Post by Charity on Feb 24, 2004 0:21:01 GMT -5
What is Homeschooling?
The term Homeschooling implies that the learning takes place at home, but actually homeschooling affords children (and parents) the opportunity to use the entire world as their learning grounds. You will find almost as many different definitions of homeschooling as you will find different methods and ways to homeschool.
Many different kinds of people choose to homeschool. Rich, poor, large families, only child families, single parent homes, families who live in large and small cities, families that live in the country or on farms, families of all different races, families who are religious, and secular families. No matter how each of these families chooses to homeschool, you will find that no two families have the exact same homeschooling environment and experiences. Homeschooling is not just education at home, it becomes a family's lifestyle.
When you are first looking into homeschooling, there are a few basics that are important. There really is no specific order to how you go about addressing these issues, but there is one issue that I believe everyone should start with first. Know the laws in your state!
Is Homeschooling Legal?
Yes. Homeschooling is legal in every state in the U.S. However, each state has it's own set of Laws and Regulations so it is very important that you find out what your state requires for you to homeschool your children. Some states have very strict requirements, such as requiring the parent to have a college degree and/or teaching certificate to be allowed to "teach" their children at home. Other states are less strict and only require the parent to have a High School Diploma or GED in order to be allowed to "teach" their children.
Other regulations may include having to file a "Declaration of Intent to Homeschool" form, attendance reports, standardized testing at various times during your child's homeschooling years, and having to cover specific subjects within your child's curriculum. Again, these laws and regulations vary from state to state, so if you are homeschooling or planning to homeschool, and decide to move to another state, you will want to look into the homeschooling requirements of the state you plan to move to. For some this could mean the difference between moving and staying put.
The Laws in your State will help you know what, if any, forms you need to file once you begin to homeschool. They will also inform you of any ongoing paperwork or testing that you may need to do in your state. Knowing the Law is a huge step in knowing just how to get started with your homeschooling life. To find resources on homeschooling laws and regulations in your state and legal issues of importance to all homeschoolers, see Laws & Regulations.
What about my child's social life?
This is another big question that is asked most often by those new to homeschooling, the issue of Socialization. If you really stop and give this question some serious thought, I feel you will be able to answer it on your own. There is a wealth of resources in our world that allow children the opportunity to interact with others. Homeschooling not only affords our children interaction with other children their age, it also gives them the opportunity to interact with children older and younger than them, as well as interaction with adults and certainly more interaction with their parents.
One great way for children (and parents) to interact with others is to join a local homeschool Support Group. Most states have many of these groups and they can be a great help for not only socialization, but also for finding answers and support for many of the questions and issues that come up while your family is homeschooling. Support Groups come in all different shapes and sizes.
Some groups are very large with one hundred or more families, and some are very small with only five to ten families. Some are very structured with various parents taking administrative type roles within the group, some just have very relaxed organization and parents input wherever there is a need, and some are somewhere in the middle of these two. Also, some groups are very active with regular gatherings and a variety of events, field trips, and activities. While other groups may just have families that announce they are going to do something and ask if anyone else cares to join them. Some groups have a particular religion as their foundation and may require a statement of faith to join. Other groups are secular in their foundation and do not make religion a part of the group's identity.
When looking for a Support Group for your family, just be sure to find one that you know you will be comfortable with. This group will be part of your support system while your family is homeschooling, and you want to be able to go to the group with questions and issues that arise and know that this group will be there for you as much as they can be. For an example of a Support Group, you can visit my section about the Lifetime Learners of Georgia Homeschooling Support Group. For a listing of other Homeschool Support Groups in Georgia, visit the HEIR Website's section on Georgia Support Groups. You can also find listings of Support Groups in other states from the Support Group Information section of The National Home Education Network's website. If you cannot find a group you like in your area, a great article on forming your own Support Group can be found at the website of the Family Oriented Learning Cooperative.
Other activities your child can be involved in could be dance classes, 4-H clubs, sports lessons and teams, group classes offered by other homeschoolers, music lessons and band participation, workshops and field trips, individual classes at a local community college, apprenticeships, local events, and just about any other activity you or your children can think of to do. Without having to put in eight hours in a school building, plus up to an hour or more bus or car ride to and from school, and then two to six hours of homework a night, you will find that your child has much more of an opportunity to have a social life when you choose to homeschool. For a sample of some of the many events and activities open to homeschoolers visit the L.L.G. Website's Open Events Calendar. You can also visit the Classes, Clubs, Tutors, and Sports sections for more ideas and opportunities.
One thing your family should do is be careful not to *over* schedule too many activities. Some children thrive on doing everything, others really like to spend a lot time in private or just with the family. I think we all have our moments like these. Do try to find activities that your child is interested in, but also make sure that you don't all do so much that you burn out.
In what way or with what method do I homeschool?
Just as there are a variety of families who homeschool, there are numerous ways to go about getting educational materials into the hands and minds of your children. There are a variety of resources available that supply Curriculum and Materials for your homeschooling needs. These Curriculum and Materials can be complete curriculm packages, individual subjects you can pick and choose from, Unit Studies, and basic supplies to enrich your childs learning environment.
Also, there are often groups or individuals that offer Classes, Clubs, Tutors, and Sports that are open to all homeschoolers. You can also supplement your child's "curriculum" with various educational resources like museums, science centers, visiting local businesses to learn how their operations work, and libraries can become a homeschooling family's best friend! Thanks to the internet, there are thousands of Educational Websites and resources right at your families finger tips.
Eventually I plan to put here an actual list of the different "Methods" of homeschooling, but I have found a resource that has done an incredible job of this in the meantime. To learn about the different methods of homeschooling, the definitions of the methods, and resources for putting these methods to work for your family, visit Ann Zeise's "Methods & Styl
The term Homeschooling implies that the learning takes place at home, but actually homeschooling affords children (and parents) the opportunity to use the entire world as their learning grounds. You will find almost as many different definitions of homeschooling as you will find different methods and ways to homeschool.
Many different kinds of people choose to homeschool. Rich, poor, large families, only child families, single parent homes, families who live in large and small cities, families that live in the country or on farms, families of all different races, families who are religious, and secular families. No matter how each of these families chooses to homeschool, you will find that no two families have the exact same homeschooling environment and experiences. Homeschooling is not just education at home, it becomes a family's lifestyle.
When you are first looking into homeschooling, there are a few basics that are important. There really is no specific order to how you go about addressing these issues, but there is one issue that I believe everyone should start with first. Know the laws in your state!
Is Homeschooling Legal?
Yes. Homeschooling is legal in every state in the U.S. However, each state has it's own set of Laws and Regulations so it is very important that you find out what your state requires for you to homeschool your children. Some states have very strict requirements, such as requiring the parent to have a college degree and/or teaching certificate to be allowed to "teach" their children at home. Other states are less strict and only require the parent to have a High School Diploma or GED in order to be allowed to "teach" their children.
Other regulations may include having to file a "Declaration of Intent to Homeschool" form, attendance reports, standardized testing at various times during your child's homeschooling years, and having to cover specific subjects within your child's curriculum. Again, these laws and regulations vary from state to state, so if you are homeschooling or planning to homeschool, and decide to move to another state, you will want to look into the homeschooling requirements of the state you plan to move to. For some this could mean the difference between moving and staying put.
The Laws in your State will help you know what, if any, forms you need to file once you begin to homeschool. They will also inform you of any ongoing paperwork or testing that you may need to do in your state. Knowing the Law is a huge step in knowing just how to get started with your homeschooling life. To find resources on homeschooling laws and regulations in your state and legal issues of importance to all homeschoolers, see Laws & Regulations.
What about my child's social life?
This is another big question that is asked most often by those new to homeschooling, the issue of Socialization. If you really stop and give this question some serious thought, I feel you will be able to answer it on your own. There is a wealth of resources in our world that allow children the opportunity to interact with others. Homeschooling not only affords our children interaction with other children their age, it also gives them the opportunity to interact with children older and younger than them, as well as interaction with adults and certainly more interaction with their parents.
One great way for children (and parents) to interact with others is to join a local homeschool Support Group. Most states have many of these groups and they can be a great help for not only socialization, but also for finding answers and support for many of the questions and issues that come up while your family is homeschooling. Support Groups come in all different shapes and sizes.
Some groups are very large with one hundred or more families, and some are very small with only five to ten families. Some are very structured with various parents taking administrative type roles within the group, some just have very relaxed organization and parents input wherever there is a need, and some are somewhere in the middle of these two. Also, some groups are very active with regular gatherings and a variety of events, field trips, and activities. While other groups may just have families that announce they are going to do something and ask if anyone else cares to join them. Some groups have a particular religion as their foundation and may require a statement of faith to join. Other groups are secular in their foundation and do not make religion a part of the group's identity.
When looking for a Support Group for your family, just be sure to find one that you know you will be comfortable with. This group will be part of your support system while your family is homeschooling, and you want to be able to go to the group with questions and issues that arise and know that this group will be there for you as much as they can be. For an example of a Support Group, you can visit my section about the Lifetime Learners of Georgia Homeschooling Support Group. For a listing of other Homeschool Support Groups in Georgia, visit the HEIR Website's section on Georgia Support Groups. You can also find listings of Support Groups in other states from the Support Group Information section of The National Home Education Network's website. If you cannot find a group you like in your area, a great article on forming your own Support Group can be found at the website of the Family Oriented Learning Cooperative.
Other activities your child can be involved in could be dance classes, 4-H clubs, sports lessons and teams, group classes offered by other homeschoolers, music lessons and band participation, workshops and field trips, individual classes at a local community college, apprenticeships, local events, and just about any other activity you or your children can think of to do. Without having to put in eight hours in a school building, plus up to an hour or more bus or car ride to and from school, and then two to six hours of homework a night, you will find that your child has much more of an opportunity to have a social life when you choose to homeschool. For a sample of some of the many events and activities open to homeschoolers visit the L.L.G. Website's Open Events Calendar. You can also visit the Classes, Clubs, Tutors, and Sports sections for more ideas and opportunities.
One thing your family should do is be careful not to *over* schedule too many activities. Some children thrive on doing everything, others really like to spend a lot time in private or just with the family. I think we all have our moments like these. Do try to find activities that your child is interested in, but also make sure that you don't all do so much that you burn out.
In what way or with what method do I homeschool?
Just as there are a variety of families who homeschool, there are numerous ways to go about getting educational materials into the hands and minds of your children. There are a variety of resources available that supply Curriculum and Materials for your homeschooling needs. These Curriculum and Materials can be complete curriculm packages, individual subjects you can pick and choose from, Unit Studies, and basic supplies to enrich your childs learning environment.
Also, there are often groups or individuals that offer Classes, Clubs, Tutors, and Sports that are open to all homeschoolers. You can also supplement your child's "curriculum" with various educational resources like museums, science centers, visiting local businesses to learn how their operations work, and libraries can become a homeschooling family's best friend! Thanks to the internet, there are thousands of Educational Websites and resources right at your families finger tips.
Eventually I plan to put here an actual list of the different "Methods" of homeschooling, but I have found a resource that has done an incredible job of this in the meantime. To learn about the different methods of homeschooling, the definitions of the methods, and resources for putting these methods to work for your family, visit Ann Zeise's "Methods & Styl