I reside in Michigan and I'm not too happy with the school system and therefore would like to start home schooling my daughter begining in Jan 08. Can anyone please tell me where I should began and what is the best curriculum out there for us. Also, does anyone know of any free curriculum's or perhaps low cost? Please help me and point me into the right direction.....
2007-12-28 06:45:10 · 14 answers · asked by lost of thought 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Home Schooling
I live in Michigan also and the law about homeschooling here is simply to do it. Like others have mentioned to learn more go to HSLDA site and they will show you exactly what the law is. Second as to curriculum that all depends how you want to teach and if you are religious or not, also how your child learns best. No one can tell you what is the best curriculum for you and your family. Do a google of homeschool and you can get a lot of different sites for different styles of learning. Also from what I have heard from others (I have homeschooled my boy's from the beginning so it's different for us) that pulled their kids out of public schools to make sure you deschool them first before you start officially homeschooling. This gives them some time to relax a little and slowly you can start teaching her things. Maybe at first just reading about certain things and what not. Homeschooling isn't one size fits all situation. Homeschooling is as different as each child is different. The first year of homeschooling should be about discovering how each of you learn best and what kind of teacher you are. I hope that helps some.
2008-01-01 05:12:15 · answer #1 · answered by jsillywoman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What kind of teacher are you?
If you need someone else's guidance, a prepackaged curriculum is for you. They generally have everything, and you lipsynch everything to your daughter.
Personally, I would take the modified unschooling approach. Find what your daughter is interested in, and teacher her a little about that, while also giving her a firm grounding in what she will need for life: cooking skills, math, finance, english, public speaking, media literacy.
Also, the whole point of homeschooling is that regular schooling isn't good enough. Make up your own curriculum. The internet has a wealth of resources. About.com is fantastic! Also, you can teach your daughter ancient greek if you wanted to.
Just google it, and ye shall find. Also, make use of your library. They have computers, after school literacy things for kids, and BOOKS. Books on all sorts of things. Remember: Reading is fundamental.
Also, use your local PBS station. I swear, I learned EVERYTHING that my school has taught me by the time I was twelve by watching PBS. I have squandered away my life because I already knew it all.
Anyways... just don't take the easy route like a pre-packaged curriculum, the whole point of home schooling is to get away from that.
2007-12-28 15:32:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can go to HSLDA's website to find out all the rules in your state, and become a member with them if you want. Then you decide from there. You can buy some home school curriculum books like Cathy Duffy's top 100 picks for home school curriculum or some of Mary Prides books or just order some free catalogs from Love2learn and other home school curriculum catalogs. There is a lot of stuff out there so I am sure you can find something. Here are some website to go to
love2learn.net
or the saxon publishers website to find a great math curriculum!
2007-12-28 07:04:24 · answer #3 · answered by learn4fun 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'm in Indiana. I have a 13yr. old daughter w/autism. She is not getting the help she needs even with dr. request. What should I teach her? I've been looking on the web. I found that u can teach your child anything u want. There are really no set rules. I'm going to the library to gather free lesson plans. There is a yahoo support group for homeschooling. Find your local homeschooling support groups. Find out what ur local and state law are.
2007-12-30 17:07:12 · answer #4 · answered by mommabear 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We have never actually purchased a pre-packaged curriculum or given our kids distance learning courses-- there are many internet resources that are free, as well as the library. We're fairly budget-conscious and prefer to put our money towards local classes and activities and museum memberships than on books and worksheets when there are so many available for free.
You might want to check out this article on the first 5 things to do when you start homeschooling: http://heartandhomeschool.googlepages.com/first5thingstodo
2007-12-28 14:55:50 · answer #5 · answered by MSB 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would check with the local laws on what kind of registration is required. You could contact your local school board or check with the HSDL as someone else mentioned. Once you have done any paperwork you are good to go!
There are TONS of free curriculum out there - and even more low cost stuff.
If you like the text books she is working on now try to find them for purchase. Amazon.com has some great used textbooks on there!
Search yahoogroups to find a local homeschool group - they can help you find what you are looking for and provide you step by step support as needed.
Good luck!
2007-12-31 02:28:05 · answer #6 · answered by flhomeschoolers 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The cheapest curriculum is the one you put together yourself (maybe with help from your local librarian/other homeschooling parents).
Check out the HSLDA site for details of the regulations, procedure to de-register your daughter etc in your state. Then, I'd suggest, you and your daughter hook up with some other homeschooling mums and kids in your town, shire etc. They can let you know what happens locally and invite you to join in the many activities (both educational and social) that homeschooling families are regularly involved with.
(Oh and pay no attention to people who claim your daughter will have no life/no friends/will grow up deprived/will grow up to resent you/will grow up with no social skills/will grow up to be one of society's misfits etc etc etc. Such opinions (and opinions are all they are, not facts) are what people in my country would call bull$hit. I'm 15, home-educated and, along with my home-educated siblings, going great!)
2007-12-28 08:07:38 · answer #7 · answered by Hannah M 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
set yourself up with an independant study program in your area. it will help you keep records and will also test your child once a year.
find out about homeschooling groups and get advice. there are SO many curriculums out there it's hard to point you to only one. go to homeschoolreviews.com for lots of great ideas.
for math and science i like Saxon Math (until 8th grade when i switched to Teaching Textbooks) and Apologia science. there are also different methods of homeschooling so you might want to just start googeling and learn as much as you can. gl!
2007-12-30 10:19:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Talk to your school board about getting the registration forms. They can give you all the information about the curriculum and grade requirements. I live in California, so it was probably a little different. You can type in Michigan.gov. and see if they have a web page. It should have the different types of education plans in your area.
2007-12-28 13:33:35 · answer #9 · answered by ♥Fancy♥ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NOT online schooling! gods ANYTHING but that please!
look if you put her on the computer what she gonna do? schoolwork? she will if you watch her 24/7. otherwise she'll just get distracted with emails/games/chatting up boys online/ etc etc
use books & keep the computer off for later.
now i was homeschooled myself. i used "rod & staff". its a christian system in the states but real good (im actualy in canada) duno if religion's a factor in your family but if it isnt an issue then "rod & staff" is a real good course.
2007-12-28 10:59:08 · answer #10 · answered by swordofmystique 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋