Why Homeschooling works better.

Article | First Things

All about why homeschooling works better.

Each family has their own way of doing things. No two families look the same.

And they shouldn't.

We are each unique beings who have unique needs.

I don’t agree with your parenting choices. Now let me explain how you should raise your own children. | The Matt Walsh Blog

We all have opinions about different issues, but we need to be nicer and more tolerant about the less important things.

Some things ARE worth standing up for (Christians providing godly education, for example) but other things, though my opinion is best of course:-) aren't eternally important (like homebirth- yes, it's much safer and nicer than hospital birth, but in America it means the difference between recovering from a c-section or from normal labor. Yeah, its better to avoid surgery if you can, but 20 years from now it's not going to make that much difference. You're just making things tougher on yourself. That's all.)

Not everyone can teach all subjects. After all, most of us were public schooled:-)

Yet, it is possible to provide your child with the best education, even with out doing most of the teaching directly yourself.

Educating without teaching

At least, without anymore than the average parent does when helping with homework.

There are several options to "homeschool" that do not requier the parent to make lesson plans or even teach the subjects at hand.

Virtual School
These are schools that are entirely on the Internet. The student takes their lessons online and communicates with the teacher via email and chatrooms. The parent's job is to make sure the child logs on each day and maybe check the homework. Options include:

1. K12- Public school online. The advantage of  this is that the public school system picks up the tab (they still get full funding without having to supply classrooms and the teachers can easily handle far more students.) The disadvantages are that the student is still in the public school system and is subject to all the same regulations and testing requirements. This includes the requirement to use none-religious material and teach evolution.
2. The Morning Star Academy- Christian virtual school. The advantage is that the parent chooses the school and curriculum that best fits their child. They are totally free from all testing requirements (unless their state requires them of homeschoolers) except those THEY choose to have their child take. The disadvantage is of course that you have to pay for it yourself. Whoever pays the bill controls the education.$1500
3. The King's Way Classical Academy- Ditto. About $459 according to their website.
4. ORU- Ditto. $100/ student + $550/course/credit with a 10% discount for additional children.
5. Ron Paul Curriculum- Totally online. Totally self-taught. The child watches video lectures and reads articles on the website, then posts his work to his blog or youtube channel. If they need help they go to the forums on the website and work it out with other students. $500/child/year plus $50/ course. "It would be nice if the parents read the child's work." A+ academic level.
6. Monarch- Alpha Omega homschool curriculum but online instead of in print. the computer corrects most the work and does all the drill, but the parent sets the schedule and can check the child's work if they want to. A+ academic level. About $500/year/child. (This or Ron Paul is what I would use if I went to virtual school)
7. Khan Academy- video lessons posted on youtube available through their website. Covers everything and totally free. The parent would need to assign the work, but the computer takes care of the teaching and testing.

Google virtual schools and see how many more options there are!

Video/ Computer School
This option is from individual schools and the technology used varies. Basically the parent makes sure the child watches the appropriate video, supervises the work, mails it to the teacher who grades it and assigns further work.

1. Abeka Book- This curriculum was originally written for a private school in Florida. Their focus is first and foremost service to God and the inerrancy of the Word, then patriotism. This curriculum was so high quality that many others began asking to use it too. Today this is the number one private school curriculum in the world. The publishers set cameras up in the back of the classrooms in their schools and recorded every lesson. They have made these available through live-stream ($225-$902) or DVD ($275-$1064) or Just the textbooks. These prices include the videos, all the necessary textbooks, tests, quizzes, etc., plus a teacher assigned to grade work and keep records. The parents supervise and mail in the work.
2. Bob Jones- This curriculum focuses on God and the Bible and Missionaries. It is probably Abeka's main competition. They offer virtual, USB, and DVD video options as well as just textbooks. They also offer teachers as Abeka does. I couldn't find prices with just a quick look, but they usually run the same as Abeka.
3. Switched on Schoolhouse- This is Alpha Omega self-paced curriculum but on CDs. With just the print books the parent can "teach" without teaching since all the lessons are contained in the workbooks themselves. They just have to correct and have an occasional discussion (the correcting can be done by the child if they are dependable enough to not cheat). You can also enroll in their correspondence school and get teacher support. $500ish/child/year. (Again, this is what I would use if I did total computer school. This option is not internet dependent. Monarch is the same thing but on the internet. Alpha Omega is the same thing but in print form. No computer needed at all.)

For print self-teaching curriculum, Google Christian Liberty, School of Tomorrow, and the above link to Switched on Schoolhouse which will also lead you to Alpha Omega. All are about $500/year. All are based on work-booklets, 10-12 books/year/subject. The child goes through them at their own pace.



There are so many options out there!