How do I get started Homeschooling my children?

When I hear from those of you in cyberspace who are kind enough to give me feedback about this website, or from people I meet and speak with about homeschooling the first thing I am asked is:
How do I get started homeschooling my children?  Is it legal?  Isn't it really hard?

These are all good questions and I will attempt to answer them on this page.

When I began investigating homeschooling back in '98, the first thing I did was to get on the 'Net and look at the pro's and con's. I didn't find many con's outside of the NEA and other such sites which is understandable, while unfortunate.  Their objections seem to center around the "socialization" issue (I thought they were in the business of educating!) and about the "qualifications and lack of certification of parents".  Here in Louisiana we rank about 48th or 49th in education on any given year so I don't think my state has anything to say to me about my qualifications to teach my own children.

One of the first things I had to do when starting on this journey was to look at these statistics closely and let them sink in and realize what they were really saying about Government attempts to educate my children.  Although mine were in a Catholic school at that time, I found that many of the local public school standards were being incorporated into that school!  It doesn't make sense to bring in the techniques of a failed system!  I felt that with hard work, research, and the use of the brain and talent God gave me I could teach and guide my own.  You can do it, too!

Check out the laws in your state.  Click on this link to go to the National Association of School Boards of Education page which links you to each state's Department of Education page.  From there you should be able to find a link to Home Study, Home Education or whatever term is used in your state to refer to homeschooling. An alternative source for Boards in the U.S. as well as International sites is Jon's Homeschooling Resource page.   Another popular site is the Home School Legal Defense page where you can find the laws for your state.  It's a good idea to check more than one just to be sure.

You should be able to quickly gain the information you need to know to follow the law.  I firmly believe for the protection of all of our freedom to homeschool that you should follow the law.  By the same token, in order to protect our freedoms, I DO NOT think you need to go beyond the law. Don't give more information than you need to.  When a homeschooler does that, they cause school boards to think they can expect this from all of us.  This will lead to more regulation and unneeded harrassment.

If you can download the documents you need to fill out and send in from the State Education site, do so.  If you MUST contact your local school board, just call and get the forms sent.  You do not need to tell them anything personal, you don't need to explain or justify...just ask for the forms.  When you get them, fill them out with ONLY what is called for IF IT COMPLIES WITH THE LAW you read on the State Dept. of Ed. website for your state.  You would be amazed at the local school boards that do not know the law, or if they do, they think you don't.

This little excersize will be the first of many times you will need to do some searching, research and educating of yourself in order to find out what you need to know for your children.  It's exciting and very freeing!  As homeschoolers, we soon learn that we don't need anyone to hold our hand and tell us what to do. 

We can use advisors, helpers, mentors, etc.  But, WE are in charge! WE choose them! Wow....What a concept!

The next step is to make a few choices about curriculum, method or philosophy you will use in instructing your children.  This also leads to more research on your part.  Click on this link to go to the Elijah Company's web page that has 6 fabulous articles online covering topics from choosing your materials to time management for families.  You owe it to yourself to read these!

While you check out the Elijah Co. page(and begin your research), I will get my thoughts together and I'll meet you at my "Choosing Your Method" page ....coming soon! Be sure and consider you and your  children's personalities, strengths and weaknesses, and any area of remediation that they may need (especially important if they have been in school.)

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