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Is homeschooling legal?
Why
do parents decide to homeschool?
Who can homeschool?
Am I qualified to to teach my children?
Can
I teach several children at once?
What
about socialization?
I'm
thinking about homeschooling my children. What can I do
to get ready?
Are
there any homeschool resources that I can contact?
What's the best curriculum
for my child?
Which
teaching method should I use?
Why
doesn't Christianbook.com sell homeschool titles by certain
publishers?
The
answers in my answer book don't match the textbook. What's
the matter?
I'd
like to homeschool my special needs child. Do you have any
suggestions?
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Is homeschooling
legal?
Homeschooling is legal in all fifty states, but requirements
vary from state to state. The Fourteenth Amendment of our
Constitution guarantees our right to liberty and privacy.
The freedom of religion granted by the First Amendment allows
us to educate our children in accordance with our beliefs.
The various states, however, interpret these rights differently
in their legislation regarding homeschooling. We suggest
that you contact the homeschool organization in your particular
state in order to understand the specific requirements in
your area of the country.
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Why do
parents decide to homeschool?
Many parents homeschool their children in order to provide
spiritual training and nurture character development in
a safe environment that maximizes academic achievement.
Homeschooling provides a safe and controlled environment,
physically and spiritually. Parents can protect their children
from the negative influences, including teachings with which
they disagree (such as secular humanism or New Age and the
occult), unhealthy peer pressure and unsafe environments.
Within the safety of the home, children can develop self-confidence
and independent thinking free from the pressure to conform
to their peer group.
Parents can include spiritual training to instill positive
values. Christian parents can teach academic subjects from
the perspective of a biblical worldview.
These commandments that I give you today
are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children.
Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along
the road, when you lie down and when you get up. -- Deuteronomy
6:6-7, NIV
The fear of the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom, And knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
–- Proverbs 9:10
Parents can design a specific educational program that
meets their children's needs and gives them the individual
attention that they need. One-on-one tutoring has obvious
educational advantages compared to a classroom in which
one teacher attempts to meet the differing needs of many
children. Homeschooling allows for the quality time necessary
to nurture children in all areas of learning in order to
help them achieve their full potential.
Homeschooling provides a healthy social environment. Time
spent learning together enhances family unity and relationships.
Quality time enables children to explore their interests
and to reflect on what they have learned. Flexible scheduling
allows parents to plan learning and activities according
to what is most convenient for the family.
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Who can
homeschool? Am I qualified to teach my children?
Anyone with the desire to help children learn in the context
of the home environment can homeschool. As a parent, you
have the greatest love and commitment to your children and
know them better than anyone else.
We have all the advantages of the small student-teacher
ratio, much better discipline than in most classrooms, far
less busywork, a wide choice of good text materials and
above all, a deep bond of love with our children. –
Home
Educating with Confidence, How Ordinary Parents Can Produce
Extraordinary Children, by Rick & Marilyn Boyer,
page 15.
Dr. Brian Ray, president of the National Home Education
Research Institute compared the standardized test scores
of over 16,000 homeschool students nationwide. The average
for children educated in the public schools is the 50th
percentile. Homeschool children scored in the 73rd percentile
or above in all subjects. His 1997 national study Strengths
of Their Own, showed that there is little correlation
between a parent's educational level and their children's
test scores.
Many resources are available to provide you with on-the-job
training:
- Explore http://www.Christianbook.com
to locate the resources you need to successfully homeschool
your children.
- Contact the homeschool organization
in your state. Local support groups in your area provide
ideas and affirmation.
- Visit our Homeschool Organizations
by State page.
- Homeschool conventions include workshops
offering practical instruction in teaching methods.
- Homeschool publications contain helpful
articles to inform and encourage homeschooling parents.
- Trust in God to provide the
wisdom you need.
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Can
I teach several children at once?
Subjects such as science, history, and the Bible can be
taught to several age groups at once. The subject matter
can be amplified with explanations that enable each child
to understand the material. You can tutor younger children
in basic skills while your older students work independently.
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What about
socialization?
Until the advent of public education about a hundred years
ago, all children learned their social skills in the home.
Your children can learn the necessary social skills to enable
them to relate well to others of all ages in a homeschool
setting. They can interact with parents, siblings, and other
children and adults under parental supervision. While children
educated outside the home are more likely to be influenced
by their peers and teachers, the absence of peer pressure
can foster self-confidence, independent thinking and lasting
relationships with family and church friends.
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I'm thinking
about homeschooling my children. What can I do to get ready?
- Know your state's legal requirements.
Refer to our Homeschool Organizations by State page.
- Plan to visit a homeschool convention
in your area. These fairs offer speakers and products,
and are an excellent opportunity to ask questions and
examine homeschool material in person.
- Contact your local homeschool network.
Talking with parents who have experienced the joys of
homeschooling can be very helpful and encouraging, giving
you the self-confidence you need to get started.
- Streamline your home by organizing
schedules and chores. Do a thorough "spring cleaning"
and toss out unneeded possessions. Establish a learning
area with space for studying and learning materials.
- Learn more about homeschooling by
reading one or two basic books.
- Choose materials that are appropriate
for your children and that you feel comfortable using.
Many homeschool parents begin with a structured curriculum,
then improvise and blend various materials as they gain
experience and confidence.
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Are there
any homeschooling resources that I can contact?
One of the first organizations you should consider contacting
is the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). They
are national advocates for parental rights and religious
freedom who defend parents' rights to homeschool their children:
Home School Legal Defense Association
P.O. Box 3000
Purcellville, VA 20134
Phone: (540) 338-5600
Fax: (540) 338-2733
The National Home Education Research Institute based in
Oregon and Washington, D.C., researches homeschooling in
the U.S., provides conference speakers, and works with local
and national legislators on issues related to homeschooling.
Their findings provide statistical affirmation for the decision
to homeschool.
National Home Education Research Institute
P.O. Box 13939
Salem, OR 97309
Phone: (503) 364-1490
Fax: (503) 364-2827
http://www.nheri.org/
Email: mail@nheri.org
Helpful homeschooling publications:
Homeschooling Today Magazine
P.O. Box 436
Barker, TX 77413
Phone: (281) 492-6050
http://www.homeschooltoday.com/
Email: Subscriptions@homeschooltoday.com
The Teaching Home
Box 20219
Portland, OR 97294
Phone: (503) 253-9633
Fax: (503) 253-7345
http://www.teachinghome.com/
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What's
the best curriculum for my child?
There is no single best curriculum for homeschooling. Many
parents use comprehensive curriculums for the first year
or so, then experiment with other approaches as they gain
confidence.
Homeschool parents are artisans with an array of tools
and techniques at their disposal. The materials and methods
that you choose will depend on your family's specific needs
and preferences. Here are some questions to help you focus
on your family's unique needs:
- What are your children's ages?
- How many children are you teaching?
- What subjects are you teaching?
- What have you attempted in the past?
- How much time do you have available
to prepare and teach?
- Do you prefer: a scripted curriculum
or an outline that allows for improvisation?
- Are you looking for material to cover
an entire academic year?
- Do you want to use the same material
for all subject areas?
- What learning styles are most effective
with your children?
- Do they prefer workbooks or hands-on
activities?
- Do your children have special needs
or varying abilities?
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What teaching
method should I use?
You can choose among various teaching methods or combine
elements of these approaches to create a custom-made curriculum
for your child.
Textbooks and Workbooks Christian publishers
offer quality textbooks covering particular academic subjects
in a logical sequence of topics. Some texts also have consumable
workbooks available that reinforce the lessons.
Principle Approach Notebooks for each
subject are maintained by recording biblical principles,
personal applications, and pertinent notes and information
gleaned from a variety of sources.
Unit Studies Units of study integrate
information about a particular theme such as space travel
from several different subject areas like language arts
and math. This interdisciplinary method allows for project-oriented,
hands-on learning.
Living Books Living books are stories
written by a single author about a subject that particularly
fascinates them. Various activites supplement learning from
good literature and non-fiction. Karen Andreola's "One-Page
Test" helps you identify living books:
First examine the book to see if it promotes noble thoughts
rather than a jaded or misleading outlook on life. If the
book captures your interest it very well may capture that
of your children's. Once you have determined its general
suitability, simply give the book—whether fiction
or non-fiction—the one page test. Start reading it
aloud to your children and look for signs that it is opening
the doors of their minds. Stop at the end of the first or
second page. You will know you have found a living book
if you hear them plead, "Read me more!" A
Charlotte Mason Companion, Personal Reflections on the Gentle
Art of Learning, by Karen Andreola, page 97.
Supplemental Enrichment Activities Your
child may want to participate in community and church sports
teams. Museums, art schools, parks and zoos often offer
special classes and activities. Christian schools in your
area may offer courses in drama, athletics, or music to
homeschool families. Homeschool families have the advantage
of being able to plan their field trips for times when museums
and parks aren't crowded.
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Why doesn't
Christianbook.com sell homeschool titles by certain publishers?
Some homeschool publishers only sell their products directly
to the customer. Others are willing to sell us their products,
however they want to control the prices that we charge so
that we will not be competitive, and we are unable to offer
a discount.
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The answers
in my answer book don't match the textbook. What's the matter?
Although books sometimes can be defective, the problem
is most likely a result of differing editions, especially
in the case of curriculum materials such as Saxon or Alpha
& Omega. This problem can occur when a textbook is reused
with younger siblings. If a new edition of the text has
come out in the meantime, when you purchase a new set of
student materials it may not match the text book that you
used in a past year. Unless it is the first edition of a
text, the edition number is normally printed on the cover
of the textbook under the title, for example: Second Grade
Math, third edition. If you don't see an edition mentioned
on the cover, check on the copyright page, which is found
right after the title page. The edition will be found printed
in italics under the copyright date.
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I'd like
to homeschool my special needs child. Do you have any suggestions?
Christianbook.com can offer you various resources to help
you determine how best to homeschool your special needs
child. A good place to begin is Sharon Hensley's reassuring
and informative book Home
Schooling Children with Special Needs, Turning Challenges
into Opportunities.
The information provided on this site does
not necessarily represent the views or opinions of any of
the members of the Home Educators Network. HEN does not
endorse the viewpoints nor recommend the products represented
by any of the links from this site. These links are offered
as points which are of interest and use to many homeschoolers.
None of the information distributed by HEN, either verbal
or written, is intended as legal advice and should not take
the place of legal counsel from a qualified, informed attorney.
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