School Profile for Hill Family Homeschool

School Address: 1718 East Briarcliff St. Fayetteville, AR 72703 USA. Student Name: Thanaisawan Singthui Hill Counselor Names: Dr. Jacques Hill (jhill5@nwacc.edu) and Ms. Srichan Singthui (singthuy_39@hotmail.com)

    Educational Partners:

    Northwest Arkansas Secular Homeschool Group
    https://www.facebook.com/groups/175433715831775/about/
    Northwest Arkansas Community College https://www.nwacc.edu/
    Red Star International Education https://redstarinternationaled.com/
    Fayetteville Public Library https://www.faylib.org/
    Suzuki Music School, Community Music School, University of Arkansas
    https://cms.uark.edu/suzuki-music-school-home/
    The Headwaters School, Red Star Arkansas https://www.facebook.com/HeadwatersSchoolArkansas/
    Brightwater: A Center for the Study of Food https://brightwater.org/
    Walton Arts Center https://www.waltonartscenter.org/
    Crystal Bridges Museum of American Arts https://crystalbridges.org/
    Population and Community Development Association of Thailand https://pda.or.th/en/
    Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, Nakhon Rachasima, Thailand
    https://www.tistr.or.th/sakaerat/sakaeratE/sakaeE.htm
    Sakaerat Najas Project https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyoPYVsgQjNeuX0_talYFeA

    History

    We started the Hill Family Homeschool in the Fall of 2016 in an attempt to better meet the educational needs of our two young boys who were currently first and third graders at the local public school. It was a scary thing for us, as parents, because we felt we risked screwing up our kid’s lives forever. However, we viewed homeschooling as an experiment. We told ourselves and our children as much, and that they could return to public school at any time. In worst case they would miss out on a year of school. Many of our friends homeschooled their children and we felt we had support for our endeavor. One of our school’s parents/instructors holds BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Biology and has taught at colleges and universities worldwide and the other parent/instructor has an AS in Graphic Design and is proficient in mathematics and computer science, so we felt qualified to teach our children at least through the high school level. Our community has numerous resources to support homeschooling. We have a Secular Homeschool Group to provide support with socializing the learners. The public library provides various opportunities for homeschoolers such as creating and acting in plays and a Math Club. The local community college offers “Kid’s College” courses in computer coding, robotics, cooking and other topics. The community college also permits learners of any age to attend their college level classes, for credit, provided they can pass the entrance exams. The above list of Educational Partners summarizes some of the resources we draw upon as educators. It didn’t take long for us to feel confident in our abilities as educators.

      Philosophy

      Fun – One of our critiques of the local public school system is that it takes the joy out of learning. We believe our students excel academically because their relationship to learning is one of fun and joy. For example, because of our library’s Math Club they view mathematics as a time to have fun with their friends and work math based puzzles. They are asking to be taken to go do maths.  Rigorous Core Academics – Strong reading, writing, and mathematical skills are mandatory outcomes for our scholars. We provide rigorous instruction in each. Our scholars are taking university level courses in mathematics, literature, and English composition during their last two years of study. Our students can write at a professional, or nearly professional, level upon graduation.  Socialization – Our students have lots of time to interact with people of all ages in our community in a relaxed and unstructured way. Our scholars are comfortable meeting and communicating with new people of all ages and backgrounds.  Service and Leadership – We encourage and expect our scholars to be active in community service, both locally and internationally, and take leadership roles in community organizations they are involved with. Service and leadership become a basic part of their lives. Critical Thinking – Students are taught the scientific method as a way of knowing things and answering questions about the world around us. Our learners incorporate their reading, writing, quantitative and scientific skills to think critically about all sources of information they receive in their lives and to make decisions about how to live their lives. Mind Body Connection – Learning and other human activities are optimized when the body is healthy, hydrated, and has proper nutrition. Daily physical activity, mindfulness meditation and yoga are integrated into the everyday lives of our scholars. Principles of staying hydrated and healthy diet are taught and practiced. International Perspective – Our learners travel internationally and are engage in the communities we visit in meaningful ways. They learn to function in all aspects of living in geographic locations different from their home. Scholars learn foreign languages. Art Literacy – Our scholar’s education is broad and includes training in the arts. Learners visit local art museums, and create, participate in and attend theatrical and musical performances. Students study musical instruments and voice and give public performances frequently. Environmental Awareness and Connection to the Outdoors – Our scholars receive field based education in ecology and environmental sciences to gain an intimate understanding of the ecosystems that humans rely on for their survival. Our learners spend lots of time camping and exploring wilderness areas around the world including the US desert southwest, alpine ecosystems in the Rocky Mountains, hard wood forests in the Arkansas Ozarks, and tropical forests and coral reefs in southeast Asia. Modes of exploration include hiking, biking, mountain climbing, canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling and scuba diving.

      Curriculum

      Early in the high school experience, we spend approximately three hours per day one on one with students teaching the core reading, writing and quantitative skills. The remainder of the day is spent socializing with friends, studying music, engaging in physical activity outdoors or indoors, and taking field trips to local museums, libraries and other educational partners. Our scholars study on a dual enrollment basis at community college (distance learning of face to face) for their last two years of study.