I dont know much about home schooling, but they seem to do great. Good Luck.
Why is he being picked on so much?
Kids AND adults can be brutal.
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International or Connections academy - have not used but lots of good courses
Ditto depending on state tuition may be free
Homeschool is great. You pick the social opportunities and peers and there are many
Life is too short for a kid to have to deal with being bullied. It is cruel and senseless
Speak out at the next board meeting of the school district, and be sure to name names.
Don’t get too wound up about this. Trust me, if you have the intention and motivation to teach your child at home, you’ll do fine.
My wife is a victim of the Florida public school system, yet she’s home schooled our four kids since 2002. They’re all much more accomplished in the academic area than she’s ever been.
There are tons of lesson plans and scholastic home schooling packages out there. Almost any of them are a better base than what you’ll find in the public schools. Just get started and do not fear. Americans did this for generations with very few tools to hand.
You’ll do fine.
I was homeschooled through Christian Liberty Academy:
http://www.homeschools.org/
I am homeschooling a child now and like Classical Academic Press:
http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/
They have several videos on you tube that discuss homeschooling as well as instructional videos.
Save my site name and feel free to contact me with specific questions. Do not be scared of this. If you do not know the stuff you can learn it. Going through it a second time you will relearn it and its meaning will change as you teach. This is good for a student to see an adult struggle to learn. Have your student teach you. Have them write everything; a paragraph on your visit to McDonald’s; write out in sentence form step by step how to do long division, quadratic equations, anything. It will improve the connections the mind makes between vocabulary and numbers and will improve their word problems abilities and their analytical skills. ire tutors from your local college in subjects you need help in. Enroll in the remedial classes at the JC or take college course while still in grade school/high school. We have a number of tutoring services in our area that will avail themselves to homeschoolers.
You have a strange moniker. If you can educate yourself you can pass it on.
The essential ingredient if you don't have money and could otherwise send them to a decent school: time
Also read Sister Miriam Joseph’s “The Trivium.”
Do not let this book scare you. It will show you how education has declined over the past 50, 60 years or more. I reread it periodically. It is a good guideline. Also, Arthur Herman’s “The Cave and the Light” will make a good basic philosophy textbook and is conservative in its approach. He argues that Plato and Aristotle established two basic schools of thought and how everything has been a clash between these two ideologies ever since. I have read that 4 times and will read again. My 11 year old isn’t quite ready for it.
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Since you don’t show your state, we can’t say whether state compliance is zero or a real pain. As others mentioned, start by looking at HSLDA. They have the texts and explanation of statute requirements, state by state, as well as sample forms where called for.
You can also Google (Your State) Homeschool Associations and see what you get. Most states have at least one state-wide umbrella organization which may be able to give you information about groups in your area. Also ask at your public library.
With an 8th grader, my advice would be to choose a solid math and English curriculum - online, on CD, on paper, whatever you think would work for him - and then fill in other subjects as the two of you prefer (or as required by your state).
Public School is child abuse! Good for you. I’ve no help beyond that, but maximizing your input to your child’s education can only be an asset over the alternative.
I homeschooled years ago, but my oldest daughter is homeschooling three now, ages 11, 9, and 7. She has been through several different options, but now uses Classical Conversations. It’s awesome. Keeps her on track and they still see other children once a week - but they are children who have parents who care. Even the youngest one loves it and is gaining confidence in speaking in front of the other children.
Good for you, even better for your child.
Liberty University offers K-12 courses. Tuition applies to your child’s college cost if they attend Liberty.
https://www.liberty.edu/onlineacademy/about-online-homeschooling/
And no worries, all this takes is the will — you’ll be great.
For record keeping, I really like The Checklist by Cindy Downes. Scroll down on the page for samples. The rest of her website has much to recommend it as well.
We did it for 12 years. I highly recommend a packaged curriculum with some phone or internet teacher support. We are Catholic so we used Seton Home Study School out of Front Royal Virginia. They are accredited. There are other ones out there that are very good. Most are Christian. We also joined a Christian support group. There are probably support groups where you are. Ours had a Thursday morning group program where mom’s taught classes like music, art, sports, crafts. Your best advice will come from finding a local support group. Good luck.
HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense) is a great place to start. They will have info for homeschooling requirements for your state. Plus, if you join HSLDA they will represent you in any legal issues related to homeschooling should they arise.
You might also look for homeschool support groups in your area to join both for support as well as opportunities for group events, field trips and support for you as a new homeschooler.
Also, you might also look for outside homeschool classes both on-line and locally for subjects you might find difficult to teach. In my area of Texas, there were several consortium groups which offered classes (for fees) taught by other homeschooling parents (with degrees in the given subject).
We chose to use the consortium for a couple of subject classes (such as Traditional Logic, Geometry and Spanish) and fun classes such as acting and band.
Finally, homeschool conferences will offer lectures on “how to”, and offer hands-on review of curriculum before you buy.
Homeschooling in upper levels can be challenging to teach, but definitely doable. I began homeschooling when my daughter was in second grade. She has now completed college.
Join HSLDA.
Some schools are a lot less friendly to to home schoolers than others. You need state specific information.