Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category

by Patricia Hawke -
Though many parents have opted to home school their children for religious reasons over the years, the alternative to traditional public schools gained momentum after the Columbine High School shootings in Colorado. Each year, the number of children being removed from public schools and schooled at home increases. Public schools across the nation have finally recognized that the trend is here to stay. Many recognize that the alternative can be supplemented through the public schools, giving students a more rounded education. Thus, many school districts now offer several home schooling alternatives. This is not the case in some other countries.

During Adolf Hitler’s reign in Germany, he created the Ministry of Education, one of his first moves to control the minds of the youth, Germany’s future in his estimation. The ministry controlled all public schools and school-related issues. One of their first actions was to decree that all children must attend public schools, essentially banning all home schooling and private schools. That ban still exists today.

Some German families continue to home school their children for religious reasons, since they feel that German public schools offer an anti-Christian viewpoint. Recently, the Ministry began enforcing the ban on public schools alternatives.

First, Melissa Busekros fell behind in her math and Latin classes. Her parents began tutoring her at home to help her catch up. When the public schools found out, they expelled her. They then took action to remove her from her home, arriving with 15 police officers and a court order that stated she was to be removed with force, if necessary.

The 15 year old was first taken to a psychiatric hospital in Nuremberg to remedy her “public schools phobia”. Then, she was placed in a foster home. The appellate court upheld the removal order, which her parents sought to have overturned. Unfortunately for Hubert and Gudrun Busekros, the appellate judge ordered them to undergo state-sponsored psychiatric testing. Advocates for the family fear the tests will be used to remove the parents’ other five children from the home.

Now, a second German family is under attack for home schooling. A Saxony court has given Youth Welfare the right to remove five children from the Brause home at their convenience with or without notice to the family. Though the Youth Welfare office has not taken action to date, Bert and Kathrin Brause fear it may happen at any time.

According to a CBN report, the parents can regain custody only by placing them in the public schools. They also must pay an estimated $4,000 in court costs. The judge presiding over the case stated that the children were obviously well educated; however, the parents had failed to provide their children with the opportunity to develop independent personalities. The latter was based on one daughter’s stated opinion that matched the opinion expressed by her father; thus, the judge concluded that she was incapable of independent thinking, which he deemed the public schools more capable of providing.

The Saxony ruling has increased fear throughout Germany among families that home school. Many families have fled to other countries and are in hiding, fearing they will be extradited back to Germany for prosecution.

Though even the United Nations has gotten involved, government officials say they have a legitimate interest in countering the rise of parallel societies that are based on religion or motivated by different world views. And here, I thought we defeated Adolf Hitler and his narrow views during World War II.

This information on public schools is brought to you by http://www.schoolsk-12.com.

Patrica Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. For more information please visit Schools

Article Directory: Article Dashboard

by Michelle Bery -
The quality of education in this country continues to be the focus of a society committed to leveling the playing field for children. While some areas provide adequate — and even superlative — public schooling, other areas come up significantly short when it comes to providing high quality education. Private schooling can often be an alternative but many are also cost-prohibitive. When faced with this quandary, or when addressing the special educational needs of particular students, some parents turn to a home school program as an educational alternative.

The reasons that many parents choose to home school are wide-ranging. There is often more to the decision then just low-quality education. In some situations, overcrowding is an issue in a traditional school environment and a parent may feel as though their child is being lost in the shuffle. In other situations, there are social and emotional issues that are preventing a student from achieving the educational excellence of which they may be capable. There are also some instances where particular learning or physical disabilities hinder the learning experience. If approached responsibly, a home school environment can be extraordinarily effective in addressing many of these issues and cutting a clear path to successful learning.

Parents who are interested in setting up a home school environment have a variety of tools to assist them in doing so. Today’s home school community is strong in numbers and provides an enormous amount of support and information that is easily available online. There are links that help you identify the home school guidelines in your state, as well as information on how to find home school curriculum that is in line with the educational standards in your particular area. In many cases, the only requirement to home school is a desire to do so and a commitment to adhering to the certain educational benchmarks as set forth by your school district.

Home school is certainly not for everyone. But in particular situations it may be incredibly successful. Choosing whether to home school depends solely on the student’s needs and your capacity for providing a high-quality education. And, while unconventional, a home school environment has the ability to foster confidence, knowledge, and a lifelong love of learning.

For easy to understand, in depth information about home school visit our ezGuide 2 Home School.

Article Directory: Article Dashboard

by Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes -
Why can’t learning be fun? Make it a game. Most anything can be modified to fit a current board or card game out there. There are many flashcard sites on the internet that have free access to flashcards on many subjects, although I have found most too advanced for my 6-year old.

War: War is that game where there are two players (you can use more). The dealer deals out the entire deck of cards so each player has an equal number of cards. Each player keeps his cards face-down and lays out the card off the top of the deck. The player who laid down the highest/biggest card gets all of the cards in the pot. Anyhow, we have several decks made with ordinary index cards: fractions, math operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), alphabetizing—the card closes to “A” gets the pair, and for my youngest, picture cards and she identifies more/less or bigger/longer.

Trivial Pursuit: If you can come up with 6 categories, you can play trivial pursuit. We have decks for each of the following: science, history, language arts, and the Bible

Scattergories: Name 10 mammals… You get the idea

Outburst and Taboo are also other favorites in our house.

You can also make your own game. Get posterboard, several different colors of stickers and index cards. Use the stickers to create the “spaces” on the board and the index cards for the clue/question cards. Don’t forget to add lose a turn, and other specialty cards. You can make the game pieces out of either mini plastic animals from somewhere like Target or get the big 1-inch puff balls, glitter, google eyes, glue, cardboard for the feet and make your own.

In short, make learning fun. I have learned (relearned) a ton of stuff I forgot from grade school and had fun doing it.

Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes currently runs an online private practice Dr-Is-In and All CEUs, an online continuing education site, and St. Luke’s an action-oriented, online church

Article Directory: Article Dashboard

by Deanna Mascle
Nowadays, a lot of parents choose homeschooling as their option for their children’s education. Recent statistics shows that families in the US who now prefer homeschooling for their children have already reached 27%. This statistic is projected to increase in a few years now that there are a lot schools that provide this method of teaching.

Many families choose homeschooling because of the many benefits it can offer. Here are some of the reasons why parents choose homeschooling for their children’s education:

1. Schools and religious organizations have already accepted this option and are now offering it to parents. One benefit it offers is the flexibility the children get and their parents. Parents can now choose courses together with other activities that are aligned to their children’s interests.

They may be able to choose other activities that are according to the skills their children want to develop. They can choose classes from guitar or piano playing, sports, theatrical activities aside to the academic courses. Children at the same time do not get bored since the program engages in different activities and variations.

2. With homeschooling, control over the children’s future is seen more than in the traditional way of education. In homeschooling, parents together with the educators are able to direct the children to what they want to be in the future. This of course will be based on the child’s main interest. Children will be able to have many choices and will be able to visualize what they want to be in the future as early as their childhood. This is because they will be offered activities and not only be confined in classroom settings.

3. Families who enrolled their children in homebased schools are able to adjust their time and schedules. There would be no time pressure since they will be the ones to choose the time most convenient to them. In homeschooling, the parents are more flexible and are able to monitor their children’s progress since they are the ones who set the schedules for the child’s classes.

4. Children who attend homeschooling are found to be more responsible and independent. They are not confined with their age groups in classroom settings. They are exposed to many communities, different age groups and orientation.

This teaches them not to become too dependent on their peers and parents. They learn how to mingle and socialize. They also learn how to manage their time and they become responsible in doing their homework even without much guidance from their educators.

Are you considering home schooling your family? Then check out the free “Parents Guide to Home Schooling!” at http://childrenlearnmore.info

Article Directory: Article Dashboard

by timus
Accordingly to the conventional definition, “trigonometry is that branch of mathematics which deals with relations existing amongst the sides and angles of a triangle.”

Not your cup of tea, huh? Try out the following steps:
1.Take index cards and cut them into small pieces. Small enough to keep in your pocket and large enough to write one single trigonometric identity clearly.

2. Start with writing 1 identity at the back of 1 index card. An example would be Sin Square Theta+Cos Square Theta=1. Now, divide all the terms by Sin Square Theta. Do it your self and see the result. Neatly copy your working on the back of an index card. Write down today’s date. This process will take up 15 minutes at the most.

3. Next time, divide all the terms by Cos Square Theta. Neatly jot down the working at the back of another index card and put down the date.

4. Do similar divisions of other identities.

5. If you do this once a day for just 3 weeks, you will understand which formula to use when a trigonometry problem stares at your face the next time around. If you still have problems, you can always ask your teacher in school or you can refer the problem to an online tutor. A reasonable good online math tutor should be able to help.
Let us try solving out a simple problem based on practical application of trigonometry:

A kite is flying at a height of 75 meters from the level ground, attached to a string inclined to an angle of 60 degree to the horizontal. Find the length of the string to the nearest meter.

Step1: to start with, first draw the required diagram according to the problem.
P

M O

Step2: Try relating the diagram with the given problem

Declare the necessary assumptions:

Let ‘ P’ denote the position of the kite, and MP = 75 meters (the height of the kite)

And the string be held at the point O, The angle < MOP = 60 degree (given)

Therefore, OP is the length of the string

Step3: The next step is to apply the appropriate identities.

From the right angled triangle MOP,

OP = opposite leg of the acute angle < MOP

MP = hypotenuse

We will apply a basic trigonometric identity here

i.e., (opposite leg) / (hypotenuse ) = Sin < MOP

[As < MOP is the acute angle and the ratio Sine < MOP is the ratio between opposite leg to the hypotenuse.]

We have,

(OP) / (M P) = Sin < MOP

(OP) / (MP) = Sin 60 [< MOP = 60 (given)]

OP = (Sin 60) * (MP)

OP = (sin 60) * 75 [MP = 75 (given)]

OP = ((√ 3) / 2) * 75 [Sin 60 = ((√ 3) / 2) [value of Sin60 can easily be found out using trigonometric tables of standard angles]

O P = ((1.732) / 2) * 75 [(√ 3) = 1.732 (approx.)]

OP = 86 .6 [approx. ]

So, the length of the string is 86.6 meters (to the nearest meter)

For grasping a chapter thoroughly you must solve at least fifteen problems.
If you don’t want to work that much, try solving the following problem:

A pole is being broken by the wind; the top struck the ground at an angle of 30 degree and at a distance of 8 m from the foot of the pole. Find the whole height of the pole.

Solve this problem and forget about solving 15 problems. You’d rather do something else!

Ishani Dutta is an educator who specializes in providing online tuition packages for Mathematics and English. For similar tips on different topics like pre-algebra, co-ordinate geometry, essay writing mailto:info@learningexpress.biz or mailto:learningexpress@getresponse.com or go to: http://www.learningexpress.biz for online help

Article Directory: Article Dashboard

by Lynn Howland
Have you ever wondered what will happen when your homeschooled child applies for college? Even though everyone assures you that things have changed and that homeschooled kids have no trouble, you still wonder. Will they get accepted? Will our home education be enough?

Even though my oldest child was only 7 when I decided to homeschool, those questions haunted me. Was I going to hurt her chances to get into college by not providing her with transcripts and a diploma?

There may be an answer that will give you peace of mind.

Did you know that they can earn a high school diploma from an online high school like Belford High School without restrictions of age or location. It will be complete with official transcripts and education verification letters.

If your student is over the age of sixteen, meets any state requirements, and passes their equivalency test, they can earn a diploma from an accredited high school based on the things you have taught and from life experiences. Homeschool students are welcomed.

The sad fact is that most employers and many colleges still do prefer a high school diploma to a GED or home school records. Though this may not always be the case, there is also an unfortunate stigma attached to a GED that has led students to greatly prefer a high school diploma.

Even if your child isn’t headed for college, a high school diploma will allow them to qualify for many entry-level positions. Were you aware that some employers will not even consider applicants without a diploma regardless of their ability to do the job?

Even though there will always be people who think it is a scam to allow homeschool kids or adults to earn a diploma without spending countless hours in a public classroom, Belford High School is different. They know the value of life and work experiences regardless of the total number of hours logged in a traditional classroom setting.

So keep training your children in the way you see fit, encourage him or her to do well on the college entrance exams, and have them take the simple equivalency test to see if they qualify to get a diploma from Belford High School. It will give you peace of mind and will give them another step toward a bright future.

Lynn Howland is a reviewer of parenting and educational products like Belford High School. For more information, visit http://www.BelfordHighSchoolReview.com

Article Directory: Article Dashboard

by Deanna Mascle
Homeschooling is an alternative form of education that is fast growing. There are approximately two million people in the country today that undergo homeschooling. It completely fills up the role of institutional learning. In homeschooling, both parents and their children determine the extent of their learning.

Everybody can avail of homeschooling. All fifty states legally approve the practice of homeschooling. What differs from state to state are the laws governing the homeschooling program. Homeschooling can be very convenient for single parents who run a home business. They can have their kids to help them as well. Children of disabled parents can be tapped to take on a medical profession or one that involves social services.

Homeschooling should not be confused with home study or other forms of home-based education. In the latter, the parents and children do not have a say on the content of the curriculum. Examples of these are independent school programs. Home study is usually offered to those kids who for some valid reason could not attend school, say injury.

There is not much requirement for one to administer homeschooling. Some states do not even require a highschool diploma from the parents. There is however, one state which requires some training program for homeschooling before allowing a person to conduct it at home.

Homeschooling is preferred over institutional learning for various reasons. Some find the school curriculum questionable. Some parents think that schools cannot provide enough training to optimize the skills and talents of their children. Some are simply concerned with the issues regarding the safety and security within their local schools. Some children just do not fit in school so parents resort to homeschooling for their kids.

Not much is needed to enable one to administer homeschooling. Even simple household stuff or even pets can be used to demonstrate scientific concepts. One can also borrow tools from friends and neighbors. Books at home can also be great learning materials. If they are not sufficient, the bookstore and the public library are the best sources of knowledge as well as the internet.

If still clueless about the concept, there are many organizations, websites and publications which can help enlighten about homeschooling and offer great help along the process. The library is also one of the best resources for wealth of knowledge as well as the local museums.

Homeschooling can be a very rewarding experience for the family. It provides for more precious time for bonding. It is not necessary for parents to be geniuses to become homeschooling teachers. All they need to have is resourcefulness to find ways to answer their children’s questions.

Are you considering home schooling your family? Then check out the free “Parents Guide to Home Schooling!” at http://childrenlearnmore.info

Article Directory: Article Dashboard

by DrivingUS
Teenage is an age of aspirations and demands. Like others the teenagers also feel very passionated to drive as they enter early 15. But an average California teen is always burdened with pre-arranged time schedules and visit to driver education class amounts to a mess up of his or her life. So the online driver education courses are becoming the first preference of these youngsters, as these satisfies DMV requirement and they conveniently get their driver’s permit certificate. The California teen driver education course of California driver education teen brings you that joy and freedom of education through its approved course.

There is a tremendous demand for driver education that suits the pocket of teenagers and complies to state laid traffic guidelines. The California traffic schools satisfies both. The 30 hours course is prepared as per the state traffic laws. With a successful completion of this teen driver course the users receive Driver’s permit certificate- a valid document to start driving on the streets of California. And imagine you get all these in an inclusive pricing that covers the cost of registration, course and certification, within your budget with California driver education teen.

The California driver education teen covers the basic and advance driving tips. Usually you deal many unfavorable situations on the road. So along with regular course curriculum you gain tips of safe driving to overcome all difficult driving conditions. But mind it everything is simple at California driver education teen. You get online registration, uninterpreted course pursuit and an interactive course with California driver education teen. Added to this is the exciting presentations of teen driver education that fits well to the your sentiment. The California driver education teen showcases toons, pictures and movie clips to make your education a memorable one.

If you are looking to prove your driving skills then you do the right thing by selecting California driver education teen. Just check why it satisfies the needs of teen agers:

1.No classroom visits.
2.Instant customer support.
3.Hitech course.
4.State approved course completion certificate.

So don’t let your expectations to wait for a suitable time to come! Get yourself prepared for safe driving with the guidance of California driver education teen.

About California driver education teen ,
The California driver education teen provides online course for learner’s permit. If you are searching for an affordable course alongside of regular life, Teen driver education scores well for all your requirement.

Article Directory: Article Dashboard

by Matt Ream -
Home schooling used to have a bad image. When we think of home schooling, we often picture with fundamental right wingers, antisocial weirdos, or people too scared to let their children attend public school. This image has been improving over the last several years. New curricula for home schooling has come out, each provides a clearer path for learning. There have been many success stories of students that have come from home schooling environments.

On the other side of the fence, the quality of public schooling (in America at least) has been on a dramatic decline the last several years. Standardized test scores are down, gang violence is up, and that’s not even considering the school shootings. This all contributes to an increasing lack of confidence in the public education system.

Many parents are finding they can better teach their children at home. Using personalized home schooling curriculum, parents are able to give their children a better education right in their own home. Many of the children who are schooled at home are getting excellent scores on standardized tests, with many achieving perfect scores. The quality of education is only one reason many parents are going towards homeschooling.

Parents have also found that home schooling is a cheaper alternative to expensive private schools. There is a student teacher ratio they can’t be beat in public or private school. Overall, many parents say they like them relaxed learning atmosphere, and the ability to better control their students workload. There is also generally less peer pressure, and parents can keep an eye on their children better than if they were off at school.

Much of the improvement in the image of homeschooling can be attributed to the Internet. Online homeschooling options provide more than learning or teaching aids for home schooling families. Internet-based curriculum helps parents improve the general state of the education they are providing, as it can help the parents in areas where they may be weaker as teachers.

The Internet also helps overcome one of the main drawbacks to home schooling, and that is the lack of socialization. Many online home schooling programs offer group meetings or seminars where home school students can meet and work together on projects.

If it’s so great, why don’t more parents home school their children? There are a number of reasons. Many parents just don’t have time to teach their children, and some don’t feel qualified. Many families need both parents as breadwinners just to make ends meet.

While home schooling is shedding its iconoclastic image, whether or not to home school your children is a family decision. You will still need to hire teachers in such areas as driver education to be in compliance with state law, but most parents who are fairly intelligent and literate can use the helps found on the Internet, in books, or in home schooling support groups to provide an excellent education for their children.

Learn about whether or not you should be home schooling your children. What are the ins and outs? What are the drawbacks? Learn a whole lot more than you know now at http://www.homeschooling-info.com.

Article Directory: Article Dashboard

by Tricia Craggs -
When parents make the decision to home school their children, their primary concern is usually the lack of opportunity for their children to mix with other children on a regular basis.This is also one of the main criticisms used against homeschooling by it’s opponents. However, parents, too, can be affected by the lack of socialising opportunities. Many lifetime friendships between mothers have been formed at the school gates. Waiting for the children to emerge gives mothers a great opportunity to chat and discuss school, bringing up children and all life’s little and not so little problems. Becoming involved with PTA committees and functions, as well as volunteering to help in the classroom and with school trips, means that over the thirteen to fourteen years a child may be in school,you can get to know a lot of other parents and teachers. When you homeschool your children, you aren’t presented with these same social opportunities, but you needn’t miss out and become a social hermit. For the homeschooling mom, there are still a variety of social situations out there waiting for you. Many of them are family oriented and can be included in your lesson plans. Better yet, several are low cost or free.

Join a homeschool group in your area.

These groups are very popular and located nationwide in many countries. As well as providing a support network to homeschooling families, they sponsor all types of social gatherings and educational field trips. If there is not a group near you, why not organize one yourself. You’ll make great connections with other parents who homeschool.

Join an online group.

You can build friendships and ‘be sociable’ in Cyberspace. An added bonus of online groups is that you will come in contact with moms from not only all over the United States but internationally as well - great for planning those geography and language lessons.

Teach a class to other homeschool moms

If you have a useful skill or interesting hobby,teach it to other homeschooling parents. It could be a purely recreational class or something educational, which parents can convert into lesson plans.

Teach in the community.

Take the class idea one step further and teach it at the community education level. Most school districts offer enrichment classes on a abundance of different subjects. Not only will this option afford you the chance to interact with your peers, it will also give you the opportunity to earn extra money.

Volunteer with your children.

There are many not for profit organizations which allow families to volunteer together.Animal shelters, nature reserves and soup kitchens are examples of ‘family friendly’ organizations that are always on the lookout for volunteers.In addition to helping a good cause, you will be meeting and socialising with others.

There are plenty of social opportunities for the homeschooling mom. Whatever you choose to get involved in, make time for your own social life and you will be a happier, well adjusted home school mom with lots to offer your family.

For more tips on socialising for homeschoolers, visit Tricia’s website Homeschooling Pages an information and resource site for homeschooling at www.homeschooling pages.com

Article Directory: Article Dashboard