| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp |
| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp. All rights reserved. |
| about the book |
| "You send your child to the schoolmaster, but 'tis the schoolboys who educate him." -- unknown |
| The Homeschool Diner's Guide to School-at-Home: Standards-Aligned Curriculum, Cyber Schools, and Public e-Schooling by Julie Shepherd Knapp, copyright 2006 Parents who are looking to re-create a traditional school experience in their homeschool (but without actually "going to school") will probably establish a "School-at-Home" approach for their children. School-at-Home is often the first method tried by new homeschooling families, especially if their children have already enjoyed success in a school environment. It is a familiar way of learning for students and parents alike. School-at-Home Curriculum consists of a complete set of materials designed to teach all subjects at a specific grade level. This usually includes teacher's guide books, lessons, worksheets, tests, and other activities -- everything needed to teach one child for the entire school year. This is similar to the kinds of curriculum used in public schools and, just like public schools, the curriculum is often based on state educational standards, so it may also be called "standards-aligned" curriculum. If you want to re-create the public school environment in your homeschool, then this is probably the kind of "formal" curriculum you are looking for. You may buy complete packaged sets from curriculum suppliers; or you may create or pull-together your own curriculum using textbooks and online resources. A School-at-Home approach is usually accomplished by either the independent use of a standards-aligned curriculum or by enrollment in a distance learning "Cyber School". Enrollment in a public online charter school also provides a "school at home" learning situation, but is not legally considered "homeschooling". It is home-based public school. School-at-Home can be a good choice for children and parents who enjoy a scheduled, structured learning experience. [For those who may be interested in other options, schedule and structure are also emphasized in the "Classical Education" homeschool approach.] School-at-Home is also popular with families who are homeschooling on a temporary basis with the intent of returning to traditional school within a year or less. Sometimes parents choose School-at-Home to ensure that their children will be at the same place, academically, as their school counterparts (neither behind nor ahead). In some cases, parents who are homeschooling on more of a "trial basis" may feel pressured to provide "proof" of learning success, and will appreciate the paper trail and test results available to those using school-at-home curriculum. School-at-Home Curriculum Suppliers, Cyber Schools/Online Academies, and Other Resources Here are some examples of standards-aligned curriculum created for use in public, private, and parochial schools across the nation. In most cases, homeschoolers have the option of purchasing the curriculum to use, independently, at home or enrolling in their cyber school, or (in some cases) enrolling in their online public charter school. Also visit the "Distance Learning" section for "Umbrella/Cover" Schools that do not use "School-at-Home" methods and for Gifted Enrichment Programs. K12 Online Home Schooling - (K -12) a packaged curriculum, an accredited private cyber school, and also available thru public charter schools as an online "Virtual Academy", the standards-aligned curriculum is a text/workbook-based online program, but most work is done offline, allows for skills-based placement at different grade-levels, provides daily lesson plans Calvert Curriculum - (K - 8) a packaged curriculum, an accredited private cyber school, and also available online thru public charter schools as "Connections Academy", the standards-aligned curriculum is textbook and worksheet-based, grade-level is decided by placement test, allows different grade level placement for math only (if needed), daily lesson plans provided ACE Accelerated Christian Education - (K -12) a packaged accredited Christian curriculum can be used independently or by enrolling in the "Lighthouse Christian Academy" cyber school, curriculum is text/worksheet-based, skills-based placement tests for all subjects, allows for accelerated learning, emphasizes rote memorization and recall of facts, promotes independent work A Beka - (preK -12) a packaged accredited Christian curriculum used by many private schools, can be used independently or by enrolling in "A Beka Academy" cyber school, textbook-based curriculum with DVD options and worksheets, emphasis is on detailed rote learning, focus on computation skills, lots of quizzes, tests, and busy work, middle school science focuses on rote memorization. Alpha Omega - (3 - 12) a Christian, bible-based curriculum used by many private schools, can be used independently or by enrolling in the "Alpha Omega Academy", offers a choice of the computer-based version called "Switched-On Schoolhouse" or the traditional worktext version that uses separate "LIFEPAC" learning units which are fill-in-the-blank worktexts, uses Horizon K-6 Math, uses Weaver Curriculum bible-based unit studies Time4Learning -- (preK - 8) completely online, standards-aligned curriculum sold as a monthly subscription. Includes interactive, self-paced lessons, activities, printable worksheets, learning games, and assessments. Children may work at different levels in different subjects, text narration optional. Many families with special needs students find this flexibility helpful. The focus is on language arts and math with social studies and science provided as "bonus" items. Educational content provided by CompassLearning® Odyssey, aka "ChildU". Christa McAuliffe Academy - (K -12) accredited cyber school, also can be used to complete/supplement credits for public high school graduation, a standards-aligned curriculum, online worktexts with some interactive worksheets, high school diplomas issued, allows student to work at his or her own pace 3D Learn Interactive Academy - (7 - 12) an accredited private cyber school offering a standards-aligned "multi-sensory 3-D curriculum", a high tech interactive online environment - a virtual reality learning framework - that requires an estimated 4 - 5 hours online each day, plus additional at-home hands-on activities, offers full or part-time enrollment, boasts a 14:1 student to teacher ratio, issues accredited high school diplomas BOB Jones University Press - (K -12) a conservative Christian curriculum, worktext-based, online options, math uses manipulatives and word problems, science is activity-oriented and high school science emphasizes lab work, teacher's manual is essential for all grade-levels because lots of prep work is required - parent presents lesson to student University of Missouri-Columbia: Center for Distance and Independent Studies - (3 - 12) can be used to supplement public school, self-paced, online texts, worksheets, accredited high school diplomas, online Bachelor's Degree in General Studies also available. MarcoPolo Internet Content for the Classroom - (K - 12) a collection of seven content-specific web sites with free standards-aligned lesson plans, student interactive content, down-loadable worksheets, links to panel-reviewed Web sites and additional resources The Educator's Reference Desk - (K - 12) over 2000 free lesson plans written and submitted by US teachers Kendall-Hunt Publishers - (K -12) standards-aligned learning modules for all subjects, hands-on science units, modules available for purchase individually, can be used with a more "mix and match" style of School-at Home, also can be integrated into unit studies Evan-Moor Educational Publishers - (preK - 6) a variety of standards-aligned workbooks, thematic units, and skills practice books in all subject areas Related Resources SRA/Mcgraw-Hill - (K - 8) a variety of workbooks and worktexts for all subject areas, designed to help students build skills needed to improve scores on standardized tests For distance learning options that aren't School-at-Home check out: Distance Learning Institutions for Umbrella/Cover Schools Distance Learning Options for Gifted Enrichment |
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