Homeschooling in Illinois
Hi, my name is Candace and I homeschool in Illinois. I am a certified teacher in Illinois who realized the school system was not addressing the basic needs of students. I found myself teaching during the day and doing my kids homework at night because they did not understand it, so I decided to homeschool my children. I have six children - - three boys and three girls, who range in age from 5 years to 16 years.
Hi, my name is Cassandra, and I aslso homeschool in Illinois! I have two kids, a 13yr. old son,(who is ADHD) and 10 year old daughter. I have been married for 18 years.. My husband and I are "do-it-yourselfers", so we always have projects going on, and of course, we get the kids involved.(we are staining the deck and pergola right now ) We have lots of pets because we all love animals. I also love coffee and spending time with my kids.
Illinois Homeschooling Resources
For more information on homeschooling requirements in Illinois, visit one of these sites:
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Legal disclaimer: This section is two family’s stories and how they meet the mandatory school attendance laws in Illinois. It is not intended and should not be used as definitive legal advice. In most states, parents find a variety of legal methods to pursue the educational approach that they prefer for their child.
How to Find Local Resources in Illinois
Our local library has been the biggest help to me in my homeschooling journey. It was there that I met another homeschooling mom who happened to see me with an armful of books on homeschooling that I was checking out. She gave me lots of great day-to-day advice, and she let me come over and see what she does. She also gave me the contact info for a homeschool support group in our area called "Great Explorers". So I would tell anyone to check at their library or online for any groups like that in their area.
Through our group we are able to take the same field trips that the kids in public schools do. Such as museums, plays, musicals, the Planetarium, etc... You'd be surprised at how many classes or special consideration for homeschoolers there are. Two local skating rinks have homeschool-only skate times. The Gymquest offers homeschool classes as well. There are also great programs through the Village you could sign up for. Our Will County Forest Preserve District is also another source of classes and field trips. In Joliet, at the local junior college, the woman who actually runs our local homeschool support group teaches a class there for persons wanting to begin homeschooling. She provides all sorts of advice and resources through her class.
We made friends with a couple that live on a farm nearby and they give us eggs to incubate or baby chicks to raise. We have turkey eggs right now we are trying to hatch. When they get big enough, they go back to the farm. This has been a terrific learning experience. My son and I also did some work for them as well. Ask around for what you're interested in, and you never know what could happen. People are eager to share their knowledge, especially with the kids. If we go to doc's office or restaurant (my son loves to cook and has taken cooking class as well) and tell them we homeschool and want to learn about what they do, they always show us around and teach us something new.
Basic Requirements for Homeschooling in Illinois with Candace
I really enjoy homeschooling in Illinois. It is relatively easy, as we
don't have to send in any reports to the state. The ISAT's are also
optional. The area I live in is great as far as field trips and hands
on learning experiences. We also have wonderful museums to visit in
Chicago. Lots to see and do and explore in the state.
In Illinois the basic legal requirements for homeschooling are that you need to teach the branches of education in the English language (if the children are between the ages of 7 - 17).You will have the freedom to shape your school day and your curriculum for your children's specific needs and talents. Illinois government does not require testing, evaluation, or special oversight,(such as sending in reports to the state. )
How Candace Homeschools in Illinois
For those of us who homeschool in Illinois we need to pull together to learn about all of the great resources available. So many times I would run across other parents by accident, and we would begin to build off of each other. I have also have learned that as a homeschooling parent you can never have too many resources to help you properly educate your children!
In Illinois you need to be sure to follow state guidelines, which will help you guarantee your child's success! By following state guidelines, you're sure to allow your child the benefit of keeping up with other kids in his or her community, and if you have to return them to public school they will be where they need to be academically.
You also need to maintain accurate records of your child's work and development, so that you can always have their grades and records ready. You could keep this information on disc for the duration of your homeschooling experience, and then you would be able to submit it to the public school if you decide to stop homeschooling your child. I keep all of my children's grades on computer disc and in written form; just in case something happens to one, I have the other to fall back on.
Successful Homeschooling Resources and Tips from Candace
One of the greatest resources for me is my church. There are other parents who homeschool there, and we are able to communicate and work together to accomplish our kids success! We share material and talk about good curriculum (and those that don't work well at all)! We also take time to allow our kids to play and interact, which is very important for the kids and parents! Balance is everything - - knowing when to try something different and knowing when to take a break and move on to something your child is good at!
The library has saved me a great deal of money, because there are so many free resources, learning books and fun activities. Another important step is good planning. I have individual lesson plans for each child to keep myself and my children focused.
A Typical Homeschool Day With Candace
A typical day for our family begins at 6:00 a.m. We start with prayer and then breakdown into our reading groups. My oldest son Jordan reads to his younger brother Denzel. While they are reading I do various reading exercise with my 12-year-olds, who are racing to see who can finish first. My 9 and 10-year-olds are working on their math problems. At about 9:00 a.m. my daughter Lovie, who is 12, will begin her Time4Learning. She loves the exercises and is motivated to do well because she wants to be a doctor. While Lovie is on the computer, the other children are working on their science projects. Yes - - projects!! Each child has different interest and enjoys different things so I let them create projects which teach a common theme and allow them to understand the concept for themselves! During the day each child takes turns using the computer and using Time4Learning. I have found that because Time4Learning is grade appropriate, it helps me and them be sure we are on track! They enjoy working independently!
How Cassandra Fulfills the Requirements
Time4Learning is the best tool I have at my disposal! We tried other avenues, but this is the best for our family.(My daughter was begging us to go back to it when we stopped for awhile. Hey, you can't beat it if they're begging to do schoolwork!) It tracks the kids progress, which my husband loves, and that saves us both alot of headaches if we tried to do it ourselves. It also provides resources for us to print out as extra aides if the kids need it. T4L provides lessons in math, science, lang. arts, and social studies which meet the state requirements. But also included within these lessons are lessons on health, geography and some art history. The lessons are informative and creative; we love all the characters that teach the lessons!!
I supplement with a health and nutrition workbook for health class . As for the fine arts, the kids are currently taking an art class offered at our local library for homeschoolers only, and at no cost! They have taken knitting, pottery, and ice skating classes. I also teach them character building skills and we do volunteer work in the community. I bought a violin and am teaching the kids to play via free online violin lessons. ( I was in orchestra in school, so I do know what I am doing - - just in case you wondered! ) But you could do it without the knowledge as well, it's pretty straightforward.
Cassandra Watches Her Children Grow
You might be interested to know what a day in our homeschool looks like...
After breakfast, brushing teeth and caring for our pets we start school. I will usually sit with one child at a time and go through lessons. I will have the other child do chores, some writing work, or reading at this time(or all of the above) .Then I switch kids. Then we either walk the dog or go to the park or fishing at the preserve for some excercise. Sometimes I borrow educational videos from the library and we watch those. Our neighbor had surgery on her shoulder, so lately we've been helping her....walking her dog and watering yard. On Fridays we go to a nursing home and read (the Bible) to our friend there. In the evening (at least two times a week), we do some reading and studying together as a family and sometimes play games or watch a movie together. Whatever we do, we try to teach as much as we can. I teach my kids life skills, such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, caring for pets, etc. They even have their own savings account at a bank. Now that's its spring they help me plant. I let them start plants as seeds and watch them grow.That's the best part of my day, just like those seeds, I am always there to watch my children grow!
How We Choose A Homeschool Curriculum
Time4Learning appeals to a wide range of learning styles. Our online learning materials are especially well-suited to children who are visual or kinesthetic learners. These children can take advantage of Time4Learning's interactive, multi-media materials.
Children like using the computer to learn. It's a convenient, interactive homeschool resource that provides a welcome change each day to paper-and-pencil workbooks and textbook-based lessons.
Parents like that it tracks progress and helps children advance by clearly presenting and reinforcing each lesson.
Time4Learning's self-paced, modularized lesson plans allow you to move forward and back through the materials whenever you want. You can skip lessons that teach concepts your child has already mastered and repeat those he or she has not. The choice is yours. With Time4Learning, you are always in control.
Time4Learning is proven effective with homeschoolers, has a low monthly price, is easy-to-use, and provides a money-back guarantee so you can make sure that it works for your children, <a href="http://www.time4learning.com/program/faq.html#guarantee">satisfaction guaranteed</a>! Sign up for Time4Learning as part of your overall homeschool program.
If you have any more questions or comments for Cassandra or Candace about homeschooling in Illinois, why not contact them on the Illinois forum.
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