Hi, I'm new to this forum. Before I ask my questions, let me give you all some background. I have two kids a 7 year old girl and a 15 year old boy. I've never homeschooled. My son attended a Christian school up to 7th grade. My daughter has always attended public school and is a very successful student. After my son's 7th grade year, we moved and he was enrolled in public school. Since then, his behavior has become horrible and he has become a discipline problem at school. He started high school back in September and fell in with a bad crowd and continually got into trouble. However, I took him to a counselor and he was diagnosed with ADHD. He starting going to counseling sessions with a psychologist and sees a psychiatrist once a month for adjusting of his medications. Since then, the counseling has helped him pick better friends and the medication has helped him focus. He has been trying very hard to turn things around and has even brought several of his Fs up to Cs and Bs. Recently, he got involved in an altercation with another boy and because of his past discipline problems, he is being recommended for explusion. As upset as I am about him being expelled, I feel like he might stand a better chance of catching up with his peers if I homeschool him. His goal is to be caught up and ready to start 10th grade in the fall. The superintendent of the school tells me that my son will only be expelled until the end of the semester and then he can return in the summer to summer school and then come back in the fall. I believe that if I start homeschooling him now and he stays motivated and focus, we can get him caught up and he can pass the 9th grade before the new school year. However, having never homeschooled before, I don't know anything about it. Here are my questions: Can I start homeschooling my son halfway through the school year or am I required to submit an education plan at the beginning of the school year? Is it realistic to think I can catch him up and help him pass the 9th grade in 6 months? Where do I begin as far as choosing a curriculum, books, materials, etc? Do I have to call the state board of education and get their approval? I'm sure I'll have more questions, but this is a good starting point. Thanks for any and all input! Lori
Homeschooling laws vary by state. If you visit the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) website you can read about the laws in your state. Yes you can homeschool 1/2 through the year, and depending how motivated you both are, you most certainly can get caught up... in fact he *may* get ahead. If you are planning on putting him back in PS in the fall, I would try to find a curriculum close to what they are using. Maybe they could lend you the 9th grade texts. I've always homeschooled and my kidlets are young... so I don't have much experience with what you're talking about, but that is what I would do in your situation.
I agree with Audrey, first thing you need to do is go to HSLDA website they will explain all the laws in your area and what you have to teach and who you have to contact. Yes, you can start teaching him anytime, the sooner the better, about books, I again agree with Audrey if you are going to have him return to the ps in the fall, try hard to stay with what they are using, it will only make it easier for him. Yes, you can do alot in 6 months it depends on how hard you all work and want to do it. We are here to help you in way we can. Go to the HSLDA website look over that really well, and go from there. Come back here and ask away and someone will kindly help you or lead you to the right website or person to get you going. GOOD luck.
Can I start homeschooling my son halfway through the school year or am I required to submit an education plan at the beginning of the school year? Yes you can start at any point. I live in Missouri and we have GREAT homeschooling laws. You will only have to accomplish as many hours as he'd have remaining for the school year. That's actually a cake walk, as most home schoolers here are able to log far more hours than a public school (because things like trips to the mechanic can count if you use it to educate him). Is it realistic to think I can catch him up and help him pass the 9th grade in 6 months? Heck yes!!!! I sub in a public school and I can tell you that there are only about 3 hours of actual teaching done in any given day. Not to mention that 1 hour of 1 on 1 is worth several hours of group education. Where do I begin as far as choosing a curriculum, books, materials, etc? For choosing a curriculum, you should start by deciding what his learning style is. Then you can ask for suggestions on curriculum that teaches how he best learns. Do I have to call the state board of education and get their approval? No.... again, Missouri rocks. As the others have said, HSLDA can give you all the information about what Missouri requires of you. If you need clarification, feel free to message me privately or post to the boards. I will try to help you as best I can.
What classses is he currently taking? I am wondering what you plan on doing in the fall, too. If you put him back, will you be looking right back at the same stuff next year? (HEY! Is that correct English? It should be "What classes ARE he currently taking?", because CLASSES is plural. But it sure doesn't sound right! Someone help me out on that one!!!)
It's 'What classes is he currently taking.' Make it into a sentence: "He is currently taking what classes."
We began homeschooling with only one quarter remaining last year (because we moved and started then) so it can be done. HSLDA has folks that just work with those homeschooling teens so they should be helpful on more than just laws. Your library (or interlibrary loan) might have some of the books dedicated to HSing high school. I agree with the other posters....you can DEFINITELY catch him up quickly especially if he's the only child being homeschooled. I'll warn you...he might not want to go back to school when he realizes he can get his studies done faster, better, with less distractions, and potentially learn about things not available in public school. A short example....many high schools don't offer Marine Biology classes BUT Apologia (a great science program) has Marine Bio as an elective for 11th/12th graders......so if he wants to be a marine biologist, he doesn't have to wait until college to jump into the subject matter. As a fellow newbie (we mark 1 year in March)....don't expect that its going to take him 8 hours to complete all his studies plus 3 hours in the evening (like public school students).....now it might if he's really behind but probably not because its one and one and not as distracting. Many homeschool high schoolers can complete their daily studies in much less time (I don't have exact # of hours because my oldest is 4th grade and youngest is K ...with a 2nd grader in the middle.) I'm sure others with high schoolers can chime in on that. Sounds like homeschooling might be an excellent solution whether he formally gets expelled or not.....might help motivate him and build his confidence that he's not the "bad" kid that some might think (because of the expulsion). I think its awesome that you're jumping here and doing the research!! Welcome!!! Rhonda C.
Thanks for all the information. I have one more question. After I've homeschooled my son and fall comes around and he's ready to re-enroll into the 10th grade, will the school transfer his 9th grade homeschool credits? How will they assess that he is ready to enter the 10th grade? I've been trying to find information on this and in the state of Missouri the laws are great for homeschooling except they are really kind of vague. Are there state tests that a student can take to show that they are progressing academically? Thanks again! This is a great site!
I pulled a son out in grade 9 for the same sort of reasons you mention. He brought all his grades up to As & A+s by the time he finished grade 10 so be encouraged.
