Resources for Parents to Use to Begin Educating Their Children At Home
Though the vast majority of parents want the very best education possible for their children, few parents consider schooling their children at home for various reasons.
Some don’t believe they have the education necessary to educate their own children and that the experts in education are to be found in schools. Others work outside the home and believe they are unable to devote enough time to properly educating their children on their own. Often, those that are interested in homeschooling their children simply don’t know how to access resources necessary to begin.
Believe it or not, not only are there working parents and single parents who homeschool their children, but parents are much more ‘expert’ at raising and schooling their children than someone in a school that sees them only a portion of a day. Here are some ideas and resources to get any parent considering schooling their kids at home, on the way to a successful homeschool experience.
GENERAL OKLAHOMA HOMESCHOOL RULE
Any parent may homeschool their child in Oklahoma simply by withdrawing them from school. It is best that you send your school a letter informing them you intend to remove your child/children in order they not be counted truant, and because it provides a record for your files in the event your homeschool would be challenged. Oklahoma does not require lesson plans, tests, or any other form of accountability from homeschooling parents, leaving parents free to educate their children in any way that works for them.
EDUCATIONAL CHOICE OPTIONS IN OKLAHOMA (graphic copied from OCHEC.com)
Please note in the graphic above, that online schools such as K12.com, administered by the State Department of Education, though utilized by students at home, are NOT considered homeschooling. While these programs work for many, many families because they allow a child to work at their own pace, these programs are an extension of public schooling.
There are online private schools such as A BEKA Academy – , Freedom Project Education (other private K12 online schools can be found here) that provide students the ability to log on and take virtual classes as desired by the parent.
OKLAHOMA ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO ASSISTING HOMESCHOOLING PARENTS
Oklahoma Christian Home Educators’ Consociation (OCHEC) – – has links to resources, support groups and answers to many questions frequently asked by parents interested in beginning the homeschool journey. They also have a Facebook page as well.
Oklahoma Homeschool provides curricula ideas and other information – . They are also on Facebook.
Our State Department of Education has homeschool resources at this link.
Home Schooling in Oklahoma covers a vast number of topics on everything from homeschooling as a single parent to methods for homeschooling and teaching aids.
The Homeschooling Mom is another great site for boundless information.
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO ASSISTING HOMESCHOOLING PARENTS
There are many national organizations dedicated to homeschooling, but probably the best known organization with the widest reach is Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). HSLDA provides curriculum resources and legal advice in the event your homeschool or parenting would be challenged.
ORGANIZATIONS/COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE FULL HOMESCHOOL CURRICULA PACKAGES
Several organizations/companies provide full homeschool curricula packages. These allow parents to follow a predetermined course of study for any or all subjects instead of creating themselves. These are excellent choices for parents timid about homeschooling or who have limited time to devote to the process.
o Sonlight Christian Homeschool Curriculum
o A Beka Book
o Classical Conversations
Believe it or not, homeschooling in Oklahoma is accessible to nearly every family that wants it badly enough to make it work. Though this is by no means an exhaustive list, if you are interested in homeschooling your child, please visit any of the resources provided here and start researching your path TODAY!
