Yellowknife (June 04/03) - The Yellowknife Home School Group held an information meeting Monday night for parents who are interested in home schooling their children next fall.

Parents who currently home school were on hand to answer any questions or concerns. The group will start up again in the fall with meetings the first Monday of every month at Glad Tidings Church.

Norma Giovanetto started the group in January as a way for home schooling parents in Yellowknife to communicate with each other.

She currently has 18 families in the group who home school or express interest in the concept. The group meets monthly during the school year to share ideas and talk about the curriculum.

The home school group also organizes field trips for their children.

Past group activities have included a trip to the museum for a bear exhibit and a Valentine's potluck. Plus, every Friday afternoon the kids get to go swimming at the pool.

Giovanetto said that outings are planned according to the kids' interests and may not involve all members of the home school group.

Even though each type of learning has its own advantages, Giovanetto thinks that home schooling can allow for "great quality time between parents and kids."

Also, with a tutorial style of teaching, "each child can receive individual attention and have his or her unique needs met," said Giovanetto.

Another advantage is that students can learn at their own speed and without any negative pressure.

"There's great flexibility in striving to reach their maximum potential at their own speed and level of ability."

Home school also allows for greater "communication between different age groups," Giovanetto said. "There's a diversity of socialization."

If her son Stephen wanted to go to public school, he would have no problem adjusting socially, his mother said.

However, integration into class work could be a challenge. His age would dictate that he attend Grade 4 while his math skill level is currently at Grade 7. This advanced skill is partly due to the schedule he and his siblings keep.

The Giovanetto children are taught their core academics from 8 a.m. until noon. After lunch they have downtime and can be found practising the piano, sewing, woodworking, or going on field trips.

The downtime given in the afternoon is a great self-motivator for staying focused during the morning, Giovanetto said.