I put this page as a separate link from the blog because though I do have a heart for homeschooling, I feel that sharing the Word takes first priority. I do believe strongly in homeschooling and believe that more people could do it that don’t, but I also do acknowledge that homeschool is not for everyone; so I don’t have any desire to get into any heated debates or discussion on the issue. This page has been created for people who start out like me, people who are interested in learning more about homeschooling but don’t have any clue where to begin. Even now I’ve been researching for a little bit now and still feel like I am really just getting my feet wet. When I first got interested in homeschooling, there seemed to be this huge overflow of information and it was hard to tell at first what information was good and what was bad. As a result, I felt really intimidated and wondered if I’d be able to do a good job or not. So for those interested in what I’ve found out so far, here’s a list of the resources that I’ve found invaluable.
RESOURCES
Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
They are an organization dedicated to legal issues of homeschooling, which includes letting homeschoolers know of the legal requirements of their state as well as legislation watch for homeschooling issues and other major issues (can be found on their homepage). They offer legal counsel and representation for their members, though you don’t have to be a member to take advantage of the information they have published on their website. For those who are new to homeschooling, they have a really nice “Getting Started” link on the leftmost table column. They even have a link to support groups that can be found in your state under the “Getting Started” tab.
HomeSchoolReviews.com
While looking for good homeschooling curriculum, I’ve found this site an invaluable resource from people who have “been there, tried that” and can offer you advice or talk about the pros and cons of the different curriculums from their experiences.
Cathy Duffy’s Homeschool Reviews
She has also written reviews for several curricula as well as published a book on choosing curriculum, 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum. I don’t necessarily agree with all she’s written; our ideas on education are different. However, I still like to visit her site and read her insights and critiques as I’ve researched into which curriculum I wish to use.
Those are definitely my favorite links. Maybe I’ll add more in the future. Feel free to drop me a line with any comments or further recommendations for resources.
ENCOURAGEMENT
Sometimes beginning an undertaking of this nature can leave you feeling confused and overwhelmed. You may be scratching your head wondering “can I really do this; can I really homeschool my children?” Here are a couple of points that I hope will encourage you.
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Parents all over can and do homeschool who have no training in education whatsoever. My mom is such a person; she homeschooled me from the 5th grade to graduation. She worked and “schooled” us in her time off and left us with my dad who had a construction business to watch us. My mom is not exactly what I’d describe as the natural teacher type, but she did her best and she did a great job too.
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There are curricula out there that are designed to be self-taught to the student for parents who would like to homeschool but don’t feel that they can teach very well. I was taught in one such curriculum, the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) program, and I’m sure that there are more programs like this that exist. (ACE also offers placement testing to help ensure that students are at the proper grade levels and do not miss anything important.) Other curricula offer support to the parents and student who need additional help.
Seek God first and foremost and He will lead, guide, and help you. Remember: “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 God bless. Rachael
CURRICULUM COMPANIES
If you’re interested but don’t know where to start, some companies I think worth checking out are:
All Subject Accredited Companies:
Alpha Omega (They offer a few different approaches/choices for education.)
BJU Press (They offer options for standardized testing.)
Christian Light Education (They offer diagnostic tests to help determine the proper grade level for the student.)
All-in-One Program:
(All-in-One programs don’t necessarily make their own curriculum so much as give you instructor’s guides and let you purchase the all required materials through their company.)
Sonlight(Reading and Math diagnostic tests offered.)
Math:
Horizons Math
Junior High and High School:
Elementary Intro to Calculus:
I’ve not yet had the opportunity evaluate this curriculum and have not found any reviews on it either, but it sounds quite interesting: Calculus Without Tears
Science:
Apologia
Elementary Handwriting:
Handwriting Without Tears
Art:
Artistic Pursuits
Choose Art
Foreign Languages:
BTW, this page is subject to future edits, updates, and new resource links.
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