News
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Defends Homeschooling His Kids
1Here is an interesting article entitled Jamaica’s Prime Minister Defends Homeschooling His Kids posted by Wendy Wright on the site Turtle Bay and Beyond. You can imagine that critics are threatened that a world leader and his wife would choose homeschooling over their country’s educational system, but PM Andrew Holness sums up their decision beautifully.
“Despite several interventions, we came to the conclusion that it would be best to create an individualised learning solution that would cater to his interest and stimulate his appetite for knowledge while teaching in the way he learns best,” he said. “My wife decided that she would manage the process.”
Those of us in the trenches know that individualized learning is a BIG benefit of homeschooling.
I also love Holness’ wife Juliet’s statement: “[A]s women, we are not perfect, neither are men, but God puts a family structure in place and, as best as possible, it is necessary to depend on that family structure to raise fully adjusted children who will be able to contribute to society.”
This couple has embraced the philosophies that are held dear by so many homeschooling families. I wish them all the best!
Scholastic Teacher Express $1 SALE
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Check out Scholastic Teacher Express for huge savings on ebooks! Hundreds of titles are on sale for $1 — no extra shipping charges, no taxes. The titles can broken up by grade or subject. Even if you are dedicated to a specific curriculum, take a look. You can supplement what you currently have with hands-on activities, art projects, worksheets and more.
Some of the titles that caught my attention include Teaching with Aesop’s Fables, Easy Holiday & Seasonal Art Projects with Paper, and Easy and Quick Learning Games: Science. Of course, my children are in early elementary, but books for all grades are available.
Only one word of caution: The Scholastic website has been temperamental. I originally tried to buy several ebooks (about 20) all at once and couldn’t get it to go through. I’ve since kept my orders to 3-5 items at a time, and they’ve gone through with no problem. So either I’m doing something right or Scholastic fixed the problem. One other caveat, payment is through PayPal. It’s not hard to set up a PayPal account, but it is an extra step.
Have fun… I know I have!
Great Homeschooling Articles on TODAY Show.com
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Last week TODAY Show.com ran a series of articles on homeschooling in America. I have enjoyed them and am thrilled to see the subject of homeschooling making it into the mainstream press… in a positive way. Not only should this make it easier for homeschooling families to gain acceptance (fewer blank stares and pursed lips when we admit that we educate our kiddos at home), but it may begin the homeschool discussion for other families. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.
New Homeschooling Dads
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The July 2010 issue of Parents
As I read the article, I found myself smiling at the new tug-of-war dads are feeling. I smile because moms have been feeling this pull for years. And for the homeschooling mom, we’ve chosen (or felt impressed) to add even more pressure to the mix. But instead of talking about how challenging it can be to parent, homeschool and keep a continual sense of peace, joy and calm in the midst of this sometimes crazy juggling act, I want to instead share a few of the statistics that Scott included in his article and consider what they could mean to the future of homeschooling. Just look at these numbers:
- “Fathers are now the primary caregiver for about one out of every four preschool-age children.” (U.S. Census Bureau)
- “Today, 28% of all American wives between 30 and 44 have more education than their husbands, while only 19-percent of husbands in that group have more education than their wives. (The remaining 53-percent have the same level of education as each other.)”
- “The U.S. Dept. of Education found that women received 57% of all bachelor’s degrees and 61% of all master’s degrees. They receive 51% of all Ph.D.’s.”
- “From 2008-2009, the unemployment rate increased 83% among men age 25 and over, compared with 57% among women age 25 and over.”
- “Twenty-percent of American men ages 25-54 didn’t have a job as of December 2009.”
- “As of February 2010, the top two professions among the unemployed in the U.S. were construction and manufacturing.”
What do these statistics mean to homeschooling families?
Well, with the rise of homeschooling’s popularity, I can’t help but think that we will see an increase in the number of dads who take on the role of primary homeschooling parent. As women receive more education and men endure a downturn in industries that are held primarily by them, we will most likely see more men coming home and more women pursuing more profitable career paths, all in an effort to support and care for their families.
In most of the homeschooling families I know, the moms work as least part time. In fact, according to the Homeschool Progress Report 2009, 19.4% of homeschool moms (almost 1 in 5) work at least part time. This number may very well increase in the face of a shrinking job market.
When the time comes, I hope that as a community we will welcome these newcomers with the same encouragement we received as newbies. It will be a chance for us to draw from their strengths and offer a smile, a pat on the back or even a cup of coffee when the situation arises. (Think about it, who wouldn’t love to have a construction-savvy dad teach woodworking techniques in co-op? I know several moms—myself included—who would be elbowing our way to the front of the class!)
We’re in this together, homeschoolers. Let’s do all we can to make sure we succeed the same way… together!
Are you a homeschooling dad? Please comment on your experience.
Homeschooling Statistics: Should Government Regulate Homeschools?
0Homeschooling is not for the faint hearted, and most homeschool parents take it very seriously. That’s why when the question of government regulation comes up, homeschoolers’ feathers get more than a little ruffled. Depending on the state, government regulation of homeschools can be low, medium or high. But does higher regulation automatically produce better results? Check out the results for yourself:
Homeschooling Statistics: Should Parents Have Teaching Certificates?
1“Do you need any qualifications to homeschool your children?” That’s one of the first questions that homeschoolers hear when someone finds out that they’re educating their children at home. And while individual states have different rules concerning this, the question illuminates a common belief—and possible fear—that correct teaching can only be accomplished by trained professionals. That’s why it’s comforting to know that homeschooling’s success is not dependent on parents’ education levels. Just look at the following statistics:
Homeschool Statistics: How Do Homeschoolers Measure Up?
2As convinced as homeschooling families are that their education choice is the best, it begs the question: How do homeschool students measure up against their public school peers? In 2009, Dr. Brian D. Ray of the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) in Salem, Oregon, answered that question.
In 2008 Dr. Ray studied over 11,000 participants from all 50 states as well as Guam and Puerto Rico. The purpose of the study, which was commissioned by the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), was to “develop a current picture of homeschool students and their families.”
Over the next several weeks, I’m going to publish many of Dr. Ray’s findings. As homeschooling parents and interested parties, you’re sure to find these statistics encouraging. Enjoy!
2010 Texas Home School Book Fair: Part 3 Vendors
1More than 200 vendors—curriculum suppliers, authors, booksellers, online schools and service organizations—attended this year’s conference. With all the excitement and energy in the room, it would be easy to get overwhelmed.
I was thankful that I had planned for my visit. This kept me from getting caught off guard and caught up in the frenzy of activity. This was a relief to my budget and my sanity. My husband and I moved from booth to booth, thought about our homeschool for next year and even made notes for future years. It helped having him with me because we made united decisions. He loved the Learning Language Arts through Literature
I especially loved talking to the leaders of the International ALERT Academy, a non-denominational Christian training and service organization that encourages father-son relationships. And the leaders of Champion Chess made a strong case for teaching chess, with all its logic and problem solving, to children. They even hosted a Kids’ Chess Tournament on Saturday afternoon. Several colleges and universities attended the conference, making it clear that the question of whether or not homeschool students can get into college is a silly one.
During my visit, I had the chance to sit down with Sonya Shafer of Simply Charlotte Mason and ask her about the Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling. It was a lot of fun to meet Sonya and look at several of the Simply Charlotte Mason products that I had read so much about. Take a look at our interview.
Next year’s conference is scheduled for May 6-7, 2011. I look forward to attending it again—minus my 20+ pound mascot—and seeing what new products are available. If you are able, make plans to attend next year’s conference or another conference in your area. There is nothing like coming together with homeschoolers from around your state to share ideas, trade war stories and encourage one other. And there’s also nothing quite as reassuring as examining curriculum up close to see if it’s right for your student. As great as recommendations and reviews are, no one knows your child quite like you and only you know when a curriculum will work. Happy homeschooling, everyone!
2010 Texas Home School Book Fair: Part 2 Workshops
0Conference goers had the option of attending 30 workshops. Identical workshops were held both days. The workshops consisted of general sessions by well-known speakers Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis, Tim and Lyndsay Lambert of the Texas Home School Coalition, Zan Tyler of Apologia Educational Ministries, Rosie Watson of The Center for Home Education and Todd Wilson of Familyman Ministries.
Special workshops included topics like “Which Way Do I Go? by Smoothing the Way spokesman Mary James, “Homeschooling Only One Student” by Donna Conner and “Special Needs Kids Fellowship” by Doug and Patsy Arnold. Vendor workshops were led by:
- College Prep Genius
- Excellence in Writing
- Gravitas Publicantions
- Homeschool Math
- Homeschool Travel
- Homeschool-How-To’s
- Joyful Living Distributors
- La Clase Divertida
- Latin Road/Phonics Road
- National Academy for Child Development
- Olive Tree Home School Resources
- Razzle Dazzle Learning Company
- RightStart Mathematics
- Scripture Memory Fellowship International
- Sonlight Curriculum
- Writing Strands
I visited the workshop “Give Your Children the Advantage in Science” by Patty Myers of Gravitas Publications and Real Science-4-Kids
Curriculum author Rebecca W. Keller, Ph.D.’s approach to teaching Chemistry, Biology and Physics, (Earth & Space is coming this summer) is logical and interesting. I previewed the material online before the conference and was impressed that although it broke scientific concepts down into easy-to-understand lessons, it didn’t talk down to the student, something I had found in other texts. I also liked that the experiments used everyday items.
Real Science-4-Kids begins with Pre-Level 1 for grades K-3, then continues with Level 1 for grades 4-6 and Level 2 for grades 7-9. Each level revisits the previous level’s material but in greater depth. Myers admitted that by the end of Level 2, students will have covered high school level material and could CLEP out of taking any more science courses. The levels are sold in Real Science-4-Kids Bundles
Additional online resources and support are available through the publisher’s Club Services. It includes online testing, videos of Dr. Keller teaching a class, conducting an experiment and giving talks at conferences. There are also additional experiments offered online, something that one conference attendee who had used the curriculum admitted she would use.
Another mother, who had used multiple levels and books, admitted, “I understood science, and I am not a science person.”
While I eventually decided to wait another year before introducing my child to the curriculum, I look forward to using it in my homeschool.
Next time, I’ll share about the vendors I met and share my interview with Sonya Shafer of Simply Charlotte Mason. So be sure to check back.
2010 Texas Home School Book Fair: Part 1
0Last week, I attended the 2010 Texas Home School Book Fair in Arlington, Texas. It was a great experience visiting the vendors, looking at products and attending workshops.
The convention was organized by Hearth and Home Ministries at the Arlington Convention Center. It grew out of one homeschooling mother’s frustration. She wanted the opportunity to shop for curriculum for her children all in one place.
“As a new home school mom, I was frustrated that I couldn’t go any place and shop for curriculum,” said Hearth and Home Ministries co-founder Beverly McCord. “Few publishers would sell directly to us because the majority of them thought we were incompetent to teach our own children.”
Much to her surprise, that first convention drew 1450 homeschooling parents. A decade later, that number grew to 6000 homeschool families. And, it continues to grow today.
A few things struck me about this convention. First was the efficiency and graciousness of the volunteers. I hadn’t pre-registered, so I had the pleasure of standing in a long line. Actually, my husband stood in line while I tended to our baby. The volunteer at the front of the line efficiently, yet kindly, moved everyone through the line.
As we entered the convention floor, volunteers greeted us with bags and smiles. Many of these volunteers were young people who took their jobs seriously and worked with a professionalism that is sometimes rare among those their age.
The hardest part of the convention for our family was that no strollers or wheeled bags were allowed. We had no choice but to carry our 20+pound baby through the convention. You can imagine that doing this for several hours can be challenging. So that was disappointing, however, the nursing mother’s room was comfortable and stocked with water, mints and two baby changing areas. And although I didn’t use it, many patrons checked their purchases in the Check Room so they wouldn’t have to schlep heavy packages around all day or make multiple trips to their cars.
It’s also important to point out that the day before the convention began was Homeschool Day at Six Flags Over Texas. The park was closed to outside visitors, so homeschool families could combine the convention with the amusement part to make a short family vacation. That alone makes the Texas Home School Book Fair a real treat.
Stay tuned. Tomorrow I’ll share what I found with the workshops.