OUR PROGRAMS
EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS
- Homeschooling
- Virtual Academy
- One-on-One Instruction
- Tutoring-individual and Small Group
- On-site Enrichment Classes
- Independent Study (High School)
- Hybrid-online and In-class Instruction
- Hands-on Learning Experiences
- Extracurricular Opportunities
CARDEN CURRICULUM
- Language Arts
- Classic Literature
- Mathematics
- History/Social Science
- Science
- Fine Arts
- Music
- Health Education
NEW TO HOMESCHOOLING?
The main reasons parents/guardians make this decision vary from low academic achievement to social concerns. There are many forces behind making a decision to educate at home. So, if you are beginning this journey you might feel a tremendous amount of responsibility. Yes, it is quite an undertaking, but relax and enjoy this incredible opportunity to spend time together and learn as a family. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Know your child.
- Use the community as much as possible.
- Be confident that you can provide the best education for your child.
As a homeschool parent for several years, I believe most parents understand their children better than anyone else. But, there are resources out there to assist parents in teaching their children in the best environment possible. There are many assessments parents/guardians might be unaware of such as learning style assessments, interest inventory surveys, academic assessments and goal setting activities. These tools give parents information to help develop a unique plan for their children. A simple internet search on these topics can lead to new-found discoveries about your children. One simple activity to do to learn about subject interests is merely taking children to the library to see what kind of books he/she is drawn to.
What teacher wouldn’t want a kitchen to teach math? Many teachers would enjoy the opportunity to take their children on unlimited field trips to learn by experience. I can’t mention the community without mentioning the library again as a wonderful resource. One myth of homeschooling is the lack of socialization encounters. This could not be further from the truth! My first year of homeschooling lead me on 14 field trips, monthly chess tournaments, and weekly bowling leagues and art classes. I took advantage of workshops held at learning centers and tutoring sessions. My children learned to socialize with not only their peers, but respectfully with adults.
There seems to be a reoccurring theme in the minds of many first-time homeschool parents- “I am afraid I can’t teach my children because I don’t know everything.” Please know that credentialed teachers don’t know everything. They might know some great teaching strategies that will help engage your child, but they must also learn a subject inside and out to teach it well. A teacher that has been assigned a new grade level experiences the need to continue learning new topics to adequately serve her/his students. I have found the fun in homeschooling to be the learning of new subjects together as a family. Just remember that every child learns differently and be flexible in schedules. This is, after all, one of the benefits of homeschooling. There are always resources out there to support your endeavor. Exceptional charter schools offer unlimited support and creative ideas to teach your child.