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Virtual learning is a growing trend in the United States today. Home schoolers are adopting virtual learning as a supplement to the home school curriculum, and some are even embracing an entire virtual learning experience.

Virtual learning involves “classrooms” that are entirely online, with interaction between students and instructors taking place through e-mails, Internet message boards and online chat rooms. Home schoolers are quickly discovering the benefits of virtual learning, and many home schooling parents incorporate this method into their daily home school routine.

The process of virtual learning is a powerful and exciting alternative for home schoolers and public educators alike. Virtual classrooms can combine home schoolers and public school students in an environment that nurtures learning and facilitates a love for education. Online classes meet the challenge of social interaction many home schooling families face by allowing for connectivity with other students. This exposes home schoolers to new instructors with different ideas. Can virtual learning be considered the wave of the future for home schooling?

Signs point to yes. Virtual learning is becoming more acceptable by the public at large as well as the home schooling community. Parents are quick to realize that a virtual learning environment is well suited to the goals of the home school setting. In order to succeed in an online class, students must be self-directed, self-disciplined learners who are able to stay on target and do the necessary work for the class: all thing home schooling parents attempt to instill in their children. Therefore, virtual learning becomes a natural extension of the home schooling principles. Many parents who home school have already overcome their initial worry and find that online classes do not prove more distracting than enriching, and therefore are embracing this new teaching method.

Educators who use virtual learning in public settings point to parental involvement as one of the deciding factors in the success of an online student. Again, home schooling has a natural advantage: parents who home school are automatically involved in their children’s education. Virtual learning can open up possibilities to home schooled students that their parents might not have otherwise been able to offer. There are online classes on just about every subject imaginable, and home school students can take advantage of this wealth of resources available on the Internet to enhance the quality of education they receive. The barriers previously presented through the challenges of home schooling are being knocked down one by one, and virtual learning goes a long way toward this goal. Home schooling parents should not neglect the possibilities presented by online classes.

.About the Author:

Mimi Rothschild is a homeschooling parent, children’s rights activist, author, and Founder and C.E.O. of online education company Learning by Grace, Inc. Rothschild and her husband of twenty-eight years reside in suburban Philadelphia with their eight children.

Feeling that “our current system of education has broken its promise,” Rothschild co-founded Learning By Grace, Inc. to provide families with Internet-based multimedia education to PreK-12 children all over the world.

In addition to her twenty years of experience as a homeschool mother, Rothschild has written a number of books dealing with education published by McGraw Hill and others. Her Daily Education News Articles consist of feature stories on online homeschooling and alternative education.

E-learning is a fantastic technology that allows The Jubilee Academy to provide home-schooling curriculum to thousands of families across the globe.

But how did we get to the point where technology gave us this capability? Let’s take a look at the history of e-learning.

The PLATO System was the first e-learning system developed for use in a higher learning setting. Since then, e-learning has been used in every level of education, from elementary schools all the way up through graduate programs and even in corporate training. Online home-schooling technology has only been around for the last few years. The Jubilee Academy was one of the first schools offering this type of learning.

By 2003, over a million students were using e-learning technologies in colleges and universities. At the time, almost all public institutes of higher learning utilized online learning software while only half of private colleges offered similar programs.

Today, more than just colleges use e-learning. The Jubilee Academy, for instance, offers K-12 home-schooling curriculum that is accessed online. The advent of streaming video and other high-level technologies allow us to offer a rich variety of multimedia presentations through our curriculum. This way, students in even the most remote locations are able to receive a quality K-12 home-school education.

What will be the future of e-learning? What can we say about e-learning vs traditional public schooling or home-schooling? This nascent technology appears to have some major advantages over the classroom environment. Only time will tell if e-learning will replace the classroom entirely.

.About the Author:

Mimi Rothschild is a homeschooling parent, children’s rights activist, author, and Founder and C.E.O. of online education company Learning by Grace, Inc. Rothschild and her husband of twenty-eight years reside in suburban Philadelphia with their eight children.

Feeling that “our current system of education has broken its promise,” Rothschild co-founded Learning By Grace, Inc. to provide families with Internet-based multimedia education to PreK-12 children all over the world.

In addition to her twenty years of experience as a homeschool mother, Rothschild has written a number of books dealing with education published by McGraw Hill and others. Her

Home Education Websites Blog consists of helpful online content and activities for Christian homeschooling families

Unschooling is a movement in education. Basically, it can be seen as learning without school.

Although unschooling may be considered a form of homeschooling, it differs from most homeschooling in that unschooling does not try to recreate the school environment at home.

Unschooling lets the child control his or her own education and learning. Instead of forcing the child to learn certain material in a certain way, unschooling consists of letting the child learn naturally on their own. Usually, this is done without a curriculum, without formal classes, and without teachers, but a child can use any of those resources if and when the child wants.

The unschooling philosophy is based in part on the belief that children are naturally curious and inquisitive. Children want to learn, and they do it best when left to explore their own curiosity.

Unschoolers often believe that schools hinder the natural learning process. In a school, the environment is too rigid and unnatural for children to learn at their best. Additionally, children are often not interested in what is being taught, since they have no choice in the matter. Having an unwanted “education” shoved down their throats turns the kids off to learning. Because children don’t like school, they stop wanting to learn at all when forced to go to school.

A major problem with mainstream schools is that they can only offer a standardized, one-size-fits-all education. This does not respect the fact that children do not all learn the same. Children have different learning styles, and also have different interests and needs. In contrast to mainstream schools, unschoolers keep their children at home and allow them to explore their own individual interests in a way that they want.

While unschooling, the children like learning, and they have fun while learning. For example, a child might see a bug that interests them and the child may then want to go inside and look up information about that bug. An older child who is interested in computers might ask for a kit that would allow him or her to build a computer at home.

Since the children are following their own interests and desires, the child learns what they will want to know. For example, that child who built the computer as a kid may grow up to be a computer engineer. Had the child gone to mainstream school, the child would not have gotten the chance to explore his or her own particular interests at such an early age, and would have instead been forced to “learn” a standardized education.

Not everyone thinks unschooling is better than mainstream, standardized education. At the very least, now you know what unschooling is and some of the reasons unschoolers prefer it.

.About the Author:

Scott Hughes owns and operates a website about unschooling at http://unschool.info. The website has Education and Learning Forums, which can be used to discuss education, learning, and unschooling. It’s completely free, and all viewpoints are welcome.

Home school students, like all children, have a natural inclination to go out and spend lots of money on designer valentines with their favorite cartoons or toys featured prominently on the box.

Why spend all the money when you can make a neat personalized home-made card that can be cherished forever? Encourage your home school students to use their imagination when creating their own cards. Each child can develop their own sense of creative style in their valentines. Also, make sure they understand that Valentines Day isn’t about secret crushes or flirting. Home schoolers need to understand that the holiday should be more about spreading the love of Christ and reflecting his sacrificial love with brotherly and sisterly love for our fellow man. Agape love is the name of the game here.

Now, let’s start making our Valentines. The simplest way to go about this is to take red, white, or pink construction paper and fold it in half. You can go the extra mile by cutting your card into the shape of an animal, flower, heart, or other design. Then, grab some crayons, glitter, construction paper, string, sequins, glitter, and other craft supplies and go to town adding some personality to your card.

You can add more personality by using different fabric patterns and magazine clippings. Encourage your home school students to create collage art by finding images and words that evoke the spirit of Valentine’s Day. You can even make a little pocket for small gifts like a Hershey’s Kiss or homemade jewelry. Throw in some stamps, stenciled writing, and clip art to finish off the package.

Top it all off with a Bible verses about love. This will ensure that the recipient understand the true message of Valentine’s Day.

Once your cards are made, have your home school students make mailboxes out of shoeboxes to collect their valentines. If you belong to a home school co-op, this will make for a fun activity.

.About the Author:

Mimi Rothschild is a homeschooling mother, writer, children’s rights advocate, and Founder and C.E.O. of home education company Learning by Grace, Inc. She and her husband of 28 years reside with their 8 children right outside Philadelphia, PA.

Rothschild launched Learning By Grace, Inc. because she believed that our nation’s public school system has failed parents and students. Learning By Grace, Inc. offers online education through a multimedia-rich curriculum to PreK-12 children across the country and throughout the world.

An accomplished author, Rothschild has written books regarding education published by McGraw Hill and others. Her Daily Education News Feed consists of articles and essays dealing with alternative learning methods.

Groundhog Day is held on the second of February each month. This day is considered a cross-quarter day, falling between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox.

It is said that if the groundhog emerges from its burrow on the second of February and sees its shadow, the groundhog will be frightened and retreat back into its den. Then, America will receive six more weeks of winter. If the groundhog does not see its shadow, we can expect an early spring.

German and French, and Celtic beliefs have influenced this notion. The superstition has its roots in the pagan belief that animals can be communed with to obtain secrets about the future. This practice was Christianized and turned into Candlemas, a European holiday during which people would look to the weather pattern on the cross-quarter day to determine future weather patterns. The following Scottish poem tells us about how people viewed Candlemas:

As the light grows longer

The cold grows stronger

If Candlemas be fair and bright

Winter will have another flight

If Candlemas be cloud and rain

Winter will be gone and not come again

A farmer should on Candlemas day

Have half his corn and half his hay

On Candlemas day if thorns hang a drop

You can be sure of a good pea crop

Today, we understand that this is nothing but superstition. No one believes that the actions of the groundhog actually have any bearing on weather patterns. It’s just an old tradition that we still celebrate as a fun family activity.

.About the Author:

Mimi Rothschild is a homeschooling mother, writer, children’s rights advocate, and Founder and C.E.O. of home education company Learning by Grace, Inc. She and her husband of 28 years reside with their 8 children right outside Philadelphia, PA.

Rothschild launched Learning By Grace, Inc. because she believed that our nation’s public school system has failed parents and students. Learning By Grace, Inc. offers online education through a multimedia-rich curriculum to PreK-12 children across the country and throughout the world.

An accomplished author, Rothschild has written books regarding education published by McGraw Hill and others. Her Daily Education News Feed consists of articles and essays dealing with alternative learning methods.

As the home school movement gains momentum across the country, more home school students and their parents are turning to a new supplement for home school curriculum: e-learning.

There are hundreds of schools and universities offering online classes on hundreds of subjects at dozens of grade levels. Home school families are discovering that the format of e-learning is especially conducive to a home learning environment. Online students are encouraged to work at their own pace, and the learning is largely self-directed; a concept with which many home school students are already familiar.

Detractors of both home school and e-learning cite the perceived difficulties of learning outside the time and space confines of the traditional classroom. However, some educators and many home school parents assert that these constraints are the problem with public education. Individual children learn with different styles and at different rates. The enforcement of blocks of time and dedicated spaces for learning can be an impediment for many, which is one of the strongest reasons parents turn to home school in the first place. The nature of e-learning lends itself well to the objectives of the home school environment: to encourage children to learn independently, and enable them to make informed, responsible decisions, or “think outside the box.”

Though some believe e-learning suffers from a lack of face-to-face interaction, home school families often find online classes superior to the traditional school setting. Quality online courses offer plenty of opportunities for students to interact with each other and with their teachers or professors through e-mail, live chat and class message boards. Additionally, home school students who are already used to self-learning often find themselves excelling in a self-directed e-class environment, and become eager to help others learn as well.

For home school parents who are looking for e-learning classes to supplement their children’s home school education, there are several factors that will help decide which online classes will be beneficial. A good e-course will have extensive instruction posted for students at the outset of the class, and easy access to knowledgeable instructors. Home school parents themselves are usually not professional educators, and are therefore more able to recognize competence in e-instructors who are not necessarily formally trained. Also, a good e-course should feature ways to interact with peers and get feedback from other students on posted work. E-learning can be a powerful addition to any home school curriculum, and should not be overlooked by the home school community at large.

.About the Author:

Mimi Rothschild is a homeschooling parent, author, children’s rights advocate, and Founder and C.E.O. of Learning by Grace, Inc. She and her husband of almost 3 decades reside with their 8 children in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Rothschild co-founded Learning By Grace, Inc. because “our current system of education has broken its promise…” Learning By Grace, Inc. delivers Internet-based multimedia education to PreK-12 children in the United States and throughout the world.

Rothschild has authored a number of books about education published by McGraw Hill and others. Her Home Education News Blog contains feature stories on alternatives in education.

Many people are deciding to homeschool their kids. It can be a hard decision to make at first, as there are many variables to consider and many schooling options for children.

In the end, however, there are a lot of people that do not have much confidence in the safety and security of public schools and are starting to doubt the level of education that comes out of them. Homeschooling your child may be an option you want to look into if you have ever doubted public schools.

One of the first things you’ll want to do when you considering homeschooling is to read and find out as much information about it as possible. You can probably find books on the topic in your public library, so start reading and learn as much as you can about homeschooling, as well as how it works in your particular part of the world. Many people operate homeschooling websites online, so email some of those sites and ask for catalogs and other pieces of information.

The second thing you should do is take the time to learn from others who have homeschooled their kids. Talk to parents and get some of their advice on the matter. You can also find homeschooling support groups in your part of the world or online, so feel free to join up and find out what you can from people that have been there before. You’ll want to arm yourself with information from a variety of sources, both books and people, before you begin to homeschool your child.

The third thing you’ll need to do in order to homeschool your child is to learn about the law in your area. Check out your state’s laws. Homeschooling is legal in many locations, but you should look into the legalities of the specifics. You’ll want to know what you’ll have to do in order to fulfill the state requirements to turn out a successful student from homeschooling.

The fourth thing you need is to design a schooling method. Try turning one part of your home into the classroom so that your child can make that particular area designated for school only. This will allow you to have an environment with your child so that you can teach your child correctly and so that the child can concentrate on his or her work. Check out kids’ furniture stores for desks or other pieces of furniture that could make an area of your home look more like a classroom. Part of a good homeschooling routine is setting up a comfortable environment in which to learn.

You can start teaching your child in a number of ways, but it is important to find out how your child learns best. Include him or her in the process and discover learning together. Allow your child to experience learning in a safe, educational, and responsible environment.

Homeschooling your child can be a great way to bond and teach your child important skills for life. Having an area designed for homeschooling, with kids’ furniture and some nice decoration options, can make the experience even better. Include your child in the process, from start to finish, and give him or her learning experience that will last a lifetime.

.About the Author:

Find helpful and creative ideas for parents and grandparents while you shop our great selection of kids furniture (including our popular toddler beds) and classic toys. Visit www.TheMagicalRockingHorse.com today!

The Washington Post states that 900,000 teenage girls become pregnant each year. According to another study, one in four American teenagers contract an STD each year.

These statistics naturally strike fear into the heart of every parent, especially considering that more teens are engaging in secular activity at younger ages.

What’s more disturbing is that the public schools are no longer discouraging this kind of activity but encouraging teen sex by providing free condoms and other “safeguards” against STD’s. Abstinence is often taught as an outmoded footnote in sex education programs that encourage students to be safe while having sex with multiple partners. Teen rape is also at an all-time high.

Christian parents should be aware of the sexual climate that exists within public schools. Consider the game “Snap” played by young schoolgirls. The girls wear bracelets of various colors, each color representing some kind of sexual act. The boys try to yank the bracelets off of the girls’ arms. If successful, the boy is guaranteed a sexual liaison featuring that particular act with the girl. If the nature of this game shocks you, consider that the girls playing the game are as young as eleven years old.

Parents need to do something about this. From the moment that students walk out of their homes they are confronted with attitudes toward sex that are completely antithetical to a Christian worldview. Parents should seriously rethink exposing their children to this kind of environment. There is really only one solution, as cultural and social factors are working against teens and preteens 24 hours a day. Only homeschooling offers an environment in which students can learn free from these negative influences. Homeschooling allows your kids to be kids.

.About the Author:

Mimi Rothschild is a homeschooling parent, author, children’s rights advocate, and Founder and C.E.O. of Learning by Grace, Inc. She and her husband of almost 3 decades reside with their 8 children in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Rothschild co-founded Learning By Grace, Inc. because “our current system of education has broken its promise…” Learning By Grace, Inc. delivers Internet-based multimedia education to PreK-12 children in the United States and throughout the world.

Rothschild has authored a number of books about education published by McGraw Hill and others. Her Daily Education News Blog contains feature stories on alternatives in education. www.TheMorningStarAcademy.org/daily_education_newswww.TheMorningStarAcademy.org

Online homeschooling is sweeping the nation. There are several reasons why this is the case.

Perhaps the single most important factor to consider is the reduced cost of e-learning.

Homeschool students are able to access courses at a fraction of the cost that it takes to staff teachers, administrators, maintenance workers, and more in the public school system.

Another benefit of homeschooling with e-learning is that it allows students to work in the comfort of their own homes. This has far-reaching implications. For one, students can focus on learning with no distractions. There is no need to spend money transporting children from the home to school. Homeschooling allows children to spend more time with their families. Delivery of information is consistent. There are no snow days in online homeschooling! Students are free to move to a new city, take a few weeks off for vacation, and more.

Online learning is incredibly flexible. It can be tailored for the unique learning needs of each homeschooler. Online learning is asynchronous, meaning that students at different levels of ability can both achieve success using the same software. Fast learners are not forced to learn along with the rest of the class and similarly, less advanced students are able to take as much time as is needed to complete the course material. No one is left behind or barely keeping up with online homeschooling.

Online homeschooling allows for multimedia and interactive presentations that make learning a more active process. Online homeschool students are engaged with video, audio, and interactive hands-on projects rather than passively listening to a lecture. Students of a variety of learning styles are thus served simultaneously.

.About the Author:

Mimi Rothschild is a homeschooling parent, author, children’s rights advocate, and Founder and C.E.O. of Learning by Grace, Inc. She and her husband of almost 3 decades reside with their 8 children in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Rothschild co-founded Learning By Grace, Inc. because “our current system of education has broken its promise…” Learning By Grace, Inc. delivers Internet-based multimedia education to PreK-12 children in the United States and throughout the world.

Rothschild has authored a number of books about education published by McGraw Hill and others. Her Home Education News Blog contains feature stories on alternatives in education.

By Kelly Riess

How many times have you thought to yourself, “Gee I wish I could learn how to do that” or “If I only knew how that was done, I could do it myself”.

With such busy lives we lead who has time for classes and commutes? Well with the technology we have at our disposal today we have the opportunity to learn about more subjects than ever before without even stepping one foot into a classroom. This amazing technology consists of a little silver disc called a DVD. Digital Video Discs allow you to educate yourself on your schedule in the comfort of your own home.

The instructional/educational DVD business is booming. Not just for adults but children as well. The market for children’s DVD’s is hot - a $15 billion industry. They are designed to be entertaining, fun and interactive. Encouraging your children to use these tools is a great way to get them involved in learning, plus if it is fun your kids will be learning without even realizing it! Hundreds are now available to either purchase or rent.

The incorporation of DVD-Video into the world of training and education holds tremendous potential. Using this medium helps to increase learning and the retention of knowledge and is emerging as an ideal delivery platform for the ever expanding spectrum of content. Video is packed with detailed instructions and animations illustrating step by step direction in whatever subject you choose.

You can sit down on your couch in front of your TV, press play and begin your journey through 1, 2, 3 or more subjects. Also, you are able to press rewind and review the material of your choice if you find that you didn’t quite catch something. With repeated viewing you can even find things that you previously missed. Video is great for both formal and informal education, enabling you to acquire knowledge on specific subjects, providing you with training and advice from top professionals in their field. With instructional DVD’s you can also enhance your classroom education and be one up on the next guy.

I bet you never thought you could learn glass blowing or loom weaving from a DVD. How about dental assisting or accounting? Those are just a few of the subjects available. Education is one of the most important things a person should strive to achieve. DVD’s can be an invaluable asset in your educational arsenal. Remember, the best way to learn is by watching. So go ahead, become an expert in several fields or just focus on your favorite subject or hobby and start building your own DVD library today. Visit www.learnzat.com now to find the right DVD for you.

.About the Author:
Kelly Riess is the owner of www.learnzat.com an instructional DVD directory where you can find a multitude of subjects in one place. Visit her site and read a number of interesting articles included in the directory. www.learnzat.com