Some of you are asking "Where Do I Start with Homeschooling?"
I purposely have tried to promote Christian Schools here on Higher Paradigms because I believe most kids need a social environment to develop in. Fifth graders need to be around fifth graders and eighth graders need to be around other eighth graders. Christian schools can provide that social atmosphere while still shielding children somewhat from the vulgarity that is rampant in our society. Before homeschooling, please do explore the private school option. Visit local private schools and ask about scholarship possibilities if their fees seem beyond your means. You might be pleasantly surprised that some elderly prayer warrior has been donating her $100 a month to a scholarship fund just for you. Yet, there are times where homeschooling is just the most reasonable option. Maybe there isn't a Christian school near you, or your situation in life is one that doesn't allow you to afford private school tuition. Pray for definite direction, and know that homeschooling is for you before you dismiss the Christian School idea. And . . . . . . . . . if you must homeschool, here's some advice about where to start.
Find Connections: Start attending some local homeschooler activities and get to know who in your area is homeschooling. Not only is this a valuable way to find information or curriculum, but you may find some true comrades that will make your job easier. Many more people are realizing the value of homeschooling and pooling their resources. Sometimes these groups are easy to find because they advertise. If you don't see advertisements, begin calling various church groups and asking if they know people who homeschool or if they sponsor a homeschool support group. Check with the local library to see if they have groups that come in to do homeschool activities.Get Online: Notice that this step comes AFTER you have made some local connections. Online research is useful, but one-on-one observation and chatting with real people (who have been there, done that, and really are succeeding) is a key to learning what works and what really doesn't. Google some of the terms you've learned in chatting with people. Look up your state laws for yourself. Browse ebay and other swap shops to see what kind of used prices curriculum sells for, then visit the publishers' websites and find out how much it costs new!
Be Informed: Find out what the laws are in your state for homeschooling. Some states now require kids to get tested every 2 or 3 years or require you to register with the superintendent of schools. Know what governs you as the educating authority of your child. Browse some websites that discuss this topic. Public educators are trying to determine how to deal with people who wish to homeschool. Be informed of your rights. Yes, you can get some of this from homeschool groups, but make sure those people have done their research too. Just as I hope you will teach your students: verify all information you are given. If you are really serious about homeschooling, take some time to understand what you are getting yourself into.
Become a Teacher: Decide how you will establish a plan that will prove your child is learning what he or she should be learning and at an appropriate rate. This is so important because many times people decide to homeschool because their hectic daily schedule is easier when their children are home to help them manage the daily routines or when scheduled family trips do not have to mean "missed" school days. If your goal is not to get a student from grade 3 math to grade 4 math in a year time period (9 month or whatever time period you choose), then chances are that you will falter along the way and that child will NOT truly progress in math as he or she should each year. Of course math is only one example of the many subjects a student needs to cover in a year's school time. School time must be taken seriously if you are to properly educate your children. This doesn't mean they sit at a desk for 7 hours a day, but this does mean that YOU spend time helping them learn. I've worked in Christian schools for several years and I could tell you story after story of the student who came in below grade level in one or more subjects because "well, we just didn't get enough time last year to finish school…." In every situation, I know the parents meant well, but the student suffered severely as we attempted to catch them up to grade level with extra work, or fit the student in with younger peers in a lower grade. If you as the teacher don't have a plan and stick to it, your children will pay the consequences of a poorly done job. Very few children naturally just learn on their own. Become their guide, their mentor, their enthusiastic TEACHER.
What do Teachers Do?· They set goals about what to teach --daily or weekly as is necessary.
· They then figure out a way to determine if the students learned what they should have –they make the students accountable in some way for what was taught.
· They constantly evaluate the process and repeat it –determining what worked well and what should be adjusted next time around.
. . . . . . How Would You Expect to Do Homeschool Any Differently?
Choose your Curriculum: This is probably what many people try to do first. I think it is the least important IF you have carefully covered all of the steps above. A good teacher can create their own curriculum. However, with that said, I would not encourage a first- year homeschooler to try to create an entire year of curriculum! You need books with a set range of topics and material to be covered. I would discourage you from buying brand new books if you have the resources to purchase used. If you do buy new, have your student write the work on notebook paper so you can resell the books to get some of your money back. Homeschool curriculum (depending on the grade of course) does not have to cost you $600 to $1000 a year. Be creative; you have a brain. Find used books and don't be afraid to mix and match different subjects that work. It may not help your child to always encounter the same layout for each subject anyway…..let them get used to using different styles of textbooks. You can usually write to the major curriculum companies and get what is called a "Scope and Sequence" that tells you what elements within subjects are covered at each grade level. These may even be available online. Of course, realize that a Scope and Sequence is often geared toward a private school, not your state standards... but is a great place to start and it is really helpful in planning out what to teach (and they should be free or very low-cost). Many online programs now offer curriculum that is already set up and designed for you. They may even offer "credit" for upper-level students. I'm sure some of these are truly great resources. Just remember that there is no "easy" road to homeschooling, and be well-informed before you sink your money into something that sounds as easy as sending your kid off to school each day.
Have students tested: I personally think you should find a way to get homeschool students tested each year just to prove to yourself they are near their grade level or beyond. Local teachers with teaching certificates can become test administrators for places like Bob Jones University and then you can order standardized tests to be administered to your student. Your local public school may be able to direct you to testing resources as well. The local superintendent of schools should have a homeschooler's resource contact for this kind of information. Explore how others in your homeschool group feel about this. How do they know if a child is progressing at an appropriate rate? Perhaps as a group they would be willing to hire a professional to administer a test. Of course, then remember that test results are not always entirely accurate and understand thoroughly how to interpret them. A standardized test may show your 4th grade student is reading at a 6th grade level, and that is awesome! But do not skip 5th grade reading!
Like I mentioned in my first paragraph, I like to see students functioning in a private school environment instead of being homeschooled. But I do realize that homeschooling is for many the better option. Visit our Homeschooling Resources page for more helpful links.