homeschool tips?

Hi, I'm gonna help my mom homeschool my 9th grade sister this year (she is cooperating after being withdrawn from public school). Are there any resources, literature, web sites, or tips that may help us to grow and gain a little insight into this new adventure? We are looking into the Alpha Omega internet school resources for her and will be able to disciple her better with her being around Christians more than the world. If God wills, I will homeschool my son when he is schoolage (he's 3 now). Any tips? I am still a young christian myself, and am learning every day!!!

My first suggestion would be to contact HSLDA.org (Homeschool Legal Defense Association) and ask them to refer you to your state's Homeschool Association. What State do you live in? I might be able to help you. I live in New York State. Their web site is LEAH.org, which stands for Loving Education At Home. Each State has one. Also, where you live there also might be local support groups as well. With about 2 million homeschooled children you are bound to find some local support groups where you live. Let me know.Grace,Doug

Everything Doug stated I agree with. My wife and I homeschool three children. I would suggest you not only contact HSLDA but that you join the association. It cost around $110 per year but it is well worth it. They will send you a monthly newsletter with tips and laws for each state and protect you in court if needed against local public school districts that will try to bully you into not homeschooling. Each state is different and some are very easy but some are very difficult.Also, like Doug said find others in the area that homeschool. You will be surprised at the number of people and the different groups and activities that are available. For instance in the area I live there is a sporting group that offers competative sports but keeping the focus on Christ and not the sport. Practices and games are centered around family and the children are not driven to win at all cost like so many public rec leagues. There are also supplemental classes offered by other homeschoolers and local colleges. For instance my daughter takes Spanish from another homeschool mom and sings in a Choir that goes to a nursing home. We get really inexpensive homeschool group ski trips, ice skating and other things and all when others are in school. We really like homeschooling.We have also learned over the years that we can be flexible and still be organized and strict. Micahel Card has a good book about his homeschooling experiences and I think you can get it from CBD. You learn as you go and make changes where needed.We personally use Abecka for our to older chilren and I strongly recommend the Christ Centered Cirriculam for the youngest. It is advanced but puts the child a year ahead when complete. It only goes up to age 7 I believe. In any case we kind of mix a match depending on the subject because some are better than others.The other thing we do is have our children tested on the standard tests, I think they are called the Iowa exams. We don't do it every year but maybe every other just to see how they are doing but more importantly how we are doing teaching them. Usually a homeschool group in your are sets this up for a group.Lots to learn but the Lord will guide you.God bless,Mike

We home school three children as well.We use Abeka too and have been very pleased.We also use Christian Liberty Press and have been very blessed by their ministy.There are so many options for every different learning style and teaching style.Above all, pray! Home schooling is such a blessing. God will guide you and honor your faithfulness.Mike made an excellent point in suggesting you seek other Christians in your area who home school. It will be a tremendous source of encouragement In addition, as you meet more experienced home school moms, it will allow for some Titus 2 discipleship for you (and your husband)!God bless you on your journey!MatthewPS Anything Michael Card is good (book or music)!

I was home-schooled preschool - 12th. I graduated 2yrs ago, as a home-schooled student. I would really recommend once your child reaches high school that you stick to one curriculum, it makes it very diffucult to learn and keep transcripts with different books. I used a program called The American School for high school, which I hated. I had used Abeka until 9th grade, and while I moaned about it, I realize now what a blessing it was. The American School was an acredited correspondence school. The one redeeming quality of it was that whatever high school, college or job I continued on to, the American School was fully transferrable and acknowledgeable. So if you are going to graduate your child at home, make sure you know your areas legal requirements. I saw someone recommend HSLD; that is a wonderful site! Anyway, I enjoyed being home-schooled very much and would not change anything during my education. ^_^

I'm in Texas, fortunately the laws are very lenient with homeschooling. (As a rebellious teen, I dropped out of the same high school she was currently enrolled in for a fairly high paying job, and later finished and went on to some college, so we aren't too worried about that) The Alpha Omega site looks good, for full-time students, there is an online part of it with a chat, discussion board, even e-mail teachers if the parents don't know something. My sister is actually excited about that because she hasn't made any Christian friends that actually study the bible and practice it outside of church activities. Hopefully a change will help her find some real Christians, we are looking into homeschool band and other activities (she played flute all through jr. high). My city has a lot of activities which is nice, but not much fruit of following Jesus, so we are doing our best to help my sister. (Texas is in the bible belt, most people with any money thinks they are a Christian and most go to church, but finding a true God-fearing, Jesus-following Christian at church is like looking for a needle in a haystack, which is terrible). I think an online Christian-monitored community will be a blessing for her, just like the online communities I am involved in. The school is a little pricey ($1200 a year after fees) but if she can find some real Christians to fellowship with, that is money well invested.