Home School Training
We are aware of a few home school training programs around the country held mostly at junior colleges. Some are more of a study outline where you meet for a few hours initially, then go do the homework they tell you to do, then reconvene in 3-4 weeks for a few more hours to discuss what you learned. There are also correspondence courses to be taken. But to be frank, we feel it would be a shame not to read some of the great books out today on homeschooling.
You can first learn about all the methods of homeschooling to decide on which style of teaching you want to follow. This is an important first step because it will determine the path you take next to source out the materials you will need and how to go about planning out your curriculum. Some methods are fairly rigid in their structure, calling for a strict adherence to course guidelines as to which subjects to teach and when. Classical homeschooling would be the obvious example of this.
Some people think this type of teaching is too much like a classroom schedule and call it public school without the schoolhouse. We don't favor any particular method, figuring it's really up to each individual parent to decide what is best for them and their children. But you also must know that State and local laws can dictate some of your teaching basics. Some areas are pretty loose on what is taught, backing off on the Big Brother concept of governance. While others have regulations in place that require you to teach certain subjects, test out your students on a regular basis or get your course outline approved each year. With the stricter States, you may not have quite as much leeway on how you conduct your homeschooling classes, but you will still be way ahead of public schools in that you will still have one-on-one instruction, no peer pressure, no long commutes on buses, no taunting by other children, no long daily separation from your child and some control (if not all) on what they will be learning. Homeschooling will still have the advantage over public education even in the stricter parts of the country.
Some people will think they need special home school training before attempting to teach their children at home. We believe if you read some books on it, check out some of the Web forums on the subject of homeschooling and perhaps contact a local support group, you may gain the confidence to know you can do this. After all, it's your kid. Haven't you been teaching him everything since he was born? You're a natural! Go for it!
A J Adams has had a keen interest in home schooling for a number of years. With several public school teachers in his family, he has had many discussions regarding current school problems. He's heard many suggestions, one of which was the growing number of children being home schooled. After a thorough period of research, he decided to write an article about home school training. He will be submitting more in future articles. Mr. Adams also owns and maintains a website with his wife at http://www.elementary-home-schools.com where you can get a free 10-part mini-course on homeschooling and watch a touching video made by a young man to thank his mother for her many years of homeschooling him.
Find More Home Schooling Articles
About the Author
0 comments: