What is Homeschooling

What is Homeschooling

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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Unschooling your child

Unschooling your child

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.

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Structure the School year

Structure the School year

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.

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Social concerns of homeschooling

Social concerns of homeschooling

Social skills is an area of deep concern when it comes to

homeschooling. Many critics point out that since man needs to hone

his social skills, a homeschooling environment where social

interaction is limited is detrimental to his growth and

development. But studies have proved this wrong.

Children put into the fiercely competitive school environments

lack the confidence to hold a conversation. Such children show

little genuine interest in the topic of conversation and don't

know how to interact with people of various age groups,

especially their elders.

Children who learn at home are more aware of the implications and

the purpose of their learning. They will ask intelligent questions

and make accurate observations. Children begin their life by

imitating their parents. Homeschooled children therefore pick

up the sterling qualities they see in their parents. On the other

hand, they are protected from the detrimental influences of their

peers.

These children are thus better equipped with the tools necessary

to face the world. The positive reinforcement that takes place

in the homeschooling environment as opposed to being abandoned,

embarrassed or ignored in a normal school environment strengthens

their self-esteem. Children turn out to be better balanced and

well-rounded as they progress into adulthood.

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Record keeping in Homeschooling

Record keeping in Homeschooling

A topic that frequently comes up in meetings and forums that deal

with homeschooling is record keeping. The importance of record

keeping cannot be ignored. It is not only legally required in

various States, but also provides important milestones in your

child's learning experience. An interest-initiated homeschooling

approach means that the topic of studies is far ranging and

multifarious. Thus, it can be something of a challenge to write

quarterly reports for the school district, when it is difficult

to classify learning into neatly pigeonholed areas.

Record keeping is important not only for the sake of regulations.

It is also an exciting way to record and document the learning

process of the child. When most of the learning is done through

play and there is no clear cut index of topics that have to be

covered, it is necessary for the parent to keep some sort of a log

which records the child's progress.

The records you keep can be as simple as a daily journal, or as

elaborate as a software program. If you participate in a support

group, you probably have set forms and requirements. But even so,

keeping track of daily work makes reporting easy and efficient.

There are various record keeping methods used by various

homeschools. Some of the more popular ones are:

Journal:

This can be maintained by the teacher or the student. This

basically aims to keep a log of what was learned and what was

done. Recording memorable events that happened in the course of

the year is a great way to reminisce later on. 

Daily planner:

Lay out the plans and the assignments for the week in a teacher's

planning notebook. Check each item as it is covered. Maintain a

separate area where any additional things can be recorded. This

includes educational trips, visits and videos etc. Any extra

topics that were covered are also recorded in this area. Make a

summary every quarter.

Portfolios:

This consists of a collection of varied materials that show what

the child has achieved and done during the course of study.

Portfolio assessment is a very effective way to chart the child's

progress. It gives structure to the otherwise loose and flexible

form of schooling called homeschooling. A drawing portfolio will

consist of some paintings or sketches that are considered the best

in that quarter. A language portfolio may consist of essays,

stories, reading-logs, spelling samples or letters. Progress in

mathematics, fine arts, history, science and social studies can

all be recorded this way. The biggest advantage is that portfolio

assessment places control in the hands of the children. Having a

tangible record of what they have established eggs them on to

greater heights.

Other than the above-mentioned systems, there are also purchased

record-keeping systems that lay out a good checklist. Some of

these allow one to personalize the organizer. Irrespective of the

methods used, record keeping in one form or the other is

essential. Your child's future may well depend on the

well-maintained record that you have meticulously kept over the

years.

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Montessori Homeschooling

Montessori Homeschooling

Developed from the work of Dr. Maria Montessori, this style of

teaching aims at duplicating natural laws that a child faces in

life. Thus the aim of the teacher is to control the environment

and not the child. It was observed that children who are left free

to interact with their environment developed an innate

self-discipline, love for order and natural curiosity.

The Montessori method of teaching is especially suitable to the

preschooler who wants to do everything by himself. Finding ways in

which your child can participate in the cleaning, washing,

cooking, gardening and other 'adult' activities sets the perfect

backdrop for the learning experience. By providing such

opportunities for independence, the child's self-esteem also gets

a huge boost.

Artistic, cultural and scientific activities abound in the

Montessori 3-6 class. There is no TV, junk food, or computer.

Material is selected carefully. The child is never forced to work.

Instead he is encouraged to do things that interest him, and the

teacher picks up the teaching from cues given by the child.  The

Montessori method focuses on the child's inborn ability to learn

from his surroundings. Thus the teacher aims to encourage the

natural curiosity of the child. He is never forced to learn or

explore. When the child understands why he needs to learn

something, he will love the learning process.

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Maintaining Discipline in Homeschooling

Maintaining Discipline in Homeschooling

When the child stays at home all day, and mommy is the teacher,

there are certain issues of discipline at stake. It is easy for he

child to misconstrue the freedom he has at home and feel that

homeschooling is just a long summer holiday. This is a potential

landmine and children need to be disciplined right at the start.

Homeschooling gives you and your child a truly immense amount of

flexibility. You and your child decide where to learn, how much to

learn and when to learn. But,these should be decisions made at

the beginning stages. If your child is too little to take an

active part in the decision, chart out a few hours of the day for

the various activities, and stick to it. When there is no outside

agency to supervise and no exams to answer, it is easy to get

sidetracked. If your child is old enough, consult him and find out

when he wants to learn. Apply your parental discretion and come up

with a timetable.

Homework is also a part of homeschooling. What this means is that

once lessons have been taught, the child should be asked to do

some part of the course work by himself without your guidance. You

will need to make sure that your child sits willingly and finishes

his work.

Courtesy, manners and punctuality are some of the various facets

of discipline that a child has to imbibe in the early years of his

life. The school where he interacts with his peers, his seniors

and juniors and his teachers mould these values quite

automatically. At homeschool, the child should be taught the

importance of speaking and behaving in a proper manner and

appropriate corrections need to be meted out if behavior is

unsatisfactory.

It is advisable to keep aside a particular room or a part of the

room for your homeschool. The child should be expected to reach

his desk at the appointed time, in proper attire with all the

necessary material. It is easy to allow the school to become an

extension of play if these ground rules are not laid out and

followed. As the teacher, supervisor, principal and janitor rolled

into one, you should also approach the study area with a cool

professionalism.

Homeschooling is doomed to fail without patience. In spite of all

the precautions and steps one takes, it is easy for a child to get

familiar' at homeschool. At such times, it may be difficult to

discipline the child and get him to listen to you attentively.

When this happens, switch to something new. Allow the child to

take a breather and enjoy a break yourself.

Homeschooling is not easy. It requires a lot of hard work and

patience. The very informality of the whole procedure sometimes

works against it by making it too easy. If you take steps to

establish rules at the very beginning and adhere to these rules,

your homeschooling experience will be a huge success.

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Is Homeschooling legal?

Is Homeschooling legal?

Without a doubt, homeschooling is legal in all the 50 States of

the U.s. But, that is just about where the similarity ends. Laws

and regulations regarding homeschooling vary from state to state.

Interpretations of these laws can vary from scholl district to

school district. Additionally, these laws may change every year.

The National Home Education network is a wonderful resource when

it comes to the legalities of homeschooling. It has a listing of

the actual state laws for each state in the U.S. Reading the laws

that pertain to your state is perhaps the best way to get accurate

information about these laws. But, most people need to get the

laws interpreted by a qualified attorney. You can get valuable

information from the support group at your locality. Additionally,

many state education departments have online resources that will

help you in interpreting the state requirements for homeschooling.

The internet is also a good source of information.

It is a good idea to check out your state laws regarding

homeschooling before you start educating your child at home. This

will prevent any nasty surprises on the way. If you have to move,

you will need to be aware of any tests or exams that your child

may need to take.

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How to Homeschool Your Child

How to Homeschool Your Child

Now that you have decided that homeschooling is the way to educate

your child, get ready for the ecstasy and the anxiety - the road

ahead is a bit bumpy, but the rewards more than make up for it.

Producing a well-adjusted and well-rounded personality is no mean

achievement.

First of all, it is important to check out your state laws on home

schooling. Some states need an affidavit filed with the State's

education department. There are basically 3 categories for

homeschooling laws. These are: private school laws, home education

laws and equivalency laws. Find your state laws. You may also need

to maintain a portfolio that records the child's educational

progress. It is important to look into the legal requirements

BEFORE you start homeschooling. Some States also stipulate a

minimum educational qualification for the parent or teacher.

Next, look for a support group. If you live in a friendly or

curious neighborhood, well-meaning friends will try to dissuade

you. At the very least, they may put a lot of uneasy questions in

your mind. A support group that consists of like-minded people

will insulate you from the criticism, pressures and questions of

regular school-goers. Many groups organize fun events like visits

to the zoo, museum, tours to the ice cream shops etc. And if your

children hit it off with other homeschoolers, they will be able to

build lasting relationships that do not fade when their friends

change schools. These groups provide an important avenue for

socialization.

The next important thing to do is to select a curriculum.

Depending upon the method of homeschooling, you may choose various

tools that aid you in this process. The internet is also a rich

resource for homeschooling. Do some research and look into the

material that is available.

Set certain ground rules. Homeschooling requires a lot of

self-discipline and hard work. Here is a comprehensive list of the

things you will need:

1) Eagerness to learn

2) Hard work and effort

3) Discipline

4) Time and patience

5) Flexibility

6) Enthusiasm

Consider why you want to opt for homeschooling. Your motives and

your reasons are important pillars on which the whole edifice of

your child's lessons depends. Also, consult with your children.

Ask them what they feel about homeschooling.

Select a curriculum or custom-make a curriculum that best suits

your child. Record keeping is an important part of homeschooling.

Look into the various methods of record keeping. Set up a

schedule. Your child does not have to learn 6-7 hours a day. Allow

him or her to dictate the time. Flexibility and fun are the

cornerstones of homeschooling. Do not stuff too many skills into a

single term or year. Prepare a skill list. Make the child learn

the skills that he is ready for.

Gentle parenting is the secret to successful homeschooling.

Children make great advances in learning and show more enthusiasm.

They also turn out to be surprisingly well balanced and well

informed when they are taught at home.

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Homeschool teachers

Homeschool teachers

The teacher is the key to the success of homeschooling. In most

cases, the teacher is a parent or a close relative. In some cases,

parents may divide the subjects between them. Rarely, if both

parents are busy, they may hire a homeschool teacher. Whatever the

case, children need time with their parents. Parents, as a rule,

make very good teachers.

Teaching does not involve a clinical presentation of facts.

Learning has to be integrated lovingly into daily life for it to

interest the child. That is where parents come in. Grandparents

also make great teachers, especially since they have an abundance

of patience.

If you feel anxious about your skill or knowledge, relax. There

are countless homeschooling resources that are aimed at helping

you. Professional curriculum packages, support groups, online help

desks, virtual schools and library resources are all available.

When you start out, you may want to make use of the commercial

curriculum packages. Readymade software also allows you to record

and log important achievements.

Local support groups are an excellent source of help, ideas and

material. This is where you get to meet experienced homeschoolers,

who will be more than happy to offer their insight and advice.

Once you settle into the homeschooling routine, you will find

yourself tailoring the curriculum to suit your own needs.

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Homeschool - staying connected

Homeschool - staying connected

The world has become a jungle of knowledge. Wherever you turn, you

find a new fruit that just has to be passed on to your child. In

the middle of all the knowledge flying to and fro, we sometimes

forget to talk and relax with our children. A mom who doubles as a

teacher needs to leave the teacher behind and simply become mom

for a few hours everyday.

Listen to your child. Do not just hear the words, but notice the

emotion too. Many children find it difficult to express exactly

what they want. Talk to your child about general stuff and allow

him to be 'just a kid'. When you talk to your child, as for his

opinions. Few things please him more. It also adds kilos to his

self-confidence.

Most parents interrupt when their children talk. We, as adults,

detest it when someone cuts across our lines. Kids keep mum

because they are forced to be silent when we shut them up. But

this is unhealthy and unfair. Allow your child to finish and then

express your views in a rational manner. The child should have the

confidence to confide in you.

Gentle parenting is the key to successful homeschooling. Be a

parent first, and then a teacher.

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Homeschooling with a disability

Homeschooling with a disability

If you feel that your child suffers from a disability that

seriously hampers his ability to stick to a routine, then

homeschooling is your best choice. The child will be constantly

under your supervision. But he will be gaining a lot of quality

education, in spite of his disability. This is rather surprising,

considering how children with disabilities are stigmatized in

public schools.

Goal setting is an important part of homeschooling a child with

disability. Set the number of working hours per week for the

child. A child with a disability may have his bad days. Structure

the learning hours according to the needs and interests of the

child. Use the computer. This way, he will have all the

necessary information right at his fingertips while staying within

the confines of his home.

Field trips and other educational activities are just as

important. Get help from your support group. Visit places of

interest and interact with other children in the group. Take your

child out for some activities, so that he can socialize. Let him

set his own pace with making friends. This will help in

strengthening his self-esteem.

Above all, remember that homeschooling is just the same, even when

your child suffers from a disability. You will just need to look

for the right opportunities and the easiest alternatives to

achieve the same goals.

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Homeschooling - the darker side

Homeschooling - the darker side

It's not all hunky-dory and smooth sailing on the homeschooling

front. Like all things in life, there is a downside that has to be

seriously considered when you explore the homeschooling option.

Though one man's bane may be another man's boon, there are certain

common reasons for concern.

The responsibility of teaching your child rests solely on you. You

cannot blame anyone else if your child is seen wanting in the

skills that his peers excel in. If your child cannot do the things

that are expected from other children of his age group, it

reflects badly on you as an educator as well as a parent.

A critical part of homeschooling is the time that you have to

spend with your children. You may have to give up your friends,

shopping and other entertainment and dedicate all these to your

child. This can become frustrating at times. You have to learn to

take the aggravation with equanimity and wait for the rewards with

patience and enthusiasm.

A parent who is dedicated to tutor his or her child single

handedly does not realistically have much time left over for a

career. This means that the family is robbed of an additional

source of income. In turn, this may lead to stress over finances.

You will have to train yourself to live on a strictly controlled

budget. While this is a matter of habit, it does need some getting

used to.

You cannot take a break when you feel like it. Feelings of guilt

will assail you if you neglect studies just because you are

feeling blue. You also fear that the child will take advantage of

the situation. Even when you have given homework, you have to be

around to give a helping hand. This means that anytime your child

is around you, you are on duty! For some, this may mean working

every waking hour. The child studying at home also needs to get

out more. This comes from staying at home all the time.

Interaction with adults and other children needs to be given

special attention.

Children tutored at home cannot develop in the various directions

that are open to children attending public schools. To achieve

that kind of exposure, you either have to be a super-parent

skilled in everything, or enroll your child to various activities.

This may not only prove too costly, but also be

counter-productive.

It is sometimes observed that homeschooled children do not do as

well in SAT tests as their school-going counterparts. Without a

diploma or a GED, some students find it difficult to get into the

military.

Lastly, if you envision enrolling your child to a public school,

there may be a certain period of emotional as well as social

adjustment. A child who is used to being at home for the whole day

and enjoying so much of uncontained freedom may have to undergo

some distressing emotional upheavals before he or she gets used to

the rigors of a regular school life.

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Homeschooling the teenager

Homeschooling the teenager

As children start maturing into adults, parents feel insecure

about homeschooling. Many parents then discontinue the

homeschooling process and happily hand over the reign to outside

authorities. But is this really necessary? Is the strictly

compartmentalized education provided in schools a better option?

If social concerns are worrying you, look for interest-oriented

associations, clubs and societies. These offer a lot of support

for leaders, opportunity for shared experience, and foster a sense

of belonging. Make up your own group or share this responsibility

with someone else. Home education support groups provide fantastic

opportunities to meet your child's needs. This is the best way to

develop intelligent, self-motivated, healthy and able young

people.

If the growing burden of some of the higher level Math or Science

seems to be beyond you, enlist the help of someone who knows more.

You can even barter your own services and thus save some money.

With homeschooling becoming more and more popular, support groups

will have innumerable resources that help you find the right

teacher for your child.

The underlying principle that guides homeschooling is this: any

child has the innate capacity to grow, develop and achieve its

full potential. All it needs is the right environment and all the

right answers. Be there to provide these and think twice before

you turn over this responsibility to a third party.

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Homeschooling online

Homeschooling online

If Johnny is fascinated by the blinking cursor and struggles to

master the movements of the mouse, you may want to look into some

of the recent developments in homeschooling techniques. Gone are

the days when parents had to buy material from vendors and then

pass it on to their children with explanations. Today, you get the

full course details, material and test papers online.

Children love to sit with the computer. In addition to making them

feel like an adult, the computer also makes use of the visual and

sound medium to make learning fun and easy. Streaming video and

audio show various scientific processes in great detail. The

colorful pictures and the various techniques used help to

effectively bind the data to the child's memory.

Many online resources have a fun testing center that aims to

measure the knowledge and skill level of your child. Complicated

math and science problems are dealt with deftly and elegantly.

A visit to an e-library can also be fun, especially when there

is an audio clip that reads out the passage to you.

E-learning has just begun to revolutionize the world of studies.

If harnessed properly, a child can assimilate an astonishing

amount of information from that great resource sitting right there

at your table - your P.C.

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Homeschooling Methods

Homeschooling Methods

For many people, homeschooling may call to mind the picture of two

or three children sitting at a table and writing feverishly in

their workbooks, while mom or dad stands nearby. This is the not

entirely true. There are different methods of homeschooling,

and the method you choose will decide the curriculum and your

style of teaching. Given below are some of the most influential

and popular homeschooling methods.

The Charlotte Mason method:

Charlotte Mason is known as the founder of the homeschooling

movement. A homeschooler herself, she was passionate in her zeal

to lay out the foundations for an effective a complete

homeschooling program that is fun and educational at the same

time. This method focuses on all the core subjects with emphasis

placed on classical literature, poetry, fine arts, classical music

and craft. Mason used a variety of books from classical

literature, which she called 'Living Books'. Since this method

encourages a passionate awareness of literature, the child is read

to daily from the 'Living Books'. After this, the child is asked

to narrate what she has heard. This process begins at the age of

six, and by ten the child is expected to write her narrations in

her book. Mason also advocated the use of 'Nature Diaries'. After

each short and interesting lesson, the child is asked to go to

Nature and draw observations from Nature. Thus the child also

gains a sense of respect for her environment. Mason believed that

development of good character and behavior was essential to the

complete development of the child's personality.

The Eclectic Homeschooling:

This is a mixture of various homeschooling techniques. Here, the

innovative parents trust their own judgment and pick out the

topics that make the best curriculum for their child. Such parents

continuously look out for the best products that will meet the

needs of their homeschoolers. Most Eclectic homeschooling

curriculums are improvised. This means that the basic curriculum

is ready-made. The parents then make changes in the curriculum to

accommodate the individual needs and interests of their children.

The child's gifts, temperament, learning style and interests

dictate the curriculum. Eclectic programs include visits to the

museum, libraries and factories.

Unschooling:

A Boston public educator name John Holt laid the beginnings of the

unschooling method. He believed that children learned best when

they are free to learn at their own pace and when they are guided

by their own interests. His message was to 'unschool' the child.

This method is a hands-on approach to learning, where the parent

takes definite cues from the children. There is no definite

curriculum, schedules or materials. This method is the most

unstructured of the various homeschooling techniques.

The Montessori Method:

This method began in Italy, when it was observed that children

have acute sensitive periods, during which they undergo periods of

intense concentration. During such phases, a child will repeat an

activity till he gains a measure of self-satisfaction. The

Montessori method depends on a prepared environment to facilitate

learning. All the materials used in this method are designed to

satisfy the inner desire for spiritual development of the child.

The materials used progress from simple to complex, and are rather

expensive.

These are just a few of the methods of homeschooling. Whatever the

method, the underlying factor is flexibility and a keen interest

in the desires of the child. The secret is to use the child's

desire for knowledge to further his education.

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