The Homeschool Page: Why Homeschool?

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Why Homeschool?

I am a public school teacher at heart. However, I can imagine several reasons for homeschooling. Some children do not function well within the restrictions--or in some cases, the leniency--of a formal school environment. Some parents realize that the individual personalities of their children would be better nurtured in an environment that they can create and manage based on their knowledge of their children. For some, education is deemed best when combined with personal beliefs and religion.

The strength of this country lies in its diverse peoples and in the myriad numbers of solutions we use to accomplish challenges we face. I think we can all call education of our young a challenge.

Read another opinion on homeschooling.

Homeschool Resources

In my web explorations I have discovered several sites that I would like to mention. I have communicated with parents who school their children at home. I have read a bit and speculated on how I would have approached the educating of my own children at home if I had decided to do so. This page is the result of my explorations--and the products I would have found useful. This page highlights only a fraction of what is available. Explore the links to other pages for much more.

One set of resources now available are the webquests, tutoring, and lessons now found on-line. Look for links to these resources, too. Some are already listed here. I will over time be adding to the lists. Read our newsletter, which is the blog of Multifaceted Valerie at our network -- look for the posts that are tagged "newsletter." The forum has been moved there, too. Also visit Valerie's Memos and News and Views to find reources for news on education.

Then there are the educational products, like these below. (skip ads)

Earth Science CD - $ 24.95
From: AIMSTAR Information Solutions, Inc.

more curricula

Read science lab safety tips for homeschool and elementary science. Watch for more lessons [this page is a site map by lesson category] and the supplies to teach them with. A more complete list is the set of Articles.

Read about shopping online with VCCTI.

And there is a store. As I collect products that I think are useful for teaching science at home and considering homeschooling altogether, I will mention them somewhere in this website. The merchants are listed in the ad tables, while specific products are listed in the stores and the articles.

Make the Most of a Teachable Moment

Let students play games on-line or buy your own. Many are educational if combined with a little supervision and questioning about history or science, etc., to focus the student's attention appropriately. For example, momentum, laws of motion, reflection and rays can be illustrated with a game of billiards--even virtual billiards.

More Moments

A Few Links of Interest to Homeschools

Education World provides lists of all the national standards by subject and links to detailed information. Standards are the statements that shape the curriculums in public schools. They are a list of what students should learn. Use them as organizers.
peakgroupms@yahoogroups.com is the Yahoo group for an inclusive association of homeschoolers here in the U.S.: PEAK
Homeschool Legal Association Lists associations, state laws and lawmakers; and links to state laws for homeschooling.
http://www.homeeddirectory.com
http://www.mhea.net is in MS, but has contacts nationally
Articles and links at homeschool.com
AtoZ Home's School articles and lessons
About articles on Homeschooling, included a just added used curriculum swap forum.
GED lesson plans
Tapped In A free network for anyone interested in education. Get your own "office," which is analagous to a network space, and join interest groups to share links and advice. You can teach from an "office," too. Minors must use the private network options. Teachers are encouraged to use the available private options when receiving information from kids.
Ning A free source of networks for anyone who makes one. Currently hosts several networks for teachers and for parents. Start your own homeschool network. Start a private family network. The network features and apps will allow you to coordinate with network members in various ways, including groups, blogs, forums, photo and video albums and numerous apps. Using Google app and/or another file sharing app, lessons can be designed online. Or write out a worksheet and upload it to a member or group or blog within the network. To protect children, use a combination of public and private options.
VCCTI Classroom Tools and Ideas Network with a forum and blog.There are some schools on-line. A bit expensive. Many states are putting their own curriculums in on-line public school sites, too. Join our forum at the VCCTI network to share your information, tips and experiences.
There are some schools on-line. A bit expensive, but a way to get credit for classes an dadvanced offerings.
Many states are putting their own curriculums frameworks or standards in on-line department of education sites, too.
VCCTI Homeschool Resources presents resources expecially chosen for homeschool parents and students.