Homeschooling is a term used when education and learning are imparted at the comfort of one's home as opposed to a standard and traditional education. At present, it is starting to get a foothold in the education industry. I, myself, became more interested in this and by that, I get to grasp on the advantages of homeschooling. Leaning towards this certain type of education, in my very own opinion, is not that bad after all. Although it requires a more expensive cost and added responsibility, peer pressure, time, and even achieving goals through solid education will not be a problem.

However, even with the good stuffs home education has to offer, it also comes with drawbacks as well. When you fail to organize and plan well, then you are deemed to an unsuccessful and chaotic home school. For this reason, a tool to assist home school teachers are made-- the home school planner. So what does it actually do? I believe that to get the maximum benefits of this type of education, you need to have an excellent time management and record keeping skills. If you have problems, or are not good enough with these skills, you might want to own one!

What Are The Contents Of A Home School Planner?

Homeschool planners come in different styles. These are available online, some are for free and others should be purchased. As for the content, they are presented uniquely. You may find that a certain type of planner can't work out and some may give excellent results for you and your child. Generally speaking, it contains inside a table of contents section, specific guidelines on how to use the pages in it, a grid for planning an entire year, a student goal setter page, a list for family priorities, a resources list, pages for monthly and weekly planning, a section for keeping grades, completed activities, and resources used, and lastly, pages for teacher's notes (teaching tips for different learners as well are included).

How Do We Plan Effectively?

You-- yes, YOU! You are technically the planner and as the planner, it is you that will arrange a number of parts to make homeschooling as peaceful as possible. Preparedness is the key to this and by that the tool being discussed is just a guide for us, moms and homeschool teachers alike. In my own experience, planning can be very exhausting. Even just thinking of homeschool schedules for the month will even get the brains out of you. So how much more when you plan everything for a year or so? I've listed below some tips on how you could use your planner in an efficient way.

Assess Your Previous Year

It's always great to evaluate the progressiveness you or your child has made over a year. If you see that your child has little or no progress at all, you have to know in what area your child needs improvement. Honestly and thoroughly assess areas such as comprehension levels of individual lessons on each subjects, and their strengths and weaknesses.

Maintain the Simplicity of Your Plans

In planning your child's work, never over plan and do not excessively schedule! Keep in mind that maintaining the simplicity of your plans is the key to planning lessons effectively. An indication of over planning is when you spend an excessive amount of time planning for the week.

What are you doing now?  Knowing where you are going to is critical.  Do not disregard and overlook this critical step. The moment you have written your goals down, post them somewhere. There will always be a time of the year that you will get bored and the passion you have in teaching subsides drastically. So glancing at your goals will make you remember why you do what you do.

What Is The Best Home School Planner?

For me, the best homeschool planner is the one that suits best for you and your child, and this depends on your family, the organization style you have, and the type of learner your child is. When I get to have everything really organized, it gives me harmony and contentment. To be able to get most of the benefits given through home education, it is definitely important to give yourself an anxiety-free mind as trying to constantly plan in your head gives you nothing but the opposite.

Set Some General Goals

Goals are an important feature of success. To set some general goals, ask yourself these questions: What will your child be in 10 years? Why are you homeschooling?

Are you tired of trying to find the best homeschool curriculum for your children? Let me show you the pros and cons of each program with my comprehensive review including a comparison table.

A growing number of parents are turning to home school education as a more interactive alternative to traditional schooling. Thanks to an increase in resources and accessibility, receiving a top-notch education at home has never been easier. This abundance of material grants parents and teachers the freedom to create a quality, customized curriculum for every student.

Home school programs are flexible and adaptable, making them a great way for students to learn outside of the traditional classroom environment. In addition, online learning connects more students together, creating a virtual classroom that’s rife with interaction, shared ideas, and individual accomplishment.

However, for many parents, teachers, and educators, navigating the staggering amount of K-12 home school curriculum options can be overwhelming. Today, a myriad of accredited programs are widely available online, with many offering inexpensive or free cutting-edge resources for students.

Distinguishing between different types of home school curriculm is an important step in choosing the right education for your homeschool student. Important factors such as: teaching methods, cost, and subject material should all be considered when selecting the right homeschool program.

Read on to see how we compare some top homeschooling programs, highlight important distinctions between curriculums, and address common questions regarding homeschool education.

Comparing Home School Curriculum

Not all K12 homeschool programs are created equal. In truth, the best  programs are ones that engage your student and allow for personal growth. Ideally, the curriculum should grow with the student. In this way, a good homeschooling program offers a flexible learning structure, a variety of subject materials, and a solid academic foundation to prepare for higher learning. Be sure to thoroughly research all homeschool education curriculum to ensure that you are making the best decision possible for you child.

The comparison table below highlights some rudimentary aspects of some top top homeschool curriculum.

Program	Cost	Accredited (Y/N)	Grades	Teaching Methods	Rating
Laurel Springs School		Y	K-12	Traditional Home School & Distance Learning
Connections Academy	Free	Y	K-12	Virtual Classroom w/ Supplementary Print Materials/Exercises
Homeschool Buyers Co-op	Varies	N	K-12	Independent Study
Time4Learning		N	K-12	Independent Study/Traditional Homeschooling
K12	Varies	Y	K-12	Traditional Homeschooling with teacher supervision
Khan Academy	Free	N	K-12	Video Lectures
Bridgeway Academy		Y	K-12	Individualized Through Student Assessment
International Virtual Learning Academy		Y	K-12	Online Learning/Virtual Classroom
Global Student Network		N	K-12	Independent Study/Traditional Homeschooling

Important Factors to Consider

The table above provides a basic outline for general comparison of various homeschool programs. While factors such as years in business, accreditation, and a comprehensive K-12 program can help weigh your decision about which homeschool curriculum to choose, also consider the following criteria:

Teaching Methods

Due to the inherent flexibility of home school education, many programs have developed different teaching methods that follow particular learning styles. The best homeschooling programs will incorporate a mix of teaching techniques, creating a unique approach that is all their own. As your child grows you should periodically reevaluate which method most appropriately matches their personal and educational needs. You may find that changing teaching styles will allow for greater academic success than sticking to just one program in its entirety.

There are several popular methods of homeschooling, each with a unique set of defining principles. Along with fundamental distinctions, each style approaches education through different practices: lectures, video learning, exposure to nature, field trips, subject-specific focuses, workbooks, and projects. Understanding the educational principles of these methods will influence your decision on how you want to teach your child.

Independent Study vs. Mentorship

Scheduling? and time management are hugely important in any self-directed education program. You should assess how much time your child will be engaging in independent study and how much time will be spent assisted by a mentor or educator. Some programs will follow a more structured approach similar to traditional public schools, where material is broken down into daily allotments. Others will offer a more flexible course of study that allows students to spend more time on interests or focus on areas of improvement.

For older students who can exercise more discipline, a program that allows for more self-reliant learning can be useful in providing extra time to pursue interests, whereas younger children might need a more focused structure in order to successfully complete tasks. In either case you should recognize a student's strengths and challenges and select a program that meshes with their academic development.

Future Education Goals

As an educator selecting the best curriculum, you are ultimately responsible for your child’s future academic success. In most cases, you will be working with your child as he or she progresses through the material. That’s why you should select a curriculum that not only fulfills your education standards, but also teaches the subject matter in a style that engages both the student and the teacher. This helps promote a healthy learning environment for both parties and encourage an enthusiasm for learning the material, leading to greater information retention.

Top 5 Curriculum Reviews

Laurel Springs School

Website: http://laurelsprings.com/

Laurel Springs School is an online private college preparatory school for grades K-12. They boast an impressive 91% college acceptance rate among program graduates. While expensive, their coursework is professional, flexible, and accessible 24/7, so students are free to complete their lessons whenever they choose. Laurel Springs also keep detailed records of student test scores and grades that parents can access to monitor their child’s success.

During K-8 grades, parents and teachers work together, with teachers hosting real-time lessons and introducing curriculum that parents can tailor to best suit their child’s learning development. In grades 9-12, teachers take a more active role, providing one-on-one interaction with students, focusing on particular areas of expertise, and encouraging students to pursue college educations.

Connections Academy

Website: http://www.connectionsacademy.com/

Connections Academy bills itself as a “tuition-free, fully-accredited, online K-12 public school.” That may sound too good to be true, but the reality is that in many states, you won’t have to pay any tuition fees for students enrolled in Connection Academy’s online public school. Their curriculum meets the education standards in over two dozen states across the country and is characterized by parental involvement as a “Learning Coach.” Parents and teachers work in tandem with students to personalize lesson plans, track student progress, and facilitate more effective learning. Parents are also asked to volunteer as community coordinators--organizing field trips and study sessions--so that students can interact beyond the classroom.

Homeschool Buyers Co-op

Website: http://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/

Parents who opt for a more traditional homeschooling approach should not overlook the resources available on Homeschool Buyers Co-op. One of the biggest limiting factors for homeschool curriculum is cost, so Homeschool Buyers Co-op fashioned an online community that gives parents and educators more buying power to afford high quality learning resources at a discounted price.

Their website is easy to navigate and features a wide variety of subject matter across digital, print, and interactive mediums to work with just about every lesson plan. They also offer free incentives such as a Summer Reading Program, a searchable field trip database backed by user reviews, and a Homeschool classified page where you can buy and sell lightly used materials for a fraction of their original cost. The best part? Membership is completely free.

Time4Learning

Website: https://www.time4learning.com/

Time4Learning offers a monthly enrollment program for students, meaning no year-long contracts or hefty enrollment fees. Instead, parents and students have the power to set their own learning schedule at a pace that works best for them. Students have access to an entire year’s worth of curriculum as soon as they begin, so those who accelerate quicker won’t be bored by tediously organized lesson plans. The majority of coursework takes place online, so any computer with internet access becomes a portal to their virtual classroom. Parents can also supplement learning material with printouts to facilitate their own homeschool curriculum, as well as track student records and scores. This program values student independence and strives to deliver the curriculum in a way that feels more like games than work.

K12

Website: http://www.k12.com/

K12 stresses the importance of a unique and personalized learning style for each and every student. That’s why they offer three different platforms: free online public school, online private school, and individual courses. Both online schools are supported by state-certified educators who host virtual lessons and work directly with students on areas where they need extra help. K12 students receive a personalized lesson plan each day and parents can reorganize the day’s work to maximize their child’s learning potential. K12’s education goals are to “teach the individual, not the group.”

K12 utilizes games, web lessons, textbooks, and videos to teach necessary core subjects during a student’s early years. As they grow, students can choose elective classes, AP & Honors courses, and certification courses for future employment.

FAQ

Now that you know what to compare when researching a home school education program, you may still have some general questions about how to choose the best option for your child. For more specific questions pertaining to an individual program or curriculum, visit the FAQ section for that particular home school program.

Where can I find reviews about these programs?

TheHomeSchoolMom has a frequently updated list of homeschool curriculum reviews submitted by real parents along with a helpful “Pros/Cons” section for each program. HomeSchool Reviews also boasts a large database of published home school curriculum and online courses. They stress that all home school reviews are submitted by real families with real experiences.

Check the FAQ section of individual homeschool program websites as they will often have a testimonials section that can help answer program-specific questions and provide helpful user reviews.

What happens after finishing a K-12 Homeschool Program?

Most K-12 homeschool programs complete their studies at a high school level education. If your child wants to continue pursuing a higher education you should be aware of certain prerequisites that must be fulfilled before a student can move on to university level schooling. Each state has specific high school graduation requirements and many colleges and universities require academic transcripts and assessment testing during the admissions process. Proper documentation is vital to increasing your child’s chances of acceptance and many Learn from home programs will track student progress, which can then be submitted to prospective schools.

What if I want to create my own curriculum?

Luckily, the number of free resources available to parents who want to create their own home school curriculum is ever-growing. Even if you are already enrolled in a homeschool program, you can supplement your child’s learning with books, videos, worksheets, online games, and other interactive exercises that are fun and continue the learning process even outside the classroom.

These lists from popular homeschool bloggers: Only Passionate Curiosity, The Happy Housewife, and The Pioneer Woman have a massive amount of homeschool materials--from lesson plans and quizzes to academic calendars and study sheets--that you can download, print, watch, and learn--for free!

Conclusion

With so many options from which to choose many home school programs can pose more questions than answers. That’s why it is vital to your child’s success that you research what each program offers, the teaching methods they employ, and how it aligns with your education goals. Try and locate the homeschool program’s “Mission Statement” on their website to see if you agree with their teaching philosophies and practices.

After you’ve chosen the ideal program you should monitor your child’s progress and reevaluate every few months to see how your student is performing. You can always supplement classroom material with your own curriculum, giving you more of an active role in your child’s academic growth.

Learning is a fun and dynamic process, and thanks to the wealth of information and resources available to modern homeschool families, even the most uninitiated homeschool parent can make a well-informed decision about the best homeschooling program for their family.

When I first got the idea to homeschool my children, it didn’t occur to me that I was making a considerable investment of my time (which I find, I gradually have very little to myself), and to some extent money. So I’m really here to walk you through the good, the bad and the ugly.

As I mentioned before, when the idea came to me to home school my kids, I agonized over the whole thing, is this really a good idea? Can I really do this? How would I even do this?

The questions went on; then finally, it struck me that, I was married, and I didn’t have to make all the decisions myself, (it’s funny how you can forget the important things until you’ve successfully given yourself a headache and a half), so I presented the idea to my husband, we discussed it and, what do you know, we thought it was a good idea.

Thinking it over

The decision to homeschool your kids should not be rushed, it is best if you take your time; make a list of pros and cons of homeschooling, talk it over with your spouse or family. What are your major concerns? Can this work for your family?

The pros and cons of homeschooling

The pros.....

More direct influence over my children

If they were to attend public or private school, they would have to answer to their teachers, and while that’s not necessarily a bad thing, the school may indirectly teach them values that are different from my own; so, until they are at an age where they can think for themselves and properly make informed decisions, I prefer to keep them close.

More family time

This was one of the huge benefits of homeschooling for me; it meant I had easy access to my kids. I could plan lessons around our lives, instead of the other way around. It also meant that we could have spontaneous vacations.

My husband works from home for a few months each year, so, we could, if we wanted, decide that, in the middle of March we would take a vacation in Jamaica. We could do it, without having to worry about missing school. We could even call the vacation a geography lesson; it could even include lessons about animals and differences in climates.

Less negative peer pressure and more one-on-one learning

I didn’t have to worry about bullies, or having my kids facing potentially violent situations.

One of the major reasons why some kids tend to do badly in school is because there is often only one teacher who had to cater to maybe 20-30 kids; so the kids who need it don’t get that well needed individual attention.

Your kids may even get the chance to have a more varied or rounded education, as you get to choose the basic subjects, and if you or the child have other interests, say, learning Japanese or gardening or something almost bizarre, you can hire a tutor. Later in life, they may also find it easier to stay focused as they are used to working with little supervision, and have already learned how to deal with distraction.

The cons.....

Can I deal with having them around for so long?

I love my kids, I really do, but sometimes I just want to lock them in a room and forget about the key, or even pass them off to someone else; because, let me tell you, dealing with kids, can be overly exhausting.

Constant Vigilance

With my children around I barely get time to myself, my social life has now become almost nonexistent, as I now have to spend what little time I have, organizing events and activities with the local Parenting group and trying to keep my little monsters from drinking the bleach (how did she manage to climb all the way to the top shelve, or even open the cleaning cupboard? The bolt is near the top!!! The top!!)

Limited Socialization

With the way my kids insist on getting into the most ridiculous of situations, and it would seem that the best thing to do is to lock them in a padded room; they really needed to go outside quite often and socialize.

Yes, I have to be concerned about their social growth. It is through socialization that they learn to define themselves, they learn to relate to each other and later properly function in society.

The decision to homeschool your kids should not be taken lightly. Write don’t your doubts, look up the homeschooling pros and cons . Can you afford to commit to this decision? Is it even the right one for you?

Once you have answered those questions, research, and then do even more research.

Interested in getting your high school diploma from home? Read on as I will guide you through the requirements and much more.

For homeschool high school students, earning a diploma is an important step for those looking to pursue higher education or future employment. Whether your child completed his or her high school education at home or in tandem with an accredited institution--either online or brick-and-mortar--a diploma marks an important academic achievement.

As a homeschool parent, you might not know all of the necessary information on obtaining a homeschool diploma. Keep reading to learn about how you can acquire a high school diploma at home including: requirements for home school diplomas, resources on how to create a diploma, and what to know for college applications.

Requirements for a  Diploma

In most states, parents have the freedom to set their child’s graduation requirements. As an educator, it is your responsibility to determine your standards before issuing a self-certified diploma. While you are not obligated to model your homeschooling after public school curriculum, referencing state high school graduation requirements can be a useful tool in assessing your child’s readiness for continued education.

State laws vary across the country. Some states require little to no action while others require parents to send notifications to the state, provide student test scores, and/or undergo professional evaluations before a student is considered eligible for high school graduation. Other criteria such as minimum age and sufficient credits in math, language, and science must also be met in order for a student to graduate.

It is important to check your state laws regarding home school requirements prior to awarding a high school diploma.

How to Create a Diploma

In most states, homeschools are considered private institutions. This means that you have the freedom to create and print a diploma in whatever fashion you like. Most commonly, parents choose to create a diploma from a pre-existing template or order a professionally printed one. Students can also acquire a “certified” diploma through various accredited schools and institutions.

Free Diploma Templates

A simple google search will yield hundreds of different template styles for diplomas. Regardless of the template you choose I would recommend printing the diploma on high quality paper with new ink and including the following information to give the diploma a polished appearance:

• The graduate’s name
• The name of the institution awarding the degree
• An explicit mention of a “high school diploma” or completion of a “high school education”
• The date, city, and state where the diploma was awarded
• Your signature (or an educator’s signature who facilitated the student’s lessons)

Some parents notarize the document to give it the look of an official high school diploma.

Professionally Printed Diplomas

For a truly tailor-made degree, websites like Diploma Store and HSLDA offer professional-looking high school diplomas that can be fully customized and personalized. This option offers a quality finished product that will serve as a proud display of your student’s accomplishments.

From Accredited Educational Institutions

Some universities and employers favor state-certified diplomas over homeschool high school diplomas, though this is rare. Students who complete graduation requirements (either on campus or online) from certain accredited schools and organizations can receive a “certified” diploma.

It is important to note that public high schools are not necessarily accredited, and therefore the diplomas they issue are not accredited either. Despite this fact, the vast majority of universities willingly accept these diplomas as legitimate. By and large, homeschool students should not have any issues submitting a self-certified diploma.

Do Universities Accept A Home school Diploma?

With hundreds of universities accepting home school applicants--even top schools like Harvard, MIT, Duke, Yale, and Stanford--home school students have more accessibility to higher education than ever before. However, a diploma itself is a only symbol of a student’s academic achievements: simply providing a diploma is not necessarily enough for university admissions.

While you should check your prospective schools’ requirements for homeschool applicants, many universities require an academic transcript, SAT/ACT scores, and a course syllabus for all lessons. A course syllabus should cover the name of the subject, a brief overview of the subject matter, and materials used during study. Be sure to include textbooks, videos, interactive games, websites, and other learning tools.

Keeping organized and detailed notes about your child’s lessons and academic progress will help streamline this process.

Conclusion

As a homeschool parent, knowing your state laws is crucial before you issue a homeschool diploma. You should also consider your own education standards as a factor in your child’s educational success. A good homeschool education can be considered an extension of good parenting, so ensuring that your child possesses all the necessary skills to excel in school is hugely important.

Whether you choose to create a high school diploma at home or order one professionally, it should reflect your student’s hard work and dedication. While the diploma itself is simply a piece of paper, the academic effort it represents is worth celebrating.

Homeschool Support Groups?

Homeschool groups are one of the larger benefits  of belonging to an association.  This gives a way for parents to communicate with other parents and share their experiences both good and bad.  You can ask for help, offer advice or just be there so that you don't feel like you are alone.  Feeling alone is one of the bigger fear that most of us have when we are home schooling.  You don't want to feel like you are missing something or that you are going way off course with what you are teaching your children.   I is sometime just reassuring to hear someone else say the same things that you are thinking or feeling.   From all of the parents that I speak to the biggest asset that the majority of them talk about is their home school support group.

Building Connections

Since teaching your children from home is much less common than attending public schools, it can be difficult to make connections with families who do the same.  So one of the missions for an association is to bring these families together so they can socialize and share activities together.  For example in a public school most classes go on a field trip at some point in the school year.  Depending on the association that you are part of you can get together and possibly arrange a field trip of your own  with some of the other parents and students of the group.  It also can help your child grow socially if they can socialize with some peers of the same age that also learn from home.  I am not recommending that most of their friends be home schooling friends, but it doesn't hurt to have at least someone who shares some of the same experiences.

Sharing Resources

Depending on the association that you become a member of, they usually have some resources that are shared with their members.  These resources can include curriculum, templates, planners, and many more resources that are needed when teaching.  It's nice to have a group that has already paved the way and dealt with the challenges that you are going to face.  It is from these challenges that resources have been created and saved.  We can all vouch that the first time you do something even as simple as making a craft is always the hardest!  How many times have we said "if I were to do it again I'd do _____ different"?  

This is a great way to learn from the mistakes that others have made and continuously improve the learning for your children and those that will follow.  You may even save a lot of time from trying to research each and every topic on your own. 

The National LDS HomeSchool Association is agood example of some resources offered from an association

Moral Support

The most common statement that I hear from parents that I talk to and are considering teaching at home, is: "I don't think I would be able to do it"   If this is you, then I encourage you to speak with or connect with a home school support group in your area and you will see soon enough that you absolutely can do this!  These support groups are full of great example that anyone can do this, and they can tell you that they felt the same way when they began.  It is with this moral support that you will gain enough confidence to start on your first Journey.  Take some time to watch the video below as it a great example of how your confidence can grow when you are surrounding by supportive people.

One thing that I do want to clarify is that a home school association is NOT the same as a "home and School association"  These are groups that get formed by parents at public schools  with usually different agendas....  

So in the end I think that I would have a really hard time to come up with any good reasons that you should not be part of an association if you do choose to home school.  Go on out now and do a little research on some local associations that fit your interests.

A few years ago, I made the big decision to homeschool my kids. It was a huge thing; I had to think of everything, and trust me, making a workable schedule for a whirlwind of a six year old, five year old and a three year old was not easy.

I had to think of the pros and the cons, and is this really a great idea?

So, after dealing with all that, I’m going to share with you my experiences and some homeschool help tips, which I hope will serve to allow you to know what to expect, as well as the pros and cons, and why you can do it too.  I will also talk about where to get information on homeschooling.

But first, what is home school? or what is homeschooling?

It’s simple really; homeschooling is the decision to educate your child at home, rather than sending them to public or private school, for whatever your reasons are.

The Pros and Cons

For me, the pros were:

By homeschooling my kids, I could better control what happens around them, and the type of people they interact with.

While they are at school, our kids are continually faced with some distasteful situations or some of the most unpleasant personalities. I also realized that schools tend to teach, either directly or indirectly some rather conflicting values to our children than what we would generally approve of.

To an extent it was cheaper.

I didn’t have to buy textbooks that were either near useless or massively expensive; sometimes I didn’t even need to buy the books at all; I could just borrow them from the local library and copy the pages I needed, or even find them online and printed it.

Statistically, homeschooled kids score better on exams and tended to be more successful overall.

I found that this happened because, if the kids are home schooled, their schedules are tailored specially for them, and, as they are my kids, so I know there learning styles. That, and since its only three children, each of them got my individual attention, I was also able to go over the topics as much as needed.

The cons were

Limited Socialization

Yes, even though I really wouldn’t have minded locking them in the house the whole day, I had to be concerned about their social growth. Their socialization is important, because, if they couldn’t relate to their peers, and other situations, then how would they function in society?

To offset this, I got more involved with my community, particularly the neighborhood moms, and organized events. I had to somehow fit in organizing social and sporting events and recreational activities, along with community events that I’m involved in.

What if I can’t teach all they need to know?

As I was not a certified teacher, I had to purchase teaching manuals, and attend group meetings with parents who have the same ideas; I had to learn all these topics I’m teaching too.

What if I’m too nice, or allow them too much leeway because they are my own kids? What if I inadvertently stunt their growth, educationally or socially? Was the decision to home school the right one?

Finding Information

It took a while, but I discussed the idea and my misgivings with my husband, and in the end we decided to work with it.

In the end, it all worked out great, then my biggest worry became, where can I find homeschooling information? Homeschooling information hadn’t been too hard to address though, I spoke with neighbors, and found that there are free sites for homeschooling provided by the government, there is even a guide on homeschoolerguide.com. The secret was determination and on-line classes for some topics and subjects, sure we had to pay for that, but nothing in life is free.

The best part though was that I could just start a lesson anytime; say one of them is helping me to cook, I can teach them about the sciences.

Adjusting

Scheduling was a bit of a problem, but for different reasons really.

While I could theoretically start a lesson at any time, and I technically had time to go over a topic ten times; I had to do some major rearranging of my own personal schedule.

As a stay at home mom, you would have thought that this would have been easy, surprisingly, it wasn’t. I’m heavily involved in my community, I’m President of my local Parenting group as well as a prominent member of our local Community Center where mom’s organize play dates, field trips (educational and recreational) as well as various word, such as sports (we organized a community wide soccer team), so let me tell you, my schedule is the definition of hectic, along with fitting in my book club.

As a Christian parent, I want nothing more but an integration of Christian core values and knowledge on my three kids. These values are not just learned inside the premises of the church through the Sunday School. They are also imparted in schools whether in traditional and standard schools, or in home schools. If you happen to be just like me, who prefers homeschooling their kids, slipping in a Christian curriculum in their learning process is very important. Choosing and evaluating one requires hard work. For me, it's no easy task. Who wouldn't want the best for their child though?  Hence, I get to decide what would be the best Christian home school curriculum for them.

I am here to share my insider secrets with you on how to homeschool your child or children. I am a busy mom of three and wanted a better life for myself and my family, so I too once asked the question of how to start homeschooling. I did it and so can you! This article will cover the basics of how to start homeschooling, how to home school your children and even a few tips for your child on how to be homeschooled. You have already taken the first and very important step by considering this type of education for your child.

Research Your State Laws

The first thing you must do is find out the state laws surrounding homeschooling for your state. Some states require you to register as a private school and others have rules pertaining to standardized tests that you must follow. These are very important to understand and follow. You can’t go wrong if you are prepared. The easiest way to get started with your research and to prepare yourself is to contact your local school district and start asking questions. Write down the answers and ask more questions if you aren’t understanding something.

Choose Your Style

Congratulations! You now have the freedom to decide what to teach your child along with how to teach them. A little research on teaching methods might do you some good here. You know your child best and have experience with how they learn. The greatest thing about homeschooling? If it isn’t working, stop and try something else! Your child will give you immediate feedback and you can cater your teaching to their preferences and learning style. A good tip for both of you is to be patient and flexible with one another. Older children may be fast to tell you what works for them. It may take a little longer for younger children. Just stick with it, no one is perfect at homeschooling and it takes times to see results, just like at a public school!

Get Organized

Because you have the freedom to design your curriculum and style of teaching, organization is going to be key for staying on schedule and on task. There is no one regulating how much time you are spending each day on each task. This is definitely a positive of homeschooling, however, it can also be a challenge for parents who are not extremely organized, strict or good at self-motivating. My best advice is to get a calendar and start planning! Start setting up some goals for the year and work backwards. If you want to accomplish reading chapter books by February, work backwards and figure out when you need to start introducing those lessons. Stick to your calendar (roughly) and try to set goals that are reachable. Organizing a quiet space in your house for focused learning is also an important step in getting organized.

Create a Schedule

Creating a schedule is equally as important as getting organized. There are no tardy slips in homeschooling. Set a schedule for the day and the week. Both with start and end times allowing breaks in between. Obviously if you have a spontaneous opportunity or a teachable moment, don’t let it pass you by just because of the schedule. These moments are the beauty of homeschooling. However, schedules are important because children work best with structure and when they know what to expect, as well as what is expected of them.

Use Community Resources

Don’t forget about the social part of school. Children like to interact with individuals their age with similar likes and interests. Homeschooled children can still participate in public school activities. My son plays soccer for the public school team and has made lots of friends this way. Other community resources include checking in and out library books, connecting with other parents that homeschool their children and even local museums that offer day programs specifically for children that are homeschooled.

Homeschooling your child or children is a great alternative way to provide them with an education as well as a diverse learning environment. Remember to do your research ahead of time on your state laws and regulations surrounding how to home school your child. Choose a method of teaching that best fits your needs as well as your child’s learning style. Get organized by making a schedule and sticking to it. Don’t forget to tap into important community resources that help your child be well-rounded and offer a social element to their homeschooling education. These tips will help you get started on how to homeschool your child, but remember, the world is your classroom, don’t be afraid to use it!

With the ever changing advancements in technology and the online applications the landscape for teaching your children from home has been drastically changed in the last decade.  The days of home schooling being strictly taught from text books, and paper based curriculum are far behind us now.  Now more than ever there are a wide variety of choices for your child to learn from home.   With there being so many choices, I thought I would take the 5 best online homeschool programs and compare them for you all based on the same criteria. 

Top 5 Online Home School Reviews

Bridgeway Academy Online Version

Bridgeway Academy offers and online version of their programs.  I will be comparing the online versions below.

Learning Material Selection: There is no shortage of curriculum material at Bridgeway.  They offer over 200 courses to choose from in their online learning center.  They also offer the ability to take a textbook course combined with the online training in case you or your child want a break from the online work.  They offer online elementary school, online middle school, and online high school courses.  

Teaching / Learning Methods: Interactive, video led and live courses all available

Cost Level:  Mid to High

Quality Of Materials: High

Website: http://www.homeschoolacademy.com/

Connections Academy

Learning Material Selection: Connections academy also has a great variety of online curriculum and comes with a good reputation.  They specialize in online curriculum and seem to be  advanced in the delivery of the material as they have their own trademarked Teachlet ® tutorials delivery system.  Connections is actually a public school but delivered online so many of the public school rules need to be followed.  This may be a turn off for some as it kind of puts "being in full control" of your child's education out the window.  

Teaching / Learning Methods: Interactive modules and tutorials

Cost Level: Low  (Free as it is online public school)

Quality Of Materials: Mid - High

Website: http://www.connectionsacademy.com/

Time 4 Learning

Time 4 Learning is a favorite for pre-k to Middle school children and their parents.  They offer great materials that are easy to follow and prices are fair as well.  The work can be done at any time and there are no time restrictions on how much time you must spend on the materials.  Time for Learning actually have courses for all grade levels including high school, but I have heard from parents that the High school level material is not challenging enough.

Learning Material Selection: They have a structured set of curriculum to follow to complete each grade level.  

Teaching / Learning Methods: Interactive multimedia

Cost Level:  Low- Mid

Quality Of Materials: Mid - High

Website:  https://www.time4learning.com/

International Virtual Learning Academy

The International Virtual Learning Academy has a a full choice of curriculum levels based on you and your child's personal preferences.  They offer individualized learning plans and each student is provided with a mentor for their learning.  The programs are completely online and the curriculum material meets national standards. 

Learning Material Selection: They have a structured set of curriculum to follow to complete each grade level.  

Teaching / Learning Methods: Interactive multimedia, Video led

Cost Level:  Low

Quality Of Materials: Mid - High

Website: https://www.internationalvla.com/

Home Learning Institute

The Home Learning institute offers a variety off courses for grades 1 -12.  this is an affordable choice that offers a good degree of flexibility in the way that the material is delivered to meet your families needs.  Most of the material is self corrected using the interactive training tools but assignments and essays will still need to be assessed and corrected by the parent.

Learning Material Selection: Structured selections from grades 1 to 12.    

Teaching / Learning Methods: Interactive multimedia, Video led

Cost Level:  mid

Quality Of Materials: Mid - High

Website: http://homelearninginstitute.com/

Conclusion

As you would imagine or expect it is difficult to say which is the best online home school.  It really does come down specific preferences such as which grades you are interested in, what you budget is, what you child's learning profile is.  What I hope to have accomplished is to show you some of the best online high school, middle school, elementary schools and of those you can decide what you are really looking for.

The idea of educating your children at home is wonderful but without the right practical support it can easily turn into a disaster. Therefore, many busy parents are left wondering how to find the no cost homeschool resources and help that they need in order to give their kids the useful education that they need.

The good news is that there are a number of excellent resources out there that are easy to use as well as letting you homeschool for free. The following are some of the best tips that I have come across while working out how to homeschool my own 3 kids as best I can.

Find Free Curriculum Material

You don’t need to have an up to date and encyclopaedic knowledge of the current curriculum in order to teach your children about the most important subjects they need to learn. These days, you can find everything that you need on the internet.

The free homeschool curriculum material you will find online ranges from history to music and literature. For example, you will find everything you need to teach your children at home using the Charlotte Mason method, the Waldorf method, or any other approach you want to use.

Finding the right material for the curriculum is your very first step, as this will allow you to take a structured approach to the matter right from the start. In some cases, you can use a smartphone or tablet app instead of computer, if it suits you better to do it in this way.

Download Printable Games and Quizzes

Other fantastic no cost homeschool material can be found with the massive amount of games and quizzes that you can download. These cover all sorts of subjects and are ideal for adding some fun and some color to your classes.

I like to check out different games each month and download different types each time, to keep it fresh and fun. Word puzzles, grammar quizzes, mazes, and other material of this type really add to the sense of fun for both the parent and the child.

The rapid increase in the number of homeschooling families means that resources like this are becoming ever more popular and more common.

Use Math Worksheets

If you are like me then there are sure to be some subjects that you are stronger on than others. Some parents choose to homeschool for free because they are experienced teaching professionals but many of us are simply enthusiastic amateurs.

One of the subjects that can be especially daunting for parents is math. If you are worried about getting it wrong then you will definitely be interested in the free homeschool math worksheets that are available online.

These handy worksheets are designed to make it quick and easy for any mom or dad to give their child useful lessons in this most valuable subject.

Add Religious Education for Free

Of course, it is down to every parent to decide whether to add some religious education to their child’s homeschooling classes. Personally, I like the idea of adding some religious context to their lessons. I feel that this will allow them to make their own decisions in the future on this matter.

There are plenty of free online homeschool resources online for you to add religious lessons to your curriculum in the way that best suits you and your child.

For instance, there are homeschool methods that have religious material at the forefront of the teaching. However, there are also other approaches that simply add in religion as an additional subject.

Check Out What Other Parents Are Doing

Finally, one of the great fears of many parents in this situation is around whether they are doing things in the right way. I know that at the start I was terrified of missing out on important lessons or of teaching things in the wrong way.

It doesn’t help when you are very busy and feel that you can’t dedicate as much time to the homeschooling as you would like.

Thankfully, there are also online resources such as forums that can help you to see what other parents are doing in the same situation. This helps you to exchange ideas, clear up any doubts and feel as though you aren’t in it alone.

What to Do Next

If you are serious about taking the next step and teaching your children at home then it is now easier than ever before to do this. You just need to get started by looking at the different sites that are online and choosing which ones to use. In no time at all you can have all of the material you need and start giving valuable, professional lessons that give your child a fantastic start in life. Homeschooling is just about the most satisfying thing you can do as a parent and is one of the greatest gifts you will ever give.