Many parents want an alternative to public school, whether it is because of school problems with bullies, low-performing academics or because they want their children to learn about religion. Home schooling allows them to teach what and how they want to their children at home. The Growing Without Schooling website estimates that more than a million children are home schooled in America. Most parents choose to structure a learning environment and schedule similar to traditional school, but home schooling can adapt to any lifestyle. Many books and online resources can help parents provide an adequate education for their children at home.
Step 1
Check with your local government or an online database about the home schooling laws where you live. The requirements to home school vary widely among states. According to the Home School Legal Defense Association, some states have no requirements, others require parents to notify state officials, and others require parents to prove that their children meet educational standards by submitting transcripts of work and test scores.
Step 2
Plan a curriculum. Some parents choose to buy a pre-made curriculum, such as Calvert or Oak Meadow, that tells them what they must teach their child throughout a school year. These programs may have online resources, including tests and professionals to grade papers, and include the basic information your child would learn in a comparable grade in school. The type of program you choose will likely depend on your own educational philosophy, religious beliefs if applicable, and your child's needs and interests.
Step 3
Determine what your child needs to learn for his age and grade level by consulting a book such as the "What Your First Grader Should Know"; these books cover each elementary grade level. If you choose not to follow a pre-designed curriculum, you can still have an idea of what should be taught and can choose books and visual materials accordingly.
Step 4
Look for local home school groups. Most cities have well-organized home school networks which enable children to socialize with other children. Home school groups also allow parents to pool resources and to draw on the strengths of individual parents. This can help parents who worry that they may not be able to teach advanced levels of math or science.
Tips and Warnings
- Some people choose not to follow any structured educational approach; this is sometimes called unschooling. Unschooling allows the child to choose what she wants to learn and work at her own pace; the parent acts as a facilitator for the child's interests rather than a director. This approach is endorsed by some experts such as John Taylor Gatto and encourages parents to respect and trust their child's interests.
