What Homeschooling Resources Do You Know Of and Recommend?

8/6/21

[CaptainPhilFan]

This post came about because of concerns over the current "health crisis" and the heavy handed, jackbooted, response of the people in government who are getting away with murder.

IF you are someone who disagrees with people who don't want vaccines and if you disagree with people who don't their kids or themselves smothered for another "2 weeks to stop the spread" - stay the hell out of this discussion. Period.

Doing a search I found articles and comments about Homeschooling on the rise, etc.

I KNOW FReepers have discussed their own varied experience with homeschooling.

In the face of coming mask and shot mandates parents and grandparents need to feel confident taking their kids out of the public schools and giving them a real, solid education at home or in pods, or in privately set up classrooms.

Our kids cannot take another year of half-assed education, bad schedules, and being smothered.

I am hoping to create a thread for us to share resources and experience. We all know homeschooling can be a far superior education. Let's help each other and give support to those who want to try but are afraid to various reasons.

[CaptainPhilFan]

Questions I can think of:

How much does it cost to homeschool?

Can you homeschool if both or the only parent at home needs to work full time?

When did you homeschool?

Was a parent involved daily?

Have you found online resources for materials and lessons? Good or bad?

Did you encounter any problems with your local school district?

Have you had you kids in Pod Learning? Are Pods good or bad?

Have you trusted others to give lessons - family, friends or neighbors? Someone with more history or science knowledge?

How many hours a day are necessary for full lessons covering the bases?

Did you do every subject daily? Did you teach subjects on different days?

What happens with kids of different ages? K-12 - how do you give them all meaningful attention and time?

How do you start the process of homeschooling? What legal things are necessary? What classroom supplies or space are helpful?

How did your children feel about the expereince?

Did your commitment to homeschool convince anyone else to homeschool?

Can local churches be involved in providing classroom space?

Have your kids attended group lessons for something special?

How do your kids socialize? Do their public school buddies stay friends?

If your child needs speech therapy or something extra or special that the school district provides do they still have access?

Are homeschooled children allowed to be on school sports teams, in the band, etc?

.........................

These are questions I would ask.

If there are other questions please Ask or Answer them.

And yes, if my grandkid's school changes course and requires shots and masks I want to be ready to convince and help my daughter get them out and homeschool.

Thank you all so much. I know so many have answers the rest of us need.

God bless and help us. God bless and help our children. God bless JimRob. God bless the United States of America.

[rey]

I went to Christian Liberty Academy via homeschool. I believe they walk you through everything and know the refs for each state. Everything you will need is included plus it’s faith based, which is helpful for most homeschooling. Just google Christian Liberty Academy, Arlington Heights, Illinois.

[D Rider]

Another general resource is hslda, especially if you are in an anti homeschool state.

[mabarker1]

Ping for information.

Metmom should have Your answers.

Or

hsmomx3, need some help over here.

[the_Watchman]

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/hframe.html

I would highly recommend this site for both math and physics. I have used it when tutoring missionary kids who are stationed overseas.

I have taught electrical engineering at the junior college level based on my B.S.E.E. I also have a master’s degree in mathematics.

Both the physics and the math sections will cover everything needed by high school students. It is really well done!

[Desparado]

We used Gateway Christian School in Nashville Tenn. for our kids. They keep all records of your kids and on paper it is a private Christian school so it shows your kids as going to a private school. Both our kids went to college and did very well. Both very successful now and no paper trail to show we home schooled them.

[Desparado]

Gateway Christian Academy

[Deepeasttx]

Most places have a homeschool group. We belonged and they helped every which way. Plus being a member, the kids met a couple times a week to interact and develop friends. And usually once a month cookout. One can even find another parent that can babysit if need be. This would be the first to look into.

Like another poster stated, each state has different laws. And we looked into them when a move might be in the works for a job. Some states are not strict, while others are draconian. Luckily, here in Texas, you can do what u want. Even just using library books to educate. Us personally, we bought a program. But there are free resources out there too.

[Maudeen]

https://illinoisfamily.org/education/three-steps-to-start-homeschooling-now/

[j.frank.dobie]

We used Calvert as the base curriculum for both of our kids. Not cheap, but classical. This was pre-internet days, so I’m sure much has changed since then.

We used coop programs a couple of days a week for STEM subjects we didn’t feel up to teaching.

The homeschooling decision was one of the best things we did for our kids, who are now both responsible adults with college degrees (with no student debt and totally off of our payroll).

[Maudeen]

ps https://illinoisfamily.org/education/rescuing-our-children-forums/

I went to one of the forums. The videos on this link are definitely worth the watch!!!!!!!

[Kevmo]

If your kids are smart enough, I recommend having them skip high school entirely.

For 3 days you claim that they’re being home schooled, they take classes at the local community college. All you gotta do is check their grades, maybe help them once in a while.

[Tired of Taxes]

Pinging Metmom. You might be interested in this thread.

[metmom]

Are you still in NY?

[metmom]

and how old are your grandkids?

I homeschooled in NY for 12 years and am familiar with the regs and how to legally and ethically file quarterly reports that don’t demand you follow the school’s time schedule lockstep.

[DannyTN]

What age kids.
I didn’t homeschool.
But I did buy the kids lots of educational PC games when they were young. Starting at age 2.
My daughter entered kindergarden reading at almost a 4th grade level.

Both my kids have graduated college on full tuition scholarships.

Cluefinders games were great. there is now a free download site for them. The first grade seems a little clunky now. but I think games for the later years are better.

[metmom]

HOMESCHOOL PING

This ping list is for articles of interest to homeschoolers. I hold both the Homeschool Ping List and the Another Reason to Homeschool Ping List. Please freepmail me to let me know if you would like to be added or removed from either list, or both.

The keyword for the FREE REPUBLIC HOMESCHOOLERS’ FORUM is frhf.

[dontreadthis]

FreedomProject Academy
https://fpeusa.org/

[Dr. Sivana]

A lot of questions.

Here are some answers and thoughts.

How much does it cost to homeschool?
$0-$20,000. Some parents use on-line resources, library books, their old school books, books from older kids no longer used, etc. Others take their kids on field trips to Europe, hire tutors, buy expensive software, join co-ops, etc. The point is, parents (to the extent of their resources) are primarily in charge.

Can you homeschool if both or the only parent at home needs to work full time?

Yes, depending on the parent and the youngster. Parent has to be organized, discipline, and have at least average energy, and have a job that doesn't go beyond 40 hours per week. Youngster has to be reasonably co-operative. When the child is older (8th grade on up), more instruction can be self-directed, depending on the child (e.g. reading, on-line tutortials, etc.)

When did you homeschool?

Our three children were homeschooled from the beginning, starting in the early 2000s. My wife was homeschooled for high school, and has a college level education as a result of it (Seton grad) in the '90s.

Was a parent involved daily?
My wife is the primary educator, though I did instruct my son in Latin for a few months. We have made limited use of co-ops (science, to get lab work in, one day a week; other arts and music co-ops including language. My wife taught French in the co-op.)

Have you found online resources for materials and lessons? Good or bad?

All over the place, and math doesn't always mesh well with the different program used earlier (e.g. Saxon to TeachingTextbooks). I will say this: there are good and bad programs at all price points, but the main issue is the child. SOme thrive with on-line, so flounder. Some, it depends on the program or subject matter.)

Did you encounter any problems with your local school district?

No. But we home-schooled from the beginning in home-school friendly states (IL, WI, GA, AZ). You will get issues sometimes if you pull a kid for home schooling in some states and school districts. REMINDER: Do NOT Home School unlkes you join HSLDA. They are and important part of homeschooling for anyone.

Have you had you kids in Pod Learning? Are Pods good or bad?

We never called our co-ops "pod learning", but our experience has been generally good with the occasional personality conflict among children.

Have you trusted others to give lessons - family, friends or neighbors? Someone with more history or science knowledge?

Yes.

How many hours a day are necessary for full lessons covering the bases?

Depends on the grade. Depends on the child. Much less than the public (or private) school. No time wasted :getting in line" , taking attendance, disciplining the class clown (if that's your kid, a different problem), or slowing down the bright kids to keep the slower children in the swim.

Did you do every subject daily? Did you teach subjects on different days?

My wife does a fair amount of alternating, and near the end of the year, some subjects are done early and some drag into July. Different homeschoolers do it completely differently (1 course for a solid month for mastery, vs. six or seven courses for short periods every day).

What happens with kids of different ages? K-12 - how do you give them all meaningful attention and time?

Older children generally need less interaction, especially if they are conscientious and are good readers. Some courses lend themselves to not need the same level of interaction (for instance, my 17 year old daughter took an on-line course regarding analysis of great cinema. Movie time freed up my wife for my 12 year old son's math. As I have said so often, depends on the parent, depends on the child. Homeschooling is NOT a cookie cutter program. You have to THINK THROUGH your approach, and sometimes change course when things don't work.

How do you start the process of homeschooling? What legal things are necessary? What classroom supplies or space are helpful?

No need for a formal Kindergarten. Life spent together provides that if you do more than just household chores and TV/Internet. When the child is old enough for a more formal structured environment, you can make it as school-like as you like (we tried uniforms one year), or less so. Depends on the child(ren), depends on the parent. No one right way.

HSLDA IS ESSENTIAL.

Classroom supplies are generally what you would expect, except a backpack is unnecessary. Books, paper. writing implements. We also used tangibles for Singapore math, and an abacus for one child who was having trouble early on with the abstraction of math. For older children, some use laptops/desktops, some avoid them.

How did your children feel about the experience?
Mixed.

Did your commitment to homeschool convince anyone else to homeschool?

Not by itself. But we have been a part of a home-school inclined subculture anyway (traditional Roman Catholics), so we generally weren't the first exposure of our friends and acquaintances to homeschooling.

Can local churches be involved in providing classroom space?

Yes, but not necessarily yours.

Have your kids attended group lessons for something special? Yes. Clarinet, dance, Little League, Trail Life, Altar service, political activism, Karate, basketball, biology lab, cake decorating, etc.

How do your kids socialize? Do their public school buddies stay friends?

Socialization was never an issue. Mostly other homeschool families, and also the folks from the last question. One big difference, not all the socialization is among children at one age or grade. We consider that a plus. Never had "public school buddies".

If your child needs speech therapy or something extra or special that the school district provides do they still have access?

Depends on state/district. Generally yes. Except for severe special needs, most home schoolers avoid using state resources for such, as strings may be attached.

Are homeschooled children allowed to be on school sports teams, in the band, etc?

Depends on district. Besides public schools, some private/parochial schools make allowances for homeschoolers to be on the team.

Homeschooling is what you make it. It is not for every parent, nor for every child, but it is one way to make sure that the parents exercise their God-given obligation to be the primary instructors of their children.

[Chickensoup]

Mary Prides books were very helpful. So were the unschooling books

Homeschooling catalogs
https://jimmiescollage.com/homeschool-catalogs/

https://search.brave.com/search?q=homeschooling+catslog&source=android

Timberdoodle was great.

Connect with homeschooling groups in your area so you can find out your specific state information.

It can be as inexpensive or expensive as you want it.

Read aloud a lot. We did morning and evening.

Saxon had the best math program for average kids for 4 thru 7th. Abeka had the best 1-3 curriculum for math and imho for reading. Find a nice connected italics program for handwriting. Portland state had a good one.

Easy grammar is painless and a great way to go. Dailygrams is its companion and they both together will give a working functional grammar education for elementary years

Critical thinking skills were taught with popular program https://www.criticalthinking.com/building-thinking-skills.html. you really don’t need parent edition and I think it is on computer now.

No computer or phone. Keep your children in three dimensions as long as possible at least until 12 or 14. They will have four times the brain of their peers.

No TV. Perhaps one or two films on family movie night. Old films Shane the old parent trap No new Disney. No films that insult or demean adults.

Culture. Music traditional children’s music from nursery rhymes thru Steven foster and the American song book as well as musicals from the 40s 50s 60s 70s and so on. The crooners like Como and Sinatra Jazz opera classical do wop all the genres. Do not worry they will catch up to their modern music quickly enough. But if you don’t get this in early they will never get it. It will make them understand and appreciate music more. And all western civilization has to offer

I had always thought of putting together a music curriculum for elementary thru Jr high..

Art and culture Sr Wendy does a remarkable job on western art. Get the basics in and don’t pass up any museums if the are decent.

Ed Hirch’s series WHAT YOUR .... GRADER SHOULD KNOW and the curriculum guide are priceless.

I liked Marbury penny candy series as well as his history series.

Read read read. Classics there are some great books with lists for classic books for kids from huck Finn to little house on the Prarie. Do not miss Little Britches with your 9 to 12 year Olds. Great read alouds.