Why homeschooling and why we should decide if it is best for us?

There are many reasons to decide home schooling for your kids and as a parent we have to decide either it is best choice for us or not?

Reasons to home school may be lack of confidence in the public schools, religious, a child with special needs, or just because you feel it is what is best for your family.

As parents, we are children's primary educators. We teach them every day life skills. (i.e. personal care, responsibility, values, etc.) It would seem reasonable that we could extend that learning to include skills in reading, writing, and arithmetic.

Education today, is the center of many debates. Yes or no to school vouchers, reducing the risk of school shootings, inclusion, charter schools, and low test scores in standardized tests. The list could go on forever. Whether you decide to home school or not is an individual choice. Not just for you but for your child, as well.

Public Schools: A lot of parents are turning to home schooling because they just do not trust the public school system. In some areas, schools do not have the money to provide updated textbooks or supplemental teaching supplies. In addition, they don't have the money to hire qualified teachers and students are taught by unqualified substitutes. Some parents argue that class sizes are too large. It's tough for your child to get the individual attention he may need if the teacher has 22 other students who need attention, too. The outbreak of recent school shootings has also caused a lot of parents to pull their children out of public school. Some feel it just isn't safe.

Why not send them to private schools? Well, the truth of the matter is that even though private schools offer smaller classrooms and have the financial backing for teaching materials, most parents can't afford it. Some private schools cost just as much as a college education. Sending your first grader to private school may cost you $10,000 or more per year. I addition to cost, most private schools have religious affiliations. It just may be that you, a practicing Baptist, do not want to send your child to a Catholic private school.

Religious Freedom: Religious freedom is another reason why some parents turn to home schooling. With the separation of school and church, as well as, the ongoing debate over prayer in the schools, make home schooling ideal. Maybe you can't afford to send your child to the Catholic school or maybe there isn't one in your area. At home you can teach your child anything about your religious beliefs. It can be incorporated into your child's curriculum. There are a lot of associations geared towards Christian homeschoolers. There are many different religions in this world. Their beliefs are not all equally represented. Home schooling provides parents that opportunity.

Children with Special Needs: Home schooling is an option for parents with children who have special needs. It could be a mental disability, a learning disability, or a physical disability. Your child may even be gifted. In any case, children with special needs often get overlooked in the public school system. There is so much red tape to go through to even get your child tested. Some children get labeled as a problem child and never get the services they need.

Its Just Right for You: Home schooling may be a goal for your family. Maybe you were a home schooled child and loved it. As a parent you know more than anyone how your child learns. You know what their interests are. Maybe the traditional school setting is not what your child needs. Maybe you just want to give it a try. You heard an acquaintance boast on how it has helped her family and became interested. Or, you are already a stay-at-home mom so there wouldn't be any drastic changes, such as quitting your job.

There are many reasons why; there are reasons why you shouldn't. Not every parent is suited for home schooling; just alike neither is every child. This decision should require some evaluation on the parent and the child. What are your family's educational goals? What are your feelings or concerns about the choices available to your family? These and other questions can help you determine why or why not, home schooling is for you?

Written by: Tequitia a wife, mother, and freelance writer

Source link: Why Home School?

How to raise your child into excellent personality?

"According to Imam Al-Ghazali, a child is like an uncut diamond." The parent's responsibility is to cut, shape, and polish their child's soul until it becomes a shining beautiful jewel, pleasing to the eye of Allah. Clearly, it is the parents who determine whether their children will become of fine character or not.

Every parent wishes to raise their children to become noble souls, good in every way; but, many do not know how to achieve that goal in an effective manner.
There are two primary requirements:

1- Parents have to know how a child's character or personality is developed.
2- Parents must themselves possess right values that will act as the basis for shaping their children's character; these right values are the traditional values of Islamic Character, and children must be raised to understand their role as Representative of Allah in this world (Khalifah Allah).

By combining these two necessary aspects of character development, parents will be able to shape their children to be excellent individuals in this world and the next.

You can get help from an online ebook which can be freely read online.

'Shaping Excellent Character- A manual for parents'

This book is from "Islamic World.net and book is an effort from "Women's club, University Kebangsaan, Kuala Lumper, Malaysia"

Summary of the book says:
* It is best to shape your children good character from an early age, but it is still not too late to correct the character of children of any age group.

* Children should be encouraged to be well behaved through directed positive influence. Reward them immediately when they do good. Gently admonish them immediately when they do wrong. Explain to them what they have done wrong, and clarify why it should not be repeated.

* Children need to be educated to observe certain limits in their freedom of action, and these are the limits that have been clearly set out for us by Allah when he gave us Islam as our perfect plan for a right life.

* We need to be consistent in encouraging positive values at every time and in every place.

* The application of Islamic values in raising our children is the best way to encourage the development of positive character.

Read online and save the ebook: 'SHAPING EXCELLENT CHARACTER:  A MANUAL FOR PARENTS'

This book is also available for non-muslim parents:

Shaping excellent character- A manual for parents (For non-muslims)

Online resources for home school parents of children with special needs

You are planning about homeschooling your child with special needs. You may feel that the local public school cannot meet his needs as well as you can. Or that the special resources he needs are just not met by standard special education programs. Or that your child will not thrive in a traditional classroom.

Whatever the reason, there are many parents who are making the same choices you are, and meeting with varying degrees of success.

There are many parents who are making the same choices you are, and meeting with varying degrees of success. If you have come to this new directory on www.iser.com, you are in search of resources, information, curriculum help, special needs software, or some professional consultation to help you and your child.

Please remember to research your special needs options carefully.

Links and resources:

* HOMESCHOOLING CHILDREN AND TEENS WITH SPECIAL NEED

* Phonics Plus Five--the only reading system that teaches your child ALL SIX skills needed for reading success. Great for kids with dyslexia and ADD

* 'Home school resources'