New Mexico Homeschooling Information

Homeschooling in New Mexico

Hi, my name is Carol, and I homeschool in New Mexico! I am a mom of two sensational daughters ages 11 and 9. I have homeschooled them all their schooling years so far. We have evolved so much and continue to when needed.

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

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

• New Mexico NMSBA Test Prepresource page
• The Home School Mom's New Mexico support page
• Home Education in New Mexico by Ann Zeise
• Homeschool World New Mexico support groups

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

My Favorite Sources for Support and Resources

We are involved in both local and state homeschool support groups. Usually, local groups ask for new members to attend at least one activity per month for the first two months. They encourage all new members to get actively involved from the beginning, so new members are welcome to arrange activities, classes and outings. I, of course, plan something that my girls will enjoy as every other parent does for their own children, that way there is something for every age. So there is a fruitful of activities to choose from.

Other sites that I recommend for local and state info are:

• Albuquerque Homeschoolers
• New Mexico Homeschool Community

New Mexico is an Easy State to Homeschool In

New Mexico is probably the easiest state to homeschool in. Every year it seems that groups and events catering to homeschoolers grow.

To fulfill the basic legal requirements for NM, you must have at least a high school diploma or its equivalent. You must also notify the state superintendent of intent to homeschool within 30 days of the establishment of the homeschool and by April 1st of each year. There is a website and simple form to submit this.

I LOVE Time4Learning! It holds the attention of my kids, plus I can keep track of their learning without hovering over their shoulders.

I am really pleased with Time4Learning. It has made a world of difference in my son's academic performance in school!

I Love the Flexibility of Homeschooling

I definitely love the flexibility of homeschooling. I start my day of school between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. My daughters have a spreadsheet of what they need to do every day in Time4Learning (for an example: two lesson activities in math, two in social studies, etc.) This way, I don't have to be right there in order for them to start school. They work well independently, but I will sit down beside them on subjects I know they need extra help with. We have two computers in the household so they do work simultaneously. With my girls so close in age, we usually have them do science projects together. My husband or I will take them to the library to do their research. Their school day ends usually around lunch time. Both girls are in extracurriculars with other homeschoolers.

Choosing Homeschool Curriculum

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 New Mexico, head over to the New Mexico 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.