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You've arrived at our getting started page where you’ll find tips, hints and suggestions about how to begin homeschooling in Rhode Island. We have included some passages directly quoted from other very knowledgeable organizations and websites, as well as links to some of those sites, and others we think useful.
Also look at our reading list and
curriculum pages,
for access to more information than you’ll ever need!
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Probably the most important step in this journey is to familiarize yourself with the laws governing home education. Here’s a direct link to the
RI General laws online, and other links to interpretations of this law by various home ed organizations. Once you know the law you can begin your program of home educating at any time. To legally and officially notify your local school district that you will be homeschooling, you must send or deliver a letter of “intent to homeschool” to your district superintendent.
(Click here for a sample letter of intent) This step applies as well to the process of removing your child from school if he/she already attends. Once this letter is received by your district superintendent you are free to remove your child from school, or forego sending him/her if this is your first “school age” year homeschooling.
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Second most important step: Educating yourself. Meet and talk with as many home educating families as you can find! Yes, this can be a daunting task, first finding people, then listening carefully to whatever experience they offer and sifting through to sort out the info that’s relevant to your situation. But, most home educators are very willing to share; and you’ll soon collect an assortment of real-life stories about both the joys and the challenges of home educating—stories you can use as guides along this very interesting path. Visit this site:
Homeschool Social Register and others on our
general info page to locate local people and resources. And of course, READ! READ! READ!!! Look at our
reading list, and others’ booklists linked at that page. With all this research under your belt you’ll soon realize that there are as many different styles of home educating as there are families doing it!
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On
the other hand, don’t let the tidal wave of information out there
overwhelm you.There’s no need to rush into a curriculum purchase or
feel that you must provide a total “school-at-home” experience. Now
that you’re not on a school schedule you have plenty of time to relax
and get to know your children. They are the MOST important resource you
have available, and will readily let you know what they need and want in
a home education program. As you
explore together all the different learning and teaching paths, styles
and methods, you’re sure to come across ideas and practices that “just
feel right” for you and your family. Take your time and be choosy; no
one program will work for everyone. It’s all about individualizing
your program to fit YOUR family’s needs and preferences.
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"One piece of
advice I always give, and the thing that often gets TOTALLY left out
of 'what you need to get started' is that new homeschoolers should
spend some time thinking about what education, and 'being educated'
means to them. Where is it that they're trying to go? What do they
want to accomplish? What's important to them about the process? What's
important to their children? What kind of life do they want to have
together? It's so easy to confuse learning with schooling - many
people have never even thought about the difference - and it's awfully
hard to avoid the trap of bringing school home (even when they know it
isn't working!) when you haven't considered other journeys." ~
Laura, Texas
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"I'm fond of telling folks that the what and how will come if they do one simple thing: Observe the children as they play and learn, get a
'feel' for the best way to go about this to 'fit' the individual child. The children themselves give us remarkable clues, if we as parents have but the wisdom and patience to interpret them."
~Linda Dobson, New York
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"1. Start with the child, not the resource.
2. Ask for your child's input, regardless of their age. I have always been surprised at how well my kids know what they need and how they want to go about getting it.
3. Don't buy anything expensive the first year.
4. Kids don't have to finish everything they start - sometimes they come back to it (even years later) and sometimes they don't.
5. The child is in charge of the learning -- always, regardless of what resource, method, or philosophy you employ or hold.
6. Homeschooling is a long-term adventure. There are few things that have to be accomplished by a particular age.
7. School schedules and school resources were developed for ease of teaching not for ease of learning. Big difference."
~Christine Webb, Oregon
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The following is a direct quote from the RIGHT* website:
"Suggested Sequence for getting started in Home Schooling:
1. Read - Books, magazines, anything you can get your hands on. See our Reading List
2. Survey Curriculum options for your children. See our Curriculum pages.
3. Get aquainted with R.I. State laws and obligations. See our Legal Page.
4. Join a local chapter of R.I.G.H.T. and begin to meet with them. See our newsletter
and Chapter section of this site.
5. Purchase curriculum materials. See our Curriculum and Resources Pages. Be sure to
cover subjects required by Rhode Island law.
6. Consider HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) membership is currently
$100 per year per family. This covers any legal advice and expense provided by
HSLDA
lawyers. You may wish to speak with others in your town to ascertain the climate
for
homeschooling. Membership in RIGHT entitles you to a discount on HSLDA
membership.
with your attorney (HSLDA members are offered this service as part of membership)
or RIGHT's Legislative director before making commitments. See FAQ section
for more about this.
8. Start teaching. Be flexible in your approach. Talk to other homeschoolers to learn
how they deal with some of the challenges unique to teaching at home.
Enjoy your children! "
*Rhode Island Guild of Home
Teachers
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National Home Education Legal Defense http://www.nheld.com
Home School Legal Defense Association
www.hslda.com
Regarding HSLDA: Be an informed consumer. Read the HSLDA website thoroughly. Check out other opinions about the mission of HSLDA. Know what your membership money might pay for.
A to Z's collection of
articles about HSLDA
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