Category Archives: High School

Homeschooling Alternatives – Public school

In Ontario we pay taxes to support the public school boards overall we get what we pay for.  Bus talkHere locally, in Essex County, there are some great teachers and staff in our community.  As a homeschooler, homeschooling is my first choice.  However, I would feel confident enrolling my children into the local school system.  Enrolling in any school board, it can feel intimidating. However, to start the process, it’s as easy as making a phone call. In fact, here are some links for school boards in the Windsor & Essex County areas to get you started.

Public School Boards

The Greater Essex County District School Board

GECDSB – French Immersion

Catholic Public School Boards

The Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board

Conseil scolaire catholique Providence (formerly Conseil scolaire de district des écoles catholiques du Sud-Ouest)

 

 

 

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Homeschooling alternatives – Private Schools

We know that for everyone, homeschooling isn’t the best option.  For your family, you need to find the best choice.  Parents need to search out what options are open to them.  What is the best fit for your child’s learning needs?  Will a larPrivate School optionge public school classroom work?  How about teacher vs student ratios?  Private schooling might provide a better environment for your child.

In this day and age, many times both parents want to work, at the same time, they also want a customized educational program for their child.  Similar to what homeschooling would offer.

Furthermore,  a serious illness or the medical needs of one child can undermine the ability to homeschool the other children in the family. Consequently, the parent struggles to meet the needs of the sick child and their siblings. Children need to be taught not lost in the shuffle of medical appointments and the understandable chaos an illness can bring to the family life.

As a result, issues like these cause families to reluctantly seek alternatives to homeschooling.  Therefore, it might be time to explore private schooling.

First of all, you need to know some things about private schools.  The Ontario government does not run private schools or independent schools.

Second, tax payer dollers do not fund private schools.  You will be required to pay tuition. The price of tuition flucuates greatly between schools.  So try to compare what you are getting from each school.   Explore the curriculum and the world view that the curriculum will be teaching your child.

Third, you will find that each school has unique qualities and a different take on education students.

Lastly, test score are not a good tool to use as a single deciding factor in choosing a school.  Test scores are easily manipulated.

Below you will find options for private schooling in the Windsor and Essex County areas.  Take time to explore their websites.

Private Elementary Schools:

A21 Academy

Académie Ste-Cécile International School

An-Noor PrivateSchool

Canadian Christian Academy

First Lutheran Christian Academy

Lakeview Montessori School

Maranatha Christian Academy

St. Peter’s ACHS College School

South Shore Christian School

WONDERfield: for Charlotte Mason education –  Please contact Jen at jengagnon3 @ gmail.com (please remove spaces around @ sign)

Private Secondary Schools:

Académie Ste-Cécile International School

Canadian Christian Academy

Maranatha Christian Academy

UMEI Christian High School

*Note we have only listed schools in the Windsor and Essex County areas which have a school website, if your school is not listed please contact the web administrator at wehomeschool.ca@gmail.com .

Thank you.

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Which homeschool curriculum should I buy?

homeschool curriculum

So, you’ve made the decision to embark on this amazing journey of homeschooling, and now you need to choose some homeschool curriculum. If you are like most of us, the first place you begin to look is on the internet. With great anticipation you type in phrases like; ‘how to home school’, ‘best homeschool curriculum choices for (insert grade)’, ‘Canadian homeschool curriculum”. As expected the Google search provides you with an abundance of resources to browse.

The articles start out strong, each one giving point after point about why the homeschool curriculum that is highlighted in that particular post is the best curriculum to use. Homeschoolers are a passionate people. Philosophies on education, the way we home school, is an area that is extremely near and dear to our hearts. These philosophies bring new phrases to your ears asking you if you would like to use; a boxed curriculum set, classical education curriculum, Charlotte mason style learning, or unit studies, and the list goes on.

How do you make the choice? Educate yourself! A great resource that we have found to help wade through the sea of options, is 102 Top Picks For Home School Curriculum, by Cathy Duffy. This is a wonderful resource that will help you figure out what kind of homeschooler you are. Talk with other home school families, see what works for them.

Most of all, understand that one of the best things about homeschooling is being there to watch your child learn, explore the world around them, and reach their educational milestones together as a family. Hold on to your hat, the journey is about to begin.

Proverbs 21:5 (NIV) says:

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.