Home Schooling Help - Fort Worth,TX

There are different stores and co-ops around the metroplex, it really helps to know where you live to be able to point you in the right direction.

This is a good website of info:
http://www.heartoftex.org/

And I would look at joining the Texas Homeschool Coalition:
http://www.thsc.org

Good Luck!

Hi,

I've been homeschooling my boys for 3 years now (started in 4th and 6th grade). We belong to SAIL, a support group based out of McKinney/Allen/Plano (even though we live in Carrollton). They have hot and cold running activities and a co-op. http://sailhomeschoolers.org/

If your child likes working on the computer, you might check out www.time4learning. It's a monthly program and is very engaging. $20/month, no contracts, no obligation. They have online demos so you can get an idea of what it looks like.

HTH,
W. in Carrollton

I am a veteran home schooler. There is a large Co-op group in Richardson. It is part of the Richardson Home School Association. If you contact them, you should be able to get lots of up-to-date assistance.

In May there is a HUGE homeschool bookfair in Arlington with seminars and oodles of cool stuff to get started. That is where I got started in my 12 year long home school journey. Good Luck. If you need more help, call me.

K.
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Hi K., we have been homeschooling for several years. We currently have 2 kids in a 2 day/wk college prep school, which is for homeschoolers and goes through 12th grade. However, when we first started we chose A Beka. Most christian private schools use this curriculum. It is one year ahead of the student. So, if a child is in 2nd grade, they are actually learning and working principles on a 3rd grader level. Browse www.abeka.com and see if this might interest you. There is also a curriculum a friend was using, more literary, called Sonshine. Hope this helps.

Hi K.,

You've received many great responses already, but I'll try to add a few more ideas. You might check out Ambleside Online, a free homeschool curriculum. Sign up for the yahoo group if you choose this program. http://www.amblesideonline.org/
Many homeschoolers also enjoy Sonlight Curriculum. http://www.sonlight.com/
I can personally recommend Apologia Science from the Jr. High level on (Elem Sci. was not available when my son was young). https://apologia.securesites.net/prodas.php?PHPSESSID=670...
We have tried many math programs and found Chalkdust math to be a life-saver for this math-phobic mom. ;) A bit pricey, but worth it for the upper level maths. You may like the free UK-based math program available here: http://www.cimt.plymouth.ac.uk/projects/mep/default.htm
There's a yahoo group for homeschoolers using the program.
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
Good luck & enjoy!
~K.

www.thsc.org and http://www.texashomeeducators.com/supportgroups.htm
are great places to start. The first one has a lot of info for getting started in your first year and teh second has more group information about co-ops and field trips etc.

HI, K.. Where are you located? After much prayer, we decided to homeschool our daughter for kindergarten this year. I joined a Yahoo group HorizonHS, and it has been wonderful. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HorizonHS/ If you click on the previous link, there will be a Join This Group button, and you'll just have to enter some basic information, and the moderator will send you an invite to join the group.

Check out Frisco H.I.S. (Home Is School). They also have a group called Great Starts for those that are new to homeschooling that talks about curriculum, learning styles, etc. They are having a Great Starts meeting this Thur. Oct. 8. See the Frisco H.I.S. website for more details.

Homeschooled my 18 yr old twin boys for 8 years... In what part of the Metroplex do you live? Find Mardel's Christian bookstore. They have a vast array of Christian based homeschooling materials. Let me know where you live and I can help more.

K.,
Welcome to homeschooling! I just started homeschooling my children and I love it.

There are numerous options as far as curriculum - in fact sometimes it gets a little overwhelming. It is all going to depend on what you want (Christian centered or not) and the method you want to use (workbooks,etc.). Mardel's has a limited amount of homeschool material. There is a store in downtown Lewisville that carries much more (sorry, I can't remember their name).

I strongly encourage you to join some kind of a support group. I am a member of Frisco HIS. This group is a Christian based support system that offers information and advice on everything. Their web address is www.friscohis.org. There is also a "subgroup" called Great Starts for people just like you. There are also groups in Plano.

Good luck! If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me.
D.

I second Frisco HIS and great starts. Also don't spend a load on curriculum. There is so much you can do without spending more than a few bucks. There's a great website called edhelper. Using edhelper can help you determine how your child learns. Also if you have the extra money becoming a member of the zoo or museum is a great way to learn in an enriching environment.

There are thousands of curriculums out there and depending on how much time you have and your child's learning style there's a right one out there. With my two children we use different curriculums for each subject. You can pick and choose or buy a whole curriculum in a box. I joined Frisco HIS when my oldest was 4 going on 5 just to learn about different methods and what to do.