Posts Tagged ‘mathematics’

Fear In School

Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

Do you have fond memories of your school years? Do you have happy memories of teachers and school friends? If you do then you were lucky, because some children hate each minute of being in school and not because they are no good at it either. Often it is the bright children who are taunted for being swots and teachers’ pets. They are safe in the class, but the journeys to and from school and the school breaks can be nightmares.

However, it is not just bullying from other children that causes fear in school children. There are other reasons for fear in school as well. Sometimes, children think that a particular teacher does not like them and occasionally children are just scared of failing or doing badly. Occasionally teachers are afraid of doing badly as well. It can all lead to an atmosphere of fear at school. It makes you ask yourself how anyone could have enjoyed their school days, does it not?

This atmosphere of fear can become greater in state schools because the teachers are subject to success charts and the kids are more open to bullying. Furthermore, all of the school shootings in the world have taken place in state run schools.

However, the most insidious kind of fear in school comes from teachers who are scared of missing the targets set by the state, because that will cost them their jobs. This fear is passed on to their students. The regime of fear is exacerbated by over-sized classes. Why?

Because teachers can hold the attention of only so many pupils – as we all can in normal discourse. Therefore, if the class is too large, the teacher will have to switch roles from being a teacher to a controller. When this occurs, education suffers for the sake of keeping order.

For all of these reasons and more, many parents are turning to home schooling. Some of the reasons why parents are deciding to educate their children themselves are: distrust of the state education system; fear of bullying or worse of their children; a desire to teach their children in a more conventional or religious manner.

There are learning packages that parent-teachers can purchase to give them a course of action on what to teach. There is also a lot of help accessible on the Net. The problem facing any parents who wish to teach their own children is providing a rounded education.

People have a natural tendency to specialize in one topic or group of topics like, say, astronomy or the sciences, which is why schools supply many teachers, so that each one can teach his or her favourite subject. However, if you are the only teacher you will have to teach all the subjects yourself.

This is why it is best to have a course or set of guidelines to follow. It is difficult to teach maths if you have no talent for it, so look at your strengths but also your weaknesses before you take the considerable decision to remove your children from school and teach them themselves

Owen Jones, the author of this article writes on numerous subjects but is currently involved with Fear At School and home Schooling. If you would like to read more, please go over to our website entitled Home Schooling.

Homeschooling And The Family

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

If a survey by the National Center For Education Statistics is to be believed, roughly 1.1 million children took home schooling in 2005 alone. That’s a great deal of children. Not so long ago, homeschooling used to be an extreme statement – something like a declaration of independence.

It was the right-wing Christians who pushed for homeschooling in the ’80s and legalized it in every State. But the typical homeschooler of today is not religiously motivated.

Later surveys indicate that parents are really fed up with the public school system where a lot of the learning is superficial and compulsory. They are also concerned about the negative environment in school, ranging from drugs and abuse to negative pressure from their peers.

As a result, we have a surprising mix of people who form the homeschooling world of today. They cut across all religious creeds and all regional borders. Their main aim is providing meaningful and productive learning through a method that strengthens the bond between the various members of the family.

All these families have one major thing in common – a long standing commitment to the sanctity of childhood. The children of these families are accorded a primary position. Many believe, and, probably, rightly so, that home schooling allows parents to bring up their children in a more natural and nurturing environment.

Public schools can make a child nervous, diffident and downright mean. Children who get their education at home are protected from these damaging, negative influences until they reach an age where they can withstand them.

Home-schooling draws the whole family into the almost religious task of teaching. Everyone has a role to play. The parents together form a bond with the children. Any experience can be turned into an educational experience. Both the parents are aware of exactly what is going into their child’s education.

Parents also have a greater say over the type of religious and moral values that the child is taught. Even watching a movie together can become a learning experience. Trips to the libraries, zoos, museums and other places become educational experiences as well as recreational ones.

A home-schooling family is primarily dependent on the income of one earning member. That means that often spending has to be curtailed and proper planning of expenditure is necessary. This helps to bring the family members together and everybody becomes involved in the task of not spending money.

Merely having a parent at home to look after, to nurture and to care for the children brings with it a great deal of love and caring. Even the husband chips in and there is just no room for boredom.

Yes, problems still do occur, and there will be many misgivings in your mind, but when you know that your kids can always count on you, and your kids know it too, then homeschooling becomes a richly rewarding experience.

If you are thinking about Home Schooling then please pop along to our site at Home Schooling Information

Home Schooling And Learning By Computer

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

There is access to a computer in nearly every home in the West these days and the rest of the world is catching up very fast. So, it is very important for you to get one at home too, because of the many benefits it can bring, especially if you have an Internet connection. Nowadays, you need to have have some computer experience, if you want even a reasonably-paid job, so learning how to use a computer must start at school. You and your children can have a fantastic educational experience with a computer at home. Children of today must learn about this very important instrument at the very earliest age possible and one of the best ways to achieve that is through home schooling computer programs.

At present, even kindergarten children are being taught how to use computers and their associated resources. If you opt for home schooling, you and your child will also spend most of your time making use of a computer and the Internet. Teaching your children will be a lot better when done online, because of the different resources available there. Your child will be provided with some of the best educational resources, from which he/she will benefit greatly not least since employment market trends today involve the Internet.

One of the largest ethnic groups who prefers to make use of home schooling is the African Americans because some see certain society issues and they can keep themselves abreast of their own heritage through home schooling. The parents of children from minority groups can assist their offspring learn more about their history by having an Internet connection at home. Children’s education can be better encouraged by parents and they can also assist in improving the mindset of their children as well. Parents can educate their children about their own particular heritage by means of the different online resources.

It is important to remember that home schooling only works if the parents are willing to support their children all the way. They must also be committed and prepared for the challenges that they will come across. The parents ought to look for a good computer program or book that can assist their children learn about using computers. Frequently, the lessons are divided into several sections or series so that the children can learn them easily. Children have different learning abilities and since sometimes children are not given much chance in traditional schools, the use of computers is an ideal chance to bring out the best in them.

Home schooling is no longer new, so if you suspect that your child is not doing well in school, consult with his teachers and get some information about your child. The guidance counsellor can also assist you to determine the best education for you child. Home schooling is already accepted and maybe it can help your child to learn more in the comfort of your own home.

If you are prepared to commit yourself to home schooling, you will need to discuss the matter with your child. You could start by asking your child about his performance in school and then raise the subject of home schooling. See how your child reacts to the idea. Explain its benefits. Say that computer learning will be easier. It’s better if you and your child both agree to home schooling, since you have to work closely together. It might not be easy to persuade your child to give up traditional schooling, where he has all his friends, so you will have to spend time with your kid and know his/her interests. Explain that computer programs in home schooling can help a lot. Tell your child that they can learn more about their particular interest, if they know how to use the computer.

So why not look for the most suitable home schooling computer program now? Talk to your friends, ask at the library, go online and do your research. There are lots of home schooling programs to choose from and it could take some weeks before you can find the appropriate one.

If you are interested in home schooling then please pop along to our web-based resource at http://home-schooling.the-real-way.com

categories: homeschooling,teaching,school,parenting,children,books,reading,writing,mathematics,computers,science,motivational,stress,other

Home Schooling And Young Children

Sunday, April 11th, 2010

In the last decade, home schooling has become very popular especially among the middle and upper-middle class families. There have been many arguments before about home schooling. Experts claim that there are pros and cons in home schooling but it seems that the former outweigh the latter and therefore, a lot of families are now choosing home schooling over the traditional schools.

Cultures vary a lot and relationships within families are strongly affected by culture too. In some cultures, family bonds are quite strong, but there are also those who don’t have very good bonds with other family members at all. However, through home schooling, family ties can be improved. Parents will spend more time with their kids because of the home schooling program and the children will have to listen to their parents as well. Communication is much improved and both parties have to learn about the importance of both speaking and listening.

A lot of families prefer home schooling because of its flexibility. However, since the cost of home education is a bit more than traditional schools, the financial standing of the household is quite important. However, even without thinking about the financial factor, many parents would still opt for home schooling, because it can guarantee their kids’ safety. Public schools often have dangerous situations that can affect children terribly, however if they are in a home schooling program, they can avoid these predicaments and their parents will be there to guide them.

Instead of enrolling the kids at a public school, many parents prefer home schooling because the educational environment in the public schools is not that good. In public schools, very young pupils can experience difficulties that can affect them socially, mentally, and academically for a long time. Pedagogues that have conducted surveys, claim that children learn better in a good environment surrounded by loved ones. A further advantage of home schooling is that children can learn according to their ability. You can’t just deliver a new lesson, if the previous one hasn’t been learned yet. It may take longer, but the results are better.

As mentioned previously, home schooling is a bit more expensive. If you think that you might be able to cut down the educational expenses of your child, you’re wrong. Home schooling expenses are just about the same as those of traditional schools. However, if you join in the forums of the parents of home-schoolers, you will discover that there are ways to cut down costs. Of course, you will need to spend on the resource materials, computer, and internet, but you can also use outside resources like cultural events, public libraries and lots of others.

You will get even more cost-cutting ideas, if you contact other parents. The Internet provides endless possibilities and with a bit of research and homework, you can surely come up with a way to reduce the costs. If you don’t want to hire teachers, then you will have to learn the lessons too. You have already learned the various subjects in your kids’ educational program, so you only need to review them. You can get further learning material online or the bookshop and later on, teach your kids.

So, it is plain to see, that home schooling is by far the best option, especially if your child is still rather young. It all depends on you and your child, whether they continue this form of education until they graduate for college.

If you are interested in Internet home schooling then please visit our web-based resource at Home Schooling

categories: home schooling,teaching,school,parenting,children,books,reading,writing,mathematics,computers,science,motivational,stress,other

Home Schooling Learning History

Saturday, April 3rd, 2010

Do you consider that spending time in traditional classrooms is a waste of time? For many people, that is probably true. For instance, an exam is coming up and the pupils are told to memorize a list of dates and names. However, after taking the exam, they will probably forget 90% of those dates and names. That’s what the majority of students do every time they have exams. If you are one of these people, you will find traditional history lessons boring, so home schooling, which focuses more on the history of the world, will surely interest you more.

Simple memorization by rote is just not enough to realize the importance of historically famous people and fateful events. However, through home schooling in history, you can study the different cultures of the past in a different, but interesting way – that is your own way! Through the study of history, you will also understand the situation of the world today.

However, if you think that home schooling is the most effective method for your child’s learning, you should also be prepared to undertake some responsibilities. Since there will be no teacher present ‘on site’, you will have to oversee your child’s learning development by yourself.

Let’s say your kid is interested in a particular sport. You could combine history and home schooling by simply putting a map on the wall of your child’s bedroom and mark the location of his favourite sports team. Make sure that you track all the team’s games, scores, activities and schedules. Then, you could return to history lessons by reading biographies of the different athletes, who had been famous in the particular sport that your child enjoys. Aside from that, you can also look into the history of that particular sport and discover where it originated, its inventor, and the other things happening in that particular time in history.

For instance, let’s say your child likes baseball, you can teach your child about the history baseball, government hearings on the use of steroids and other favourite pastimes at that period in time. Just remember that you can adapt this concept to any interest like dancing, flight, cars or any invention. You can also have conversations with your child about current events or read interesting historical documents and other books. Apart from that, you can also watch documentaries together with the rest of the family. There are various resources that you can use in home schooling, like TV, maps, newspapers, books, a globe, an atlas, and encyclopedias. Because of the enthralling adventures that you and your child will read about and see on film, he/she will find it easier to remember the names and dates of the history lessons. After all, learning is better when it is done in a fun way.

These methods are recommended for when the child is still young, however when your child is older, you should select a home schooling program that is suitable for his/her particular age group. The programs are pitched at the elementary, high school, and even college levels. You simply have to search online for these different programs. One advantage of these programs is that you can tailor them to suit the requirements of your child. However, you have to make sure that all the lessons are followed by your child.

After you and your child have decided to try home schooling, you must be prepared to make some changes to your life. The educational environment will now be in your home not at a school and through the various resources that you think best, such as a computer and the Internet.

If you are thinking about Home Schooling then please visit our website at Home Schooling Information

categories: homeschooling,teaching,school,parenting,children,books,reading,writing,mathematics,computers,science,motivational,stress,other

Home Schooling and Computer Learning

Sunday, September 6th, 2009

There is access to a computer in almost every household in the West nowadays and the rest of the world is catching up very quickly. So, it is extremely important for you to have one at home too, because of the many benefits it can bring, especially if you have an Internet connection. Nowadays, you need to have have some computer experience, if you want even a reasonably-paid job, so learning how to use a computer must start at school. You and your children can have a interesting educational experience with a computer at home. Children of today must learn about this extremely important device from the very earliest age possible and one of the best ways to do that is through home schooling computer programs.

These days, even kindergarten children are being taught how to use computers and their associated peripherals. If you opt for home schooling, you and your child will also spend a lot of your time making use of a computer and the Internet. Teaching your children will be a lot more efficient when done online, because of the diverse resources available online. You and your child will have available exceptional educational resources, from which you will benefit hugely not least because job market trends today overwhelmingly involve the Internet.

One of the largest minority groups who prefers to make use of home schooling is the African Americans because some see some society issues and they can keep themselves abreast of their own heritage by home schooling. The parents of children from minority groups can assist their offspring learn more effectively by having an Internet connection at home. Children’s education can be more strongly encouraged by parents and they can also assist in strengthening the psyche of their children too. Parents can teach their children about their own particular history through the various online resources.

It is important to bear in mind that home schooling will only work well, if the parents are prepared to give their children their full support. They must also be steadfast and ready for the challenges that they will come across. The parents ought to look for a rally good computer program or book to assist their children to learn about using computers. Often, the lessons are divided into several sections or series in order that the children can learn them more easily. Children have different learning abilities and since sometimes traditional schools cannot cope with that, the use of computers is an ideal opportunity for you to bring out the best in them.

Home schooling is no longer new, so if you think that your child is not doing well in school, talk to his teachers and get some feedback about your child. The guidance counsellor can also assist you to determine the best education for you child. Home schooling is already accepted and maybe it can help your child to learn more in the safety of your own home.

If you are will to commit yourself to home schooling, you will need to talk over the matter with your child. You could begin by asking your child about his experience in school and then bring up the subject of home schooling. See what your child thinks about the idea. Explain its advantages. You could say that computer learning will be more beneficial. It’s better if you and your child both agree on home schooling, since you will have to work closely together. It might not be easy to persuade your child to give up traditional schooling, where he has all his friends, so you will have to spend time with him and get to know his/her interests. Explain that computer programs can help a lot in home schooling. Tell your child that he can learn more about his particular interest, if he knows how to use the computer.

So why not start looking for the most suitable home schooling computer program now? You could talk to your friends, ask at the library or / and go online and do your research. There are plenty of home schooling programs to choose from and it could take some weeks before you can find the appropriate one.

If you are into home schooling then please visit our site at http://home-schooling.the-real-way.com

Home Schooling and Young Kids

Sunday, August 9th, 2009

In recent years, home schooling has become extremely popular especially among middle and upper-middle class families. There have been lots of arguments before about home schooling. Pedagogues claim that there are advantages as well as disadvantages in home schooling but it appears that the former outweigh the latter and so, a lot of families are now choosing home schooling over the traditional schools.

Cultures vary enormously and relationships within families are strongly affected by culture too. In some cultures, family bonds are fairly strong, but there are also those who don’t have very good relationships with other family members at all. However, through home schooling, family ties are enhanced. Parents have to spend enough time with their kids because of the home schooling program and the children will have to listen to their parents too. Communication is much improved and both parties will learn about the importance of both speaking and listening.

A lot of families opt for home schooling because of its diversity. However, since the cost of home education is a bit higher than traditional schools, the financial situation of the household is quite important. However, even without thinking about the financial factor, many parents would still go for home schooling, because it can guarantee their children’s safety. Public schools often have dangerous environments that can affect children terribly, however if they are in a home schooling program, they can stay away from these predicaments and their parents will be there to supervise them.

Instead of enrolling the kids at a public school, many parents would prefer home schooling because the learning environment in public schools is not that good. In public schools, very young pupils can experience problems that can affect them socially, mentally, and academically for a long time. Experts that have conducted studies, claim that children learn better in a safe environment surrounded by loved ones. Another advantage of home schooling is that children can learn according to their capacity. You can’t just give a new lesson, if the previous one hasn’t been learned yet. It may take longer, but the results are better.

As stated previously, home schooling is a tad more expensive. However, if you think that you might be able to cut down on your child’s educational expenses, you’re almost certainly wrong. Home schooling costs are just about the same as those of traditional schools. However, if you join in the forums of the parents of home-schoolers, you will find that there are ways to cut down costs. Naturally, you will need to spend on the resource materials, computer, and internet, but you can also use external resources like cultural do’s, public libraries, etc..

You will get even more cost-cutting ideas, if you get in touch with other parents. The Internet provides numerable possibilities and with a bit of research and homework, you can surely come up with a way to ease the costs. If you don’t want to hire tutors, then you will have to learn the lessons too. You have already learned the various subjects in your kids’ educational program, so you only need to review them. You can get further learning material online or the bookshop and later on, teach your kids.

So, it is plain to see, that home schooling is far and away the best choice, particularly if your child is still quite young. So, it all depends on you and your kid, whether they continue this type of schooling until they graduate for college.

About the Author:

Home Schooling Learning History

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

Do you consider that spending time in traditional classrooms is a waste of time? For many people, that is probably true. For example, an exam is due and the pupils are asked to memorize a lot of dates and names. However, after taking the exam, they will definitely forget 90% of those dates and names. That’s what most students do every time they have tests. If you are one of these people, you will find traditional history lessons boring, so home schooling, which focuses more on the history of the world, will probably interest you more.

Simple memorization by rote is just not enough to know the importance of historically famous people and fateful events. However, through home schooling in history, you can learn about the different cultures of the past in a unique, but interesting way – that is your own way! Through the study of history, you will also realize the situation of the world today.

If you think that home schooling is the most effective option for your child’s education, you must also be prepared to take on some responsibilities. Since there will be no teacher physically present, you will have to oversee your child’s educational progress yourself.

Let’s say your kid is interested in a particular sport. You could combine history and home schooling by simply putting a map on the wall of your child’s bedroom and mark the location of his favourite sports team. Make sure that you track all the team’s games, scores, activities and schedules. Then, you could return to history lessons by reading biographies of the various athletes, who had been famous in the particular sport that your child enjoys. Apart from that, you can also study the history of that particular sport and discover where it originated, its inventor, and the other things happening in that particular time in history.

For instance, if your child follows baseball, you could teach your child about the history of Negro Leagues, government hearings on the use of steroids, and other favourite hobbies during that time. But remember that you can apply this concept to any interest like dances and inventions. You can also have conversations with your child concerning current events or read interesting historical works and other books. Aside from that, you can also watch documentaries together with the rest of the family. There are various resources that you can use while home schooling, like TV, maps, books, a globe, an atlas, and encyclopedias. Because of the exciting adventures that you and your child will read about and see on film, your child will find it easier to remember the names and dates of the history lessons. After all, learning is better when it is done in an interesting way.

These ways are advisable if the child is still young, however once your child gets older, you must choose a home schooling program that is suitable for his/her age group. The programs are available at the elementary, high school, and even college levels. You simply have to search the Internet for these various programs. One advantage of these programs is that you can adapt them to fit the requirements of your child. However, you must ensure that all the modules are learned by your child.

Once you and your child have decided to go for home schooling, you must be prepared for some changes to take place in your life. The learning environment will now be your home not a school and through the various resources that you can use including the computer and Internet.

About the Author:

Homeschooling and the Family

Friday, June 12th, 2009

If a survey by the National Center For Education Statistics is to be believed, almost 1.1 million children took home schooling in 2005 alone. That’s a lot of children. Not so long ago, homeschooling used to be a radical statement – something like a declaration of independence.

It was the (right-wing|conservative Christians who advocated homeschooling in the ’80s and legalized it in every State. But the typical homeschooler of today is not religiously motivated.

Later surveys indicate that parents are actually fed up with the public school system where a lot of the learning is superficial and compulsory. They are also concerned about the negative environment in school, ranging from drugs and abuse to negative peer pressure.

As a result, we have a surprising mix of people who form the homeschooling world of today. They cut across all religious creeds and all regional borders. Their main aim is providing meaningful and productive education through a method that strengthens the bond between the various members of the family.

All these families have one main thing in common – a long standing commitment to the sanctity of childhood. The children of these families are accorded a primary position. Many believe, and, probably, rightly so, that home schooling allows parents to bring up their kids in a more natural and nurturing environment.

Public schools can make a child nervous, diffident and downright mean. Children who get their education at home are protected from these damaging, negative influences until they reach an age where they can deal with them.

Home-schooling draws the whole family into the quasi religious task of teaching. Everyone is put to work. Both the parents together form a bond with the children. Any experience can be turned into an educational experience. Both the parents are aware of exactly what is going into their child’s education.

Parents also have a greater control over the type of religious and moral values that the child is learning. Even watching a movie together can become a learning experience. Trips to the libraries, zoos, museums and other places become educational as well as recreational.

A home-schooling family is usually dependent on the income of one earning member. That means that often outgoings have to be curtailed and proper planning of expenditure is necessary. This helps to bring the family members together and everybody gets involved in the task of saving money.

Merely having a parent at home to look after, to nurture and to care for the children brings with it a great deal of love and caring. Even the husband chips in and there is just no room for complacency.

Yes, problems still do crop up, and there will be many misgivings in your mind, but when you know that your children can always count on you, and your kids know it too, then homeschooling becomes a very rewarding experience.

About the Author:

How to Avoid Burnout in Home Schooling

Saturday, May 23rd, 2009

It does not matter whether you are learning in a traditional school or in a home schooling environment, there will come a time when you will experience burnout. This is something that you have to avoid so that your learning progress is not adversely affected.

Here are a few useful tips that you can make use of to prevent possible home schooling burnout:

Understand your limitations. From the very start, you should already know your limitations and your child’s limitations. You must be capable of taking things slowly sometimes, especially if your child is still young since you have to bear in mind your child’s learning capacity. Most students are average learners, obviously, so you have to take the lessons based on your child’s learning pace. Never expect your small child to read complicated reading selections nor your teen to ace SAT exams.

Don’t adopt rigid schedules, as this can put undue pressure on your child. You should just set an interesting routine for your child to follow. Children spend most of their time doing routine activities like getting up, eating hearty breakfasts, reading books, practising writing, doing light jobs about the place, etc. You must ensure that they finish their routine activities before they can play outside or with the computer. Even these routine activities change from day to day, but you must make sure that your child follows these routine activities. You can add in occasional incentives or fun activities if they finish their routine tasks early.

You should try to enjoy home schooling with your child. This is a good method of developing a strong relationship with your child and if you and your child can relate to each other, you will find it very much easier to handle curriculum struggles and motivation issues later on. Aside from motivating and guiding your child, you can also follow some of your own hobbies like gardening or cooking. If your child sees you pursuing your own interests, then he or she will also be inclined to do the same.

As your child is in a home schooling program, you should not try to copy a traditional schools environment. Try to use unusual ways when teaching your child. Home schooling is also about flexibility and creativity, and if you can create a light-hearted but firm atmosphere, you can probably avoid burnout.

Always try to remember that with home schooling, you don’t have to structure your teaching methods in the traditional way. You can just do things in a fun way especially with very young children so that they learn easily. Just ensure you keep the day in the right perspective to avoid burnout. Although your children may forget some of the day’s lessons, that’s all right too because somehow they grow in intelligence as well as in physique.

For sure, your children will always look back on your moments together and remember fondly how well you treated them. The old song goes: “… there’s no place like home” and for little pupils, home is the best place to learn the first lessons of life. If your teenagers are already in high school or in college, they can still pursue home schooling if they want to. That would also a good decision because you’d get to monitor your offsprings’ performance.

Parents always try to look after their children’s best interests, so, if after careful thought, you still think that home schooling is the right option for your family, then run with it. Just follow the advice stated above in order to avoid burnout. Make time for enjoyable activities from time to time in order to avoid monotony, which may lead to burnout.

About the Author: