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There is more or less a general consensus on the inherent value of education. However, people may often disagree about the right method toward achieving that education. The majority of the population would rather opt for institutionalized formal education, referring to education offered in public or private education institutions like primary and secondary schools. However, as has been the recent trend, many parents in particular have begun considering or even going on ahead with home schooling their children. Home schooling, prevalent prior the inception of formalized school systems, is making a return to the mainstream because some parents either do not approve of the curriculum of school systems or are even against the idea of formalized school systems, or find themselves holding greater capacity to educate their children in the best possible manner.
Perhaps you are interested in home schooling your child, and conceded, you have your own reasons for doing it. But just like picking a school for your child, the decision to home school is a very big one. This would most obviously translate to you taking your child out of a previous social learning environment and into the home to educate him or her; moreover this also means that from then on, you are going to be fully responsible for the intellectual rearing of your child.
It is perhaps for this reason that certain guidelines are set by the state or local education offices before you can actually home school your child. It is best to consider these guidelines first because your state can help you through the process, and moreover, may enlighten you on relevant issues on home schooling. I’ll expound further.
Majority of states in the United States would require a legal minimum of state notification of your intention to home school your child. In a rare few (including Texas, Alaska, Missouri, Illinois, and Oklahoma, among others), you may go on ahead with home schooling your child without informing the state.
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Other states however, would require you first to notify the state and afterwards acquire your child’s grade records should he or she have attended a public school. After this, some states may require you to create a curriculum you intend to follow for your home schooling program, be accredited as a parent-teacher, and to host a home visit by your local education officials. Later on, during the period when your child is already being home schooled, some states may require for you to submit to them evaluation scores, attendance records (states may require a minimum number of ‘school’ days for home school too) and even test scores.
It is very important for you to find out the different requirements for home schooling in your state. For one, it will help you make sure that once you home school your child, your child’s education is actually being recognized by the state. Without state approval, your home schooling may not be regarded, which may increase the difficulty for your child to move on to a university or college. Second, the state may provide you with various forms and guidebooks as you home school your child. This assistance may prove valuable to you, especially if you are home schooling for the first time. Third, by finding out these requirements, you will be able to submit to the state all the required documents that you must submit periodically. In this way, you are also assured that your child is at par level with any other child enrolled in a regular school setting. In the same manner, by approaching your local education authority you may actually inquire about the college application process of home
schoolers.
Home schooled children may be required a marginal number of steps that regular applicants are not required to take in order to qualify for their chosen university. Some universities may require your child to take the G.E.D., an exam that will help test the sufficiency of their knowledge from home school to be considered as qualified college applicants, while others may require state accreditation. Moreover, by visiting your local education authority you will also find out the various state and local government scholarships for which your child may or may not qualify.
While home schooling may pose some added burden once you are ready to return your child to a regular school system, it has proven beneficial to many in the past. Visit your state or local government education office in order to make an educated decision, and in order to get the approval you’d need to push through with home schooling your child.
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Homeschoolers...it's time to enter the 2012 Doodle 4 Google Contest
The theme for the 2012 Doodle 4 Google Contest is "If I could travel in time, I'd visit..." Homeschooled students are invited to participate in the competition to create a new design for the Google homepage logo centered around this year's theme.
The doodles will be judged on artistic merit, creativity, representation of the theme, and other criteria.
Past Homeschool Winners:
Homeschooler Hannah Newsom, of Glenwood Homeschool in Fayetteville, Arkansas, won the Grades 10-12 division in the 2011 contest for her storybook artist-themed "Illustration."
Homeschooler Vance Viggiano of Heritage Home School Academy in Long Valley, New Jersey, won the Grades 7-9 division in the 2010 contest with his "The Love of Art" entry.
Remember...If you don't enter, you can't win!
Homeschoolers...it's time to enter the 2012 Doodle 4 Google Contest originally appeared on About.com Homeschooling on Friday, February 3rd, 2012 at 14:10:49.
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It's Groundhog Day...Cute Groundhog Cupcake!
Shadow or no shadow? Punxsutawney Phil? Candlemas Day? How much do you know about Groundhog Day? Learn all about groundhogs and Groundhog Day with these fun printables, activities and quiz. This cute Groundhog Cupcake was given to my husband at work today to celebrate Groundhog Day. What fun!
Play a game of Flashlight Tag - you only need a dark room and a flashlight.
Make shadow puppets on the wall. Can your shadow puppets play tag?
Play Groundhog Day Tic-Tac-Toe included in the printables. Will it be three shadows in a row or no shadows?
It's Groundhog Day...Cute Groundhog Cupcake! originally appeared on About.com Homeschooling on Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 at 00:10:27.
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Happy Australia Day! Aussie Lingo and Lollies
G'Day, mate. Care for a lolly? We enjoyed lollies today during our study of Australia. The kids got a kick out of learning some Aussie lingo. Australia Day is celebrated on January 26th each year to honor the day that Captain Arthur Phillip landed at Port Jackson and claimed Australia for the British.
Australia Printables
Aussie Lingo Printables
Happy Australia Day! Aussie Lingo and Lollies originally appeared on About.com Homeschooling on Thursday, January 26th, 2012 at 13:30:22.
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Carnival of Homeschooling: Wintery Mix Edition
This weeks Homeschooling Carnival is up over at janice-campbell.com. Janice shares a wintery theme with the submissions. Enjoy your visit with Janice and other homeschool bloggers.
The next carnival will be hosted at Amy Bayliss. Send in your submissions by Monday at 6 p.m.
Carnival of Homeschooling: Wintery Mix Edition originally appeared on About.com Homeschooling on Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 at 11:35:38.
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From the mailbag: Can you homeschool me?
I received the cutest email obviously from a student in distress:
"I go to school, but do you think you can can homeschool me online by sending me email messages and I will send them back...please, please please, please, please."
My response:
"I wish I could homeschool you, but that's not how it works. Your parents do the homeschooling. You should talk to your parents if you'd like to be homeschooled. I don't know your situation, but one parent would have to be home and do the teaching.
If homeschooling doesn't work out, let me encourage you to do your best in school. I know it's hard to imagine now, but honestly, your life will be better later on if you do what you need to do now. Even if you have to stay in school, talk to your parents and share your concerns and frustrations with them. I'm sure they love you and would welcome the chance to help you do well.
Good luck to you. Let me know what happens."
I enjoy hearing from students. I really would homeschool this child if I could, but homeschooling other people's children falls under tutoring and not homeschooling and is a whole different ballgame legally. Each state has laws governing homeschooling and tutoring, so if you wanted to do something like this, you'd have to check the laws for your state.
Do you homeschool other people's children? What requirements do you have to fulfill to do so legally in your state? How does this work for you and for the students? Share your story.
From the mailbag: Can you homeschool me? originally appeared on About.com Homeschooling on Monday, January 23rd, 2012 at 17:19:41.
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