Homeschooling

Archive for August, 2007

Question: TAKS and Homeschooling in Texas?

I'm doing my research for what I need to do to begin to homeschool my son. I've already found the curriculum requirement and some law info for Texas, but I'm still confused as to whether or not I need to set aside special training for the TAKS statewide testing. I"m assuming the TAKS is more for grade promoting and state funding for schools. But if we continue until he is college ready, will he need to take some type of evaluation or testing that may be TAKS based? Thanks for your answers.

Answer: No, if you're hoomeschooling in Texas, you don't need to worry about the TAKS. He won't have to take it unless you enroll him back into public school again.

In Texas, each homeschool is considered an unaccredited private school. College entrance will be based on his high school transcripts and his SAT/ACT scores. Your Homeschool Transcripts and diploma will be the only school record he'll need. His SAT/ACT scores will be weighed in pretty heavily since he is graduating from an unaccredited school.

If you're considering enrolling him in public school again, you can always do practice TAKS workbooks as part of your curriculum just to keep him on his toes. You can find those practice books at Mardel.

Texas Home School Coalition Convention Speech by Governor Rick Perry, Part 1

Question: Any suggestions on where to find used textbooks for high school subjects?

I'm looking for used or inexpensive textbooks for my highschooler. I'm not looking for Christian-based books though. Basically something I can just open up, understand, and teach from.

This is our first time Homeschooling. We're used to the public school's way of teaching/learning, so we thought we'd stick to teaching that way since he's "comfortable" with it. Once we become more familiar (if that's possible...there's so much info out there) with everything that is involved with curriculums, we may change our approach. But for now, this will work for us.

Answer: We started Home Schooling in the 8th grade and our approach was much like your approach. We have found many text books at the Goodwill Store and Salvation Army store. The only drawback to these is that they do not come with the teacher's book with answers and ideas. We have found that we can do search online for topics in the book and find more sources and updated information from the Internet.
Check with your local home school support group and see if they have a used book sale.
EBay does have text books. They have a rule that they cannot sell the teacher's books. They have a fear that public school students would get one in their hands and cheat. (I work in the public school and copying papers on lunch break is a big part of the 20 minute lunch break.) Ebay users have found a way to get around the rule so look for notes on the ads that tell about 'other books of interest'. This will be the teacher's books or solution/answer books.
Also, many of the bigger publishing companies have websites with much of their text from the books online. Some have interactives for various subjects.
Technology has made Home Schooling easier than it was 10 years ago.
Best of luck to you.

Home Schooling Your Kids : Tips for Home Schooling High School Students