Recently there have been many questions on different chat
places about how to get started with homeschooling. Really, there is much too
much information to post on these chat forums so I thought I would provide some
information here.
Step 1 - First
you should check the laws and regulations in within your state. HSLDA (Home
School Legal Defense Association) should have information on their website to
supply you with the information you may need.
Step 2 - My second suggestion is to find support groups within your
area. Remember that not all support groups are created equal, so check the
structure of several different groups. Support groups are a wonderful way to
meet like-minded people, a social outlet for children, and can help meet the
educational needs of your child. However, remember that support groups do not
run by themselves – they take work. Perhaps you can volunteer to help out in
some way.
Step 3 - Next
step is to consider the different teaching philosophies and learning styles.
There are different approaches to teaching your child at home. You do not need
to stick to just one for each and every subject – in fact I recommend you
provide a mixture of styles to meet different aspects of learning. Not all
styles of teaching/learning work for every family; it may take some trial and
error.
Teaching methods:
Classical education – A Classical Curriculum includes
reading of great works of literature and
studying logic and rhetoric, broken into 3-4 levels from elementary(grammar)
middle school (dialectic) to high school(rhetoric). The goal of this style is
to teach critical, independent thinking and develop communication skills. Most
classical curriculum uses various source books. (Tapestry of Grace; Veritas
Press; Classical Conversations; The Well Trained Mind)
Charlotte Mason – This is another literature
based form of teaching, with subjects taught in an integrated way. “Living”
books written in story form are used instead of dry textbooks. The goal of this
style is to nourish the mind, soul and body of the child by encouraging
spending time outdoors and experiencing nature.
(Ambleside;
Sonlight; Simply Charlotte Mason; literature based unit studies)
Montessori method – This is similar to the
Charlotte Mason style but is primarily concerned with lower elementary
children. The Montessorri style provides the child access to materials,
resources and exercise designed to stimulate sensory and motor training by
observation. Children are included in on daily life skills. Adults are guides
while letting the children explore their interests and express their ideas.
(Whole
Child Education)
Unschooling – This is a student-directed method instead of teacher-directed. This style avoids use of textbooks, reviewing and formal testing. The natural curiosity and interest of the student direct their daily activities, with a high emphasis on imagination, nature, and art and music. There are no lesson plans or defined “school time.”
Unschooling – This is a student-directed method instead of teacher-directed. This style avoids use of textbooks, reviewing and formal testing. The natural curiosity and interest of the student direct their daily activities, with a high emphasis on imagination, nature, and art and music. There are no lesson plans or defined “school time.”
(unit studies of any sort could be a
starting place for this style; John Holt books)
Traditional methods – Mimicking public school classrooms, this style of teaching primarily uses textbooks, workbooks, worksheets, continuous review and formal tests. Clear lesson plans are usually provided by the curriculum supplier. Virtual school is within this category, most often requiring clearly defined hours of “school.”
Traditional methods – Mimicking public school classrooms, this style of teaching primarily uses textbooks, workbooks, worksheets, continuous review and formal tests. Clear lesson plans are usually provided by the curriculum supplier. Virtual school is within this category, most often requiring clearly defined hours of “school.”
(Abeka, Bob Jones, Alpha Omega,
Lifepacs)
Accelerated
Learning – This is usually used by
homeschoolers who choose a faster pace and see no reason of wasting time in
traditional education. They typically graduate from high school very early and
go on to do online college courses, or learn a trade skill.
Principle
Approach – This is uniquely Christian with
the idea that all learning centers around God’s Word. Students learn the
methods of the founding forefathers and focus on research, reasoning, and
recording.
(Noah Plan; Judah Bible Curriculum)
Now for learning styles:
In a nutshell you can break learning
into three basic categories: lookers, listeners, and movers. Most children (and
adults) are a mixture of all three, but have tendencies toward one or another.
Many parents will make curriculum choices based on what makes sense to them,
but if their child is a different learning style, the child may not retain the
information or may become bored. It is common to have a math or phonics
curriculum that works well for child #1, but child #2 needs a completely
different approach. Furthermore, there is no such thing as one “right” kind of
material for a given learning style.
Below is a checklist (albeit short)
of some commonalities in specific learning styles.
Visual/Spatial learners:
-
Tend to be quiet, observant, and
remember where things are
-
Excellent at copy work
-
Can assemble most things without
instructions
-
Create well-spaced drawings or
graphs
-
Vivid imagination
-
Early readers
-
Doodles on paper when talking
Usually
visual students flourish when taught with textbooks, pictures, flashcards,
matching games, workbooks, maps, timelines and puzzles; or when the teacher
demonstrates the skill to be learned.
Auditory learners (Listeners)
-
“Talk your ear off”; easily express themselves
verbally; talk out problems
-
Remembers jingles, poems or
television commercials
-
Sing/ pitch memory
-
Sound out words phonetically
-
Tend to be poor test takers (can’t
sort out visual material fast enough)
-
Are easily distracted by background
noises and have trouble paying attention to detail for accuracy in math,
science, and history
-
Enjoy listening to radio, CDs, or
books on tape
-
Tend to read aloud when reading to
oneself
Usually
auditory learners flourish when they are told step-by-step what they are to
learn, read aloud to others, and memorize rules, plays and poetry. They tend to
do best when using CDs, rhymes, echo games (singing and rhythm), puppets,
fieldtrips with interview, and curriculums using integrated content.
Kinesthetic Learners (Movers)
-
Relate to others in action rather
than words; tend to show anger physically
-
Rarely sit still; prefer playing,
jumping, or wrestling in their spare time; often labeled hyperactive
-
Tend to touch everything as they
pass by; use many gestures and facial expressions
-
Often make paper airplanes or fans
when listening to lecture
-
Have excellent muscle coordination
in sports, dance and can often retain balance while blindfolded
-
Tend to dislike long range goal
setting, analytical work and proofreading
-
Excellent in taking gadgets apart
and putting them back together
Kinesthetic
(hands-on) learners flourish when their learning experiences involve touching
and “doing”, demonstrating a task for other students, kept moving with
activities including role playing, puppets, tracing, math manipulatives,
dramas, timelines and maps that he makes himself/herself. The key to teaching
this type of learner is using a wide range of methods with lots of hands-on
activities.
Other divisions of learning styles
break it down into more detailed groups:
Visual (spatial): students prefer using pictures, images, and spatial
understanding.
Aural (auditory-musical): students prefer using sound and music.
Verbal (linguistic): students prefer using words, both in speech and writing.
Physical (kinesthetic): students prefer using their body, hands and sense of touch.
Logical (mathematical): students prefer using logic, reasoning and systems.
Social (interpersonal): students prefer to learn in groups or with other people.
Solitary (intrapersonal): students prefer to work alone and use self-study.
Step
4 – Send away for catalogues from
various suppliers. Some of my favorites are Timberdoodle, Farm Country General,
Christian Book Distributors, Discount Homeschool Supplies, Veritas Press,
Greenleaf Press, Rainbow Resources, Beautiful Feet. Several unit studies I’ve
used personally used are Prairie primer, American Girls history curriculum,
Konos, and Weaver.
Step
5 – RELAX. You have 12-13 years to
cover all the information necessary. Enjoy your time with your children and
have fun.
Here is a list of as many
curriculums that I could come up with. (poor grammar ending in a preposition; I
must be from the Midwest)
Abeka, Alpha Omega, Apologia,
Beautiful Feet Books, Bob Jones, Cardon Creek, Calvert, Christian Liberty
Press, Classical Conversations, Covenant Home, Critical Thinking, Diana Waring,
Eagle’s Wings, Greenleaf Press, ETA Cuisenaire, Hearthsong, Heritage Institute,
Horizons, Konos, Lake Shore Learning, Miquon, My Father’s World, Oak Meadow,
Progeny Press, Rod & Staff, Saxon, Sonlight, Tapestry of Grace, Teaching
Textbooks, Veritas Press, Weaver.
