| After deciding to homeschool your child, you now | | | | community resources. Secondary school level |
| to work out what you are going to teach them. | | | | students often take classes at community |
| There are many curriculum choices you can | | | | colleges, which typically have open admission |
| make. You can purchase pre-packaged curriculum, | | | | policies. |
| make your own curriculum, or you could even | | | | One of the major benefits of Homeschooling is |
| teach a combination of both. Some parents prefer | | | | the ability to blend lessons using a central theme, |
| to focus their teachings on their religious beliefs. | | | | for example, a study unit about Native Americans |
| However, it is important to keep an open mind | | | | could combine lessons in: social studies - like how |
| and remember that your children are their own | | | | different tribes live now and lived prior to |
| people and they should be taught about the world | | | | colonization; art - such as making Native American |
| from many different perspectives. Remember | | | | clothing; history of Native Americans in the US; |
| that there is no "right" way to teach your children | | | | reading from a specialized reading list; and the |
| because the "right" way for one child may not be | | | | science of plants used by Native Americans. You |
| "right" for another. It is important to be flexible | | | | could use this same technique on another study |
| and change your curriculum to tailor to your | | | | unit where you chose another broad topic to |
| children as you discover their individual | | | | study. |
| requirements as they grow. | | | | Homeschooling also offers student paced learning. |
| So what is Pre-Packaged Curriculum anyway? Well | | | | This is similar to "all-in-one" curriculum and is often |
| Pre-Packaged, "school in a box", or "all-in-one" | | | | referred to as "Paces". These workbooks allow |
| Curriculum are comprehensive education packages | | | | the student to progress at an appropriate speed |
| that cover many subjects (usually an entire year | | | | that suits their individual needs. They allow the |
| worth). They contain all required books and | | | | student to master concepts, before moving on to |
| materials. Some even include pencils and writing | | | | the next subject, instead relying on the speed of |
| paper. The intent of the "school in a box" is to try | | | | the teacher and other students where they may |
| to recreate the school environment in the home. | | | | move on to the next subject too quickly or not |
| They are typically based on the same | | | | move on quickly enough. |
| subject-area expectations as public schools, which | | | | Another form of Homeschooling is "Unschooling", |
| allows an easy transition into school after being | | | | that is, an area in which students are not directly |
| home schooled, if desired. They are among the | | | | instructed but encouraged to learn through |
| most expensive options for the homeschooled, | | | | exploring their interests. Known also as |
| but are easy to use and require minimal | | | | "interest-led" or "child-led" learning, Unschooling |
| preparation. | | | | attempts to provide opportunities with games and |
| The majority of today's home-educated students | | | | real life problems where a child will learn without |
| use an eclectic mix of materials for their | | | | coercion. |
| Homeschooling needs. For example, they might | | | | Unschooling advocates claim that children learn |
| use a pre-designed program for language, arts or | | | | best by doing. A child may learn reading and math |
| mathematics, and fill in history with reading and | | | | skills by playing card games, better spelling and |
| field trips, art with classes at a community center, | | | | other writing skills because he's inspired to write a |
| science through homeschool science clubs, physical | | | | science fiction story for publication, or local history |
| education with memberships in local sports teams, | | | | by following a zoning or historical-status dispute. |
| etc. This has been proved to be one of the most | | | | No matter which technique you decide to use |
| successful ways of educating the Homeschooled | | | | when you start Homeschooling your children, you |
| child. | | | | should remember to be flexible and revise your |
| Home educators are also able to take advantage | | | | teaching choices, as you will need to adapt your |
| of educational programs at museums, community | | | | curriculum to better tailor to your child's needs as |
| centers, athletic clubs, after-school programs, | | | | they become apparent. |
| churches, science preserves, parks, and other | | | | |