home schooling?
okay so i have a 13 girl who about to go in 8th grade and we move around alot and i was think about home schooling her but i have know idea about what to do? do u just buy like book as or is it a program on the internet or how does it work and how much does it cost i only have one child
May 29th, 2009 at 11:06 am
Call your state’s Department of Education (or visit their website). Some states have entire home schooling programs and kits. Also google home schooling and you will get many websites that offer advice and have blogs about it too.
May 31st, 2009 at 8:17 pm
It can be done very inexpensively.
What you have to do varies by state. In NJ, you barely have to do anything, just submit a statement to the area school board saying that your student is keeping up with the state minimums in subjects, and include a brief reading list. There’s nothing formal about it. In fact, aside from laws against leaving young people home alone (which are rarely enforced if there’s no other form of trouble) NJ makes it easy to be self-educated.
Other states are much more strict, to the point where you may even have to be a certified teacher, or run your home-schooling as rigidly as an actual school day (with all the ruinous consequences thereof).
Some sites that may help:
June 1st, 2009 at 6:21 am
We have 4 children, oldest now 15. Here’s what we did for 8th grade:
Here are general ideas on how to start:
There’s is so much flexibility with homeschooling that it can seem overwhelming at the beginning. As long as your daughter is reading good books and growing in her math ability, she will do fine. Relax and enjoy your family!
June 1st, 2009 at 9:32 am
First check with to see what your state requires from you. From there you have 2 options
1. Join an online school like k-12 they provide curriculum (or)
2. Find an Curriculum (fancy word for books/programs) that you want to use with her, buy it and start homeschooling.
There are lots of online support forums ..try cafe mom or the homeschool lounge.
Best of luck to you,
Jana
June 3rd, 2009 at 6:23 am
The first thing you need to do is find out the requirements for homeschooling in your state. To do so, visit
There are many options with homeschooling. Traditionally, the parent teaches the child at home. You would purchase a curriculum of your choice, or you can unschool where you basically do not use a curriculum but follow your childs interests. The latter DOES provide a sufficient education, though it sounds a little suspicious to people new to homeschooling. Personally, our family does something between the two. The cost can range from free to thousands of dollars, depending on what options and programs you choose.
In some states, you can enroll in virtual schools where the child does the curriculum online. I believe these are free, as they are still public education and the school still receives funding for the child (and it actually saves the school money).
Start doing your research and determine which options are best for you and your child, and leave yourself open for change-I know that our homeschool is a lot different today than it was when we started.
I wish you and your daughter the best!
June 5th, 2009 at 9:26 am
My mother homeschooled me from 7th-12th grade. I studied from textbooks which were provided to me by my local schools in my district. I remember she had to stay in contact with this individual who not only provided the ability tests I had to take, but also kept all of my progress reports that my mother had to hand in. I cannot remember what his position was, I’m sorry. If I were in your shoes, I would contact your district school and tell them you want to home school your child, and what steps you need to take to do this.
When my mother homeschooled me it did not cost anything.
I think the main issue was my mother could not work while she homeschooled me so this meant that we did not have much income, as she was a single parent. Moreover, my mother and I spent every moment together, so she did not have the break that most parents get when their children go off to school. Yet, I think this additional time brought my mother and I closer together but there were days when I am sure she wished there a was school she could drop me off at (after all I was a teenager).
I am an only child also, therefore in order to provide a healthy social life she would enroll me in social groups and recreational activities, such as sports, dance lessons, plays etc. For some reason many people are concerned about their child’s social skills when they think about homeschooling. I have never felt as if I lacked a healthy social life.
Also, I do not believe that I have ever lacked in the quality of my education, and no, my mother was not a trained teacher, anyone can home school their children, you don’t have to be an expert. I have soared in all of my academic studies throughout college and at this time I am currently in grad school, pursuing my doctorate. So, I think homeschooling can work if you have patience, love, lots of energy (it can be exhausting for the parents), an outside source of income, endurance, and diligence. If you don’t want to make the big jump to calling the school, if I were you I would do some further research at the library. Overall, I am happy and grateful my mother homeschooled me. I am happy that I did not have to go through some of the things that a lot of my peers had to go through in school. However, homeschooling is not for everyone, sometimes you have to just try it out to see if it works for you. Good luck.
June 8th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
go to pennywiselearning.com.
then go to ACE, that’s what i did.
they send you books to do.
June 12th, 2009 at 1:31 am
Try joining OHDELA. They are a great home-schooling program.
They send you all the home-schooling books you need each year for FREE.
They tell you were to go, and what to do, for her to go take her OATS (or whatever tests she may need to take)
She will also take most of her tests ONLINE.
OATS/SATS/ ETC are taken at an educational place near you.
It is absolutely FREE there is no FEE for anything =)
You can learn more at their website (Website is listed in the Source LIST)
June 15th, 2009 at 7:14 am
Home schooling, yes!
I have one daughter, just turned 14, going into 9th grade. We’ve been homeschooling for 3 years. THE BEST decision I’ve ever made. So, to start, you will need to find out what the laws are for your state. That will determine what you need to do, and how you will have to do it. Some states are easier than others, but it can be done. My first suggestion is for you to go to the Home School Legal Defense Association. They have a web-site, I won’t give it here, but you can find it if you search it. That site will get you started with everything you need to know. It’s easy, it’s fun, it’s good for your kids and it’s good for you. My daughter and I are soooo close because we have time to be together. It’s great. She is getting a great education and she is actually enjoying it. BUT..it is a commitment. It is a lifestyle. And it is just so worth it. But really, really think about it. It changes everything you do.
June 15th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
Homeschooling is o.k. and I do understand your position about wanting to home school your daughter because you all move around alot. I was home schooled from the time I was six grade until my junior year. We also moved alot because of my father career path, but I did not have a great experience with this process. My mom did her very best and she was a college gradute with a master degree but I still missed out on a lot of information that I believe I would have gotten and a public or private school setting. I also feel that the lack of peer contact plays apart into the person you become. Well I am much like my mom and that is not a bad thing but I believe to much shelter can hurt you in the long run. When I went back to public school this was not a good thing I was very green as the kids say and I did not know how to interact within their groups…But if this is something you have to do for your child make sure that you are following the curriculum for the states you are in hitting all the areas and not just what you deem important..Also please try to make sure your daughter is involved in some kind of peer groups where she can interact with people her age..Church groups are great!!!! If you do homeschool I wish you the best and the internet is an excellent source of resources and the local schools will work with you..GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND YOUR DAUGHTER!!!
June 18th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
First of all, just to get this out of the way, since you can’t even spell I really don’t think you should be teaching your child. Now, I’m 13 and I’ve been home schooled up to this point. I can’t tell you how to get started (there’s some kind of orange card thing you have to get). It’s fairly inexpensive. All you have to buy is regular school supplies plus the actual text books, which you can order online once you pick your curriculum. You should see if there’s a home school group in your area. If there is they can help you get started and sometimes they even do group classes for home school kids (I know that totally defeats the point, but it’s true). Good luck! I hope you and your daughter don’t kill each other when you have to spend every minute of every day together.
June 19th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Options depend on where you live. There are free online charter schools all over. If there is not one near you , there are also affordable options like Progress Academy.
June 21st, 2009 at 10:31 am
Before you call the State Department of Education, try HSLDA for info. The Department of Education in my state has nothing to do with homeschooling. They are all for public school because they get federal incentives for each student enrolled in public school and may not give you the answers you seek.
Also, check out these websites for cheap curriculum: