by Rachael McMillan
Here is part II of our Homeschool A-Z list. A little background: when we presented this interview with a local experienced homeschooler, we were astounded by the reaction. There is a large community of Chambana moms who are homeschooling their kids – that we knew. But what we didn’t realize is how many more of you are thinking about trying it! The following list of resources should provide some help for new as well as experienced homeschoolers, and also for those who are just considering the practice. Don’t homeschool, but still want to be a part of your child’s education? This list is for you, too!
And, as always, feel free to add on by leaving a comment below…
N—No Teacher Left Behind
This teacher supply store in Champaign has a new owner, name, and location. Need specific teaching tools? Give this locally-owned specialty store a look.
O—The Orpheum Children’s Science Museum
For my money, the Orpheum has the best dino dig of any children’s museum I’ve been to, and I’m putting it up against the big dogs. Consider purchasing a “Super Family” membership, which allows you free admission to a host of other museums across the nation.
photo by joyosity on flickr
P—Park districts
The Champaign and Urbana park districts have a great variety of activities families can choose from to supplement a homeschool curriculum. Check out CPD’s art class for homeschoolers.
Q—Questions?
Contact any of the local homeschool groups (see H.O.U.S.E., Christian Homeschool Connections, and Yahoo Groups Champaign-Urbana Area Homeshoolers, this article)
for questions related to homeschooling. Often members are more than happy to talk with newbies, or those considering it, about how to make it happen.
R—The Reading Group
Throughout the school year, families can take advantage of the Early Day Rate for individual tutoring sessions with a reading specialist at this local not-for-profit learning center (and, one of my dozen or so places of employment—see also “T”). Also, depending on how far your family’s income is stretched, your child may qualify for a scholarship. Reading Group instructors can also help prepare students for taking standardized tests such as the GED, ACT, and SAT.
S—Spurlock Museum
Located on the U of I campus, this museum houses collections of artifacts from ancient cultures around the world. Admission is free, but a $3 donation per person is suggested. Look for its Educational Resource Center to be up and running soon; it will lend out learning kits on a variety of topics.
T—Ten Thousand Villages
(Taking off writer’s hat, putting on new one…) Hi, I’m Rachael McMillan, and I’m the education coordinator for Ten Thousand Villages. My job is to give talks about the benefits of fair trade. This can fit in well with a social studies unit; almost all of our goods come from developing nations around the world. My services are free; leave a comment if you’re interested in learning more! (Writer’s hat goes back on…)
U—University of Illinois homeschool requirements
Simply typing “homeschool” into the U of I website’s search engine turned up a FAQ aimed at prospective students who have a homeschooling background. My guess is it’s easy to find such information for other colleges and universities.
V—Volunteering
Schools are increasingly using service learning as a powerful educational tool, and it seems like a perfect fit for homeschooling families. Here is a link to our local United Way’s information page for young volunteers. Or, consider delivering Meals on Wheels as a family—even newborns can come along for the ride. If none of these opportunities work for your gang, consider doing your own service project at home.
W—Web resources
The sky’s the limit. The Internet is an increasingly powerful educational tool for students of all ages. Consider, also, that some accredited high school and college courses can be taken online.
X—X-ray
I couldn’t resist. I mean, “x” always stands for x-ray, right? Anyhoo, here’s a link to a PBS Kids game my children find quite entertaining that involves x-raying dinosaurs.
Y—Yahoo group: Champaign-Urbana Area Homeschoolers. This group is totally free to join and can be a good way to get to know the area homeschool landscape before embarking on your journey.
Z—Zoos
Scovill Zoo in Decatur has plenty of Free Thursdays left until they close for the season on October 29th. Or, for a mere $50, your family can get a year’s worth of admission to Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington, which is only closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Check out the great educational programming these places offer.
Rachael McMillan is a former high school teacher, social worker, cake decorator, and just about any other profession you can think of do-er. In addition to writing, tutoring, and giving talks about fair trade, she is currently staying home with the highly entertaining Jack and Kate. She is a frequent contributor to chambanamoms.com
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