Whistling Wings Outfitter
March 31, 2011 at 1:53 pm
filed under Outdoors
The saying All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy was not coined without any reason. Homeschooling a child is a whole new approach towards educating a child. Educating a child is a big responsibility. The main objective of homeschooling parents should be the all round development of a child, which will equip him/her to deal with the world, and enable him/her to carve his/her own identity in this competitive world. However, when parents homeschool their children, the dilemma often arises about how much time a child should spend studying within the confines of his/her study room.
Researchers have repeatedly stressed that all homeschooling need not take place at home. An academic experience can be gathered from anywhere in the world, and time and again it has been proved that educational adventures pursued in the real world opens up a childs mind more. Educational trips are one of the best ways of learning, because nature and personal experience of things are the greatest teachers. An outdoors educational experience also encourages parents to spend more time with their kids, which increases their confidence level.
Summer is a great time to take the homeschool outdoors in the form of camps or special hobby classes. Whatever means you choose to plan an outdoor educational endeavor, there is no doubt it will be a refreshing experience, both for the child and the parent. Parents who choose to homeschool are often criticized for depriving their children of the social experiences in regular schools, i.e. making friends and an all-round learning approach. Taking homeschool outdoors can be an answer to that.
A child can be homeschooled and still attend other classes, like judo or music lessons, and thus be a part of a social group of his/her own age. A child can be homeschooled and also be a part of community gatherings and hence be in touch with a large number of people. The best thing about homeschooling is that it is up to the child and parents to decide his/her academic pursuits and social involvement level. It goes without saying that parents want their children to have complete development, and they are also aware that a childs mind needs to be refreshed regularly. Plus, parents also know that it is important for their children to interact with their own peer group, so that they can fit into society when they grow up. Thus, to think that a childs social adequacy will suffer because of homeschooling is baseless.
There are many educational academies and organizations that organize various camps to assist homeschooling parents in planning their outdoor educational excursions. These outdoor camps deal with different aspects of education. While some involve children in scientific tasks dealing with nature, others include drawing and painting classes. The outdoor camps can be as long as a week or just for a day. But, all of them, apart from imparting interesting lessons, also teach children the 3 Cs – Communication, Cooperation and Commitment – which are the basic elements for leading an ideal social life. Parents usually do not accompany their kids on camps, unless they themselves lead it. Camping also teaches children how to keep their surroundings clean and the common etiquettes of eating, setting the table etc.
It is not necessary that parents wait until the summer for an outdoor teaching experience. They can homeschool outdoors on a seasonal basis, or even on a daily basis. For example, during the spring season, parents can take their child to the nearby woods to show the seasonal flora and fauna, or they can go on a daily walk together discussing about anything that interests them. Homeschooling that includes large doses of experiences outdoors will give children all they require for all round development.
Kris Koonar
http://www.articlesbase.com/homeschooling-articles/taking-homeschooling-outdoors-107813.html
Lesley
Homeschooling method?
Right now, I have two big commitments in my life besides education; horseback riding lessons and ballet class. Personally, I also wish I had more time for visiting the stables daily to help take care of the horses, exploring the great outdoors, the arts, shopping for things I need, and just having more fun.
I’m a junior in high school. To me, public school feels like a prison, and I always seem to be struggling to keep up. I like working quietly on worksheets I know how to do, but not from textbooks or lectures. I can’t ever seem to stay on task with textbook work, and lectures bore me and make me sleepy. If I can do the work, I’ll do it. If I can’t, I won’t.
I have some minor learning and emotional problems, but I am very bright. I am mostly a visual and tactile learner, meaning I have to be able to see and do things in order to learn them (which is why I hate lectures and textbooks). I am also "right-brained" (visuals, emotion, art, music, etc.) as opposed to the "left-brained" teaching approach of most public schools (logic, reason, math, writing, etc.). I learn much better at my own pace, especially when I am interested in the subject and/or topic.
My mom works all day and my dad is usually asleep because he works nights, so no one can teach me every day for hours. I’m not sure if we have much money to spend on an online or "boxed" curriculum or brand new books, either.
I’ve heard of self-teaching methods, free online schools, and printouts, which all sound good to me. I can’t seem to find good enough information for my parents, though (they are very, very picky).
Overall, I need a good curriculum that keeps up with my our family’s busy schedule and work with my way of learning. I need a structured yet flexible place to learn where I can learn many things, have few distractions, and have fun.
So now I need you to answer these questions:
Should I be homeschooled?
What will it do to help me and my family?
What method should my family use?
What do I need?
Where can I get what I need in Virginia?
When do I start homeschooling?
Any other advice?
Sorry it was so long (I love to type too much). Thank you for your time!
K
Hit your local library and see if they have a copy of The Teenage Liberation Handbook. This book is chock-full of advice and ideas that you can use. It’s written for teenagers who would like to take their own education into their own hands, treat it seriously, and take the road less traveled.
The author was a teacher in public schools, private schools, and settled on respecting teenagers instead of trying to control them, and focusing on her own passion: Dance.
It’s a very worthwhile read, has great outlines, advice, suggestions and questions for you to ask yourself.
References :
Richard B
the school system OWES YOU educational opportunity
start with a long talk with a school guidance councilor, bring your Mom
this is a common problem
References :
old guy, MS education
em
Based on what you wrote (and one of your previous question I came across recently), I think schooling at home is for you. Definitely online schooling though, so you have the support of online teachers, as your parents both work. Whether you can afford one of those online academies, or have to settle for public school at home, that’s what your parents have to decide, based on your financial situation.
There are many online homeschooling academies. In some, you still get the books, just do tests online and get support online.
Why don’t you google some and give them a call and ask what they have to offer to you. They’ll tell you how they work and send you some info you can show your parents.
That said, don’t forget to stay in touch with friends or get new ones through your hobbies or homeschooling group – you have to stay social!
Good luck, I hope you get to be homeschooled.
References :