Homeschooling

Homeschooling Basic help

In some states, you need a high school diploma to teach your children at home, your curriculum must be approved, and you have to test your kids regularly. In others, you don’t even have to notify anyone that you’re homeschooling. Let me help you find out what your state requires. click on my consultation page to book a time with me…

Lets get back control teaching our kids

Some grown homeschooled children have spoken out about educational neglect. One Virginia teenager said that at age 16, he didn’t know South Africa was a country and couldn’t solve basic algebra problems. Let me help you create routines and open minded kids…let me share my secrets with you. book a personal chat with me click on my consult page.

What is homeschooling and how does it work?
Homeschooling consist of classes being taught in the student’s home, often by the parents themselves. This is more usual with younger children in their primary years. This is just one approach, however, there are also other options.

Some subjects are taught by a parent who has specialist knowledge of a particular subject and other subjects are taught by outside tutors who come to the family home.
All subjects are taught by outside tutors who come to the family home.
Some or all of the tutorials take place at a tutoring school and some buy curriculums from different schools and use that so that the school can keep their transcripts.

The ‘Pros’ and “Cons”.
Homeschooling has always been and continues to be controversial.

The Pros
Educational freedom. Most home schooled students have the choice to study and learn subjects that interest them. They can study and learn at a time that suits them and for as long and as frequently as they want. Students can choose subjects that are not usually available in most schools, such as sociology or psychology. A program can be custom-designed to includes a personalized selection of primary, junior secondary, IGCSE or A level courses, together with SAT or ACT, IELTS or TOEFL.

Physical freedom. Many parents including me who homeschool says that they and their children experience a real sense of freedom. Their lives no longer revolve around school hours, homework, and the school calendar. We are able to plan vacations during off-peak times when prices are lower, take part in midweek activities and generally live their lives according to what works for them. ( as we are doing travelling the globe with our kids) We are only able to do this because we are homeschooling our kids.

Emotional freedom. Unfortunately, peer pressure, competition, boredom, and bullies are all part of a typical school day. This can be a particular problem for girls. According to several studies, self esteem takes a dive in girls who are in the junior secondary division of school. However, similar studies of home schooled girls have shown that self esteem remains intact and that these girls continue to thrive. Children who are home schooled can dress, act and think the way they want, without the fear of ridicule or a need to be part of the “cool group”. These children live in the real world, where lives aren’t dictated by adolescent, trends and dangerous experimentation.

Well rested kids. As more and more studies are illustrating, sleep is vital to the emotional and physical well-being of my kids, especially pre-teenagers and teenagers. The effects of early morning classes can be devastating to many children, especially those who are not morning people. When children are well rested they can study and learn more effectively.

Pace. Individually tutored children can accomplish a lot in a few hours, what takes a week or more to cover in a typical classroom setting. One-to-one tutorials ensure that the student is “on task” for the whole time of the tutorial and the tutor teaches specifically for that student, enhancing strengths and addressing weaknesses as necessary. Homework can be assigned in each subject but tailored to the needs of the individual student rather than a “one size fits all” that might normally be assigned to a class. IGCSE courses which usually take 2 full years of classroom study can
be completed in only one academic year. Of course, the intensity of tutorial teaching must be adjusted to suit the learning style of each student with a course taking longer or shorter depending on what pace is judged to be the most effective.

The Cons
Financial constraints. The cost of one-to-one tutorials can be very expensive, especially if the tutors are experienced and well qualified. However, if parents do some of the tutoring that reduces the overall cost. One should also bear in mind that one-tone tutorial programs are usually shorter than a regular school program thereby alleviating some of the cost.

Limited extracurricular activities and team sports. While community sports activities can fill the void for younger kids, teenagers often find limited opportunities to join sports teams, especially competitive ones. Some families have overcome this problem by creating their own teams. And in my case I have my kids join classes of other sports activities while in each country. It is important for parents to encourage their kids to develop an interest in other activities that do not form part of the daily academic program. Activities such as music, drama, astronomy, chess, and of course sports are all extremely worthwhile and provide a balance in any child’s education. Also allowing your kids to explore the culture of each country that you visit can spark their interest in something that they can enjoy.

Social issues. Some Parents and their children often express their concern about the fact that students who do not attend regular school miss out on the day to day social interaction between kids. This is a valid concern and those parents who have spoken about this positively have said that they ensure that their children do take part in social activities with others. The prevalence of social media these days perhaps makes it less of
an issue although this highlights other concerns that parents need to be aware of and vigilant towards. We have our kids make friends while at the mall and meet and greet people they have no idea if they will be open to friendship but with that brings out the kids communication skills and being able to socialize while in the world.

Could homeschooling be a valid option for my child?
The short answer is, “Yes”. Look at the “pros” and the “cons” carefully and consider what might be the impact of each of these on your child. There are, of course, many excellent schools in Thailand and in Bangkok particularly. So many of these schools offer fantastic academic programs such as IGCSE and the IB and also offer a tremendous range of extracurricular activities. Whether to opt for a homeschooling program is a decision that is such a personal one and it is a decision that is different for each family.

Life should be about having the opportunity to choose what you feel is right for your child. Most children and their parents are very happy with the education that schools offer but for some families the chance of having a much more flexible educational program is undoubtedly attractive and that is why my family and I have chosen the Homeschooling route.

Legal Status:

Homeschooling is legal in Thailand. The Thailand’s constitution and education law explicitly recognize alternative education and considers the family to be an educational institution. In addition, Thai homeschoolers successfully petitioned the government for a homeschool law, which was passed in 2004. Ministerial Regulation No. 3 on the “right to basic education by the family” governs homeschooling.

Thai Homeschool Network
Facebook pages: “Thai Homeschool Network”
and “Thai Homeschool Association”

Yes you can Homeschool your kids while in Bangkok and there are no rules or regulations that states that you cannot.
And on Facebook you can join lots of groups available to meet up. here are a few of the groups you can join before arriving there. “Bangkok Toddler Homeschoolers” , ” Bangkok Area Homeschool co-op” , ” Bangkok Homeschooler’s Tea on Tuesday Group.. this group meets on Tuesdays and kids learn poetry and have fun together.
Also there are places that you can take your kids for homeschool where one parent has decided to start homeschool project. you can call her on 083-926-6630 and get more information.
There is also another place called KruToo homeschool you can find them on Facebook to check on them if they have any events of programs for after school program.
Homeschooling in Bangkok was fun since we had so many things to do as extra curriculum stuff and most of this stuff are free for kids.
And with things to do in the evening even for kids you will have time to explore the city and still homeschool your kids.

Click here purchase my E-Book on Bangkok Exposed