Getting started with homeschooling -- what did you do?

[mbpdep]

I am considering taking my daughter out of public kindergarten to homeschool. She is 5 and will be 6 in July. I live in NY.

How do I begin? How much time will this take?

My next issues is money, and time for me. I am a widowed mother so it's just me and her. The time she is in school is a blessing for me as I get to have some time alone. I started school so I can finish my Bachelor's degree. I love the Waldorf school, yet not 100%. I would actually send her there, but I am concerned if I start and cannot finish it for financial reasons -- because right now there is no way I could save up $18,000 per year -- than she will be very behind if I put her back in public school.

Any ideas? Advise? Any single or widowed moms/dads out there?

THANK YOU!

[LoMaH]

Hi
I think your first step should be to learn about the regulations in NY State.
You can start by joining (I used to live in NY- the listowner's knowledge of the regs is excellent)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NYHEN-Support/

related link
http://www.nyhen.org/

Then perhaps find some local hsing groups.
Hit the net, library and start reading articles and books on homeschooling.

Technically, your daughter doesn't have to attend school until next school year because she hasn't reached the compulsory age for the state (which is to be age 6 by Dec. 1st of the current year). So, you wouldn't be turning in any paper work until next school year 2010.

I'm sure others will chime in with some of your other concerns.

Good luck

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by mbpdep

Any ideas? Advise? Any single or widowed moms/dads out there?

I think it could help to join an email group for working and single homeschoolers - there would be some there who could offer advice and tips. At least one of the groups has over 300 members. Here's a whole page of links to articles and email groups for Working & Single Parents. There's even an article on homeschooling as a widow or widower.

Best of luck for a smooth path - Lillian

[Reebekah]

join local homeschool group

hang out here....and other online homeschool groups like babycenter and cafemom

visit hlsda website

visit website of your state's department of education

go to a homeschool conference in your area

read books about homeschooling (from your library and from buying at places like amazon.com)

[phathui5]

Homeschooling a kindergartener doesn't take much time. Even my first grader only does about 30-45 minutes of scheduled lessons a day. The rest is stuff that our family does anyway, like reading together, going to the library, having art supplies available for them to use, etc.

My fourth grader spends a bit more time, because we loosely follow the classical education philosophy and he has more on his plate than she does. Even with him though, it's not as much me teaching as being available to help when he needs it.