can anyone tell me how to start up homeschool?

Question

can someone tell me where to get started?

Answer 1

You need to find out what your state requires. About.com has good info on homeschooling and how to begin and the basics:
http://homeschooling.about.com/od/gettingstarted/p/homeschool101.htm

And a list of links to state requirements and laws regarding homeschooling:
http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/gettingstarted/a/legalusa.htm

They also have many resources and unit studies.

There are many places online that have numerous resources from worksheets, to projects, to lesson plans and unit studies.

Locally you might have a homeschool group which meets for playdates, or classes or activities. Probably your local library will know of some contacts.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

You'll first need to figure out what the legal requirements are in your state. These vary widely from state to state.

Then you'll need to decide how your child learns best or what method you want to use. Again, these vary widely. For brand new homeschoolers, it is often easier to choose a curriculum and let that guide your year. Many people learn that, eventually, they want to use a combination of materials and styles, but that can be overwhelming at first.

There is probably a homeschooling conference near you this summer. It would be very helpful if you could attend one of these, as you can see the materials in person and ask questions.

Find a local support group. They will be able to answer questions about what is available in your area as far as activities. Also, they can help you navigate any interactions with your local schools.

I hope it works out for you. We homeschool our five children, and I can't imagine a better life.

Answer 3

As others have said - start with HSLDA. Their website can give you an overview of your state's requirements.

Then check for a local homeschooling organization. All the groups I have been involved with are VERY open and welcoming of newcomers and are willing to give advice on all kinds of things (from curriculum to social activities to discipline to scheduling).

You don't mention how old your children are. If they're young (3-6 years old), just start with math and reading. If they're older and coming out of the public school, they may need time to "decompress" and adjust to the idea of doing school differently.

There are LOADS of good resources for beginning homeschoolers. Try a Google or Yahoo! search for homeschooling and you'll be overwhelmed with sources.

There's also lots of great curriculum. You can go with one publisher for everything (like A Beka or Bob Jones). Or you can pick and choose from the different publishers (that's what we do). There are a few big names in curriculum review - Cathy Duffy, Rebecca Rupp, and __________ (wow, the other name escapes me now!) You can look in their books/websites for info on tons of different curriculum.

There's also online 'schools', although many of these aren't truly homeschool, as some one else does the teaching. You just check to make sure things are getting done.

Feel free to email me for more info or if you have specific questions.

Answer 4

I agree with those that said to start with hslda.com i.e. Homeschool Legal Defense Association. They'll help you get started off on the right foot. You'll probably want to buy some curriculum. The best thing to do is find the homeschool group in your area and see if they are having a curriculum faire. If not, some different curriculum options that come to mind are Alpha Omega (http://www.aop.com), School of Tomorrow (http://schooloftomorrow.com), Rod and Staff (http://www.rodstaff.com/), A Beka (http://www.abeka.com), Bob Jones, Saxon Math--check them out online. Don't be afraid to mix it up and use different curriculums for different subjects. Once you have yourself taken care of legally and academically, you can start! Like I said, if there is a homeschool group in your area, I would suggest getting involved with them. They'll be able to tell you about field trips, outside classes, and social events. And they'll give you the encouragement you need

Answer 5

Look into your states regulations. google "homeschooling" it will bring up a lot of resources. Join a support group (there are some on yahoo groups, or some in your area). That's the best thing i can suggest.

Answer 6

A good homeschool is laurel springs. Go to laurelsprings.com you have the option to do your school online or with actual text books. A teacher is assinged to you. This is good for parents that don't have a lot of time.

Answer 7

Unless you are a Christian conservative avoid the HSLDA. There is no need to join HSLDA to legally homeschool. As a matter of fact, you must agree to their agenda in order to even belong to HSLDA.
It is a constitutional right and all states have to allow some form of home education. http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/index.htm
This site will get you started in the right direction.

Answer 8

check w/hslda first to find the required reporting in your state.In california,all you have to do is file a private school affidavit with the state every october1-15.Some states require you to report a course of study,attendance records,etc.From there,decide what you will teach and in what grades,get curriculum together,create lesson plans,a good record keeping system,etc.Check out homeschool.com as well as hslda.org.Try to find a homeschool support group in your area.

Answer 9

go to www.laurelsprings.com I'm homeschooled and I love it, they have the best teachers that you can talk to over the phone or by e-mail there great

Answer 10

Go to www.hslda.com
It has a lot of resources in getting started.