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 you have covered all the appropriate topics, a good textbook or work book will keep you on track. I recommend Math U See, written by a home school dad specifically for home schooling families. The manipulatives and the DVD lectures help math make sense.They really ought to call it Math U Understand! You can view samples at their website, www.mathusee.com.
3. Make a plan and stick to it. Decide what you want to teach and in what order.There are many pre-done scope and sequence documents available on the Internet which will list what skills are normally taught in each grade.(Example:
BJU Press Scope and Sequence)You can also search “scope and sequence second grade” or “scope and sequence science” to get specific grade or subject information.
Another great resource to help you create your own curriculum using the Internet is theWhat Your nth Grader Needs to Know series from Core Knowledge. These books provide a clear outline of what should be taught at each grade, and include a good deal of literature as well.I highly recommend it.If you teach everything this series recommends,
your child will receive an excellent education.
4. Keep good records. Document what you teach and when, and keep links to the sites you use.If something worked great, make a note in your records.If it did not go as well as you expected, write that too. This will be invaluable if you have another child coming up who will need the same information.
5. Use an Internet filter. You should, of course, monitor your children’s access to the Internet. It is incredibly easy to accidentally access inappropriate web sites. Perhaps the site itself is OK but an ad may be inappropriate. I recommend OpenDNS, which offers a free home version. There are many other options available as well.Your ISP may offer parental filters also.
It is possible to home school with the Internet as your curriculum, but as you can see, it will take quite a lot of your time to search for and organize activities appropriate for the ages and learning styles of your children.If you want an Internet-based curriculum customized for your child, but you lack the time or patience to create it yourself, visit us at eLearningK12.com to view our curriculum. We’ve done the work for you, so you can relax and enjoy home schooling your children!