Back-to-School for Homeschoolers

If you are a seasoned homeschooling parent or if you are just taking on this challenge for the first time, you will need to find some really good resources to help you with this endeavor. Homeschooling will require some changes in your schedule and maybe in your home as well. It is best to have a designated area to serve as the classroom, if at all possible.

Homeschooling today is a widely accepted practice as well as a major industry. There are a wide variety of tools and curriculum available for today's homeschools. Here are a few places to help you find all the resources and materials you will need in order to be successful in homeschooling:

1) Learning Things is a great place to begin. This website offers educational materials for everything from Reading, Math, Science Kits and History to Phonics, Computer Training and Critical Thinking.

2) A Beka Home School is a wonderful resource for homeschoolers. They offer fully accredited programs with choices such as a DVD Program called "A Beka Academy" where A Beka handles all the paperwork, report cards and transcripts for you. This material is for Christian homeschools and offers wonderful curriculum. They also offer traditional parent-directed homeschooling, where you keep your own records or your are free to just purchase textbooks and materials for your personal homeschooling.

3) HomeSchool.com is a great place to browse and purchase needed materials for homeschooling. They offer a wide range of materials for every age and stage of your child's education, including Driver's Education, software and videos, Catholic curriculum and even adult education materials.

4) ABC Teacher.com offers a wide range of books and curriculum at discount prices. They offer "Teacher Created Resources" which includes everything from basic skills to brain teasers, "Mark Twain Media" which focuses on the language arts of reading and writing, "Rainbow Bridge Publishing" which will help your child master the basics and as well as build additional skills. They also offer "Leap Frog" Phonics, Math, Science and many more materials from which to choose.

With so many choices, resources and online helps today, homeschooling doesn't have to be expensive for the parents or boring for the children. You will also find networking homeschool sites available in most cities. This allows other homeschoolers to get together to provide support and also to plan some outings with other homeschoolers in your area. Most networks offer a members' directory and an email newsletter to inform you of events and get-togethers in your area.

Happy Homeschooling!

Sources:
http://www.abcteacher.com/
http://www.homeschool.com/
http://www.abeka.org/
http://www.homeschooldiscount.com/