Abeka Book is a homeschooling curriculum company that produces books for use in homeschooling that feature quality educational information and a Christian background. Their books are also used in many Christian schools and academies, as they properly balance Christian information with correct and well designed educational instruction. The Abeka system was developed through 50 years of testing and experience at the Pensacola Christian Academy. Abeka books cover all subjects from a Christian and scripture based perspective, including history, mathematics, science, and bible study. Abeka books are known for their well paced, easy to follow teaching style that encourages students of all levels to learn. The reading instruction offered in the Abeka homeschool curriculum is based on the phonics system. All stories used for practicing the reading skills are biblical or at least Christian themed, offering children an education based on the Scripture. History is presented in an uplifting way, focusing on the triumphs of all people against that which holds them back. The free enterprise system is praised as the best system for the world, and systems such as communism and liberalism are shown as dangerous methods for government. The conflict theory of class and race struggles are rejected for a more spiritual focus on the history of the world.3
3 Homeschooling Curriculum Options
Abeka Book offers three main educational programs. The first is a complete video educational system, where master teachers from the Pensacola Christian Academy educate the child much like they were attending the class in person. If this program is used, Abeka can provide a fully accredited college preparatory program from kindergarten to 12th grade by keeping grade records and providing transcripts. They also offer their video program without record keeping, for the parent to keep their own records. Both include all textbooks, videos, tests and supplements, and instructional manuals for the parent to help their child learn.
The third main program is the traditional parent direct education, in which Abeka Books keeps all records, making this option accredited. This program is only available for kindergarten through 6th grade, but it includes all textbooks, classwork, and tests, as well as a teaching manual that makes it easy for each parent to teach their own child without any training. For parents looking to make their own program, there are over 800 textbooks available in every subject, all based on Biblical principles, for children learning to talk all the way up to grade 12.
My America and My World: Grade 1 History/Geography Reader. A Beka Book.
Science, like most subjects is something that some parents enjoy teaching their homeschooled children and something that others completely dread. Homeschoolers do have different options when it comes to studying science.
Homeschool Science Curriculum
Most curriculum suppliers have a section dedicated to the study of science. The science curriculum usually has the options of having text, a workbook, and test material. Each homeschool science curriculum does vary and depend on the supplier. Traditional, homeschool science curriculum included the standard books, and paper workbooks. Now many places offer science and other subject as a computer program that can be used on a home computer. Some other science computer curriculums are more interactive than others. Those curriculum suppliers that offer a computer based science curriculum usually offer a short demo of their computer based curriculum.
Attending a Public School Science Course
In most states, a homeschool student does have the option to take a public school course with traditional public school students. Parents should check with the district in which they reside to get specific details. Attending the science course at a public school gives the homeschool student the opportunity to participate in labs that they may not have the material and resources to have at home.
Online Homeschool Science courses
There are many online homeschool programs available. Some are publicly funded and free, depending on the state. There are public science course that have teachers that assign grades and give feedback to students. Some of the private school courses do offer the option of having a teacher. Other private online homeschool science courses are completely independent and just offer the curriculum
Supplementing Homschool Science
Homeschool students can sometime attend science classes at a local museum, aquarium, or zoo. Again, the offering of science classes depends on the venue and location. You can also find many different homeschool science resources online that will help facilitate and reinforce the absorption of different subject matter.
Family Science: Activities, Projects, and Games that Get Everyone Excited about Science!
Spanish Seasons Worksheets-With the Worksheet there are four pictures and the student is asked to write the Spanish name for each season represented by the picture. Children can also color the pictures before or after completing the worksheet.
The Four Seasons
A video demonstrating how to pronouce the four seasons in Spanish
Overall, the number of children in the United States has risen. However the number of registered homeschoolers in the state of Pennsylvania has seen a decline. Although there has been a decline in the amount of registered homeschoolers, there may not be a decline in the amount of children being educated at home. Some students in the Pennsylvania have turned to online charter schools that allow children to take classes at home through the internet. The material and lessons for these classes are provided by the school. The class assignments are graded by a teacher from the online charter schools and students receive a grade like in a traditional school. Although some homeschoolers have made their way to traditional public schools, some have also gone on to non-online charter schools. There are more options for students in Pennsylvania than before and some Pennsylvania homeschoolers have taken advantage of these options.
Homeschool Case Going to New Hampshire Supreme Court
Saturday, 28 November 2009 19:16
A 10 year-old girl in New Hampshire was ordered to attend public school by a judge. The case was decided because her parents, who had been divorced since 1999, disagreed on how the child should be educated be educated. Her mother had been provided a Christian-focused homeschool education for the child.
A New Hampshire court ordered a home-schooled Christian girl to attend a public school this week after a judge criticized the "rigidity" of her mother's religious views and said the 10-year-old needed to consider other worldviews as she matures. Ever since the judge's ruling came out in July, the case has aroused the interest of home-schooling groups nationwide, who have asked why a court has the power to decide whether someone's religious views are too extreme.
The court really did not find anything inadequate in what the little girl was learning. The main issue was her strong religious views. Now the New Hampshire Supreme court has agreed to hear the case. This case is important because it of what means for child custody and education. This is not the first, nor the last, case of separated parents disagreeing on whether or not a child should be homeschooled or attend public school.
What many regard as the nation’s first Thanksgiving took place in December 1621 as the religious separatist Pilgrims held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest. The day did not become a national holiday until 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day of thanksgiving. Later, President Franklin Roosevelt clarified that Thanksgiving should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month to encourage earlier holiday shopping, never on the occasional fifth Thursday.
