I am considering homeschooling, where do I begin?

[KitchenWitch]

I really like the school my daughter goes to, but I am finding the one size fits all approach to public education is getting dangerously close to leaving my daughter behind.

She is in second grade. She has 1+ hours per day of homework, not including the 20 minutes of reading that is assigned. The past two weeks (on Thursdays) she has come home with over 3 hours of work that was intended to be finished in school, that she, for whatever reason, did not finish. She is bright and enthusiastic about learning (at least for now - trying to avoid her getting discouraged). I literally broke down crying in the school parking lot when I saw how much work was unfinished.

Before I decide whether to homeschool or not, I need to know what I am getting into, and what secular resources are available. I am in Orange County California. All links and personal stories would be welcome.

[wildeyed]

1. I started with books and google.

Most libraries have a good selection of homeschooling books. I would go and and get an armload, then browse through them at night. Through google I was able to identify local homeschooling groups. We visited a few and now belong to a secular co-op group that meets weekly right down the street.

When I was researching, I assumed would be homeschooling both my kids, but my older got into a charter school and so far it is a good fit, so I only have my 5 year old at home. The first few months have been exhausting for me, but I see that he is doing well, and that makes it worth it. I assume it will get easier for me as we go along.

We usually do an hour or two of organized school work in the AM, then use the afternoon to visit friends, attend co-op, go to the park, museum or whatever. I like being able to personalize my son curriculum. He is a very uneven kid. In a traditional school it would have been hard to get his strengths recognized while still dealing with his weak areas. At home it is no problem. He also has loads of time to explore and develop his own interests, something that I think is important.

Have you talked to your daughter's school about the ridiculous homework requirements? Why is she not getting her work done at school? If you decide not to home school, are there any charter or magnet schools that have more developmentally appropriate homework requirements?

[Maat]

2. Look up a local homeschooling group ..

then check out the parents' charter school favorites. NOW is the time to do your research, because 3rd and 4th grade are when most parents report that the critical problems start. I went through Julian Charter, and I get to meet with a credentialed teacher monthly, and they take care of the interface with the state. I get to go to a big warehouse and choose my curriculum (all used without charge), and that teacher always gives me a big shot of encouragement in the arm every time I see her. We have done little computer 'tests' with Beloved Daughter, and, recently, I found out that we had not only brought her up to grade level in the basic subjects, but she's now ahead.

Plus, I get an allowance each semester that can be used for outside lessons and tutoring!

The huge amount of homework (and homework-because-she-didn't-do-it-doing-the-day) was a critical factor in my decision. I remember crying like you. I also remember that my relationship with my daughter was going down the toilet. For a couple of years I had gradually been getting more frustrated with things, and she knew it.

I've been doing it for a couple of years now, and we couldn't be happier. I said to myself, way back then (pre-homeschoolin'): "If I'm going to spend four hours helping her through this stuff, we're going to through when we're both well-rested." There are SO many things I don't have to deal with or fret about now. We have a Netflix account, and view all sorts of instructional films. The BBC puts one out that goes through Earth's entire history, and through the entire human evolution. It's incredible! I can't imagine going back to the old way of doing things!

My charter school has total independent study (homeschooling), one-, two- and three-day per week programs. They have clubs and science labs. It's so neat!

[funflower]

3. Secular homeschooling resources

http://www.nhen.org/

http://www.unschooling.org/

Homeschooling for Excellence by David & Micki Colfax (homesteaded in California wilderness and sent their four homeschooled sons to Ivy League colleges)

Family Matters: Why Homeschooling Makes Sense by David Guterson (PEN-Faulkner award-winning author of the novel Snow Falling on Cedars and high school English teacher)


Home Education Magazine (s/b available at your local library alongside the fundy homeschooling mags)


All I can say is your story is very familiar. It takes a lot of courage to raise your child outside of the "safe" confines of a school, but you won't regret it.

[LeftyMom]

4. First place to start would be HSC

http://www.hsc.org/

They have a really great forum as well.

We homeschool under an R-4, which means we're registered as a private school. The upside is that means we're autonomous, and the downside is that we're autonomous. No interference, but we pay our own way. I like that better, but I can see how others might sacrifice some degree of independence for greater help.

[LeftyMom]

5. doublepost

stoopid internets

[Sabriel]

6. Would you consider a charter school?

I'm not sure what district you're in, but here's Waldorf charter in OC:

http://www.journeyschool.net/grades.htm#