The Homeschool Handbook Sept Oct 2016 by Brilliant Publishing LLC

ISSN 2379-2841 September / October 2016

$6.50 USA/$15.50 INTL

Publisher’s Letter

™

“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.”

~ Anthony J. D’Angelo

Brilliant Publishing LLC Post Office Box 31687, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588 Telephone: 717.571.9233

PUBLISHER / ADVERTISING Publisher

Maureen Williams maureen@thehomeschoolhandbook.com 717.608.5869

Account Executive Alex Chambers alex@thehomeschoolhandbook.com

EDITORIAL Editor In Chief

MaryAnne Morrill maryanne@thehomeschoolhandbook.com

Senior Editor

Michelle Donofry editor@thehomeschoolhandbook.com

f you have ever questioned your ability to homeschool...this is the issue You NEED to read. Within our pages we delve into everything from why you should be homeschooling to answering those nagging questions you may have from what your child is ‘missing’ from an at home education. Learn how to chart your course while embracing the ‘weird’. In other words, embrace what you are doing knowing that you are making a difference and your child/children are benefiting from it! Be sure to check out our “There’s an APP for That” section and do not miss the article on Snapchat! Ending the issue is a sweet recipe you will want to make, especially if you or someone you know is a chocolate lover! We hope after you read this you too will be inspired and resolve to start or continue your homeschool journey. As always I thank you for your letters, email and shares of our social media postings! We could not do what we do without each and every one of you! So a Huge Thank you from my house to yours! Remember always… Education Matters,

Maureen Williams, Publisher maureen@thehomeschoolhandbook.com 717-608-5869

http://twitter.com/@TheHomeschool www.facebook.com/TheHomeschoolHandbook http://pinterest.com/thehomeschool/

The Homeschool Handbook | Sept / Oct 2016

Social Media/Asst. Editor

Molly Anika molly@thehomeschoolhandbook.com

Style / Asst. Editor Charity Plata

Subscription Service / Back Issues:

Circulation@thehomeschoolhandbook.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Vicki Bentley, Dr. Bernard Bull, Jessica DeGree, Maria Gracia, Richard Havenga, Homeschool Handbook Staff, Tanya Moat, Lisa Robbins, Donna Vail, Megan Zechman

PRODUCTION / DESIGN Art Director

Jeremy Tingle art@thehomeschoolhandbook.com The Homeschool Handbook is published bi-monthly by Brilliant Publishing LLC, Post Office Box 31687, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588 Telephone: (717) 571-9233, Fax: 843-215-7712. Postage paid at Scottsdale, AZ and additional offices. POSTMASTER please send address changes to The Homeschool Handbook, Post Office Box 31687, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588. Volume 7 Number 05. The Homeschool Handbook subscription rates: one-year $19.95 USD, Canada & Mexico $49.95 International $79.95. All subscriptions are non-refundable. Copyright© 2016 Brilliant Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any advertising or editorial material. Advertisers, and/or their agents, assume the responsibility for any claims against the publisher based on the advertisement. Editorial contributors assume responsibility for their published works and assume responsibility for any claims against the publisher based on published work. No part of this publication can be reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher. All items submitted to The Homeschool Handbook become the sole property of Brilliant Publishing LLC. Editorial content does not reflect the views of the publisher. The imprints, logos, trademarks or trade names (collectively the “Marks”) displayed on the products featured in The Homeschool Handbook are for illustrative purposes only and are not available for sale. The Marks do not represent the implied or actual endorsement by the owners of the Marks of the product on which they appear. All of the Marks are the property of the respective owners and are not the property of either the advertisers using the Marks or The Homeschool Handbook. MEDICAL DISCLAIMER No warranty whatsoever is made by the publisher and there is absolutely no assurance that any statement contained or cited in any article touching on medical matters is true, correct, precise, or up-to-date. Even if a statement made about medicine is accurate, it may not apply to you or your symptoms. The medical information provided is, at best, of a general nature and cannot substitute for the advice of a medical professional (for instance, a qualified doctor/physician, nurse, pharmacist/chemist, and so on). None of the individual contributors, LLC members, subcontractors, advertisers, or anyone else connected to Brilliant Publishing LLC and The Homeschool Handbook can take any responsibility for the results or consequences of any attempt to use or adopt any of the information presented in this magazine. Nothing included, as a part of this publication should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine.

volu me 07

issue 05

2016

inside

The Homeschool

Handbook 16

cover story 8

Why You Must Homeschool Your Children

special features 3

There’s An APP For That

solutions

Snapchat: A Guide For Parents

What Is My Child Missing?

7 Reasons You Should Homeschool Your Kids

Charting Your Homeschool Course

Yes, My Homeschoolers Are Weird & I Love It

3 Questions To Thrive As A Self-Directed Learner

Dress Up Those Cords

inspiration 24

Signal

health and hearth 25

Chocolate Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Filling

resources 26

Index/Resources List

Fo r b r e ak i n g n ew s & t i p s b e sur e to f o ll ow T h e H o m e s c h o o l H an db o o k o n s o c i al m e di a: twitter.com/@TheHomeschool

The Homeschool Handbook | Sept / Oct 2016

facebook.com/TheHomeschoolHandbook

pinterest.com/thehomeschool ©

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By: Donna Vail

The Homeschool Handbook | Sept / Oct 2016

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wenty-one years ago I began homeschooling my children because I wanted them to have the advantage of academic quality while also being honored individually, time as kids to play, explore, wonder and create. I wanted to know that no matter what they studied, they would have what they needed to advance in the direction they desired to go without being held back by their education. Just like the maps of fault lines for earthquakes, I could see fault lines in the foundation of public education and it was not a true option for actual learning. I definitely did not start out knowing exactly what to do or understand the depth of our necessity to homeschool, but I jumped in with both feet, full immersion. As I’ve learned and grown right alongside my children, my in-depth studies into education, child development, human behavior, family dynamics, business, entrepreneurship and personal development; it’s ever more pressing to me for families to homeschool their children to purposefully honor the child to live authentically, not allow their child to be limited in capacity, as well as create a strong family legacy. Whether your reason to homeschool is for purposefulness, health, psychological, educational, familial, religious, or personal preference; research is revealing how homeschool children are excelling from family-centered learning. Currently, it’s the fastest growing form of education. Homeschooled children are being raised as proficient readers, writers, mathematicians and great contributors to their communities. No matter the education level of the parents, with guidance, practices, and a lot of love, homeschooled children are advancing in academics and maturity levels above their public schooled counterparts. Educating a child can feel like a tall order but don’t let doubt stop you. It does take some research, a little training, and the right kind of practices that optimize learning, so you and your family can homeschool. The odds are stacked in your favor. We’re all wired in a way that makes learning inevitable. The natural flow of life dictates growth and even in excruciating circumstances such as limitations, learning challenges or brain injury, scientists have revealed to us the brain will do everything it can to learn, even by rewiring neural pathways, compensating in order to operate at the highest possible

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good. With or without injury, we are wired to do more than survive, we are meant to thrive. And so, we begin with the end in mind. When we homeschool we are not only doing it for today but to build up our children to be empowered in the way they will evolve and mature into the world we will not see. Unfortunately, children are not finding this in schools at all. The children know it and are asking, “Will you homeschool me?” It’s no new news that the current system of public school is antiquated and was created during the industrial revolution specifically designed to train employees and workers for factories. Look into the history of education and you will find that it was not at all created with importance placed on academics or what you may like for your children to gain from their schooling. Ask yourself these questions: Is this type of education and training that I want for my child? Are the schooling demands sustainable for my child’s well-being? Can this sort of “schooling” or mass education advance us in the global economy? Where are the leaders and innovators emerging?

“It took me about a decade of school teaching to realize that schooling and education are concepts at war with each other.” –John Taylor Gatto

We must realize, as parents of children in this generation whom we are educating, what will stand the test of time. What will serve them no matter what they face? What will serve them no matter what they choose to do in life? We cannot possibly know exactly what they will need in the future but what we can do is give them the skill to self-educate with the tools and resources that have stood the test of time. When a person knows how to learn, to navigate new territories, be of impeccable service, innovative while still on purpose and have a scholarly core of knowledge; they become unstoppable. Sept / Oct 2016 | ©The Homeschool Handbook

Repeating the school model at home or making sure you’re keeping up with “grade-level” will not cut it. Entrepreneurs, business owners, and executives in large corporations are all expressing the challenges they face, even with the schooled and well-educated MBA’s who are unable to work effectively in the quickly advancing economy. Which then also trickles down to the quality and satisfaction of living for the individual. We must address these issues with family-centered learning, taking responsibility for our own and working as families and communities. This is where real change happens. Directly from our homes, the hearth from which all reverberates out into the world. Setting your homeschool up for self-education with rich academics that have stood the test of time while also using the below list from Harvard to create adaptability; you’re equipped for long-term success. This is a list from one Harvard school. They issued advice on the ten qualities offered as essential to adapting to the fast changing world in purpose, work, and service: ••The ability to define problems without a guide.

Families Inspired to Action:

••The ability to ask hard questions which challenge prevailing assumptions.

Take time to think and journal about what you really want to provide for your children, their education, and learning experiences. What is the end result you are working towards? What does your ideal day look like? Start designing and living that design. Research and implement self-education with resources that have stood the test of time. Through your self-education, you can implement many of the items listed above from Harvard. Remember, that list will be used over time, whereas some of the items will be for the older student to accomplish. Get the guidance and support you need to create the outcome you desire. None of us do it alone. A mentor or coach will help you avoid potholes and detours, helping both you and your children excel to your highest good. If you’d like to find out more please visit my website where I offer guidance and support or approach your favorite consultant. Getting help is not a sign of weakness, it’s very empowering.

••The ability to work in teams without guidance. ••The ability to work absolutely alone. ••The ability to persuade others that your course is the right one. ••The ability to discuss issues and techniques in public with an eye to reaching decisions about policy. •• The ability to conceptualize and reorganize information into new patterns. •• The ability to pull what you need quickly from masses or irrelevant data. •• The ability to think inductively, deductively, and dialectically (dialectic, debate to resolve conflict between two contradictory or seemingly contradictory ideas with truth on both sides; grappling with essential tensions.) The ability to attack problems heuristically (heuristically, trial and error by solutions, discovery learning, rather than using set rules.) As you can see this list is very well rounded and if used will produce a person who can adapt quickly to change and do what it takes to be successful and really make a difference in the world. Unfortunately,

schools do not teach any of these things nor is it found in any processes, procedures or policies. The public education system does not facilitate a student working alone without guidance nor does it encourage children to challenge prevailing assumptions. It does not promote free thinking and produces children who fall in line and follow the rules, even when those rules have long term detrimental results. If we ourselves were public school attendees, this learning is needed and very valuable for our own success. Now is a fabulous time to homeschool your children through self-education by creating familycentered learning so all members can thrive. It’s no time to “play school.” Elevate your own standards. The beauty of homeschooling is not only for the children advancing but it grows the whole family; this generation and many to come. When you homeschool your children your life in all areas will increase including relationships, knowledge, ability to serve more people as well as professional prosperity.

The Homeschool Handbook | Sept / Oct 2016

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solutions By: Jessica DeGree

Snapchat: A Guide for Parents W

hile in Europe, I decided to keep Snapchat to stay in contact with family and friends, deleting other social media outlets to concentrate my focus in the now. Snapchat is an app which allows users to send pictures to friends for a certain amount of time. It is used the most among the youth, giving them opportunities to send pictures to friends and share their experiences in life. I particularly like Snapchat because I get to send and receive pictures to my little siblings and close friends every day. However, Snapchat has evolved from an app used to only send personal messages, into an outlet for people to connect with other “snappers” around the world in the form of global stories. While this may seem really great – people get to see other people in other areas of the world – it may be dangerous if people only watch the stories, instead of reading educational articles, to get to know other cultures because they are only getting the viewpoint of the youth, which misrepresents the country or culture as a whole. Even potentially more dangerous, Snapchat has recently allowed companies to post daily stories on the Snapchat story feed, even if each user does not add the company and choose to follow it. With just a finger’s tap on the screen, users can easily access articles, blogs, and posts from these companies. So, what’s wrong with that? Well, by letting users, especially young people who probably do not yet have a holistic view of the world, read these articles, Snapchat and these companies unconsciously shape the minds of the youth. The quick and easy news is not always factual,

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or even evocative, making the user used to not having to think too much while reading it. In addition, many of the articles falsely advertise the contents, and many still are extremely poorly written. I have been shocked by so many of the articles, and yet, these articles are so easily accessible, it seems so harmless to just click them and scroll through. If these news substitutes were only about harmless, nonpolitical subjects, they would possibly just negatively affect the user by making them accustomed to using little thought. However, not all of these articles are of innocent content. Much of the content of these stories would be considered as immoral by principled people. Yet, perhaps because mainly only youth use Snapchat, parents do not realize and do not know what their children are reading. Snapchat evolved from an app used to communicate personally into a news source which targets the vulnerable youth. In a time of growing political division, or hardship, it is important that our youth equip themselves with the skills necessary for the future. Namely, reading, writing, and discussing using sound logic. But, if our youth becomes accustomed to being spoon-fed poorly written, illogical articles, it may be harder later in life to ask the tough questions and logically make good decisions. One way to combat the new Snapchat news source is to read and write good articles. Through making the real news appealing to the youth, and through encouraging the youth to broaden their news sources, they may be better prepared for the future. If not, if our youth become comfortable in accepting things, they may wake up in reality too late to realize their rights have slipped away.

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