Getting beyond the books

Written by Lindsay Richardson

Monday, 17 August 2009 08:47

You've made the choice to homeschool your children! Hooorayyyy!! It will be a great experience for you and your children. Or at least it can be.

Homeschooling versus the school room

One of the very best things about homeschooling is that it is not a classroom. But too many homeschoolers just end up duplicating the classroom experience at home, complete with poorly written text books, pop quizzes and bad science projects. Before you order a canned curriculum, stop to consider one thing: once your child leaves the formal classroom behind, the entire world can become his or her classroom. When you homeschool, there are no walls.

So what will you do with all of that freedom to teach? How about: Instead of a science textbook supplemented with uninspiring canned "experiments", find a real scientist with experience in the area you're teaching, and have your child watch and participate in real science experiments. Universities, colleges, labs and science museums are great places to find the real deal.

When it's time to study history, look for experiential learning opportunities instead of school books written by committee. Reinactments, historical homes or villages, traditional craft fairs, museums and historical societies are all wonderful places to find hands-on opportunities to bring history to life.

Expand the boundries of school-driven literature by taking your child to author readings and book group discussions. Join a Meet-up poetry or writers group. Give your child reading choices outside of classroom limits by exploring the works of local writers, international writers and writers of many different genres. Just because a classroom teacher is limited to Mark Twain and Joseph Conrad doesn't mean you are.

Make math real by teaching and applying it in real life scenerios. Let your child learn to compute area while laying out a garden bed. Teach percentages at the mall or grocery store. Use the stock market or a recipe or the cost of buying a new car to teach math. Not only will your child learn the concepts, they'll master the applications.

Classroom teachers have no choice about using books and canned materials. But you...and your child...are now wonderfully, completely free. Make sure you use it! Happy Homeschooling!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/homeschooling-articles/getting-beyond-the-books-1037480.html

About the Author:
A self-proclaimed writer-by-obsession, I enjoy the challenge of writing on a variety of topics from Human Resource Development to spiritual growth, with past publications covering everything from customizing your 4x4 to developing a culture of change in your organization.

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