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"What
do you mean by homeschooling?"
In
the simplest of terms, it means teaching your child at home rather
than sending her to a public school.
"Is homeschooling
legal?"
Yes,
homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and on military bases
overseas.
In Washington, you may homeschool two different ways: By filing
a notice of intent, or under the supervision of a private school.
Many public school districts offer Alternative
Education Programs as well, though these are extensions
of the public school system rather than actually homeschooling.
See the WA
Law
page for complete information.
"Do I
have to have a college degree to homeschool?"
WA
law requires that a parent has 45 credit hours of higher education,
or complete a parent qualification course in order to homeschool.
See the Qualifying page for
a list of these courses.
"Why would
somebody WANT to homeschool?"
Ask
a hundred different homeschoolers and you will likely get a hundred
different answers. Some of the most frequently given reasons
are:
* Family togetherness. Your children are not away from the home
half their waking hours.
* Stability. Especially in families that move a lot, homeschooling
gives a child a continuity he might not otherwise have.
* Values. A parent can choose curriculum that supports her values
and those she wishes to instill in her children.
* Safety. Although the likelihood of serious injury occurring
in a public school is very small, some parents feel safer with
their child at home.
* Custom Education. In a large classroom, a teacher must necessarily
"teach to the middle" or majority of students. If a
child is far ahead or far behind, the education my be largely
irrelevant to him.
* 1-to-1 Teaching. Even in the most ideal classroom, the amount
of 1-to-1 time between teacher and student cannot compare to
the time a homeschooling parent and child spend together.
"Why might
somebody choose NOT to homeschool?"
The
biggest reason not to homeschool is simply because you have no
desire to do so. While it is a wonderful option, only Bible-believing
Christian parents have an obligation
to keep their children out of government schools (more
on that here).
Homeschooling requires a commitment from the whole family, and
though best for every child, it may not be best for every family
situation. Each family needs to decide which option most benefits
the whole family, then pursue it to the best of their ability.
"Can my
child return to public school if I change my mind?"
Yes.
Some families find that homeschooling doesn't fit after all,
their family situation is different, or their needs have changed.
Depending upon the school to which they are returning, they may
need to do little more than re-enroll or take examinations to
determine grade level. Remember, however, that the first year
of homeschooling is the most difficult. It gets considerably
easier over time.
"How do
I know which materials to use?"
Different
homeschooling styles use different materials. A family who chooses
to school-at-home may use
a packaged curriculum where day by day lesson plans are laid
out for them. If you homeschool the Classical way, your library
may be the main supplier as you learn through classical literature.
Some families use Unit Studies, revolving
all their subjects around a particular topic for a set period
of time. These come pre-packaged for sale, plus there are many
on the Internet for free. An Eclectic homeschooler picks and
chooses from the curriculum she thinks is best for each subject.
There are literally thousands of homeschool curriculum providers.
See the Styles page for
some information to get you started, or our top picks on the
Curricula page. Your
local
support group
can connect you with local experienced homeschoolers to help
you choose.
"How will
I know if they are up to par with their public school peers?"
Washington
state requires that a homeschooled student be assessed annually
through testing or other means. See the Testing page for
further information and sources. The Iowa Test of Basic
Skills
is used by many homeschooling parents (and many schools) as a
measure of appropriate grade-level learning.
"Do I
have to teach them everything? And what do I need to teach?"
The
state of Washington requires that children in grades 1-12 be
taught an annual AVERAGE of 1,000 hours of planned and supervised
instruction covering Occupational Education, Science, Mathematics, Language,
Social Studies, History, Health,
Reading, Writing, Spelling, Music Appreciation, and Art Appreciation.
But you don't necessarily have to be the one who teaches them
every subject. There are a lot of different ways to meet those
requirements.
"What
if I don't know something?"
Gone
are the days when homeschooling meant isolation. Today's homeschoolers
are able to tap many resources, including professionals, the
Internet, the local library, classes, field trips, and other
homeschoolers. If higher math is not your forte, trade tutoring
skills with another homeschooler. Or search the Internet for
an online class (many are free!). Take relevant field
trips.
What better way to learn about the history of Puget sound than
to let the docent at the Natural Museum teach?
"What
about socialization?"
The
average homeschooler is involved in four outside activities.
Some of those include Scouting, 4-H, Boys & Girls' Clubs,
religious organizations, youth symphonies, outside classes, dance
troupes, nature and wildlife organizations and more. A homeschooled
child interacts with people every day: people in his neighborhood,
in her church, at the market, on field trips. The difference
is that parents are able to CHOOSE with whom she associates.
Socialization occurs daily. The difference is the most social
interaction in a homeschool is under the supervision of adults.
"How much
does this cost?"
The
average homeschool family spends just under $400 per child each
year to homeschool. That's an average. Those using a pre-packaged
full curriculum will probably spend more, many of us spend a
LOT less. How much you spend depends upon your personal finances,
your homeschooling style, and how much you do yourself. The library
is free, and homeschooling can be done with nothing beyond the
library. Some expenses other than books (which can be purchased
used) might include: annual passes to the Zoo, Aquarium, science and art
museums, tuition for special classes, music lessons, field trip
expenses, memberships, and art supplies. As you can see, these
are mostly optional expenses. Your clothing and food expenses
will likely be less.
"Is there
somebody who will help me?"
Yes!
There are local support groups throughout the West Sound
area.
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