Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is from my perspective which is that of a "newbie" and to-date the answers that I've found useful. Also as folks send emails with questions, we'll be sure to add them to this page.
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May I recommend the book "So you're thinking about home schooling" by Lisa Welchel. She interviews 15 families which all do homeschooling completely different and each for different reasons. Who would've known?! This was a quick & easy read and provided me with good insight which allowed me to begin to picture where home schooling was a fit for us. It definitely gave me my "WHY". I believe that prior to embarking on such an adventure you really need to know your "WHY". In my opinion it is as critical as the curriculum you choose. Your "WHY" is what will keep you going on the days you want to give up. Have I mentioned how important it is to know your "WHY" :-] Seriously, it especially comes in handy when you're out and about and people ask "Why aren't your kids in school?" and you can proudly and confidently reply "They are, were doing Physical Education."
As for hours spent, etc. I took an excerpt out from the Colorado law, I strongly suggest you take the time to read through this yourself as this is only an excerpt. CHEC website is an excellent resource for this information.
The short answer is "no". Each family is different and each child within the family may learn differently. It's difficult to recommend specific resources without knowing more about the age and ability levels of each child. The one thing that I did learn in my search for curriculum is that you need to know what your child's learning style is and equally as important is what is YOUR learning style as a parent. This is critical because you may be a visual learner and you may purchase a curriculum that is visually stimulating only to learn that your child is auditory. This will be frustrating for both you and your child and may cause you to become easily discouraged. Avoid that trap. Learning styles are important, don't underestimate that. This is one of the perks of homeschooling that you can cater to your child's learning style. Don't miss this very important detail as you search for curriculum. May I also recommend attending curriculum fairs/conferences, this will allow you to touch and feel the curriculum and see if it's a fit for both of you. Lastly, get on discussion groups and get feedback from your fellow homeschoolers, this is especially useful if they have the curriculum you can set up a play date and look before you buy.
No. Your children are public school students. You cannot choose your own curriculum and your children must adhere to CO curriculum standards and daily/hourly attendance requirements. They (and you) will have to answer to a certified teacher who will monitor their learning, and your children must participate in statewide testing. Homeschoolers have much more freedom to choose our own curriculum, subjects, methods of assessment, and days/hours of attendance. Our children are not public school students, can learn at their own pace, and don't have to answer to a certified teacher. This is not to imply that homeschooling is better (or worse) than virtual charter schooling -- it is a legal distinction that needs to remain clear. As a homeschooler, I've found that we believe that the focus should be what's best for the children, not on who's "better."
We'd like to meet you, too! Come visit our discussion forum and browse around to meet other homeschoolers and jump into our discussions. We also recommend a visit Yahoo support groups page to find homeschoolers who live near you. We look forward to getting to know you!