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By Kathy Stairs
STEP #1: Begin by writing down your Educational Philosophy. Why Are You Considering Home Education?
Has He called you? He will equip you! “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10
STEP# 2: Begin Establishing Consistent Discipline in Your Home ~Set clear rules and expect obedience
Great online articles: The Teaching Home: Child Training
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STEP #3: Educate Yourself
~ Learn a new language:
FPM ~ Family Protections Ministries (Roy Hanson and Jim Davis watch legislation pertinent to family and education issues)
CHEFA ~ Christian Home Educators of the Fresno Area (local network of homeschoolers) ~ www.chefa.org
CHEA ~ Christian Home Educators Association of California ~ www.cheaofca.org
HSLDA ~ Home School Legal Defense Association (national legal support) ~
SG ~ Support Group: every family in the support group files their own private school affidavit with the State of California. Families within the group come together for support, field trips, activities, etc.
ISP ~ Independent Study Program: one family files the affidavit on behalf of the entire school. School provides paperwork, legal covering, and record-keeping. School may or may not provide mentoring, activities, field trips, etc.
IF ~ Independent Family: one family files an affidavit on behalf of its own family and are not a part of a SG or ISP. (Most locals are members of CHEFA)
Good Books
The Right Choice: Home-Schooling by Christopher J. Klicka - Amazon has it used for 7.00
A Survivor’s Guide to Home Schooling by Luanne Schackeford and Susan White - Amazon has it used ~ very inexpensive!
The High School Handbook, 7th Edition with California Supplement by Mary Schofield
Homeschooling from a Biblical Worldview by Israel Wayne Israel is a homeschool graduate and is the marketing director for Wisdom's Gate, a national publishing company that produces the Home School Digest magazine.
STEP #4 ~ Getting Started
How is home schooling legal in California?
Legal Alternative by the Following Four Exemptions
#1 A parent with a valid California teacher’s credential for the grades and subjects taught may be exempted under the private tutorial exemption.
#2 Enroll in a Public School ISP (Independent Study Program) (CHEFA does not accept memberships from those enrolled with a public school)
#3 Establish a private school, based in your home*: a. Independent Family (file your own affidavit ~ remain on your own) b. Support Group (file your own affidavit, join a support group) (Click here to see Fresno area support groups and ISP’s)
*File a private school affidavit every year between October 1st and 15th. Before filing your affidavit go to HSLDA’s Private School Affidavit Instructions or CHEA’s (www.cheaofca.org) website for instructions on filing. You may also go to the CDE Direct Link here: http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/ps/rq/
#4 Enroll in a private school ISP One family, (the administrators), file a private school affidavit on behalf of the entire school.
Private Homeschooling Families in California operate as Private Schools
Step #5: Record Keeping
State Requirements Children between the ages of 6 and 18 will attend school (age 6 by Dec. 2nd) Copy of Private School Affidavit (if you file one) Attendance Record for each child: Free Online Form Course of Study for each child (K-6) (7-12) (FREE FORM) Teacher Qualifications and Experience Health Records—Online Immunization Record (printed preferably on blue cardstock if you can—but white will do!) Report of Health Examination for School Entry or Waiver of Health Examination for School Entry form
Not Required by State (but may be required by your administrator or yourself) Teaching Records or Logs Report Cards—Read: How to Figure A Percentage and a Letter Grade Testing (click here to find out about some local testers)
Record Keeping Software Links ¨ Record Keeping Assistance Site
Step #6: Approaches to Teaching
Research teaching methods, learning styles, and curriculum:
Your approach to teaching will be affected by several factors: 1. Your child’s learning style 2. The number of children you teach at the same time 3. Their grade level 4. The level of confidence you have as a teacher 5. The amount of money you have to spend on curriculum
Yearly Scheduling Begin with a proposed school year calendar (remember, this can be Changed or adjusted) Public schools schedule 175-180 days, we Generally do the same but there is no set number of days for private Schools.
What subjects you plan to teach and what curriculum you will use.
Daily Schedule What will your school day look like? What time? Where? Which subject on what day? Etc…
Step #7: Curriculum
Christian Home Educators Curriculum Manuals by Cathy Duffy (elementary and secondary manuals are available) - older used editions are a bargain on
The New Big Book of Home Learning by Mary Pride—bargained price 1988 edition is available on Amazon.com
The High School Handbook by Mary Schofield—a used 6th edition is available on Amazon.com
Step #8: Home Education is A Way Of Life
Don’t be so concerned with getting to your academic destination that you fail to enjoy fellowship with your Maker and your children.
God has a plan for each of us. His ways and ours sometimes differ, but His way is perfect. It is much more important to pass on to our children a spiritual heritage, rather than letting the world press us to mold our children into its’ image of success.
By His power and under His grace, YOU CAN DO IT!
May the mind of Christ, my Savior, live in me from day to day, by His love and power controlling all I do and say. May the word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour, so that I may see I triumph only through His power. ~Kate B. Wilkinson
Click here to see many links for new and used curriculum sites. Click here to read an article about purchasing used books online.
Other Helpful Articles To Help You Get Started Putting the Home In Homeschooling
Educational Helps Saxon Placement Math Tests (Find out where your child is before ordering) A Plethora of High School Planning Forms
Other Articles and Helps How To List: ¨ How To Schedule A Homeschool Day ¨ How To Teach Multiple Grades ¨ How To Cover A Subject You Are Unfamiliar With ¨ How To Survive Your First Homeschool Convention ¨ How To Use the Scientific Method ¨ How To Instill a Love of Reading in Your Child ¨ How To Stock A Homeschool Library ¨ How To Figure a High School GPA
Misc. Helps Unit Studies Christmas Unit Studies ¨ Christmas Unit Study and Activities ¨ Christmas Symbols Unit (Christ-Centered) ¨ All About Jesus Christmas Activities
Trouble with any of the links on this page? Please email me.Return to Fresno Sunnyside Christian Academy, ISP
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