Homeschooling

Archive for March, 2008

Question: How do you follow the TX home school laws with "unschooling" if the law says you need a written curriculum?

I am starting to home-school my six year old this year and want to make sure I am following the laws in Texas. I know "unschooling" is a form of Homeschooling and there is not a law against it, but I need to know how to go about "unschooling" when according to TX laws, a written curriculum must be followed. How does one accomplish this?

Answer: Hello. I also live in Texas and homeschool my son.

Here's the bottom line - you need to follow state laws and regulations but that doesn't mean that you CAN'T teach the unschooling approach.

I am familiar with Texas homeshool laws - luckily, this state imposes very little regulations on homeschoolers and the regulation you're referring to is the one that states:

"A written curriculum consisting of reading, spelling, grammar, math, and a course in good citizenship while operating as a private school [is required]."

Ready for the most important paragraph of my response? Here it is:

No matter what teaching approach (classical, CM, unit studies, unschooling, etc.) you want to take is totally up to you, but...you...must..comply...with...state regulations...period.

The way you asked your question, I don't see a conflict between unschooling (from what I know about this approach) and having a written curriculum.

REMEMBER - the Texas law NEVER states how SPECIFIC you have to be in documenting your written curriculum so you have plenty of leeway on how you want to document it.

For example, I would just have a heading for each of the Texas required topics (reading, spelling, grammar, math, and citizenship), and under each one, provide some general bullet points on what you plan to teach - no need to produce an encylopedia here, just some general high-level points on what you think ought to be taught.

Some final words, don't forget that unschooling is more of a "how" to teach rather than a "what" to teach. Since Texas is asking you as the home school teacher to document "what" you are teaching, it is totally up to you on "how" you will teach the topics. Therefore, unschooling and Texas Homeschool Laws can co-exist without any conflict.

If you want a quick refresher on home school state regulations, I would recommend that you visit my website - Yahoo community group guidelines prevent me from posting that here, but you can easily get my website address by looking at my profile (just click into my icon).

To find the specific article I'm referring to, go my site and in the Articles section, read the article titled, "Home Schooling Regulations".

Hope this helps.

Sun Bae
Home School Teacher

You will have to buy Home Schooling books for your Homeschool Curriculum. Most Home Schooling books from curriculum sellers range from about $10 to $90 each. Teacher's editions books are more expensive. If you have more than one child, your children can share the Home Schooling books if they fit into their chosen curriculum. Like any other books, you can try to buy Used Homeschool Books. Local Home School Support Groups may have some Homeschool Books For Sale. If you have done your research thoroughly, you will find what books you need to buy and where to find them. You can also visit garage sales, thrift stores, library book sales, yard sales, etc...

Other home school material

Apart from books, you will want to look for some other home school material that will help you teach your child. Examples are board games, puzzles, musical instruments, sports equipment, and legos. You can find any of these items at any garage sales or discount stores. You know best what items will help your child learn, purchase them whenever you come across them.

Apart from Home Schooling books as specified in the Homeschool Curriculum, it is up to you what you want to buy to help your child learn. You may want to purchase any deep discount books on Home Schooling ongoing since Home Schooling laws change constantly.