by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

As homeschool becomes more popular and widespread, there are many questions that people ask. As a mom who has educated her children at home, as well as enrolled them in traditional school, I have been asked a fair share of questions regarding educational methods at home. With more people homeschooling, some people may wonder if groups of homeschoolers should buy big buildings together. In fact, when a group of readers were asked for back to school concerns,theBarefoot asked this very question. So, why don't homeschool parents form a school together? There are many answers to that question.

Social Interaction With the Outside World
Contrary to what some may believe, social interaction is very important to most parents of children who attend school at home. The ability for kids to interact with the outside world during the day, rather than being restricted to a building is one reason that using a traditional school building may not appeal to some homeschooling families. It can provide a great opportunity for children to socially interact with kids their age, as well as a variety of age groups. This type of outside world interaction could be a great preparation for when kids graduate and get out into the "real world."

Differences in Curriculum and Learning Styles
One of the main benefits to homeschool is the ability to choose or develop a custom curriculum plan for each child, based on his or her needs. Not all homeschooled kids will be using the same curriculum. For this reason, it may be more difficult to hold school in a building in a traditional class setting. Since everyone may not be using the same plan or methods, parents and other teachers might all be talking at once. This could be a very distracting and confusing learning environment that may even hinder the educational process.

Flexible Learning Environment
Some homeschool parents choose this form of education because of the flexibility it provides. Children in a homeschool environment have the unique opportunity of being able to learn everywhere. Class does not necessarily have to be held behind four walls, sitting at a desk. Math and nutrition might be taught in a combination lesson at the local farmer's market, for instance. Of course, some learning will still be completed with paper, pencils, and books, but there is often more flexibility in a “home” learning environment. This flexibility could possibly be one reason some homeschool parents would choose not to hold school in a traditional school building.

What About Homeschool Co-Ops?
There actually are some homeschoolers who choose to learn together. This type of arrangement is often called a homeschool co-op. Usually in these arrangements, the classes are offered as a supplement to what the kids are already learning in homeschool. The classes are usually held only on certain days, still leaving room for the flexible learning environment that home school can provide. There also are homeschool co-ops in which a group of parents work together to form a teaching plan. In these type of arrangements, a parents who specializes in a certain area may have the opportunity to aid other students in that area.

Which Method is Best?
When deciding between public, private, or home school (or various homeschool options), the answer will differ for everyone. That's often why parents choose to homeschool. They likely have come to the conclusion that not all children have the same educational needs. What works for one child may not work for another. Education is about providing a child with the best learning opportunities possible. For the most information to be gained during learning, a child's individual needs, as well as the available options, should be taken into consideration.


Note: A special thanks totheBarefoot for asking this question. He's a freelance writer and IT expert who writes about a wide range of topics. His content subjects include politics, writing, news, relationships, and many more. Expect his work to be entertaining, informative, and engaging.

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*I originally published this content via Yahoo Contributor Network

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

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.

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*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

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
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* 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