Information on Homeschooling

I don't have any information for you, sorry I can't help in that respect. I just wanted to respond to the two people who are very obviously anti-homeschooling. Anyone can make a typo, especially when you are trying to be fast. I don't judge people based on that! My parents started homeschooling me in second grade because according to the state standardized testing in first I had learned nothing that entire year. In college I had several people comment that "you don't act like a homeschooler". I think homeschooling is what you make it. If you keep your kids home and isolate them from everyone, obviously they will be a little strange. If you take the freedom that homeschooling brings and use it to expose your kids to different experiences, and make sure they have opportunities to spend time with other kids, they will be fine. Probably even more well-rounded then some public school kids. BTW, I have a bachelors degree in nursing. My brother, who was also homeschooled has a masters in business, and the youngest is currently in college getting his degree. Neither of my parents are teachers, they just made sure we did our work. Sorry, I just found those comments very narrow-minded and I had to put my two cents in. Good luck!

This is going to come across as *terribly* rude, and I'm sorry in advance, but I'm worried about someone homeschooling who misspells "experience."

I'm a professor and currently have a student who considers the homeschooling that his parents gave him "child abuse." Of course, this is an extreme, extreme case (they limited his education to religious subjects and math). I have graded papers of his which have words as simple as "put," "stop," etc., misspelled. He is currently seeing a counselor at the college to be tested for a learning disability so that he can receive extra help, but because he was never in the "traditional" school system, he is probably around 20 years old, and this is the first time it has ever been done for him.

I *never* want to see this happen to another person. NEVER. I know that there are some parents who are wonderful homeschoolers. My best friend from college was homeschooled and was the full tuition scholarship recipient in chemistry for our college.

I guess what I'm saying is think about what your level of education may be, if you are a certified teacher, if you have had classes in the philosophy of education or different theories of education. Perhaps if these are things you can do or have done or will do before you start homeschooling, you should homeschool your children.

Meant with the best of intentions,
S

Well, here's my two bits. We have been homschooling for 3 years and truly love it. We know our children best and know how they learn best. For the past year we have been part of one of the many parent/partner programs out there that are offered by the public school. We had just moved to a different area and really desired to meet other families so the program was hopefully going to meet that need and it definately did that. My concerns about these programs are many, but I will try to make it short. #1 - No matter how you register your child (full-time/part-time) they are registered as a public school student. #2 - The public school system is losing so many students each year that they had to create these progams to get you SUCKED back into the system. #3 -You are held accoutable for completing so many hours or so much work in a time period and in a lot of cases you have to report and review their work every month. #4 - They want to know what you will be teaching for the year and it must be approved by them. You have to submit a learning plan for the year and pretty much stick with that plan. If you plan on using any Christian curriculum, it will not be accepted by the program. #5 - These programs get thousands of dollars each year for each child enrolled and you MAY only see a tiny bit of that. #6 - You have to be careful of the influences in these programs - even though most will say they are Christian and probably are, there are worldly influences there as well, even with the teachers and you need to be aware of what teachers teach what - some are pretty screwy! We utilized our local program for one reason and that was to meet like-minded families. We have met those families and we are all un-enrolling in the program and will be TRUE HOMESCHOOLING FAMILIES. Only you can decide what is right for your family, but just be careful with these programs, there is a lot things they don't tell you about them and quite frankly they really don't want you to know. As soon as you set foot into one of these programs your kids are considered public school students and are held under the thumb of the state and their authority. Sorry to be so negative, but I am just done with these programs, can you tell! Best of luck in whatever you decide. They are YOUR CHILDREN and no one else knows them better than YOU!!!!!

I am a full time homeschooling Mom in Washington state. This state has one of the most liberal homeschooling laws in the country. You don't have to file any paperwork or really do anything until your child reaches age 8. After that, you simply need to ask your school district for a form called the Declaration of Intent, sign it and return it to let them know that YOU and not THEM are responsible for your children's education. You are supposed to have some form of formal evaluation starting the year that they reach age 8 but YOU are the only one who sees the scores unless you enroll the child in public school. The evaluation can be a written appraisal of a collection of work that the child has done that year by a licensed teacher (portfolio) or a standardized test, some of which can be taken in your home and others that you can sign up for. If you live in Washington, the first place to look is the WHO Washington Homeschool Organization website.

My daughters are 9 years old and 3 years old. My 9 year old works comfortably at the 5th grade level using the Washington Virtual Academy (WAVA) which we are very happy with. Homeschooling is very rewarding but it is energy intensive and very demanding of your time, especially when the children are in the first two grades. It is also VERY important to belong to a homeschool Support Association in your local town, a coop or other organization where your children can meet friends and socialize. The earlier you start mixing with homeschooled children, the better, because as the girls get older, the social situation gets much more dicey and the last thing you want is unhappy children who are isolated and begging to go to school because "that is where the kids are". With organizations, you can be going many times a week so you will have to choose. With your physical condition, it may also be difficult to homeschool for you because mixing with other kids will almost always involve driving. You can e mail me and ask any other questions you may have.

H.

Hey J.--

You're right - there are tons of options out there! When we moved to the Northwest a few years ago I was thrilled with the support of homeschooling that I found however, I was totally overwhelmed by all the options, info and opinions we were getting. We are not able to afford the traditional homeschool curriculums out there nor was I confidant in my patience and perseverance in making up my own lessons every day, forever, for three children. I KNEW that would be a burn out and fast! So we started checking into the options offered by the school districts. Most of them have some type of home based education options. For various reasons, we were not happy with this either. When we found WAVA we were absolutely thrilled! It is part of a public school district, mostly online and completely free! You log into the online school each day where your schedule (which you are free to set up yourself, change whenever you need to and tweak at a moments notice) is already set up for you, your lessons are there, as well as the answers and more indepth activity ideas if you want to pursue them. The lessons are great. If you're not real confidant with your teaching, they are so specific that you can just follow it exactly. But, if you want to branch out or just use it as a guide and teach it yourself you can do that too. The testing is also scored online and a progress chart (which my daughter LOVES to keep tabs on each day) displays your progress. You have access to a certified teacher as well as field trips and other functions. If you are full time with WAVA you are required to complete state mandated testing - but they set up local locations for you to do that. If, however, you prefer not to be that tied to the state, you can sign a waiver declaring homeschool status, take one less class through WAVA (and yes, PE counts!) and then your requirements aren't as rigid. You can also split the difference between WAVA and your local program (if you have one). My daughter wants to join the orchestra through the local Home Choice Academy but we want to continue her regular lessons through WAVA. NO PROBLEM! You fill out a different form and the funding is split. You can take advantage of both programs since both are through the state. WAVA is the basic education (Math, Language Arts, Phonics, Science, Art, History and they also have you log PE hours although there are no set lessons for that one). If you want to expand and include "arts" then your local program is a great place to start. Most of the ones around here offer art classes, various types of music, languages, and PE type things. We've only done one year with WAVA but we have LOVED it. Makes it possible for us to have our child be schooled at home like we wanted without all the stress and expense of trying to purchase it and set it all up ourselves. Look at www.k12.com/wava if you're interested. GOOD LUCK!

A great resource for getting started is a book by Cathy Duffy called 100 Top Picks for Homeschooling. She takes you through step by step to help determine the best curriculums for your family. Here in our local school district we have found lots of support in helping us navigate the "regulations" concerns. Best of luck to you!

Have you heard about www.connectionsacademy.com ?
It's actually a public school program that allows you to "homeschool" but with the help of a teacher. Your child is assigned a teacher that you keep in contact with by phone and email and they design all of the assignments specifically for your child and email them to you. They also grade everything for you and you can connect with them if you need help teaching certain things. As the parent, you're actually considered the "coach" and not the teacher...you just guide your child's teaching but the assigned teacher does most of the work.
The best part? It's free because it's a public school program!!!
I'm planning on using it when my oldest turns kindergarten age.

It might really help you out.
Good luck!

S.
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Hi--

I truly wanted to homeschool, but my husband and are separated and I don't see how I can do it just now. However, I have many friends who do homeschool and use different resources. One resource I have been told was very helpful to some homeschooling mamas was through the Village Home School based out of Beaverton. I can't tell you a lot about it, but you might want to call them and see if they can give you some information. Here is their link: http://www.villagehome.org/

Best of luck to you and happy home schooling!

As K J noted in a previous post to you, I have heard great things about the Washington Virtual Academy (WAVA). My sister is thinking of homeschooling two of her four children and thinks it is an excellent program. Good luck with whatever you choose!

Hello,
I have three boys and I have been homeschooling for about 5 years now. I love it. The results I have seen in my kids proves to me that homeschool works. In my opinion it's the best thing you can do for your kids.
There are lots of choices out there. I don't know what state you are in but, It's pretty much the same for most states. There are three main choices. You can homeschool through a home study program through a local public school. this is where you do all the work that the public school requires along with their state required tests etc. and you turn your work into their teachers to correct and determine your childs grades etc.
Then there is charter schools. This is also a state funded program. Typically you are the teacher. The charter school asigns someone to look over you and make sure you are doing what is needed. They help you choose your curriculum and help give you ideas. You do the work with your children. You decide what they will learn and how they will learn it. Then you turn your work into the person who oversees you for their approval. Since the charter school is funded by the state, they are required to have students still take the state tests.
Then the last option is to homeschool through a private school. You can do this through a local private school or through an online private school. There are many of them out their, so you'll want to do your homework and choose wisely. The private schools cost money on your part but, depending on what you are looking for, it can be worth it. Also because private schools are not funded by the state they are not required to meet the state standards, so your child has the ability to work at their pace and build on their strengths.
I have tried all three types of homeschooling and have found that I prefer the private school. I personally like having someone that I am accountable to, That provides my curriculum for me but, still allows me to teach my kids in the manner that I want to teach them. I wanted my kids to have christian curriculum so I found a private school online and enrolled them in it. We use Christian Liberty Academy. We live in California and the school we are enrolled in is actually in Illinois but, they send us all of our work and we send it back, No Problem. I love the program that we are in. It costs me about 1,500 a year for all three boys. That includes their curriculum etc. You can find these type of schools online. You can find your local charter schools online also or by calling the local public schools.
Remember, It's not easy at first but, hang in there. It gets easier and easier every year. you will see the results in your kids and the benefits that come along with it. You won't regret doing it. I suggest trying to find a home school mom support group of some sort. It helps to know there are other moms dealing with the same things you are. It also helps to be able to encourage eachother and share ideas with eachother.
Good luck! If you have any more questions please feel free to contact me. I'd love to help. J.

I have found two great resources called "Home Choice Academy" and "Home Connections". They are publically funded schools that hold classes for home school kids, so there are teachers like a regular school, and a myriad of classes and times you can choose from, so that you don't have to teach everything at home, and then you can choose what you would like to teach at home, and what you would like them to take...plus they get a little of both worlds, and get to socialize with kids who are also home schooled. We haven't started yet, but I plan to next year. I have some friends doing it, who are loving it. Both of these schools are in the Vancouver area. Good luck to you!

Hello! I see that you have a lot of advice, but I just wanted to throw in one more thing. I home school my 3 kids. I use Calvert. You can check them out at www.calvertschool.org They send you EVERYTHING you need, right down to pencils and paper. They even have add ons that you can do to enhance your curriculum if you would like. (Like a foreign language or art history... stuff like that.) They even have a re-use program for families so you can re-use the books and they will just send you the consumables.

The days are set up so you don't have to spend much time preparing a lesson. The manual will tell you in advance when you need to gather things ahead of time. So when its time for school to start, I just have the kids get out their books and we start.

As for the people who tell you that your children won't get any social skills, they're full of hooey. I have my kids in baseball, softball, girl and boy scouts, plus there are kids in the neighborhood that they play with.

I noticed that you got the info on the state testing, so I won't go into that. Good luck and have a great time! I think it is SO worth it!

S.

We have decided to home school this year, and I agree...there is a TON of information out there. The program we are using is called WAVA. It's publicly funded, so it's completely free. You have a teacher that works very closely with you and is there to help whenever you need it. You are more the teaching coach, rather than the teacher. I have been very impressed so far with the help I've received just enrolling my children. Good luck in whatever you decide. If you're interested, the website is
http://www.k12.com/wava

Hi J.. Here in Oregon, you can homeschool your children on your own. You have to notify the district and arrange for standardized testing in grades 3,5,8 and 10.
Here is a link to a summary of Oregons regulations:
http://homeschooling.families.com/blog/homeschooling-in-o...

We have homeschooled independently for 15 years. We like having the freedom to choose our own curriculum and go at our own pace if a child is faster or slower in one subject than the "norm". We keep our costs down by buying used books, using the library alot and exchanging with other families. If you do this, it is very helpful to join a local homeschooling support group for both social interaction and moral support.

I like the book: "Homeschooling, the Right Choice" by Christopher Klicka. It is one-sided but gives a good perspective on education from a Christian point of view.

Some families prefer to homeschool through the public school system for the structure and financial support. I think each district runs its own program so you could get information from them. It is good that you are looking into homeschooling now. It gives you a couple of years to sort thru all the information and decide what works best for your family.

Hi J.,
Go for it! We are new to homeschooling- 5 and 2 1/2 yo. So far it is the best decision we have made for our son. We failed at every different kind of preschool, including special ed. He is now making excellent progress. Join a H/S support group in your area, start investigating curriculums and call your local school districts. Many of them have a home school program, where your kids can attend classes a few days a week, opt for testing, help keep you on track. We like the WAVA program as well, I really like there phonics program for reading. Your tax dollars also pay for books, supplies, etc. when using these programs.

Enjoy your kids at home, you know them best and are their best teacher.
T.

Hi I have a 3 year old daughter. I am currently using a book called Little Hands to Heaven for homeschooling. It is a preschool curriculum for 2-5 year old. When she turns 5 I plan on using the Connections Academy. It is not technically a homeschool. It is a part of the public school system and based out of Scio, Or. It is a virtual school. Connections Academy provides you with all of the books and a wonderful support system. Teachers call and check in with you at least twice a month. This might be something you would be interested in looking into. Good luck to you!

I think it's great that you are considering homeschooling. About a month and a half ago I asked this same question here and and like you got alot of responses. There are alot of options out there. After alot of research and advice from others we decided to try it for a year and see how we like it. We are going to use a state funded program and since they don't pay for religeous material (which we want) we will buy those out of pocket. And as far as the socialization issue, you can get your children into activities such as sports,scouting, playing with kids in the neighborhood, spending time with extended family(if they live nearby) church (if you attend one), homeschooling support groups, etc... The fact of the matter is you decide who your kids socialize with and how much. Also you get all that extra quality time with your kids. Think about it how many anti-social kids and violent kids, and underacheivers come out of the public school system? Lots!!! I spent my entire childhood in public schools and I don't see how I benefitted very much from them. Don't get me wrong, some kids do very well in public schools. But not every kid should be crammed into that one size fits all standard and not every kid can deal well with peer pressure for 13 years. Homeschooling gives you more choices for how you want your kids to learn and you can tailor each child's schoolwork to their individual needs and learning style. Hope this helps.
H. T.

Hi J.,

We've been homeschooling our 9 year old son and 8 year old daughter for three years and I can honestly say it's the BEST thing we've EVER done for our family.

Don't worry about joining co-ops, in my brief experience with a co-op here in Tacoma it was more like a public school that met once a week and really didn't offer that much for my children. They learn SO mucb at home and they have plenty of opportunities to develop friendships through our various outtings to nearby parks, their music lessons and our church.

They are amazing kids with beautiful hearts who are developing confidence, curiosity and they both have a keen sense of their own self worth(s).

I hope this helps. I would love to talk with you more if you'd like. I know many, many homeschooling families and there are TONS of resources at our fingertips. We are NOT bored!!

G., Tacoma

I home-schooled my daughter as a teen in CA, so things may be different in Oregon. If I were you, I'd start with either your local school district or a private school such as Morningstar who has a home-schooling component.

I also struggled withthe same thing a couple of years back, and was so overwhelemed with all that was out there. I went ahead and took the plunge with my then 5 year old and homeschooled him for kindergarten. I just went to the Learning Tree and got the basics, Math, writting, reading, along with a fun drawing or craft book for projects. It worked out well for us. When I went to work at a private school this past school year ( so he could go at half the cost) he was ahead in his class,and the best reader. You dont have to worry about state testing until 2nd or 3rd grade I think, at least here in Oregon. And there are certain companys you can go with that will keep track of all that for you. Im sure you have found out a lot on line. I dont know if this helps but good luck! J.

Early Education At Home is a great way to start out. It's an early preschool curriculum that taught me just how easy and fun homeschooling can be! I'm glad you recieved info on your state regs. Have fun!

Why do you want to homeschool? I just think kids that are, are so deprived of so much. I actually find them a little strange. All the kids that I have ever met have no social skill's. They dont know how to interact and are lacking in school. I think that people that homeschool there children are being selfesh and they aren't thinking about there children just themselves. Good luck....

Our son is almost 2 and we have decided on homeschooling our child as well. I found a particular book to be very helpful just to ease me into the world of homeschooling.
"The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child: Your complete guide to Getting off to the Right Start" by Linda Dobson