We have decided to homeschool our daughter next year, and there are soooo many programs out there!! Any dopers currently home-schooling? A referral would be greatly appreciated…
What grade will she be in? That makes a difference. My son is in high school, so he is enrolled in a correspondence school. There are many home-school information sites on the Net with discussions and personal testimonies about the different programs available.
Search the SDMB also for many informative past threads on home-schooling.
I don’t know about an overall curriculum, but you might look at Saxon Math. It’s an excellent math program used by many homeschoolers. I use it in my classroom, and have been very pleased with it.
Sam is in 5th grade. We’ve had a great deal of problems with her elementary school this year, as have several other parents. I’ve watched my child go from a studend begging for the end of summer and the beginning of the school year to a child who will do anything to get out of going.
I’m looking for a program that is not religion based, and I’ve seen several on the hslda’s website, but wading through them all is a very daunting task.
“student” :smack:
Maureen, may I suggest ChildU.com? It goes through 7th grade, is not religion based. Our middle daughter has been using it for 2 years now, quite happily. I like the way it tracks time logged on, test scores, etc. This makes school board review time extremely simple. It costs $20.00 a month no matter how many hours the child spends on it. This is about the price of many canned curricula, but as you pay monthly, does not require the lump sum outflow of money. Also, when there have been minor glitches, the staff is very helpful and responsive. If you click the link, you can take a free tour of the site, and your daughter can do a sample unit.
Best of luck!
I would suggest you not look for a “program” just yet. You and your son need to take some time to de-school. Spend some time just taking walks, visiting museums, reading and not “doing school.” He needs time to develop an eagerness for learning again. Truly, I think jumping right into a structured program when one’s child has become disenchanted is bound to be problematic.
While your son takes some time to chill, you can spend time reading and researching the plethora of information and resources available. You might find a program that fits, you might take a more eclectic approach. The nice thing about home education is that you can take an eclectic approach. You can meet your son’s needs and desires in each subject at the level and style that’s best for him.
I would suggest starting by getting very, very familiar with Califonia home schooling laws. California is one of a few states known to be a bit “unfriendly” to home schoolers, so knowing your rights is imperative. Start here.
Some of my favorite sites and resources are:
Classical Curriculum
Charlotte Mason
Core Knowledge
Great Books Academy
More Classical Homeschool Stuff
The Well-Trained Mind
Singapore Math and Science
And I could go on and on. Obviously, I prefer a Classical style, but there are many who don’t, and there are resources available for just about anything. I have about 100 more links to all kinds of stuff. I just leave the religious stuff out of any particularly good resource.
Really, my advice to you both is Relax, Relax, and Read! Even if you take several months off of “school” I assure you he will not fall behind his peers.
Darn it, here’s the link to California laws and here’s a good overview of home schooling issues in California.
And I apologize for calling your daughter a son. 
Thank you to all for your generous replies.
Calliope , don’t worry about it. Everyone jumps to that conclusion when I say “Sam.” Samantha has been out of school since April, and since that time has been enrolled in the public school’s independent program. She’s starting to get back to the point where she is interested in learning again. And, as you said, being able to be flexible and eclectic is encouraging to all three of us (her dad is a house-husband, and will be doing the majority of the teaching). I plan on teaching her Spanish this year.
Norinew , this is a GREAT program!! If it meets CA guidelines, which, as Calliope said, are fairly stringent, that would be wonderful.