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  Homeschooling in ArizonaHi, my name is Desiree, and I homeschool in Arizona! I am a homeschooling mom of five children ages 8, 6, 5, 3, and 2! We have adopted two children out of foster care who are special needs and absolutely adore them! I have lived in AZ for three years with my husband Tim. I have a Masters Degree in Elementary Education and Curriculum and Development. I love to scrapbook and blog in my free time. If you have questions or comments about homeschooling in Arizona, check out our homeschooling tools and resources or visit our online Arizona support group. To find out more about the legal requirements for homeschooling in Arizona, articles, and state-specific resources, you can also visit one of these sites:
Legal disclaimer: This section is one family's story and how they meet the mandatory school attendance laws in Arizona. 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. 
Arizona is a Great State to be a HomeschoolerI have never homeschooled in any state other than Arizona. However, I grew up in Vermont and am familiar with the laws in other states. In my humble opinion, Arizona is one of the best states to be a homeschooler! We have many rights, freedoms, and responsibilities without the interference of government control in our studies. Homeschooling Laws in ArizonaIn Arizona, we are required by law to provide instruction in at least the subjects of reading, grammar, mathematics, science and social studies. What you specifically teach for each subject, when you teach it, and at what pace you move through the material is up to you as your child's teacher. This is a wonderful opportunity! My children have a set schedule of the Time4Learning subjects they need to complete daily. This meets my state requirements. Then, I teach in depth lessons on the different subjects above. In this state, you are not required to take standardized testing; you are also not required to submit curriculum plans or work. You also do not have to keep documentation of your studies. However, if you did, Time4Learning would have it already done for you! As Arizonans, we can focus our time on working with our children, not proving that we are working with them!  My daughter always liked learning, but Time4Learning has turned "like" into love! I've never seen her so excited to do lessons, before!  It's amazing how quickly my kids are learning difficult concepts. The animation really helps them apply the lessons to something tangible! How Our Family HomeschoolsWe use Time4Learning as our core curriculum. We supplement Time4Learning with Bible studies, Spalding spelling program, and the arts. We study five days per week and we have one day per week that we are out in the community complementing our current studies. I check their progress daily and then I design lessons based on what Time4Learning is doing with them and what they are having difficulty with. I don't waste time on topics that they get 100% on right away. We do school year round and take time off for family vacations, illness, or unexpected circumstances. Below is a typical schedule for us Mon-Thurs. Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
On Fridays, the children do all their extracurricular activities in a co-op setting (P.E., visual arts, music, computer, communication, Spanish , etc). We also try to do at least two field trips per month; examples would be the zoo, botanical gardens, a production, state capitol, western town, etc., depending on what we are studying. This gives us great family time together while learning! My Favorite Resources for Homeschooling in AZBoth new and veteran homeschoolers can benefit from the wealth of Arizona homeschool resources available. At the state level, my favorite resource is the AZ State Homeschooling Convention and Curriculum Fair. It has everything you can imagine from resources, support, and other homeschoolers! I highly recommend this for any new or veteran homeschooler. To find out more info, visit the link to FAQ. Another great resource on the state level is: AFHE (Arizona Families for Home Education). By joining the state homeschool organization, you will be kept abreast of legislative issues that may affect homeschoolers in Arizona as well as other helpful information in the bi-monthly journal and periodic e-mail updates sent to AFHE members. On the local level, I recommend joining a support group in your community. I participate in two community homeschooling groups, but know of the resources for groups in each town. This has by far been the greatest support in my homeschooling journey! When you are discouraged, your support group will be there for you! This can come in many forms from online forums, email groups, mom's night outs, etc. The software appealed to me because you can change the grade level of their instruction, to customize it for your child's needs. In sixth grade language arts, there is an  Choosing Homeschool CurriculumArizona homeschool law includes the freedom for families to pick and choose their own curriculum based on what works best for their child. However, families new to homeschooling quickly discover a dizzying array of choices when it comes to selecting homeschool curriculum. There is no more popular discussion among homeschoolers on the web than the pros and cons of various homeschool curriculum. After sifting through the homeschool curriculum reviews, most parents end up mixing and matching homeschool programs, trying to create the best match for their child. Time4Learning's experience shows that there is no single, best homeschool material. Rather than feeling torn between homeschool resources, parents should select a diverse blend of materials and activities. For families with more than one child, choosing a homeschool program can be more problematic. What works for one child may not work for another. What works for one subject may not work on the next. What works one year, may fall flat the very next year. Some of the features that make Time4Learning so successful include:
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! Sign up for Time4Learning as part of your overall homeschool program. If you have any more questions or comments about homeschooling in Arizona, head over to the Arizona Parents Forum. Some Helpful Tools and Resources Welcome to Homeschooling Guide - Are you new to homeschooling? This guide was written by seasoned homeschoolers to answer some of the difficult questions new families often struggle with. Curriculum Lesson Plans - An overview of the number of lessons that are included for each grade and subject. All students have access to at least 2 (and in most cases 3) grade levels of curriculum for each subject, so they can move ahead or review at their own pace. Homeschool Portfolio Information - Answers common questions about homeschool portfolios and evaluations. It includes tips on organization methods, what to include and how Time4Learning can be used as part of your homeschool portfolio. The Lesson Activity Finder - One of the many helpful tools that Time4Learning offers its members. The activity finder is a shortcut that makes it easy for parents to preview lessons or find extra practice for their child. You can visit our hints and help section for more information about the activity finder. Lesson Planning Worksheet - Wondering how many lessons to have your child do each day? Estimate the number of activities per day using this easy to use, printable worksheet. Online Parent's Forum - Reach out to homeschoolers in your area, join discussions, ask questions and trade ideas on our online community of homeschooling parents. Having the support of seasoned homeschoolers can really help make your homeschooling journey a success. Sign up for Time4Learning and gain access to a variety of educational materials, which will engage and challenge your child to succeed. Make Time4Learning a part of your children's homeschool resources. I want to Learn More about Time4Learning's homeschool curriculum or how to use the program for afterschool enrichment.  
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