Homeschooling Help

Homeschoolers from all across the country are watching and waiting to see how the homeschool battle in California unfolds.  In the meantime, many California homeschoolers are on the front lines, working together to ensure that they retain their freedom to educate their own children.

Tammy Takahashi, a California homeschooler reviewed the recent rehearing of the case by the California Supreme Court on her blog, Just Enough and Nothing More. 

If you are following the case, click here to read her first hand account of the session.   And keep praying–this is and will be landmark case no matter which direction the court decides to take. 

Technorati Tags: California Homeschool battle; Homeschooling in Californ

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The following excerpt was taken from The American Vision page, where an atheist responded to one of their articles with the following words:

It’s good that Christians homeschool. We need citizens to clean our toilets and mow our lawns. Perhaps some homeschooled Christians will be able to fill these types of jobs. The rest will be unemployable retards like their parents.

It is incredible how uninformed people can immediately jump to stereotypes and ridiculous claims.  Who is the uneducated one here?
 
Bridgeway Homeschool Academy has graduated several top notch homeschoolers this year alone.  One, an Olympic hopeful will go on to University of Georgia on a full scholarship; another will study political science on a $27,000 per year scholarship; another received a full 6 year scholarship for Physical Therapy. 

Let’s see, who else? 

Technorati Tags: Atheist view Homeschool, Homeschool community, homeschool graduates, Homeschoolers Excel

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I read an article this weekend about the incredible shortage of individuals seeking jobs in web related fields. The article speculated that perhaps there is a perception in America that most IT jobs are farmed out to countries like India where labor is less expensive. However, it went on to explain that most of the jobs sent overseas are not highly skilled jobs.

The shortage of labor begins in college where the trend for majoring in computer technology has significantly decreased. As a result, we do not have the highly skilled workforce needed to fill the huge demand for computer related positions. In fact, in the Harrisburg, PA area alone, there are 500-1000 positions open at a given time for web-development and computer technology.

Why am I alerting you to this? Whether you are homeschooled student or not, here is a field that is still wide open. Homeschoolers have the distinct advantage of freedom– freedom to begin preparing for such a field while still in school.

Technorati Tags: homeschool tips, Homeschool web design, homeschooling and preparing for college

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I am certain most homeschoolers have been following the disturbing battle that homeschool families in Germany are fighting. Freedoms have been stripped away, families must fear losing their children if they continue to homeschool, and children have been torn from their homes without warning.

The climate appears to be getting worse and families are facing difficult decisions every day.

The Home School Legal Defense Association provided this update recently. Could we end up in the same struggle? I truly hope not. But whether it is on our horizon or not, we need to be on our knees praying for the homeschoolers in Germany and for Germany’s leaders.

We also need to make our voices known to California lawmakers and stop this battle before it begins in our country! For information on the California case and how to contact the judges who made their ludicrous decision, click here.

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If you are a homeschooler in California, you have more than likely jumped in to the fight to keep your right to homeschool. If you have not, I urge you to make your voice known during this critical time.

If you are a homeschooler in any other state, please get involved. California’s recent record of ruling against morality (i.e. homosexual marriage and homeschooling) does not bode well and the homeschool fight is not yet over.

Because of the public outcry in response to the court’s absurd decision to make homeschooling illegal unless a parent is a certified teacher, the court decided to take another look at their decision. However, have you seen the list of “professionals” they brought in to review that decision? Not one of them is a friend to homeschooling:

Technorati Tags: California homeschooling, Homeschool California, Laws in California

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The question, “But does this homeschool program line up with what they do in the public schools?” is one of my biggest pet peeves. Why? Because what they are doing in the public schools is failing! Kids are dropping out every day; others are pushed through a system that is not providing them with even the fundamentals; and still others struggle through a program that places them in a mold that just does not fit them.

The beauty of homeschooling is that you don’t have to fit into that public school mold. You can choose to find ways to teach your child that work! You can opt out of using slanted textbooks to teach history and science and instead explore the world in an engaging and upbeat way.

Stop comparing your homeschool program to what they are doing in the public school. Instead, prepare your child for his or her future by focusing your efforts on effective teaching that works and that inspires a love for learning!

Technorati Tags: different homeschooling, effective homeschooling, homeschooling and public schools

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Many homeschoolers often ask me for suggestions on how to keep skills sharp over the summer without committing a large amount of time to summer school.  

One of the best programs I have found to keep learning alive during the summer months (short of continuing with focused schooling all summer) is the Summer Bridge program.  

With Summer Bridge books, students complete a short lesson in each subject every day.  The books are designed to review the skills from the prior year for the first part of the summer, then move into a preview of the year to come.  

Built into each book is a motivational chart, suggested age-appropriate summer reading, and web connections to provide more interactive learning.  Students can even take advantage of their sports partnership to earn rewards in exchange for their commitment to learning.

Technorati Tags: homeschooling, summer bridge books, Summer school

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Nathaniel and Hannah are not typical students. However, their accomplishments are not atypical of homeschool graduates.

Nathaniel will graduate this year with his older sister, two years ahead of schedule. Both will attend a local college on a two-year full honors scholarship.

Why?

Because eight years ago their parents recognized the fact that their local public school could not meet the needs of their kids and committed to homeschooling them.

The result? Two exceptional homeschoolers who not only excelled academically, but have also used their talents and abilities to support community organizations.

Hannah volunteers her time as an assistant at a local drama school and at a local private school where she assists with acting and choreography.

Nathaniel, who is a talented musicians volunteers his time at the same organizations as the accompanist to their musicals.

Technorati Tags: exceptional homeschoolers, homeschool scholarships

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