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We are resting after a busy weekend at the FPEA Convention in Orlando. What a wonderful time we had! It was so nice to get a chance to meet with current AND future students of The Oaks! We especially enjoyed being neighbors with the folks at The Old Schoolhouse Magazine! Those who attended the Convention and enroll are receiving a 50% discount on registration. We have decided to extend that discount to all those at homeschoolblogger.com! Just e-mail us or give us a call and mention this entry! Several TOPS staff took the opportunity to attend some of the workshops and are armed with the latest information about the homeschool community! We never stop loving to learn. |
 When you made the decision to educate at home you were convinced that it was the best educational route for your child … and we have just received a report from the Family Research Council that will reassure you have made the best decision for your child: According to the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), homeschoolers continue to earn higher marks than their public school peers. Dr. Brian Ray of NHERI found that on average, children who learn at home score at least 15 percent higher - and in some instances 30 percent higher - than the K-12 public average. But, academic achievement isn’t the only reason families favor homeschooling. The most popular motive for educating children at home was concern for the negative influence of public school. Eighty-three percent of parents also cited “a desire to provide religious or moral instruction.” The government has eliminated God from the classroom and too often replaces Him with an anti-life, anti-family curriculum that misses life’s deepest meaning. During the last ten years, families educating their children at home have increased a whopping 74%. So cheers to all the parent-teachers out there who have chosen to ensure the quality of their child’s education by taking it into their own hands! On behalf of me and everyone at The Oaks Private School, we salute you! |
“If you want your child to get the best education possible, it’s actually more important to get him assigned to a great teacher than to a great school.” This quote is from Bill Gates’ January 2009 annual letter from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a group that has spent billions of dollars trying to improve education. Mr. Gates also notes that overall, only 71 percent of children graduate from public high schools within four years. His conclusion is that America’s schools are doing a poor job. It is both refreshing and encouraging to find that many in the public school realm are realizing what a great job that Parent Teachers are accomplishing with their children, at home, and in their own way. |
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We all know that the U.S. is being faced with some big challenges- the economy, healthcare reform, global warming, to name a few. The stakes are high- the consequences for not confronting these problems would be devastating not only for the U.S. but worldwide. With our future and way of life on the line, the government has turned to math and science to avoid disaster and lead us into the future. So it is ironic that school children in the U.S. are falling behind in these two subjects. With so much hope for our future invested in math and science you would think public schools would be putting all their energies into promoting and encouraging interest in these subjects. The reality is that public schools curriculum is designed by the few for the many. From grade to grade the math and science curriculum has been pre-determined, has guidelines that must be followed, and has goals that must be met. There is no room to nurture a child’s interest in a particular field of science or math. And there is no way to tailor the curriculum to make it appealing to different kids with different interests. Another big problem is peer pressure and the stigma attached to kids who show enthusiasm for math and science. The impact of peer pressure and inflexible curriculum in public schools is why our children’s scores in these subjects are dropping. When a child learns in an environment free from these factors they are given a chance to flourish. Children who are home schooled get to pursue their interests unperturbed and learn in a way designed just for them. We can't afford to let kids loose their passion for learning- Our future is counting on them! |
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In addition to Mrs. B's Favorite Spots, The Oaks Private School's website has a number of videos about the joys and advantages of learning at home. Go to The Oaks Private School website and check out the TOPS theater to enjoy 'The Wonders of Learning.' In this series of videos Robert Krampf (a.k.a The Happy Scientist) uses experiments and optical illusions to demonstrate math and science principles. Also check out our YouTube channel which features our TOPStory videos- we talk about the advantages of homeschooling in today's society. Leave a comment and let us know what you think. |
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Please visit our website www.theoaksprivateschool.com and check out Mrs. B's Favorite Spots. These videos are informative videos that encourage homeschooling families to get out of the "home" school and learn by visiting different places around their community! Let us know your favorites and if you and your homeschooling family have any favorite places to learn, feel free to post them in our comments section. We'd LOVE to hear your ideas! |
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We went yesterday with our video crew and staff to the picturesque Mount Pleasant, SC near the harbor of the Cooper River. We saw the U.S.S. Yorktown, a wonderful floating museum filled with war and veteran memorabilia, which is a wonderful place to have an out-of-the-house Social Studies Lesson. We also made the trek to the top of the Arthur Ravenel Bridge, which you'll be able to see more as soon as we post the videos on our site. Stay tuned to Mrs. B's Favorite Spots on our site! 
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Went to visit family and conduct school business in Charleston this week. One of the highlights of the week was Cypress Gardens in Moncks Corner, SC. What a beautiful place to have some family bonding time and visit nature. There, we visited an aquarium, a beautiful butterfly garden, and walked nature trails. We got to paddle a flat-bottom boat into the marsh and saw an alligator close up. It was so peaceful and serene. Homeschooling families! If you get the chance to get out of the home classroom and enjoy these wonderful parks in your area, take the opportunity. It can be a great place to learn AND you can count the day as a school day! It certainly is a wonderful Science lesson!
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Ahh...the wonderful world of making informative and fun videos for our homeschooling friends! We're going into round 2 of Mrs. B's Favorite Places now. We also have a series of informative news stories called "TOPStory." Check out our current videos and stay tuned to 