Homeschooling

Archive for November, 2005

Question: Can I homeschool myself?

Ok, so I live in Colorado. I'm a 12 year old in 7th grade, and public schools don't work for me. I have perfect grades, but I need a different curriculum, and I could do without peer pressure. I can't go to a different school, or an academy since they're all full, and all of the online schools that my parents can afford are full. The free ones don't enroll right now. So can I? Both my parents work ALL DAY, so they can't do it. I'm very mature for my age, and I am very independent. Is it legal? Could I buy Homeschool Textbooks to work out of?
My parents are totally fine with me being alone at home all day, since my brother in 10th grade gets home at noon often, and since my neighborhood is small and has mostly young couples that are at work all day. Can you give me websites to buy the books, or perhaps stores?

Answer: What do your parents think about it? They should probably look into the requirements for your area as regards Homeschooling.

Do they trust you at home alone? Do you expect to choose your own Homeschool Textbooks or will your parents help out?

There are different ways to do "Homeschooling". Some states have what they call virtual academies that are actually public school online. When you enroll you are provided with the books and materials like regular school. In some places they even provide a computer if you don't have one so that you can do your work online. You are tested and you are assigned to a teacher who corresponds with you or talks on the phone if need be. Some even arrange field trips and group meetings for their students.

There are homeschool companies who provide complete curricula for your grade level for a price. They will also test you to determine what levels you should be working on in each subject area. You take tests and send them to them for grading. A Becka is one of these companies and they have their own textbooks. There are others I can't think of right now. The ones I am thinking of have a Christian foundation.

You can also check out the curriculum offered in the public school and use those materials. Books can be purchased used from online sources such as Follett Used Textbooks, Amazon, and some of the other online used book stores. If you do it this way you will not have the advantage of ready made assessments. This is the way I homeschooled my children in a state and time when the regulation of homeschools were pretty lax. I oversaw the curriculum for all three of them and made the assignments. My children did well and had no problem transitioning into a regular school system when necessary, except that they had a little difficulty with the different kind of accountability that teachers and classrooms expect.

When my son and a daughter were older I had a job and I trusted them to be safe at home as we live pretty far from other people. I gave them their assignments before I left for work (which was fairly close by) and we kept in touch by phone as necessary..They had the schoolwork and household chores to do. It worked for us. I checked their work, making sure they were progressing well and that I could help them with anything they didn't understand. When there was a problem we called on a neighbor to help us out.

If you are creative there should be some way you could work this out. The main problem I see is the accountability and safety. Consider finding a friend or relative you could stay with during the day while your folks are gone. You might be able to get your work done and be a help to your host or hostess.

homeschoolcurriculumfaq8.mp4

Question: What is the required date to start Homeschooling in TX?

My business associate is going to begin Homeschooling his son this year. He is starting the seventh grade. He is currently deciding which program to use as curriculum. I have been helping by looking up info about specific requirements. I know that there are not a number of required days or hours in a private environment in TX, but I am still
trying to find out if he has to begin home school on a specific date? What is the latest he can begin?

Answer: For the basics in Homeschooling, see:

http://www.educatekidz.com/licensingbody.html

homeschoolcurriculumfaq7.mp4