websites

[pek64]

What do you look for in a homeschooling website?

Multiple responses are allowed. All comments welcome.

[BellinghamCrunchie]

I haven't found the perfect one yet... but what I would like to see is:

Reviews and recommendations for curriculum and specific subject materials

specific fun activities organized by grade and subject

Step-by-step suggestions for teaching specific skills, e.g. right now we're working on adding two-digit numbers, and it would be interesting to see how other people are teaching this (do they use manipulatives? specific techniques? Are there things you would avoid?)

Sections for philosophy and approaches (unschooling, etc)

Sections for people to post problems and get replies

a really good search engine

and maybe even a market to buy and sell used materials

maybe a section for kids to post, too

links to core standards and assessment resources

I'm sure I could think of a ton more

[pek64]

I'd love to hear them all.

[Emaye]

Originally Posted by BellinghamCrunchie 

I haven't found the perfect one yet... but what I would like to see is:

Reviews and recommendations for curriculum and specific subject materials

specific fun activities organized by grade and subject

Step-by-step suggestions for teaching specific skills, e.g. right now we're working on adding two-digit numbers, and it would be interesting to see how other people are teaching this (do they use manipulatives? specific techniques? Are there things you would avoid?)

Sections for philosophy and approaches (unschooling, etc)

Sections for people to post problems and get replies

a really good search engine

and maybe even a market to buy and sell used materials

maybe a section for kids to post, too

links to core standards and assessment resources

I'm sure I could think of a ton more

This.  And a section/blog where parents post about their success stories -- as in, yay my son mastered reading and here is how it happened/how i taught him or posts about solving particular problems, etc.  I would also like to see a nice big section of resources (online learning sites, curriculum, etc) and reviews; organized by elementary, middle school, high school and further breakdowns within those sections, if possible by subjects and grades (I know, this is a tall order but would have been sooo useful!) 

Here is the thing, as someone who have worked designing websites, the initial structure is really important.  It needs to be one that can grow with the users.  So, can start off small and then get bigger as you see a demand for something instead of building a massive site and fragementing the user experience :)  my 2 cents.  

[pek64]

Any other input? Time is running out on the poll.

[sewchris2642]

Lesson plans and ideas for multiple grade levels.  My favorites right now are PBS teachers and EDSITEment  http://www.pbs.org/teachers  http://edsitement.neh.gov/
 

[starling&diesel]

I'd love to find a good site that is not coming from a Christian perspective. I love a lot of Simple Homeschool's aesthetics and links, but so many of the contributors are devout Christian. Not a big deal in and of itself, but when I'm looking for a blogging and support community for my homeschool journey, I'd like one that doesn't think my queer little family is going to go to hell.

[pek64]

Thank you for the responses!!

I, too, feel more comfortable with a secular site.

If all goes well, I will put this information to use creating a website for homeschoolers.