Homeschool Article by Wesley B. Davis
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This article is also an example of a five paragraph essay!
Homeschooling Beyond the Home is Cool
As I write this, Spring is in full swing. Sitting inside working on a long division worksheet, or clicking off an online math quiz sounds like about as much fun as tap dancing barefoot on sandpaper. At this point in the year, the public school teacher may grab the red ball and head out in the field, or pop on an "educational video" for an hour or two while they check their Facebook account. To the home school teacher, the energy of the coming summer brings the best time of year, time take class outside! This essay discusses volunteering, taking field trips and presenting your work to the world as three ways three ways you can take your home school class beyond the home.
The first way that your home school class can interact with the world beyond the classroom is by volunteering. One category of organizations that needs volunteers are environmental organizations, such as The Nature Conservancy. Another group are organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, that help with socio-economic issues. What is great about Habitat for Humanity is that students can learn a trade while helping other people. Yet another great opportunity exists with groups such as the Challenged Athletes Foundation, which offer the opportunity to interact with competitors while helping to put on large, organized athletic events.
The second way your home school class can learn beyond the classroom is by organizing field trips and inviting other home school students in your area. Having your students design the trip and take on the task of inviting other students will give them the experience of managing a project. If you need an extra incentive, keep in mind that when many adults reflect on their education they trace their most pivotal, positive experiences back to field trips.
The third to take your home school out of the home is by publishing and presenting your work to the world. One way to do this is by keeping a blog and posting to it on a regular basis. Instead of grades, success can be measured on the content of the blog, number of followers and reader comments. Weekly letters to the editor of local and national newspapers are also a great idea. Science fairs offer a great way to present student work and get direct feedback from other educators and professionals. State and County fairs are often overlooked by public schools but can offer a chance to take on challenging activities, like baking a pie, and compete with the general public.
In conclusion, homeschooling works best when students are interacting with the real world beyond the classroom. Three ways you can increase your interactions with the real world are volunteering, organizing field trips and presenting your work to the world. To get started right away, read this article with your students, grab a marker and a whiteboard and start brainstorming. The opportunities for homeschooling beyond the home are endless.
Wesley Davis is the Director/CEO of Limelight Education in San Diego, California. Limelight Education offers in-home tutoring and Homeschooling in San Diego. Their web address is http://www.limelighteducation.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wesley_B_Davis
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