AAAAAAAAA I just had a huge answer and lost it. Here we go again.
Please feel free to personal message me anytime, I have a 4th grader and a 7th grader
hslda.org the legal site for homeschoolers, will give you the laws in TX
Welltrainedmind.com
homeschoolspot.com
I have the book The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer, it is very informative, a good starting point
My Curriculum
Math--Singapore Math
Coming out of public schools my kids started one semester behind. THere are two books a year, we are now working in 5A, he did 4A and 4B this year already. There is a test to download to see in which book to start.
THere are also Saxon, Miqoun, ABEKA, Teaching Textbooks, MathUSee. I use Lial's Algebra with my 7th rader.
Grammar-Shurley Grammar
Very throrough. At 4th they can jump right in and start. It might be a little confusing at first, there is a teacher book and a student workbook. It uses jingles to teach the parts of speech. It is very repetitive. For the child starting out this is great. After 4th he can do 6th. I jumped into Rod and Staff for my 7th grader. It has more meat, she will do the 8th next year.
R&S is a better writing curriculum.
Institute for the Excellence in Writing . Is expensive, I don't have it but wish I did. It is a very good writing program. .
Spelling--Spelling Workout
We are in Book D, it is very grade appropriate. I let mine just work through it.
Science--Bob Jones Science
Both mine love this. Fun experiments with household items. Covers a variety of 4th grade topics. We will get 5th and 8th next year.
History--The Story of Our Word and Mystery of History.
MOH is very Christian based. The SOW is secular. BOth have activites to do while learning about the ages.
We also use History Pockets form Evan More, found in teacher stores, these are a lot of fun.
Latin--The Latin Road to English Grammar
You don't even have to know any Latin to start this, although I had four years in HS. My son, 4th is handling it fine. My daughter, 7th is excelling.
We do art and fencing through the park district homeschool groups
Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, and youth group at church
Piano and homeschool band-there are maybe 150 kids in our band.
Make every trip to the grocery store a field trip, have him estimate.
Restaurants, teach tips.
We do flashcards every day up to 15x15. I pick the 5's and 8's maybe or the 14' and the 9's, each day he does something different, and I made my own with 3x5 cards cut in half . He is timed on all his tests.
I have to test in May, and I have to keep these records.
THe worst year will be next year. You have to learn to be the teacher, he has to learn what you expect frm him as the student. I used to turn off my phone. After the first year it goes much smoother.
Designate a homeschool spot in your house.
We claimed our homeschool expenses this year so keep your receipts.
Sign up at the bookstores to get your educator cards, more % off.
Good luck.