Friday, September 21, 2012

I’ve Decided to Homeschool, Now What?--

I’ve decided to homeschool, now what? Have you ever been there or is that where you are right now? It is okay to be anxious about it. Give it time to sink in and most of anxiety will fade away. After all, if you have made the wrong decision, life IS NOT over and your kids will rebound. You can always send them back to public school.

Most folks tend not to give their efforts enough time. You should really try homeschooling for at least two years before you consider throwing in the towel. It takes a bit to get used to the new way of learning and it takes awhile to learn what works for you and your child. The first year is the hardest!

Try to find a good local homeschool cooperative to join. Your child will be able to take classes you might not want to teach and you will make new friends, find support and encouragement, participate in filed trips and parties and more.

Try to attend a homeschool convention. Buy used curriculum until you know exactly what you want to use. Join online homeschool forums, read homeschool blogs like this one.
Believe in yourself. You know your child the best, have his best interests at heart, and are his best cheerleader. You can do it.

Friday, September 7, 2012

Vocabulary Games

Does my child really need to practice vocabulary skills? How important is it? Mastering words in essential to academic success and being able to communicate effectively. Building vocabulary skills improves reading comprehension and reading fluency. Without building a large vocabulary, students cannot read successfully and their future is in jeopardy. Good jobs demand a good vocabulary.

Kids are influenced by what is around them. If you want your child’s vocabulary to grow, be aware of how you speak around them. Play vocabulary games at home with them. One thing I have my daughter do for her vocabulary lessons is to draw and color a picture of the vocabulary word, write the meaning, and use it in a sentence. She also plays fun online flash vocabulary games.