Some Unexpected benefits of Homeschooling

You can sleep late, because there is no reason to wake up early- You create your own schedule for the day, so you don’t have to anything unless you want to.  And if you decide to have family movie night or a date night and don’t get in early to sleep but it’s a Monday night, it’s not a problem because the kids don’t have to be in bed at 7pm.

You become a cyber mom  from surfing all of the homeschool mommy blogs for hours each day-  You will  learn just like all the young generation,  cool kids and no one will know your  glow and smiles  doesn’t come from chatting and liking pages on your Facebook account and other social media pages

You can teach your  kids to make omelet and grilled sandwiches ( which is what I have trained my kids to do)  and call it Home economics-  And now you have yourself a private chef.. LOL!!

You will know more about the history than anyone else you will ever meet. Shock  your guest  at dinner outings with your knowledge of where the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner came from as well as the Pledge, and then look really smart as you start to talk about different cultures in Africa. with our travels for the past years this is what we see.

You get to go to the amusement park and the grocery store when there are no lines. And hanging out at the children’s museum all morning drinking your green tea while you explore with your kids. Totally counts as school. Now your kids are not just reading History but they are living it too.

Your kids have the rest of their day to take on a new hobby like Martial Arts. all my 3 older girls have black belt in shotokan Karate. They got their black belt at the age of 8yrs, 9yrs and 10yrs. my 2nd daughter who was then 8yrs old was the youngest black belt in Africa and tied in the world with another kid in the UK.

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my kids when they where younger..from left to right – Aasha 8yrs old youngest black belt in Africa and the world at her age. Destiny 9yrs old our oldest also had her black belt on the same day and IMAHKUS 6yrs old our 3rd daughter…posing with their trophies they worn in a martial arts competition

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Applying for you and your kids Visa Steps

When Travelling with your kids, one of the most stressful part of the travel will probably not be packing their homeschool books, but it’s applying for their visa for that county if a visa is needed.

When kids are younger than 18 yrs applying for a visa can be a bit hectic. But some of the many steps I take in other to prevent this strees are :

  1. Create a folder that you can have all your documents  notarized birth certificated, marriage certificate, your birth certificate, your spouse birth certificat.
  2. Notarized bank statement or get it from your bank  for at least 6 months till date ( which can all be done at the court-house)
  3. Ticket itinerary ( I don’t advice you confirm your tickets until you have applied and have been approved of your travel visa). Since the process of applying for a visa for your kids is different from for an adult.
  4. Make sure if you and your husband is available to visit the embassy, then I suggest you do so, since it eases the process time and makes it easier when they review your visa forms.
  5. Now here is the tricky part.  Booking your place of stay. we usually use Airbnb ( if you decide to use a hotel ) just be mindful to check the cancellation policy.With airbnb which is what we have used the past 2 yrs. I usually just book the place for 1 month and I make sure to read their cancellation policy and if it’s not easy to cancel I ask the host and let them know am now applying for our visa.
  6. If your visa application can be done online then just make sure to send all notarized documents to the embassy and also make sure to apply for your visa at least 1 to 2 months before your trip, to make sure you don’t have any issues with the embassy since it’s an online application.
  7. Remember that after your visa is granted for most countries you will have 60 to 90 days to enter the country or the visa will expire. So make sure to read the fine line on your visa page when you receive your visa from the embassy.
  8. When applying for Visa I advice that you apply for multiple entry visa if that is an option. since you may decide to revisit the country again during that year.

Get set…apply for your visa and start Exploring the world with your kids…

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And if you would like to know more about homeschooling and travelling you can purchase my E-book below.

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Travelling and Homeschooling>>>

I needed all the homeschooling help and tips I could get, to be honest as I really was not quite unsure by the idea of teaching our children while consistently travelling . But I couldn’t find anything from ‘real’ people who were actually doing it and I really find it tough taking advice from people who have never done it before. So while we sat at our dinning table in Ghana dotting the “i’s” and crossing the “t’s” I had to decide if I was willing to let go of my fears and just do it. if you are feeling like I was feeling then check out my E-book

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Our children were ages 13yrs, 12yrs, 10yrs and 5yrs when we set off our 5 years “global vagabonding” world tour. With the help of our kids in making and committing to this decision we decided to take the journey and let the fun begin…

When we arrived in Cape Town I went on and set up locations in the apartment for school work. We used laptops and bedrooms as different grade learning centers. The apartment we booked was super small. 2 bedroom 1 bathroom so you can imagine from a 5 bedroom home to a 2 bedroom was not that exciting.

We did not do school everyday we spent a lot of time out exploring and writing book reports and learning history of South Africa. Which I think was way more exciting than sitting home and flipping through books that someone else tells us the story.

Now in the evenings we did our curriculum which we paid for to be able to keep up with kids transcripts. During the day we spent it on soft life skills that no books or school can offer my kids.

We learned different languages and met different people who become teachers of history and math and science. We research and went to every science museum and festivals and activities we could find for our kids. Math was done in the grocery store each day as we learn to figure out what we are buying and how much we need to buy.

communication is taught through meeting people and making new friends from different cultures.

Homeschooling on the road can be stressful but with every stress there is the side of fun and we made sure we got that in our daily life. you can homeschool while on the road just decide and know that you have a whole year to complete a grade and when travelling you can imagine what you can do in a year in another country.

Enjoy the art of homeschooling while on the road because you can.

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Homeschooling multiple grades>>

The most common question I am asked when I tell people that I homeschool is “How do you manage to teach so many grade levels?” For many homeschool families, this is the most difficult part of home education.

If you are struggling to teach multiple grade levels, you are not alone. Homeschooling families vary in size and usually have children in multiple grade levels, sometimes ranging from infant to high school. Trying to keep up with teaching multiple children can be daunting, to say the least.

If you can relate, don’t lose heart — you can peacefully and successfully teach multiple grade levels!

 There are many different approaches one can take to homeschooling multiple grade levels. Here are just a few strategies you might try to implement in your homeschool.

Schedule a block of time with each child

 While you work with one child the others can do independent work, one child can read aloud to siblings or older siblings can buddy up and spend that block of time working with younger siblings.
Combine subjects

Science, social studies, history, art, literature and geography can easily be combined and taught to all of your children at the same time. You can read aloud as a family using text books or living books and give the older children age-related supplemental activities, worksheets or independent reading on the subject. My Father’s World curriculum shares a perfect example of a multi-age family learning cycle.

Use unit studies

Unit studies work well with all ages and allow you to teach children the same subject tailored by grade level. While younger children might tell a story through art or play-dough, older children might write a report or take part in a more advance science experiment. You can take some time to create your own unit study or purchase ready-made unite studies by subjects.

Older children can easily work independently through computer-based or online learning with curriculum such as Switched on Schoolhouse, Time for learning. There is also the option of video learning through a virtual school such as Abeka which is what I use for my kids. which allows me to focus on the younger grades since the older grades use the DVD program and web streaming.

Set up a Workbox System

The Workbox system is a system created by Sue Patrick that can be customized to your family’s individual needs. Children are assigned a drawer or set of drawers, cubes or folders for their subjects and daily assignments. I use one drawer for books and one drawer for the day’s workbook assignments for each child, and each day my kids go to their drawer or folder  to get their assignments and books and start their lessons for the day. Sue Patrick’s goal in creating the Workbox System was to reduce organizational time and increase the child’s self-control, independence and learning. This is the perfect solution for large homeschool families.

Use daily life experiences as teaching opportunities

The greatest lessons are those that build and strengthen relationships within the family, and these lessons will be found in everyday life experiences. Cook a meal together for math, building a new fence with papa, or grow a garden as a family or travel around the world and learn different cultures as history lessons.

There will still be days when homeschooling multiple grade levels and personalities feels overwhelming and chaotic but with a bit of planning, a working system in place and much determination you can homeschool multiple children and still keep your sanity. And make time for yourself and your husband.

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If you would like to learn more about how to start homeschooling your kids and also be able to travel then please check out my E-book below.

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To Homeschool or Not to?

1. Write out your reasons for homeschooling. To homeschool or not to homeschool? It’s a daunting decision. Write out your reasons for homeschooling and goals for your children.  Ask yourself : What are the schools like where you live? What do you want your children to accomplish through their education? Why do you want to homeschool? How long will you homeschool? Homeschooling is more than a full-time job and when the schooling gets tough, a written list of reasons will help you recall why you took on the challenge.  A homeschool mission statement  will help you stay focused the ultimate goals for your children.

2. Set measurable educational goals.Whether you’re teaching literature, math or art, keep specific educational goals in mind. What do you want your child to learn and how will you track their progress? Divide the list into short-term and long-term goals. Short term: “I want Destiny to be able to add double digits.” Long term: “I want Destiny to have a basic understanding of American History.”

3. Make it fun. Homeschooling is never what you pictured.  It’s not always fun and there will be many times when you wondered why you thought you could be both their teacher and parent. But homeschooling can also be a lot of fun.  Teach a French lesson and then make crepes as a family. After a unit on the Civil War, watch a reenactment. If you’ve always wanted to learn guitar or speak a foreign language, now is the time to learn.  Homeschooling will stimulate your  curiosity and you’ll learn new things while teaching your kids.

4. Reach out. You might be the only one on the block who doesn’t walk their child to the bus stop each  morning. But you can still be a part of the homeschooling community! Try and find a good homeschooling co-op in your area. If you can’t find one, start your own. Attend homeschool conferences.  Check out this unschooling on a cruise ship conference if you want to combine your conference with a vacation.

5. Learn about teaching. It’s not enough to be a math whiz or geography guru. You have to know how to apply your knowledge in a way that the child will understand.  Read books on teaching and take teaching courses.   Swap resources with your homeschooling co-op.  If your specialty is in English and you struggle with math, teach the English course and have another homeschooler teach the math.

6. Prepare financially. With the rising cost of a private education, you might feel like you’re making the “cheaper choice.” But homeschooling can be  expensive if one parent has to be home. Consider the cost of keeping one parent home as the primary educator.  Consider the curricula, the supplies, the expense of transforming your home office into a classroom.  Budget for everything right down to the #2 pencils.  Have a financial plan in place and give yourself a cushion for unforeseen expenses. Once you map this out you can then see that Homeschooling can also be cheaper if maybe you decide to work from home which means you get to have your cake and eat it too…

7. Set aside a time and place for academic work. Don’t try and turn your T.V. room (plush couches and all) into a classroom — cartoons and serious learning don’t mix.  Before you begin homeschooling, set up a classroom or designate a corner in your home with chairs, books, desks, and all.  Get into a routine. That is, school begins at 8:00 a.m. and at that time, they must be dressed (teeth brushed, hair combed) and ready to take on the day.

8. Get  organized. (The dog ate my …worksheet) Organize your materials, time, and tasks so you don’t waste precious minutes looking for worksheets or scrambling to find that storybook.  Set up a filing system for all your different subjects and organize your library and homeschooling records.  Consider keeping a daily journal and homeschool work portfolio.

9. Don’t forget socialization and life skills. If you decide to homeschool, be prepared for the inevitable question, “What about socialization?”  Involve your kids in their community.  Sign them up for sports, scouts, and home-school groups.  Take field trips with other children and make sure to include activities where your child has to work in a group.  Be very certain your child’s social needs are being met and that they will have a peer group.

10. Review local regulations. Check your Local and state, as well as your country regulations if you are thinking about homeschooling.  Most states are subject to home-based instruction regulations.  For instance, in Washington you must have earned 45 quarter units of college-level credits, attend a Parent Qualifying Course, meet with a certified teacher once a week, and receive approval from the local superintendent of public schools.

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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 sportsWhile 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.

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