Can Anyone Help Me Out and Give Some Advise on Homeschooling

I don't know if you have enough answers or not, but my neice and nephenw went to Grace Prep. Academy, and I know they also have a home schooling program where the child can still participate in sports with the school and also take a reg. class or two if the parents prefer. The school is in Arlington. Thanks!

T.,

The great news is that we live in Texas where we are on the forefront of homeschooling legislation.

There is so much out there to get one started. I am homeschooling my 7th grader and bringing my 3rd grader home next year. There are many homeschool coops in the area which can be a huge assistance, escpecially with biology courses and such.

I would recommend that she check out the Texas Homes School Association web site and all they have to offer, including tips for new homeschoolers. I have also found Creative Arts in Action (in Watauga) to be extremely helpful. Steve and Rosie founded the center and created it with everything she wished she had had while she was homeschooling her children.

I am just finishing up my first year homeschooling and it has been the best decision we have ever made for our family. If your friend would like to speak with me directly, I would be happy to speak with her.

I would encourage her to pray and ask the Lord's wisdom as it can seem like an overwhelming task at times. Yet, it is a blessing.

Deb

Yes. Absolutely go to the Texas Tech University website (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/ode/) and coordinate your classes through them. It is accredited, self-paced, and the instructors are wonderful. They do CBE (Credit by Examination) and offer structured class materials for grades K-12.

There are hundreds of choices for homeschoolers when it comes to curriculum. There is an annual bookfair coming up in a couple of weeks and I HIGHLY suggest that she attend to get a feel for everything.

http://www.homeschoolbookfair.org/

Homeschooling does not take all day if the child is a willing to do the work (does not drag their feet and doodle). At the 9th grade level, after getting started and having a routine, a lot of the work will be done independently.

Google Texas Homeschool and you will find an array of websites and resources!

Tell her good luck!

With her daughter going into the ninth grade - where everything really matters for college, I recommend Texas Tech University Extended Studies. It is correspondence, she will have an instructor she answers to, she can take dual credit classes as she progresses (receiving college credit) and it is completely accredited. The courses are work...no slacking, but the education is good. If she can do the work she will have absolutely no problem getting through college.
If she isn't a very studious student then using Alpha Omega - Switched on Schoolhouse might be a better fit. It is also accredited and there are teachers to walk you through the process...it takes a computer.
Lastly, I have had several friends who love Abeka School. I love the Abeka curriculum but have not used the school before.
With high school students it helps to have someone else also pushing to have the work done. The student will have to spend 4 to 6 hours a day doing school. The parent one or two.
God bless

I just started homeschooling my daughter this present school year. She is in the 8th grade.I got started by joining a local group in my area and just asked alot of questions.
They directed me to the local homeschool store to buy the cirriculum we needed to get started. I will not lie it is very overwhelming at first. Many prayers I have said for guidance. It is worth it.My daughter is in chess club, bowling,sports and other activities related to the Hs group we joined. I am already thinking about next years schooling and I think we are going to do online school. The internet can help you out with some info in your area. Join a group and have fun it is definetly an experience. M.

Let me start off by saying my knowledge of homeschooling is NOT first hand (my kids are only 3 and 1). However, one of my former college professors and his wife (with whom my husband and I stay in close touch with and see at least once a year) have recently started homeschooling their 2 kids: one boy and one girl, both age 10 (not twins; both are adopted). The first thing they did was to research which countries are world leaders in education; turns out Singapore tops the list, at least in Math and Science. One excellent resource to which they refer is Singaporemath.com. FYI - It turns out the state of Massachusetts currently leads the nation in Math/Science education, and they use the Singapore approach.
I'm not sure what resources they use for English/History/etc., but I do know they use Singaporemath.com for Math and Science.
In response to the full day or part day question, I know that my former professor and his wife tag-team. They all get up early in the morning (I think 5AM?), and the prof teaches the kids until he leaves to go to work. Then his wife takes over for the rest of the morning, and the kids are basically done every day by noon. That frees up their afternoons to play and do athletic and craft activities.
Both kids have been responding REALLY well to the homeschooling. My prof recently issued the CAT to them to make sure they're doing well compared to national standards, and both kids are doing great!
Good luck to your friend!

Go to abeka.com. This is a good Christian Program. She can teach the classes herself or she can order VHS or DVDs that her daughter can follow, there is a teacher on the viedo that tells the child what to do. She can stop and start the viedos at anytime.