{"id":1705,"date":"2013-09-10T06:30:27","date_gmt":"2013-09-10T13:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arkansashomeschool.org\/?p=1705"},"modified":"2013-09-09T13:27:54","modified_gmt":"2013-09-09T20:27:54","slug":"using-technology-in-your-homeschool","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arkansashomeschool.org\/index.php\/2013\/09\/10\/using-technology-in-your-homeschool\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Technology in Your Homeschool"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"teens<\/p>\n

Written by contributor Kris Bales of\u00a0Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

A couple of weeks ago, I had finally saved enough money to do something that I\u2019d wanted to do for several months \u2013 get my two younger kids laptops. We don\u2019t spend a lot of money on curriculum and, now that they\u2019re both in middle school, I saw a lot of positives to them each having their own computers (rather than using mine or the ancient desktop that\u2019s on its last leg).<\/p>\n

The two immediate benefits I saw were\u00a0math and typing<\/strong>. We use computer-based math programs and both kids are going to be learning typing this year. The fact that the kids are now able to do those things on their own devices is definitely a sanity-saver. However, I\u2019m seeing lots of other benefits as well.<\/p>\n

First, I think it\u2019s\u00a0important for kids to know how to use technology<\/strong>\u00a0since we live in a technology-driven world. Their future employment is likely to depend upon being knowledgeable about basic programs.<\/p>\n

And, let me tell you \u2013 kids are smart. Their new laptops have Windows 8. Mine older one does not. I was a little worried about being able to help them learn to maneuver in this new operating system. The worry was short-lived.\u00a0They were pretty much showing me how to use it after a day or two.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"laptop<\/p>\n

Photo by\u00a0ilouque<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Second, I set both kids up with a Skype account (with an extremely limited contact list). They\u2019re both getting in lots of spelling \u2013 and a little grammar and capitalization \u2013 practice Skyping me (a few dozen times a day for my talkative girl!).<\/p>\n

That may not seem like a big deal, but my boy has dyslexia.\u00a0Using Skype is a painless way for him to get in some spelling practice<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 and, I\u2019ll admit, his spelling has improved much more than I\u2019d realized. (And, Skype, as far as I can tell, does not offer spell check or auto-correct).<\/p>\n

My girl likes using Word to work on her book, too. Yes, I have a budding writer. With a little help from me,\u00a0she\u2019s learned how to do things like:<\/strong><\/p>\n