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  Homeschooling In MarylandHi, my name is Stephanie, and I homeschool in Maryland! I am a mother of three. My son John serves in the Navy. I also have a son Angelo, who is 17 and a daughter, Talia Dawn, that is 12. Hi, my name is Jzua, and I also homeschool in Maryland! If you have questions or comments about homeschooling in Maryland, check out our homeschooling tools and resources or visit our online Maryland support group. To find out more about the legal requirements for homeschooling in Maryland, articles, and state-specific resources, you can also visit one of these sites:
Legal disclaimer: This section is two families stories and how they meet the mandatory school attendance laws in Maryland. 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. 
Stephanie's Favorite Resources in MarylandMy favorite resource for getting information about homeschooling is straight from the Maryland Homeschooling website and through our homeschool group. We are part of the Arundel Homeschoolers which covers our area. They hold science fairs, history fairs, potluck dinners and more. This has been a great source for socialization. Homeschool.com is also another great resource for getting started in homeschooling. Click on the support groups link to find a support group in your county. We have also used our public library for different activities, whether it be research or chess class. Libraries in Maryland have been very supportive of homeschoolers. Other helpful groups and websites are:
Homeschool Laws in Maryland From StephanieThe basic legal requirements in Maryland are that you need to first file your homeschool affidavit. After that, the state coordinator for your area will contact you to talk about portfolio requirements and to let you know what is next. You meet two to three times during the year just to let them take a look at what you have been doing. You need to touch on each required subject, but in your own way. Additional information about homeschool portfolios can be found here. I love to take field trips with my daughter because there is so much history in Maryland! We cover our physical education with a local bowling league and Talia loves to play basketball, so on her breaks she will go outside and shoot a couple of hoops. We fill our art requirements with arts and crafts at home. Talia loves to create greeting cards to send to the troops. As for our other subjects, I use Time4Learning to touch on each subject and follow up with whatever she learned that day with a little project to make it fun. The resource pages are great since you can print them out to reinforce your lesson for that day. Homeschooling in Maryland has been very impressive. Coming from a state that had been very strict with paper work, Maryland has been a breeze! The state is very informative and cooperative about homeschooling.  My children's favorite part of the day is their time on Time4Learning. This is the easiest and most consistently productive program we've used!  My kids can work independently or with my involvement. Time4Learning has enriched their education and simplified my life! Stephanie's Homeschool DayI moved to Maryland from Pennsylvania a year ago and I love it! I have been homeschooling for several years now and find it very rewarding. I presently work at home creating arts and crafts. I am a former Mrs. Pennsylvania and have a wonderful husband of 21 years, Anthony. Our day usually begins at 9:00 a.m. Talia and I call this "our time." We always start our day with one-on-one conversation; this helps me to determine what kind of day it will be. After "our time", we move on to complete whatever chores we have -- making the beds, laundry, etc. -- so that our day is clear. Then we move on to our schooling. We start by reading a story from one of Talia's favorite books. I break down my schedule as follows:
Time4Learning plays a very important role in our daily schedule. We use it on a daily basis for all of our subjects. It has given me a sense of confidence that I need to continue with my homeschooling. Time4Learning has made our school days run so smooth and my daughter looks forward to playground time after completing her lessons! Jzua's Home School ResourcesThere are a range of Maryland-specific homeschool groups. There are three statewide organizations:
Many counties in Maryland also have at least one local support group for homeschoolers. We've listed a few starting points for finding out more about homeschooling resources in Maryland:
To add your group, please introduce yourself on the Time4Learning forum under the Maryland state thread. This software is very comprehensive and can be used as an entire curriculum or to supplement what you already use. As part of fourth grade language arts,  Jzua's Maryland Homeschool ContactsI'm involved with the following groups. Jzua Meets Maryland Homeschool RequirementsWe've been homeschooling (on record) for two years. We have two children ages 7 and 1. Our 7-year old never attended public school. We always knew that we'd homeschool. We started researching when he was an infant. Our homeschool program is based on our children's interests and abilities. The only official program we use is Time4Learning. This is a good way to get the basics of reading, writing, math, etc. We supplement as the need arises with some workbooks but mostly with real life experiences. He develops his curriculum with a little guidance from us. We don't subscribe to any particular style. The closest style to label us would be unschooling and child-led learning. We change style as the need arises. For example, he is currently learning how to do subtraction with regrouping so we are doing more of a structured curriculum to help his understanding. We follow what Maryland requires of us, no more and no less. In the state of Maryland, we are required to meet with the board of education twice during the school year for a review. We provide documentation on what our children are being taught outside of the public school system. They like to see that we have samples of what our son is learning, mostly in the areas of English, health, math, science, and social studies. Art, music, physical education, and other activities that we do are extras and at our discretion. We keep all that the state needs in a binder and take to the review. However, there are several umbrella homeschool groups that one can join to avoid meeting with the school board. We prefer to meet with the school board.  After his first day using Time4Learning, my son looked over at me and said 'I'm really smart mom!' That statement is priceless!  Time4Learning started out as a supplement, but has now become more of a center piece to our homeschooling. I wasn't expecting that at all! Jzua Meets Maryland Homeschool RequirementsSummary: The state of Maryland requires compulsory school attendance of children between the ages of 5 and 16. Parents who wish to homeschool their children must submit a "Homeschooling Notification Form" to their local homeschooling coordinator. No specific curriculum is mandated, but the state of Maryland suggests that the subjects of English, math, science, social studies, art, music, health, and physical education be covered. Yearly standardized testing is not mandatory when homeschooling in Maryland. Parents have three options for legally homeschooling in the state:
For more information on specific homeschooling requirements in Maryland, you can visit the following site:
Choosing Homeschool CurriculumMaryland families new to homeschooling can be baffled by the array of homeschool curriculums available. Oftentimes, homeschooling parents are thrust into endless discussions and shifting between different homeschooling programs as they mix and match trying to create the best curriculum 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 Maryland, head over to the Maryland 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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