HEAR is here to help! Whether your child is entering kindergarten or high school, deciding to homeschool can be overwhelming. It doesn't have to be. Let us share our experiences with you and try to answer your questions. So let's get started.....
Is Homeschooling right for me?
There are many benefits to homeschooling. Every family chooses to homeschool for various reasons, and most of the time there isn't just one either! Homeschooling allows families flexibility with their schedule, curriculum, and activities. The best way to decide is to (1) pray earnestly, (2) discuss with your spouse, and (3) research.
Homeschool is probably very different than what you imagine. So to understand it better, we suggest you talk with veteran homeschool families and read, read, read. Here are a few suggested books:
The Christian Home School by Gregg Harris The Well Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Jessie Wise So You're Thinking About Homeschooling by Lisa Welchel The Everything Homeschooling Book: Take Charge of You Child's Education by Sherri Linsenbach Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe by Todd Wilson
There are countless websites available to help you learn more about the world of homeschooling.
There are a lot of curriculum to choose from, and choosing can be an intimidating task. HEAR families use many different curricula and HEAR doesn't believe one is better than all the others. It really depends on both the teacher and the student. Many in the group have found the Home School Gathering Place to be very helpful. The Home School Gathering Place sells new and used curricula and are located in Raleigh, NC. You can look through the materials, and their staff is very knowledgeable.
NCHE also holds an annual conference which includes a Curriculum Fair. You are able to talk with representatives of each curriculum and look through material before purchase.
Buying used curricula is a great way to save money. You can also find great deals on eBay and abebooks.com. If you prefer to buy new, online retailers with a great selection are Rainbow Resource Center, Timberdoodle Co., and Christianbook.com. Also, HEAR members often sell among themselves.
Another great resource is the Homeschool Buyers Co-op. The Homeschool Buyers Co-op is the nation's largest purchasing cooperative for families educating with a homeschool curriculum. You can purchase curriculum at discounted prices through the Co-op. They also have information and links about learning styles, field trips, classifieds, scholarships, and more. You can print a free Homeschool ID card on their site or order a hard plastic card for a small fee.
Just remember, you can mix and match curricula and change your curricula (even midyear). It is one of the benefits of homeschooling!
HEAR highly recommends that you become a member of North Carolinians for Home Education (NCHE). NCHE is a private, volunteer organization organized to support and encourage home educators and to protect the right to freely home educate in North Carolina. NCHE offers many different services including annual book fairs, conferences, scholarships, and programs. Please visit their site for more information. http://nche.com/
You should also consider joining the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). HSLDA is a nonprofit advocacy organization established to defend and advance the constitutional right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children and to protect family freedoms. It provides homeschooling-related legal advice and representation to their 84,000+ member families, promote homeschool-friendly legislation at the state and federal levels, and offer information and resources to encourage and support all homeschoolers.Visit their site at www.HSLDA.org. HEAR members receive a discounted membership rate.
Popular Homeschooling Magazines
Another great place to gather ideas and information are homeschool magazines. Some of the sites offer free e-mail newsletters even if you do not subscribe to their magazine. The Old Schoolhouse Magazine often has free e-books for download too!
You may have more questions about homeschooling: withdrawing your child from public school, socialization, numbers of hours per day in school, college preparation. The North Carolinians for Home Education (NCHE) group has a list of frequently asked questions that may help. Click on this link to be directed to their site.