Idaho Homeschooling Information

Homeschooling in Idaho

Hi, my name is Melissa, and I homeschool in Idaho! I am married and mother to three awesome kids: Jesse 15, Tristan 12 and Asaysia 5. I love camping, waterskiing, scrapbooking, reading and learning! Boise is a great place to call home. In one day you can be at the top of a mountain, the middle of the desert, or on the beach at the ocean.

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

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

• Idaho ISAT Test Prep
• The Homeschool Mom's Idaho support page
• Home Education in Idaho by Ann Zeise
• Homeschool World Idaho support groups

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

Resources for Homeschooling in Idaho

There are also Yahoo groups for Idaho homeschoolers as well. For public-school-at-home types there are Idaho Virtual Academy, Idaho Distance Education Academy or Inspire Connections Academy. They all have their pros and cons depending on what you are looking for. There is the Idaho Home Educators Association that is fairly new but becoming a great source of information.

Idaho Has Been a Great Place to Homeschool

There was a year that we dual enrolled so Tristan could take music and p.e. and the school district was happy to work with us. Last year we belonged to IDEA (Idaho Distance Education Academy), a charter program for homeschoolers, and that was a good experience as well.

The regulations for homeschooling in Idaho are very minimal. The law states: "Children of compulsory age (7-16) must be instructed by--or at the direction of--their parent (or guardian) in subjects commonly and usually taught in Idaho public schools." Just this spring, a new law was passed that took out the word, "comparably" (to public schools)- Senate Bill 1017. The new wording also allows friends or relatives to provide the instruction; it does not restrict instruction responsibilities solely to the parents. This flexibility is important for times of crisis where parents want to continue homeschooling but need to have the support of someone outside the home to provide the instruction for a time.

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.

Our Homeschool Day

We usually have slower mornings; the kids will read or play quietly while I do a few chores and until we all "wake up". By 10:00 a.m. we gather and do group work, this could be research or project based around the given subject. Usually I lead this during this time and keep everyone on track. We have great discussions and laugh a lot! At noon, we break for lunch and then some free play time. Between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m., depending on how long lunch took or if the weather was nice and we lost track of time playing outside, the kids work on individual work like handwriting skills, math, personal interest subjects or writing a paper. I help each child as needed during this time. Everyone works until 3:00 or 4:00 p.m., depending on when we started. We do this Monday-Thursday and reserve Fridays for field trips or getting together with our homeschool friends. On Tuesdays and Thursday we also do a homeschool p.e. class at the YMCA for an hour (so awesome that they offer this!)

Choosing Homeschool Curriculum

Idaho 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 program, 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 Idaho, head over to the Idaho 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.