Homeschooling: Answering Your Questions (Part Two)
Even though homeschooling is a widely accepted educational alternative, many people still have lots of questions — especially those considering taking the leap. In an earlier post about homeschooling, I answered some frequently asked questions. This post is part two of my answers to questions I often receive about homeschooling.
How rapidly is home education growing? Almost 2 million students were homeschooled in the United States during 2002-2003.* The growth rate is 7% to 15% per year, according to Dr. Brian Ray, president of the National Home Education Research Institute (Worldwide Guide to Homeschooling).
How my Family Came to Homeschool
I mentioned this in part 1 of this series, but I’ll briefly share that again. After teaching for 9 years in the public school system, I came home to stay with my toddlers. When they began going to school, they had great experiences — for the most part.
However, after school each day, there was barely time for a snack, homework, and a family meal before it was time to get them ready for bed. Then, we’d do it all over again the next day.
We longed to have more time together. After our oldest daughter completed the first grade and our youngest completed a year of kindergarten, we decided to try homeschooling.
There have been challenging and imperfect days as well as amazing and wonderful days. Tailoring an education to each child’s strengths, weaknesses, and individual learning styles has been beneficial. We have no regrets!
The greatest blessing has been the ability to be there to encourage them and teach their hearts along the way.
We homeschooled the girls all the way through high school. They went on to graduate with honors from college.
Now, we’re homeschooling our boy, which is a whole new ballgame!
Answering Your Homeschooling Questions – Part 2
Even after eighteen years of homeschooling, some days I still feel like I’m learning my way because each child is different. But I am a lot more relaxed now than I was during those first few years of homeschooling.
Numerous people come to me with questions. They long to homeschool their children and grandchildren, but they battle fears of inadequacy.
I want to encourage you today by answering more questions and giving you a list of helpful resources.
What are the legal requirements for homeschooling?
Homeschooling is legal in all fifty states. Detailed requirements vary by state. Your state’s Department of Non-Public Education website, as well as the Home School Legal Defense Association, can answer all your legal questions.
No matter what state you live in, you must file your intent to homeschool with the Department of Education before you pull your child out of the public-school system. If your child has never entered the public-school system, check your state laws on when to register them as a homeschooled student. The age to register a child in N.C. is 7, but it varies by state.
As of this writing, in Georgia, parents must write an annual progress report for each child and retain it every year.
In New York, a detailed list of subjects, syllabi, curriculum materials, and a record of hours spent learning are mandatory.
Academic evaluations also vary. Standardized testing doesn’t begin until third grade in Georgia and is only required every three years.
In my state of North Carolina, standardized tests are required every year beginning at age seven.
What should I teach?
Most states suggest 180 days of instruction and require an attendance record to be kept on file each year of homeschooling.
Bear in mind, homeschooling a few children takes far less time than what’s typically needed to teach a class of twenty-five students.
Some states are flexible about what and when you teach. Other states are very specific about which subjects should be taught in each grade.
It’s imperative to research and follow the laws of your state.
How much does it cost to homeschool?
It’s amazing how many times I hear this question! And there’s no set answer for it. Some parents spend very little. They use resources they already have, borrow books and supplies, or download free materials online.
Other home educators choose a packaged curriculum that includes everything but the kitchen sink. Packaged curriculum bundles are pricey and can run between $500 – $1,000, or more.
My family aims for the mid-range. I try to borrow as many books as possible from friends and the library. I hit the used book sales in communities and online for great bargains. When my children were in grades K- 3, I found a variety of excellent workbooks and reading books at dollar stores.
I have also bought new curriculum from publishers. In addition, we purchased a microscope, maps, science kits, and other cool stuff.
I’ve read that the average homeschool family spends about $900 per student each year. We don’t spend anywhere near that. Most of my friends don’t spend that much. I think when our kids were in grades K-2, we probably spent about $75 or less per kid each year. As they progressed through the grades, we spent more. We did more science experiments, field trips, and activities.
Then, during high school, we paid for a science tutor and dual-enrollment classes at the community college.
Also, many homeschoolers love bartering. One of our daughters taught horseback-riding lessons to the daughters of a biology major in exchange for tutoring in chemistry.
Buying curriculum is like buying groceries. Brands and prices vary. How much you will need is based on the ones you’re feeding. But with wise planning, saving, and frugal shopping, you can get plenty of fulfilling products.
What curriculum do you use?
Besides the Bible and great literature books, we’ve used an eclectic mix of curricula. It’s interesting that our favorites begin with the letter A:
A Beka, A Reason for Spelling/Science, Answers in Genesis, and Apologia. We also enjoy BJU Press, Institute for Excellence in Writing, Veritas Press, and others.
But just because these have worked well for my kids, doesn’t mean they are the best ones for yours. It takes time to research, try out, and discover what works best with each child.
One of my daughters panicked when she saw the problems in a Saxon math book. I had to find a book with more colorful graphics sprinkled throughout, rather than an entire page of problems. When she was in the tenth grade, she loved an intensive literature and essay-writing curriculum, which would have sent our other daughter bolting for the door!
One of the nice things about homeschooling is the opportunity to find a curriculum that works best with each child’s learning style.
Occasionally, my daughters needed something tailored to their unique needs, but most of the time, they were able to use the same curriculum.
Do you need to set up a “classroom” area?
During our first few years of homeschooling, all of our supplies were stored on a microwave cart, and most of our homeschooling was done at the dining room table.
But after numerous years of homeschooling, we have accumulated a great number of books! Now, we’re blessed to have a small area at the top of our stairs where we store most of our books and educational materials. We have desks, computers, maps, and charts there. While this is nice, we only spend about half of our school time in this room.
The sofa is a favorite spot to curl up and do our morning devotions together, followed by the day’s literature reading assignments. My kids have done their schoolwork sitting on pillows in the bathtub, in a tent, or in homemade forts (outside and inside). We do science in the kitchen and math on the living room floor. We also learn a great deal outside the walls of our home. Field trips with hands-on learning excite everyone.
How do you not stress about homeschooling?
Bearing the responsibility of your child’s education is enormous. It should be taken seriously, but don’t forget to have fun. Provide opportunities that instill a joy for learning. Savor the moments you have with your children.
How? Consider letting go of what the world thinks a teaching environment should look like. Relax in the freedom of homeschooling, and the journey will be more enjoyable.
When I first began homeschooling, I thought we would do it only for a few years. With each passing year, I stand amazed at how God continues to work in our homeschool despite my shortcomings.
Even after all this time, there are days I still question my abilities, and occasionally my sanity! It’s necessary for me to continually pray for God’s wisdom and help in our homeschooling efforts. God has never let me down. He provides, equips, and meets all our needs. When I begin to feel stressed, I remind myself to give God my concerns, and that frees my mind up to savor the moments I have with my family.
What If I Have More Homeschooling Questions?
There are more resources available now than when I first began homeschooling back in 2000. Here are just a few online resources to get you started:
North Carolina Home Educators Association
Homeschool Giveaways
And there are tons of educational materials on Pinterest!
You may also enjoy reading posts from other homeschool moms at Homeschool Blog and Tell.
*Brian D. Ray, Ph.D., Facts on Homeschoooling (refers to students in grades K-12).
Motivated by the power of story, history, and His Story, Sally Matheny’s passion is telling the next generation wondrous things.
Her nonfiction writing appears in worldwide, national, and regional publications including Appleseeds, Clubhouse Jr., Homeschooling Today, and The Old Schoolhouse.
She and her husband live in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and are blessed with three children, two sons-in-law, and armfuls of grandbabies. Connect with Sally on several social media sites, but her favorite hangouts are at SallyMatheny.com and Pinterest.
