Custom Search
”We wanted to identify the parents who are part of the “unschooling movement’ and added the item for that reason,” Mulligan says. The ”unschooling” group is viewed by educators as a subset of home-schoolers, who generally follow standard curriculum and grading systems. “Unschoolers” create their own systems.
The category of ”other reasons” rose to 32 percent in 2007 from 20 percent in 2003, and included family time, finances, travel and distance. This suggests that the demographics are expanding beyond conservative Christian groups, says Robert Kunzman, an associate professor at Indiana University’s School of Education. Anecdotal evidence indicates that many parents just want their children to learn at their own pace, he says. Read more...
As we wrap up another year, it’s time to look back at what we have experienced and what we’ve learned. The great thing about life is that it’s a constant learning experience. We continuously find opportunities to gain more knowledge and experience. As Toot and Puddle would say, “the more places you go, the more things you know!”
Reflections span beyond our boundaries of time and space. We can reflect on the past where we visit elements of our own history, or learn about eras from long ago. Read more...
Have you considered private school? Have you considered moving to a new school district? What would a school have to be like for you to enroll your kids? These are some of the questions I have been asked.
The truth is that there are some schools or programs that I might enroll my kids in if they were available to us. Of course, each program would have to be considered on an individual basis for each child to make sure it worked.
You know those schools that parents camp out in front of for days to get thier kids in, and then the rest of the kids have to go to schools that are substandard in comparison, if all schools were that coveted, we wouldn't have to homeschool. Read more...
More than 10 years ago, Liz Perez dreamed about life as a full-time homemaker. When a student shoved her daughter, Kim, to the ground at P.C. Lujan Elementary School, she finally decided to make a change.
"It wasn't too bad, but it was enough to bring me to do what I wanted to do," Perez said. "I found out that I could homeschool."
Today, Perez has graduated two of her own children, including Kim. When the kids were little, she lectured in front of a chalkboard and led them in the Pledge of Allegiance in their living room.
Another son, Dominic, will graduate in a few months with good test scores. He hopes to attend the University of Guam and has many interests. Read more...
Dear President and Mrs. Obama,
Welcome to Washington! I thought I would weigh in on your schooling choice, as columnists seem to be advising you on every other part of your job.
Since your two beautiful daughters will need to be educated, I would like to suggest that you choose the best school in the nation, which happens to be located less than a stone's throw from your door. In fact, it's inside your door. Naturally, I'm referring to home-schooling. Read more...
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Welcome to the December 23, 2008 edition of carnival of homeschooling! As you browse through the posts, I thought you might enjoy some of the scenes from a December trip to one of my favorite cities, Paris, appropriately nicknamed “The City of Lights.” Read more...
KinderBach is a bright and fun interactive music theory and keyboard/piano introduction program geared toward preschool children. The online program that I reviewed combines professional video instruction and printable PDF's (there is also a DVD format as well as a classroom music curriculum available). The instructor is a bubbly, smiling lady who has a couple of friendly sidekicks, Do-dee the donkey and Frisco, a young boy who help out in the lessons. Read more...
Earl Wilbur is an overweight, asthmatic, middle-school aged kid (fifth grade?) who lives with his mom (his dad, who is English, left the family to return to England). Many of the other kids tease him, but a bullying fellow class-mate, Eddie McFee, has been taunting him and even beating him up until one day Earl pays Eddie a dollar not to hurt him, and now Eddie demands a dollar each week to leave Earl alone. Read more...
In this inspirational romance/adventure novel, young Emma Lee is sent from her Miami home in 1904 to live with her Aunt Augusta on the Little Island of Merritt. The Island sounds like a tropical paradise, but Emma has no clue why she is being sent away in the first place. Her aunt is the village schoolteacher and a bit the prickly type. She expects Emma to be very studious and hardworking. Read more...
Secular Homeschooling is a non-religious quarterly magazine dedicated to writing about homeschooling and those who homeschool for diverse reasons, not specifically for religious convictions. This non-glossy, black and white paper publication has some great articles and editorials that any home educator will find informative, and encouraging. It was easy for me to get sucked into just lounging on the couch while I read the issues cover to cover, I thought the material well-written and absorbing. Read more...
California natives Hannah and her brother Alex move to Snipesville, Georgia, a place they find where life is slower and a bit too dull. A trip to the library should spice things up for them. I always find the library has the power to take away the boredom for us. But, Alex and their new friend Brandon weren't expecting to walk out of the library and transport smack into WWII England. Seems a professor they met in the library had something to do with their catapult to the past. Read more...