Here are some homeschooling style approaches to consider,when starting your first year of homeschooling.It also serves as a good reference for those who may need a change from their current curriculum.

Classical:
Dating from ancient Greece and Rome, this philosophy is based upon the trivium:
grammar (using language)
logic (correct thinking)
rhetoric (verbal and written communication

School at Home:
This approach is most similar to conventional school learning. This teaching style places an emphasis on learning facts and then applying these facts to facilitate a well-rounded education. Textbooks and workbooks are used and the home educator accepts the traditional teacher role. Traditional homeschooling is also called the school-at-home method. Most traditional home schoolers use a set curriculum and give grades.

Charlotte Mason:
This style or philosophy, created in the nineteenth century by Mason, emphasizes among other things:
the reading of classic books that engage the mind
narration (retelling what one has learned)
art
music
ournaling
Although this approach is not unschooling, CM practitioners do not use workbooks or textbooks.

Now that school is almost over ,I have begun to to plan my curriculum for the the next school year.Yea ,already planning.So with that in mind I thought I would post my ideas as they come to me with resources,links,etc for those who might be interested.In the meantime here is another option for an Home school approach. This has been my previous approach : "Relaxed" or "Eclectic" Homeschooling "Relaxed" or "Eclectic" homeschooling is the method used most often by home schoolers. Basically, eclectic home schoolers use a little of this and a little of that, using workbooks for math, reading, and spelling, and taking an unschooling approach for the other subjects. The advantage of this method is that the parent feels that the subjects they believe are most important are covered thoroughly. This method also allows the family to choose textbooks, field trips, and classes that fit their needs and interests. A good magazine for the eclectic home schooler is Home Education Magazine

I am not what one would call an "Unschooler" I am more of a " Eclectic Homeschooler" when I'm not doing "Virtual Schooling",but I thought I would share this with those who are interested in homeschooling and looking for the best choices out here.

Unschooling starts with the learner, who has definite interests, learning styles, skills and multiple intelligences, which becomes "the system." Therefore, it fits every time. No child is a square peg, and everything they value is a round hole and an opportunity for real learning. In essence, Unschooling is a continuation of the natural autodidactic style that all children have, at least until they reach the age of compulsory education. At that age, children in the schools or school at home model, are retrained to conform them to didactics, teaching which requires an outside instructor.

I just wanted to show you guys exactly what I'm talking about with these portfolios.This is every 4 weeks.Not to mention that anything that is a composition,essay,report of ANY type has to have three copies.Mawiyah,I will defiantly be getting with you on your curriculum.Soulliving I thought I would be able to incorporate our materials,subjects,etc into their lessons as well,but we had little chance for that.Say for instance,like a book report I would have the children do their report on a black story written by a black author .They sent those reports back with zeros stating that either the book wasn't on the approved book list or that they didn't understand what the report was saying based on the book they chose.Now they got a chance to redo it,but of course it had to be a book on the list.Needless to say ,how many black authors do you think they have on that list.These schools DO NOT tell you exactly the truth when your signing up,they make it seem all simple ,like you can set your own schedule,contact with the child's teacher,fun field trips,etc.They do not say that the teacher will be calling every single week and that once the child reaches 5/6 grade they will have a different

It's 6:49 a.m.

So, you have begun your home-schooling journey. You sit down to admire your to-do-list and feel so accomplished.

*Spouse agreed to home-schooling [check]
*Find home-schooling resources [check]
*Decide on curriculum [check]
*Find home-schooling group [check]
*Purchase school supplies [check]
*Find home-schooling Mommies to hang out with [check]
*Find extra-curricula activities for children [check]

Yes, so accomplished!

Curtis 16 has severe autism and Tyler PDD,NOS very high functional. I homeschool Tyler. He has great trouble with relating to other children. They are my inspiration.
My Boys

I'M SO EXCITED! I HAVE DECIDED TO HOMESCHOOL MY TWO CHILDREN NOW THIER ARE AGES 1 AND A HALF AND 3 MONTHS BUT I'M PUMPED!
ANYHOW MY IDEA HAS EXPANDED DUE TO MY LOVE FOR CHILDREN AND BLACK(AND ALL FAMILY OF COLOR), PEOPLE ON THE WHOLE(ALSO MY RECENT STUDIES) INTO WANTING NOT ONLY TO TEACH MY OWN BUT OTHERS ALSO,EDUCATION OVERSHADOWING THE IDEA OF EVEN CHARGING MONEY, AND THEN I THOUGHT WELL WE COULD BE TEACHING THEM EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING...! AND HOW TO BE AN INDEPENDANT THINKER, TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CREATOR, TO RESPECT OUR ELDERS AND ANCESTORS,HOW TO WORK THE SOIL,BE OUR OWN BOSSES START OUR OWN BUISNESSES, PLAN OUR FAMILIES WITH CAREFULL CONSIDERATION AND LOVE, THE REAL! WE TEACH...! AND WHERE..! AND METHODS,>>>! AND THE SOCIALIZATION FACTOR....!
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN', SO I WOULD LIKE TO GET SOME STUDY/BRAINSTORMING GROUPS TOGETHER WITH SOME MOMS AND OR DADS
ALONG WITH SOME PLAYDATES AND YOU KNOW POOL SOME IDEAS.
WHO'S WITH IT?
I'M IN THE EAST BAY.
HIT ME UP!
"Love your Life...it's a blessing!!!"

When I first started homeschooling, I didn't really know what was in store for us. All I knew was that I didn't like how my son wasn't getting the individual attention he needed in school and that he was being bullied. None of the teachers or authorities were on the front lines with me when I was trying to put an end to the bullying. I drew the line when he came home very upset and his pants ripped up to his knee, and again, nobody from his school called me.

Now that we are homeschooling, my son has matured to a great extent. My daughter is also doing great. She is very bright,alert and intelligent.

We love the fact that we can be creative and independent in creating studies for homeschool. We are always coming up with new ideas for cultural,academic, and social studies.

I find that homeschool opens up new doors to better opportunities for me to challenge myself as a parent and teacher. It also challenges me as an entrepreneur since it puts positive pressure on me to be successful since I made a choice not to go out and work. Homeschooling pressures me to succeed in business at home.

I remember the moment I decided to home school...I was pregnant with baby number three and my eldest was in kindergarten at the local "prestigous" Black private school and my second was in a wonderful daycare owned by a dear sistah friend...

I had hesitated to enroll the oldest in school because , being from the area I knew how poor the education was here and how Eurocentric and patriarchal the schools are

Meaning...there was no where she could go to teach her about who SHE is...you know? No one was interested in telling her more about Her Ancestors and Her place in the Universe...folx only wanted to teach her where she didn't fit and who she was NOT BUT..

I did it anyway because I didn't feel as if I had a choice

Conceiving my third led me into a researching, self learning frenzy...every child you bear will take you on a different journey and help you to reach your highest self...if you listen

This homeschooling/un-schooling season, we are focusing on math, art, and reading with our four year old. Lately he has been wanting to use boxes to practice on rather than notebook paper, so being that we promote creativity...I went along with it. We use his blocks, popcorn, and crayons to do addition problems. He seems to be getting the hang of it & I think the visual stimulation makes it stick..he even did a little subtraction! It feels so good to see your children learn, especially when the teacher is you! I traced his left and right hand, and his left and right foot onto the box with some crayons(which he thought was hilarious) and we played a quick game of “mini twister” to make sure he has the right and left senses down, and then we numbered the toes and fingers & used the drawing to practice counting from 1 to 20. What is your pre-schooler & kindergarten tot currently learning? Do any of you have any unusual/fun learning activities that you use at home?