PATCH Home School

Getting Started

So, you're thinking about homeschooling your children?
While you are thinking about it, here's some information that will help you get started.

Facts and Figures
Home Education, or you may say Homeschooling, is the fastest growing movement in the United States. The homeschooling population of Kentucky is now above 1 percent of the state's public school enrollment. Kentucky registered homeschoolers in the year 2000 was 12,436. For 2004, the number of registered homeschoolers grew to 23,705. These official figures suggest Kentucky's homeschooling annual growth rate in is 24 percent.
For more facts click here.

Think It Over
Maybe your child is approaching school-age. Maybe your child is already in the public school system. Taking your children out of the public school system isn't something to be taken lightly. The decision to homeschool is a commitment to a way of life. Whatever category you're in, we suggest the following:
- Read as much about homeschooling as you can. The McCracken County library is very homeschool-friendly. They have several books about homeschooling you can check out. You may even see other homeschool families there!
- Search the internet for information. Maybe that's how you found us! More links will be provided in the following sections and on the "Homeschool Options" and "Favorite Links" on our homepage. - Understand that there isn't just one way to homeschool and that people choose homeschooling for many different reasons. Learn as much as you can, but think for yourself.
- Become familiar with the laws in your state, as they vary from state to state. (The next section will talk more about Kentucky's laws.)

Section 1 - First things first

Know The Laws
It is critical that you become familiar with and understand the homeschooling laws in your state. For Kentucky residents, read the Best Practice Document. You can find this on our "Kentucky Homeschool Laws" link. It is the parents' responsibility to know the homeschool laws of your state. The laws will usually indicate how many days of school you must have each year, how many hours your school days should be, what subjects you must teach, what testing is required, and what letters you must write to the local school. EACH STATE IS DIFFERENT, so check it out where you live. Do not simply rely on information you receive from others, it may or may not be correct.

Talk to Others
Talk to or visit with other homeschool families. Ask them about their experiences and how they got started. Find out what most influenced their decision to homeschool. Ask what obstacles, if any, they had to overcome. Many homeschoolers are eager to talk about their homeschooling "journeys" and offer excellent insight. Section 2 - Decide on Curriculum

Which one to Use?
Now you need a curriculum. For starters, you have to figure out what it is you want to or have to teach and how you will teach it. Do you want a Bible-based curriculum? Do you want a "Classical" curriculum? Will you use textbooks or DVDs? The Homeschool Options link can help you search for curriculum. Again, ask other homeschoolers what they use and why.

How Much Does It Cost?
It is the parents' responsibility to purchase the curriculum you will use for your child/children. How much will it cost? The financial investment of home education varies widely with each family. The more organized you are, the less supplies you will need to purchase. Perhaps you may not wish to purchase the Teacher's guides or the subject answer keys. Usually, you spend what you have, and creativity supplies the rest. Libraries and used book fairs (along with making your own charts and the like) can help to keep costs down. And don't forget to check out Ebay! You can also search out internet sights that provide excellent teaching tools, like printable tests and worksheets.

Section 3 - Yes, We Want to Homeschool!

Getting Started
So, now you've decided to take on the wonderful adventure of homeschooling. If your child is already in the public school system, you will need to find out what steps are necessary to remove your child from school. For Kentucky residents, if your child is not in the public school system, you need to send a letter of intent to your local Director of Pupil Personnel (DPP). This person is usually located at your local public school. In Kentucky, each County has their own DPP. If you are beginning homeschooling at the beginning of the regular school year, your letter needs to be received by your local DPP within two weeks of the public schools first day of school. See "Kentucky State Law" link.

Join a Support Group
If you are near the Paducah, Kentucky area, we'd like to invite you to be a part of Parents As Teachers in Christian Homes Support Group (PATCH). Just keep looking on the site for all kinds of information and updates. We have monthly meetings, activities, field trips, seasonal parties, lectures on homeschooling and much more. Contact a Leadership Board Member for more information about PATCH. If you are not near us, seek out the other homeschoolers in your area. Inquire at local churches if they have any homeschool families in their church. If there's not a support group, consider starting one!

Get organized!
Clean out closets. Clean out from under the beds. Clean out the attic. Prepare a place to keep all your school supplies when you are not having school. And don't forget to set aside a place to store all the school supplies you will accumulate year after year. v As a homeschooling family, you will also need to keep good records. (Some states require no records be kept, but it's still a good practice.) Get a notebook that will be THE notebook where you write down what you do each day. v Create a schedule. This will help you, and your child, stay on track. If your schedule just doesn't seem to be working, change it! It takes time to figure out the best schedule for you and your children. v Understand that homeschooling is a "way of life" for your family. Duties of each family member may need to change to accommodate the changing roles of each family member. Homeschool children, like all children, learn best when both parents are involved.

Here's a few articles and web sites to read through.

Is homeschooling for you?
Making the decision to homeschool is usually very difficult and not one to be taken lightly. It is a personal decision that I can't make for you, but maybe I can help in the thought process. When making the homeschool decision, consider these things:

A Day at Haven Academy
lists their typical homeschool day

Choosing a Homeschool Curriculum
is a great article that may help you with this sometimes overwhelming decision.

Finfrock's To Home School or Not To Homeschool
is a great resource for making the decision whether or not to homeschool. Includes info on myths about homeschooling, reasons to homeschool, pros and cons, socialization, costs, a compilation of notes from other homeschooling parents, kids, and headlines, & how to get started.

Linda's Homeschool Pages Typical Day
lists her schedule & other info.

1.1 Million Homeschoolers in the U.S in 2003
This brief uses data from the 2003 National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) to estimate the number of homeschooled students in the United States in 2003 and to discuss the reasons parents decide to homeschool their children.

You CAN homeschool.org
Home*School*ing, the practice of teaching one's own children at home. ( Random House Webster 1985-90) There is a world of information on this site.

J. Michael Smith, President HSLDA Interview
This interview covers the most common questions today regarding homeschooling....

Other homeschool support groups in the area
L.A.M.P. -Loving, Affirming, Ministering and Preparing: Homeschool Group, Murray, Kentucky
P.A.C.H.E.K.-Pennyrile Area Christian Home Educators of Kentucky: Hopkinsville, KY