| Is homeschooling something YOU could | | | | and discuss whether you think the people in the |
| do?Perhaps you are not happy with your other | | | | book behave like modern Americans or like |
| options, and you are starting to toy with this idea. | | | | ancient Egyptians. If you are Christian or Jewish, |
| But you can't imagine yourself doing it. After all, | | | | you can work in Joseph and his story. You can |
| doesn't it take a superwoman to juggle lessons | | | | give writing assignments on Egypt appropriate to |
| and all the other things Moms have to do?Take it | | | | the age of your kids, and go over lists of spelling |
| from a homeschooling veteran, you can do it IF | | | | words for them using the effective method |
| you love your kids. That's the only qualification. As | | | | outlined in a multi-age spelling book called Spelling |
| you move through the homeschooling journey, | | | | Power.If this sounds like more than you want to |
| you will develop the skills you need, as you need | | | | create on your own, just look around for a |
| them. That's how jugglers start--juggling just one | | | | published unit study on it. Go to a search engine |
| thing. Then they add another, and after a while | | | | and type in "unit study Egypt homeschool," and |
| another. And here's another secret: homeschooling | | | | you will see quite a few options for |
| can actually be easier than the standard soccer | | | | you.Structuring your day is a question for you to |
| mom routine. Soccer moms are everywhere but | | | | ponder. Many homeschoolers get all their less-fun |
| home, juggling same-age activities that are | | | | schoolwork done in the morning, leaving the |
| different for each kid (unless you have twins). In | | | | afternoon for projects, goofing off, housework, |
| contrast, when you homeschool, you focus on | | | | or whatever. If you want to include your child in |
| what you can all do together.Here's one option for | | | | an organized activity, you can join regularly |
| larger families. Homeschoolers look for activities | | | | schooled children in their sports teams in the late |
| that their kids can share, working with the fact | | | | afternoon. But there are daytime activities too. |
| that their ages are different. You can all study | | | | You can also ask around--some of these activities |
| one topic, peeling off different layers of it for kids | | | | providers are creating daytime classes (in |
| of different ages. You can all study this topic and | | | | gymastics, for example) for homeschoolers. You |
| various aspects of it for a month or so, and then | | | | do have to be careful to avoid burnout here, |
| move on to another. This structure is called a unit | | | | though. If you the parent are teaching in the |
| study. You don't have to invent them, | | | | morning, grading in the early afternoon (or near |
| either--plenty of moms who have invented one | | | | bedtime), and operating weekly field trips in the |
| have published it.Other options include using | | | | afternoon, you have to watch how much |
| workbooks and curriculum so that each child has | | | | soccer-mom running around you do. You can't do |
| something to work on that is appropriate for his | | | | it all.But you do want your children to be |
| age, such as at . These all come with an answer | | | | "socialized." Here's a question homeschoolers get |
| key--you don't need to be a college graduate to | | | | all the time: "Aren't you worried about socialization |
| make sure your kid is getting the right answer. In | | | | for your child?" Here's the answer: you have the |
| fact, many homeschoolers do almost no direct | | | | ability to choose whom your child socializes with, |
| teachiing--their kids learn from the book or | | | | unlike parents of schooled children. You do have |
| workbook. (This is a great study skill for college!) | | | | to go out of your way to set it up. And you can |
| There are also correspondence schools that do all | | | | count socialization with adults--that's the best kind, |
| the teaching for you, if your child needs that. An | | | | after all. Adults are generally well-mannered and |
| example of that is For Christians, there is plenty | | | | kind. Unsupervised schoolkids often are not. |
| of available curriculum. Alpha Omega Publications | | | | Homeschooled kids are usually quite comfortable |
| produces a broad range of workbooks, and they | | | | talking to adults! Don't you want your kids to be |
| include activities you can do together. Sonlight | | | | like that?A homeschool co-op is one of the best |
| produces a curriculum that focuses on historical | | | | solutions to the need for socialization. If you meet |
| fiction. If you buy one module, you can use much | | | | once a week with other homeschoolers for class |
| of it for several children who are less than about | | | | or field trips, your child gets well-supervised social |
| four years apart in age. There are also | | | | interaction, and can learn and grow socially in a |
| curriculums that focus on high academic | | | | way that a schooled child cannot. Bullying is simply |
| achievement, such as Covenant Home Curriculum. | | | | not a problem for homeschoolers! So how do you |
| I used both Sonlight and Covenant Home and was | | | | find a co-op? You have to ask other |
| pleased with them. I used plenty of curriculum | | | | homeschoolers. If your area has a homeschooling |
| from A Beka to fill gaps as well. For more | | | | convention, by all means go to it, and go to |
| information on low-cost curriculum, you can try | | | | workshops if they have any. You need to |
| .Here's an example of a unit study for Ancient | | | | network with other homeschoolers until you find |
| Egypt. You head to the library and check out lots | | | | or can create a co-op.Lastly, how will you find |
| of books for the different ages of your kids, all | | | | support? Homeschooling is not for the faint of |
| about Egypt. You figure out math problems | | | | heart, and it's not for the unsupported parent, |
| related to building pyramids--all about triangles, for | | | | either. You will need to find someone to share |
| instance, or calculating the barley harvest in 2000 | | | | your challenges with. Many homeschooling parents |
| BC. For art you can observe and copy Egyptian | | | | support each other online. There are plenty of |
| paintings, using high-quality markers and | | | | discussion forums attached to homeschooling Web |
| background grids to help you transfer the image | | | | sites, such as at . There are plenty of e-mail |
| (the Egyptians used grids too). You can study | | | | groups for homeschoolers also. Again, ask around |
| hieroglyphics and what sounds they stand for. You | | | | until you find the right one for you.Here's the |
| can read about Egypt together. For the older kids | | | | answer to the homeschooling question: You can |
| you can have them read a mystery about | | | | do it! |
| Ancient Egypt called Mara, Daughter of the Nile, | | | | |