JC>Many many many questions....But I love my kids and I am willing to
JC>spend the time...I hope some of you could spare me some of your
JC>precious time and help me out a little
I talked to my wife and here are some additional details she pointed
out.
Quoting from a Feb 92 analysis on Texas Home School law from the Home
School Legal Defense Association (Paeonian Springs, VA  22129): "Home
schools must be conducted in a bona-fide manner, using a written
curriculum consisting of reading, spelling, grammar, math and a course
in good citizenship. No other requirements apply."
For the state to come to your home based on a report from any person,
there must be a court order to do so.
My wife recommends books by Mary Pride, which you should be able to find
in bookstores, for more information.  Also there are some Christian
reference books available if you're looking for that sort of curricula.
Start with the library and don't pay for what is available free. Also,
check local bookstores. Bookstores you've been in before probably carry
some material of value to homeschoolers.  Use mail order as a last
resort (it's often hard to tell the total nature of the material until
you get it--she has been disappointed more that once this way).
As far as the various materials covered in different grades in public
schools, she has read that much of it is repeated over and over in
several grades mainly to take up the six or so hours a day the students
are there.
By waiting until the child is a little older to teach a subject, instead
of pushing too hard too fast, the child will learn it faster and more
easily and will understand it better.
She pointed out that various publishers of curricula will give different
grade levels to the same material, sort of like when you buy clothing--
the same size from two different manufacturers may not fit the same.  In
order not to waste too much money, look at the content of the material
and start with what the child knows, rather than looking for a
particular grade level.  Teach the child, not the grade.
The best advice my wife says she has received is to teach the children
to master a college entrance level.  If they can pass a college entrance
exam, they've probably learned the essentials and then some.  SAT and
ACT study guides would certainly give some clue of the sort of things
expected at that level.  Work toward that.
Aside from the basic fundamental stuff that needs to be taught, my wife
lets the children choose subjects that interest them.  She gets library
books on the subject and they study it together.  She makes reading,
writing, grammar and sometimes math work to go along with it whenever
possible.  As a guide for developing your own school work she suggests
the book "How to Create Your Own Unit Study" by Valerie Bendt.
You can also look for home school support groups for help.  Bookstores
can often tell you about such groups--especially the Christian
bookstores.
Emil Therianos
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