Home Schooling - New Orleans, LA

I would like to comment on the "learning to interact with others" comment. We have been homeschooling DS since kindergarten. He's now in 5th grade. We are members of a local support group that we go on field trips with regularly, and we have an art class that meets 2 times a month. There are plenty of opportunities for socialization.

A. :)

I can't image that public schools would allow you to put her in and out like that. In Nov she would have missing 2 months of work, then in March she would miss the last 2 month of work. There wouldn't even be a complete semester to base grades on. A private school falls under different rules, you may be able to find a private school that would be willing to work with you. They may even be willing to do some type of remote learning - where they send assignments to you once a week. If you could find two extremely cooperative private schools, they might let you transfer her back and forth between the two locations.

Hi, L.
It depends on your state. I suggest you go to HSLDF website and see what the laws are regarding homeschooling in your state. I would suggest that it might be confusing to your daughter to be both home and school. Because I work part time, my children and I do school all year at home, rather then just in the fall and spring.
Also, I am sure you can find a homeschool group in your area that can lend support and help. I hope you find it a very rich and rewarding experience as we do.

Good luck and God bless.

Hi L.. I love homeschooling my five year old. And now I'm working with my two year old a little. The most fun is that we get to do our own field trips. Anyway each state has different laws. You can check out the HSLDA website to find out what your states laws are. Also check Yahoo groups to see if you can find a group in your area. The families on the group will be able to help you with the laws in your state as well. Plus you will be able to meet other homeschooling families and find out about field trips and parties. It can be hard, but it's a lot of fun, too. Good Luck, and if you would like to talk more I'd love to help anyway I can. Homeschooling isn't for everyone, but for those who can I think it's great!!

Dear L.,
Yeah!!!!! for you. I am so excited to see another mother that is considering homeschooling! I homeschooled my youngest two until I became very sick during pregnancy with my 3rd child, my hubby had open heart surgery and then we found out we were pregnant again all within a year and a half time frame. It became a little much for me. We put the older kids in Public School.
However, I am already starting back up with homeschooling on my younger two. My youngest daughter is now 3 years old and she is wanting to do school. Therefore we are "starting" school. At this age, they mainly just draw pictures and "play" school.
I do not know what state that you live in, but here in Oklahoma, they have a program for parents from prenatal through school years. It is called the Oklahoma Parents as Teachers Program(OPAT for short). I do not know if there are similar programs in other states, but it is definitely worth looking into.
With this program, we go in to see a "counselor" once a month for a progress report. We also have a time where all the parents and children on the program get together and have a fun day. They make crafts and play together(just like we did with our homeschool group with my older children). This is NOT a government regulated program where they come into the home and evaluate things. This program just evaluates the childs motor skill progress as well as thinking process.
They also give you a lot of great information to work with during the rest of the month. I wish that I would have had this with my first two children! I am thankful to be doing this with my younger two. My youngest daughter is three and my youngest son is one and a half.
As to the homeschooling, I can give you a lot more information on this subject, but I have so much, I can't put it all in this letter. Just write to me at: ____@____.com and I will answer any questions that you have about it. IF I don't have an answer, I will get with several of the homeschool groups that I am a part of and someone will have an answer! At least they usually do!
Yes, you can partial school. I am having to do this more and more with my 4th and 6th grader. I am going to have to pick up the pieces of what they are NOT doing in school and get them to passing!
As to what age to start.... any age can be started. EVEN newborn babies. Life in general is a learning process the children learn by example most of the time. They watch us and then they imitate what we are doing. Good or Bad.... YEP! I have had a little of both and I have had to change some of my habits. :)
On registering.... It depends on the state. Let me know what state you are in and I can find out. Grading.... Well, that is a fun subject and I can send you more information. Since I don't know ages on the child/children.

I hope that this has helped a little bit. If you write to me with any other questions, I can get you some more information.

Have a great day!

Sincerely,

D.
Wife to Terry for 19 1/2 years
Mother of four
Homeschooling Mom of 2 younger
Public School Mom of 2 older kids

Every state is different. Homeschooling is great. We have had lots of fun, and my kids are turning out very well.
Your case, though, sounds different, because you do want to use the schools part of the time. Before going with homeschooling, I would check out distance learning options so that your child can fit more easily back into the school curriculum after being away. It may be that your child can simply remain enrolled in school and take courses on the computer. If not, do consider whatever advice the schoolboard has for people in your situation first.

I've been reading about this recently, myself! I found a book called "The Homeschooling Handbook" by Mary Griffith which goes over pros and cons of various approaches. The laws relating to homeschooling vary per state, so search online for a state homeschooling organization which will know the relevant laws and how they are applied in your state and the other state you'll be in. Try to meet other homeschooling families in your area and ask them about their experiences. These families often meet up for social activities and sometimes to trade off lesson plans. You could also read "The Well-Adjusted Child" by Rachel Gathercole for some ideas on socialization. (I think this latter book becomes a bit repetitive, but it got me thinking about school and socializing in different ways, which is all to the good.)

One Oklahoma Homeschooling resource is HERO (Home Educator Resource of Oklahoma): http://oklahomahomeschooling.org/index.htm
Also http://www.homeschoolinginoklahoma.com/ which can direct you to homeschooling information in other states.

Good luck!

Well, you ask what age. Abeka starts at 2 and 3 yrs. Abeka has test online you can take and grade book you can buy. I do not know anything about Homeschooling part time. I start my kids at home at 2 then at 3 they go to private school 2 days a week for 3 hours. I still do the Abeka 3 yr old. Next year, he will go half day everyday. I will do abeka 4 yr old with him. Then when they get to school full time. I do the Abeka for the next year at home during the summer. We just do it whenever we have time. Sometimes, we do not make it all the way through the books. We do send them to private school until they are in 7th grade. We have a 10 grader, 4th grader and a preschooler. It works out great! Good luck.

Hi L.,
In addition to checking with your local School Board to see what would be best for your daughter.
I would also suggest you check with local Christian Schools-there's a local Ch. Academy in our area that has a home schooling option (i've been looking into it for my almost 3 yr old). At this Academy you can put your child in 2 or 3 days/week and home school the other days.
There might be a private school who would let you home school exclusively during the months you need (if you could find some way for her to test by proxy maybe), I'm wondering how they would do that but it's worth a try.
Could be you might have to homeschool her all the time.
There are also local home school programs that you can switch out teaching certain classes with other Moms/Dads and they get together and do field trips and extra cirricular activities.
You Might be able to get your daughter enrolled in 2 different home schooling co-ops, but I'm not sure how it would work in 2 different states...
Sounds like you have a lot of information to go through.
Good Luck! I hope this doesn't cloud the issue even more.
:-) C.

Where are you? Laws vary by state; you can check them here: http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/

We have only ever homeschooled our nine children. We have successfully graduated three. HSLDA is an excellent resource,for legal advice and support group references in your area. The socialization question is not even an issue. Our experience with hundreds of homeschooled students is that they are much more prepared for REAL life, after living and learning with multiple ages. Unlike public schooled children who are placed in an age segregated setting, unlike anything in REAL life. (when is the last time you,as an adult, spent the entire day with a room full of people your exact age?)I would strongly encourage you to look into full time homeschooling. You can control what your children are exposed to, the peers they spend most of their time with, you will learn their "learning styles" (what works best for each of them).They can get the extra time and help in their weak areas and can excellerate in their strengths. There is a myriad of support and curriculum available. God bless you as you seek what is best for your family.

First of all I want to give you a website address it is www.highlandshomeschoolers.com. This is a support group for people that homeschool or are interested in homeschooling. Kristy Trent leads this and she is a very sweet lady. If you want to contact her, her email is ____@____.com.
I was homeschooled from sixth grade until I graduated highschool. I then went on to college and graduated with honors. This is not for everyone, though. It depends on the child and the parent. I know people that homeschool all their children but one, whom goes to regular school. It is based on the needs of the individual child.
There are also many homeschooling options, such as video based, group based, and traditional. There are a great many websites out there that give a lot of info, and can describe things better than I can.
I was homeschooled the traditional way, but we are exploring the idea of video homeschooling my daughter when she reaches first grade. Right now she is in K4 so I do that myself. You are not required to be under an umbrella or charter until your child reaches first grade. If you want your child to have a college recognized high school diploma, you will register under an organization though. I know parents that didn't and then their children had to get GEDs.
Homeschooling your child does not limit them, actually it gives them limitless possiblities to interact with other children and explore things they wouldn't get to do in a classroom setting. Hope this helps.

I am also looking into home schooling my daughter. There are different laws for every state. Start with your local DHS to find out what laws apply to you and then find a credible home schooling organization to join. They will give you all the information you need to keep your child up with (or ahead of) main stream school.
J.

L.,

I would first check your local library to see if they have a section for homeschoolers - mine does and it is heavily used. Regulations vary state by state and Homeschool Legal Defense can help you with those.

In Kansas you do not have to put your child in school until age seven. (On the side, one of the new administrations goals is "univeral preschool" which will be mandatory schooling starting at age THREE!) I started my kids' education within days of their birth by teaching them how to count, the shapes and colors, etc. My oldest son was reading by age four because #1) he wanted to and, #2) he's just plain gifted. However, he is also very hyper and I feel like my head is spinning if I'm around him very long so he goes to the local Christian school.

Last year I part-time homeschooled my daughter after she came home from being a peer model at PALS. We are doing the same this year even though she really is getting a solid education at the same school DS1 is attending. It's just the only time we sit down and work together. Besides, I teach her things like homemaking, nature, unit studies, etc that she's not getting in a formal setting. I also need to stay "current" with what's going on in the homeschool arena since we may not be able to afford the Christian school some day.

K.

Go online to see what home schooling laws are in your state. There are several religious denominations and non-denominations that have home school programs. I'm familiar with Creative Christian Education; Seventh-day Adventist Home School; Concordia has a program (I think). The Baptist and Church of Christ have a program, also. I'm a former home schooler in Arkansas...It's a wonderful endeavor, praying the best for you and your children. P.

my personal opinion is that home school is not as affective as going to a public school. plus public school teaches them how to interact with others. it has many advantages over home school. however, if you rather do the home school then call social service and they will tell you what all you need to do to get some home schooling. good luck

L.:

I started homeschooling my 10 year old this year. While I am new at it still, there are great resources. First sign up with the St Tammany Parish Homeschoolers Association. You can go online and fill out the info. This has been very helpful in giving me ideas and they get together a lot. Also, you can sign her up with the Louisiana School Board if you would like to access the books from the school. I put down a deposit and got all the books that they are using in the school. Hope this helps.

J. E.