Teacher – A teacher in traditional education is a person who is educated and trained to teach and handle a class of children. Homeschoolers are criticized for not being trained teachers even though they take on the teacher’s role.
Teacher’s Notebook – A teacher’s notebook is used to keep attendance, lesson plan information and test results. Many homeschoolers find teachers notebooks to be a handy resource. You can make up your own teachers notebook with a three-ring binder and forms found on the internet.
Textbooks – Textbooks are books that contain all of the instructional information for a course, usually for the school year. Textbooks are often used in conjunction with supplemental materials like workbooks and manipulative items. Public schools and school at home curriculums use the textbook approach, though it is also very useful for upper grade homeschoolers.
Thematic Unit – Thematic units are also known as unit studies. In a thematic unit, one would choose a subject, like frogs, for example. All of their other lessons like spelling, language, and possibly even math would be related to frogs.
Trade Books – Trade books are supplemental workbooks that can be found in drugstores and bookstores and can be used to teach or review a course such as 4th grade math, multiplication, or 5th grade reading.
Traditional calendar – Traditionally, school starts in September and ends in June (or Aug to May) for a total of 180 days of instruction. Homeschoolers do not necessarily adhere to a traditional school schedule.
Traditionally educated – Traditional education is akin to public school or private school education. Traditionally, this is how most children are educated. Being traditionally educated means receiving schooling at a public or private school, rather than at home with your family.
Find the rest of the homeschool glossary here
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