How To Home School

This entry was posted by Wednesday, 30 November, 2011
Read the rest of this entry »



What Is 1st Step & How To Home School - 1st Step | CurrClick

How To Home School Your Child Successfully

There are many benefits to homeschooling children: as costs of private schools continue to climb, homeschooling is a more affordable option; homeschooling allows more educational flexibility and can be scheduled conveniently around other family activities; and the curriculum and learning environment can be tailored to suit your child's individual needs.

When you decide to homeschool your child, you must have a clear curriculum, plan and goals. Homeschooling allows you a great deal of flexibility, in that you can teach a child something in many different ways, and teach many different things for a given subject. However, this very flexibility can also be your downfall if not handled properly, as you run the risk of providing an inconsistent and sub par education that leaves your child lagging behind his or her peers.

Setting a clear educational plan means you have a better chance for effective homeschooling. To set your plans and goals, it is a good idea to first take a look at your child's standard curriculum for his grade in a public or private school. See what the standard expectations are for a given subject level, then set your targets, timeline and curriculum for your child. Once you have decided what your child is going to learn, you can allow for some flexibility in how your child will learn best.

Homeschooling also requires discipline, as it can be difficult drawing a distinction between home and schooling at home. There are plenty of distractions in any household and when you get busy you may be tempted to try and multitask, that is, to educate your child and also do some other chores at home. Parents may even be tempted to give an assignment to their child and then leave to complete some other activities. By doing so, you are sending a negative message that his schooling is not a high priority for you, and this will seriously undermine the child's attitude towards his own education. So make sure to do household duties "after-school" hours and when "school is in," you and your child are both focusing 100 percent on learning. This will communicate to your child that education is important and top priority.

Homeschooling not only allows you to tailor education to your child's individual needs, something that is lacking in both the private and public school systems; it also allows you and your child to learn together, thus helping to create a valuable learning experience, and also to strengthen family bonds.

About the author: For more on Homeschooling visit about-homeschooling.info. Susan also writes at Internet and Communications.

Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=86853&ca=Education

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. QUESTION:
    What is the transition from home school to public school like?
    I'm writing a story, and one of my characters has been home schooled all her life and, due to her mother's career change, has to start public high school as a freshman. Does the curriculum differ? How does one adapt to the social structure of public school? Do home schooled kids ever feel "sheltered" compared to their public school counterparts? I would appreciate help from anyone who has gone through a similar transition.

    • ANSWER:
      I have recently made friends with a homeschooling family, and also judged a debate competition for homeschoolers and got to know some of the kids. Here is what they told me about dealing with the large groups necessitated by the competition (which is similar to school) and how they felt socially in other circumstances when with non-homeschooled kids.

      One girl told me that it was startling to have to deal with lines (e.g. for food at lunchtime). She wasn't used to being in such a large group that they were treated as a group, not as individuals. I found all of them to be quite social and socially adept. I asked about how they felt when dealing with public school kids. Several commented to me that they found it strange that public school kids based so much on chronological age, eschewing contact with kids even a year or two different: most of them came from large families and, even those who didn't, were just as comfortable talking to adults and children far older or younger as they were with those of the same age. When pressed, they confessed that they found public school students to be rather rude and judgemental: they had, for the most part, been raised such that they were not permitted to exclude people (something schools claim to do, but don't really follow through on) and were never permitted to say rude or unkind things to others, even when others are rude to them (which, apparently, is quite often as being from a large family and being homeschooled is often ridiculed).

      The ones I spoke to did feel that they were quite unknowledgeable about pop culture (not being permitted much TV or pop music), but they didn't see it as being sheltered. They knew they were missing it, but they viewed it more along the lines of the way I would view someone with a bizarre hobby, i.e. "Why do they spend all of their time doing that?" rather than "Boy, I wish I could do that" or "It's not fair that I can't do that". On the other hand, they were much more knowledgable than their public school counterparts when it comes to academic subjects. Even the ones where their levels were similar, the subject matter was quite different: they focused on different parts of history, they may have done math and/or science in a non-traditional order...they would have a hard time if suddenly switching to a public school (in a similar way that someone who moves from one state to another and has to attend a new school system would have a difficult time).

  2. QUESTION:
    How can I be home schooled for only one quarter of the school year, then start up again?
    I am in tenth grade. I recently broke my foot and have been on crutches for eight weeks. Being on crutches it is difficult to get around school. If I re-brake my foot, I'm going to be home-schooled. Can I be home-schooled for only a quarter? Also, how do I get started?

    • ANSWER:
      It depends on your school, but it shouldn't be a problem. They would be more inclined to allow this if you found a certified teacher to school you at home. A lot of retired teachers do this for extra cash. This is pretty common. Two kids at my school did it last year, one of them when they had mono and the other when they had pneumonia. Have your parents meet with your principal and work out the details.

  3. QUESTION:
    How do I start home-schooling in high school?
    Is it possible to start home-schooling now, when I am in high school? If so, how can I learn more about it? And also, does being home-schooled hinder my chances of being accepted to a good university?

    • ANSWER:
      You can definitely start homeschooling in high school, many kids do. There is a great book on the subject, Homeschooling the Teen Years by Cafi Cohen. It can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/Homeschooling-Complete-Successfully-Year-Old-Learning/dp/0761520937/ref=sr_1_2/102-3631082-0686509?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188844705&sr=8-2
      (It's also most likely at your public library.)

      Here is a site that will tell you exactly what you need to do to homeschool in your state, as every state has different rules and laws: http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/default.asp

      Homeschooling does not in any way hinder your chances of being accepted to a good university, unless you just plain don't choose to do the work. Actually, it can help your chances...pretty much all universities (including Ivy League schools) accept homeschoolers without a problem, and many actively court them (read: scholarship/grant money) because they have shown, on average, that they are more socially mature and academically ready for the rigors of college.

      I would suggest to get a copy of the catalogs from your prospective colleges to find out exactly what documentation you'll need to provide, they all have their own regulations.

      In homeschooling, you can take AP classes, concurrent enrollment, and be involved in whatever extracurricular activities you like. Many areas have things like homeschool bands, sports, etc., and because you have the ability to structure your own time, you can also take on an internship and/or develop your own studies to prepare yourself for your future goals.

      Hope that helps!

  4. QUESTION:
    How can home-schooling parents start a real school?
    My Mom is trying to find out how to start a school so she can paid money for home-schooling my sister and I. How do you do that? Does anybody know? She's been looking online but can't figure anything out. Help?
    Somehow scholarship pays for it. She heard about it.

    • ANSWER:
      Just because she starts a "school" doesn't mean she'll receive money to teach you and your sister. The only way to receive money like that is to work at a public or private school.

      In most states, homeschools *are* considered schools - private schools. But no one is going to give her money because she teaches both of you.

      Is she thinking of teaching *other* HS'ed children? That is called tutoring or a private school. It would not be homeschooling, as the students wouldn't be taught/overseen by their parents in their own home.

      You and your sister can attend a public online virtual school. In that case, the government will pay for your curriculum just like it would any other public school. In that way, your mom is "paid" since she wouldn't have to spend the money on your curriculum. You'd have public school teachers overseeing your work, and your mom would act as a mentor over your daily work.

      There are homeschooling education cooperatives. In them, HS'ing parents come together to teach classes, or hire professional teachers (in our co-op most parents are "retired" teachers who decided to HS). It is a sort of "school" as you'd have different classes and instructors. If your mom taught a class at one, she may be paid a small stipend.

      If you give us more info, we can help better. Info like are you currently being HS'ed, who does your mom want to teach, why does she think anyone will give her money to teach her own daughters, etc.

  5. QUESTION:
    How do I convince my parents to home school?
    I'm 5th grade and I want to be home schooled. I want to be home schooled because I'm already doing high school work, so I get bored in school and I want to graduate early, probably when I'm 13. Anyway, I've done a ton of research, made a power point, and made a portfolio about home school. I've never asked my parents, so how can I sure them my research, I don't want to talk unless they bring it up.

    • ANSWER:
      Just go ahead and do it. Don't be afraid, the worst thing that is going to happen is that they may say no. One thing to include if you haven't, is that most colleges, including community colleges won't allow a 13 year old to take classes, regardless of if their parents have said they have graduated. What is it that you want to do, and where do you want to go to college, will they allow you to enroll? Find all that out *before* you go to your parents. I personally wouldn't want my 13 year old to attend college courses. Regardless of how mature my child felt he was, he still would be about six years younger than the other students. The quality of their social interactions would be questionable, and I remember my freshman year at university. Those aren't experiences I think are good for young teens.

  6. QUESTION:
    How is home schooling compared to public school?
    Im a freshman in high school and i am considering being home schooled. I have very low grades and i think it might help me if i am able to move at a slower pace. Can any one tell me there opinions on transitioning from regular school, to home school?

    • ANSWER:
      Both of the above answers are actually speaking of a type of public schools called virtual charter schools. Neither one is homeschooling.

      The general consensus is that you need to deschool for awhile instead of going straight into homeschooling.

      Just take it slow, research the different methods and find what works for you.

      A to Z is a good place to start: http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/

      You can search yahoo groups to find other homeshoolers in your area.

  7. QUESTION:
    How do I become home schooled midterm in the state of Alabama as a junior in high school?
    Hello. I am a sixteen year old junior in high school. I have made the decision, with approval from my parents, to become home schooled.

    I've been researching hours and hours for the past few days and have found some interesting facts.

    But can someone tell me what the first step is?

    Do I order the curriculum first? Or arrange a conference with my high school principal? Help.

    • ANSWER:
      If you are going to homeschool privately-look up your state laws at http://www.hslda.org

      If you are going through an online free homeschool program, contact them and get the admissions process started. Try kaplan, K12 and Connections Academy.

      http://takecontrolofyoureducation.blogspot.com/
      Best of Luck!
      Jana
      http://www.purehomeschooling.com/

  8. QUESTION:
    What does it take to home school children & how much does it cost?
    What does it take to home school your kids & how much does it cost? I just need a ball park figure of cost. I would like to home school my son. I would rather he not attend public school anymore (It is a long story that I dont' want to get into right now). Yes, I now I am not using proper language, spelling, or punctuation right now, but I am upset and crying while I am typing this.

    Thank you ahead of time.
    I live in Ohio.

    • ANSWER:
      What it takes is the desire to do so and the commitment to do whatever it takes to give your son the education he deserves. It sounds like you have both of these, so you're good there :)

      How much it costs depends on a lot of things - the age of the child, any special needs, and the approach you want to take. You can spend less than 0 per year, or you could spend ,000+. It also depends on your budget and on what you are willing to pull together.

      To give you an idea...I homeschool my highly gifted & dyslexic 10yo for around 0 per year, not counting activities like sports and lessons. (We do these as his interest appears and as our budget allows; when necessary, he earns the money and pays for it himself.) For some of his classes, we co op with friends and split the cost; for others, I find great deals on the curriculum.

      The few things that we spend money on include:
      -a subscription to http://www.cosmeo.com/ - it can be paid monthly or annual, completely worth it at per year. We use it daily for a number of different subjects.
      -late fees at the library (oops!) Even if I had to make a quarterly donation, the money would be well spent. Well over half of our curriculum comes from the library. I would say this amount to around per year, but hey - my son loves to read :)
      -math curriculum - for pre-algebra and above, we went with VideoText. I get them used (great condition) at discount, so we probably spent 0 for the 6 module set. Even if we paid full price, it would be worth it.
      -writing program - IEW. This was a one-time investment of 0, which will carry us from grades 3-12. Again, very flexible and completely worth it.
      -science curriculum - my son is a total math and science nut, and I found curriculum at http://www.vegsource.com/homeschool/ swap boards. You can find great deals there on whatever you need. (Just research what you want to use first, then look for it on the swap board.) I found 3 full years of 7th-9th grade science for less than the retail cost of the 7th grade science textbook by itself.

      Everything else, I trade for, borrow, or put together myself. I would suggest getting in touch with a homeschool group in your area; the moms there will answer your questions and let you look through various curriculum choices.

      Question - what state do you live in? A few states will require you to register either before or shortly after pulling your son, and will require you to list your curriculum for the year. If you live in one of these states, you'll need to pick a curriculum before pulling him. Otherwise, you can go ahead and pull him, give him some time to transition, and use that time to get things figured out. There is no need to pull him on Tuesday and start school on Wednesday - you are allowed to take as much breathing room as you need.

      Hope that helps - let us know if you have any more questions. Also, let us know what state you live in and we'll give you links to the laws that apply to you.

  9. QUESTION:
    How do i convince my dad to home school me?
    Okay im 14 and in 9th grade. the problem is i don't really like it. its to much for me i think and i want to be home schooled. high school is a bit intimidating and also i want to learn more but at home. my dad doesn't think home schooling is a good idea. even though i think it is. i know many people who are home schooled and love it more then regular school. ive looked up many things about home schooling . but my dad just wont agree please help.

    • ANSWER:
      I currently home school online. I am 15 and in 10th grade! Depending on what state you live in they probably have an online school in your state. You can go into the school place and meet you teachers still and stuff. The school I attend is bluesky charter school. Good luck!!

  10. QUESTION:
    How can I start my home school year late?

    I home school 3 children in kindergarten to high school. Due to stressful circumstances, we were not able to start our school year until now, I am freaking out because I don't know how to catch them up, We are required 180 days, and school here started mid august. Does anyone have any suggestions or been in this same situation? PLEASE HELP!! Thank you.

    • ANSWER:
      Calm down, you're fine.

      School half days on Saturday, but make it fun, go longer in the summer and take a shorter winter break. Send the kids to educational day camps for spring break and you'll be fine. If that is not enough, tack an extra hour to 3 out of 5 instructional days, and you'll get to add an extra day to each working week. Also, document anything educational that your kids did while your family was unable to get organized. Think like an unschooler.
      We had a similar issue at our house this year, as serious life issues kept us busy through most of August and some of September.

  11. QUESTION:
    How do I get a home schooled child back into the public school system?
    My step-son has been home schooled by his mother but now will be coming to live with us. How do I go about getting him ready for public school and back into "mainstream" public school?

    • ANSWER:
      just go talk to the principal of your local school. it is easy.

  12. QUESTION:
    How do I put home school teaching on my resume?
    I am a certified teacher who is currently home schooling my children. I know this is not giving me actual classroom experience, but I am getting experience teaching 4th and 6th grade curriculum. I am also continuously doing my own professional development online. In my state, if you home school your children, you are legally considered an employee of the home school program you go through (Home Life Academy, Gateway, etc). I'm trying to figure out how to put this on my resume. Any advice?

    • ANSWER:
      Home school teacher
      from (insert starting year here- present)

  13. QUESTION:
    How do you choose the best home-school program?
    I am thinking about home-schooling my children, ages 7 and 11, and I know there are different curriculum's for homeschool. I don't know where to go to find out about homeschooling resources or how to compare the different programs. In addition, what resources are available to home-school parents? How can you suplement the social aspects, art, PE, and other programs offered in school. I would like to find the program that is right for my children and encorporate all of the additional activities to create a well rounded education for them.

    • ANSWER:
      The first thing you need to do is figure out what your kids' learning styles are. For example, you might have a visual-tactile learner, who needs lots of hands-on work. The other child might be an auditory learner who needs to hear the information.
      You do not need to buy a packaged curriculum for your kids, although many people do. The advantage of such curriculums is that they do the work for you - in a sense. Everything you need - if you like the curriculum - arrives in boxes at your home. The disadvantages are that they are expensive and might night fit your child's learning sytle or the subject matter you wish your child to learn. Here is a site with many reviews of such materials: http://www.homeschoolreviews.com/

      Socialization is easy. There is a big, wide, wonderful world out there. If you let your children find their own interests, you will be able to provide many, many opportunities for socialization. Clubs, teams, volunteer work, and homeschool park days (google your town and the words "park day) to find the one closest to you. Your kids can also keep any friends they have from school. It's not an either/or situation.

      For PE, you again follow your kids interests - soccer, martial arts, other team sports, swimming, bike riding, ballet, hiking, etc, are all wonderful ways to stay physically fit. For example, my child does martial arts, horseback riding, and plays a mean game of soccer on park day.

      Art - museums, concerts, videos and my favorite - the library.

      Remember - this is real life, not the artificial "life" offered by schools. Anything is possible.
      Enjoy!

  14. QUESTION:
    How do I get back into public school from being home schooled?
    I left high school to get home schooled at the end of my sophomore year in high school. And the rest of my junior year. And I want to go back to public school to get my high school diploma. Plus I would like to be around a familiar environment. What kind of requirements are there on Florida? If possible i would like a detailed answer.

    • ANSWER:
      Your parents will have to contact your school district to obtain the information, and the documents required upon attending the public school system again.

  15. QUESTION:
    How come home school is way eaiser to get to college than Public school?
    I've been in public school for 7 yrs and I started home school a few months ago & I would just like to get others opinions on this question. Thnx

    • ANSWER:
      It isn't necessarily easier to get into college for a home schooled student. Colleges are looking for stand out students regardless of how they were schooled, be it home school, private school or public school. They are looking for grades, test scores and extracurricular activities. Colleges actively recruit home schooled students. They also actively recruit outstanding public and private schooled students. Colleges set booths at home school conventions. They do at gatherings of schooled students as well. The only overall statistic that I've read is that 60% of home schooled students attend college and 90% of schooled students in honors courses do. I'm certain that less than 60% of high school students attend college, so on average a home schooled student is more likely to attend college. But this comparison isn't complete since not all high school students are in honors courses and not all home schooled students report what they do after finishing high school. The home schooled students who attend college are going to report more often than the ones who don't.

      The real statistics to look at are what percent of the entering college freshman class at any given university was home schooled and what percentages of home schooled and schooled applicants are accepted at a university. If the percent of students at a university who were home schooled is higher than the percent of home schooled students to the student population, your chance of attending that college as a home schooled student are excellent. At Columbia University there are 12 home schooled students in a population of 1,000. That is a smaller percentage than the percentage of home schooled students in the US population. Swarthmore college states that it accepted 1 in 4 home schooled applicants, the same ratio as schooled students. I found an article in the Harvard University student paper that followed three freshman home schooled students. The article didn't say if they were the only three students, or if any others wouldn't participate.

      By looking at this critically I'm not saying home schooled students don't have an excellent chance of getting into college. IAll things being equal, home schooled students who excel stand out But ultimately what really stands out to universities are students who excel, period. Home schooled students excel, but so do other students. There are students from every type of school who are national merrit scholars. Not every schooled student slides by with C's and D's. Those aren't the schooled students who go to college anyway. The idea that all students who attend public school are failures is just as silly as the idea that any student who is home schooled is socially stunted. Neither all or nothing statement is even close to true. You cannot assume that if you're home schooled you'll beat out a schooled student with better test scores, more rigorous coursework or a higher GPA in the entrance game.

      Do the best you can and everything being equal, you will have an excellent chance of getting into a university. Universities aren't going to look down on you for home schooling.

      Edit: Three thumbs down for doing my own research and comming to a conclusion of my own? In deciding on home school for one of my kids that's what I did. I thought that's what well educated people do. Guess not here.

  16. QUESTION:
    How do I convince my parents to home school my younger brother?
    He's 11 and he hates school. He earns really good grades but he feels like he's not learning anything because his teachers spend more time trying to get their students to hush up then teaching. So now he wants to be home schooled.
    How do I convince my parents to home school their youngest child?

    • ANSWER:
      I don't know that you would be able to convince them, it is a huge commitment! But, I do think your reasons for wanting him home schooled are legitimate, it is why alot of people decide to home school. Things to think about: are one of your parents home to home school him, do they have the money to buy all of the curriculum, do you live in a home school friendly state? It takes alot of work, but is very rewarding.

  17. QUESTION:
    Being home schooled is extremely depressing. how to convince my mom to put me in school next semester?
    I am sick of being in this depressing environment. How can I convince my mom to enroll me in school? I am super grateful she used to sacrifice her time for me, but now she has a job and I am teaching myself with this stupid program which is full of information I already know. I have problems motivating myself to do my work. I lack the incentive to succeed, since my competitive nature isn't being stimulated. She won't enroll me in any sports and its a rare occasion I leave home without my equally as depressing parents.

    • ANSWER:
      Public school is definatly a smart move. I saw a large amount of people in the Navy that were homeschooled, and it was obvious. The social skills a person misses out on are very significant. It doesn't matter how smart you become if you can't properly socialize with other people. You also miss out on several opportunities for learning and fun that you'll feel a need to catch up on later, and your future friends will probably be too mature to want to do many of them again. Let her know that she is setting you up for being behind the power curve. Good Luck!

  18. QUESTION:
    How many hours do you home school your 1st or 2nd grader?
    He is 7 and currently in a public school he is reading on a 3rd grade level and he loves math addition subtraction and multiplication!
    I want to home school but need more info on other parents day. Is it scheduled?

    • ANSWER:
      My six year old is reading at about a grade 2 level. He schools four days a week from about 9:00-10:30. Sometimes we go a little later but we are rarely as late as 11:00. That's more than enough time to cover all of the subjects. My kids do the same science and social but their L.A. and Math are geared to their age. If you're worried about scheduling, look at this link:
      http://www.sonlight.com/
      My kids love this program. It's especially great if your family loves literature.
      After the "schooling" is done, we usually spend the afternoon outside or on outings. This week, we've gone on a hike, visited a senior's home (we do that monthly, with a group of homeschoolers), and gone swimming at a hotel with a water slide. Tomorrow or Friday, we're going to go to the woods to find things for the kids to put in their nature journals. They get to do so much more, and they are leaning so much more as well. I found out yesterday that my four year old can name almost twenty five different local birds! That alone makes it worth it for me.

      EDIT: I just wanted to add...the only real negative I've experienced is that my housework sometimes suffers. Many people get their housework done while their kids are away at school. My kids are here with all of their glue and paint and glitter and leaves and pencil shavings and what not. We resolved that by having daily twenty minute tidy ups and mass cleaning on Saturday mornings. Everyone helps.

  19. QUESTION:
    Where can my 16 year old home school student take her GED?
    In Illinois, a home school is considered a private school, so I may home school anyone. My student is a 16 year old, soon to be an emancipated minor. Illinois does not recognize emancipated minor status educationallly. My student would not be allowed to test for GED here until 2009! Even though she is legally an adult!
    Please advise. Are there any states that will test her early?

    Also, does anyone know how to get a pell grant with a home school diploma?

    • ANSWER:
      Since you mentioned Pell Grant, I am assuming this student is aiming for college.

      I would skip the GED idea all together and focus on preparing solidly for the ACT or SAT test. A GED is not required of a homeschooler. A homeschool diploma, a rigerous course of study, and a good ACT or SAT test score to back up that high school transcript is all that is needed.

      A homeschooler does not need a GED to get a Pell Grant. My son is a sophomore in college now with a Pell and scholarship. He did not take a GED test. Since your student will not likely have the financial support of her parents to go to college, she will definitely need to invest her time now to make herself a perfect candidate for a full scholarship. She should pursue a solid and rigerous course of study and make sure that ACT/SAT test score will shine. A Pell has an upper limit of about ,000/yr no matter how much financial need is involved. There are colleges she can go to for less than that, but if she has one in mind that asks more per year in tuition (the average for a private school is ,000/yr), a scholarship will make life so much easier (better than debt or trying to hold down a full-time student schedule while working full-time). Going to a community college for the first two years and then transfering to a four year college may be a good path for this student to look into. Most community colleges are only about 00/yr. Research is needed to be sure of what credits will transfer, but a community college is much less expensive than the first two years at a four year college.

      The procedures for getting a Pell Grant are pretty simple. Most colleges will do most of it for you or the student can do it for themselves. To do it independently, an electronic PIN number must be applied for via the web. You can get the link at the Pell Grant Wesite. Be sure the website is the dot gov one. There is a mimic site that is a dot com site. You DO NOT want that one. Once the PIN is received, then the online Pell Grant 'paperwork' process begins. NOTE - keep the PIN number, it will be needed year after year for the process and anything government oriented for the rest of your life done online will use it. LOL. It is also to be kept confidential as you would keep your social security number. It is essentially a digital signature. This student will benefit by waiting until all the emancipation issues have settled for a year. She or he will need tax return information for any employment or money recieved over the tax year preceeding college admission and social security number. The Pell form, even online, is a bit of a hurdle. LOTS of pages, so set aside a good solid hour of quiet.

      A word about scholarships, try for the essay ones. Most students will shy away from having to write an essay to get a scholarship so the competition there is less intense. There are some essay-based scholarships that end up not being given away because no one tried for it.

  20. QUESTION:
    How do I convince my mom to home school me?
    I've looked up so many programs for online school.I've written paragraphs about the benefits. I've weighed the pros and cons. I have a lot of websites written down, but she still thinks she'll have to get involved. I am terrified of public and private schools. So, I want to be home schooled. I think it would be best for me cause I get really anxious when I just think about school. I need answers to convincing her and fast!

    • ANSWER:
      Tell her about all the bad things that can happen in public or private schools. Only tell her the bad stuff though.

  21. QUESTION:
    How much does it cost to home-school in Tazewell, Tennessee?
    So my daughter is going to be a freshman in high school next year. We live in a town, with a bad high school. So I want to home-school her for her first year, until she can drive to a better school. So how much money will it cost to home-school her?

    • ANSWER:
      Try one of the online high schools. K-12, Connections Academy and Kaplan have free programs in many states. http://takecontrolofyoureducation.blogspot.com/ They often provide a free laptop too.

      Best of Luck!
      Jana
      http://www.homeschooljungle.com

  22. QUESTION:
    Is it possible to home school a middle schooler while working full time?
    I'm debating home schooling my son after this school year (he's in 5th grade). But I work full time and cannot be a SAHM even though I'd like to. How hard do you think it would it be to home school him and work full time? Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      I homeschooled my son through middle school while working full time. It was the right thing for him at the time, and it was actually much less stressful than having him in regular school. If he had been in school, I would have spent my evenings helping with homework, trying to keep up with what he was being taught by other people, trying to communicate with teachers either from work or in the evenings, missing work for school conferences, etc.

      It was quite a juggling act, but we worked it out. You can hook up with other homeschooling families so your son has people to be with during the day; even get some homeschooling time in with them. You can work with him in the evenings to go over basics and give him some projects or assignments to do the next day.

      If your job skills allow, and you can manage it financially, you might be able to work from home, either for an employer or for yourself. Additionally, you may be able to bring your son to work with you now and then.

      Home school is not just doing school-type work at home. It can involve project time, field trips, self-directed learning, time at the library, work study, apprenticeships, and more. And, unless your state laws require it, you don't have to do all the teaching yourself. There are many homeschool co-ops where parents take turns doing different things with a group of kids.

      For instance, a co-op might be set up where one parent does math projects on Mondays, another one does reading seminars or book clubs on Tuesdays, another does history workshops on Wednesdays, another does art projects on Thursdays, another does science labs on Fridays, and another does cooking and shopping classes on Saturdays. Just as an example. There are lots of ways to do this, and it is very successful to work with kids of different ages.

      If homeschooling is the right thing for your child, there are a lot of ways to work it out.

  23. QUESTION:
    What is it like to transition from a home school to high school environment?
    Hi! I am doing an assignment on home education and would love to hear about your transition from the home schooling environment to a high school environment. In particular, how did your new teachers help you to feel welcome? Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      I can only speak of my daughter's experience going into 9th grade after home schooling her entire life.

      How did the teachers make her feel welcome? Well, in most cases they didn't know she had been previously home schooled her entire life. That is because she had been well-educated at home and was not behind in any subject.
      In one case, the teacher would go out of his way to make snide comments on how she didn't know how to do things since she had been home schooled. Like when assigned to hang drama posters, "I guess you know how to hang a poster, since your home school put on so many dramas! Ha Ha Ha." He meant it as a joke, but after a while it got a little old. In fact, she had already starred in 4-H productions, as well as parts in adult community theater. Plus the home school group put on plays at a school campus. Some of the other drama students picked up on his "humor" too. Trying to convince her she didn't know how the "real world worked." Calling her "stupid home schooler." The teacher thought they were hilarious. No, he was not much of a teacher.

      She stayed in that school from 9th to half way through 10th. It was a waste of her day. Too much time wasted. Needless assignments and homework. After home schooling from age 4 on, the cookie cutter methods of the classroom just didn't work for her. She wanted to learn more, in a shorter time period. Without cliques, and teen drama. Unfortunately some of those same drama kids are now at the community college she goes to. Oh well... she learned to deal with them before. (She is 2 years younger than they, but in the same class at school. So, who says home schoolers are stupid now? The joke's on them!)

  24. QUESTION:
    How to finish a public school at home?
    I am home schooled;and I am going to high school next year, and I wanted to know how can I finish a public school at home? I know that I would have to go to school to take state exams and stuff like that, but I wanted to know how do I go about doing that? I am not looking for a online home school, I want to go to a public school but at home, and I would like turn in my work every week or however that works. Please help. :D :D :D

    • ANSWER:
      Hi--the first thing you need to do is find out your state laws. In Michigan, where we live, you can do high school at home (homeschool). We are. There are plenty of websites that give instruction (go to math.com for lessons in Algebra or Geometry).

      If you type in your state and homeschool, you will find a group in your state to answer your questions. If that doesn't help, post your state or send it to me and I will look it up for you. You can also go to your state government's website (consider this part of your social studies or civics or political science). Once you are in state government (here it is Michigan.gov) , go to education department and look up homeschool. If all else fails, send Education Dept an email. They work for your parents' tax money and can answer you. :-)

      Also, if you plan to go to college, you can look at colleges and see their requirements. All of the ones I've looked at don't say diploma. They say ACT or SAT exam. If you don't plan to go (and plan on other training for a job) you can always take a GED test when you are ready.

      Good luck! I hope this helps.We've been homeschooling for 5 years and I taught for 30 :-)
      KTC

  25. QUESTION:
    How do i get the book to home school for a 6th grader.?
    I live in a Albuquerque N.M. I have to home school my child becouse he was beatup at school. How he is a afraid to go to that school. His grades are D and F becuse he did not thinking about his school work. So I diecided to home school.

    • ANSWER:
      Good for you.
      Go to the website for the laws for your state.
      If your state is liberal in the laws, you can create your own curriculum by using the library and online reading and resources.

  26. QUESTION:
    How can i drop out of high school and get on home school?
    In school there is this school psychologist that is really strict & hard on kids being absent & dropping out of high school. I want to get on an home schooling program because i have severe medical problems and i can't attend school a lot. How can i get my parents to agree with this? How can i drop out and get on home school and get a high school? Please help me!

    • ANSWER:
      You wouldn't be "dropping out", you would simply switch from public school to homeschooling.

      First, check out your state laws at www.hslda.com .

      I suggest an online school.
      You could check to see if www.k12.com or www.connectionsacademy.com is available for you. Those two are free, it's just public school online.

      To get your parents to agree you need to do research and present it to them in a mature way. Show them that you are serious about your education and that you think homeschooling is what's best. Maybe show them pros AND cons about it. You can't entirely convince them to homeschool you, after all, they ARE the parents, but you can steer them into choosing it.

      I wish you luck!

  27. QUESTION:
    How do you obtain credit for home schooling when returning to high school?
    I am homeschooling my 16 year old son this year to catch him up because he's very behind. He intends to go back to high school next year. What do I need to do to make sure he gets credit for the classes he takes while at home?

    • ANSWER:
      yes, i agree

  28. QUESTION:
    How can I get my parents to home school me?
    I would like to be home schooled as my school offers little separation between high scoring kids and low scoring kids. However, my parents say I am too smart for them and say I should be in school. It's driving me insane! I need to be with either higher scoring kids or my parents or I will go crazy! Please tell me how to approach this.

    • ANSWER:
      There is no reason why you can't learn yourself with your parents acting in more of a supervising role to make sure you are getting your work done. Your parents could also enroll you in online school, where you can move at your own pace, and also act in more of a supervising role.

  29. QUESTION:
    How do I find information on home schooling for a high school student that isn't gonna break the bank?
    My sister-in-law is having trouble with her 16 yr. old daughter and the school she is attending. She wants to finish her schooling from home but does not have alot of money to spend on curriculm and supplies. She is a single mom and just wants to help her daughter to finish school without the interference from the cruelty of her peers at the school.

    • ANSWER:
      She should check first with the school and school district to find out about any alternative programs available. There may be something free that she can do, like online or independent study. Except perhaps for a small registration fee, everything is provided because it runs out of the public schools.

      They may even have http://www.k12.com where she lives.

  30. QUESTION:
    How would i tell my school i want to be home schooled?
    Could any one who wants to be home schooled be home schooled? My school very well is aware that public school is not working out for me.. I have done ALOT of research and got many people point of veiws who have been homeschooled and not homeschooled's oppinions and i know that this is what i want.

    • ANSWER:
      Usually your parents just go to the school and sign the papers to withdraw you from the public school--they shouldn't have to give them the reason.

      After that, it depends on the state you live in. In Florida, for example, your parents would send a letter to the school district (not the individual school) giving the student's name, birthdate, and address and tell them that the parents plan to homeschool the student. That would be it to officially be homeschooled. (Then you'd have to keep records of what you learn and such...)

      Other states will have other ways of starting. In some states, your parents wouldn't have to notify anyone. In others, they might have to give a description of the curriculum that you'd be using to the school district.

      Main point--Find out the laws for the state you live in. Once you know those, you'll know what to do after your parents officially withdraw you from your public school. Searching online for a homeschool support group for your state is a great way to get the detailed information that you'll need.

      Good luck.

  31. QUESTION:
    How do you go from plublic school to home shcooling your child?
    Well my daughter goes to public school but lately she has been missing school do to her asthma she has always had this problem but it never occur to me that maybe we should do home school but How do you start to home school ?I really don't even know where to start

    • ANSWER:
      You have several options.

      Homeschooling is regulated differently in each state (I'm assuming you are in the US?). To find your state's laws and regulations and learn more about homeschooling visit

      http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com

      You might also like the articles at homeedmag.com

      Another alternative is public school at home. Your child is enrolled in a public school in your state but learns at home receiving their lessons on the computer. It is free to you if you live in a state that permits 'distance learning'. To find out if your state permits distance learning google 'your state' and 'virtual schools'. This type of school has to meet the same legal requirements as every other public school in your state.

      There are also private and religious schools online. They are not paid for by the taxpayer and are subject to very little regulation. Some are excellent private schools, others are get-rich-quick-schemes. If you choose this alternative, do your consumer homework before sending them any money or giving them your credit card.

      best wishes to you and your daughter.

  32. QUESTION:
    How can I home school my son in english?
    We just moved to Costa Rica.My son is suppose to go to 1st grade next year but I want to put him in french school.He speaks only english so far and I want to keep that up.Any good websites that can give me ready lessons for home schooling?

    • ANSWER:
      Calvert School has a great homeschooling program.

      Morning Star Academy

  33. QUESTION:
    How much would a tutor for home school be?
    I live in Canada. I'm debating whether to be home schooled for one year and that's it. How much would a tutor cost? If I am home schooled it will just be for the next grade and then I'll go to public school again next year.

    • ANSWER:
      Most tutors have their own rates per hour.

  34. QUESTION:
    What sort of placement test is there for a home school to public school transition?
    My school requires you to take an exam before re-entering a public high school from home school, so they can decide where to place you. I am going into the ninth grade, and I was wondering if anyone knew if there was a general set up for these types of tests; if there is, how can I prepare for it? Thanks!

    • ANSWER:

  35. QUESTION:
    How fast can i possibly finish high school through being home schooled?
    This year im supposed to be home schooled. I am a sophomore this year, and i was wondering how much faster would i graduate by homeschooling. I would just like to get school over with so i''ll go right through the summers with it also. I guess what im asking is how much faster can i graduate by homeschooling!

    • ANSWER:
      There is a online high school called Virtual Edu. You work at your own pace. So, its completely up to you how fast you will be able to finish high school.

  36. QUESTION:
    How do I start a successful home school?
    I would like to home school my own children, and invite others to attend as well. What are the requirements for doing this (any special licenses, etc.), and what steps should I take to get the ball rolling? Where do I get the supplies to begin?

    Any information would be greatly appreciated!

    • ANSWER:
      Ok well you didn't say if you have a degree in teaching or not so that may be an issue if you are going to have a formal school. If you don't have a degree or teaching experience, and it sounds like you have not yet tried homeschooling your own kids, my advice would be start with your kids and see how that goes first. It isn't easy and it takes a lot of time to keep on top of more than one child and maintain a household. Are you well informed about the different curriculums, do you have a room in your home where you can accomodate a number of children? How are you going to teach different children at different levels with different abilities? What age are you going to start at? How high will your school teach to? How will you handle behavioral problems or children who refuse to do the work? How will you handle it if a child gets sick? How will you handle it if YOU or YOUR child get sick?

      There is a lot to consider. And the cost outlay might be very expensive. To me homeschooling is not easily turned into a business. Then it is just your private school that your kids attend. Homeschool is sometimes about having a day off in the middle of the week to go to the Dr or taking an odd couple of days off because Grandma is in town. Or going on field trips. How would you transport everyone?

      I wish you luck.

  37. QUESTION:
    How do I prepare from going to home school to high school?
    My parents seemed really against me going to school, but then I asked about this 1 week attendance thing (Im home schooled btw) and it turns out they don't have that (My dad called for information) And I said I wanted to tour the school (assistant principal invited me) and my mom said I might as well make an appointment with the principal instead. Do you think I'll get to go to school?

    • ANSWER:
      yeah because it should be part of you choice too not just your parents. and dont they want you to have a high school experience and have friends that you will keep for ever. tell them that. and if you really like the school i say it should happen.

  38. QUESTION:
    Have you noticed how home school naysayers only want to talk about socialization?
    They cannot talk about educating the children because by now everyone knows, even though they are only a small percent, that home schooled students are winning all the spelling and geography bees, and that they are getting into the best colleges and graduating with honors. They also know that public schools do such a poor job of teaching that students fail to learn good study habits they need to do well in college and they are graduating from high school unable to read their diplomas.

    By any standard it is obvious that home schooled students are far better educated. Therefore, the naysayers talk about learning social skills because social skills are almost impossible to qualify and measure. It makes you wonder how, when the country was lightly populated and most people lived on farms, how their great great grandparents and men such as Washington, Jefferson, and the other founding fathers ever developed social skills.

    • ANSWER:
      MS.veronica_J makes the argument that sex education is one of the advantages of public schools. Per the "Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance --- United States, 2005" by the Center for Disease Control, Department of Health and Human Services, almost two thirds of 12th grade high schools girls attending public schools have had sexual intercourse and over half are currently sexually active. See Tables 44 & 46, of the reference shown below.

      Isn't it wonderful that public schools are teaching students to have sex. No doubt MS.veronica_J would prefer that sex education in public schools was even more effective so that 100 percent of the students were having sex. How dare parents of home schooled students not encourage their school age children to have sex.

      Takeashot makes the silly argument that home schooled can’t get math and science. My father is a scientist, physics, Ph.D. I guarantee he can teach those courses far better than public school teachers with the educations degrees they are required to have. He also claims that bees don’t pay the bills. The following proves otherwise:

      The geography bee grand prize is a ,000 college scholarship. The runners-up are awarded smaller scholarships and the top 10 geography whizzes take home 0 prizes.
      The spelling bee winner hauls home ,000 in cash, a trophy, a ,500 savings bond and a set of Encyclopedia Brittanica reference books. All other contestants get an electronic copy of Merriam Webster’s dictionary and a cash prize that varies depending on when they were eliminated.

  39. QUESTION:
    Do you view home school martyr David Koresh as the standard by which all home school parents should be judged?
    Do you view now deceased home school leader David Koresh as a martyr for our cause? Is Koresh the "gold-standard" that all other home school parents should be judged by? How common is it for middle-aged parents to marry pre-pubescent girls in their home school group?

    • ANSWER:
      You must be joking. He was hopefully no standard for anyone. I think those poor people were truly
      mislead, misinformed about the truth, abused physically, mentally, emotionally and psychologically.
      No,there should be NO modeling of that kind of conduct by any mature adult anywhere. It is against the law to engage in those types of marriages with children.

      Wake up and read the papers. I hope David is no martyr for any educational cause.

  40. QUESTION:
    How I am supposed to get my parents to home school me?
    I am currently in public middle school. This was my first year in public school! I have been to 1 private school for a year and was home schooled the rest of my life. I hate public school but my parents say I have to deal with it! I am really great with the work(home schooled or not) but they won't home school me. How I am supposed to get my parents to home school me?

    • ANSWER:
      I agree with your first reply that you need to explain exactly how you feel to them. Then listen with an open ear to why they chose not to continue to homeschool you. I know that is going to be hard to do but the more mature you are in the discussion the better it will help them to see how serious you are. I think a main point is going to be you showing them you will buckle down and do the work. No parent wants to homeschool a child that is unappreciative or lazy in work ethics.

      If the reason they quit was money then I would suggest looking into a charter school. These are typically free, include everything you need for the year and often times include a free computer if you need one.

      If the reason they quit was their fear of your higher subject matter then suggest that you can try it yourself. If you feel this strongly that you want to homeschool then be willing to read the teacher guides yourself, go online or to the library if necessary to find your own answers. Between a teacher guide and the internet there isn't much that one couldn't learn.

      If it was due to attitude or lack of motivation then this is the time for you to correct those issues and prove to them you want this. Start to help out around the house more, be more obedient if necessary. Show them you will be an asset to have home all day. :o )

      If it was due to social issues then I would check into local youth activities, sports, church youth group, homeschool groups, or any other organized group you can find. This might help ease their thoughts on the socialization issue if you have scheduled time with other kids.

      I wish you the best of luck in discussing this with your parents!

  41. QUESTION:
    How to get involved as a home school student?
    How would a home school student make friends, and get involved with things if there isn't a good active home school group in the area?

    • ANSWER:
      You don't need a homeshool group to stay active.

      The first question to ask yourself is, "What am I passionate about?"

      You have the freedom to decide what you'd like to do with your life and time.

      Do you want to work with people/animals? Do you want to travel? Do you want to get involved in the performing or visual arts? Saving the planet? Engineering or software design? Do you want to learn/teach/sell crafts or some other product? Would you like to intern at the company of your dreams? Would you like to become extremely proficient at a physical/mental activity? Do you like competition/cooperation/a combination of these two? Do you want to bring justice to the world? Save the oceans? Spent a year learning in a culture vastly different than your own?

      My daughter asked herself these questions and started exploring the answers. Currently, she is a black belt, a Tae Kwon Do instructor, a crochet artist with an online shop, she is writing a novel, and is considering whether to begin a class at our local public access television station.

      The world is yours. Jump on in.

      Read The Teenage Liberation Handbook to get you going.

      All the best.

  42. QUESTION:
    How do you home school parents keep things organized?
    I am looking for ways to organize our home. Seems that my dinning room has been swallowed up into a mess of bills and school stuff! I need some help! Any ideas?

    • ANSWER:
      If anyone figures it out, let me know, LOL!

      I have a dresser stuffed with supplies (math manipulatives, scales, microscope and slides, rocks and minerals, books, paints, flash cards, magnifying glasses, mirrors, blocks, etc.), plus the cabinet and bookshelf of the computer desk...and my dining room is STILL overflowing!

      Heard of the Workbox system? A lot of people seem to like it.

  43. QUESTION:
    How do i get a Signed Home School Program Certification form and Transcripts?
    i was home schooled.i found a really good university and all i need is Signed Home School Program Certification form but im not sure how to get one.can someone help?and what are the requirements to get this?

    • ANSWER:
      If you homeschooled through an online school, correspondence school, or other kind of umbrella school, contact that school and they will send one. If you were just home schooled by your parents then your parents need to create and sign one and send it to the university.

  44. QUESTION:
    How do I start my kids with home school?
    I was wondering do I have to have some kind of training or certificate to do home school for my children? Would that be a good idea? The reason is because this society is so bad that I don’t even want my kids around other kids because they might teach my kids bad things. So is it a good thing. People with experience only please.

    • ANSWER:
      call the education department

      mark k

  45. QUESTION:
    How can I find a home school teacher in Oakland?
    Me and my friend are in the 12th grade and we do not want to go to school again for personal reasons. So we wanted to look for a teacher to come to my house and home school me and my friend.

    • ANSWER:
      If your school district has a home study program, then that is what you want. It isn't for ill or injured students, that is Home and Health. It isn't Independent Study, that is where you go once a week and meet with a teacher, and pick up your weekly work and turn in the past week's work. Call your district office and see if they offer it. Or, Independent Study might work for you too. If your district doesn't, some neighboring districts might let you in, with a transfer from Oakland. Districts don't like to give them lately, they lose the money when you leave!
      Other than that, you would have your parents home school you, or do an online school. But, to have a teacher come to your house means a district program.

  46. QUESTION:
    How do I go about finding a registered elementary school teacher to work part time and home school my kids?
    I want to home school my two daughters who are going into 2nd and 4th grades and want to hire an elementary school teacher part time to do this. How do I go about finding someone? I have absolutely no idea how to find someone who can come to our home and teach the girls under the California curriculum and who has all their own teaching materials etc. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

    • ANSWER:
      Do you work full time? If you want your girls to be home schooled so that they can learn more than what they're taught at school, then I suggest you teach them yourself. Otherwise, try posting an ad on Craigslist.

  47. QUESTION:
    As a home school student should you be cooperative with the plan of education that your parents have for you?
    I notice quite a few students (?) making comments and disparaging remarks about their parents and home school. Do you realize how much better you could do for yourself if you made it your goal to excel in your studies? I can't imagine how difficult it must be for your parents to have to deal with your bad attitudes.
    Home study is a great blessing -- it can be your best ally for a strong and smart future. Don't waste your time fighting about it --- study and get on with life.
    The answers that are pouring in are showing some real progress. Someone asks: "....but how can they offer an entire education? " it seems to assume that 'they' can't offer enough --- it's now time to find out just HOW they do it.--- THAT is my next question so be watching this forum!

    • ANSWER:
      I agree wholeheartedly with this statement. I homeschooled for several years and recently graduated highschool. The first year I homeschooled, I hated it and gave my parents a really hard time about it. I was complaining constantly and as I look back at it now, I can't believe that I acted like that. The summer after my first year of homeschooling, i went to a christian summer camp and God really spoke to me about my attitude and behavior when it came to homeschooling. I decided that from that point on I would control my attitude not the other way around, and guess what, I love all of the rest of my homeschooling years. My motto in life is "it's all about the attitude" this is so true. By the way, on a side note, i am a college freshman now, and for all you people out there that think homeschoolers are socially unprepared and academically behind, you are wrong. I'm doing just fine.

  48. QUESTION:
    How to find a home school group in my area?
    I live in Henderson, Nevada and am homeschooling my 5 year old daughter, Emily. I have a total of four of them all under the age of six. I want to have Emily in a home school group and other activities so this can encourage socialization. How would I find one in my area?

    • ANSWER:
      Here are 7 that popped up in a search of yahoo groups for Henderson Nevada Homeschool
      http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=Henderson+Nevada+homeschool

      You can also try searching for your county instead of city, or the nearest large city.

  49. QUESTION:
    How does high school home school work?
    Im interested in going to home school for certain resons. Im like on the 2nd quarter of freshman year. How does moddle school work? Do you do all the work on a computer or do they send u worksheets to wok on?

    • ANSWER:
      There are many different ways to homeschool. You can homeschool through a correspondence school where you mail, email, or take online tests and have teachers that grade your work. You can "homeschool" through an online public school, if that is available in your area. You can purchase textbooks through various curriculum providers that come with keys so you or your parents can grade your work. You or your parents can create custom curriculum that fits your needs, interests and strengths. You can unschool. Or, you can do a combination of any of the previously mentioned methods.

      Example Correspondence School - http://www.laurelsprings.com/
      Example Online Public School - http://www.k12.com
      Example Curriculum/Textbook Provider - http://www.mathusee.com
      Example Custom Curriculum - http://blog.denschool.com/2011/09/interest-based-learning.html
      More About Unschooling - http://www.sandradodd.com/unschooling

  50. QUESTION:
    How do i home school my child in michigan?
    What are step by step instructions on how i go about home schooling my child. I have no idea on how i do this or anything i just know i want to home school my child. Like do you have to go to the high school that they are attending right now and tell them you wanna home school your kid or what??

    • ANSWER:
      To homeschool a child you just need to become compliant with your state laws. Here is a complete legal analysis for the State of Michigan:

      http://www.hslda.org/laws/analysis/Michigan.pdf


Tags:
Category: how to home school
You can follow any responses to this entry via RSS.
You can leave a comment or trackback from your own site.

Leave a Reply