As demonstrated by rapidly increasing numbers over the past decade, homeschooling is catching on, and listening to parents who have successfully homeschooled their children through elementary, middle, and high school demonstrates why this is the case. Listening to these parents speak at homeschool conferences helps beginning parents understand what to expect, and communities of homeschoolers, whether local or online, provide continuing support. In addition, books on homeschooling, such as The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child by Linda Dobson, Homeschooling at the Speed of Life by Marilyn Rockett, and Help for the Harried Homeschooler by Christine Field, offer encouragement to those just beginning home education.
Another factor that makes it easier for parents to commit to homeschooling is the impressive array of educational materials now available to homeschoolers. In the beginning of the homeschool movement, there were only a handful of companies that offered curriculum to home educators. Now, the choices are numerous and are customized for different learning styles. Two language arts options now available illustrate the breadth of quality resources homeschoolers have at their disposal.
Saxon Homeschool is known for providing the most popular math program for homeschoolers, a program that is known for its incremental teaching method. With incremental development, topics are developed in small steps spread over time. Instead of being organized into chapters that rapidly develop a topic and then move on to the next strand, Saxon Math is organized into a series of lessons that gradually develop concepts. This year, Saxon is proud to introduce the Hake Grammar and Writing program for grades five through eight. Developed by Stephen Hake, author of Saxon’s middles grades math program, Grammar and Writing is based on the Saxon incremental method, which has produced outstanding results for homeschoolers.
This comprehensive language arts program covers English grammar, writing, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary development. Embedded in the examples and exercises is content from other subject areas, so that students learn valuable knowledge while developing their English language skills. The content for each grammar and writing kit is arranged into three books, a student textbook, a student workbook, and a teacher packet.
Like grammar and writing, Holt Elements of Language from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a comprehensive language arts program. Unlike Grammar and Writing, Elements of Language includes a technology component that offers numerous teaching resources. Elements of Language, available for grades six through 12, teaches relevant skills and emphasizes reading informational texts. Highly focused writing workshops support students’ writing development, while the Warriner’s approach to grammar helps them master language skills. Each package contains a student edition and a teacher’s One-Stop DVD-ROM, which includes the teacher’s edition, editable worksheets, customizable lesson plans, assessments, and much more.
Homeschooling offers the flexibility to choose whatever instructional path you believe is best for your child. With a growing community of fellow educators and an increasing selection of curriculum options, you can be confident in your decision to educate at home.