I have 2 school-aged children who have asked me to teach them at home next year. I love the idea of it but I am having problems getting any information on how to start. The school does not want to answer any of my questions about what is required for each grade. Is there any way to get the information I need without having to pay an arm and a leg for it? Is there a place to get all the needed materials? I have been looking online but all I'm finding is places like Sylvan who charge huge amounts for "tutoring". My children do not need tutoring, if anything they need harder more complicated stuff to work on. My sons teacher actually told me to get my son into a private school because that was they only way he would get into a higher math level. Right now his fifth grade class is studying long division, the same thing he was studying in thrid grade. He told me last night that the "school was made for those kids that just don't get it".
My daughter wanted to start learning a musical instrument next year, but the school just found out that it lost $53 billion in funding and has since stopped offering the class at all. She says school is just a place to be bored for six hours of the day.
Both of my children have straight A's, but I do not look at them the same way other people do. The way I figure if you received an A in the subject then you need a harder subject so you actually learn something.
I would really appreciate any help I could get in finding the needed information to start teaching my children.
Thank you
H.
San Diego Unified's home-based school is MT. EVEREST ACADEMY K-12 in the Clairemont area. They offer classes in math, science, music, French, Spanish, field trips, etc. They're getting a new music teacher this year but previously they offered music classes in winds, strings, guitar, percussion, and jazz band. Call Mt. Everest this week and they will talk with you and meet with you if you desire.
Have you looked into charter or magnet schools? There are math and science magnets in San Diego. You also might consider volunteering in the classroom to teach higher level math to the higher functioning students (since you can teach your own kids at home effectively) or speak to the principal about the teacher using more than one lesson plan for each subject. Most elemetary classes have at least 2 levels for each subject and split the class into groups for lessons. Home schooling is a challenge, both for you and your kids. What about social interaction? Do you have a teaching background and can you really teach ALL subjects at every level? Just being a smart parent is not the same as being a good teacher. Try working with the schools first. Also, if you have the time to stay home and teach, you have the time to drive to a school that would be better for your kids. Getting A's does not mean your child is not challenged. I say this as a former straight A valedictorian magnet school graduate who was challenged at every grade level by effective teachers who knew what they were doing here in San Diego. Also, if you can pay for home schooling tools, instead of doing so, consider paying for music lessons and use the school system for formal education. Good luck.
A military wife I know moved here from out of state and her 4th grade daughter was working on stuff she had learned in the 2nd grade. My friend didn't know what to do so she started homeschooling her daughter for the 1st time. She is using a curriculum called K12. http://www.k12.com/cava/ It's approved by the state of California, and she receives all materials free from them. She told me about 3 months into it that it was the best things she's ever done. I have to admit Julian Charter School sounds really awesome, but this is definitely a way to at least get free materials. Plus, you'll know it's exactly what the state education requirements are because it's coming directly from them. I wish the best for you! (By the way, I'm just assuming you live in CA, but there are other states that have this curriculum. Just look at the k12.com website.)
H.,
Well, I just want to share with you my experience with homeschooling. I am a mother of 7 children and I am currently homeschooling the 5 older children. I have a K, 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th grader. It has been possible in large part to a Homeschool Charter School called Julian Charter School. For 7 years I have managed to homeschool my kids. The school keeps my records, provides standardized testing, sends a credentialed teacher each month to support and collect work samples from each of the 6 areas of curriculum. They offer on-site classes as well at a Learning Center if you want group settings for learning. The school has vendors which offer all sorts of elective courses. For the past 7 years my children have received private violin lessons and attended a group ensemble, much like what you would call an orchestra. It has been amazing to be a part of this Suzuki Strings Orchestra!!!! This option allows you to be in charge of your children's progress, yet provide the much needed support. Just go online to their website www.juliancharterschool.org .Good Luck on making your decision. Homeschooling for myself has been the most rewarding experience. It is the greatest challenge, but Julian has made it possible to do it well. My kids are very bright and very appropriately challenged. I also LOVE being with my kids as we all learn as a family!!!!!
check out the greater san diego academy. it is a charter school. you do the work at home then take it to them once a month. they provide all the materials you will need. the student books and the teacher books. plus work books. if anything does not work for you and your kids, you just let them know. they will find something else. my consultant, when i used them, was kim gibson. they are located on activity road. they are awesome.
Hi H., I've been homeschooling my son for 3 years now and my daughter for 1. There are a huge number of homeschoolers here in San Diego. You can become a member of ____@____.com has been a great resource for me since there several ways to homeschool here in California. There are people on the group that have been homeschooling for many years and know what you need to do when dealing with the public school system. There are also many playgroup/mom's chat meetings/etc. to help you along the way. Good luck in your quest, I wouldn't trade it for anything!
S., Mom to 8 y.o. ds and 6 y.o. dd.
Talk to other parents who are home-schooling their kids. Also look for home-schooling fairs, where you can talk to other home-schooling parents and look at and buy the different curricula. Catalogues like Rainbow Resource (www.rainbowresource.com) also have different programs that you can use. Rainbow is a Christian-based company; it has both Christian and secular programs. Their prices are among the lowest for home-schooling materials. Look on Amazon for books on home-schooling and getting started. A good one is "The Well-Trained Mind." A friend of mine is following that program with her kids.
I'm not homeschooling; my son goes to the local German school (I work for the US military in Germany). When he was in German kindergarten, I did some supplemental home-schooling with him because I though that we would be moving back to the States. I used Saxon Math, which a lot of home-schooling parents use. I also used Spelling Workout.
Good luck!
Hi H.,
I will be home-schooling my son next year too. (4th grade)
Home schooling is FREE! Your children remain students of your district, ie San Diego City School District, La Mesa/Spring Valley School District... depends on where you live. Also, you could use an independent Charter/Home School within your district. Our district (LMSVSD), has a "Home School Department" located at one of the local school sites, they evaluate your kids, set up curriculum, give all materials, monitor progress, have 1 weekly 1/2 school day for socialization/computer/ etc, field trips.... I have found them extremely helpful AND supportive! Call your kids school, ask about the districts "home school dept", get in touch and get them enrolled for next year before this year is over. If you opt for a Charter, you may also be eligible for a stipend for each child (~$1000/each year) for extras say music, art, language, or science classes.
Check out your district or school web sites for extra info. Good luck to you!!
I am not sure where you live. BUT Most area's have a homeschool website. Start there..
Of course the school won't tell you . They will lose money if your kids get taken out
Best of luck
K. B
San Diego School District posts the content standards for each grade level. It's at studata.sandi.net/saa/standards
You could also enroll them in a charter school that functions like a home-school, but with support. You need to show them their progress once a week or something. I know San Diego School District has this.
I would start with your school district's web site. They have lots of resources there.
Take a look at Julian Charter School, there are several locations in Southern Cal. They offer, for lack of a better word, homeschooling guidance. They are fully accredited, so you don't have to worry about having to work or justify your curriculum with the District, they will provide curriculum and you have a counselor who you and your children will meet with I think once per month to go over the work, what your children have done...and what they will need to be doing over the next month. They will help you with planning and the resources. Also, they have an Academy, where my son goes, which offers part time homeschooling..he is there two days a week for more traditional school, they cover core subjects and then home two days a week, where he completes work and on Fridays he participates in their sports program. If you are finding that it is hard to do science labs etc at home, your children can explore doing some of the science, even as full homeschoolers, at the Academy. The Academy, by the way, starts in 6th grade. Also, any of the Julian Children, whether full homeschoolers or Academy, can join the sports program..their site is www.juliancharterschool.org
they will take the guess work out of homeschooling...and like any other charter school, it's free! Good luck...
Check the lawws carefully... from what I understand there was a bill out there trying to make sure that anyone who homeschools their child is credentialed. Don't want to invest all that time in something that will be discounted later.
I almost taught at a school that used 'core knowledge': http://www.coreknowledge.org/CK/index.htm
Before I had my first child, 4.5 years ago, I taught in a CA Public school (I'm fully credentialed). The following website has all the standards for K-12 that we were required to meet. http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/documents/elacontentstnds.pdf
There are many websites that support and promote homeschooling. FYI, in California, there is or will be a requirement that any parent homeschooling their children must be credentialed. So, if you live in CA, you might want to look into your options.
Good luck
