Home Schooling Help - Fort Worth,TX

Texas does not have any homeschool regulations beyond stating you must have a curriculum. You may want to inform your district that your child will not be returning next year, but that's about it on the "official" end.

On your end, it looks like you need to start some serious research. There really isn't any such thing as "the website for lesson plans". You need to determine your educational philosophy and goals, then choose a curriculum that meets those goals.

Google is your friend. There is so much information about homeschooling and resources for support that it's impossible to read them all.

AAAAAAAAA I just had a huge answer and lost it. Here we go again.

Please feel free to personal message me anytime, I have a 4th grader and a 7th grader

hslda.org the legal site for homeschoolers, will give you the laws in TX
Welltrainedmind.com
homeschoolspot.com

I have the book The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer, it is very informative, a good starting point

My Curriculum
Math--Singapore Math
Coming out of public schools my kids started one semester behind. THere are two books a year, we are now working in 5A, he did 4A and 4B this year already. There is a test to download to see in which book to start.
THere are also Saxon, Miqoun, ABEKA, Teaching Textbooks, MathUSee. I use Lial's Algebra with my 7th rader.

Grammar-Shurley Grammar
Very throrough. At 4th they can jump right in and start. It might be a little confusing at first, there is a teacher book and a student workbook. It uses jingles to teach the parts of speech. It is very repetitive. For the child starting out this is great. After 4th he can do 6th. I jumped into Rod and Staff for my 7th grader. It has more meat, she will do the 8th next year.
R&S is a better writing curriculum.

Institute for the Excellence in Writing . Is expensive, I don't have it but wish I did. It is a very good writing program. .

Spelling--Spelling Workout
We are in Book D, it is very grade appropriate. I let mine just work through it.

Science--Bob Jones Science
Both mine love this. Fun experiments with household items. Covers a variety of 4th grade topics. We will get 5th and 8th next year.

History--The Story of Our Word and Mystery of History.
MOH is very Christian based. The SOW is secular. BOth have activites to do while learning about the ages.
We also use History Pockets form Evan More, found in teacher stores, these are a lot of fun.

Latin--The Latin Road to English Grammar
You don't even have to know any Latin to start this, although I had four years in HS. My son, 4th is handling it fine. My daughter, 7th is excelling.

We do art and fencing through the park district homeschool groups
Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, and youth group at church
Piano and homeschool band-there are maybe 150 kids in our band.

Make every trip to the grocery store a field trip, have him estimate.
Restaurants, teach tips.

We do flashcards every day up to 15x15. I pick the 5's and 8's maybe or the 14' and the 9's, each day he does something different, and I made my own with 3x5 cards cut in half . He is timed on all his tests.

I have to test in May, and I have to keep these records.

THe worst year will be next year. You have to learn to be the teacher, he has to learn what you expect frm him as the student. I used to turn off my phone. After the first year it goes much smoother.

Designate a homeschool spot in your house.

We claimed our homeschool expenses this year so keep your receipts.
Sign up at the bookstores to get your educator cards, more % off.

Good luck.

I'm not sure how I feel about homeschooling., I suppose just make sure she is in a lot of out side activities to help her socialized and be prepared. Also I would consider finding the group at home schooling. There is a web site. Its a site with other famillies that are homeschooling. You could probably google it.

HSLDA is a good place to start. Home school legal defense association website helps you id your rights and such.

Look for Homeschoolers association groups. In Arlington there is a group called PEACE club. Not sure what the acronym means, but they rent the gym at my church on Thursdays to meet the PE requirement. Someone in that group might help you find a starting place in your research. I have many good friends that homeschool. I don't have kids, so hubby and I haven't had to make this decision. I pray you will find your way quickly. One thing to remember, it is a journey and there will be peaks and valleys. Hang in there and you will do well!

Take Care,

You create your own lesson plans. I do have a friend who is going to try Texas Connections Academy as a start, but I know this is NOT a homeschool, its an online charter school which is a public school but they do all the plans and curriculum and give you all the books.

There is a great store in Watauga that has lots of great info, not sure of the name Ii think it is the Center for Home Education. The great part of homeschooling is that you are not limited at all, you just pick a curriculum and try it and if you find its not working for you switch. Good luck in your journey!