How to Start Homeschooling in Sacramento
Homeschooling in Sacramento County is as exciting for adults as it is for their children. The diverse nature of Sacramento, from the metropolitan area to the low delta lands between the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River, even extending east into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, provides a wide array of outside-the-classroom activities for families.
Having the flexibility to take advantage of these educational field trips as your children concentrate on their core courses, is a key reason why parents in Sacramento choose homeschooling. They not only expand your children’s knowledge on diverse subjects, they provide bonding time between you and your children.
But before you start your homeschool adventure, there are some things you should review.
- How to Homeschool in Sacramento
- Time4Learning Curriculum for Homeschooling in Sacramento
- Field Trips in Sacramento and Beyond
- Additional Resources Related to Homeschooling in California
This information should by no means be interpreted as legal advice. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under.
How to Homeschool in Sacramento
Parents who are homeschooling in Sacramento have various options available when it comes to how they homeschool and what curriculum they use. Below are the steps to take when getting started homeschooling in Sacramento.
- Research California’s homeschool laws so you know what is required of you and what your rights are.
- Choose which one of five ways of homeschooling is best for your family.
- If your child is enrolled in a brick-and-mortar school, officially withdraw them.
- Explore all the various homeschool curricula and determine which is best for your child based on their learning style.
- Consider joining a homeschool group in California where you can meet other families, make friends, and take part in field trips, fun activities, and enrichment classes.
- Have fun learning with your child!
Time4Learning Curriculum for Homeschooling in Sacramento
Sacramento homeschool programs must provide certain core courses according to California law. Time4Learning offers courses such as math, science, English language arts, social studies and reading for K through 12th. You also have access to 14 high school electives.
Time4Learning also features an automated grading and record keeping system that maintains portfolio information for parents who want a documented history of their children’s education. Additional benefits include:
- Access to virtual labs, interactive projects, guided notes, and much more to help improve material, bring concepts to life, and allow students to apply what they’ve learned to real-life situations.
- An interactive computer environment that also focuses on real-world problem solving skills, lateral thinking, analysis and critical thinking skills.
- Support in helping your children prepare for any standardized testing that they may take.
- Activity planners and curriculum calculators that keep your students organized and working on their own.
- A curriculum that can be modified to meet your children’s specific learning styles and needs.
- A program that maximizes independent learning and allows students to go at their own pace. It also allows students to repeat lessons if they need a refresher on any subject.
- An affordable monthly payment plan that offers a 14-day money back guarantee.
Field Trips in Sacramento and Beyond
As your children master their core subjects, start exploring the different educational venues that homeschooling in Sacramento allows. Along with valuable classroom learning, your children will also expand their knowledge about various subjects in the arts, STEM learning and more. We’ve provided a list for your review.
Aerospace Museum of California — With an education department that focuses on STEM-related activities for children of all ages, the Aerospace museum is a great field trip. The website states that “We are committed to inspire students to explore, dream, and discover Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) through hands-on learning.”
Bohart Museum of Entomology — With over seven million specimens of terrestrial and freshwater arthropods, the museum is also home of the California Insect Survey, a storehouse of the insect biodiversity of California’s deserts, mountains, coast, and the Great Central Valley. You and your children can join in activities and also view scientists and researchers at work.
Sacramento History Museum — Offering tours and hands-on educational activities this museum is a reproduction of the 1854 City Hall and Waterworks building. The original building was the city’s first municipal structure. Tours include the Old Sacramento Underground tour. Colorful tour guides in costume explain how the streets and buildings were “Jacked Up!” to avoid further flooding. This historical tour includes hollow sidewalks, sloped alleyways, and the Underground spaces created by the process.
Sacramento Zoo — The zoo offers educational programs for kids of all ages. From hands-on encounters with animals like their giraffes, to an aquarium and group tours, the zoo also includes nearly 500 native, rare and endangered animals, including lions, anteaters and alligators that call the zoo their home. Your children will learn about reptiles, mammals and more, and learn how the zoo cares for their animals.
Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park — The people at Sutter’s Fort bill themselves as “a premier destination for educational experiences in California, serving over 50,000 students annually.” Sutter’s Fort was a 19th-century agricultural and trade colony in the Mexican Alta California province. You and your children are welcome to explore the historic structures and living history museum at your own pace and experience their 90-minute interactive field trip option that provides hands-on learning stations.
IMAX — IMAX theatres provide incredible educational experiences for all kids. The theatre in Sacramento County offers large format films accompanied by activity guides that support national education standards for science, geography, math and English. “Films let groups encounter wild animals, swim to the bottom of the sea and more!”
For additional field trip ideas, visit our California Field Trips page.
