Homeschooling has experienced significant growth in recent years, with parents opting to provide their children with a tailored education from home. With increased demand for homeschooling comes a rise in the resources and materials needed to effectively ‘school from home’.
This raises the question for parents – where can I go to purchase homeschool curriculum stores? This article will cover fifteen questions to address investing in homeschool curriculum and provide insight into where you can purchase homeschooling curriculum stores.
What is Homeschooling?
Homeschooling is the practice of teaching children at home rather than sending them to a traditional school. Homeschoolers, or ‘homeschoolers’, are often educated one-on-one or in small groups of students with the same level of skill and education, which allows for a more tailored learning experience. Homeschooling is viewed by some as an alternative to the traditional schooling system and allows for a more optimized such experience for the student, as well as enabling the parent or guardian to remain actively involved in the learning process.
What are the Benefits of Homeschooling?
Homeschooling offers several advantages to parents and their children, such as the ability to tailor their learning experience, set their own curriculum, and focus on their individual interests. Additionally, homeschooling gives parents the chance to practice their faith and provide a more suitable learning environment for their children. Furthermore, the relationship of trust, safety, and communication between the parent and child can grow.
Homeschooling children can also benefit from increased flexibility, convenience, and educational opportunities beyond the traditional school system.
What are the Drawbacks of Homeschooling?
Homeschooling also has its drawbacks. Parents, as the main educators, are solely responsible for their child’s education, planning and implementing their curriculum, and teaching subjects they may not be familiar with. Furthermore, homeschooling takes more time and effort and sometimes can become stressful and overwhelming.
Additionally, it can limit the social opportunities available to the child and the parent, due to the lack of access to traditional schooling structures and environments.
What is Homeschool Curriculum?
Homeschool curriculum is the collection of material and resources used for homeschooling. This can include textbooks, worksheets, activities, and online resources tailored toward the student’s specific lessons, grade level, and interests.
Homeschool curriculum can range from traditional textbooks to online courses, or a combination of both. It is important to note, parents are responsible for the selection and use of their homeschool curriculum, so researching and understanding the material provided is essential.
What Homeschool Curriculum Options are Available?
When investing in homeschool curriculum, there are a variety of options available, both traditional and online. Traditional options can be found in local bookstores or curriculum stores, as well as homeschool curriculum publishers.
Online options, include video lessons, activities and quizzes, as well as virtual classrooms and interactive forums, and resources tailored to homeschoolers.
How Do I Choose the Right Homeschool Curriculum?
Choosing the right homeschool curriculum relies on a few different factors. First, it is important to understand the student’s individual needs, learning style, and interests.
Additionally, parents should research the grade level and scope and sequence of the material. Before making a purchase, ensure the curriculum is designed for homeschoolers and check for any supplemental materials, such as teacher and student guides.
What are the Different Types of Homeschool Curriculum Stores?
Homeschool curriculum stores come in various formats, both offline and online. Physical stores, such as local bookstores, private stores, and curriculum retailers, provide physical resources, such as textbooks, worksheets, activities, and materials. Online stores, such as virtual classroom providers, e-commerce sites, and homeschooling networks, offer digital resources, such as video lessons, quizzes and activities, and interactive forums.
Where Can I Purchase Homeschool Curriculum Stores?
When it comes to purchasing homeschool curriculum stores, parents have several options. Physical stores, such as local bookstores, private stores, and curriculum retailers, typically offer textbooks, worksheets, activities, and materials. For example, educational retailer Houghton Mifflin Harcourt provides online access to homeschool curriculums such as Saxon Math and Core Knowledge Science.
Online stores, such as virtual classroom providers, e-commerce sites, and homeschooling networks, generally offer digital resources, such as video lessons, quizzes and activities, and interactive forums. For example, Edmodo is a learning platform providing quizzes, activities, and collaborative spaces with its home-based curriculum options.
Are There Free Resources Available for Homeschoolers?
Yes, there are many free resources available for homeschoolers. Organizations such as Khan Academy, MIT OpenCourseWare, and The Library of Congress provide free online resources for learning a variety of topics.
Additionally, the internet offers a plethora of free blogs and websites dedicated to homeschoolers, such as Simple Homeschool, which provides printable worksheets and activities, and The Homeschool Mom, which offers free lesson plans and activities.
Are There Homeschool Curriculum Discounts?
Yes, there are many discount options for homeschoolers. Retailers and online stores will often offer discounts and sales for homeschoolers. For example, Scholastic–one of the biggest names in curriculum–offers only 50-80% discount codes for homeschoolers.
Additionally, sites such as Groupon, Living Social, and Slickdeals often offer unique discounts and coupons for homeschooling curriculum.
What are Some Common Homeschooling Mistakes?
Homeschooling can be an overwhelming and difficult process, so it is important to be aware of common mistakes. Some of these common mistakes include: not developing a curriculum plan, starting too early or late in the year, not taking into account the student’s interests and needs, and not scheduling regular breaks. Additionally, some parents may focus too much on academics and not enough on socialization, fun, and hands-on activities.
What are the Different Types of Homeschooling Methods?
The different types of homeschooling methods can be broken down into two main categories: structured and unstructured. Structured homeschooling often revolves around specific curriculums or programs, where lessons are effectively pre-planned, and the student works independently or in small groups. Unstructured homeschooling, on the other hand, relies more on the parent’s input and encourages more hands-on activities.
The most popular methods include the traditional school-at-home approach, unschooling, the Charlotte Mason method, the Montessori method, and the Thomas Jefferson Education method.
Are Homeschoolers Allowed to Take Standardized Tests?
Yes, homeschoolers can take standardized tests. In some states, such as South Carolina, tests are mandatory for all homeschoolers over a certain age.
Standardized tests for homeschoolers, such as the Stanford 10 Achievement Test and the California Achievement Test, measure basic skills and cognitive abilities in math, reading, and language arts. Additionally, there are other tests that measure academic progress in social studies, sciences, and foreign languages.
Are There Curriculum Options Available for Special Needs Homeschoolers?
Yes, there are curriculum options available for special needs homeschoolers. In recent years, there has been an increased focus on curriculum tailored to special needs homeschoolers. For example, Time4Learning offers an online curriculum with material designed for students with learning and developmental disabilities like autism and dyslexia, as well as physical disabilities.
Additionally, curriculums like A. C.
E. allow for individualized instruction for special needs children.
Conclusion
Investing in homeschool curriculum is a big decision for parents, as it is important to ensure the material and resources available are suitable for the student’s individual needs, interests, and learning style. When it comes to purchasing homeschool curriculum stores, parents have several options, such as physical or online stores, or free online resources.
Additionally, homeschoolers can take standardized tests and there are curriculum options available for special needs homeschoolers. It is important to do ample research and understand the material provided before finalizing a purchase.