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