasing used homeschool books, some families are able to cut their homeschooling costs in half.

Half Price Books is a great source of used material. Search the children’s section for popular readers and read alouds from your literature-based curriculum. This section is also a great source of nonfiction history and science materials.

Used homeschool books, textbooks, lesson plans and teacher’s guides can often be found on Half Price Books’ education aisle. You can also find used curriculum at other used book stores, garage sales, thrift stores, and libraries. Some local homeschool support groups host used book swaps for their members.

Finding Used Curriculum Online

If you prefer to shop online, you may consider joining Paperback Swap or Book Mooch. Both companies allow you to list old materials on their websites and exchange them for books you desire.

Many curriculum suppliers such as Sonlight, The Well Trained Mind and Winter Promise, host homeschool forums where you can buy and sell used materials. You can also purchase used homeschooling curriculum online at:

• Homeschool Classifieds,
• Veg Source,
• The Swap,
• This Little Piggy Stays Home, and
• Ebay.

Tips for Buying Used Homeschool Curriculum

When buying used homeschooling books, make a list of materials you need. Stick to this list in order to avoid buying materials just because they’re a good deal. Be specific about titles, editions and grade levels so you can make sure you buy the correct materials.

Always be respectful of the seller by making a fair offer. Popular books that are in good condition are generally sold for 50-80% of retail price. When purchasing in an online auction, be careful not to get caught in a bidding war and pay too much for the materials. Buy from reputable sellers, and make sure you understand the payment payment and shipping arrangements before sealing the deal.

Tips for Selling Used Homeschool Books

Once you are familiar with the used curriculum market, you may want to sell some of your old materials. If you are selling online, make sure you have a list of the items you have available and the locations where they’ve been listed. Describe your items accurately and objectively, providing photos, if permitted.

Set a fair price for your materials, and expect lower payments for older editions or items with low demand. Be clear about the shipping and payment arrangements between yourself and the buyer, and make sure you know what fees you are required to pay the website on which your materials are listed.

For families who are savvy and resourceful, buying and selling used materials is a great way to make homeschooling affordable.

Visit Carletta’s website, Successful Homeschooling, to find additional ways to lower your homeschooling cost. For homeschooling information and monthly activities delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for her homeschool newsletter.

Article Source: Used Homeschooling Books — Tips for Navigating the Used Curriculum Market