Question about homeschooling.?

Question

I hear and read alot about parents homeschooling their child/children. How do you homeschool your child? What do you as a parent need as far as requirements and how do you know if your child is doing grade and age appropriate work?
I think my son would do better with my teaching him at home, but then I know he would miss socializing at school which is also important for him because he is an only child.

Answer 1

Hi,

There are as many ways to homeschool as there are homeschoolers. One of the popular misconceptions - probably stemming from most of us growing up in public or private school - is that there is this one, absolute list of "what we need to know by when". There really isn't. This is something that is a necessity of classroom schools - if you don't figure out what the kids will learn when, you'll have complete chaos.

Part of the beauty of homeschooling is that you can meet your child's needs on their individual levels. Levels, plural. Many kids are not on one particular grade level in every subject, especially before about 6th-7th grade or so - there can be huge discrepancies in the rates at which they learn, even between subjects.

Take my son for example - he's 9.5, starting 5th grade. He will be starting Algebra and 7th grade science by spring, yet due to dyslexia, is doing language arts at grade level. He can dictate a paper that's worthy of early high school, yet he can't physically write it, because spelling is such a chore for him. Now obviously, his situation is not the norm, but it illustrates the point.

That aside, many new homeschooling parents feel most comfortable setting out with a boxed curriculum for the first year - Math, Langauge Arts, Science, History, Spelling, etc. all on ______ grade level. There's nothing wrong with this - many kids do really well at it - and as you work with your child, you will start to see what they excel in and what they need help with. You may find mid-year that you can go up to the next level in math, while spelling needs some remediation. So, you fill that need. You find a resource that will help them to work at their individual level.

As far as requirements for you, that varies by state. You can find info on your state at the website below. In some states, you need to hold a teaching certification, register as a private school, or work under an umbrella charter; in others, you just need to start up and make sure you abide by state standards - 180 days per year, core subjects, state history in 9th grade, whatever. Homeschooling is legal in every state, but each state has their own requirements.

As far as doing age and grade appropriate work, I would suggest focusing more on meeting your child's needs and challenging them where they are. You can find a scope and sequence for your district or state online much of the time, which will give you a suggested list of skills to learn at different ages; many curriculum providers will provide you with something similar for free. You will notice that every one of them is different - there is no right answer. Go with the one that best meets your child's needs.

Socializing is actually incredibly easy to do as a homeschooler. My son is an only child as well, and actually asked me to cut back on his "socializing" because it was exhausting him! There are plenty of homeschooling support groups (which you can also find on the website below) that can provide support and training for you, co op classes, field trips, volunteer opportunities for your son, park play days, and so much more. He'll also find that because he's done with school in less time (because there aren't 29 other kids in the class), he'll have more time to spend with his friends and on his hobbies or interests. Promise, our kids aren't hermits :-) Studies have shown that because homeschool kids have the opportunity to learn social skills through everyday situations, with people of all ages and backgrounds, they are on average more adept socially than their classroom counterparts.

Hope that helps!

Here's that website:
http://www.hslda.org/Default.asp?bhcp=1

Answer 2

The first few answers you received were only partly true, at best.
To find out exactly what the requirements in your area are, go to http://www.hslda.com on the left hand side of the web-page there is a blueish sidebar, click on "In Your State". Then select your state to find out the law. Most states don't require that you be a certified teacher, but some do, some either require that OR require you to meet with a certified teacher periodically. Other states have no requirements for the parents at all. So you have to look into your states laws specifically.
As far as making sure your child is doing age/grade appropriate work, there are lots of ways to help with this. You could buy a packaged curriculum geared toward the grade level of your child, or you could look at the scope and sequence of several curriculum's and come up with your own based on what you see. Another option is to use a curriculum that has a placement test and place the child where he is academically, instead of placing him based on his age. There are also books that offer guidelines such as "A Charlotte Mason Companion" or "The Well Trained Mind".

As far as socializing, it IS a little more of a concern with an only child, (There was quite a span between my first and second child, so my first was an only child for years, and still doesn't have siblings near her own age.) You can make it work though, here are few ideas:
Boy Scouts
Little League
Church or religious meeting
Homeschool co-op
Children's drama clubs
community choir
dance classes
Karate
volunteer work
Awana clubs
Neighborhood kids
Arts and crafts at a community center
etc.
etc.
etc.

Here are a few sites to check out:
http://www.aophomeschooling.com (their Horizons curriculum is great, a little advanced, but great.)
http://www.abeka.com
http://www.rainbowresource.com
http://www.K12.com
http://www.homeschooldiscount.com
http://www.donnayoung.org

Answer 3

After reading the first couple of answers to your question, I'd have to say, find a local homeschool group and ask them. The laws in each state differ WIDELY (some require testing, others don't, some require the parent have a "degree", others don't). You need to find out what the law in YOUR state requires and do that. And the best way to get *accurate* information is to ask those who are doing it where you are. You may have a state homeschooling organization that can help. Or you can get an overview of your state's laws from the HSLDA website ( http://www.hslda.org ). Click on the map on the right side of the page to go to your state, then choose "laws" under the state name.

As for the schoolwork, some states require the public schools provide you with the materials, others are extremely hands-off (you get nothing from the local school). Some states have lists of approved programs. You could go with a boxed curriculum (all you need for every subject from the same publisher) or go eclectic and make your own (or anything in between, getting some things from one publisher, others from different sources).

As for grade- or age-appropriate work, there are NO set standards. Each state has a scope and sequence of what should be covered each year, but it is different from every other state. Each "program" has a scope and sequence for their program, but it differs in many ways from every other program and from the states' SnS. Appropriate work is challenging your child, without making the work too difficult, moving your child forward each year. "Keeping pace" with the schools is foolish because even the schools can't keep pace with the schools (that's why so many kids - and schools - are failing). Most (not all) homeschoolers are well above their public school counterparts on nationally standardized tests, so I wouldn't worry about what's "appropriate".

Socialization is not an issue, unless you plan on keeping your son locked in the house. Any time you go out, he has opportunities to "socialize" in the real world with people older and younger, not just all his age (like in public school). If you are really concerned about it, sign him up for a co-op, or scouts, or 4-H, or a sports team, or an art class, or an academic team, ... - the possibilities are endless.

Being involved with a local group will yield many chances for field trips, park days, and other "social" opportunities and it's a great way for you to find out about curriculum and all the endless variety of homeschool events in your community (as well as getting support on the not-so-good days).

Answer 4

To start with, check out www.hslda.org . Their site has the laws for homeschooling and will outline what you as the parent will need as far as requirements ( where I live, parents need either a high school diploma or a GED to homeschool their kids, we also have to sends a notice to the school board as well as have an annual assesment each year )
Anyway, HSLDA will outline that for each state.

Do a google or yahoo search for a local homeschool group. These will help you alot. Most will be able to help you in dealing with the local BOE . Some may also have co-op classes, feild trips, and other ways for the kids to get together ( to socialize )
The groups can also give you recomendations about curriculum. some states are also required to let you use textbooks and such from the schools ( most wont have the teacher materials tho)
You can also search for these online
( a few that I can think of right now are
www.aop.com
www.k12.com
www.robinsoncurriculum.com
www.sonlight.com
www.time4learning.com/homeSchool-curriculum.htm
www.christianbook.com
http://www.accelerated-achievement.com/) amd thereare many others

Another site I like is http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?curriculum
(it has a curriculum guide for all grades K-12)

As for the *socialization*, there are many other ways for you son to be among friends... there are clubs and organizations such as Boy Scouts, 4-H, if you go to church, there could be a youth group, another example is if he likes something like chess, there are clubs for that as well.
Joining the local homeschool group will also help with that , asI said, they will most generally have get togethers, feild trips and such where the kids can learn and socialize.

Good luck and hope that helps a bit


**added.. sorry for the typo's.. sometimes hard to type one handed with baby on my lap :-)
Also ~ to the one person who said there are no freebies with the schools, I have to respectfully disagree with you ( and while I no longer use what the state offers, I do know that they do it) ... in some states there are free things from the schools. Here where I live (WV) the school boards are required to let parents use textbooks and corresponding workbooks for the grade levels their children are in. They are also required to let the children go to as many as three classes per semester and still be considered homeschooled ~ many parents that homeschool do not take advantage of that because we want to be away from the system, but it is there if anyone wants to use it.
There are also states that have free virtual or cyber schools. Ohio is one of them. they have a system that it is basically public school at home, but they provide everything from the computer to the internet connection, to the books and more.
You would have to do a search or contact the local BOE to see if your state or county offers anything.
again, hope that helps a bit and good luck

Answer 5

You need to find out the legal requirements for where you live. Check with your state education board and/or with a state-based homeschool support group or just plain search for [your state] homeschool laws.

Legal requirements vary from place to place. In terms of parents themselves, they need to be fairly stable and willing to learn, not just academics and stuff, but be willing to learn how to reach their child best, be willing to learn to improve parenting skills, etc.

As for grade/age-appropriate work, pre-packaged stuff out there is usually already graded. It'll become obvious pretty quickly if your son can do it or not. I don't worry so much about my kids doing grade/age-appropriate work: my focus is on taking them where they are at and helping them to take steps forward.

As for the socializing, see about homeschool groups in your area as well as extra-curricular activities, if you can afford them. There are things like Scouts, swimming lessons, other lessons, sports teams and more probably available in your community. And if you've got a strong homeschooling support group (or more than one--I'm a member of 3, with 2 of them being very active and the 3rd not so active), you should be able to get in enough social time, what with field trips, possible park days (you could even start one if there isn't one alread--just set up a regular day and time each week to meet at a playground), parties, play dates and more. I know a couple of people with only children who do make homeschooling work, but they are out of the house a LOT, so be prepared for that.

Answer 6

Each state has different laws for homeschooling. Where I live, the only real requirement is that you file paperwork notifying the department of education of your intent to teach your children at home. There are links on hslda.org for the specific laws for each state. The link is below, hope this is helpful :)

Answer 7

Requirements-- in our state we just send a letter of intent and get an annual evaluation of the kids' portfolios. Pretty simple.

How do I know if my child is doing age-appropriate work? I don't focus on the arbitrary standards of public schools. The concepts of "ahead" and "behind" are ridiculous to us. We focus more on providing a rich learning environment, encouraging the kids to be self-motivated learners, and as they master one skill or concept, to keep challenging them with something new.

As for socializing, my kids couldn't likely get as varied and interesting a social life in school as they do as homeschoolers. My 6 yr old and 8 yr old each take 3 classes per week at our co-op with other kids, plus have lunch and play time, we meet for play dates once or twice a week, are in weekly library reading programs and chess club (with public schoolers), go on frequent weekly field trips to child-oriented places, go to Sunday school, are starting karate classes 2 evenings per week, and on the days we don't happen to have any planned activity they go out and play with the neighborhood kids, or visit friends or have their friends over.

My 17 yr old takes college courses since she was 15, has a core group of girlfriends, takes theater arts classes and is in performances when she gets a chance, volunteers at the library, and assists or teaches classes in our homeschool co-op.

Socialization is really not a problem-- there's a whole world out there, just take them out and get them into things they're interested in. Scouts, 4H groups, sports teams, volunteer work, community center classes, homeschool co-ops, and there is always just going to the park in the afternoons.

Answer 8

Okay, there is no freebies in homeschooling.School boards are not going to give you textbooks or curriculum. They sometimes will sell it to you if you want - but you are looking at a small fortune.

You can buy curriculum used at book sales. You can buy it new at educational stores, bookstores, online, and more.

As far as socializing goes - how many times do classroom teachers say "We're not here to socialize". There are homeschool co-ops, support groups and more out there. Right now I am even starting a Lego play group for my kids.

Do a search on yahoogroups for homeschool groups in your area. They will be a wealth of information.

Answer 9

Sign him up for extra activities like swim team. On the Internet, you can read state guidelines for each grade. Pick and choose which standards you like.You can buy a curriculum, sign up for online school if there is one in your state or select a hodgepodge of materials. Achievement testing can be done through BJU press.

Don't worry. The schools don't teach much and you'll have no trouble surpassing their standards.

Answer 10

You won't miss sociliaization if you LET THEM LEAVE THE HOUSE now and then or put them into Little League.

Most parents use SCHOOL IN A BOX

To be frank, unless the High School graudate parent is a DOLT they can teach to grade 10 with ease.

If they have a BA they can teach to grade 13 with ease.