ecobites.com

Making your life greener - one bite at a time.

Many alternative education options, including private schools, a multi-age, parental-involvement program through the public school, and a very active home-schooling group in Port Townsend+ great links for  Enki education,Zen, Montessorri, Waldorf, and other holistic homeschooling options give children a wide variety of choices for their educational needs. One size does not fit all and we are fortunate to have such choices for our children. 

As a home educator, Kris Bordessa does her best to expose her two boys (now 10 &

13) to many opportunities. Her family has recently moved to the Big Island of Hawaii,

where they are exploring ocean life, geology and the cultural history of the islands.

She is the author of Team Challenges : Group Activities to Build Cooperation,

Communication, and Creativity and Tools of the Ancient Greeks : A Kid's Guide to the

History & Science of Life in Ancient Greece .

Visit her on the web at http://krisbordessa.com

For great information on home-schooling

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/directory/Beginning.htm#What

HomeSchool Curriculum Online, Alternative Schools for Grades 2-12, individual, public,

private and charter schools, alternative curriculum.

http://www.globalstudentnetwork.com/

Holistic home-schooling

http://www.homeschooldiner.com/guide/holistic.html

Unschooling Website
Come explore unschooling.com, where parents and children have learned to trust

themselves and each other! A great site for homeschoolers and unschoolers, with

articles, resources, and networking links!

http://www.unschooling.com/

Curriculum and Other Resources

Enki Education (K - 6) currently available, teaching guides, resource guides of stories

and activities, and full (or partial) curriculum for K - 2.  Enki is a "Contemplative

Education" that seeks human wisdom and vitality, wherever they arise, "in all people,

in all cultures, in all times."  

An approach that incorporateselementsofmanyeducational philosophies and religions

and integrates the skill mastery techniques of traditional education and the

integrated project learning of theme-based education.

How Does Enki compare with Waldorf and Montessori approaches
Enki for Homeschoolers  (K - 2) currently available, teaching guides, resource guides

of stories and activities, and full (or partial) curriculum for K - 2.
EnkiExperience  Are you curious about what Enki Education looks like in the home?

You've come to the right place! All homeschoolers are welcome to join us in exploring

the ins and outs of fitting this wonderful method into our lives and enriching our

families.

Waldorf (or "Steiner") Philosophy (K - 12) first formulated by Austrian Rudolf Steiner

in 1907 in his short book, "The Education of the Child in the Light of Spiritual

Science", a child's learning is based on prescribed developmental stages, with formal

education being delayed until age 7,  relies on lecture-based experiential learning - a

subject is introduced through experiences, then children are guided to explore a

subject, then the concept is discussed. Emphasis on arts and crafts, music and

movement, natural science, spirituality, and social skill.  Children journal their

experiences, thoughts, and conclusions, including daily drawing and painting.
Oak Meadow  PreK - 12 Waldorf inspired curriculum
Live Education!  K - 8 Waldorf curriculum modified for home use

Waldorf 101  from the Waldorf Family network

Waldorf in the Home  a website and a two-day conference held annually each fall in

Fair Oaks, California and in Boulder, Colorado to help homeschoolers implement

Waldorf philosophies at home

Oak Meadow  PreK - 12 Waldorf inspired curriculum, both printed and online versions

available

Live Education!  K - 8 Waldorf curriculum modified for home use

Homeschool
Christopherus Homeschool Resources  K - 12 curriculum overviews, guides for

teaching various subjects, discussion forum, etc

Waldorf Homeschoolers  audio lectures for parents, online lessons, curriculum

resources, discussion forum, etc.

The Baldwin Online Children's Literature Project  complete online texts of books now

in the public domain (1880 to 1922), a wealth of material, including titles commonly

used in Waldorf homeschooling

WE Homeschool online support for Waldorf Education at home

Waldorf Homeschool Special Needs  online support group
Montessori Homeschooling  (K - 12) based on her observation that children learn naturally when in a "properly prepared environment" that is designed to promote independent learning and exploration by the child, students often work on activities of their own choosing and are allowed to work at their own pace,  Montessori principles are “...rooted in a social movement intended to champion the cause of all children, in all strata of society, of all races and ethnic backgrounds, within and beyond the context of educational institutions...”
Montessori Educational Products - Montessori guidance from birth to age 12
Montessori Concepts -affordable Montessori products for homeschooling
Islamic Montessori  an online support group

Zen Homeschooling  (all grade levels) teacher's guide and homeschooling starter manual available, advocates a "Natural Education" approach to homeschooling, defined as "... the continuous process of observing and protecting nature, finding ways to live in harmony, and demanding truth in education..."  This is a reality based, secular approach "... free from religious dictates with an anti-science agenda."  
http://www.zenhomeschool.org/zen_hs.html

Global Village School for Peace and Diversity Studies (K - 12) a progressive, customizable homeschool program using online worktexts and text-based curriculum, students may work at their own pace, accredited diplomas available, "...Our courses integrate peace, justice, and diversity studies with the core subjects..."

http://www.globalvillageschool.org/

Catalysta a Quaker-influenced high school curriculum, "promotes a
hopeful vision of humanity's most pressing social concerns, seeks to
inspire community service, and to encourage personal reflection", online
interdisciplinary content, project-based learning
http://www.catalysta.org/pub/index.html
Clonlara  (K - 12) founded in 1967, "...Ours is as close to a "do it
yourself' program as we can get it, designed for those who want
assistance on the way. You, the parent, are "the expert", more capable of
establishing and maintaining a successful educational process for your
child than any school could. Clonlara School is your guide, coach,
shoulder to lean on, listening ear, records keeper, and all around
HELPER..."   provides record-keeping and optional achievement tests,
allows early high school graduation, has flexible curriculum requirements
using student chosen texts, etc., optional online program, issues
accredited diplomas
http://www.clonlara.org/homebased

Goddess Moon Circles Academy  (pre K - 12) a pagan-focused
curriculum with an emphasis on literature and the humanities, can be
teacher or student led, offers full package or partial "framework" option,  
uses online texts and packaged curriculum, uses Spectrum Math and
standard science texts in upper grades
http://www.goddessmooncirclesacademy.org/index.html

Uhura Homeschool Hut  a collective of homeschooling parents
joining forces to educate their children in an  African–centered approach
towards a multi-cultural curriculum that will best fulfill the needs of our
children, our communities and our people in hopes to initiate global
solutions.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Uhuruhomeschoolhutintl/
Related Resources
Roots and Shoots   a service learning program Founded by Dr. Jane
Goodall, a global program based on the principle that knowledge leads to
compassion, which inspires action.
Herb gathering and learning in an article by Kimberly Gallagher

Support and Discussion groups