It's that time of year again! Time to think about the children's education and the options that you may or may not have available to you. It's the time of year where random people at the store, doctor offices, and everywhere else begin to ask the kids "Are you ready to go back to school?"
The question really should be "Mom, are you ready to take on another year of homeschooling?" How do you homeschool? I wish I could say it's easy. Well it's not difficult but it does have it's ups and downs. Picking out a curriculum, coming up with a scope of sequence, and over all goals that you would like to see your child to accomplish over the course of the "school year".
Even though homeschooling has its up and downs, I think the how can be broken down into a few simple steps.
1) Learn Your State Laws! Every state has its own laws. So learn the laws for the area you live in. Learn them, understand them, and be sure that you can follow them. Some states require more out of homeschoolers then others.
2) Outline YOUR reasons for homeschooling. Every family has its own reasons. So take time to outline what your reasons are.
3) Before you even beginning to look at actual curriculum sit down and think about what you want the curriculum to do? Think about what it is you are looking for in a curriculum. Not only that but set a price point. Decide what you want and what you are willing to pay before you begin to shop. I firmly believe it's much easier to find choices that fit within your goals and price ranges then to trying to make an over price curriculum fit into your budget and goals.
4) Once you know what your goals are, what your price points are, then set out to find materials that fit within your goals and price point. Through out the process don't under estimate your local library system. I've been able to borrow curriculum, workbooks, etc from my local library.
5) Don't be afraid to change things! Of course you want to give everything a fair shot, but don't be afraid to admit when things are not working out!
6) Trust yourself!
The question really should be "Mom, are you ready to take on another year of homeschooling?" How do you homeschool? I wish I could say it's easy. Well it's not difficult but it does have it's ups and downs. Picking out a curriculum, coming up with a scope of sequence, and over all goals that you would like to see your child to accomplish over the course of the "school year".
Even though homeschooling has its up and downs, I think the how can be broken down into a few simple steps.
1) Learn Your State Laws! Every state has its own laws. So learn the laws for the area you live in. Learn them, understand them, and be sure that you can follow them. Some states require more out of homeschoolers then others.
2) Outline YOUR reasons for homeschooling. Every family has its own reasons. So take time to outline what your reasons are.
3) Before you even beginning to look at actual curriculum sit down and think about what you want the curriculum to do? Think about what it is you are looking for in a curriculum. Not only that but set a price point. Decide what you want and what you are willing to pay before you begin to shop. I firmly believe it's much easier to find choices that fit within your goals and price ranges then to trying to make an over price curriculum fit into your budget and goals.
4) Once you know what your goals are, what your price points are, then set out to find materials that fit within your goals and price point. Through out the process don't under estimate your local library system. I've been able to borrow curriculum, workbooks, etc from my local library.
5) Don't be afraid to change things! Of course you want to give everything a fair shot, but don't be afraid to admit when things are not working out!
6) Trust yourself!
Great tips, youd be surprised how many DONT check there state laws :( then are scared to death when people start asking questions...
ReplyDeleteI have a year to explore my options with homeschooling. I think it will become our reality for the 2011-12 school year (already started paying tuition for one chid and the other one want's to go to elementary school for 4th grade before moving on to homeschool or our parish school). I'm trying to decided right now if we need to go with a program that will generate a transcript and lock me into a specific curriculum/lesson plan or not. We're in NJ so we're fortunate to be in one of those states where we can do what we want, but I have a husband who's requirement is that we have them in an accredited program. Ugh.
ReplyDelete