The Best Teaching Practices

1. 87

   Kathleen Odenthalposted 10 years ago

   The Best Teaching Practices
   
   I am recently married and have my heart set on having children in the future. Personally, I have always wanted to homeschool my children because of the horrors I have witnessed in the public and private educational system. As a substitute teacher myself, I have viewed textbooks that contain different information depending on the book. I was just hoping to get feedback about what you guys think are the best way to go about teaching children.

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2. 0

   swilliamsposted 10 years ago

   Hi Kathleen Congrats on your marriage! What an awesome parent you will be. I home-schooled my children briefly due to the school system, a little boy made a home- made bomb and took it to school, several students were hurt. In Arizona there is a waiting list for the good schools. So I homeschooled until I could get them in a good school. My daughter's college was paid for due to homeschooling and some private school. There are some homeschool programs that will pay for college. It's good to do your research.

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3. 60

   AnastasiaMcGowanposted 10 years ago

   Speaking as strictly as a student, I feel that our education system needs a major overhaul because the way students are being "taught" is really horrendous, it seems that teachers only teach enough that will help the student pass the mandatory state test, in some of my classes spanning from 1st grade to 12th grade there wasn't a lot of engaging activities or open dialogues between students and their teachers, it was more like "I'm your teacher, I have a piece of paper that says I am qualified to teach you, here complete this math packet by the end of the period" that's how I felt most of my classes went. It seems that all schools really care about is attendance and appearing as if they are a top notch school. I feel that if you can find an alternative to traditional schools then I say go for it, but if you can't then I suggest really getting invested in whatever school you enroll your children and keep an eye out for lazy teachers.

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4. 82

   RachaelOhalloranposted 10 years ago

   I had ambivalent feelings about home schooling two of my children because of missing out on socialization with school activities (dances, proms, sports) and because they were not able to receive a high school diploma unless they took the GED exam in the state they were homeschooled.  I have 5 children and all were educated in different states and different types of education. I homeschooled two - one in New Jersey, one in California (the state matters). One went to Catholic school in NJ, and the other 2 went to public school in California.  I also have 7 grandchildren, the oldest is 14 and is the only one who is homeschooled in New Jersey by his mother.
   
   I see you live in NJ and that is one of the best states to homeschool bec they don't require you to follow a set curriculum nor do you need to get approval for whatever program you want to use. Most parents aren't certified teachers and heavily rely on resources. I bought books from the school district - it was back in the days before internet. My grandson utilizes internet learning with a website called internet home schooling dot com and w/ books my daughter in law bought from NJ dept of ed and Amazon. The internet site is phenomenal bec it encompasses the newest books and multi-state academia.  He is mildly autistic and was savagely attacked in school when he was 10, so he's been homeschooled ever since. Attempts to get a suitable IEP were not possible in NJ nor was the school able to protect him. He is at the age now when socialization with his teenage peers is important and she relies heavily on a Baptist church youth group which is bible centered, less emphasis on socialization, more on ministry. It is fine for now, but he will outgrow it by age 16 because the kids have to enter adult bible groups, no matter if they are mature enough. In NJ, you cannot get a HS diploma from home schooling, you have to sit for the GED test. You probably already know since you are a teacher, but it is no picnic. I have to tell you, it is a very hard test, even for me when I took a sample GED online. I don't know how kids pass this test because surely "in school" testing wasn't that hard! lol  Anyway, do your homework (sorry about that usage) bec each site is diff. His is done in modules. Some are updated quarterly, some annually, some semi-annually. What one child learns in 2012's modules might be updated at end of 2012 with new information so that a kid coming up right behind him in 2013 will learn different lessons.

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