Why reading is integral to homeschooling

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Learning to read is one of the fundamentals facets of our early education. It is, therefore, vital that a culture of reading is fostered in a homeschooling curriculum, one that treats reading of equal importance as other core subjects like math and science.


Moreover, teaching kids how to read is a necessary first step in any pedagogical endeavor, as it is the foundation of all learning. With reading comes an ability to tap into the well of all existing knowledge. Aside from helping children develop their vocabularies, it helps them grasp new and difficult concepts while stimulating their imagination and creativity.


Reading isn’t just about comprehending language and realizing sentence structure, diction, and syntax. It hones children’s own writing skills while supplementing them with critical thinking and analytical skills to explain and argue points better, something of great importance in their adult lives.

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A love of reading will be of great advantage to any homeschooled child, as it likewise governs their comprehension and appreciation of other subjects. Yes, not all will grow older have superb reading skills, but having such is a big plus, if only for better decision-making and discernment.


All in all, in this age of computers, social media sites, and smartphones, reading might just be the ultimate weapon kids need to possess if they are to sift through and truly process the mountain of information figuratively at their fingertips.


Chris Bugbee is an educator, school administrator, and the founder of the CT Homeschool Center. He obtained his Master’s and Sixth Year Degree from the Central Connecticut State University. For similar reads on education and innovative learning methods, visit this blog.

What Is Blended Learning?

Also known as personalized or hybrid learning, blended learning is either a formal or non-formal education program developed to integrate more traditional classroom training methods with digital media available online. 

Many activities in blended learning are facilitated and moderated using computers and the internet.  It is likewise becoming a sound option in the world of business for both training and professional development.  This contemporary approach to learning takes advantage of online resources and gives more room for students to embrace the educational experience outside the confines of the classroom.

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Of course, blended learning doesn’t do away with effective and tried-and-tested methods in pedagogy nor does it outright eliminate the classroom setting. The goal is to incorporate seamlessly more modern techniques and foster a more teacher- and student-friendly atmosphere for learning, one that factors in the increased role online information play in our lives.

Trained educators often practice blended learning by supplementing classroom activities with various online learning materials.  These can be in the form of pre-recorded lectures or assignments that can be accomplished within the semester.  Independent study periods are fostered, guided by rubrics that combine online texts with skills that have been honed inside the classroom.  Blended learning champions the pedagogy of direct interaction over straight, college-like lectures. 

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Educator and school administrator Chris Bugbee obtained his master’s and Sixth Year Degree from the Central Connecticut State University, which enabled him to earn an Administrative Certification. He is the founder of the CT Homeschool Center. More insights on teaching and learning here.

Does The Internet Have a Bad Effect On Homeschooled Kids?

Back in the days, homeschooling relied mostly on books and other educational materials. But now, with the internet available in almost every home, homeschooling is now aided with online learning systems. But is that necessarily the right way to go about teaching? Does that take the teaching away from the parents? And are the children learning better with the internet?

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The answer is not really. In fact, the internet has enabled thousands of parents to homeschool their children. The only downside of the internet when it comes to homeschooling is relying too much on these online systems.

The internet gave rise to online learning systems that help parents homeschool their children. Parents can better track what their kids study and their progress as well. These online systems can either be text-based or interactive with students engaging with online professors. There are also different models that parents can choose from depending on the pace they want their children to study, the subjects the kids want to learn, and the activities to match the talents of their children.

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Learning through the internet also takes some of the pressure off parents who aren’t academically qualified to teach. Thanks to these online learning systems, parents can simply do a bit of supervision as their kids learn in front of a screen.

In the early part of 2018, Chris Bugbee left the public school sector to establish the CT Homeschool Center, which offers six to eight-week courses in all subject areas designed to meet the needs of homeschooled students in different ages and grades. For more on Chris and the CT Homeschool Center, click here.

Why You Should Hire a Private Tutor For Your Kids

Sending our kids to school year after year does not guarantee that they will excel, as there are many factors to consider in securing the most suitable education for them. Sometimes parents get too busy with their careers that they forget their children may have specific needs that the classroom setup cannot directly address. A sudden dip in grades might just be the best indication that it’s time to get a private tutor.

A private tutor allows for focused, one-on-one learning that often overcrowded classrooms cannot offer. With a tutor, many distractions are outright eliminated and the time for our kids to explain how they understand concepts is never rushed or randomly plucked out from hands during recitations. Kids need not be intimidated to speak their minds or take their time elaborating.

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Because they are allowed to share their thoughts without fear of structured grade equivalents, privately tutored children gain more confidence and enhance their self-esteem. Having a tutor likewise relieves the pressure on many children to just please their parents; it creates an atmosphere of honesty and transparency, through which the tutor can gauge the child’s learning progress.

Tutors should not be consecrated to the weak areas in children’s studies. It’s best to balance training for both the subjects where the child excels and those presenting difficulties. Strength-based tutoring is key so that children are not made to feel they perform poorly in specific subject areas.

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Educator and school administrator Chris Bugbee left public education to create the CT Homeschool Center. He obtained his Master’s and subsequently his Sixth Year Degree from the Central Connecticut State University, enabling him to earn an Administrative Certification. For similar reads about education, visit this blog.