FAQ > What do I do to homeschool? How do I start?

Choose... How do I start? What if I don't have a teaching degree? Can I homeschool if I am living on a very tight budget? What material would be helpful for a Black-oriented curriculum? Where can I get Black-oriented educational material for my children? How do I withdraw my children from a school in Ontario? Why have parents rejected institutionalized schooling for their children? How can I find other homeschoolers of colour in my area? How can I teach about our history (esp. slavery) without engendering hate? Can I just homeschool just one of my children? How does my child earn high school credits while homeschooled? What about going to university or college after only homeschooling? How can my children have a social life if they're homeschooled? Where do I purchase the curriculum? What are the resources I can use? I want to be an AHA Rep or start a Chapter for my area I'm not in Peterborough. Is there an AHA representative in my area? Are there any books or sites about Black homeschoolers who have done it or are doing it? Which catalogues and material are must-haves? What curriculum do I use? Do I have to use a curriculum? What about learning on the internet? Where are some great sites? How do I join AHA?

Taking your children out of school After you decide to homeschool, the next step is to withdraw your children from the school. If you do so in a nonconfrontational way, you probably won't hear much -- if anything -- from the school board about it. Visit Canadian Home-based Learning Resource Page to learn about homeschooling procedures in your province. If you're in the U.S., go to Learn in Freedom! If you're in Ontario, a simple letter stating your children's basic info and that they will no longer be in attendance because they are going to receive their education elsewhere is sufficient. You don't have offer a detailed explanation. And, for your convenience, the government has a form on its site that you can download to use. Or, if you don't have access to a printer, request one from AHA and it will be mailed to you. Visit our page regarding legal issues. Moreover, if your children have not been in the Ontario public school system, you can continue to keep them out of it without any fears of legal consequences. Whether or not you should register as a homeschooler with the school board is something that can only be decided by you. You must weigh the pros and cons to determine how much school board involvement you should allow. Your educational approach Although it's not always possible, it is best to accommodate your children's learning styles. Most of us are used to learning in a particular way, and view certain methods of teaching and assessment as the only legitimate ones. It can be extremely difficult to remain open-minded on this issue. However, times have changed and many resources that were not available to our parents are available to us. Review teaching tips online and at your library Order catalogues and surf the Internet for educational material. If you find that it's too expensive to buy all the items you want, seek free resources or consider making them youself. And, don't forget the library! Jacqueline Galloway works as a homeschool consultant, guiding parents to the appropriate resources and providing curriculum and teaching assistance as needed. Brown Sugar & Spice Books - 734-729-0501 Homeschooling Books (Amazon.com affiliate) HBLN Getting Started Resource List 2002 Homeschool.com Learning Styles: "Visual Learners: learn through seeing...                    . These learners need to see the teacher's body language and facial expression to fully understand the content of a lesson. They tend to prefer sitting at the front of the classroom to avoid visual obstructions (e.g. people's heads). They may think in pictures and learn best from visual displays including: diagrams, illustrated text books, overhead transparencies, videos, flipcharts and hand-outs.  During a lecture or classroom discussion, visual learners often prefer to take detailed notes to absorb the information. Auditory Learners: learn through listening... They learn best through verbal lectures, discussions, talking things through and listening to what others have to say. Auditory learners interpret the underlying meanings of speech through listening to tone of voice, pitch, speed and other nuances. Written information may have little meaning until it is heard. These learners often benefit from reading text aloud and using a tape recorder. Tactile/Kinesthetic Learners: learn through , moving, doing and touching...    Tactile/Kinesthetic persons learn best through a hands-on approach, actively exploring the physical world around them. They may find it hard to sit still for long periods and may become distracted by their need for activity and exploration." Learning styles links can be found here. View a list of catalogues