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Wednesday, May 25, 2016

No Such Thing As A Student Who Doesn’t Get Math


No Such Thing As A Student Who Doesn’t Get Math



It’s no longer new that a large number of families in Lagos today are considering home schooling for their children, either for one reason or the other. Before taking that route here are a number of things to note for your own benefit and that of the kids in question.
Home schooling has become the education of choice for an increasing number of families. Parents can help make their school a successful one by taking a few steps early in the home schooling process. First, they should consider their own academic strengths and weaknesses and decide what they feel well – equipped to teach. It’s also beneficial to gain perspective of the time requirement for planning successful daily lessons and activities. Secondly, parents should seek knowledgeable, qualified adults to help them with subjects they feel less – equipped to teach. This will ensure that their students get the best education possible.
Parents can help their students be successful by considering student’s individual learning styles, too. This ensures that there’s a wide variety of activities that will help all students learn. Finally, consideration should be given to each student’s long – term academic goals. Find out the skills and knowledge – as well as standardized test scores – your students will need to reach their goals.

Super Mom




Inspired Homeschooling


Learn how to schedule your homeschool in a way that suits your unique style and brings out the best in your family. Transform your children and get them to love learning through inspiring activities and interesting ideas.

Homeschooling Ideas Activities

Ideas and Activities

Whether you use a structured curriculum, or are unschooling, the right ideas and resources can spark amazing learning opportunities. Inspire your kids with these exciting educational activities.




Homeschooling Ideas Schedules

Scheduling

You get a real sense of pleasure from scheduling your homeschool in a way that highlights your strengths. Learn how here.





Homeschooling Ideas Worksheets

Worksheets

Using worksheets to pass the time and look busy? Not any more! These printables will really engage your homeschoolers. 





Homeschooling Ideas Curriculum

Curriculum

Is your curriculum working for you? Do you even need to use one at all? All the information you need to decide.


The idea of Homeschooling



Image result for The idea of homeschooling

The idea of homeschooling is not one that is common, especially in Nigeria. Also known as home education, homeschooling is a scheme of educating children within the home, as opposed to formal education in public or private schools. In this setting, the children are taught by parents or tutors.
Reasons parents opt for homeschooling vary, ranging from wanting to shield kids from unhealthy relationships, peer pressure, to dissatisfaction with conventional education curriculum or health related issues. Though it has received lots of criticisms, properly planned homeschooling is a worthwhile idea. In fact, most home school persons do very well as opposed to preconceived notions against the idea.
To get the best out of homeschooling, you will need to plan effectively, having in mind the reason for choosing this method above the other. The platform allows you to choose what to educate your child on, and when and how to educate your child. Because the child would have to interact with the society at some point, it is advisable to add your own courses the basic curriculum so that the child would pick up in case you decide to change your mind at some point. Homeschoolers have better advantages at learning depending on how well to do and disciplined the parents are. They have time to read more books and engage in other activities because their tutors are given to details and are patient. Parents can also engage tutors in other areas such as sports.
Developmental years of children are important. Through homeschooling, children are exposed to interacting with adults at an early age, helping to build their assertiveness. Being assertive is something that is not usually incorporated in formal settings where pupils are exposed to bullying from classmates and harsh treatments from some teachers. Children from two to ten (nursery to primary classes) fall within these formative years and any parent with basic education and not engaged in jobs outside the home can effectively school their kids at home if they want to. Running a homeschool on the nursery and primary level is cost effective since a parent or tutor can handle most of the courses. However, this might not be so for secondary schools because each course requires a particular teacher specializing in that field, and this can be too costly to afford.
Contrary to arguments that homeschoolers are not equipped to interact socially, schools are not the only avenues for social gathering. Homeschooled children can mix up with others in churches and extramural clubs. The latter can include sports, readers, dance, music, language, science or craft clubs for kids- a rarity for kids in conventional schools.
However, if the need should arise, homeschoolers might be faced with issues of presenting certification for further education in the formal sector or when applying for job opportunities. In this case, parents can register their homeschool just as any private school would. This would make it possible for them to legally give certifications after school.
This whole idea and why one would support or oppose it takes us back to who set the rules for formal schooling. Traditionally, the system of education in Nigeria and most African countries before the colonial times involved the community at large. Education was centered on ceremonies, rituals, games, festivals, dancing, singing, home-keeping and craft-making and children were taught in groups, and boys and girls were taught separately, preparing each sex for adult roles.

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Homeschooling Tips You Can Use With Your Kids


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It can be hard to make the decision to homeschool. There are numerous programs and approaches from which you can choose, and the added responsibility of taking on the teacher’s role may make you hesitate. Keep reading to find some helpful information when it comes to homeschooling. Do not forget that you are working with kids and kids are going to do better if you give them breaks. Studying for hours on end will only make them get bored with learning. Allow them to have down-time or get some exercise. It’s a win/win situation for all those involved. Life is the best way to learn. Your child can learn more each day than what you will find in any curriculum. You can also teach them as they go through their own daily duties. Teach them about measurements and how to convert hem though cooking preparations. This hands-on approach to learning facilitates a more solid understanding, and as your children demonstrate what they learn, you are sure to feel pride.
Ideas Find a homeschooling support group. While homeschooling might be very appealing, it can also be very lonely for both you and your child.
You need to be aware of the laws in your state concerning homeschooling. Home school laws differ with each states, which is why you need to know what your specific state requires. Some area require testing, but others are a bit more lax. In some states, there is a requirement for the parents to register as private schools. Homeschool Associations can help you find out which regulations you must adhere to. You may be required to administer standardized tests or even register with the state. Most states require that you notify them and file certain paperwork with them if you intend to homeschool.
Ideas When choosing your homeschooling program, consider the ultimate goal of the education you are providing your child. If you plan to reintegrate them into a regular school, then your curriculum should shadow the curriculum of that school.
Family vacations present many opportunities to take advantage of learning resources. Be sure that any trip you plan for your family includes educational opportunities such as science centers, zoos, museums and historical landmarks. It’s a simple matter to set aside one day of your vacation as a learning day. You’ll enjoy the feeling of learning new things with your family. Do your research so you are clear about what the homeschooling laws are in your area. The online website for home schoolers, HSLDA, will provide information about the laws in your area. Being a member of a local organization can be helpful if you run into trouble with a Board of Education or CPS. The assistance provided will prove well worth any membership dues you will have to pay.
Ideas You can teach your children in the method the can learn from easiest when you homeschool. If your kid is better with hands-on teaching, you can have lots of hands-on lessons.
Technology is vital towards improving your abilities as a teacher. You can not always count on technology to work when you want it to. You don’t want to lose valuable class time due, so always maintain backup lessons that don’t rely on the computer. Research different types of learning styles. Because each child is different, it’s very easy to find a lot of information online about how to individualize each child’s lesson plans. Keep in mind that you should never just stick with one way of doing things if it seems to not be working for you. Do not hesitate to combine different teaching methods to create a curriculum that is really adapted to your child.
Ideas Get in touch with the state Homeschool Association to discover laws and guidelines you have to follow. You may be shocked by your state’s requirements.
Go on nature walks, and take your kids with you. These can be educational in many different ways. Toddlers can collect twigs, acorns, leaves and point out things that they recognize in nature. Use this time to teach them how to identify trees and help them learn how to count the different tree types out. Older children can track animals and record plants and things they come across. Use a camera so they need not disturb the natural habitat. Homeschooling is a good option when your child encounters too many problems in a public or private education system. Being in a homeschooled environment can reduce your child’s stress. It is also an excellent bonding experience for parents and children. This is a great way to instill learning and build a strong connection.
Ideas When you homeschool your children there are many advantages. That said, making sure your kid gets a great education should probably involve completing state standardized tests.
Are you qualified to teach your children at home? Evaluate the relationship you have with your children, and determine if any issues need to be considered before you begin homeschooling. Make sure you make friends with other people that home school their kids in your area. Homeschooling your children is not be easy, and you can learn from the situations of others. You can provide them with your experience, too. Most importantly, your children can all build great friendships. This will help facilitate the process of making friends for your child. Meeting other families combats this.
Ideas Relying on electronics, like computers, can be a bad thing. Sure they can be great tools to use to teach your kids from home, but what do you do if there was to be a problem with them? Use them, but have alternative teaching methods ready in case your computer dies and will be down for a while.
Due to the close bond you share with your children, it is inevitable that your homeschooling journey will at times become very tense. One way to help avoid tension is to leave any family issues outside the classroom. If tension arises, you can always take some time off. This can be helpful for both you and your child. There are boundaries and rules that you should set when you have many children around. If your older children need quiet time for studying, make sure the younger kids don’t interrupt. Make certain to take regular breaks in order to pay additional attention to the youngest ones. This can help everyone be less frustrated as well as protecting the quiet environment your older kids need in order to learn.
Ideas Keep your schedule flexible. There is no need to complete one thing in a set amount of time.
Your child needs to eat a good meal or some snacks before a lesson. That can do a lot to help give your kid the energy so focusing and learning for the day is easier. They’ll stay focused, too. You should seek out advice concerning different learning styles. All children learn best in different ways. Some will need to be shown first hand, others need many repetitions, while still others simply need to be shown an example. Find out everything you can about your child’s learning style so that you are able to best respond to their needs. Armed with this knowledge, you can provide the best possible education.
Ideas One way to structure a homeschooling lesson plan is through the unit study technique. By focusing on this one topic, you can better explore it and ensure that your child masters it.
Now that your information is more complete, you should have the ability to make the right decision. Use what you learned in this article to start homeschooling and assist them in learning what they have to know in your home. Soon, you will enjoy the bonding experience that comes with teaching your children from home.

Home Schooling: Alternative To Conventional Education?


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HOME schooling or home education involves a child being tutored in the home by either of the parents or a tutor. Unlike what obtains in the Western world, where some parents prefer to train their children in a bid to instil the right values, as well as ensure that the child is academically sound to take up task as s/he grows up.
The concept is not so established in Nigeria. It is relatively new even though some people are already practising it. However, the question still remains as to the possibility of its thriving in this society, despite being a good concept.
Three-year-old Tejiri Odose-Paul has never been to a conventional school. Her father, Paul Odose, a schoolteacher, has been home schooling his daughter since she was a few months old. When The Guardian visited their home, their living room could be mistaken for a classroom, as instructional materials were strategically placed on the walls, as well as a class board, table and chair for learning and piles of books for Tejiri to study.
A visibly excited Tejiri looked bright and very responsive, as she chatted heartily with the reporter. Her equally happy and proud father said: “I like education and so, I told myself that I would tutor my child from infancy. So, from the time my daughter was three months old, we started with ‘My book of Bible story.’ From that we graduated to audio-visuals to enable her see and gradually learn to pronounce words in the book. Then we progressed to building blocks, which she can feel, and touch to further educate her. When she was two years, I started teaching her how to write, by scribbling and then she was able to master the numbers and gradually, the alphabets. She competes favourably with her peers in conventional schools.”
Although it is not an easy task for Odose, a salary earner, to combine his work with home schooling his daughter, he, however, ensures that whenever he is back from work and no matter how tired he is, he makes out time to teach her, since he has decided to toe this path.
“As a teacher, I go out in the morning and come back in the evening. But then, I still try to fix time for classes and I give her assignments and class works to keep her busy all the time,” he explains.
He enumerated the advantages inherent in home schooling a child to include,inculcating the right moral values, as opposed to a conventional school, where peer pressure and bad influence may affect him/her.
“My daughter is very confident because she is being tutored by her parents and it is a one-on-one rapport,” he says. “Since she knows it is her daddy teaching her, she is inspired and encouraged to freely express herself. And even when she makes mistakes, I take time to point out such and together we correct them. But a teacher might not really have the time for such approach. It is also economical, as I don’t have to pay school fees or transportation, and so I am saving a lot of money.
“In my opinion, the only disadvantage is that she may not be able to properly socialise and make friends with her school peers. Nonetheless, she is not missing out because she attends Christian meetings, where she meets and mingles with other children. She also gets to meet with neighbours, as well as have access to the television, which is an agent of communication, though I regulate what she watches. And though my neighbours have criticised me for not enrolling her in a conventional school, they can see the difference. It is really rewarding.”
Odose urges parents to ensure that their children are properly schooled because teachers cannot do it all alone.
“Teachers are not magicians, and so it is the sole responsibility of parents to take care of their children academically, socially and otherwise, especially at the tender age,” he says.
While expressing doubts as to whether government is aware of this form of education, he says it would be beneficial and appreciated, if curriculums aimed at integrating such a method of education can be developed, as obtains in the developed worlds.
“I would like it to be regulated, as it would give us ample opportunity to effectively practise home schooling.”
Mrs. Maria Eke is a civil servant, who was home schooled as a child due to her sickly nature.
“I was in primary two, when my parents decided they couldn’t cope with having me going back and forth from the hospital and so they stopped me from going to school,” she explains. “Then, my mum was a professional teacher, while my father was a Customs officer. So, what they did was to give me assignments from my La’holmes Mathematics and English textbooks.
“I didn’t really have any issues with that approach, as I learnt better, wrote my Common Entrance examinations and passed. I was among the top six at every level in my secondary school days. In my Senior secondary level, I was among the top three. Today, I don’t have a first school leaving certificate because I was home schooled and that was what I told my employers.”
The success of the method, as reflected in her life later influenced her decision to home school her own children.
“I believe that for primary education, home schooling is very good. I currently do it for my children and my sister does it for her children also and I have not regretted it. My decision was to home school them only at their tender age and then get them back into school, when they are old enough to talk and express themselves properly. But then, I am enjoying the results that I don’t think of sending them to a conventional school any sooner. I also have peace of mind while at work knowing that they are home.”
She believes that children between ages zero to five are not old enough to talk about the things that they may face in school.
“Some of these schools employ monsters. I know of a case, where a cleaner was converted to a teacher and I wonder what kind of training she had to enable her impact positively in my child and I just decided that I would try home schooling them. We employed a teacher, who tutors them at home. My intention is to grow them to a point, where my children can express themselves and tell me, if somebody is trying to molest or manhandle them. The result has been so wonderful that I don’t even want to stop.
“Although there is little pressure from family and friends urging me to enroll them in conventional school to enable them mix with others, but I keep making them see reasons why I made this choice. My daughter will soon be five and she reads and speaks publicly. She climbs on a platform and reads the Bible to 150 persons. I don’t think my kids are missing anything. I feel I’m protecting them for now till they are old enough to express themselves. If my kids can successfully home school throughout their primary education, I will do it even to the secondary level, if possible.”
On her view of the Nigerian education system, she says: “I feel there are a lot of unqualified teachers, who don’t really know what to teach these children. And that is my greatest fear. They are in the teaching industry because there are no jobs. I talk to some of these teachers, who can’t even express themselves. I think they should go through some professional training before they can be qualified enough to teach children.”
Prof. Supo Jegede, Dean, faculty of Education, University of Lagos, however, thinks that this concept may not be that successful in our society.
“The culture of homeschooling may not be a very successful venture due to our environment. No man lives in isolation. What makes a person has more to do with interaction with the environment and other people than just the academics. When a child is alone in the house, there are many things he/she may miss, but which could have been learnt in the midst of others and these determine the true behaviour of that child. If a child is isolated, you may not get to find out the true character of that child.
“We always end up copying a society, which is alien to ours because their cultures allow it but ours don’t. If a home teacher is employed to tutor a child, the parents won’t know the kind of education or values the teacher is imparting to the child. There are limited extents to which a teacher can add value to a child in the public than in the private.
“One advantage of homeschooling may be the ability to impart to the child traits and morals that you want him/her to exhibit. But after this, the child will still return to school and may not be able to catch up with his/her peers. A child also passes through many experiences, which will make him fit for high school.
“There must be a strong reason to integrate homeschooling into our culture. Otherwise, we are just trying to copy other societies, which is not in sync with our culture. The instruments, which enhance a child’s ability to read and learn properly, are mostly found in a school. The same cannot be said for a home. Learning differs from education. You can learn something, which you have not been familiar with, but the question is, what does that do to your personality?”
Jedege says there are specific ways that are appropriate for enabling a child to learn what is right or wrong, which may not be learnt easily at home.
“In any case, not all parents can afford home schooling, and even if they can, do they know the proper things to do to make the environment conducive for learning? Or the instruments and gadgets needed? It may be cheap to leave a child with a tutor in the house, but do you know what kind of person the teacher is? If a child is in a school or daycare setting, there are certain circumstances that can be reported to higher authorities. This won’t apply when the child is at home.
“Children are being abused all the time with various cases of nannies and house helps molesting children reported daily. So, won’t it be safer to put the child in a school or a general setting, where these risks are reduced? Regarding morals, it is only the Lord that can take care of a child in that wise. Anyone who is afraid of his/her children mixing with their peers does not trust the Lord, who he or she claims to serve.”

By Ijeoma Opara

Monday, May 2, 2016

RESEARCH FACTS ON HOMESCHOOLING


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  • Homeschooling – that is, parent-led home-based education; home education – is an age-old traditional educational practice that a decade ago appeared to be cutting-edge and “alternative” but is now bordering on “mainstream” in the United States. It may be the fastest-growing form of education in the United States. Home-based education has also been growing around the world in many other nations (e.g., Australia, Canada, France, Hungary, Japan, Kenya, Russia, Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, and the United Kingdom).
  • A demographically wide variety of people homeschool – these are atheists, Christians, and Mormons; conservatives, libertarians, and liberals; low-, middle-, and high-income families; black, Hispanic, and white; parents with Ph.D.s, GEDs, and no high-school diplomas. One study shows that 32 percent of homeschool students are Black, Asian, Hispanic, and others (i.e., not White/non-Hispanic) (Noel, Stark, & Redford, 2013).
  • There are about 2.3 million home-educated students in the United States. This is up from one estimate that there were about 2 million children (in grades K to 12) home educated during the spring of 2010 in the United States (Ray, 2011). It appears the homeschool population is continuing to grow (at an estimated 2% to 8% per annum over the past few years).
  • Families engaged in home-based education are not dependent on public, tax-funded resources for their children’s education. The finances associated with their homeschooling likely represent over $27 billion that American taxpayers do not have to spend, annually, since these children are not in public schools
  • Taxpayers spend an average of $11,732 per pupil in public schools, plus capital expenditures. Taxpayers spend nothing on most homeschool students and homeschool families spend an average of $600 per student for their education.
  • Homeschooling is quickly growing in popularity among minorities. About 15% of homeschool families are non-white/nonHispanic (i.e., not white/Anglo).
  • An estimated 3.4 million U.S. adults have been homeschooled for at least one year of their K-12 years, and they were homeschooled an average of 6 to 8 years. If one adds to this number the 2.3 million being homeschooled today, an estimated 5.7 million Americans have experienced being homeschooled. [note 1]

Reasons and Motivations for Home Educating

  • Most parents and youth decide to homeschool for more than one reason.
  • The most common reasons given for homeschooling are the following:
  • · customize or individualize the curriculum and learning environment for each child,
    · accomplish more academically than in schools,
    · use pedagogical approaches other than those typical in institutional schools,
    · enhance family relationships between children and parents and among siblings,
    · provide guided and reasoned social interactions with youthful peers and adults,
    · provide a safer environment for children and youth, because of physical violence, drugs and alcohol, psychological abuse, racism, and improper and unhealthy sexuality associated with institutional schools, and
    · teach and impart a particular set of values, beliefs, and worldview to children and youth.

    Academic Performance

    • The home-educated typically score 15 to 30 percentile points above public-school students on standardized academic achievement tests. (The public school average is the 50th percentile; scores range from 1 to 99.) A 2015 study found Black homeschool students to be scoring 23 to 42 percentile points above Black public school students (Ray, 2015).
    • Homeschool students score above average on achievement tests regardless of their parents’ level of formal education or their family’s household income.
    • Whether homeschool parents were ever certified teachers is not related to their children’s academic achievement.
    • Degree of state control and regulation of homeschooling is not related to academic achievement.
    • Home-educated students typically score above average on the SAT and ACT tests that colleges consider for admissions.

Brian D. Ray, Ph.D.