I'm Thinking of homeschooling my 3rd grader.?

Question

I have been thinking of homeschooling my 3rd grader for some time now but I have no clue to go about getting started. I had been looking into Connections Academy but from what I have read they are not offering the classes in Indiana in the fall. I guess I just really need any advice I can get. Thank You

Answer 1

It is no big deal, you just decide. Then read about different styles of learning, chat on some yahoo message boards. I prefer a classical approach to learning, so reading or learning about it can be done at welltrainedmind.com Then find your kids strengths and weaknesses or any holes in the education that need to be focused on and go from there. There are many curriculums available, depending on if you want everything in a box shipped to you, or putting your own stuff together. The K12 program is an easy way to get started, but I like a more individualized approach.

Answer 2

Here are the laws for Indiana:

http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp?St...

You have to maintain attendance records, but you don't have to provide notice, meet certain qualifications or do any testing or assessment.

That gives you full control to teach your child however you choose.  I would suggest you consider how your child learns best - is it through projects, reading, workbooks, listening, etc.?  Does he work best while interacting with another person, with just a little supervision, or completely on his own.  

Once you've thought through the above, take a look at different homeschooling methods:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

Then start looking for a curriculum that fits your child.

Also, find a local support group in your area.  Here's a state organization that may be of some assistance in locating one:

http://www.inhomeeducators.org/

Here is some information on homeschooling support:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

Homeschooling can seem overwhelming at first, but you will get the hang of it.  Good luck, and enjoy your journey!

Answer 3

You can homeschool him if you write a letter to the school board explaining why. You could do virtal homeschool but it cost money. If you get a referall from a physcolist then you can put him in hospital homeschooling four weeks at a time. It just depends on reason why and what route you want to go. Homeschooling is great way to learn real thing. All schools teach now a days is for the FCAT

Answer 4

first you should ask your kid if he wants to, show him what it will be like first, then let him decide. i failed a few classes my freshman year and chose to home school for half a year to catch back up. its taking me a full year and is the hardest thing Ive ever done. now, I'm stuck in my house almost every day and lost next to all of my time away from home. by the end of the week, im just sick of even hearing my moms voice. i guess it just matters what kind of place you live in. if you live in a city or a town, where you could walk down the street and see at least one other person than he/she will be fine. if you live in a place like me, that doesn't even have a sidewalk for a good 30 to 40 miles, than home schooling's not for you.

Answer 5

Start with www.hslda.org you need to know the laws before you begin. That being said you need to look at the way your child learns. Great book to read How Children Learn by John Holt. For a good curriculum try Sonlight www.sonlight.com We are using ACE www.aceministries.com/homeschool right now. While its a good Christian program it is very self driven and just not for us. Sonlight is also Christian but it's more of a classical education. You read a ton of novels most are historical fiction. I comes with lesson plans, worksheets for language, and all the novels you need for the year. You need to add a science and math program to go with it. For those I recommend Math U See www.mathusee.com and Apologia www.homeschoolingfromtheheart.com/apolog...  Good Luck.

Answer 6

Do un-schooling. There's no better teacher than freedom to persue ones' interests.

Answer 7

I agree that http://www.aceministries.com/Default.asp is the best. I do it and its great.

Answer 8

Find your states laws on homeschooling here: http://www.hslda.org/laws/default.asp?St...

The requirements are few. To find a method of homeschool that works for you, you can start here:

http://homeschooling.about.com/od/method...

For encouragement and funny stories try:

http://guiltfreehomeschooling.org/blog/

I encourage you to go to your local bookstore and find books written by homeschoolers on how they got started. There are online forums, like The Denim Jumper and a plethora of Yahoo groups. Also, see if you can find a homeschool group or co-op near you. They can often make the process more fun.

Answer 9

I am using this next year for my 3rd grader  http://www.time4learning.com/   it covers math and language arts pretty well, my 7th grader is enjoying it this year.  The cost is 20 amonth.

I also find inexpensive workbooks at walmart and on ebay.

Try to do things your child enjoys too, so school will be more enjoyable.  My 2nd grader this year loves art, so we are going to go visit an art museum for our field trip and she is learning various methods of brush strokes and forms of art.  It is the class she looks forward to the most.

My 7th grader loves dinosaurs so we try to do some studies around it, career choices, we went on a field trip to a fossil dig, ect....

3rd grade is really not to difficult check out some of these sites to help.

http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?cur...

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/

also check your state laws, others have provided great links for that

Answer 10

I don't know what your faith is.  But if you don't mind a Christian backing to the study aids for home schooling, try the first site below.

If that is not your cup of soup then try the second site.

Good luck!!