Homeschooling Introduction

Homeschooling can be an important decision. Across the nation as many as 2 million children are homeschooled. Experts predicted there will be an increase of as much as 15% in the number of children who are homeschooled each year. Homeschooling is now the fastest growing educational alternative in the nation.

Parents choose to home school their children for many different reasons, including:

• Many have religious beliefs or educational philosophies that are not consistent with private and public schooling

• Some opt to begin homeschooling to prevent their children from being exposed to gangs, drugs and risky social behavior

• Others may choose homeschooling as a way of achieving academic excellence and tailoring a curriculum that is suited to their children’s learning styles, interests and needs.

Whatever their reasons may be for choosing homeschooling, parents go about teaching their children at home in many different ways. There is no single right way to home school and there is no particular approach that is one size fits all. Methods for homeschooling include:

• Re-creating traditional schooling in the home environment with textbooks

• Attending a home study program through a public school district. Teachers assist parents in developing a course of study for their children and supply resource materials. Parents report to the school district on a monthly basis.

• Attending a home study program through a charter school. Curriculum development and teaching assistance is provided.

• Becoming a member of an independent study program through a private school. Most programs supply guidance, record keeping, curriculum counseling and support.

• Unschooling or child-centered learning, where parents act as facilitators and provide resources and materials to meet the child’s interests within a particular field of study.

• Through the use of education technology and software that may include a complete curriculum package, taking classes online, taking courses through audio and video, etc.

• Taking correspondence courses. Many private schools provide complete curriculum packages. Colleges and universities also provide correspondence courses and provide college credit.

Many parents choose to use a wide variety of different resources in order to provide interest initiated learning. Textbooks may be used for some courses while other classes are taken outside the home. Studies may be supplemented with correspondence courses or field trips. Homeschooling advocacy organizations often provide a variety of different types of assistance including counseling, publications, presentations and products. Parents may also organize field trips, cooperative classes, social events and park days through support groups and regional home school groups. Much like their public and private school counterparts, homeschoolers may also participate in dance classes, sports programs, 4-H projects, scouting, music lessons and church activities. There are many opportunities for socialization.

The rapid growth of the homeschooling movement has made what was once an underground activity extremely accessible today. Although homeschooling is not the right choice for every family, it is certainly a viable educational choice.

Is Homeschooling Right for you?

The decision to home school can be incredibly difficult and many parents spend quite a bit of time analyzing the choices to determine whether homeschooling is the right option for them. There are both advantages as well as disadvantages to homeschooling. In determining whether this is the right choice for you it is important to analyze both the benefits as well as the drawbacks.

Disadvantages

Perhaps one of the most common drawbacks to homeschooling that many parents experience is the tendency of others to question your decision. There is no getting around the fact that homeschooling is different. It is much easier to simply go along and do the same thing that most parents do by sending your child to public school. Because homeschooling is outside the norm, you must be very certain of your decision.

Eventually you will encounter people who will question your decision. In some cases, they may be well meaning but simply are not familiar with homeschooling. Others who question your decision simply may be opposed to the idea for various reasons. Some people have become convinced that public school is the only acceptable option. It is important to be prepared for the fact that you will encounter people who will be critical of your choice. It is important to ensure you are certain of your decision and your own reasons for choosing to home school.

There is no doubt that it does take a significant amount of time to home school. Not only must you spend time learning how to home school but you must also dedicate time reviewing material, collecting materials, organizing activities and field trips, etc. In deciding whether homeschooling is the right choice for you, you must decide whether you have the time to dedicate to it.

It can also be expensive to home school. Most families that home school only have one parent that earns an income full-time. Homeschooling can be a sacrifice for many home schooling families. Some families do work at least part-time in a home based business, it should be recognized that you will likely need to get by on primarily one income if you choose to home school and that can mean a financial sacrifice.

Along with less income as a family, you must also recognize that you will need to purchase some materials. There are numerous ways you can save money and still effectively teach, including using library books, free online resources, etc. but even so you will still need to spend some money on home schooling.

There is also a tremendous amount of effort involved in homeschooling. Although the results are rewarding, there is still a lot of work in preparing, teaching, organizing, etc. It also takes work and effort to learn about the different methods that can be used, the different types of curriculums that are available, various field trip options, how to teach, meeting other families that home school, etc.

In addition, there is time involved in learning how to home school as most parents only have experience in institutional schooling. This can involve learning how to use hands-on activities and materials, checking homeschooling regulations for your area, learning about home school groups, etc.

In the beginning, homeschooling is more work; especially if you begin after your child has already been in a regular school. It can also involve more work to develop a closer relationship with your child as you will be spending more time with them. It is quite natural for parents to have doubts and be unsure whether they can teach their own children.

It can help to keep in mind that communicating skills and knowledge from someone who knows your child versus someone who doesn’t can be a tremendous advantage.

Doubt

A lot of parents are not sure if they can teach their children. We have all been trained that we “must” have “trained teachers” teach our children. There are many regular people just like you who have chosen to home school their children and they have all found ways to do it effectively while also coping with a lack of knowledge in particular subject areas.

Do not try to re-invent the wheel if you decide to home school. Ask others for help and how they have handled things. No matter what problem you may face with homeschooling, it is likely that other parents have faced the same problems and have found successful ways to resolve it while producing children that are highly educated, many of which have gone on to college and are now quite successful in life.

In deciding whether homeschooling is the right choice for you, it is a good idea to ask others for input so you have a clear picture of all of your choices. Talk to other parents who have homeschooled and learn about their experiences. At the same time talk to people who have strong beliefs about regular or public schooling.

Advantages

Some of the most common benefits associated with homeschooling include:

• Better social skills
• Improved self confidence
• Better academic performance
• Improved critical thinking skills
• Great relationships with your children
• More mature children
• The chance to impart your moral and spiritual benefits
• High quality friendships
• Emotionally healthier and happier children
• Good team players
• Better focus
• Better citizens
• Broader interests
• More influence over your children
• Increased balance
• More family time
• Happier children
• The joy of teaching
• A deep sense of fulfillment as parents

Finding Support for Homeschooling

Home schooling is different from institutional schooling. As most parents who pursue home schooling were not actually homeschooled themselves, it is important to learn how to home school as well as learning about field trips, curriculums, etc. Support from other home schooling families can help.

Home School Groups

A home school group provides the opportunity to meet other parents who are experienced in homeschooling. They can provide you with ideas while your children can benefit from making friends with other children who are homeschooled. In addition, you can also learn about activities available in your area. In many cases, home school groups have field trips, classes and other activities.

The best way to locate a home school group is to ask others who home school in your area. You can also perform an Internet search. You will find that most home school families are very helpful and friendly.

Internet Email Discussion Groups

E-mail discussion groups like Yahoo groups allow you to email questions and others to read your questions and then provide answers. There are groups for every topic you can imagine. Each group covers a different topic. There are groups for various aspects of home schooling.

Home school discussion groups are wonderful for asking all types of questions about home schooling. Not only are there local groups but there are also national and international home school discussion groups. If you can find one for your area or city, this is a wonderful place to learn about all types of activities that may be available in your area as well as for meeting other homeschoolers. National groups are wonderful for how-to questions or learning about home school resources and curriculums, gaining encouragement, etc.

Yahoo Groups can be accessed at http://groups.yahoo.com. If you have not previously used a Yahoo group, you will need to register first. There is no cost for registration. Yahoo groups cover a broad range of subjects outside of homeschooling as well, so they are great for learning about information related to special interests your child may have.

Home Schooling Families

Make a point to getting to know other home schooling families. They can be an excellent source of mutual support. You can also arrange play dates and discuss any problems with homeschooling you may have. It is also great opportunity for sharing successes. It can take some time to find other home schooling families, depending on where you live. The Internet can be a good source for doing so. Also, be sure to talk to people in your neighborhood, church and community center to find other home schooling families.

Learning about Homeschooling

Classroom teachers require a significant amount of classroom management skills in order to handle numerous children with only one teacher. Because you are already engaged in parenting your children, it is likely that you already have any group management skills you might need. At the same time, it is important to recognize that you will be doing quite a bit of one on one teaching.  Keep in mind that teaching is simply communicating knowledge to your children. This can be accomplished through hands-on demonstrations, books, computer programs, field trips, etc. Regardless of how you approach it, you likely already have the communication skills you need.

There are different methods that can be used for home schooling as well as for organizing, different styles for teaching and learning and different curriculums.

Many parents find it is a good idea to read books on the subject as well as talk to other homeschooling parents and researching Internet sites to learn more about homeschooling and the various options that are available.

There are many great books available today on the subject of homeschooling. Some books will only cover a single subject such as one type of homeschooling, the benefits of homeschooling, how to home school without spending a lot of money, etc. The types of books you read will depend upon your specific needs. If you are new to the idea of home schooling, there are many excellent books that provide general information as well as books that discuss different methods of home schooling.

Internet Sites

There are also many excellent Internet sites that are dedicated to many different aspects of home schooling.

Language Arts

Handwriting-This site offers instruction sheets and practice sheets for handwriting. http://www.handwritingforkids.com/handwrite/cursive.htm

Project Gutenberg. Offers more than 20,000 free books, with complete text. These excellent books are out of copyright and are free to download and read. http://www.gutenberg.org/

Math

Timez Attack-Multiplication Computer Game. This is a wonderful computer program for teaching multiplication tables. There is also a video tour for parents. The base version is free. http://www.bigbrainz.com

Joyful Math-Math Games. http://homepage.mac.com/pamsoroosh/iblog/math/index.html

Science

NASA-The NASA site offers a wonderful array of educational photos,  videos, etc.

http://www.nasa.gov/

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/

3D Models to Build-This site offers a variety of models that can be printed and built. Free to download.

http://cp.c-ij.com/english/3D-papercraft/

Science Toys you can Make with your Kids. Offers instructions for building steam boats, simple electric motors, spectroscope, vacuum pump, kaleidocycle, etc.

http://www.scitoys.com/

How Everyday Things are Made-Presented by Stanford University, this site offers some excellent videos that show how things are made.

http://manufacturing.stanford.edu/

Social Studies

HistoryCentral.com-Provides American and world history complete with timeline.

Other Home School Sites

There are also many other excellent homeschooling sites, including:

Home Schooling Adventures on the Web.
http://www.homeschoolingadventures.com/

Homeschool.com.
http://www.homeschool.com/

The Home School Mom.
This site offers articles and other home school resources.
http://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/

Home School Reviews.
http://www.homeschoolreviews.com/

Support Groups & Homeschooling Law
http://www.midnightbeach.com/hs/

This page provides a list of support groups for the United States, by state:
http://www.midnightbeach.com/hs/listlist.html

State Groups & Sites – This page lists support groups for the United States, by state.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8259/local.html

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8259/

Homeschooling Magazines

There are also many magazines that are devoted to the topic of homeschooling:

The Old School House.
http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/

Their product review page covers an extensive number of home school products:
http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Homeschool_
Reviews/

Homeschooling Horizons Magazine.
Canada’s Homeschooling Magazine.
http://www.homeschoolinghorizons.com/

Homeschooling Tools

You will find there are also many online tools that can assist you with your homeschooling.

Home School Tracker Program. This program can assist you in keeping track of what is going on with each child by tracking assignments, comments, appointments, field trips, etc. The basic version is free.

Homeschooling Regulations

Before beginning homeschooling it is extremely important to ensure you are aware of the regulations that pertain to your area. One of the best ways to learn about local regulations is from other homeschooling families. You should also check with the local school authorities such as the school board or the local government entity that is charge of controlling schooling in your area. Keep in mind; however, that it is a good idea to verify anything you are told, in case you are mislead.

Legalities

Be aware that in some areas home schooling is actually illegal. There may be people who home school underground in these areas, but it is still illegal. In areas where homeschooling is legal you will usually need to advise the local school authorities that you are home schooling our children. You may also need to complete documentation. The actual process can vary from one area to another. An excellent source for information is the

Home School Legal Defense Association, www.hslda.org

The regulations regarding homeschooling can vary from one state to another. The types of regulations you may encounter include:

• States that require no notice by parents
• States with low regulations; such as parental notification only
• States with moderate regulation; such as having parents send notification as well as test scores and/or professional evaluations of student progress
• States with high regulations; in some states parents are require to send notification of achievement test scores and/or professional evaluation along with other requirements such as curriculum approval by the state, teacher qualification of parents and home visits by state officials.

In at least fifteen states, individual home school programs may operate under private church or school laws. These states include:

• Alaska
• Alabama
• California
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Michigan
• Nebraska
• Louisiana
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• Texas
• West Virginia

In five states groups of homeschoolers instead of home schools qualify as church or private schools. Homeschoolers have the option of operating under either a private school law or home school law. These states include:

• Colorado
• Florida
• Maine
• Virginia
• Utah

Currently, there are only two states that require home schools to be subject to discretionary approval of the local school district, state commissioner or school board. They are Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

South Carolina is the only state in which the legislature has specifically exempted home school associations from compulsory attendance. In this state, any homeschooler who is enrolled in the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools or an association of 50 or more homeschoolers is not required to meet the home school law requirements.

In Oklahoma, there is a constitutional amendment that specifically guarantees the right to home school. In Idaho, children must be ‘otherwise comparably instructed.’ There is no approval required. In New Jersey, home schools fall under the category of ‘elsewhere than at school. In South Dakota, home schools are ‘alternative instruction programs.’ Notification and testing is required.

41 states do not require home school parents to meet any specific teacher qualification. In 9 states, parents are only required to have a high school diploma or GED. These states include:

• Georgia
• North Carolina
• New Hampshire
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• West Virginia

In the District of Columbia, parents are also required to either have a high school diploma or GED. North Dakota does not require parents to have a high school diploma or GED as long as the parent is monitored by a certified teacher for two years.

In 24 states, standardized testing or evaluation of the family is required under the home school law. Standardized testing only is required in the following states:

• Arkansas
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Minnesota
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• New York

13 of those 24 states provide an alternative to testing. Those states include:

• Colorado
• Florida
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• New Hampshire
• New York
• Ohio
• Vermont
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Washington

Only two states allow homeschoolers to obtain a religious exemption from compulsory attendance laws. Those states are Virginia and Vermont.

Five states require instruction of amount of instruction time to be equivalent to that of the public school. These states include:

• Connecticut
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Maine
• New Jersey

High school graduation requirements for homeschoolers is imposed by only three states; North Dakota, New York and Pennsylvania.

Establishing Educational Goals

It can seem like a big task to set educational goals, but along the way you will likely refine those goals. Establishing goals allows you to see where you are going and may also help you to become more comfortable with homeschooling. Every homeschooling family tends to have different priorities even though it may seem as though they have different goals. For instance, some families place a higher priority on spirituality, sports, technology, relationships, etc. Along the way those priorities may be adjusted.

Homeschooling can be made much easier when you are clear about the priorities that are important to your family. Ask yourself what is really important to you and your family. Below are examples of things that are important to many families:

• Language Arts
• Math
• Science
• Social Studies, history, culture, etc.
• Physical Education
• Sports-perhaps one specific sport
• Art
• Music
• Drama
• Foreign Language(s)
• Technology (computers, electronics, machines)
• Business (management, entrepreneurship)
• Emotional development, positive thinking, self-confidence
• Relationships
• Spirituality, Your Beliefs, Values, Ethics
• Manners
• Finance
• Nutrition
• Household skills
• Field Trips

Of course, this list is not conclusive and there may be other priorities that are not listed here that are important to your family. If you are not certain about whether you should teach something or whether it should be a priority, ask yourself how it will make your child happy or benefit them, particularly in the future.

As you go through the process of establishing priorities, think about how important each specific priority is. Sort them according to the most important priorities first. Remember that it does not have to be perfect. You can continue adjusting your goals and focus as you learn more about your children. Keep in mind as well that priorities can change over the years.

Different Methods for Homeschooling

There are many different educational philosophies and approaches when it comes to homeschooling.

Textbooks and Workbooks

Traditional textbook and/or workbook programs are what most people think of when they think of homeschooling. This option can help to provide guidance and structure, but they are not suitable for all learning styles.

Unit Studies

Unit studies focus on the study of a single topic in order to teach multiple subjects. They may often include hands-on activities and projects.

Lapbooks

Lapbooks are a type of hands-on learning tool that can be used for supplementing instruction or teaching in many subject areas.

Charlotte Mason Homeschooling

This method places a strong emphasis on excellent literature, building good habits and instilling a love of learning. A lot of time is also frequently spent in nature with this method. It is based on core subjects while incorporating fine arts. There is a strong emphasis on what children know instead of what they do.

Classical Homeschooling

This method is also sometimes known as the Trivium method. Classical homeschooling focuses on teaching children in three stages. Those stages are grammar, logic and rhetoric. There is often a strong focus on memorization during the early years and a focus on logic and eloquent expression in later years.

Unschooling

Unschooling is also sometimes referred to as relaxed homeschooling. Traditional teaching techniques are abandoned with this method and instead there is a focus on learning through everyday experiences. Learning occurs in a natural way and is led by need, passion, interest and desire.

Montessori Homeschooling

This method focuses on preparing a learning environment that is stimulating. The founder of this method, Maria Montessori, advocates that by observing your child you can remove obstacles to learning and provide them with scaled to size tools for learning. The three principles of this method are observation, individual liberty and preparation of the environment.

Computer-based Homeschooling

This method is growing in popularity, especially among parents who desire for their children to learn to work independently through the use of educational software or online programs.

Waldorf

This method is based on the educational philosophy of Rudolph Steiner. The goal of this method is to educate the whole child while fostering imagination and fantasy. Academics are balanced with practical and artistic activities. As there is not a focus on competition, grades and competitive sports are not emphasized.

Eclectic Homeschooling

This method is often best for parents who are somewhat indecisive because it offers the best of all methods. In this method, whatever seems best at the time is used.

Choosing a Homeschooling Method

Do not feel pressured to select one single homeschooling method. These philosophies are only guidelines that can help to guide you toward resources and programs that may be helpful. Ultimately, there is no right or wrong way to home school. Choose the style or styles that are best for your family.

Finding Curriculums and Resources

Once you have determined the method you will start with, the next step is to begin looking for resources. For unschooling this might involve science kits, books, educational toys and other items to create a stimulating learning environment. In the event you are not doing unschooling, you will also need curriculums. You might opt to use packaged curriculums or make your own curriculum. In some jurisdictions, you may be required to use specific curriculums but you may also want to add resources as well.

What is a Curriculum?

A curriculum is a list of concepts, topics, ideas, etc. that will be taught. A home school curriculum might include workbooks, texts and other materials that can be used for teaching a subject while also providing directions for parents. Many people choose to begin with a packaged curriculum and then eventually make their way from there, based on what seems to work best for their child. This could include formal studies or it might involve informal hands-on learning. It might also be a blend of methods.

Hands-on Activities

Hands-on activities are those activities that involve more than just paper, a pencil and a book. They could include science experiments, building models, games, going on field trips, etc. Homeschooling often involves more hands-on activities and field trips than regular schools because there is more opportunity to do so.

Formal Curriculums

Some subjects, such as math, tend to work better when a formal curriculum is used. Formal curriculums can also be good for older children.

Finding Packages Curriculums and Resources

There are many great ways to locate prepackaged curriculums and resources. Begin by asking other home school parents what they use and what they like best about it. Email discussion groups are another great source for locating curriculums and resources. You can also search the Internet for information.

Other possible resources include home school stores and science stores.

Making your Own Curriculum

Rather than buying a prepackaged curriculum, you might also consider compiling your own from books and materials. Many parents feel more comfortable with this method, especially for preschool aged children.

Home School Scheduling  

A home school schedule can make a significant difference in ensuring that your home schooling is organized, orderly and peaceful. Parents as well as children can benefit from a routine that is predictable and structured. Like methods of study and curriculum choices, there is not a single routine that is one size fits all. Schedules can be tailored to the needs of each family.

Planning your Home School Schedule

There are a few tips that can be kept in mind when planning a home school schedule that will make it much easier to design a schedule that works best for your family.

Remember your own personality. Not everyone likes to follow the same routine every day while others thrive on it. Consider whether you and/or your child become bored easily and requires a change of pace. Do you work better when there is a strict time schedule or do you feel stressed by time pressures? If you prefer loose time requirements and flexibility, the idea of scheduling with a checklist may be more appealing to you.

With this type of schedule you can simply make a checklist of everything that needs to be accomplished each day. On the other hand, if you prefer having a consistent routine for each day you might like to write out a daily schedule that include 30 minute or 1 hour increments of time.

Including daily anchors in each day such as wake-up time, nap time, meal times and bed time can often be helpful even if you do not have a timed routine. For example, if you do not wake up at the same time each day, you can still follow wake-up time with breakfast and morning reading time.

It is also a good idea to include the natural habits and preferences of your family when designing a schedule. For example, do you tend to wake early or late? Are you most productive in the afternoons, mornings or evenings? Do you or your spouse work odd hours?

Keep in mind that it is fairly common for many home school parents to overestimate their capabilities and demand too much of themselves. When you over-schedule it can lead to burnout, frustration and ultimately abandoning the schedule. You should not fee forced to follow a hectic pace all day. Allow time for resting and leeway for unexpected interruptions.

You also need to determine how general or detailed you want your schedule to be. Some families tend to work better with a schedule that designated specific subjects as well as chores and other activities. Others prefer time to be designated for general activity blocks. Choose a routine that best meet’s your family’s needs.

The following blank routines can help you in designing your own customized schedule.

Daily Schedule

Time	Parent	Child 1	Child 2	Child 2	Child 3
6:00 am
7:00
8:00
9:00
10:00
11:00
12:00 pm
1:00
2:00
3:00
4:00
5:00
6:00
7:00

Weekly Schedule

Time	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
6:00 am
7:00
8:00
9:00
10:00
11:00
12:00 pm
1:00
2:00
3:00
4:00
5:00
6:00

Checklist Schedule

Task	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday

Begin your schedule by jotting down items that must occur at specific times, such as activities that occur outside the home. Next, write in anchors for the day such as meal times, etc. Finally, fill in the rest of the daily tasks. Keep in mind that you can always make adjustments.

The traditional school year is 36 weeks or 180 days. You can follow the same schedule as your local school or customize one that will suit the needs of your family. You do not have to do every subject for every day of the school year.

The amount of time spend on each subject may vary based on the age, learning style and abilities of each child. For example; between 3 and 5 minutes is usually ideal for preschoolers, whereas 10-20 minutes is good for 1^st through 3^rd graders. You might plan on 20-45 minutes for 4^th through 6^th graders and 45 minutes or more for 8^th-12^th grade.

The total number of hours spend per day on one on one instruction can also vary. For example, you might break 30 minutes up into several five minute sessions for kindergarteners and one to two hours for grades 1-6. Two hours or more for grades 7-12 is appropriate.

The remainder of the day can be spent by having the child read on his/her own, participating in play activities with friends and siblings, doing ‘homework’, taking special classes, going on field trips, completing chores, performing experiments, practicing a musical instrument, creating arts projects, etc.

One of the most frequent questions that many parents who are new home schooling have is in regards to the amount of time required by their state.  Some states do require 4-5+ hours per day. If that is the case for your sate, keep in mind that actual teaching time is not the same as attendance time.

Attendance time in a school includes time for the kids to settle in, checking attendance, checking homework, snack time, recess time, lunch time, library time, study hall, sports, special classes such as art and music, changing classes, etc. There is quite a bit of flexibility in a 4-5 hour school day.

Below is a sample actual teaching time plan. This plan can be adjusted to meet the needs of your family and child.

Sample Teaching Time Plan

Math

Use an ability appropriate level math text for each child 4 days/week.

Perform drill work on math facts for up to 10 minutes per day; 5 days per week.

Math reading either on Friday or the first Friday of the month as needed.

Language Arts

Phonics for beginning readers-daily

Handwriting-2 days per week

Spelling-3 days per week

Grammar-2 days per week

Reading practice and literature-This includes reading aloud, personal reading, fluency reading, vocabulary development, reading comprehension, etc.

Composition-2-3 days per week. Compositions can be used for reinforcing grammar instruction and handwriting practice.

Vocabulary-One day per week or by integrating into reading/literature.

History/Social Studies/Citizenship

Use a grade-level textbook daily or complete 3-6 history units per day. If you perform units, spend between 1 ½ to 2 hours per day, 2 days per week with reading, hands-on activities, art, music, etc.

Science

Use a grade-level text daily or complete 3-6 science units per year. If you perform units, spend between 1 ½ to 2 hours per day, 2 days per week with reading, hands-on activities, art, music, etc.

Art

Each Friday or every 4^th Friday of the month

Music

Daily

Computer Skills

Each Friday or integrate into other subjects as needed.

Physical Education

Keep track of 75 minutes of physical activity per week or have your child take a special class on Friday.

Health/Safety

May integrate into science curriculum or perform one or two special classes per year.

Electives

Bible-daily

Logic-each Friday or 1^st Friday each month

Foreign language-special class on Friday or daily as needed

Family Living-integrate into regular household activities daily as needed.

Field trips-Fridays or occasionally on other days.

Home School Record Keeping

Homeschoolers may choose to keep records in order to comply with state requirements, provide work samples to future employers or colleges, preserve memories or evaluate a child’s progress from year to year.

Before deciding on a record keeping system, it is a good idea to determine your purpose for keeping records. If you only need to comply with state regulations or laws, be sure you know exactly what is required by your state. Depending on your state, you may be required to submit test results, a course of study, attendance records, health and immunization records or a portfolio of work samples.

One way to keep records very easily and simply is to keep a separate file folder or keepsake box for each child. You might also consider the following methods:

Calendar

Make notes about daily activities

Daily log

This method allows you to keep more detailed notes about what your child accomplishes day to day.

Course of study

This method contains a list of subjects and the materials used to team from.

Journal-make notes in a journal or notebook at the end of day about the books read, completed assignments, educational activities, etc. Date each entry.

Report card

If you give your child grades, you might choose to prepare report cards at regular intervals.

Portfolio

A portfolio is a collection of documents and work samples that can be used for demonstrating accomplishments.

Creating a Home School Portfolio

A home school portfolio can contain a variety of documents, photos and other items that can be used for demonstrating how your child is progressing. Items you might consider including in your portfolio:

• Title page with your child’s name and grade and the current school year

• Course of study that details the subjects taught and resources used

• Statement of goals and objectives for each subject and progress made on goals

• List of books read and the dates read

• List of field trips and activities

• Samples of your child’s work, including writing assignments, tests, workbook pages, artwork, diagrams and photos of activities and projects

• Brochures and programs from events and field trips

• Certificates and awards

• Any relevant additional materials

Setting up your Home School Room

Setting up a room for your home school is a great way to keep supplies and books organized. Some families choose to use a room in their home that is unused to they can create a home school classroom. Other families choose to store materials in the child’s bedroom and then work at the dining table.

In setting up a room, be sure to take into consideration your child’s personality and learning style.

Do they learn best by sitting at a table or lounging?

It is also important to make sure you have adequate lighting, temperature, etc.

Is the area located away from other distractions?

Keep in mind that setting up your classroom area does not have to be expensive. You may be able to find many items you need for your classroom at thrift shops and garage sales, including extra tables for workspace, bookshelves, student desks, lamps, etc. Home schooling families often sell supplies they no longer need, allowing other families to purchase them at a discount. Be sure to check with discussion groups and boards as well as your local homeschooling group.

It may take some time to get your home school room set up exactly as you would like it; however, as a group effort between you and your children it can be a great bonding and learning experience.

Conclusion

The decision to home school is a very personal decision and one that deserves quite a bit of consideration and reflection. While homeschooling has proven to be very effective for many families it is not the right choice for every family. There is also no single right or wrong way to approach homeschooling.

Educating yourself about the legalities regarding homeschooling in your area as well as the different resources that are available to you can help you to make a well-informed decision regarding whether it is the right choice for you as well help you to plan how you will approach homeschooling if you should decide to do so.

Best Regard