Register now by clicking a date below:

• Wednesday, February 8th, 2012 from 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM EDT

Once registered you will receive an email confirming your registration with information you need to join the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

New Student Orientation

The staff of Progress Academy would like to welcome our new families to the school. You are encouraged to participate in our New Student Orientation webinar. The purpose of this Live Orientation webinar is to demonstrate the navigation and implementation of the Progress Academy Program.

During this 45 minute orientation you will learn how to login to both the student and guardian accounts, access courses, follow lesson plans, access text books, evaluate assignments, upload course work, even grade assignments on the school site and so much more.

We know you will find this an informative and effective start to your Progress Academy experience. There will be time at the end of the presentation for questions and answers.

We are glad you decided to get started on the right track!

Register now by clicking a date below:

• Wednesday, February 8th, 2012 from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM EDT

Once registered you will receive an email confirming your registration with information you need to join the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

Fast forward to today and you will find hundreds of curricula to choose from. It is only natural that the homeschooling pioneers constructed a culture of do-it-yourselfers who wanted to create their own education plans. Today however, many people do not want to be the creator and appreciate ready made curriculum, making their decision to homeschool easier. For instance, if you are coming from a conventional school setting you may want a traditional curriculum because that is what you are used to. Of course a large number of us are somewhere in between, with the mentality that yes, curriculum is good, but it is not the beginning or end to our child’s education. Always keep in mind that you have a choice and you are in charge! Be creative by using more than books and explore your options. Homeschooling is a culture and it is open to all. There is plenty of room for new ideas and new ways of thinking. If it works for you and your family, then it is good!

Now it is just a matter of finding a homeschool curriculum, which contains the educational tools you will use to teach your child at home. Kindergarten is a very good place to start for both you and your child, here’s why:

Your child…

1. naturally wants to learn.
2. has no preconceived notion of school or education.
3. is used to learning from you.

You the parent…

1. have already established yourself as the teacher.
2. are fully equipped to teach kindergarten.
3. have endless resources available in this homeschool friendly era.

There are many options when it comes to kindergarten curriculum. You can start with the book What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know. You can find this on Amazon. Basically, they will learn numbers and the alphabet, and how to properly print both, as well as shapes, sounding out letters, etc. For a complete list, check out school.familyeducation.om. Also, keep in mind that many states do not even require kindergarten, so check your state’s homeschool laws before you begin (www.hslda.com). Of course you can still teach kindergarten even if it’s not required, it’s your choice how your child is educated. Exercise this right by finding a great curriculum, or going to the library or buying tools at a book store. Just know that you are in charge now – millions of us homeschool, and we welcome you to the homeschool community!

Now you can buy those crayons, markers, paper, paints, playdough and all the other fun “school” supplies – you have a student at home!

Here are five of our favorites:

1. Williamsburg, Virginia – My husband and I have always enjoyed US history, but sometimes this can be a challenging subject for our children. It is hard to get them to be interested in the past when they are more interested in right now! We had contemplated visiting Colonial Williamsburg as a family and then we discovered they have homeschool days. The per person cost is very reasonable and really enticed us to give this field trip a try. We were pleasantly surprised by the “Welcome Homeschoolers” signs posted and the large number of other homeschooling families attending the event. There were special activities just for us, including a tour and craft project in the art museum. Our entire family had a wonderful time touring the Governor’s house, eating in a tavern and watching the revolutionary era re-enactments. This is a must do field trip!

   http://www.history.org/History/teaching/groupTours/SchoolandYouth/homeschools.cfm

2. Apple Picking - In Ohio we enjoy a wonderful period in the fall when we can visit a local orchard and go apple picking. Your state may have a similar seasonal fruit that you can pick. Do a little research, find a local farm that allows picking and gather your family for this wonderful educational adventure. You may want to ask if there is a tour or attendant to educate you on the process. Fun for all ages! We always go to Lynds Fruit Farm in Pataskala, Ohio.

   http://www.lyndfruitfarm.com/main/

3. Monticello – Outside of Charlottesville, Virginia is the home of President Thomas Jefferson. We thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful drive through the lovely hills of Virginia to find Monticello and were pleasantly surprised when we arrived at the welcome center and were offered a homeschool discount on our tickets! The tour was amazing and intriguing. We had to tackle the tough subject of slavery in America, which was handled very well by our tour guide. This was an important and educational field trip.

   http://www.monticello.org/visit/group_tours.html

4. Candy Factory – We are lucky to have the Anthony Thomas Candy Factory here in Columbus, Ohio. Who doesn’t want to tour a candy factory? Our homeschool group got together and attended one of the tours. Our kids had so much fun watching them make candy while we parents reminisced about the famous I Love Lucy episode where Lucy and Ethel try to work at a candy factory. Of course we all enjoyed the free sample at the end of the tour! If Ohio is not in your neighborhood, look up a local candy factory and set up a tour! Anthony Thomas offers FREE tours every Tuesday and Thursday.

   http://www.anthony-thomas.com/tour.html

5. NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas – My husband and I have always been fascinated by space and space travel. Little did we know our kids were also big fans! We were driving to Houston and my husband said under his breath, “I would really like to visit NASA while we are here, but I am sure the kids won’t want to go”. So, I said out loud, “Hey kids, who wants to go to NASA?”, and they all cheered “ME!!!”. It is a great place to visit for the whole family. There is a large variety of things to do so that everyone is “edutained”! There are movies, tours, a trapeze, a climbing apparatus and more! If you get a chance to visit Houston, plan a trip to NASA.

   http://www.spacecenter.org/

So what do you do now, after weighing the pros and cons and deciding that homeschooling is the right choice? It is important to realize that this first year will be about discovery. Do you have to pick a curriculum? People can debate this point – so yes and no. Do you have to develop a rigid routine? Depends on you and your comfort level. Do you have to comply with the laws in your state? Yes, but this isn’t difficult and there are many helpful resources out there. But do you need to have it all figured out? Definitely not.

This first year you will be learning about your child and the process of homeschooling. For example:

1. How do they learn best?
2. What are they interested in?
3. What time of day do they learn best?
4. Do they need structure?
5. What do you want your child to learn?
6. How can you improve your child’s learning experience?
7. What will you keep the same? What will you change?
8. Are they more productive with or without breaks?

Take this opportunity to discover what style of learning will work best. Find out if your child needs to start their studies in the morning or afternoon. All of this will become clear as you begin to homeschool and spend the time with your child and their studies. Pay attention to any cues or clues to what works best and find a good pace for your child.

Keep in mind that you have made a very big change and it will take time to adapt. It will not be comfortable at first but you will fall into a good routine. Take it easy on yourself too, as the administrator of your child’s education you need room to make mistakes. Making mistakes is how we all learn. Homeschooling is not a search for perfection but a choice in educating differently. It will feel different until you become accustomed to it.

Always remember why you chose to homeschool, whatever the reason may be, and keep this in mind to help you get through rough days. It beats the alternative – that is why you chose to do it! Smile, have fun with it! Keep things light, creative and enjoyable. Your child naturally wants to learn, don’t get in their way.

One of the best things you can do as a newcomer to homeschooling is to befriend other homeschooling families. They will be a lasting resource for support and encouragement. Homeschooling together as a community can be a very successful approach. So get on the internet – you will find homeschoolers everywhere!

How do you handle this? Well, most of us handle it very carefully. There are probably many choices you make in life that your in-laws or own parents do not agree with, but you are the parents now, and it is your choice how to educate your children.

Actually public education is relatively new to this country. Most of our founding fathers were homeschooled, and they created this wonderful country called the United States. Today homeschooling is perfectly legal in every state of the US, and you simply are exercising your right to do so. But, it is best not to get into a defensive mode, especially when your children are around. You do not owe anyone an explanation for what you are doing, they are your children. Stick to your decision, be firm, kind and straight to the point. You may kindly remind people that this is your choice and you are doing what you see as best for your child.

Having family members, friends or associates who do not support your decision to homeschool just underlines the importance of befriending other homeschooling families. Be diligent about creating a network of homeschoolers that you feel comfortable spending time with. You want to give your children a feeling of belonging and a sense of community – this is very important to your success in homeschooling.

The next thing to do is find support groups, associations and resources in your state. You will want to talk with local veteran homeschoolers who can explain how to comply with the laws in your state. Also, it is best to have others who support your decision to homeschool and you will find that locally in groups. For many of us, our extended families are not that supportive. You can find the support you need at www.homeschool.com.

And finally, determine what homeschooling style best fits your family. For my blog post on styles, click here. Deciding what style best suits you will help you discover what kind of curriculum, method or path you would like to take in educating your child at home. There are only three styles to choose from which will make your job easy. Keep in mind that you may change your style over the years, so pick a style that will be best to start with for your family.

Here is a recap on how to get started:

1. Read the laws in your state, www.hslda.org
2. Locate local support groups, www.homeschool.com
3. Determine your homeschooling style