The Magic Classroom

What the U.S. Census says about homeschool families (Julie Mack blog) | MLive.com

2012-01-04T19:35:00.000+00:00

Being American, I found this to be a very interesting report about Home Schooling. Here in the UK the percentage of Homeschoolers is not as high , but it is growing significantly.

From : What the U.S. Census says about homeschool families (Julie Mack blog) | MLive.com

Three percent of American students -- about 1.5 million children -- are homeschooled, according to the 2012 Statistical Abstract recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Census, which relies on data from 2007, also offers a sense of what kind of families choose homeschooling: Compared to the American school parents as a whole, homeschool parents are more likely to be white and have a four-year college degree, and have a household of two parents and at least three children.

Also, a disportionate percentage of homeschooled students are boys -- 58 percent, even though boys are a slight minority in the U.S. school population.

The biggest surprise in the Census numbers: Although nine out of 10 homeschool families have two parents in the household, both parents are more likely to work outside the house compared to American school parents as a whole.

According to the Census, 51 percent of all American schoolchildren live in a two-parent househould where one adult works and the other stays at home. But that description fits only a third of homeschool families.

U.S. Census data on homeschoolers

	All U.S. stud.	Homeschoolers
Total number	51.135,000	1,508,000
% in grades K-5	46%	48%
& in grades 9-12	30%	28%
% male	48%	58%
% white, non-Hispanic	58%	78%
Family size: 3 or more kids	43%	60%
Two-parent family	73%	89%
2 parents, 1 in the workforce	51%	34%
Family inc. of $75,000 or more	37%	33%
% parents w/ bach. degree	43%	50%

Julie Mack is a reporter for the Kalamazoo Gazette. Contact her at jmack@kalamazoogazette.com or 269-388-8578, or follow her on Twitter.com at Twitter.com/kzjuliemack. For all posts by Julie Mack, click here.

A Little Fun for the Holidays

2011-12-23T19:33:00.000+00:00

Here’s a little project that is so much fun and you won’t have to go out to get any special materials~ We’ve made all sorts of little decorations just from some bits from our recyclables.

Angel

For this project you will need:
- wine cork
- small wooden bead or styrofoam ball
measuring 2.5 cm
- gold, black, red and flesh color paint
- gold glittery yarn
- gold ribbon netting (20 cm piece)
- small gold ribbon for bow
- silver wire for halo
- hot glue gun or thick craft glue

Instructions:

Parents or supervisors should assist the kids when using the hot glue gun!

1. Paint the cork gold and the wood bead or styrofoam ball flesh and let the pieces dry. Glue them together when dry.
2. Fold each end of the netting to the middle and overlap these ends. Take a piece of wire and wrap around this middle section, thus creating a simple bow shape. Lay aside.
3. Create also a bow out of the thin ribbon and lay aside for a moment.
4. Cut a few pieces of the gold glitter yarn and gather the pieces together. Tie the bundle off at the middle and glue this to the top of the head (ball). Pull the hairs in different directions so that the entire head is covered with hair.
5. Cut a piece of the wire and form a loop at one end. Bend this loop in a 90° angle. Glue the long end to the backside of the head underneath the hair.
6. Dot 2 eyes and a mouth on the angel’s face.
7. Glue the netting bow to the back side of the angel as wings.
8. Glue the small bow to the front side of the angel.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T10:44:00.001+00:00

The preparations for Thanksgiving have begun. Adding to our life here in the UK are my American traditions which I hope will always remind Meghan that she is American too.

We’ve made the trip to the market to get: the potatoes, green beans, peas, carrots, celery, mushrooms, sweetcorn, butternut squash, pumpkins, and some sweet potatoes.

Our Menu:

Roast Turkey & cream gravy; mashed potatoes; Sweetcorn & Peas medley; almond & greenbean casserole; peanutbutter & celery; sweet potatoes w/ marshmellow topping; my autumn bake with butternut squash &mushrooms; cranberry sauce, corn bread and pumkin pie for dessert.

Lessons:

Become an historian investigator and learn what happened on the First Thanksgiving HERE

Your investigation begins HERE! Click here to preview the Teacher's Guide.

Videos:

The First Thanksgiving by The History Channel

This is America Charlie Brown, The Mayflower Voyagers Part 1

This is America Charlie Brown, The Mayflower Voyagers Part 2

Activities:

Make leaves and write what all you’re thankful for on each one

Turkey to colour with practicing to write turkey

Cornucopia for colouring ~ talk about what veggies go in one

A Wampanoag boy carrying Harvest veggies Printable for colouring

Thanksgiving Word Search

On a personal note: I am very thankful for all my family and friends near and around the world.

Learning about the 5th of November~ the Gun Powder Plot

2011-11-04T18:36:00.001+00:00

"Remember, Remember the 5th of November
The Gun powder, Treason and Plot
I know of no reason why the gun powder treason should ever be forgot."

About 2 and a half years ago, we went to the Houses of Parliament and got a private tour. Anyone can do this by the way, just ask your MP. It was one of the most incredible experiences, and I got to enjoy it with my lifelong friends from the States.

Here we are in the oldest part of Parliament. This would be the original house of Parliament that Guy Fawkes was planning to blow up.

The only section you can take pictures is in the original building above. One of the most interesting aspects of the tour was in a glass box filled with original documents.

In one of the glass cases were two confession letters written by Guy Fawkes. One before and one after he was tortured. Needless to say his handwriting looked a little shaky.

When Meghan is a little older, I will arrange another tour. I can not recommend this enough. The inside of Parliament is amazing and steeped in so much history.

Guy Fawkes

Only briefly covering this part of history in the States, I was fascinated in learning about the history of the macabre celebrations.

Since Meghan has just turned 7, here are the plans I am using to teach her the history of the Gunpowder Plot

KS1 planning lessons

I also recommend the following videos:

The Plot

Arnhem Wharf Primary School presents 'The Story of Guy Fawkes, 1605'

Ok I can’t have any history lessons without a video from “Horrible Histories” ~ I can’t recommend the series “Horrible Histories” enough. It should be mandatory viewing for all history lessons. Shame the humour is sometimes wasted on the kiddies!

Here is also a great little test for your child click HERE

Guy Fawkes’ Crafts

Activity Village

Happy Birthday, Pumpkin

2011-10-30T08:24:00.001+00:00

Today my daughter is 7 years old!

Happy Birthday Sweetie.

Today we have planned:

A birthday party brunch followed by a trip to the Colchester zoo

What is the Magic Classroom

2011-10-29T12:53:00.001+01:00

You’re only limited my your imagination. That goes for your child as well as the home educator. This picture in my opinion is a wonderful representation of a child’s imagination. The Magic Classroom is a classroom without walls figuratively as well as literally.

Learning can be anywhere where the child is able to focus and can be as exciting as needed. I plan on many field trips and hands on learning which stimulates all parts of the brain. At the moment I am planning trips around Colchester, Essex as well as London.

Welcome to the Magic Classroom

2011-10-29T11:02:00.001+01:00

Greetings to the beginning of a journey of an alternative to traditional schooling.

My name is April and this site will be a chronicle and a resource to Home Education in the Uk and specifically Essex. I am the mother to a beautiful 7 year old girl. After much discussion with my husband, we have decided to educate our daughter at home. This was not an easy decision but we feel this is the right decision for us. We are not against traditional schooling, but would like to acknowledge that there are alternatives.

The aim of this site and soon to be organisation is to give information and support for those that are educating their children at home.

Please subscribe to get personal opinions, information, laws, and resources to help make your home educating experience happy and successful for your child. If you have any information, please feel free to contact me at classroomfairy@gmail.com.