Homeschooling in Arizona
Hi, my name is Desiree, and I am the Arizona state representative for Time4Learning!
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 who is a Police Sergeant. 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, contact the Arizona Parent Forum.
Arizona Is Great State To Be A Homeschooler In
I 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.
In Arizona, we are required by law to provide instruction in at least the subjects of reading, grammar, mathematics, science and social studies.
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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!
To find out more about the legal requirements of homeschooling in Arizona, visit one of these sites: Arizona Homeschool Legal Requirement by HSDLA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association); Home-Ed Magazine’s AZ resource page -with information, articles, and state-specific resources; and info on Home Education in Arizona by Ann Zeise.
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.
How Our Family Homeschools
We 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 complimenting our current studies. I check their progress daily and then I will 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.
A typical schedule for us looks like (M, Tu, Wed, Thurs):
Breakfast
Bible study (30 mins)
Time4Learning (LA, LA ext, Math, then Science OR Social Studies) (45-60 mins)
Piano Practice (10 mins)
Spelling Lesson (30 mins)
Spanish Lesson (10 mins)
Reading Aloud / Writing Prompt (10 mins)
Lunch
Play Time / Community Outing
Chores
Dinner
Evening Activity
On Fridays the children do all their extracurriculars in a co-op setting (P.E., visual arts, music, computer, communication, spanish, etc). We also try to do two field trips at least per month, examples would be the Zoo, Botanical Gardens, a production, State Capitol, Western Town, etc. Depeding on what we are studying. This gives us great family time together while learning!
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My Favorite Resources for Homeschooling in AZ
Both 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 vetraned 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 national level, I highly recommend: HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) - Members of HSLDA receive professional legal representation to protect your right to homeschool. HSLDA also acts as a voice for homeschooling families nationwide in Washington DC and monitors all state legislation that could reduce our homeschooling freedoms. AFHE Members receive a discount on their HSLDA membership.
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.
Choosing Homeschool Curriculum
Arizona 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 curricula, trying to create the best match for their child.
For families with more than one child, choosing a homeschool curricula can even be more problematic. What works for one child, doesn't 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.
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.
Time4Learning is used by homeschool parents both as a primary curriculum and as a supplemental program to other materials such as Saxon, Alpha Omega, Five in a Row and A Beka. Some of the features that make Time4Learning so successful include:
- 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, multimedia 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 the each lesson. Quizzes and tests are graded by the computer, saving valuable time and effort for parents who would be happier concentrating on other areas.
- 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, risk free! Sign up for Time4Learning as part of your overall homeschool program.
If you have more questions about homeschooling in Arizona, or want to learn more about our experiences in the state, you can contact me in the Parent forum in the Arizona Discussion Group. My forum name is "homeschoolinginAZ".
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