Are flash cards and workbooks bringing your child to tears? Try this curriculum/ game that children literally beg to play:
Ring Around The Phonics is an educational game used to teach children English, Spanish, French, other languages Phonics, reading, spelling, comprehension listening skills...language arts.
Welcome! This site is dedicated to children's education, and you will find all sorts of information, lesson plans and resources here. However this section is dedicated to helping parents and tutors learn how to home school.
One of the fears new home school parents express is they fear they will miss something causing the child problems in the future. As a result many start out clinging to the public school approach using their textbooks, worksheets, ext. But, I ask you, why would you not want to improve on what the public schools are doing? After all, independent studies reveal home educated children out perform their public schooled counterparts. So, home school is not the classroom.
Scientific studies show children, especially young children, learn best while at real life experiences and play because it engages body, brain and senses,
which means much of your education can be free...learn more below (Eclectic Method).
We begin with a brief description of the various methods used by home school families, and then give you answers to more commonly asked questions (grade level requirements, testing resources, and more). However before you make these decisions, it is important to know Your State's Laws because a few mandate what curriculum can be used. Understanding your child's Learning Style is also most helpful.
The Conventional Method
This approach is basically a mirror image of the public school system, except that it is done at home. It is also referred to as "school in a box", or "school at home".
It usually requires the purchase of a complete curriculum (text books, workbooks, teachers manual, tests, schedules, and record keeping materials). Each child will most likely have their own set of textbooks and workbooks, and will study each subject separately according to grade level.
This method is more likely to appeal to the SJ Personality , (guardian - 40 to 45 percent of the population). However to the SP (artisan or "hands On learner") it is the wrong approach. Some families relax this method somewhat, still following structured schedules and grade levels, but choosing their own curriculum and creating their own lesson plans. (See Learning Lifestyle Method below for more information about how to do this)
In this method educators are free to choose from a variety of the methods. It allows one the flexibility to adjust and change approaches as family and individual needs change. Scientific studies show children and adults learn best when their body, brain and senses are engaged in the learning process (TPR). The average classroom teaches to the left brain only which is the analytical part. As the teacher teaches, the student is analyzing. The student is thinking: when will I ever use this stuff, this is a waste of time, I would rather be outside playing...the brain is in two places.
But when you use TPR (games and other activities), you are teaching to the left and right brain. As the child focuses on the activity at hand the critical evaluations are silenced. The scientific studies show that with TPR children learn faster, retain the material longer, and their natural desire to learn is not destroyed. It even reduces stress which is one of the biggest causes of ADHD.
This method can save you money because even real life experiences can be used to teach. A trip to the grocery store can teach math, money, and weights. Having the children help you with the cooking can improve reading, comprehension, and can be used to teach measuring and sequencing.
This is my preferred method. and When I do use curriculum, I much prefer ones that are created by home school families because home school is not the classroom.
2. For language arts (K through 6) I prefer Ring Around The Phonics because it engages body, brain and senses which is effective with all the learning styles. It also allows me to teach up to four children at one time even if on different levels or even different subjects. Like the old one room school house, children learn from each other as well as from me.
3. For math I use Math-You-See because the first series also engages body, brain and senses (Math-U-See Alpha DVD and Teacher's book). Note: as Math U See progresses, it is less hands on, and uses workbooks and videos to teach which does not work well with hands on learners. So I often supplement with real life experiences that require the use of math (TRP), or I also use ring around the phonics to turn math into a game.
4. Computers can be helpful, but nothing takes the place of parent child interaction, and interaction with other children...A word of caution: many of the digital phonics games pronounce the phonic sounds incorrectly, which can cause the child problems when they try to blend the sounds to form words.
Eclectic is the method I use, so you will find my sites full of this approach, many of them free.
Unschooling
Unschooling focuses on the individual child's self initiative, needs and interests for education. Many think this method has no discipline or direction because the full fledged unschoolers often have no set bedtimes, no set lessons, and no set food rules. But the hard core unschooling parent points out they do make rules on the important things like safety.
They also say there is no such thing as a partial use of unschooling. Either you trust the child's natural tendency to learn or you don't. However others disagree, and I caution the reader not to be too quick to reject this method. It, in my opinion, can be incorporated in ones homeschool schedule, and be very beneficial to you and your child.
Unschooling (or at least a form of it) is particularly attractive to the NT parent, and beneficial to the Nt Child (ratrional personality). My little brother is what is referred to as the NT or "Rational Personality". He often ditched his elementary school classes. So one day the school principle followed him only to discover Billy was going to the local library to study subjects that interested him. You see the NT personality has an insensible appetite to learn, but is totally bored reviewing subjects that he has already grasped, or proving to others he has learned something he has already mastered. He considers it a total waste of time...one can be learning instead of wasting time in this manner. Note: Einstein was an NT. Allowing these children to direct their own learning (at least to some extent) helps to develop their unique gifts.
In this style of homeschooling, it is important to understand the child in depth, and to provide a variety of activities, and learning tools that interests him or her. Lagos or Barbie dolls can become learning tools. Just as my little brother chose his preferred method and subjects to learn, so does the unschooled child.
My Father was also an NT personality, and I learned more for him about analytical thinking than I did in any class room. So nurture the rational child, and allow him to contribute his unique gifts to your family.
The Unit Study Method (also known as Thematic Units or Integrated Studies)
This arina is great for teaching groups in which individuals are at different ages and levels of understanding. It consists of units of studies which link multiple subjects around a common theme or topic. For example a unit study on bears can help teach Language Arts, History, Science, art projects, and more.
This approach was developed by Dr. Raymond Moore and Dorothy Moore. They are known as the pioneers of the modern homeschool. It is based on a balance of work and service, and explains the importance of listening to the child's "natural time clock, rather than forcing round pegs into square holes.
An example: Koty had learned all of his phonic sounds, and could read all of his early reader books. He also enjoyed sounding out large words like "premium" as he and his mother traveled around town playing a word game. But he had no desire to pick up a book and read it. He preferred, instead, to have his mother read to him as she had from the time he was little.
Mother was becoming a bit worried, because other kids his age were able to read better than koty. But she had read the book "Better Late Than Early" (a book about Delayed Academics) , and, as a result, decided to patiently continue reading to him.
One day Koty again asked her to read a book for him. He was fascinated by the picture on the cover, and wanted to know what was inside. "Sorry Koty", she replied, "I just don't have the time right now". Koty, anxious to learn what was inside this interesting book, began reading it by himself. He did not put it down until he had finished. Mom even allowed him to read late in bed to nurture his enthusiasm.
What a miracle! Just as the Moores had indicated, Koty's enthusiasm was lit. From that day forward he became an avid reader, and advanced several grade levels in a short time...passing his peers.
Charlotte Mason was a nineteenth century teacher and educator who stressed the importance of self education over studying to pass a test or receive a grade. It is a literature based education founded on reading real books ("living books"), short lessons, narration, dictation and nature studies, rather than text books.
It is reflective in that it evaluates everything in God's universe to develop Christian values. It also cultivates self education using The "Notebook Approach" to research, reason, relate and record.
If this method interests you, you will also want to see our free online videos by David Barton (Wall Builders) on American History and the Constitution.
The Classical Education
This method mirrors the ancients approach to education, and taught such famous people as Archimedes, St. Paul, Isaac Newton, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.
The goal of most Classical homeschool families is to engage the child's learning into important things like God, life and its purpose. It is also based on the Trivium, which says the child will have three basic developmental stages. During the grade school ages, the curriculum stresses concrete thinking and memorization of facts.
During the middle years, abstract thinking develops. So, at this time, education involving analytical thinking is introduced.
In the high school years, students are taught abstract thinking, and articulation of their subjects.
Parents often ask me what should their child be learning at various grade levels because they want to make sure they are teaching enough. We answer that question for you at this link: Grade Level Requirements.
If Your Child Needs To Be Tested
There are times you may want to test your child just to make sure they are not missing something important, or you may need to have them tested for (some) State requirements, high school transcripts or college enrollment. No need to worry; there are companies that provide this service as follows: Bayside School Services , Brewer Testing Services, Sarah Olbris.
If Your Child Has Autism
Many parents who have children with RDI are finding great results by using the method taught at RDI Connect.
As one can see there are several opportunities available in the home school venue which are no longer available in the public schools. Each has something to offer. So be sure to bookmark this page for future reference.
. However before you make these decisions, it is important to know 
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, Alpha Omega Publications (
, Bob Jones University Press, Christian Liberty Academy (
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and Sonelight (
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). Note: as Math U See progresses, it is less hands on, and uses workbooks and videos to teach which does not work well with hands on learners. So I often supplement with real life experiences that require the use of math (TRP), or I also use ring around the phonics to turn math into a game.
Unschooling (or at least a form of it) is particularly attractive to the NT parent, and beneficial to the 
is a book with more information on this subject.
