how much does it cost to home school?

Question

and how do you go about doing it and how does your kids respond to leaving a school just to be home info on ny state schooling

Answer 1

I don't know about NY state laws and that but you can check here
http://hslda.org/Default.asp?bhcp=1

Ok for costs, it just depends what curriculm you choose and what you want to accomplish. You can pull something together on your own using online tools for free print outs and workbooks from a teachers supply or use part of one curriculm and some of another. If you need web sites for free worksheets email me and I will send you a ton of links. ABEKA costs about $400 per year for all your materials for all classes (my opinion: this was ok for my 1st grader. Prepared him for 2nd and had him ahead in math compared to other curriculums, but it was a LOT of worksheets and he dreaded doing it. Also I have heard that the upper grades aren't as good.) Switched on Schoolhouse is computer based and it is $220 for the 5 core classes (my opinion pretty good. Didn't like the 3rd grade history it was all about farming and asked questions like what month should lettuce be planted. It seemed more like reading comprehension, something my son is strong in anyway with a little vocabulary building. And I would rather have him learn something that he may need to have knowledge of later, so we stopped doing that and we are finshing out the year with some American History I am pulling together. I also don't like their spelling. They don't teach or quiz on the words in any way. Introduce a list, work on something else the next day, the next day have the spelling test. It doesn't even leave enough time for him to learn it on his own through copy work. And there was no way to hold off on the test without throwing him behind on all his language arts because you have to finish one lesson to go on to the next. I do like that it is customizable. If I think my son needs to do a lesson again, I clear the answers and reassign, if I think he has mastered it I can allow some of the questions to be skipped so he doesn't jus have busy work) Sonlight is like $800 per year. Bob Jones is about $600. (I haven't used either. Too expensive for me as a whole curriculum, but I am looking at parts of Bob Jones for next year) The prices can fluctuate depending on grade level, but this gives you an idea. Another option is Classical Education. This one has you pulling a curriculm together from different books but really focuses on a giving a well rounded education. Here are 2 websites that tell more about it.
http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/index_saved.html
http://welltrainedmind.com/

Another thing you can look into that may add to the cost are field trips and outside classes. For example my local observatory here in Houston offers astronomy classes for homeschoolers $135 for 9 classes (one per month) that are 3 hours each. My local health museum offers lessons and disection classes for like $8-17 each. NASA has a discounted homeschool day. Co-op classes where your child can learn certain subjects with other homeschoolers. Team sports and private music lessons. It just depends on what your childs interest are and what you want to accomplish.

As to how your child responds to leaving school, I think most children who are pulled from school are unhappy and having problems there anyway so they are usually happy for a change, and homeschooling tends to take less hours per day and have all their work done (no home work!) before they would have even been home before, so that is nice. They get the help they need when they struggle and can move on when they are bored, they will like that. BUT you have to have a schedule in place and an idea of how you are going to do it, because if you are not firm it can easily become about sleeping late and playing video games and watching TV.

Hope some of this helped. Good Luck.

Answer 2

Find info online at
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/nonpub/part10010.htm
I would also suggest contacting a local homeschooling support group for more specialized information about hs'ing in your area.

My children responded well to homeschooling, but I will say that we do NOT just stay at home. They have nearly daily opportunities to go to public museums, zoos, and science centers, as well as visit with other homeschooling friends. If you plan on just staying at home, your child will probably react very poorly due to feeling trapped.

Cost is exactly how much you wish to spend. You could spend thousands buying prepared curriculum, or you could use a lot of stuff from public library systems. You could join a co-op and get in on the curriculum trades, or home school fairs. We don't buy curriculum, we choose to purchase annual memberships to all the museums and zoos. Often those have perks like free classes and such, and that's where I'd rather spend my money.

Read more on how to start deschooling, if you google you'll find a ton online

Answer 3

Homeschooling can be completely free it just depends on how you wish to go about it and if you are serious enough to spend the time to find the free items. You can go online and just type in to yahoo or google for your childs age and find free print outs, unit studies (with all your needs and even how tos), and even teaching techniques. It takes some time to find but well worth it when you relize how much money you save in the long run.

I would suggest researching teaching techniques, learning styles (ex: is your child a book learner or a hands on learner), and all the different types of homeschooling that is out there. There are those who teach by using Unit Studies only, Unschooling, or they can just use the same public school guidelines and have a strict schedule. There are some that use all three styles. Talk to local homeschooling groups and parents that homeschool. Join chat groups, there are tons on yahoo groups for homeschooling.

Make sure your child/children have plenty of time out of the home. They tend to get very lonely and withdrawn if you don't.

You already have plenty on links to check out, so do your research. Your local library probably has a homeschooling section..You will find your library and librarians are going to become your best friends.

It seems overwhelming at first but once you get the hang of it you'll find it isn't all that hard. Just relax and enjoy your children and remember your doing this for them and if you make it fun and exciting and give them a passion for learning they will thank you for it.

Answer 4

There are so many options out there and they all come at different costs. When it comes to homeschooling you want to consider one that is accredited. There are many sites. One home schooling program that I know of( a friend of mine has kids that are home schooled and they are doing awesomely!) any way, the program my friend uses is Abecca. Try to find them on line and see what they have to offer.
Also, your kids will be fine with being homeschooled if you remember to keep them busy in other social activities as well since socializing is an art form we learn while still young. Let them join the scouts or the Y or some kind of sports program so that they can still have friends and see others their age.
Good luck!

Answer 5

It cost nothing in most States to home school your children. the school district that you live in actually is responsible for furnishing the books the school is using; all you have to do is talk with the principle or counselor.
there are programs of study on the Internet that would greatly benefit you and your children and i suggest you look at those options also.
I was home schooled and my state required that i take two tests at school mid-term and at the end of year, my scores on those tests were what the state determined my grade level was. other examinations i took at a local church with the pastor as proctor. my grades improved dramatically and i graduated at 16! after that i attended college and have enjoyed great success in several different career fields.
the biggest draw back is social interaction. make sure your children have social contact with people their age and you should be fine!

Answer 6

i like it it doesnt have to cost alot i use my books i have already just regular reading books, school supplies we paid for at the begging of the public school year which i changed to homeschool about 2 months ago then my mom bought highschool advantage for computer the complete schooling set for 20$ on ebay and i am learning typing originally i was using a mavis beacon but something happened and now when i try to use it wont work except for my mom so yeah

p.s. go to hslda for state laws and help!!

Answer 7

here's another homeschooling link that you should definitely be aware of:
http://www.homeschoolingislegal.info