Archive for June, 2011

Home School Education Through Curriculum Content

Homeschooling has now a support that it never had before. Curriculum has changed, and the number of parents choosing homeschooling has increased over the years. As of 2003, more than 1,000,000 students were being homeschooled, which equaled about 2.2 percent of all students. Traditional schooling has always provided students with set curriculum. A student’s learning abilities were not taken into consideration; it’s always been a “one size fits all” curriculum. That’s where homeschooling stepped in providing the opportunity for a customized education.

The choices for homeschooling curriculum include typical textbooks to digital curriculum and everything in between. CompleteCurriculum.com stimulates independent thinking with its digital curriculum in Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science for grades K-12. It takes the student outside of the norm of a classroom and introduces them to a new world of learning by helping to stimulate them in the following areas:

Independent Thinking

Traditional classrooms which are dictated by set state curriculum stifles a child’s ability to think independently. Complete Curriculum allows a child to move forward by creating an environment where custom textbooks can be created to meet the needs of each student at the level that fits those best.

Concentration

The education grade level content provided by Complete Curriculum helps to stimulate the student’s ability to concentrate. Some students benefit from smaller, quieter settings which cannot be provided in the typical classroom finding larger typical classroom distracting and somewhat stressful. Homeschooling provides a controlled environment where a child can concentrate more easily, also allowing for a smaller group setting if so desired. This increased level of concentration increases a student’s testing skills and performance.

Decision-Making

Traditional classroom settings make it somewhat difficult for a student to develop this important skill. Because of the controlled class and schedule, the student simply follows the rules, the teacher, and everyone else, leaving no room for decision-making or choices. Homeschooling allows the teacher or parent to develop this skill through balanced curriculum, and equips the student in dealing with negative peer pressure.

Time Management

Traditional classrooms consist of scheduled days. Math occurs at a particular time, following by recess, followed by Language Arts, followed by lunch, etc. The homeschooling environment helps to develop time management skills in academics and recreational activities.

Bible Study in the Homeschool Classroom

If you are a Christian homeschooler, you may find yourself battling feelings of inadequacy when it comes to implementing Bible study into your classroom. I know I have. The Christian’s struggle with consistency in his personal Bible reading and study rolls right over into the Homeschooling classroom.

You start your school year off strong with a commitment to read the Bible every day with the kids. You even stick with it… well, for a week or two. Then, life settles in — the outside activities become demanding with the schedule, the Science experiments take precedence, there’s a death in the family that mandates traveling away from the homefront, and the list goes on.

Well, let me ask a question, “Who ever said that we have to have Bible study seven days a week?” I have several Bibles in my home and I don’t think any of them have this declaration. If I’m reading mine correctly, it simply teaches me that I am to give God first place. It does not sanction that we are to sit at our desks for 2 hours of Bible study every day. Quite the contrary. Jesus Christ knew the scriptures, and I’m not negating this fact. I am, however, pointing out that He shows us by example that we can walk out our faith. We can exercise other options:

  • Perhaps spend 3 days a week reading scripture out loud to the children. (Mon/Wed/Fri)
  • Maybe pop in a worship CD on the way to Tuesday Taekwondo lessons and asking the children to learn the words with you? Repeat this each weekly trip to Taekwondo until the song is mastered and hidden in their heart.
  • On Thursday, listen to Bible stories on CD while the children quietly do their Art lessons.
  • How about showing the love of Christ by baking fresh bread with the children and walking it over to the neighbor on Saturday morning? Or visit a nursing home and let the kids share their musical talent.
  • Finish up the week by attending church as a family on Sunday morning.

Bible understanding within the christian homeschooling curriculum choices does not have to be limited to the latest snazzy Bible study off the shelf of the bookstore. Bible study can become a way of life. Live it out loud. Then it becomes a practical, tangible matter that the children can hang onto for the rest of their lives.