| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp |
| Copyright 2006 Julie Shepherd Knapp. All rights reserved. |
| about the book |
| The Homeschool Diner's Guide to Homeschooling Basics Teaching Finding Community Resources by Julie Shepherd Knapp, copyright 2006 Where to find educational opportunities in science, the arts, math, PE, and many other subjects. Science, Technology, and Nature: Begin by visiting your local science and technology museums - many also offer homeschool classes and most offer Saturday and summer programs. Zoo trips are, by nature, educational, and many offer summer programs, too. Also look for historic villages, state parks, and local farms and factories that allow school visits. How about homeschool meeting at theme parks, like this group that meets at Disneyland? Homeschool co-ops may offer (or be willing to organize) hands-on technical workshops and classes or even science fairs. Some school districts will allow homeschoolers to take lab science classes at the high school -- check with your local school. Some Community colleges allow homeschoolers to audit or enroll in science classes. Check the "Homeschooling by Subject" section for more science resources. The Arts: Begin by attending your local arts museum, orchestra, ballet, and children's theater -- many of them also offer Saturday and Summer programs for children. Private schools for the arts may offer homeschool classes, Saturday programs, and/or summer camps. Homeschool co-ops usually offer (or are willing to organize) art, music, dance, and drama classes. Many metropolitan areas have homeschool band/orchestra/ensemble organizations. Some city Parks and Recreation departments offer summer programs in the arts, as do community centers and the YMCA. Mathematics: Math tutors can be found by asking around -- check for older students in your homeschool group, and ask at your local high school, community college, or university. Retired teachers are a possible resource, and professional tutoring services, such as Sylvan Learning center can provide tutors at an hourly rate. There are also math enrichment programs for children at some of the major universities. Physical Education: Many homeschoolers participate in "Homeschool Gym and Swim" offered by YMCA facilities. City and county Parks and Recreation departments, community centers, and aquatic centers offer organized team sports, including swim teams, and karate. Homeschool learning co-ops may offer (or be willing to organize) team sports or PE classes. Some metropolitan areas have homeschool/private school sports organizations for middle school, junior varsity, and varsity team sports. There are also a few PE curricula available for purchase - search online to find your options -- you may find several families who wish to join you in using such a program. Other Subject Areas: Larger public libraries often offer book clubs and story times, and many have educational summer programs. Librarians are also willing to organize small group classes on various topics, including using library resources and using the Internet. Don't overlook the opportunity to learn about foreign cultures and languages by eating in ethnic restaurants! Go at "off" times when the waiters and owners will be free to chat. Your children will probably be the only ones there, and that is a great conversation starter in itself. For younger children grocery store trips can be very educational. You can compare prices and keep a running tally of your total. You can compare labels and discuss nutrition. If you go to a large store with a lot of imported produce you can even take along a map or small globe and have fun locating where the different foods came from. Internships, Summer Jobs, and Shadowing: Some local businesses may offer internships and part-time jobs to older homeschoolers who are truly interested in career building. I have heard of vets allowing students to shadow them for a day, a design shop who let a student follow the progress of a few jobs, and a chef who helped a student develop a recipe, then tried it out in his restaurant. The possibilities are endless. You may meet a lot of resistance before you find a business that is willing to take on a young teen, but keep at it! Every connection you make may lead to an opportunity for hands-on learning. |
| We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements in life, when all we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about. -- Charles Kingsley (1819-1875) |