Thursday, March 17, 2022

Author Haytham Al Fiqi

Author Haytham Al Fiqi

~Structure the School year

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 06:54 PM PDT

 


Now that you have begun your homeschooling schedule, there are 

various questions that trouble you. Should you study continuously, 

take a number of short breaks or a long vacation? What about 

public holidays? When should you take a break?


The answer to these questions and many more like these are 

actually quite simple: Do whatever suits you best. This is one of 

the appealing benefits of homeschooling. You do not have a set 

pattern to follow. You do not HAVE to take that autumn break, or 

close shop for a prolonged summer vacation. Flexibility is the key 

here. For some practiced unschoolers, even a definite curriculum 

is not necessary because lessons are a part of their day- to-day 

life. But this may not be the case with beginners. Beginners may 

need to chart out their activities to fall into a pattern. 


Before you plan the structure of your classes, consider some of 

the most important issues. What method of homeschooling will you 

be following, what is your teaching style and your child's 

learning style, what are the work and play schedules, what are 

your vacation plans. Some families plan small 1-week vacations at 

different times of the year. Other families prefer to go away for 

a month or more. Consult with the members of your family, and 

chart out a holiday schedule that most suits you.


There are some positive benefits in following the traditional 

summer vacation schedule. Firstly, your children can benefit from 

the various summer activities, camps and classes. Your child's 

schedule will coincide with that of his school-going friends. A 

summer job may be possible. A longish summer break also means that 

both parents as well as children get a break from their daily 

lessons. This could also be a major drawback, as it is sometimes 

difficult to get back on track once the classes resume.


On the other hand, there are some advantages to taking numerous 

small breaks in the course of a year. Firstly, children do not get 

bored since they get time to explore other interests. You can 

cover more topics in the extra time that you save. You can also 

take family trips and vacations during the less popular periods of 

travel. This means lesser crowd and better prices. But beware if 

your child becomes restless when other children are enjoying their 

long summer vacations. 


As far as homeschooling is concerned, you and your family are the 

people in charge. Taking care of the individual needs of the child 

is the primary focus of this system. So, tailor the school year to 

suit your child's needs. Periodic evaluation is a must. Set some 

realistic goals and see if you are able to achieve these goals. 

Most importantly, avoid burnout - both in yourself and your 

children. 

~Unschooling your child

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 06:02 PM PDT

 


Unschooling is the most fluid style of homeschooling. There is no 

curriculum and no set boundaries. Many parents feel a bit 

apprehensive about such freedom. But, even unschooling has certain 

guidelines that make it a great method of homeschooling


Firstly, allow your child to express interests. Let her select the 

topic. If she wants to learn about flowers, tell her about the 

various flowers, their functions, parts of the flower, rare flowers 

etc. But don't go overboard. Allow her the freedom to stop when 

she has had enough. This process of learning may take a month or a 

day. It is up to the child to decide how much she wants to learn.


Expand your child's areas of interests using videos, books, magazines, 

puzzles and games. Go to a museum or take her to a library. 

Simultaneously, broaden your own interests. The more you know, the 

more the child gets to learn.


Notice all opportunities for learning. When in the kitchen, point out 

the vitamins in fruits and vegetables. What makes tomatoes red, and 

why are leafy vegetables good? If you don't know the answers, don't 

worry. Look it up. Lastly, don't worry if the going seems slow. This 

is just the way kids learn. Give them time and lots of encouragement. 

~What is Homeschooling

Posted: 17 Mar 2022 05:47 PM PDT

 


The term 'homeschooling' basically refers to the process in which 

one or more children of not more than 2 families are instructed by 

parents or legal guardians, or a member of either household. The 

laws that define homeschooling vary from State to State. The legal 

requirements for establishing a homeschool also vary with the 

State. 


For most children, the actual process of learning begins much 

before school. Many children already know their alphabets, the 

names of animals, colors and other more complicated stuff before 

they reach school. This is mostly due to the hard work of a member 

of the family who has taken the time to teach the child. 

Homeschooling is just a natural progression from here. Instead of 

sending their children to a public school, parents make their own 

curriculum and teach their children in ways that best suit the 

child. This is homeschooling, in its most simplistic form.


Before you decide to go in for homeschooling, there are certain 

important matters for consideration. First off, meet with parents 

of other homeschoolers. Find out the pros and cons of 

homeschooling. Then ask yourself why you would want to adopt this 

method. This is a very important aspect, as the success of the 

program depends on the clarity and sincerity of your purpose.


Next, it is time to consider the expenses of homeschooling. It may 

cost anywhere between a few hundred dollars to a few thousand 

every year. More importantly, you are also effectively shutting 

out any job opportunity for one of the parents. It is only obvious 

that one parent will have to stay at home full time to manage the 

homeschool. A home-based business however is a great alternative.


Are you qualified to take on homeschooling for your children? 

Teaching is a continuation of your own learning process. With the 

advent of the internet, information is aplenty. There are various 

books and resources for those interested in homeschooling. Go 

through the various methods of homeschooling and choose one that 

is most suited to you. It helps if you know what kind of learning 

style your child has. Also, find out what your child feels about 

homeschooling before you start. 


Every state has its own laws regarding homeschooling. For 

instance, in North Carolina, you must first file a 'Notice of 

Intent' to start a home school. In this you have to mention if the 

school is a 'Private church' school or a 'qualified non-public 

school'. The persons providing the education are required to have 

at least a high school diploma. You have to maintain an annual 

record of the child's attendance and disease immunization. Every 

year, the child is required to undergo a standardized test. Each 

student attending the eleventh grade has to take a nationally 

standardized test. These are the requirements in North Carolina, 

but it is enough to give you a good idea of what homeschooling 

entails. 


Homeschooling may seem like a lot of fun and freedom from the 

outside. However, things are seldom as simple as they seem. 

Homeschooling is a lot of added responsibility and hard work. But, 

if successful, it will forge a strong bond of love and respect 

between parent and child, while providing your child with the best 

form of education he needs.
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