California Homeschooling Information

Homeschooling in California

Hi, my name is Rhonda and I'm a homeschooling mom of three children. Some of my favorite hobbies and interests include water and vegetable gardening, sewing, painting, and finding new and exciting ways to educate myself and my children.

If you have questions or comments about homeschooling in California, check out our homeschooling tools and resources or visit our online California support group.

To find out more about the legal requirements for homeschooling in California, articles, and state-specific resources, you can also visit one of these sites:

• California Homeschool Network
• Homeschool Association of California
• Homefires Homeschool California
• Homeschool World's California Page
• California STAR Test Prep resource page
• Homeschool World California support groups

Legal disclaimer: This section is one family's story and how they meet the mandatory school attendance laws in California. 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.

Making Connections in our State

According to homeschooling authorities, homeschoolers in California have four basic options for teaching their children at home:

1. File an affidavit to function as a private school.
2. Enroll in a private school satellite homeschool program.
3. Have home instruction provided by a certified tutor.
4. Enroll in an independent study program at home using homeschool curriculum.

It is nice to have choices in the best way to homeschool our children. Because of the different options for homeschooling in California, it is easy to find some way that fits your family best.

Rhonda's Typical Homeschooling Day

There may be some of you new to homeschooling, or considering it, that may wonder what a homeschool day consists of. Of course, this varies widely among different families, but here is how our day typically unfolds. My three children are usually up by 8:00 a.m., have breakfast and do a few chores while breakfast is prepared. We typically begin our homeschool curriculum by 9:00. I have two second graders and one fifth grader. It's easy to incorporate a few of the subjects with both grades and we can work together as a group. When it's necessary to split up, I work with one grade while the other student works on their Time4Learning curriculum online and then we later switch.

The children love their Time4Learning experiences and quite often, I find that they learn a new concept only after covering it on Time4Learning! The second graders are usually finished with all curriculum by noon and my fifth grader usually finishes by 1:00 or 2:00 p.m. depending on the day, as we cover more subjects on some days. We typically review spelling in the evening and make time for more reading before bedtime. So, there you have a typical homeschool day in our household!

If you have any more questions or comments about homeschooling in California, why not contact me on the CA forum at: five_blessed.

Time4Learning is vibrant, engaging, educational, and funny. It sure beats our previous homeschool curriculum which was textbook/workbook based.

Time4Learning is so effective that very little intervention is required. This works great if you're homeschooling multiple children.

Choosing A Homeschool Curriculum

California 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 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!

Sign up for Time4Learning as part of your overall homeschool program.

If you have any more questions or comments about homeschooling in California, head over to the California Parent 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.