Homeschoolers! Resource

January 18, 2006

This is the website to my most favourite family Bible course.

It incorporates EGW gems, character virtues and nature nuggets all through. Lots of Scripture... The lessons are geared for ALL ages, and the units include practical exercises as well

Even though I haven't homeschooled for years now, I have re-ordered this course (which is very reasonably priced to boot) for my own reading and studying pleasure

What you are looking for is the Family Bible course. It comes in Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3, and every year has materials for 4 quarters

Feel free to ask me more questions

Sonlight curriculum

January 19, 2006

Interesting. Here is the Sonlight Curriculum we use.

January 19, 2006

For those looking to school at home for free there are also options such as virtual academies and virtual charter schools. They aren't available in every state YET but they are available in several. Go to http://www.k12.com for more information. The K12 curriculum has won awards and K12 charter schools have been noted for outstanding performance.

(It's just regular academics: art, math, science, history, language arts, music, etc. you would have to add in your own Bible courses and such.)

January 19, 2006

Nico--do you know how K12 compares with Alpha/Omega's Switched on Schoolhouse (SOS)? I've heard a lot about that program, but haven't chosen a curriculum because I have yet to find one that "fits." (one size fits all does NOT fit our family.) So I pick and choose.

Sonlight is very literature intense, is it not? I have a lot of people on my AS homeschooling listserv who use it, and a lot of others who have tried it and it was too much reading for their Aspies.

I know one thing--I will NOT use HSI's curriculum, much to the chagrin of those in this area. It has waaaaaay too much repetition, review, and information. My kid struggles with very basic MathUSee math (though it makes much more sense to him than any other math program so far)--like I'm going to put him through the torture of HSI! Whew! no way!

M

January 19, 2006

It's a source of constant puzzlement to me.

Homeschoolers (Yes, we taught our children at home) by definition DON'T want the school experience for their children. SDA Homeschoolers, I would think, would want their children to become "thinkers, not mere reflectors of other men's thoughts" (which is pretty much what schools are designed to do).

Yet the vast majority can't wait to be as schoolish as possible, including a pre-digested "curriculum."

It's OK by me, I'm not condemning the choice, I just can't understand it.

January 19, 2006

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

It's a source of constant puzzlement to me.

Homeschoolers (Yes, we taught our children at home) by definition DON'T want the school experience for their children. SDA Homeschoolers, I would think, would want their children to become "thinkers, not mere reflectors of other men's thoughts" (which is pretty much what schools are designed to do).

Yet the vast majority can't wait to be as schoolish as possible, including a pre-digested "curriculum."

I agree with Ed here...

When I was trying to locate this outfit, I did accidentally check out the "Sonlight" that Chrys was referring to, and it sounded to me like too much reading and too much like regular school. When we home educated, we had to keep away from too many books or we would get burn out

The beauty of THIS Bible program is that it integrates lots into a simple program, ideal for those who can't take too much bookwork. You learn a lot without realising it.

The philosophy is absolutely compatible with the principles that we have as Adventists. The emphasis is on God's 4 lesson books- the Bible, nature, work and life experiences.

So with that it is not so much having the books as your master, but they teach you how to read God's lessons for YOU within HIS 4 lesson books. Once you get the hang of it, then you will relate everything in life to God's love for you and His plan of salvation.

That is what Jesus did- he took His lessons from everyday life

Not heavy at all. Lots of concepts and principles to think about in very few words and is easily adapted to any age level

January 20, 2006

Quote:

Homeschoolers (Yes, we taught our children at home) by definition DON'T want the school experience for their children.

By definition, homeschoolers teach from home. Some don't want the school experience for their children: some do. It is misleading and limiting to say that it is "by definition."

Quote:

Yet the vast majority can't wait to be as schoolish as possible, including a pre-digested "curriculum."

According to Missouri law, there are standards that need to be taught: 1,000 hours per year, 600 hours in the core subjects of Mathematics, Science, English, and History.

The "pre-digested curriculum" is merely a starting point for some of us. It certainly is not all-encompasing.

Further, although there are several different types of learning styles, some people actually do learn better through linguistics. Luckily for me, my children are these very types.

January 20, 2006

The Sonlight curriculum that Cricket linked is very much NOT like school! It's intensely literature based (from classic books, usually) and not textbook based. It's a great way for those (like me) who like to have things laid out for them. It is very expensive though (although, since it is based mostly on books, you can get most from the library and just buy the teacher guides). We did it for one year, but we were not ready for that type of curriculum at the time. What our school days looked like while we used that surriculum, was mostly us all snuggled on the couch reading books.

I like what you have posted, Gail! It looks very interesting.

I have looked at the k12 type options, but I decided not to do them. You are overseen by teachers usually (which in itself would be nice to have some insight once in a while!) and the children are technically considered enrolled in public school, with the testing and all that is involved in that. I just like to be unattached, and be able to choose my own methods of testing (and here in WA, no one else has to see my records..in the public school, the records belong to them).

Another option that is free, and independent, is Ambleside online (www.amblesideonline.org). They give you a complete Classical Education curriculum online, using the library to get most of the books. They also have great links to entire books online. It's too much for me to do it all (and I don't think it was intended that you do everything they suggest), but some of the guidlines can be really helpful, and you can pick and choose their recommendations. I'm thinking of using it as a rough guidline this fall.

I'm pretty much what you would call eclectic though. using bits of this and that. We pretty much unschooled the early years, influenced by the Moore's ideas, and Holt, Gatto, Beechick, etc.

I love to see homeschooling posts here, thank-you Gail! I am pretty alone at our church.

January 20, 2006

Toni,

The K12 Independence option is available in every state. It is the homeschooling option, and there are no teachers involved nor is the child considered enrolled in public school. However, the parents must pay for the curriculum materials when using the Independence option.

In the Virtual academy options, yes, there are teachers there but they are there to help you along, not intrude. You can choose to interact with them (and other K12 families) as much or as little as you like. The program is not designed to be intrusive at all.

Michelle, sorry, I have no idea how it compares to the one you mentioned. I just know it's a good program and one that is flexible and adaptive to the individual family's needs.

January 20, 2006

Ed--there are a lot of people who truly don't know where to start, which is why they start with a prepackaged curriculum. I know very few people who actually stay with the first curriculum they started with (though I do have one friend who went through more than 8 years with HSI, hating every minute of it, but being military and moving a lot it was less to think about when they were living in Germany or Japan to have everything righ there).

There are others who do it for the convenience. I know a family with 6 or 7 children who have chosen to use the A Beka curriculum, simply because the mom doesn't have to choose a new course for each kid coming up through. She buys one teacher book for 7 kids.

There are many homeschoolers who are very "schoolish." They "do school" just as it would be done in the local school. They are not looking for a different educational experience, but more like a different surrounding for their kids.

Then there are those who live in states like New York or PA (which, from what I've heard, are about the most restrictive for HS'ers). If they don't use a set curriculum, they have a lot more work meeting the quarterly standards reports they have to file. Creative parents can do the creative work and still fill out the reports.

I think many parents just starting out are a little fearful of their ability to "do this" and want the security of a curriculum. Once they get their "sea legs" they are off and running.

M

January 20, 2006

Nicodema,

Yes, you're right! I had completely forgot about the independent option for teh K12. It is very expensive though (well..compared to what I do, which is mostly use the library LOL).

Sorry about that..I had forgot.

January 20, 2006

To all:

My experience is limited to the 600+ families and several thousand children whose homeschools I have regularly visited and helped supervise. And the several thousand more I have spoken to and worked with at conventions, via e-mail and telephone.

So I have seen pretty much every possible variety of homeschool, from school-at-home to extreme "un-parenting." I have had the "privilege" of working with dysfunctional families and seriously failed homeschools.

This school year I am working with about ten families, somewhere in the neighborhood of thirty children.

I am aware that many parents start out trying to duplicate the school experience at home, and the varying reasons for doing so. I know what success looks like, and what it does not.

Homeschool Success?

On learning styles, yes, Howard Gardner of Harvard has identified eight types of knowledge, and linguistics is one of them. However, textbooks have little or nothing to do with a truly linguistic approach to learning. Yes, of course, they use words. But there's much more to it than that. They also use pictures, but that doesn't make them suitable for the spatial learner. And the pages are numbered, but that doesn't make them logical/abstract.

It still amazes me that we subject children's minds to things that we wouldn't let anyone do to their feet.

Originally published in "Moore Report International"

As far as "convenience" goes-- words fail.

In the end, as I've told many a legislator and bureacrat, "If someone's going to ruin the children, it ought to be the parents." C-est la vie.

January 21, 2006

Hey Toni, I like your avatar!

January 21, 2006

Quote:

Sid said:

Hey Toni, I like your avatar!

Thank-you! I found it online somewhere..I can't remember where now!

January 21, 2006

Several have mentioned K12. I am not familiar with the program, so cannot discuss its merits or faults. I do know that it has been developed by William Bennett, author of "The Book of Virtues," and former Secretary of Education under G.H.W. Bush.

I homeschooled my daughter for four years. We used Dr. Raymond Moore's guidance and belonged to a homeschool group where each parent had their own curriculum. The textbooks were from different publishers. Some of the work was on a "unit" basis, where several "subjects" were taught at the same time, integrating them together in the search for knowledge of a particular subject or idea.

(Boy, that was awkward!) In other words, cooking or baking involved reading, math, science, etc. Does that make more sense?

January 21, 2006

Mr. Dickerson,

Let it be known that my post did not address every aspect homeschooling covers. I simply posted it in response to your notion that homeschoolers "by definition" don't want to "school" their children.

Just as my statement regarding curriculum not being all-encompassing, let it be known that my children's learning styles are not entirely linguistic. Even so, a great deal of their learning abilites lie in the linguistic category.

If they were more visual/spatial learners, or kinesthetic learners, my husband and I would employ teaching methods to address these learning styles.

I admit to being frustrated by your post. Why? Because people are different. We cannot be lumped into one category. Homeschools are as varied as are people. To judge one method as being superior over another (without further, specific analysis) is absurd and irresponsible.

Parents and legal guardians have a right to teach their own children as they see fit. This is the whole of homeschooling.

May you never be burdened with the convenience of pre-judging another's choices in the future. May you, instead, be diligent in your efforts to help each family uniquely and specifically to their needs. May you strive to help each student become the best he/she can be according to God's plans for them (not your's).

Chrys

January 23, 2006

My previous post was "to all" not addressing anyone in particular.

Cricket

I am at a loss to understand your post.

Quote:

We cannot be lumped into one category.

I certainly did not. I cannot understand what you're writing about.

Quote:

To judge one method as being superior over another (without further, specific analysis) is absurd and irresponsible.

I have no idea what "one method" you're talking about. And, as I tried to indicate, I've spent more time in working with and analyzing homeschools than most. This year will be about my 30th year doing so.

Did you read either of the links I included?

Quote:

Parents and legal guardians have a right to teach their own children as they see fit.

That's why I helped change the law in my state.

Quote:

May you never be burdened with the convenience of pre-judging another's choices in the future. May you, instead, be diligent in your efforts to help each family uniquely and specifically to their needs. May you strive to help each student become the best he/she can be according to God's plans for them (not your's).

I confess, I find that almost totally incomprehensible.

But "by their fruits you shall know them," and I have directly witnessed and aided hundreds of homeschoolers over the past thirty years. I've seen the fruits. Some things work, and some things don't. Within the parameters of approaches that work, there is an infinite variety of homeschools.

As a matter of fact, failed homeschools tend to fail in the same way. Successful ones are quite different.

I'd love to be politically correct and say something like, "Every approach works equally well." That would be irresponsible, because it's not true.

I'm not "pre-judging" anyone or anything. Far from it. When you see hundreds of homeschools that are successful to one degree or another, and a few that are dismal failures, and certain trends emerge-- from observation, not "pre-judging"-- it's only responsible to tell the truth.

Not only do failed homeschools all fail in the same ways, all homeschools struggle with the same basic set of issues. Successful ones muddle through. Failures don't.

I've been blessed with this experience and training, so that I can identify problems and help families overcome them.

Not only have my own children all succeeded, I've helped literally hundreds of others.

What I do is help people find their unique road to success, and do so more quickly, with less frustration. If they let me.

As I said earlier, I'm not condemning anyone. I don't really understand all the heat.

January 23, 2006

Ed, you have said in so many words or less that teaching one's children according to a "pre-digested curriculum" that suits only one type of learning is worse than allowing some dreadful thing be done to our children's feet. You have also said that the whole reason for homeschooling is that the parent wishes to take a child away from the schooling experience. I'm only trying to point out that there are some people who do want the schooling experience for their children and that some do, indeed benefit greatly from a "pre-digested curriculum". You passed on your judgement to those people as being a homeschool situation that is doomed for failure. Why is this not comprehensible to you? ~Cricket

January 23, 2006

Quote:

s worse than allowing some dreadful thing be done to our children's feet

THat was a reference to an article found here:

Feet, Shoes, and Shoehorns

That link is in an earlier post. That is the context of that remark.

Quote:

You have also said that the whole reason for homeschooling is that the parent wishes to take a child away from the schooling experience.

Not at all. I said "by definition, Homeschoolers don't want the school experience."

What people "don't want" doesn't constitute what they "do want." In fact, I have devoted a whole book to helping people determine what it is they do want.

Now, if that was always exactly the same thing, I would have identified it. But I can't. Different families have different goals and expectations. I help them discover and reach those goals.

But, in a country where schools are free, where they even pick up and take your children to school for you, where they provide meals for school children, anyone who wants that experience can have it.

So if they go to extra trouble to avoid that experience there must be something about it that they don't want. That's just logic.

Quote:

You passed on your judgement to those people as being a homeschool situation that is doomed for failure. Why is this not comprehensible to you?

Because that's not what I did. I can, as did the Moore's, in their book "Homeschool Burnout," identify likely candidates for burnout.

What I have to say about success or failure of homeschools was in the link to this article;

Homeschool Success?

I included the links in an earlier post rather than write everything all over again.

Of course, you needn't bother to read them, but they would clarify certain things.

January 23, 2006

Quote:

by definition, Homeschoolers don't want the school experience

ED! MY HUSBAND AND I ARE HOMESCHOOLERS WHO DO WANT THE SCHOOLING EXPERIENCE FOR OUR CHILDREN. AS WE SEE NO VIABLE OPTION FOR GOOD, ADVENTIST SCHOOLING IN OUR COMMUNITY WE CHOOSE NOT TO SEND THEM TO A FORMAL INSTITUTION. SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HOMESCHOOL, HOWEVER, DOES NOT MEAN WE DON'T WANT THE SCHOOLING EXPERIENCE.

I've read the links before.

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