Methods, Curriculum Types, and State Requirements
Homeschooling Your Children
Homeschooling is when parents or family members teach their children at home instead of sending them to a traditional school. Homeschooling can be structured or unstructured, and there are many different approaches. Some subjects must be included in the homeschool curriculum, and individual governmental units may have different official curriculum and attendance requirements.
For example, in Texas, a legitimate homeschool must have a curriculum that teaches reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and good citizenship.
Getting Started with Homeschooling
Homeschooling is educating your child at home rather than sending them to a traditional school. It can be a highly rewarding and effective way to educate your child but also requires careful planning and commitment.
Homeschooling can be a significant commitment and may not be suitable for every family. To ensure your child’s educational success and well-being, staying organized, maintaining patience, and continually communicating with them is important. Also, consult with educational professionals or homeschooling organizations for guidance and support.
Educational Styles
The choice of homeschooling method often depends on the child’s learning style, the family’s values and lifestyle, and the resources available. Many homeschooling families adapt and evolve methods to meet their changing needs and goals.
Charlotte Mason Method
Classical Education
Classical Trivium
Cooperative or Group Homeschooling (Co-Ops)
Eclectic Homeschooling
Hybrid Homeschooling
Interest-Led Homeschooling
Montessori Method
Online or Virtual Homeschooling
Reggio Emilia Homeschooling
Relaxed Homeschooling
Religious Homeschooling
Roadschooling Homeschooling
Thomas Jefferson Homeschooling
Traditional Homeschooling
Unit Studies
Unschooling
Waldorf Method
Worldschooling
Affiliates
Educator Resources
Oklahoma
Texas
Homeschooling in Oklahoma
Oklahoman families are allowed to homeschool their children. They must follow specific guidelines for educating their children at home. They must teach at least 180 days per year to children between the ages of 5 and 18. The child’s academic progress must be established and maintained.
Know what goals you want to achieve through your homeschooling process. You decide what educational style and curriculum you’d like to use. The state is not required to furnish home-schooled students with textbooks, resources, or other materials. However, you may apply for a $1,000 tax credit per child to pay for education-related expenses, such as instruction materials and tutoring, under the Universal School Choice Bill passed on May 25, 2023, which takes effect on January 2024.
Homeschooling in Texas
Homeschooling in Texas is legal and relatively straightforward. The Texas Supreme Court issued a decision guaranteeing the right of Texas parents to teach their children at home without fear of prosecution. (Leeper et al. v. Arlington ISD et al., June 15, 1994)
In Texas, homeschooling is considered a type of private school. Your homeschool is exempt from the compulsory attendance statute. Therefore, Texas does not regulate the number of days per year that private schools must be in session or the number of days a student must attend. There is no requirement for the number of hours you must homeschool each day.
Choosing Homeschool Curriculum
Choosing a homeschool curriculum is an important decision that can greatly impact your child’s education. The homeschooling process can look different for every family but typically involves purchasing or creating a homeschool curriculum and scheduling regular lessons. Many families also take advantage of online resources and community groups to find support and connect with other homeschooling families.
Teaching K-12 Students
K-12 students learn through a variety of methods and approaches that cater to their developmental stages, individual learning styles, and the educational environment.
Record-Keeping Tips for Your Homeschool
While your state may not require homeschooling record-keeping or reports, many homeschooling families find tracking their children’s academic progress, attendance, extracurricular experiences, and achievements important.
Documentation becomes essential for high school students, especially if they are college-bound, applying to technical schools, or applying for jobs. It is also beneficial to have such records if you are involved in a court case or custody situation.
How Children Learn
Children learn through a combination of exploration, interaction, and guided experiences.
The VARK Theory
The VARK Theory is a model that identifies different learning styles and suggests that individuals learn best when receiving information in a format that suits their preferences.
How to Define your Homeschooling Goals
Defining your homeschooling goals is a crucial step in creating a focused and effective educational experience.
Successful Lesson Planning and Teaching
The foundation needed for effective learning must be established early on. Good planning sets the stage for optimal learning. Effective teachers have a clear picture of what they wish to accomplish and how they will go about doing it.
Elementary students are not as cognitively developed as high school students. Younger students need lesson objectives, activities, and assessments that cater to early stages of learning. These would focus on memorization, understanding, and application. As your students get older, at the middle school and high school level, educational activities can focus on analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating, and creating.
Why Use Bloom's Taxonomy in Homeschool
Bloom’s Taxonomy is a framework for classifying educational objectives and is often used to guide the development of curriculum and assessments in traditional educational settings. However, it can also be a valuable tool for homeschooling.
The WIPPEA Model for Younger Students
The WIPPEA Model is a lesson planning model adapted from Dr. Madeline Hunter’s work (Master Teaching, 1982). It serves as an instructional roadmap for instructing in a drill-and-practice format. It is awesome for content or processes that benefit from lots of repetition.
Additional Printable Homeschooling Resources
There are various printable homeschooling resources available online across different subjects and grade levels. Keep in mind that availability may vary, and it’s essential to ensure that the resources align with your specific curriculum or educational goals.
What is the Orton-Gillingham Approach?
The Orton-Gillingham Approach is a structured, multisensory, and individualized method developed in the 1930s by neuropsychiatrist Dr. Samuel Orton and educator/psychologist Anna Gillingham, primarily to help individuals with dyslexia and other reading difficulties.
While it was originally designed for students with dyslexia, the Orton-Gillingham Approach can benefit anyone struggling with reading, writing, and spelling. It is widely used in special education settings and applied in general education environments.
What is the Barton Reading and Spelling System?
The Barton Reading and Spelling System is a structured literacy program designed to help students who struggle with reading, spelling, and writing, particularly those with dyslexia and other learning disabilities.
The 10 levels of the Barton Reading and Spelling System
The Barton Reading and Spelling System consists of 10 levels designed to build progressively on students’ reading, spelling, and writing skills.
Successfully Homeschooling with Children with Special Needs
Homeschooling children with special needs, including ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), autism, or other learning differences, can be both rewarding and challenging. Here are some general strategies for successfully homeschooling your children.
Behavioral Issues
Behavioral problems can manifest in various ways, depending on a person’s age, environment, and circumstances. Here are some common types of behavioral problems, especially in children and adolescents.
Learning Challenges
When homeschooling a child with learning challenges who typically needs an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 Plan, it’s essential to tailor the educational approach to the child's unique requirements. We share information, tips, and academic approaches to help homeschool your children.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
Down Syndrome
Dyscalculia
Dysgraphia
Dyslexia
Dysphasia / Aphasia
Dyspraxia / Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder (MRELD)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) Autism
Sensory Process Disorder (SPD)
Visual Processing Disorder (VPD)
Questions, Concerns, or Comments
We welcome all those considering homeschooling, whether new to the journey or seasoned professionals, to our Facebook Group. This group supports families with diverse learning needs, providing curriculum, adaptive technology, strategies, and methods to help their children learn, explore, and thrive.
We encourage engaging posts with limited links and promotions. We understand many families are looking for free or affordable curriculum ideas and resources, and we're committed to helping you find them. Whether you need answers to learning changes due to autism, ADHD, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, dyslexia, anxiety, sensory processing disorders, or if your child is neurodivergent, we're here to support you.
