Sunday, April 13, 2008

5 Ways Homeschooling Can Benefit You


Before altering a child’s life, many parents look to find the benefits of home schooling as oppose to public education. There are the downsides to home schooling just like any other decision made in life, but there are so many benefits that families find. Here is a list of five benefits you will find in home schooling.

Family connection

When home-schooled, kids and parents are reunited in a whole new way. There is a large amount of time spent together learning and building. With public education, kids are limited to the amount of time spent with their parents due to the conflicting schedules of work and school. This allows families to sometimes build a greater trust and understanding in each other then they would when going in separate directions.

Flexibility of teaching

With home schooling, kids are able to learn with more emphasis put on what they are interested in. There is also the advantage of being able to learn at the pace the child is capable of learning at. You want to challenge your child to ensure that they maintain growth and development, but this allows the child to go at the appropriate pace without getting behind.

Flexibility of schedule

Many parents love the flexibility of home schooling, being able to arrange school around their hectic work schedule and other various things that come up. Also, you are capable of planning vacations when the crowds are smaller and the costs are lower because of the flexible schedule.

Teacher to Student Ratio

The individual attention for students allows them to ask questions and receive feedback much easier in the small setting then in a classroom. This allows students to interact and many times enjoy learning as opposed to becoming discouraged and afraid to ask a stupid question.

Fewer Distractions

Everybody knows that young kids have short attention spans. The result of putting 30+ students in a classroom that all have short attention spans is them paying more attention to each other then learning the lesson. Home schooling eliminates the noise and wiggling of several other students, allowing the child to focus on the parent and the lesson being taught.

Jeff Schuman invites you to visit his homeschooling information website for the parents guide to running a successful homeschooling program. http://www.homeschooling-information.com

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com





Saturday, April 12, 2008

Unschooling Takes US by Storm

Unschooling Takes US by Storm

Author: Mimi Rothschild

The idea that children learn best when given freedom in choosing their curriculum and control over how they learn is growing among progressive home educators. Instead of forcing their children to slog through what amounts to the same five courses year in and year out, they are able to pursue alternative learning opportunities as their curiosity leads them.

Unschooling is a unique form of home education that is arguably older than home education itself. Due to technological advances like internet browsing, podcasting, and cyberschooling, this radical learning system is being embraced by progressive home educators all over the country. Unschooling is gaining popularity across demographics. It’s embraced by upper and lower classes, a variety of races, and a surprising range of religious beliefs.

Not all educators are sold on the idea. Some feel that students need more structure to motivate them to learn. Many teachers believe that sometimes parents just have to pull in the reigns and force their children to study things that they don’t necessarily want to study. Unschooling parents respond by claiming that students who are able to specialize in specific areas of interest are not only happier students, but will eventually have more to offer society. They believe that the public school system is structured so that all graduates come out looking, talking, thinking, feeling, and acting the same. Not so with unschooling home education. These parents often encourage their children to go against the grain, whatever that grain may be.

Home educators are encouraged to read more about unschooling at the Ashland City Times.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/homeschooling-articles/unschooling-takes-us-by-storm-141289.html

About the Author:

Mimi Rothschild is a homeschooling parent, children’s rights activist, author, and Founder and C.E.O. of online education company Learning by Grace, Inc. Rothschild and her husband of twenty-eight years reside in suburban Philadelphia with their eight children.

Feeling that “our current system of education has broken its promise,” Rothschild co-founded Learning By Grace, Inc. to provide families with Internet-based multimedia education to PreK-12 children all over the world.

In addition to her twenty years of experience as a homeschool mother, Rothschild has written a number of books dealing with education published by McGraw Hill and others. Her Daily Education News Articles consist of feature stories on online homeschooling and alternative education.



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Why You Should Choose Baby Clothes Made From Organic Cotton

Why You Should Choose Baby Clothes Made From Organic Cotton

Author: Brian Vogt

If you are doing your best to raise a healthy baby then good for you! Babies are life's most precious gift and should be taken care of accordingly. That is why you should research the advantages of organic cotton for your baby's clothes instead of the conventional cotton. Read on to discover the major differences between conventional cotton and organic cotton.

Conventional cotton is the one of the most pesticide laden crops in the world. Only coffee surpasses cotton in the amount of pesticides used. Conventional cotton farming involves the use of very heavy spraying of pesticides and herbicides, but it doesn't stop there. Once the cotton is turned into fabric, chlorine bleach is used to give it a clean white color. Then formaldehyde is applied as a finisher. Here is a scary statistic: Approximately 1/3 of a pound of chemicals is used to grow and produce just one t-shirt. So as you can see, conventional cotton is harmful to the environment and to the people that wear the clothing made from conventional cotton.

The process of growing organic cotton is totally different. There are no chemicals used to grow organic cotton. The fields are fertilized naturally and the weeds are removed with hoes, tractors or by hand. Pests are controlled by the use of specific pest eating insects. Organic cotton crops have earned the label of organic by using soil that has been free of pesticides for three consecutive years. Organic cotton farming will use chili, garlic, tree tea oil and other natural substances in their farming process.

Another great benefit of organic cotton compared to conventional cotton is that organically grown cotton has the ability to "breathe" a lot better. This will allow for moisture to evaporate. Baby clothing or bedding that has been manufactured with conventional cotton fabric will trap moisture next to baby's skin which can cause a rash. Many babies have sensitive skin so providing them with more breathable clothing is a simple and effective way for parents to minimize skin irritation.

Clothing made from organic cotton will last much longer than clothing made from conventional cotton. The fibers of organic cotton are much stronger and thicker than the conventional cotton. Conventional cotton fibers have been weakened by the chemicals and bleaching process.

Organic cotton baby clothes can be found in various baby boutiques across the country. As the popularity of organic clothing increases, organic baby clothes will become easier to find. But if you do not have a baby boutique in your area that sells clothes made from organic cotton, do a search online. You will be able to find a ton of places that sell organic baby clothes.

Most parents want the best for their babies. The clothes we choose are part of that. If you are wanting the best for your baby, consider buying baby clothes made from organic cotton. You'll feel better knowing that you're not only doing the best for your baby but for the environment as well, all by making this one simple change.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/why-you-should-choose-baby-clothes-made-from-organic-cotton-321123.html

About the Author:

To get more tips for moms and babies and to learn where to find the best natural baby clothes visit Amanda's website:Nobellah.com


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