Category: Back To Homeschool

How to Keep Homeschooled Tweens Active

12/25/2014

Physical education is an integral part of the whole picture. Don't put it on the back burner when it comes to academics. In fact, physical activities may help boost student performance in other areas. Keep this in mind when developing your homeschooled tween's daily schedule and curriculum. This is one of the first things I learned when we started homeschooling years ago. Not only is keeping homeschooled tweens active a good idea for academic purposes, but it also helps encourage a healthy lifestyle overall. It also helps them expend any pent up energy and frustration, which can be a good thing for the whole family.

Exercise with your tween every day. This is extremely important in encouraging an active lifestyle. Whether it's family yoga, nature walks, bike riding, skating, playing basketball in the yard, or a workout routine, the family should include some form of exercise in the daily routine. It's easier for the tween to feel encouraged to participate when it is a part of the normal daily activities. Try to make it happen at around the same time every day. Switch up different activities for a more rounded physical education experience.

Get your homeschooled tween involved in athletics. Sports programs are available in most areas. These can be found with private leagues, organizations like the YMCA, and even with area schools. Homeschooled tweens have an advantage in that they can sometimes join either homeschool leagues or those with area schools if permitted. Churches can also have sports and recreational teams and programs. Not all areas will have leagues specifically for homeschoolers. But usually those with neighborhood organizations are all inclusive.

Take field trips often. Get out and enjoy your area and those surrounding it. Base the field trips on current lessons, as well as other things. The zoo, library, and museum are some of the obvious destinations. But also try nature reserves, wildlife reservations, railroads, the airport, historical buildings, monuments, and anything else interesting. If you're inventive and open-minded, you can find a field trip destination for every lesson every day if you want to. You may not choose to have daily field trips. But be sure your homeschooled tween does get out often and see the world - or at least the neighborhood.

Enroll your tween in dance classes. Many tweens love to dance. So this is a good way to get your homeschooled tween to enjoy being active. It also provides an extra way to get some social interaction. Even if dance is not really your tween's best talent, the classes may still be enjoyable. Let your tween choose the style. From ballet, to jazz, to modern, to hip-hop and more, any tween who is interested can find their style. If your tween is up to it, let him rotate between various styles for an even more interesting and rounded experience.

Encourage stretch breaks in between assignments. This is one of the easiest ways to keep your homeschooled tween active during the day. Make it a routine thing to get up and move around in between lessons. Movements may include dancing, stretching, jumping jacks, or other random actions. As long as your tween gets up and flexes, it's good. Try to make it fun so there isn't any protesting. The actual movement doesn't matter as much as the fact that your tween is not sitting in one place all day long.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Back to Homeschool: The Benefits of Holding Class Outside

11/14/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Back to homeschool! It's that time of year again, when kids are learning more and studying for longer periods of time. For many home-schoolers, school never truly ends, but it can slow down during the summer. If you want to try something different with the kids this school year, consider the benefits of holding class outside.

Fresh Air & Breeze is Great Stimulation

One great benefit of holding class outside during homeschool hours is the fresh air. Kids can smell the fragrance of fresh flowers, plants, and other aromas. Students also may enjoy feeling a warm or cool breeze as they concentrate on their school assignments.

Outdoor Scenes Correlate Well With Hands-On Learning

Many hands-on learning activities will be done best outdoors and if class is held outside it's easy to combine hands-on learning with study materials. For instance, when a child studies the life cycle of a butterfly, rather than only read about it in a book, a child could actually observe butterflies outside. When studying the way in which plants grow, children can plant and grow their own gardens and see how that relates to what they are learning. There are many ways to use the outdoors in classroom studies. ChildrenAndNature.org is one organization dedicated to connecting children and nature and contains news, resources, tips, and more.

More Room to Stretch While Learning Outside

Stretching between homeschool assignments is necessary for students. Holding class outside gives even more room and freedom to do so. There will be much more room to stretch or even do a mini yoga session. Kids can stretch on a patio or even in the grass. They even can take a few minutes to play on a playground or elsewhere in the yard if they need a break between lessons. While this is also possible while holding a homeschool class inside, it is more convenient to do it quickly when the kids are already outside.

Calming Learning Setting

Holding class outside can make for a great calming setting for the kids to learn the lessons in. The swaying of the trees, the fresh air mentioned above, birds chirping, and other outdoor sights and sounds can help soothe and relax the kids. When kids are calm, their minds are more likely to be prepared for learning.

Fun for Students

Some kids may just love the idea of having homeschool outside. The idea of being outdoors instead of inside at a desk or table may simply sound fun to students. Even though education will be taking place, why not make it fun as well? When kids are in an enjoyable environment, they may be more likely to pay attention to their school lessons.

Provides Variety

If your kids are getting bored during a homeschool class, it may be time to add some variety. Holding class outside is one way to do that. Try holding class outside in the backyard, at a park, at the zoo, at the library, at museums, and more. Holding class in a variety of places may help hold a child's interest and keep him or her excited to learn.

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How to Homeschool With Minimal Stress

10/18/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

When you made the choice to homeschool, I bet the first thing on your mind was not the stress. You probably imagined some fairy tale where all the children sat still and listened to you lecture or followed along with everything you said and did. Then, once you got started, you were snapped back into reality. I can't promise you a fairy tale, but I can help you get things running much smoother. When you're fully organized and prepared, each day will be easier. Exact organization layouts will be different for each family, but by reading the following, you should be able to get your schoolwork and homeschool organized easily and effectively.

Plan ahead

The first step in organization is figuring out everything you have that will be used during homeschool. Planning ahead will often take off a big slice of stress. Get out a notebook or sheet of paper and take inventory of everything you use for schooling. Individual lists and lengths of lists will vary. Once you have your list, on a separate sheet of paper, group the alike things together. Check them off on your first list as you go. Be sure you are including furniture, craft supplies, and books (no need to list every book; just list them in categories like board books, fiction, non-fiction, simple books (non-chapter), first chapter books, readers, chapter books, etc...). Once you have that done, you are ready for the actual organization part.

Create a space for school

When homeschooling, if possible, you should have a separate space for school. The space can be an entire room if you have the space (I recommend this) or if your space is limited, you can make the spot in a room it will blend well with (home office, playroom, child's bedroom...). This will eliminate the stress of trying to figure it out each day. Remember that sometimes your children may want to do certain assignments outside or on their beds. This is fine, providing it's an assignment that your child feels comfortable doing at a space other than the desk. Also, sometimes assignments will be done during field trips and other school related outings. The school spot is just the "base", so to speak. This is the spot where the kids will be able to read, write, do crafts, do projects, do experiments, study, and listen to lectures. The area must be comfortable, quiet, easily accessible, have all materials handy, and be kept clean and ready to use.

(CONTINUED BELOW)

Choosing furniture

If you haven't yet purchased furniture or don't have anything in the house you can use, here is a breakdown of what I suggest. However, keep in mind that all households are different and what works for one person may not be universal. I suggest getting a desk that contains a drawer or compartment for storing basic materials (pens, pencils, stapler, scissors, glue, paper, notebooks, etc...). If you have more than one child, you may choose to use a desk-like table that will seat all the kids and store the supplies in separate drawers for each kid. This is ideal, but don't worry if it's not in your budget. You can always opt for using the kitchen table and keeping all supplies close by. I also suggest using an armoire that has shelves and drawers on the part outside of the doors. You can store craft supplies, messy items, items with small pieces, and items you don't want babies and toddlers to touch inside the doors. You can store the books on the shelves and papers, folders , and other supplies in the drawers. If this won't work for you, then you can also use regular tall bookshelves and a file cabinet. Store the "door items" inside plastic totes on the top shelves. Arrange the books on the lower shelves and store the papers, folders, and supplies in the file cabinet.

Scheduling

Once you have decided on your space, arranged your furniture accordingly, and put everything away, it's time to organize your daily tasks and schedule. Your schedule should include all the classes your child takes each day, break and snack times, and recess times. Don't forget to include electives and field trips. Sometimes you may stray from the schedule for some unplanned learning activities. But having a general idea of what you are doing can really help avoid stress.

Handy Hints:

1. Tear out and laminate workbook pages and put them in binders for each subject. Arrange the page order according to level. If you make a big one that contains all levels and areas of math, you won't have to purchase any more math workbooks the following years and you have work for all your kids. Just pull out the pages one at a time and give them to your child with a write & wipe marker or crayon. Then, when your child is finished and the work has been gone over, you can easily put it back in. You may want to take a Sharpie and number the pages in the order you want them. That way if more than one child has a worksheet, you can easily remember where they belong.

2. Take some relaxing time for yourself each day. If your kids nap, instead of cleaning during their nap, you could take a soak in the tub, curl up with a book, or do something else you enjoy. Your relaxing time may come after the kids are asleep, but be sure to take it. Even five minutes of locking yourself in the bathroom and praying can go a long way.

3. Plan ahead. If you try to do the assignments as they come, this can stress you out. I recommend taking a weekend to plan a month or so of assignments. That way you can easily give the assignments to your child/ren when it's time.

4. Organize each subject for each child. Each child should have a folder for each subject. The assignments should be placed in those folders in order of when they are to be completed. Even though some assignments won't have a worksheet, there should be instructions for each assignment (even if it's just reading). All assignments should have a date on them. You can even stick the write&wipe sheets in the folders, too. This makes the day run much smoother.

5. Never ignore a question your child asks. If you don't know the answer, don't stress. Just look it up.

6. Use different methods for teaching (chalkboard and lecture, books, games, worksheets, drawing, writing...). That way your child/ren won't get bored and they will also learn many different methods for solving problems.

7. Have Fun!

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Is Homework Reducing Learning and Play Time for Kids? Should Homework Be Eliminated? Pros and Cons

8/15/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

The subject of homework has long been a debate among parents and teachers. Some teachers believe it is essential, while some find other ways to add to the curriculum. There are parents like myself who feel it takes up valuable time. This time could otherwise be spent reading, playing, or learning in other ways. As a mom, homeschool teacher, and former public school parent, I've seen it from more than one side. I've also done research over the years, as well as asked opinions of teachers. My research and opinions below are accompanied by recent conversations with three teachers.

Homework vs Study Time

Besides what is being taught in class, kids may need or desire to do extra research on their own. They also may want to read unassigned books for the pure enjoyment of reading. However, when homework takes up a substantial amount of time, this may not be possible. The student may tire or run out of time before extracurricular activities or bedtime. Children should be free to explore and learn as much as possible and too much homework may hinder that process. My personal thought is that study time needs to be reevaluated and should be done freely versus being assigned. I expressed some of my thoughts on how to do that in another writeup: "Should Current Homework and Study Methods be Reevaluated?"

Ann W, a teacher and parent, shared the following with me:

"There are several negative effects of traditional homework assignments, especially upon elementary school children. In my experience as a parent and former public school teacher, I've seen both sides to the issue. If homework lacks substance or too much is assigned, children become increasingly frustrated and may develop a bad attitude toward school. In our own experience, homework took four hours of time to complete. Not only did this take away from our family time together, it also reduced the amount of time our child was able to devote to individual reading.

"Down time and actually having the time to read for pleasure can refresh and prepare a student for further learning. Excessive homework, such as writing 20 spelling words 25 times each by a child who can spell all the words correctly and has a fine motor disability, creates a stressful atmosphere and is a waste of precious time. That is just one of the reasons, among many, that we eventually chose to home school our daughter."

Benefits or Drawbacks?

This is the area where it seems the answer varies depending on who you ask. Not all teachers agree and not all parents agree. According to an article on Scholastic.com, there is not credible evidence to suggest that there is a tangible benefit from homework. In fact, in that same article, there is evidence of a no-homework policy working well for students. The argument given by one teacher is that homework is essentially the same as if an adult went to work and then came home and kept working for several more hours. Some may in fact do this, but why put so much pressure on anyone, especially children?

Then, there are those who argue there are indeed benefits. For instance, Sandra Peterson, a teacher, tutor, and home educator shared this with me:

"Especially in the subject of math, homework is, in my opinion, essential. Homework is one of the best day-to-day assessment tools a teacher can utilize. Daily homework can alert a teacher to comprehension problems early enough that the lesson can be re-taught. This is important in math since one concept builds upon another. If the student does not understand how to find factors, they may not understand how to reduce fractions or make equivalent fractions from two fractions with unlike denominators. Many students learn best by practicing skills in a lesson or by summarizing what they have learned in an essay. Not that homework is rote learning, but homework can provide one more opportunity to cement those concepts in the brain. Homework can also be utilized to allow the student to express his individuality, especially in the creative writing portion of the language arts curriculum."

When Can Kids be Kids?

Another argument against homework is that often kids are spending so much time on it, there is no time left for anything else. What about extracurricular activities? What about family time or just regular kid time? When my kids were in traditional school, by the time my oldest was finished with homework, she had no time to do anything but eat dinner and prepare for bed. Yes, learning is extremely important. But so is downtime, fun time, and fitness. All have benefits and all are necessary. If children are spending all their time on homework, where is the time for any of this?

High school teacher Amanda Herron told me what works for her students:

"I teach on a block schedule, instead of traditional, which means our students have four classes a day (instead of eight) and stay in one class for 90 minutes (instead of 55). I rarely, if ever, give homework because I feel that as an effective teacher I should cover what I need to in 90 minutes. Research does back up that daily practice of concepts helps with memory retention, but I feel that in 90 minutes my lessons should teach the concept and offer practice time. By doing traditional 'homework' assignments in class, the students have peer coaches and teachers to ask questions and get help. Especially at the high school level, few parents can help on homework assignments. Also, our students have such full, high-stress lives. At my school, we have a high teen parent rate, added to the necessity of after-school jobs for essentials like gas (and unfortunately for some of my students, family groceries due to the high-unemployment in our area). Colleges are looking for sports, extra-curriculars and community service. If every teacher assigns an additional 45 minutes of homework, our students (with only four teachers) would need an extra three hours in their schedules.

"The average schedule for one of my students:

7:00 a.m. ~ Bus stop.

7:40 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. ~ School day

3:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ~ Sports (football, basketball, etc)

5:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. ~ after school job or baby sit children/siblings until parents get home from later-shift jobs

"There is no time in my students schedules for homework every night. They would not be finished until after 1:00a.m. At schools with traditional schedules (more classes meeting in a day) that could go longer. So, I'm not a fan. I get a better result from my students by keeping practice and project times in class and I have no problem doing this and still covering my state-mandated standards."

What is Being Taught in Class?

A final question that I struggle with often: "What's being taught in class?" If a child is learning for hours throughout the day, why is it necessary to then come home and repeat the process? Haven't they been learning all day already? As someone who has had children in public school and has educated them at home, I have seen things as both a parent and teacher. Whenever we are homeschooling, I have found the children complete more lessons in less time than when they attended traditional school. That's why I struggle so much in understanding why it's necessary to repeat lessons during a time that should be family time.

Because of homeschooling, the performance of most of my kids has increased. They sometimes complete two grade levels per subject every school year. This is without having extra work to complete at the end of the day. Because of this, I'm left to wonder why traditional schools need to assign extra work outside of class. Shouldn't the length of their school days compensate for that? I have the utmost respect for educators and believe most do have the students' best interests in mind. It's just something I have yet to understand, based on research and personal experience.

*Thanks to Amanda Herron, Sandra Peterson, and Ann W for your opinions.

**I originally published this content via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Help! My Daughter is Starting High School: Beat the Mommy Jitters

8/10/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

The year my daughters started high school was crazy. It was so hard to believe they were that age already. Like many moms out there, I was both excited and a ball of nerves. A combination of research and relaxation helped me get through the mommy jitters that occur when a child starts high school.

Take a tour of the school. Sometimes the unknown is the scariest part about sending a child off to high school. Why not take a tour of the school beforehand to get an idea of what things will be like? Some schools offer this as part of the orientation process. Others may have it as an optional choice. Generally, you can call the school ahead of time to get information on their specific procedure. Taking your teen along for the tour is a good idea. Be sure it is understood where all the classes are. This helps avoid that lost feeling on the first day of school - one more reason to ease up on the mommy jitters.

Read all you can about the high school. In addition to visiting the school, read up on their policies, history, and scheduling processes. Does your child have a career counselor available? What are the test scores? Who might be teaching your child and what are their credentials? What are former parents and students saying about the school? Hopefully, this info soothes some of the mommy jitters. If there are red flags, such as low test scores and all negative reviews, you may want to consider another high school.

Have a mommy-daughter talk. By high school age, there are certain things your teen should know. Fill in the blanks with stories and anecdotes from when you were a teen. Your child may roll eyes, stomp off, or otherwise pretend to ignore your advice. But believe me, it's just a show. Your teen needs to know scenarios related to dating, drugs, alcohol, peer pressure, and more. These topics may seem difficult. But they will be even more difficult if you have to deal with them in a more active way because you didn't warn your teen. Knowing that your teen is informed can also help clear some of the mommy nervousness centered around high school.

Outline what you expect. Lay down those big bad rules and make sure your teen knows you intend to keep them. Focus on the what, how, and why. When you know that your child is informed, it's easier to avoid the nervous mom jitters. Teens may not always listen. But teens who know the rules and know them well, including consequences, may be less likely to cause their parents a reason for concern.

Breathe. I mean it. Just relax, take a deep breath, hold it for a second, and let go. I know firsthand how stressful it can be letting your teen enter a whole new world. But it does neither you or your teen any good if you are all nervous and jittery. Moms like me may choose yoga as a form of relaxation. Another idea is to make some homemade beauty recipes with your teen. This activity works for boys and girls, depending on what beauty regimens you are using and what boys are comfortable with. Puzzles are also another way the whole family can de-jitterize themselves. No matter the activity, choose something that fits your family's lifestyle and will help calm your nerves.

More from Lyn:
Back to School: Must-Have Accessories for Teens
Should All Schools Go Back to Mixing Age Groups?
Save Time and Frustration When Getting Kids Ready for School

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Back to School Activities and Art Projects for Elementary Students

8/9/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Back to school! The first day or so of elementary school is usually hectic, whether kids are in public, private, or home school. Supplies are being collected and inventoried, everyone's adjusting to the schedule and routine, and the kids may need something to keep them busy. While parents and teachers are busy gathering supplies and preparing for the school year, kids can enjoy these and other back to school activities and art projects. As a mom, homeschool teacher, and former nanny, I have created and organized many back to school crafts, art projects, and activities, many of which have been geared toward elementary students. Here are a few that students might enjoy.

School Time!

Many people may remember playing "school" as a child. Here's a fun back to school activity to introduce your kids to the concept of school time. This is especially beneficial for kids who haven't yet started school. But, in my experience, most elementary students like playing school, even if they're already in school.This game is best played with a group of friends or family members for the most interaction and real-life experience.

Materials:

small chalkboard
chalk
pencils
paper
an area for students
a teacher area

Instructions:
Choose one person as the teacher. Everyone else (if there are other kids) will be the elementary students. Set up an area just like a classroom and have the "teacher" hand out the supplies to everyone. The teacher gets to teach a lesson to everyone, using the chalkboard. It can be a serious lesson or can also be something fun like instructions to draw animals. To make it the most realistic, require kids to raise hands when asking questions. This activity can last as long as the kids are willing to play. Be forewarned that some elementary students may want to play all day.

Fill the Backpack

In this fun back to school activity, elementary students will race to place school items a backpack, mocking the act of preparing for school. This fun back to school activity prepares a child for the act of getting ready in the morning. While it probably won't be quite as hectic as in this race, there will likely be some mornings when kids are rushing to get ready.

Materials:

school supplies
miscellaneous household objects
backpack or bag for each kid

Instructions:
Give the elementary students a list of school supplies and a set amount of time to collect one of each school supply provided. The tricky part is that all supplies will be placed jumbled up with miscellaneous other supplies in two or three different areas. Whichever student loads his or her backpack with all of the items fastest wins the game.

My School Through Art

Kids like to create art that reflects their own lives. Allow elementary students to paint a picture of their school or classroom. If they haven't seen it yet, take them to see it or ask them to be imaginative and come up with a picture of their ideal classroom. The only materials required for this fun back to school art project are paintbrushes, paints, art paper, and the imagination of the child. Some kids are not so neat with paints, so smocks or aprons may also be a good idea.

RELATED:
How to Get Back to School Supplies for Under $25
How to Make the Most of a Back to School Clothing Budget
Save Time and Frustration When Getting Kids Ready for School

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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How to Get Back to School Supplies for Under $25

8/9/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Back-to-school time can also indicate 'clear the wallet' time for parents and guardians. But it doesn't have to when it comes to school supplies. I know what you're thinking: "My child's list is huge! Can we really spend less than $25?" I have four kids that I purchase school supplies for every year. Our family is unique from some in that we have experienced purchasing school supplies both for traditional school and homeschool. Because I am a stickler for budgeting, I have always been able to stay under $25 for each kid.

The school supply list below is a pretty standard list for first-graders. Some may vary slightly. I’ve included the prices I was able to take advantage of for this list, as well as where I purchased the items.

First Grade School Supply List

1 backpack - $9.99 at Ross
2 (24 count) boxes of pencils - $0.99 each at Dollar Tree
2 tissue boxes - $0.99 each at Dollar Tree
4 loose leaf folders - $.10 each at Wal-Mart or Target
2 composition notebooks - $0.99 at Dollar Tree
1 pair safety scissors - $0.99 at Dollar Tree
2 bottles school glue - $0.20 each at Target or Wal-Mart
2 (24 count) boxes of crayons - $0.20 each at Target or Wal-Mart
1 (12 count) box of wide-tipped markers - $0.99 at Target, Wal-mart, or Dollar Tree
1 (12 count) box of colored pencils - $0.99 at Target, Wal-Mart, or Dollar Tree
1 pkg of loose leaf paper - $0.50 at Wal-Mart
Total = $20.20

Which items should you avoid? Many kids would like to have the heavily decorated supplies and the special Velcro binders. But the fact is that most teachers honestly prefer the plain ones for several reasons. Some teachers ask for enough supplies to last year-round and store the items in a locker for later use. Even when there is not supply-sharing going on, it's easier for the teachers to know which folders (and other items) are for which purpose if everyone has matching supplies. Besides, fancy designs also come with a price that will likely not fit into a budget of under $25. Also, avoid items your child may enjoy, but that are not on the school supply list.

Is it worth it to shop around? That depends on how far apart the stores are, how much gas it costs you, and a few other factors. Our family is dedicated to being green. Therefore, we generally walk to most stores, unless they are too far away. Because of this, the cost of the school supplies is all we would spend. To get the most savings, it's best to shop at stores that have back-to-school sales and are near each other. The stores we used in our list above are all near our house and all within walking distance of each other. There's also a benefit to that if you are driving because it means less gas is spent. If you spend an extra $5-$10 (or more) on gas while running across town, you really haven't saved on the school supplies.

RELATED:
How to Make the Most of a Back to School Clothing Budget
Back to School: Must-Have Accessories for Tweens
Back to School: Must-Have Accessories for Teens

*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Back to Homeschool: Must-have Accessories for Homeschoolers On-the-Go

8/7/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

Homeschoolers on the go need to always have certain items on hand. But do you know what they are? If your homeschooling family is on the go like ours, it will make learning so much easier if you keep certain materials around. Whether you need materials to save the lesson for later, study while on the move, or create memories, my family's experiences may help.

A compact digital camera and camcorder adds to the lesson. Kids who are encouraged to film and take pictures of specific items and lessons can get a double lesson. It also serves as a great memory for later. We like to take pictures of the nature we view, places we go, as well as just fun moments that we have. This helps us recall the lessons we learned together as a homeschooling family. But it also gives us great family memories. Sometimes lessons happen when you least expect them. Always having a camera ready can help you capture those moments.

Never forget your library card at home. Even if you hadn't planned a trip to the library, it can come up at a moment's notice. Homeschoolers on the go often learn right at the library. But how many times have you been on a homeschool excursion and need to get a book to accent what you've learned? What if the library is closer to you than your house? Do you really want to go all the way back home, just for a library card? Never forget library cards for all family members. One trick I like to use is to place the library card (and other important cards) on an I.D. necklace or bracelet. This way, it's less difficult for everyone to forget theirs.

Collection slides and dishes are a must. Homeschool outings to the lake or pond can produce some interesting results. The same can even be said for a drainage ditch, walking trail, and even just a city walk to the store. Specimen dishes and collection slides come in handy in many instances. Homeschoolers on the go should never leave home without them. Collecting specimens is just one more way of being able to continue the lesson at home. If you have a microscope, they come in handy even more. We've collected bugs, leaves, moss, pond water, and more all because we had some type of collection dish with us. Nature happens all around us.

A small laptop serves several purposes. Need a place to take notes? Perhaps you just showed the kids a certain dinosaur and need some follow up questions or activities? We've used the laptop to watch educational movies, research something relevant to the day's studies, and even to take notes. All of the above and more contribute to laptop being a must-have for homeschoolers on the go. Smaller notebook computers may be better than the full-sized versions, as they are more compact for easier traveling. Look for thinner, lightweight models, if you don't already have a small computer to use.

A fully charged cell phone keeps you prepared. Ever get lost on the way to a homeschool field trip? Don't have GPS? No problem. A charged cell phone that has Internet capabilities can help. Cell phones with GPS or even capabilities to visit Yahoo! or Google maps can be used to tell people where you are, as well as lead you to your destination. Then, of course, depending on where you are going, you may need to call and talk to that company. On the less cheery side of things, cell phones also come in handy if something goes wrong. Cell phones with cameras will also eliminate the need for a separate camera.

RELATED:
Back to Homeschool: Establishing a Routine
Gym Class Activities for Homeschool
Back to Homeschool: Online vs Text Curriculum

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network:
http://web.archive.org/web/20130518063357/http://shine.yahoo.com/back-homeschool-must-accessories-homeschoolers-200500783.html

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Back to Homeschool: Online vs Text Curriculum

8/6/2014

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by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

When choosing a child's curriculum, you first want to be sure that it will suit the child's needs and meet requirements. There are many methods to consider. Once you have narrowed it down, you might find yourself deciding between an online curriculum and a textbook curriculum. There's not really a one size fits all solution when it comes to education. Each family's needs will differ significantly. So how do you know which is best for your child? In my years of experience as a homeschool teacher, I've had to make this decision several times with more than one child.

Which study habits are most effective for your child? Does your child learn better from a book, games, or other methods? When choosing between an online and textbook curriculum, consider the methods that apply with each. Whichever one more closely resembles your child's learning style is likely going to be the most effective. If your child learns best from hearing instruction and the instructions are mostly from books, it will be more difficult for your child to learn. If your child has unique learning needs (such as vision issues or disabilities) examine each method and figure out which one works the best in those circumstances.

Which program lines up with your family's lifestyle? Is your family always on the go? If so, a textbook curriculum may be best because it's easy to transport. Then again, if your child has a laptop and does well learning on the computer, the online curriculum may be better. Do you like to give lessons in the library? Will an online curriculum work with that? For instance, the child may need to wear earphones so as not to disturb others in the library. Will you still be able to instruct that way? There are many possible scenarios and answers. Consider what your family will be doing on a daily basis to help you come to a decision.

Does your first choice line up with state standards? Each state has specific standards that need to be met when it comes to curriculum. Make sure that the method you choose lines up with those. If it doesn't, can you commit to supplementing what's missing? It's important that your child gets a proper education and if an online or textbook curriculum doesn't do that, it's time to reevaluate your choices. Our family prefers to use mostly an online course. But we also supplement with other learning materials, field trips, and hands-on lessons.

Which choice will be more enjoyable for your child? While education is first and foremost, it's also important to be sure your child will enjoy doing schoolwork. If there is some fun mixed in with the work, a child is more likely to learn. On the other hand, if the work is boring or too laborious, the child may hesitate and actually learn less even if the program offers exemplary information. The material is no good when a child is resistant to looking at it. A child will learn more during an hour of time where there's interest than during eight hours of disinterest.

Should you blend the two? If you can see benefits to both choices, perhaps a blend of the two will work well for you. Some kids learn better when they get to mix things up here and there. If your child gets bored easily, switching back and forth from textbook to computer could be the answer. If your child is the opposite and likes things to stay the same and be more structured, it may be best to choose one or the other. Does your child pitch a fit when things change? Do you hear "Mommy, I'm bored" all too often? Even if you don't have educational situations to compare, besides homework time, think about your child's reactions to everyday situations.

RELATED:
Back to Homeschool: Establishing a Routine
Gym Class Activities for Homeschool
Homeschool FAQ: Common Myths & Questions

* I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network:
http://web.archive.org/web/20120708235911/http://voices.yahoo.com/back-home-school-online-vs-textbook-8668313.html?cat=25

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