OT: Home Schooling

Anyone here homeschooling in Texas? Any suggestions? Places to get curriculum?

I used to homeschool my children.  It has been a few years ago, but the laws and such have not changed in Texas.  I loved doing it, but I needed to go back to work for $$$ so, alas, had to put them in public school.  There used to be a homeschool store off of 45.  They had tons of different curriculum.  I will check and see if it is still there.  Do you have any particular curriculum in mind?  Switched on Schoolhouse is what I used for my oldest.  It is all computer based, which was great at the time, but now I realize not so much, cause his writing is atrocious!  Abeka has a DVD curriculum as well as mom-taught curriculum.  The mom-taught is what I used for my youngest.  I personally would stay away from School of Tomorrow (ACE).  Nobody I know that has used it liked it very much (kids didn't perform well on exit tests such as SAT or ACT).  In August or September Houston also hosts a huge homeschool conference with breakout sessions on all sorts of topics.  They have tons of vendors that present there as well. 

If I think of anything else I will pm you.

Julie

This is for an 8th grade student, severely ADHD and bipolar. He is NOT functioning in public school.

I know that Mardel's has a homeschool section in their stores.  So you can go there and look and see what they have.  They also have people there that should be able to answer your questions.

If he is 8th grade and likes being on the computer they a computer based program might be good for him.  I work in an Alternative Center and we used computer based learning and it helps with our kids.

Yeah, I don't think a computer based curriculum would work, because someone would have to literally stand behind him the entire time to make sure he wasn't wandering off somewhere else online!

Lynn - what about checking with individuals in your home church......?

as for curriculum...................DEFINATELY MARDELS would be the place -  or any larger  christian book store would ahve something. 

Lynne - PM this email (So I will remember tomorrow morning after I have had some sleep)

I have a ton of home schooling links for the Texas area - but unless you remind me I won't remember to send them to you. Is the child getting the appropriate special education assistance?

I did till a few years ago - loved math u see!!! look for it used it's pricey but very worth it - we have even talked about getting me the algerbra before I take it in college

mardels will have some stuff - mostly it depends on how much you want/are willing to spend - how much time is availible for teaching and supervising  - how the child learns best

go online and search your local area for homeschool groups - they will have ideas and things you can accually look at. plus he will need the social interaction - some groups are very church based, some curiculum based and some open - I personally would look for the opener ones, aviod ones that want a signed statement of faith (not all church based ones do but I am very lery of the ones that do - I don't want to live with them - I want my kids to have someone to play iwth at the park) unless someone has a LOT LOT of time to devote to homeschooling I would not unschool a child that age

oh spaling the reading road to writting - it's a great one too - I need to get mine back from my SIL - you will find a balance of what works and what is just filler

the other thing I really noticed about homeschooling is that it does not take 6 hours a day to school a child - it takes 2-4, the poor teachers spend the rest of the time correcting behairor (you will have to do this too) and trying to get 20-40 kids all going the same directions

peace
Danni
who still loves hsing just can't do it anymore

Hi Lynne,

Contact these people (they are in Houston here is the website: http://www.hepbookstore.com/).

They are in the business of "educating" the customer in parent directed education.  I know these women because I am a sponsor for National Homeschool Honor Society and they started the first chapter.   They are EXTREMELY helpful and will work with you to find what works for your student regardless of his abilities. 

Hope this helps in some way!

Toni

You could also try looking for free stuff for unit studies

Discovery channel used to have free lesson plans to coincide with programs they schedule

I think Microsoft has an entire section of their website devoted to lesson plans

The library is a homeschooling mom's best friend