CVHE.net has put together a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) most families considering home education have, or may be asked by a family member or friend. All home educators have asked or been asked these FAQ's at some time, and we know how nice it is to have answers readily available. If by chance you have a question not answered here, we have provided a quick form at the bottom of this page for you to submit a question to our Homeschool Consultant.

1. Is homeschooling legal?

Yes, homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, however the laws regulating it differ in each state. You should get a copy of your state's homeschooling law. Contact the Home School Legal Defense Association at HSLDA, P.O. Box 3000, Purcellville, VA 20134, Phone (540) 338-5600 or Home Educators Association of Virginia at  HEAV, 1900 Byrd Avenue, Suite 201 Richmond, Virginia 23230  Phone · 804-288-1608 / fax  · 804-288-6962  E-mail  ·  info@heav.org

 2. What about socialization?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions.  However, parents need to define “socialization.”  Consider also that in the average 6-hour school day, children spend approximately 1.5 hours “socializing.”  Throughout much of the remainder of the typical school day, the child is actually isolated from other children in that he must “behave” by sitting at his desk.  Consider also the fact that the majority of what children learn from their peers is not particularly positive.  Thus, many parents choose to educate their children at home for the very reason that they do not want their children “socialized” in that particular context.

If you ask most homeschool families about how they deal with this question, you will find that home educated children have ample opportunities for socialization through church and church activities, field trips, and various other community activities including Scouts, 4-H, sports, and so forth.

3. How do you manage to teach so many children all at once?

People often ask this question.  First of all, it is very difficult if you are using a school-at-home boxed curriculum (ABEKA, BJU, Alpha and Omega) unless you are doing it via video or computer because there are not enough hours in the day to do everything with every child.  Not only that, if you are doing a neat project with one child the others will want to join in too.  Homeschooling is a modified tutoring method....it is different from regular group instruction in school.  Therefore, it is much easier to teach those things that must be taught sequentially to the children individually (reading/phonics and math) and do the rest together—social studies and science.  There are many great curriculum guides that can easily be adapted to include various ages of children.

4. I'm not a teacher, so how can I teach?

As a parent, you are the most concerned and caring teacher your child could have. You can ensure that the education, values, and morals your children learn will come from someone who has their best interests at heart. For subjects that you feel might be too difficult to teach, such as algebra or biology, a friend or relative could assist. Or you can engage a tutor or obtain a video course that presents the topic in a clear, easy-to-comprehend manner.

Homeschooling is a Way of Life
Remember that homeschooling is a way of life. Children learn better and retain more when they are allowed freedom in exploring those things that interest them. You do not need to have all the answers! Instead, you can guide your children in researching their questions and finding the answers, as you enjoy the learning adventure right along with them.

A word of caution: when homeschooling turns into "school at home", parents often express disappointment in the direction the situation is going. Children won't find the experience enjoyable any longer, and they will lose interest, resulting in less learning and lowered retention. By allowing your child's natural curiosity to help steer the homeschooling adventure, and by remaining attentive to your child's interests, homeschooling can be as informative, exciting, and educational for you as it is for your child.

5. Isn't the homeschool curriculum expensive? What about lab equipment?

Homeschooling can fit every budget. Many books are available on inexpensive ways to homeschool, such as Home Schooling From Scratch, by Mary Potter Kenyon, How To Write a Low-Cost, No-Cost Curriculum, by Borg Hendrickson, or Anyone Can Homeschool, by Dorian & Tyler.
Lab equipment can originate from your kitchen. If you need a microscope, balance scales, or a chemistry set, these can be found at used curriculum sales or over the Internet through homeschool sites. New microscopes or science kits also make great birthday or holiday gifts.

The hundreds of books we used over the years for our homeschool curriculum were nearly all free—courtesy of the public library, a homeschool family's paradise. Whatever information you cannot find in a library can be tracked down through a local homeschool support group or over the Internet.

Curriculum packages are also available. They range from affordable packages that provide the basic curriculum, to a full-service correspondence school that provides everything, including pencils and paper. Your child can complete the lessons, send them to the instructor, receive grades, and graduate at the end of the year to the next grade level. Your child can eventually graduate from a fully accredited school as a high-school senior.

Many possibilities and alternatives exist for homeschoolers. Speak with others about the type of curriculum they use, what they like or dislike about it, and the cost. Some choose an affordable curriculum package, then supplement it with educational games and software, or materials from the library. Take into consideration your child's learning style: auditory, visual, or kinesthetic. One child might do well with a curriculum package, while another flourishes through a hands-on style of learning.

6. Doesn't homeschooling require a lot of time and planning?

Not really. Homeschool families can offer great tips on record keeping and staying organized. On Sunday afternoons, sit down with your children and ask what topics they'd like to learn about during the upcoming week. Jot down their ideas and suggestions. On Monday, take a field trip to the library, and have the kids look up the books they're interested in.

If they choose Butterflies, Bugs, and Worms, you'll have an educational unit on insects. This can include observing butterflies and cocoons, digging in the dirt for different types of worms, or using magnifying glasses to closely inspect bugs (all science-related topics). Your children can research how bug communities function and how certain insects migrated to this region (social studies and history). They can add up the number of insects found in the backyard in one hour and determine how many might be found in eight hours (math). They can write an essay about the insects observed (language arts), draw pictures of insects (art), and create songs to the harmonic sounds of crickets at night (music).

Educational unit studies such as these can result from nearly any book your child chooses at the library. Unit studies provide children with the opportunity to exercise all their learning skills while studying the topic. Educational videos are also available at the library, which can complement the topic your child is studying. Discussions, brainstorming, hands-on activities, and educational games can further reinforce learning.

With your child's interests as a guide, and a bit of creative thinking, you'll never run out of learning activities and ideas. With the support and tips from other homeschool families, the home education adventure is bound to be a happy, successful, and thoroughly rewarding experience for you and your child.

Visit Free with a Homeschool Consultant!

New Life Christian Stores is excited to offer a Free service available to all Central Virginia Home Educators! Every Tuesday, in our Homeschool Headquarters, our very own Homeschool Consultant is available from 1pm to 6pm for you to visit with. If you have questions about curriculum or teaching methods, or just want to talk with someone who's "been there", come by and visit any Tuesday. At New Life Christian Stores, we are here to serve you!