Homeschooling can be a good option for many families for unique reasons. My family has been homeschooling for many years! Some parents like to be more involved with what curriculum their children are learning, others have special needs. Some find a home environment is best, while others have hectic schedules and need the vast flexibility. Whatever the reason your family has for homeschooling, Oklahoma is a great place for it!
If you are new to homeschooling it can seem overwhelming. It is easy to sabotage ourselves in the beginning by trying to copy what is done in public schools or living in fear that we won’t do it “right” and mess up our children’s education. The very fact that you want to make a custom approach for you family shows how deeply you care! There are many resources, curriculum options, and co-ops to help your family find the best fit for your home education journey.
To Begin...
To get started visit the HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) website.
They offer a state-by-state listing of homeschool laws, requirements, special education provisions and other helpful tips like record keeping. You can also stay updated on Oklahoma Homeschool legislature from their website. You do not have to become a member of the HSLDA to access any of this information, but a membership option is available for a yearly rate. If your child has previously attended a public or private school HSLDA has an article on how to properly withdraw them for homeschooling.
For Oklahoma homeschoolers there are no state mandated subjects, no assessment
requirements, no immunization requirements, or teacher qualifications. No notification is
required in Oklahoma to homeschool. The site states, as long as you teach for 180 days, you can legally operate your homeschool following your own guidelines. Legally Oklahoma is a friendlystate for homeschool families. If your child has previously attended a public or private school you will also find information on how to withdraw your child.
Choosing Homeschool Curriculum
One common hurdle for homeschooling is choosing a curriculum that will fit your families
schedule, educational and financial needs. I would urge you to not be put off by this. The best part of homeschooling is that you can be flexible. If the curriculum isn’t working for your child pick another. You are fully in charge of your child’s education and can make whatever changes are needed during whatever part of the school year you need to. You know your child best and can meet their educational needs however you feel necessary. Don’t be afraid to switch things up!
Finding your initial curriculum can be a fun part of homeschooling for parents. There are many
books and websites from veteran homeschool families with detailed reviews of curriculums and learning styles. One well-Known resources is Cathy Duffy’s books: 100 Top Picks for
Homeschool Curriculum. These books are useful in choosing a curriculum and identifying your child’s learning style. Cathy Duffy reviews many curriculums and gives her top picks for each subject.
The amount a family spends on curriculum varies greatly, depending on your budget you can spend zero dollars to several hundred for a good curriculum. Spending a hefty sum will not be available to all families but many affordable and some free options are just as terrific. Easy
Peasy All-in-One Homeschool is one free choice. It is a complete online curriculum with
printable worksheets, website links, and learning games. There are extra workbooks available for purchase if you are interested through the sites store, but it is not required. You can visit the website at allinonehomeschool.com to find out how it works and to set up a free account for
your child.
Being Resourceful in Homeschooling
Secondhand curriculum is another financially savvy option. Some websites to find curriculum
HalfPrice Books have a whole section dedicated for it. Thrift stores and library sales are other great places to find a deal. Some homeschool Co-ops have used curriculum sales as well but aren’t always advertised to the public.
For families with multiple children, you can use notebooks for each to write their answers down so the workbooks can be utilized for more than one student or photocopy worksheets.
Your local library can assist in free curriculum as well, check out the books needed and have your student use a notebook for recording their answers.
Finding Community while Homeschooling
Homeschool co-ops are another great asset for homeschooling families. A co-op is a great place for your children to make friends and enrich their learning experience. A co-op is not a
necessity, and some families forgo them. However, if you are interested in a co-op, you should first decide what you are wanting from it; some want a group to fieldtrip or pursue extra
curriculars with, others are looking to enhance the academic journey and prepare for
graduation. Once you identify what role you want co-op to play in your homeschool you can
easily find some great options.
Check back with Midwest City Moms for an upcoming list of available co-ops in the Mid/Del and other surrounding areas!
Do you have homeschooling tips? Comment below or email info@mwcmoms.com
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