[LasVegasMac]

A friend of mine is seriously considering home schooling his soon to be 1st grade son.

I told him that I knew lots of FReepers did home schooling and that I would ask for a good source of info / guidance / material concerning this subject.

Any and all info is very much appreciated - and thank you in advance.

LVM

[homeschool mama]

ping for homeschooling information

[hemogoblin]

Internet and library, in that order. There is more there than he could possibly read.

[day10]

Here are two to start his info search:

Home School Legal Defense Association

Homeschool World

I am biased because I am the dad of two homeschooled boys, but I wuold HIGHLY RECOMMEND your friend give it try.

[dawn53]

Here's a couple links.

Ask for an Elijah Company catalog, they have wonderful advice and information, plus the site has online discussion forums.

http://www.elijahco.com/help/index2.htm

I also like:

http://www.timberdoodle.com

[homeschool mama]

First thing to determine is what state your friend resides in. There are different homeschool laws in each of the 50 states. www.hslda.com is a good beginning for legal information.

Get your friend to a homeschool conference or two this summer. Plan *now*. HSLDA and others here on FR can help with convention locations.

Curriculum: This is as varied as wildflowers in a meadow. Less is more and don't spend the big bucks. What you *don't* want, imo, is public school at home..ie: textbooks at home, especially for such a youngster.

www.fiveinarow.com

www.learningadventures.com

www.elijaco.com

www.vegsource.com/homeschool

This is just the beginning...others will offer wonderful advice and suggestions, I'm sure. :o)

[FourPeas]

The library is a good place to start when researching homescholing, as is the internet. Read about all the various "flavors" of homeschooling. Research learning styles. Find a nearby homeschooling support group. Listen to other homeschoolers. I found reading message boards particularly educational. They give a day-to-day snapshot of what different homeschoolers days look like.

[PresbyRev]

On my parish website, "www.potomacpresby.net" - click on Links 1 or Links 2 for a number of homeschooling, classical homeschooling and unschooling resources. Best wishes!

[Temple Owl]

Until we get union-free private schools supported by vouchers, home-schooling is the way to go.

[homeschool mama]

Don't you live in Nevada? Homeschool info needed for Nevada (possibly).

[bejaykay]

Lots to say. For beginners I strongly recommend using a curriculum of some sort. There are two jobs in Homeschooling. Teaching and planning. There is no way to remove both jobs. (even selecting a curriculum is planning) Next. Use a phonics program and teach your child to read. If you can do this, nothing else seems too hard. BEST BOOK: Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons. Does just what the title says.

[day10]

[day10]

As far as curriculum goes, we use the outstanding K12 curriculum. It is a challenging, complete curriculum and has excellent scheduling/organizational tools for the parent/teacher. I would recommend a look at it.

[Aquinasfan]

Try The Underground History of American Education to understand why homeschooling is necessary.

Also, a bump for encouragement. It's much easier than it sounds. And the rewards are immeasurable. We wouldn't consider anything else.

[Jeff Chandler]

I highly recommend the Saxon Math series: http://www.saxonhomeschool.com/index.jsp . What I like about Saxon is the fact that they break up their lessons into units instead of chapters. It's called programmed learning, and it simplifies lesson plans. You take one step after another. When your child has mastered the subject, you go on to the next unit. There are plenty of practice problems, too.

 

If he can locate other books with the same sort of structure, he'll find that teaching will be much easier.

 

When purchasing textbooks, used is almost always better, because you can locate older, less PC-socialist-anti-American books. If he can buy used textbooks he will save a bundle. I've actually found many excellent books in thrift stores, and paid next to nothing for them.

 

The best thing he can do for his child if he hasn't learned to read is to teach him phonics.  Saxon also has a phonics series, but I don't know much about it. I am a big believer in reading. He should give his child plenty of reading at a comfortable level for pure enjoyment, with more difficult reading sprinkled in regularly to increase his skill. Read books out loud to him, too. That helps him to learn how words are pronounced, and how sentences are read. It also teaches him to love reading--it's a bonding exercise, and he'll forever associate reading with parental love.

 

Almost every moment he has with him can be a teaching moment. Use his natural curiosity about the world and about life as jumping off points for learning.

 

Good luck to him.

[Domestic Church]

Here are some favs:

http://www.rocksolidinc.com/

http://learninfreedom.org/homeschool_hotlist.html

http://www.gomilpitas.com/homeschooling/articles/052800.htm

http://www.EnchantedLearning.com

[Kosh5]

Much information has already been posted to this thread. I cannot add much to it (vanity: ok - add www.visionforum.com to the list).

I will add two personal perspectives. As the father of 4 (soon to be 5!!!) with 3 of them being homeschooled, I have observed two important aspects of homeschooling in our experience:

1. Homeschooling is less about teaching than it is about teaching how to learn. When you exit primary school and either enter the work-world or secondary education, you quickly discover that no one is going to spoon-feed you information and knowledge (ala classic primary education in the U.S.). Instead, you must learn things for yourself - at your own pace and largely at your own initiative. We look at HS'ing as the venue for teaching that to our children at an early age. It is the classic "give a man a fish..." principle.

2. Homeschooling is a lifestyle. We have found in our lives and the lives of everyone else we know who homeschools that the entire family lifestyle is structured around the principles of HS'ing (note: around the PRINCIPLES - not necessarily the teaching of data). Thus, every vacation becomes an adventure in history (Colonial Williamsburg, Philadelphia, Valley Forge, etc.), natural sciences (Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, etc.), or some other aspect of education in the sense of expanding your knowledge, intellect, or skills. If we had any interest in vacationing at Disney (we don't), it would still pale in comparison to the other opportunities of Cocoa Beach, Kennedy Space Center, the Everglades. Those can be just as entertaining to both child and adult and provide an informal educational situation. Few things compare to walking beneath a full-sized Saturn V rocket - no matter what your age.

Many aspects of HS'ing are intimidating for the newbie. Much is also dictated by local laws (HSLDA is the best starting point for such information). In the final analysis, however, the decision to HS must be one that I believe must be supported by both parents. It is not for the faint of heart, but I cannot recall anyone who has ever regretted the decision to do so - despite the inevitable changes it brings to a family.

Just one man's $0.02...

[old-ager]

Here's a good Christian home schooling materials, including video courses: http://www.abeka.com/

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Unless his circumstances are very unusual, it is a waste of time.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

Title: Homeschoolers Make USA Today Academic Team
Source: HSLDA USA Today
URL Source: http://www.hslda.org/docs/BrightSpots/200306040.asp
Published: Jun 6, 2003
Author: HSDLA



Chad Chisholm would be considered by many to be a pretty normal guy. A resident of the Denver suburb of Evergreen, he began his education at Red Rocks Community College after completing his high school requirements.


But there are a few things that make him stand out.


Chisholm was 15 when he first set foot inside a community college as a student … not to mention the fact that he was homeschooled.


This ambitious home-educated student, now 16, joins Jennie Bauman of Texas, 18, and Chris Burton of Arizona, 20, as part of USA Today's 2003 All-USA Community and Junior College Academic Teams, which consists of only 20 people. That's nearly a fifth of the entire team; not bad for three students who represent a movement that makes up less than 2% of the school-age population.


"These students come from all walks of life to excel in scholarship, leadership and public service," said USA Today's editor Karen Jurgensen, describing the team in an April 7th article entitled, "Where all walks of life converge."


And indeed these homeschoolers have proved themselves to be of an elite crowd. Chisholm has been awarded a Congressional Gold Medal for 400 hours of community service, was Phi Theta Kappa Vice President of Five-Star Chapter Alpha Kappa Sigma, and served as student body President when he was only 15, and has a 3.81 GPA. Bauman was elected president of the honor society, named her college's Chemistry Student of the Year at age 16, and presented papers at regional C.S. Lewis literary conferences, all while maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. Burton served his community by coordinating beautification drives, is in charge of his campus's international education week, was named the New Century Scholar of Arizona by the Coca-Cola foundation, and manages an "online classic video business in partnership with Amazon.com." He also has a GPA of 4.0 at his college.


For these college-goers, age is nothing. "By the time [everyone knew my age], no one cared," stated Chisholm simply. "Although I was fifteen and sixteen while attending the school, I made many, many friends and did not feel out of place at all."


Bauman added that she had to get used to attending a school with students who were as much as ten years older than her. "I think homeschooling contributed to this comfort level a great deal because I was used to relating to people of other age groups and not only my peers," she said.


Indeed, these days the social aspect of schooling takes almost as much space in newspaper stories as academia, if not more. It's an area in homeschooling that is oft-criticized by those outside the homeschooling sphere, These three say, however, it's nothing to worry about.


"People often ask me 'Do you think you missed out on any of the social stuff of a public school?' to which my reply is 'Well, my mom would let me out of my cage in the basement to see sunlight once a month…'" joked Chisholm.


"My homeschooling prepared me to interact with people of all ages far better than any public school system could have," agreed Burton.


"In homeschooling, I learned to teach myself which is a critical asset in college," said Bauman. "Of what I have seen of public schools, the instructors spoon-feed the students."


"I was very much a self-directed learner," said Burton. "It was always 'Learn it for your benefit, or don't.' My mother helped show me the way, and let me make the journey."


But they know that academics is not the only thing in life, or even the most important, for that matter. "I learned that putting family first is one of the most crucial aspects of life," said Bauman.


As these three students lead a generation of home-educated youth, there is yet one more advantage that they take with them into the future.


"Lots of freshmen spend the first semester figuring out who they are," said Bauman. "Because I was homeschooled, I was one step ahead."

Has your friend seen this article? The simple truth is that no matter the subject, homeschoolers are kicking butt.

If my kids were small today, I'd definitely homeschool them.

[swheats]

Hi Mac, much has been posted already. I'll add if your friend lives in Vegas you might want to start here as a gateway.

Here are links to get started for Nevada Home Schooling

Your first year you will need a consultant, as a guide. My consultant was there only if I needed guidance or had questions. You'll also need to fill out the "Notice of Intent to Provide Home Education"

Hi HM, yes I'm still in Nevada. Overall my first year was very positive and I'm looking forward to the next.