The Great Unknown - Making the Leap to Homeschooling
This lens describes a collection of homeschooling lenses and other resources that can help families either starting out or deep in the journey of homeschooling. Scroll down to find the list of links for other homeschooling lenses as well as some of the great books and resources we've used while homeschooling our two.
Contents at a Glance
- When You Read About Homeschooling, You Can See It Makes Sense!
- Although You Might Be Teaching In Your Home, Joining a Support Group Relieves Stress!
- Wear the Homeschool Adventure!
Although You Might Be Teaching In Your Home, Joining a Support Group Relieves Stress!
Wear the Homeschool Adventure!
Home Schooling -- It's a Personal and (Most of the Time) Rewarding Choice
Socialization? Schmocialization... This idiotic question always comes up--from the unknowing and uncaring folks. Our house was seemingly the most popular place in the neighborhood--all the neighbor kids were always over to play or join in our kids' activities. That seems like "socialization" to me, eh? And... our kids participated in the local soccer teams for many years and were both in Shaolin Kempo for two years and Tae Kwon Do for about 5 years. They became close friends with their soccer team and martial arts buddies. Of course, they also had a lot of friends from our church and from the other families in our homeschooling group (we formed a charter school with our fellow homeschoolers to help us in a sort of "co-op" way with the lessons, field trips, and "administration" duties).
Think about it. When we finally get out of school and out in the "real world", we must work with folks of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds. In "traditional schools", kids are stuffed into classrooms where everyone of their "peers" are the same age. Very artificial and unlike the real world. Our kids have gone on to jobs working with a state program to help educationally disadvantaged children (my son) and becoming a flight-training school operations manager and training to be a pilot/certified flight instructor (my daughter). Both kids are black belts in Tae Kwon Do and love teaching kids. They are accomplished musicians and artists also--because maybe they were free to study and play with these topics as well when they were homeschooled (do you know how many public school systems are cutting these subjects due to "budget cuts"?).
My wife and I didn't push them into these fields--our kids just followed their dreams and their interests. Their *education* and their *social skills* got them their jobs. Both kids have gone on to attend college, although briefly. My wife and I weren't happy that they decided to not pursue a degree (even an A.A. would have been nice), the kids are starting to realize that getting certification in some skill or field would be good for improving job prospects. At the moment, however, they are enjoying adult life and exploring the world. That's the main joy of homeschooling--seeing your kids get out there and being successful at carving their own path and their own futures.
And the main thing? Our kids are comfortable talking to my wife and me about things that my wife and I would have been terrified talking about with our own parents. They like being with us, their parents (weird, huh?)... and what's really cool... my wife and I like being with them, too!
The Links That Help Explain This Adventure!
- Demystifying Homeschooling - Some Tips
- This Squidoo lens describes one family's experience with homeschooling and our reasoning for attempting this adventure!
- The Homeschooling Curriculum -- Where Do We Find It?
- This Squidoo lens describes where and how some homeschoolers find "curriculum" -- or the basic information that might be good Starter material for further studying. Homeschooling is basically "self-study" anyway. When the kids learn to study and learn for themselves, homeschooling is truly successful--even more so than that "education" provided by public schools.
- Homeschool Fitness for Kids -- Have to Get Out and Get That Exercise
- This Squidoo lens provides some information on the activities that homeschool families can do to keep the kiddos active and fit (in addition to the academic material).
- Learning Foreign Languages Isn't as Hard as It Seems
- This Squidoo lens describes different ways to more effectively learn a foreign language (or bunches of them).
- Reading in the Content Area and Tips for using the Paradigm
- This BrightHub article explores how "Reading in the Content Area" is pushed on many teachers and how the teachers can use this paradigm in their teaching so that it won't be painful.
- Written and Spoken Languages - and How Our Culture Influences Them
- This BrightHub article explores the different types of spoken languages and their accompanying written languages. Differences between alphabetic, syllabic, and logographic symbols are discussed and examples are given.
- Does Homeschooling Create Successful Adults?
- San Francisco Examiner article on homeschooling: Does Homeschooling Create Successful Adults? Article confirms what most homeschoolers already know.
Homeschooling? Drop a Note and Say "Hi!"...
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Reply
- tandemonimom tandemonimom May 5, 2009 @ 11:43 pm
- Another great lens! Welcome to The Homeschooling Group - you're a featured lens!
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Reply
- StephenC StephenC Sep 16, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
- Enjoyed your lens. Nice going.
Sarah Palin Facts and Trivia
StephenC
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- NAIZA NAIZA Mar 10, 2008 @ 1:23 am
- Yep! I'm having a great time homeschooling ever since I started and I must say squidoo has been a great educational resource in the web at the same time. Definitely, a fabulous five!
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