eLearning Academy

I just read a most interesting book titled Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World, by Tony Wagner. In reading the book, it confirmed to me that our homes and schools must be places where children have the freedom to explore, to make connections in ways not possible in a system focused on standardized testing, competition, and memorizing content. Easy access to information via the Internet, smartphones, tablets, etc, makes memorizing names of the planets or the elements in the periodic table much less valuable and almost obsolete.While some memorization can be a good exercise for [...]

You're unhappy with the school your child is currently attending, and you are wondering if home schooling is the solution. I've walked in those shoes before, so I understand the anxiety this can produce in a parent. Home schooling can work for many families, but it isn't the solution for everyone. Here are five points to consider when making a decision about home schooling. 1. Time. Can you or another adults pend several hours a day teaching and monitoring the child's work? Remember that the children can help with the day to day chores at home, which is also an important [...]

Summer is approaching fast. Already the weather here is above 80°F and heading higher. Students and teachers in traditional schools are counting the days until summer break. But what about homeschoolers? Are you planning to take the summer off, or continue full speed ahead? Which approach is better for your children? The answer to that question is as varied as are homeschool families. I know a large family who takes an extended spring break to plant and tend a family garden, which provides a large part of their nutritional needs at a very low cost. In the heat of summer, when [...]

As a parent, I'm sure you've experienced frustration and worry over how much time your child spends playing video games. Video games have gotten a bad wrap over the years, as most saw them just as pure entertainment, and lacking much substance. You'll be excited to learn that in moderation, video games actually can help your child in school. Today's gamers will potentially be tomorrow's inventors and engineers. So next time you ask you child to put away the games, think about the ways that gaming positively affects learning: 1. For most gamers, gaming is a highly-social activity. Seventy percent of [...]

The answer, according to my research...... YES! While chess has long been regarded as a beneficial game for learning, studies have shown even more significant benefits, especially for children. World Champion chess player Susan Polgar states,“According to research, test scores improved by 17.3% for students regularly engaged in chess classes, compared with only 4.6% for children participating in other forms of enriched activities." In almost 30 nations across the globe, chess is incorporated into the country's required academic curriculum. And it seems that many schools and teachers in our country are getting the message and are bringing chess into the classroom. [...]

In my many experiences working in education, I continually encounter distraught parents who discover that their children are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, commonly referred to as a "disorder". After meeting and working with these children, I don't see disorders at all! I see gifts--gifts in creativity, personality, perception, positive energy, art, music,engineering, science, etc. To me, it's a personality type, and I choose to refer to it as the ADD/ADHD personality. As with all personalities, there are strengths and weaknesses, with this personality usually struggling with attention and focus. So as we begin this new year, here are a few tips to [...]

Many parents, even some who have confidently homeschooled through the elementary grades, wonder if they should send their child to a traditional school for high school. Some are concerned about the challenge of teaching higher level courses. Others consider social issues, such assports, prom, and graduation.This is a personal decision which must be considered by individual families, but here are 5 reasons to continue homeschooling through high school. 1.Academics Statistically, homeschool students score higher on college entrance exams such as the ACT. Many universities actively recruit homeschoolers, as they know they are independent learners who will take their education seriously.What about [...]

So you've decided to continue homeschooling during summer months, and now you are wondering how in the world you will get this accomplished without going insane. Here are a few tips to help make homeschooling during summer months a pleasure and not a cause for anguish. First of all, what are your goals for summer learning? Do you want to continue a rigorous academic schedule as you did during the school year? Do you want a more relaxed approach, with the goal of keeping the children's brains sharp over the summer? Do you want to concentrate on hands-on projects and fun [...]

Can you home school using the Internet as your primary curriculum? Yes, you can, and here are a few tips to get you started. 1. Get a library card for each of your children. There are many free resources on the Internet, but you still need to read real books.The library is full of them, and they are all free. Make use of this amazing community resource. Many libraries offer seminars and classes that can supplement what you teach at home. 2. Choose a math curriculum. Yes, there are many math games and activities on the Internet, but to make sure [...]

Just getting started with homeschooling or Internet homeschooling? Here are a few tips to make your first year of homeschooling go smoothly. First, pat yourself on the back. You have made the decision to take your children's education into your own hands. It takes courage and commitment to your family to make that decision. Can you hear me applauding from there. Second, relax. It's not as hard as you think! You taught your children to walk, talk, tie their shoes, etc.You certainly have more dedication and love for your child than any professional teacher, so you are light years ahead already! [...]