Homeschool Insights
We live in the Granite State, otherwise known as New Hampshire. The state motto is "Live Free or Die." If you take the high road here, you will eventually arrive to the highest point, 6,288 feet above sea level. The tallest mountain here is called, Mount Washington.
**~ Our Homeschool Story ~**
I had always wanted to homeschool, however, because of ingrained faulty beliefs, my children attended public school for a short time.
My son attended Kindergarten, first and second grades. The education was okay, but as time pressed on; I knew it was not working for him. A once happy boy, who was excited about learning, was becoming miserably sad.
Amazingly enough, his second grade teacher asked me if I had ever considered homeschooling. She saw potentials in him that a public school setting could not address. She confirmed my thoughts and ideas that he would probably learn faster in a different environment. He needed more space to be creative and a teacher to consistently bounce advanced thoughts and ideas off of. Homeschooling him allows for a tailored curriculum, one that matches his learning styles.
My daughter attended Kindergarten, and would come home every day saying how bored she was. Many of the lessons taught, she had already learned at home. She was also frustrated with the way peers interacted with each other. This severely distracted from her optimum learning capacity.
The first year I taught them at home their test scores jumped higher. My daughter's reading and writing skills blossomed. My son's math and science skills soared, and he chose to read day and night.
At the same time, while pursuing my Human Services degree, I also started teaching my children. My education did much to fix my faulty beliefs about my qualifications. With renewed confidence, and homeschooling knowledge, we began a new and exciting future.
Today, years later, my daughter has taken horseback riding lessons, has been involved with a 4-H horse and gardening programs, cooks. She loves her piano lessons and has been in several recitals. Her favorite books are Julie of the Wolves by George and all books by Bryan Jacques, including: Pearls of Lutra Now that she is in High School she has ventured into Hip Hop and Modern dance classes, which include major end of the year performances. She also takes Spanish at our local High School, and acquired an "A" while earning a half credit in Piano I.
My son enjoys action and adventure, so he has had involvement with the Civil Air Patrol, running, swimming and ice-skating. He loves math and science, especially physics. He tried starting his own physics and chess clubs, and has started his own physics library. He has also performed in comedy skits. One of his favorite books is The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare One year he participated in Lego League First, as part of the building team. http://www.usfirst.org/jrobtcs/flego.htm
Now that he is in High School he still studies the majority of all his academic courses at home. Although, he is enjoying a Spanish class at our local high school. He still loves to run and enjoys Cross Country, Winter Track, and Spring track. He is part of the sports team at our local high school. This is part of the beauty of homeschooling, creating a curriculum that is perfect for the student.
Being schooled at home fosters independent research and a continued love for learning. It promotes concentrated academic achievement, and generates more time for character development, volunteer work, and personal endeavors. Homeschooling, if done right, is a tailored fit education.
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We are having a world of fun learning about Biology. Several families have been getting together with us for two hours a week, to conduct several experiments using A+ Projects in Biology. We are following the DVD curriculum program: Biology 101 According to the Days of Creation. The DVD's have been an excellent guide, and the A+ Projects have worked wonderfully for a lab guide. We also have added in several other library books, and educational movies to enhance the curriculum. Our students keep a three ring binders to write down hypotheses, lab notes and to draw pictures of certain projects. We also have taken several pictures of experiments to be coordinated with written work! 
The DVD program covers: Plants, Aquatics, Avian, Land Animals, The Human Body, and Genetics.
A "small" sampling of what we study~
Some of our choices include:
Chalk Dust Math - http://www.chalkdust.com/, Saxon Math, Learning Language Arts Through Literature, Jump In- A Writing Course for Reluctant Writers. (We love this book!) by Sharon Watson, Spelling Workout, Jensen's Writing Format, Real Life Writing Bk 2, Creation of Physical Science, Zoology, Understand the Stars/Look to the Stars, Mystery of History, Streams of Civilizations, World Maps, Why True Love Waits, Body By Design, Nutrition & Fitness, Latin, Greek, French, Art Line Drawing, Unit on Missions, Money Management, Computer, Letterboxing, Dance, and Cross Country (track) Most of the above books can be found at: Homeschool CBD
Make Science Come Alive
Quality microscope provides years of fun without killing your budget!
Learning Language Arts Through Literature, Grade 8, Teacher Gray
Learning Language Arts Through Literature, Grade 6, Teacher Tan
Typing Instructor, Version 12.0 CD-ROM--Deluxe Edition
A History of US, 11 Volumes: Third Edition
How to Write a Research Report
Simply Grammar: An Illustrated Primer
In this captivating chronicle, kids will learn about everyday life--both on the homefront and the battlefield--during one of the most trying times in our nation's history. Told in an easy-to-read, anecdotal narrative that kids can read and enjoy on their own, the Civil War comes to life with stories and illustrations about a typical soldier's life, the contributions of African American soldiers, and the role of women during the war. There are: Realistic details about everyday life during the war Unusual and fascinating facts about the period Interesting innovations that affected life during the war Real photographs and historic illustrations Each chapter of The Civil War includes activities and puzzles that engage young readers in the period and draw upon their skills in a wide variety of subject areas. Contents: Background and Causes; Advantages of the North and the South; Setting the Stage; The Leaders: The Soldier's Life; The Home Fronts; Innovations; Unusual and Interesting Facts; African Americans in the War; Hospitals and Prisons; The Aftermath Reproducible Answers are provided.