So You've Decided to Start Homeschooling Your Child

Good for you! You've taken a bold and brave step in deciding to enhance your child's educational strengths. Plenty has been said about the lack of suitable public education in this country. When the most powerful country in the world is also the fattest and dumbest, something is definitely wrong. That is to say nothing of the violence and illegal drugs that permeate even the most reputable schools. You may get some flack by people in your community after deciding to start homeschooling. Pay no heed to it. The main argument from detractors of homeschooling is that the children end up socially awkward. What most people don't know is that homeschooled children are in fact some of the most public-savvy folks around. Homeschool allows children to interact with peers at different age groups, rather than being confined to age-specific classrooms.

To start homeschooling, you'll first need to peruse the local laws in your district and state. There are provisions in every state that dictate how homeschooling is supposed to proceed and breaking these laws can mean some hefty punishments or even the loss of your child to the state. Contacting your state's Department of Education is a good way of being informed on every facet of the homeschool laws in your state. You may also choose to join the HSLDA, or the Home School Legal Defense Association. This a group that is dedicated to defending the legality of homeschool cases. At any rate, it is necessary to be informed of all aspects of your rights as a homeschooling parent.

After you've cleared yourself legally of the red tape, you must decide on a curriculum. There are countless companies online that offer books and learning tools but it is ultimately up to you to decide what will be taught and when. Naturally, you'll want your child to be as advanced if not more than his or her peers, so a great aid for this purpose is a website called "Developing Educational Standards". Companies like Beka sell curriculum books that are typically one grade more advanced than the grade that is being taught in most public schools. In other words, the company sells books that will teach your child fifth grade information in the fourth grade.

Obviously, before these steps are taken, you should go over these decisions with your child. Even though your say is final, homeschooling a child that would rather be out in the real world can cause an irrevocable rift in your relationship. Giving the child the opportunity for even a year is enough to let him or her decide what they truly want. Hey, the Amish even give their kids time to explore the spooky techno-world to see if they want to return to the farm!