Privately home educating your children is not something you do… it is a lifestyle. It is a realization that you, as a parent, are responsible for your children to God, and for raising them to be Godly. You are the most capable and equipped to teach your child, no one else is.
What would joining CHEFA do for me?
CHEFA provides support to your family, opportunities to fellowship with other homeschoolers, and many other things; we do not teach your children for you.
How does it work?
What is the structure?
Do public schools provide what I need?
The beauty of privately homeschooling is that there is no set way or structure. Each family, or even each child, learns and teaches differently. You can set up a college-type lecture format, or improvise everyday.
You can purchase entire curriculum packages that are specialized and accelerate your child on video tape, or you can piece together a series of learning tools using only the public libraries.
Private homeschooling, as defined by the Home School Legal Defense Association, requires that a parent teach the child at least 51% of the education they receive; charter schools or public independent study programs are government funded, public education, in which a parent “homeschools” a public school student. This type of education has regulations as state schools and therefore in choosing this type of education you enter into a “contract” with the public school (government) in how you are allowed to educate your student(s) and the type of material you can “turn in” for credit.
Keep reading this site and other material on privately homeschooling and form in your own mind how you would like to educate your children.
Do I get a tax break?
Unfortunately, private homeschooling does cost money. However, it does not have to cost a lot. Bargain hunting can keep books and supplies to only a couple hundred dollars for an entire family per year. Also with CHEFA membership we have a free library with thousands of books and a variety of curriculum that our members may check out for the entire year!
There are no tax breaks, we are still required to pay our taxes to the public education system; however, this is not entirely to waste, as many school districts provide ways for privately educated students to participate in sports or other activities.
Is homeschooling successful?
Several studies have been done and private home education comes out as highly successful! Check out these websites for statistics:
Is this legal?
The short answer is yes, it is legal. However, you should see our page on the legality of privately home educating.
Do you have ideas on how I can approach teaching at home?
Your approach to teaching will be affected by several factors:
Your child’s learning style:
The number of children you teach at the same time
Their grade level
The level of confidence you have as a teacher
The amount of money you have to spend on curriculum
Yearly Scheduling:
Begin with a proposed school year calendar (remember, this can be changed or adjusted). Public schools schedule 175-180 days, we generally do the same but there is no set number of days for private schools.
Daily Schedule:
What will your school day look like?
What time?
Where?
Which subject on what day?
Course of Study:
What subjects you plan to teach and what curriculum you will use. Your children can give you great ideas here, take advantage of their interest in a subject or hobby.
Lesson Plans:
Written goals for daily or weekly studies.
What about social growth?
Who better to learn how to do deal with people and develop socially than by working side-by-side with one’s brothers and sisters?
This is also part of the reason CHEFA and other support organizations exist, to provide venues for fellowship and growth among similar and non-similarly aged peers.
What is the big picture?
What is the big picture?
Don’t be so concerned with getting to your academic destination that you fail to enjoy fellowship with your Maker and your children.
God has a plan for each of us. His ways and ours sometimes differ, but His way is perfect. It is much more important to pass on to our children a spiritual heritage, rather than letting the world press us to mold our children into its’ image of success.
“May the mind of Christ, my Savior, live in me from day to day, by His love and power controlling all I do and say. May the word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour, so that I may see I triumph only through His power.” – Kate B. Wilkinson