Homeschooling For Real

Many people think that homeschooling is either all workbooks and stringent learning or that the kids are neglected and do not learn at all. Thankfully, my perception of homeschool has evolved and I have learned that it is so much more than just a completing worksheets and book work. My child is a visual and kinesthetic learner, so book work and worksheets are not his favorite method of learning. I am often found searching for creative ways to help him learn a new concept.

This little video that I am sharing with you today shows the fun that can be had in a homeschool. If you are not engaging in fun activities, then I hope it will inspire you. If you already are, then I hope it will bring a smile to your face as you watch it.

What are some of your favorite homeschool activities? Leave me a comment and share.

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Once in awhile there comes a great software program that is a must have for my homeschool. Such is the case with the program Homeschool Tracker. I just absolutely love this program. It allows me to keep organized records and track of my son’s progress through the school year. It also allows me to keep all of the records that I am required to keep by my state in one place, including attendance records.

I think that perhaps one of my very favorite functions of the Homeschool Tracker is that I can generate a report card for my child. This makes him feel like he is accountable for his grades and it ensures that I am doing what I need to do also. I can also generate a transcript for my child when necessary.

The program takes a little bit to get used to, but there are several helps all along the way. The user manual is put together very well and their site offers step by step guides with screen shots if you really want to have your hand held. There is also a forum that you can register for and ask other homeschool parents any questions that you may have.

The basic edition of the Homeschool Tracker is free and includes any updates that you may need forever. It has many useful functions and many people find they are able to accomplish all that they need to with this version.

I upgraded this year to the Homeschool Tracker Plus version which is a paid version. I wanted to try out the other functions that are included with this version and I am now wondering why I didn’t upgrade sooner. I absolutely love all of the little extra’s that are included for what I consider to be a rather nominal and extremely reasonable price. Again, any future upgrades are included in the price forever.

I know that this school year will be organized and I will be able to generate just about any kind of report that I can possibly think of with ease. I will be able to motivate my child and account for his studies. If you are looking for a great organizational tool for your homeschool, I highly suggest this great product.

What do you use to organize your homeschool? Have you used Homeschool Tracker? What did you think and why? Leave me a comment and share.

Today I have a short video for you that was put out by the HSLDA. This is the first video in a series of three videos that encourages families to homeschool. I found it quite interesting and it really gives some great reasons why people choose to homeschool the children in their families. If you are only just thinking about homeschooling, then this is a great video to watch. However, if you are a veteran homechooler, then this is a great reminder about why you may have chosen to homeschool. It reminds us of our reasons and priorities and is refreshing to the soul.

Here is the first part of the video series:

What are your thoughts about homeschooling now? Leave me a comment and share.

I just recently moved to another state and needed to research the state requirements so we could continue to homeschool. I knew that I must meet those requirements in order to provide the education to my child that we have become accustomed to. Our previous state did not need notice in order to homeschool, but I wasn’t sure about our new state. So what did I do? I visited the HSLDA website for the information.

Many people do not like the HSLDA or Home School Legal Defense Association. There are many people I know who disagree with some of their stances and causes. However, I have found lots of useful information on their site that is available for free. They are advocates of the right to homeschool and their organization works to further this cause and belief.

One of the most useful bits of information is the breakdown that they provide of requirements by each state. This information can help you to comply with your state standards and to know your legal rights as a homeschool family. I visited this part of the site to save myself some time in discovering what the requirements were for my new state.

I was able to find out that our new state needed notice of our intent to homeschool and they also needed proof of an educational plan and curriculum. I was able to file this information in the local school district office. It was pretty painless, and now I do not need to worry about being found truant by the local school district.

Do you know what the laws are for your state and homeschooling? If you are not sure, you may want to visit the HSLDA website and become informed. I have always kept a copy in my school files just in case I should ever need to use it. Knowing the requirements for your state is not just a good idea. It is a necessary exercise in order to keep your rights safe as a homeschooler.

So, what do you need to do in order to legally homeschool in your state? Leave me a comment and share.

Photo provided by jeltovski

If you are looking for a way to help your child learn about a topic in a fun and interesting way, you may want to consider lapbooking. There are so many different fun and interesting ways to record facts and findings. Your imagination level will be the only thing to hold you back. So what exactly is a lapbook and how do you make one?

A lapbook is simply a portfolio of your child’s work that is presented in a creative and eye catching manner. It will encompass a series of creative creations made of paper that will focus on various aspects of the topic you are studying in your homeschool. As your child learns new material, you will want them to demonstrate their knowledge of the subject. This can be accomplished by making a series of mini reports, charts, graphs, illustrations, photos, recipes and the list can go on and on. All of these mini projects are then compiled into a special folder that you make and then display creatively.

For example, suppose you are studying geography and you want to study each of the states in the US. You could make a variety of flap books, mini booklets, pamphlets and pop ups that will display the many different aspects of the topic. You could have a layered tabbed book with four different panels that could list the state bird, state flower, state motto and the date inducted into the union. A pop up could show a picture of the state’s flag and any information about it. A three fold pamphlet could describe any information about that state you want to cover such as national parks, tourist attractions, etc. After you have completed the many different elements of your lapbook, you will then fasten each element into a colored file folder. This will create a vast array of visual pleasure when you open it.

You will find that your kids are drawn to creating these lapbooks in your homeschool. It provides them with many opportunities to present key information in a condensed format that is fun. They will also gain an element of graphic art presentation as they learn to present their materials in a manner that is visually stimulating. It will keep them stimulated and excited to learn even when faced with tedious studies. By having your kids share their creations, they gain self esteem and also review the materials without being forced to.

To see some samples of finished lapbooks, you can visit Peakmore Academy Lapbooks. For more information on how to create the different elements of your lapbooks, please download this guide provided by Tobin’s Lab.

The possibilities of using lapbooking in your homeschool are endless. What are some of the ways you will use this technique in your homeschool?

Photo courtesy of Peakmore Academy Lapbooks