I have decided to homeschool my 12 year old.
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I have used K12 through the Arkansas Virtual School for 4th, 5th, and now 6th grade for one of my 4 children. I like the curriculum and we will continue to use it next year with my then 12 year old son. It is rigerous and yet has nice variety. The delivery is mixed between book and computer delivery methods. The lesson planning and record keeping system is fully automated through the online school. It is excellent. It has saved me so much time.\n\nWe also homeschool traditionally. My oldest will be graduating to college next year. I have a 15 year old daughter homeschooling traditionally. Next year I will have a kindergartener. I have not decided whether to go traditinal or virtual with him yet.\n\nYou can learn a tremendous amount about homeschooling by perusing blogs at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com  There are over 3,000 homeschoolers blogging there.
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It sounds like your 12 year old wants to spend some quality time with you.  There is nothing wrong with that. \n\nAfter you have your day out, do the same thing with the other two.  I'm sure they would appreciate some one on one time as well.\n\nHave a good time!
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I am a homeschooler. All the families at my church homeschool. My sister homeschooled her two oldest, and is still homeschooling her third. I can assure you that school is NOT NECESSARY for socialization, as long as you are planning on enrolling them in sports, or things like Boy Scouts/Girl Scouts, AWANA, church, homeschool groups, the possibilities are endless. And because a typical day of homeschooling is a lot less time than going to school, they actually have more of an opportunity. The best thing is, they won't be influenced by the negative social skills, like smoking, drinking, cussing, stealing, being bullies, etc. All the homeschooled kids I know are actually more social than I am! That is the biggest misconception of homeschooling. Contact me, and I'll give you some pointers, but I need more info like how old they are. Several of the kids I know that are currently being homeschooled, when given the choice of going to public school, actually refuse. School is all about drama these days, who's dating who, who broke up with who, passing notes back and forth, who isn't wearing the newest clothes, it's insane! They spend so much time on that garbage that they can't seem to pass tests, and we shake our heads blaming on the teachers. Ok, I'm done ranting, sorry! Homeschooling gives kids the best education out there. Why? Because you know your kids better than anyone else. Everyone has a different learning style, and throwing 35 kids into one class with one teacher does NOT accomodate that. It's a sink or swim mentality, and that's why we have kids that are graduating without having a clue of what they're doing. Contact me, I'll help you!\n\n\nDon't let spedusource scare you off, not all states have the requirements of New Mexico. Go to www.hslda.com, they list each state's requirements.  CA for instance doesn't require you to register with the school district to homeschool, nor do they require testing every year. My niece is doing 6th work in some areas, 7th grade in others, it just depends on where you're at. What she's describing is more like a charter. It doesn't take a brainiac to be able to read a book and explain it to your kids. That's why homeschooling works, because often you're relearning along with your kids, which is a wonderful bonding moment. When your kids see you getting excited about catching something that you didn't catch when you were in school, it's undescribable. That's why you can join co-ops, either in your area or online, that help each other with areas you're maybe not as strong in. All it takes to homeschool is a strong desire to give your kids what they're not getting in public school, and the right help. None of the homeschoolers I know directly around me, and there's a lot, have a college education, and their kids are INCREDIBLY bright. It's so much easier than people make it out to be. She was right about one thing, though, you do have to take it seriously, and be prepared to spend more time with your kids than the average person. That can be the hardest part!
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I went to homeschool.com\n\nThey have a getting started kit, that includes a book with guidelines for the laws in every state and information on the different options you have for homeschool education - working with a local school, interenet curriculums, unschooling, you name it. \n\nThere are lots of these types of organizations out there to help our growing population of homeschoolers.  In my state, California, they even have a California Home School Group\n(http://californiahomeschool.net/default.htm)  You might have something similar in your area.\n\nPeace!
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Me! I'm in fifth grade! I live in Charleston, West Virginia. I read, skateboard, play tennis, play with my 7 year old brother and I take guitar lessons. I've been taking lessons for about 2 and a half years. I play a lot of sports, but I like soccer the best. I'm not as athletic as I used to be, because my mom and dad took me out to excercise more often then they do now. They are often very busy. So now if I want to excercise, I have to run on our treadmill or play in our backyard. I'm homeschooled, but when I finish all of my stuff, I pretty much just sit around the house and play video games, play with my younger brother, use the computer and read. We don't go out as much as we used to, so I have to excersice on our treadmill. Being homeschooled means you can hang out all day, but you can be lonely sometimes, because all of my friends are nowhere near me. We have a homeschool gym class twice a week at the YMCA with various activities that my friends and I go to. And we go out to see movies together, or play in a park or go to a museum. But even then I get lonely when I'm not with them for a while, so I have to go everywhere with my family. My email address is gintrisoc@yahoo.com
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You can definitely homeschool her. It's not hard, and most kids with special needs actually thrive learning at home. But you will need to get your depression taken care of before you can benefit her, whether homeschooling or not. You have to have yourself running at full strength to be there for her, so that's actually a priority over teaching her right now. Have you tried different medications, diet changes ,maybe picking an activity that you do enjoy, that maybe she can do with you? Something to look forward to. No doubt, some of your depression is because of how full your plate is with her. It's not hard to be depressed when the one you love is stricken with such problems. I know, my son is autistic. If you do decide to homeschool, or would like to find out more about it, go to Yahoo groups and look up HS-Plus. We're a homeschooling group for special needs children, and some of the parents on their have problems too, so you'll be able to talk to people who are in the same position you are. Good luck, and take care of yourself!
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I am homeschooled, but I go to HEARTS on fridays, it is sort of like a privet school.
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I am in my 1st year of homeschooling my son, we pulled him out of public school during his 6th grade year. We are preparing to enter the 7th grade. We use the Abeka curriculum primarily but we also dabble a bit with Saxon and Alpha Omega.\n\nWhat my son really loves about homeschooling is that he gets to choose  what order he wants to learn his studies. Some days he wants to start with History, some days he starts with Math. It all depends. Plus we explore much more than the public schools do. We go on at least 1 field trip a week, whether it's to the park or to the museum, or even the library. He also gets to learn French, something he has wanted to do since the 5th grade. \n\nThere is so much less stress to the whole scenario of it. We have the basic subjects + French, Literature, and Art and he is still done within 5-6 hrs a day. I instruct him on what needs to be done, help him as he works through the first parts of it, then supervise and be there if he runs into a roadblock. I wouldn't trade it for the world, and neither would he.\n\nHe also has a larger social network then he had in school, between skating parties, swimming parties, study groups, bible study, sleep overs, etc.
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You can have the school board check a portfolio of their work at the end of the year. It will help ensure that they not only are educated up to par, but that theyre completing enough work to stay competitive.\n\nHaving them put together this portfolio throughout the year will give them a sense of responsibility, since if the school decides they didnt do enough, or good quality work they will not give them their stamp of approval. Which is about like failing a grade. Although in home schooling thats impossible because as long as your child can learn you can finish three times as much work in one year as a public school would.\n\nI home schooled off and on throughout my school age. I finished high school in two years, and educated myself from text books and the library. I did it myself and passed with flying colors at 16. I dont believe there is anything better for a childs education than homeschooling, so long as they get enough time with other children and in the real world.
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Contact the school board in your area they will have the procedures and guidleines in a packet for you.They will tell you what curriculums are acceptable for the state in which you live. Then ask yourself why do you want to home school? If it is for selfish reasons like you don't want your five yr old to leave you.Or you think they will learn bad habits, you need to think again. These things will happen anyway and your not really helping them. Ask yourself is your child already shy or outgoing? Keeping them home because they are shy is not good it only sets it in stone. I home schooled my youngest son it's not an easy task and it is a very big commitment. You just can't pick and choose when you feel like teaching and what you feel like teaching( although many do). You must teach even when you don't feel good or they are in a bad mood. What kind of relationship do you have with your child? Does he listen well? You'll only be hurting your child if you don't do it the correct way. Many home school children fall very far behind because mom is not very consistant or tough. My son is now in Public High School and in Honors programs but my friend who is home schooling her children do nothing but crafts and play games and seem very behind for their age in all their academic studies.She won't get out of bed until 9:30am and stops teaching at Lunchtime. They go shopping everyday. Is this teaching her children?? You also need some support people, parents  or friends who can lend a hand now and then to give your child a variety of teaching techniques. And you must absolutely get them involved in other activities in the outside world, such as soccer or ballet or some type of group sport. Not a homeschooling group. It keeps them too sheltered and they never learn how to put up with negative people. Which the world is full of. Hope this helps feel free to e-mail me if you have any problems and good luck.
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I homeschool my two boys and the lady I sit for pays me extra to hs her dd for preschool.  I HIGHLY recommend you hs if you have the will and the ability.  Two big things to remember with hsing at ANY level is: one day at a time...you're not talking about geometry and calculus yet.  Second...it's not forever unless you want it to be.  She can re-enter public school when she is ready.  You can email me, I started hsing my now 4th grader when he was in K.  He has TONS of confidence, he gets ONE  ON ONE education, I teach him the way he learns best, rather than plunking him down in a group of 30 kids and droning on at a chalk board...I use manipulatives, pc programs, games, baking to learn fractions, printouts from sites like enchantedlearning.com etc etc.  When he needs a break, he gets one.  We hs year round, so he doesn't forget half over the summer, but our hs days are short.  He learns things he WANTS to learn about.  When he showed an interest in pirates, we got books from the library, coloring pages from the internet, we built a ship, made our own course on a map, created a flag, etc etc.  HSing is the BEST at your dd's age, because you can take ALL the pressure off of her, and teach to what she needs, one thing at a time if you like.  If she is currently crying over math, take a break from the usual math stuff, and play dice games instead!  Just because it's fun, doesn't mean you can't use it for school.  Think outside the box, teach her fast math skills by having her play games!  Teach her spelling by only drilling in the car, and make it fun!  See what I mean?  And don't let the folks that know NOTHING about hs except for the freaks they find on tv worry you about socialization.  There are hs groups in your area to help.  There are groups online.  There are church groups and public sports and music lessons and play groups for socialization.
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home schooling sucks. i am in the 8th grade too. i have been home schooled since the first
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I had homeschooling and I really don't advise it. It gets boring and then he might not finish. In my case I did not finish. I think it is better of going to  Public School or even better a Catholic School.
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i home school my daugther and find it alot better but it will be time consuming at times. there's a website for $8.95 a month etap.org  good curriculum. then theres also American school that will give him credits and graduate. if your children decide to stay in homeschool you will have to notify the school superintendent that you are establishing a bonafide school for ________ and it will be based at this address. also another book is Homeschool your child for free theres more than 1200 smart, effective and practical resources for home ed. on the internet and beyond. i wish you and your children the best of luck and feel free to email me.
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Go to http://hslda.org  They promote LEGAL, RESPONSIBLE homeschooling.  You can find out what is required to legally homeschool your child in your state.  The laws are different in every one, but it is legal everywhere in the USA.  Especially find out what the "compulsory school age" is in your state.  That is the age that you need to either put your child in public school or offically home school your son.  You may not be required to do anything official until he is 6.  Then you can just keep up the good work until then.  Include your little one in the reading, but otherwise, simply allow your youngest to play quietly or nap while you have school time with the older one.  With homeschooling, your scedule is very flexible, so do what works for you!   \n\nIf you do need/want a curriculum, there is an ocean of curriculums out there, and it can be intimidating to wade through them.  I would recommend starting with a guide by either Mary Pride or Cathy Duffy.  They are experienced homeschoolers that review curriculums and publish their well-informed opinions about them.  Look for books and websites by them.  After choosing a curriculum, you can often get used books on e-bay, and several websites like www.christianbook.com have good prices on new curriculum.
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PLEASE DON'T TELL MY KIDS! They'll think I deprived them of all that fun leisure time all those years!  LOL\n\nI do know of one homeschool family who did that with their son, and it was horrible!  His mother claimed they were "unschooling" and all he did was play video games all day.  My daughters were friends with him and couldn't believe how far behind he was.  He couldn't read, write or do math anywhere near his grade level.  It was very sad.\n\nAnyway, that was only one of numerous homeschool families I was acquainted with.  Unfortunately, that's the one everyone focusses on and talks about.\n\nSue
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If you are under the age of 18, your parents decide where you should go to school. However, if you are a good speaking terms with your parents, a frank discussion of the choices may be in order. Remember, your parents have your best interest at heart. \nYou mentioned that your mom wants to homeschool you. There may be other homeschooling families with kids your age. You may be able to study with them and participate in activities as well. It may be worthwhile to check out.