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    Secular Homeschooling in the Bible Belt 

    Published on 07-31-2010 11:02 AM
    Categories:
    1. Secular Homeschooling
    Article Preview

    Reprinted with permission from the blog "This Adventure Life"

    If you haven’t heard the term ‘secular homeschooling’ then you might not understand what that’s all about. While I certainly am not the voice for all secular homeschoolers, let me explain a little bit about what that means for our family.



    I live in Texas, part of the Bible Belt, where many – the majority, I’d say – of homeschoolers do so for religious reasons. That may not be their primary reason, but it’s certainly on the list. Almost all of the homeschooling families I know (and there are a LOT of them here) use a religiously based curriculum, or participate in a religiously based cooperative group where the parents volunteer as teachers and they all share the workload. The key element in both of those is the religious content – it features prominently in their educational protocols, the material, the language they use, even in the conversations between parents and participants outside of classes – it’s impossible to separate the educational aspect from the religious aspect – and for many families, that’s awesome. It’s what they want, it’s what they choose and it works for them. I’m certainly not knocking that if it’s what works for you.
    ...
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    The Road Less Travelled... Our First Year of Homeschooling 

    Published on 07-20-2010 05:39 AM
    Categories:
    1. Secular Homeschooling
    2. General Homeschooling
    Article Preview

    by Jadzia66

    If anyone had told me a year ago that I would be homeschooling, I would have laughed and thought they were joking. Instead, 2 weeks into my daughter's second grade year, homeschooling was thrust upon me in a single day. The shock of it came later that night. What I did first was spring into action, calling our Board of Education and finding out how to go about doing this. I was so relieved at how helpful they were! The woman on the phone gave me a bunch of information which I furiously wrote down and then immediately sent out the required paperwork. Hubby went to Walmart that afternoon and bought "The Big Book of 2nd Grade" workbook to tied us over until we picked out a cirriculum. Later that night after everyone was in bed and the house was quiet the panic set in. Homeschooling?? Me?? How was I going to manage this, especially with a soon to be 2 year old in the house? Would I be capable of it? ...
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    Excerpt from Valedictorian Speech by Erica Goldson, June 25, 2010 

    Published on 07-27-2010 02:13 PM
    Categories:
    1. In Other Words

    Coxsackie-Athens Valedictorian Speech 2010

    Here I Stand
    Erica Goldson

    There is a story of a young, but earnest Zen student who approached his teacher, and asked the Master, "If I work very hard and diligently, how long will it take for me to find Zen? The Master thought about this, then replied, "Ten years . ." 
The student then said, "But what if I work very, very hard and really apply myself to learn fast -- How long then?" Replied the Master, "Well, twenty years." "But, if I really, really work at it, how long then?" asked the student. "Thirty years," replied the Master. "But, I do not understand," said the disappointed student. "At each time that I say I will work harder, you say it will take me longer. Why do you say that?" 
Replied the Master, "When you have one eye on the goal, you only have one eye on the path."

    This is the dilemma I've faced within the American education system. We are so focused on a goal, whether it be passing a test, or graduating as first in the class. However, in this way, we do not really learn. We do whatever it takes to achieve our original objective.

    Some of you may be thinking, “Well, if you pass a test, or become valedictorian, didn't you learn something? Well, yes, you learned something, but not all that you could have. Perhaps, you only learned how to memorize names, places, and dates to later on forget in order to clear your mind for the next test. School is not all that it can be. Right now, it is a place for most people to determine that their goal is to get out as soon as possible.

    To read the remainder of Erica's speech, go to her blog, America via Erica

    Weekly Poll: Do you work and homeschool? 

    Published on 07-28-2010 07:47 PM

    Can I admit something here?? Just between friends? I am EXHAUSTED!! Summer is supposed to give you a chance to catch up, and get projects done, and play with friends, and drink lemonade, right??

    But working 25+ hours a week (of which SHS is just a small part) can make summer feel a little like "just more of the same." Granted, we aren't doing projects and book discussions, and watching as many educational videos, but between housework, scheduled activities, and work, my summer days still blur together a lot.

    Today, my family got a well-deserved "play day" with friends, and I appreciated every minute of it. If nothing else, working and homeschooling makes you very aware of the quality of your time.

    So what about you?? How many of you are juggling work and homeschool?

    To weigh in on this week's poll, click here.

    Postcard Exchange Project for SHS Members!! 

    by
    jab300
    Published on 05-19-2010 02:39 PM
    Categories:
    1. Site News

    My boys and I will be embarking on a study of the 50 states soon and I was wondering if anyone was up for a postcard exchange. I've never been in one before, but I think it would be a neat addition to our study. Any takers?
    Thanks to jab300 for getting us started on a fun new project for the members of SecularHomeschool.com!! If you are interested in participating, we have a new private password-protected forum expressly for this purpose! All you have to do is use the Contact Form, Private Message me (Topsy), or email me at info@secularhomeschool.com with your site username to let me know that you want to participate and I will send you the password for the forum so you can safely post your child(ren)'s name and mailing address for the exchange!

    Note: You MUST be a member of SecularHomeschool.com to participate in this project!!

    Homeschool Engineering 

    Published on 07-06-2010 08:27 PM
    Article Preview

    by Tom Baugh




    It's no secret that, in general, homeschooled children far outperform publicly schooled children in many areas. Math, language arts, philosophy and history - - all of these have traditionally been the domain of the homeschooler. But for more in-depth technology subjects, including engineering, public and formal schools seem to have a monopoly on this area of knowledge.

    So what keeps homeschoolers at a disadvantage in this area? Simply the absence of a knowledgeable mentor and the lack of suitable instructional materials. Of these two, the lack of instructional materials is the larger obstacle. Could you imagine teaching algebra or calculus without suitable textbooks and instructor materials, no matter what your knowledge level in the subject? Of course not. Technology is no different. Even those parents with significant experience find it difficult to pass on all their knowledge of a given area of technology. And those without this experience could feel completely hopeless in this area.

    Before examining technology options open to homeschoolers, we should first discuss why homeschoolers might be interested in this field of study. ...
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    Welcome This Week's Newest Members! 

    Published on 07-31-2010 07:50 AM
    Categories:
    1. Site News



    New to SecularHomeschool this week:

    abouche
    arcadia
    brandik
    Brigitte-Robert-Lucia
    cantley
    CordeliaBlythe
    CrazzyRedd
    cristykay
    dana7681
    drwoods
    Ed Ditto
    grandmotherteaches
    Inquirer
    insurance1
    insurance2
    jackmiller
    Janet S.
    jasonminna
    jenb
    Jennifer
    Jennifer Rothmeyer
    Jess24
    jwfzm
    Karen Young Phillips
    kelly
    Kelly Westhoven Lieberman
    Lisa Sayles

    		lunaluvr
    MamaRocket
    maureen73
    Melissa1327
    n.guenther
    naturalbirthdads.com
    nicole b
    parttimejobs1
    RACA040404
    Rena1695
    Runamuk
    sallymae
    Sam I Am
    Samantha Burns
    samb1984
    scotty47
    Searcher_2010
    Smokeycougar
    themumathome
    tiffanys
    Toni
    Tracy Stull
    Trastull
    WildIris
    yayi242004
    ZenCat
    10 Comments

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