Homeschool Coaching and Consulting

Have any questions about homeschooling?

Are you brand new to this style of education and have no idea where to start?

Have you hit a roadblock in your homeschooling and need some help?

Know School is here to help.

You can call us, send us a message on Instagram, ask a question via Twitter, or send your inquiry via email.

Here are some commonly asked questions that might help you out as well.

Is homeschooling legal?

Do I need special training?

How do I start my homeschool?

Every parent has the responsibility to educate their children. The Ontario Education Act states that a student does not need to attend public school if satisfactory instruction is being provided at home or elsewhere. What satisfactory instruction means varies from province to province and state to state. So the first thing you need to do is find out is what is required of you where you live.

You may have to send a letter to the local school board stating your intent to homeschool your children. If your child has never attended public school, this step isn't necessary.

Next, you decide on what you want your to homeschool to look like, what and when you will teach, and what resources you will need to make it happen.

There are many different styles of homeschooling you can learn about. You can pick and choose what elements work for you and your family.

If you have removed your children from public school you may want to give them some time to adjust to a new routine and schedule. This process is called deschooling and is often similar to summer vacation with no expectations being placed on the child to learn. You can decide on how long this period lasts and when you are all ready to begin your studies at home.

You might want to write a mission statement for what you want your homeschool to look like. You can look at the provincial curriculum and decide whether or not you want to follow it. At the very least, it will give you a starting point.

You will learn as you go and your homeschool will only get better as you all settle in to this new way of learning.

Do I have to follow the regular school year?

There are several different trains of though when it comes to what the school year should look like. Where I live it typically runs from September to June. However, year-long schooling is starting to gain some ground. This schedule uses the same number of days off but spreads them out throughout the year.

Some families choose to mirror the schedule of the children in their neighbourhood. This allows your child to have the same holidays as their friends next door. It also allows you the opportunity to enroll in March Break and Summer Camp activities for your children.

Your school year and schedule does not need to follow any particular framework. You can make it your own. Some provinces or states require a specific number of instruction hours for which your child is expected to spend in his or her studies.

Having a schedule allows your family to fall into a comfortable routine where everyone knows what to expect. What your schedule looks like though it completely up to you.

Where can I get textbooks and workbooks?

Textbooks and workbooks can be great but they are not the only way for students to learn. Several teachers in schools have even started to abandon the use of textbooks. For homeschoolers, these resources can be quite expensive and might not even be relevant as information can become outdated quickly.

There are several publishers that provide print and online resources that you can utilize in your homeschool. Many homeschoolers look for a comprehensive curriculum. Some of these resources claim to offer everything you might need for a subject area and grade. However, used alone, a singular resource, no matter how great it may be, will be lacking in some aspect. This is why teachers seek out material to supplement a math textbook or use a variety of books and online resources to teach a concept or subject. Great teachers are able to recognize when a resource isn't connecting with their students so they can pivot and find something more effective.

You may have to try out a variety of different resources before you find one that both you and your children will love. You don't need to spend a lot of money either. You can find resources for free, download low cost workbooks, and utilize libraries.

What about socialization?

One of the main reasons parents send their children to school is so that they can be with their peers. The thought is that they will learn socialization skills. The truth is, school segregates students on a lot of different levels. The socialization is limited to students of their own age and for the most part, those in their own class. Homeschool students can interact with people of different ages and backgrounds in a more natural way.

You can sign you child up for a variety of sports, arts, and recreational programs just like any other parent would. Homeschoolers can also interact through co-ops, play groups, and group field trips.

The assumption is that your children will find and make friends more readily at school. This may be the case for some, but there are plenty of children who have no true friends in their class or in their entire school. Building friendships is important for children and your child will still be able to do that while being homeschooled.

Learning to interact with people of all ages and backgrounds is very difficult to do in school. Homeschoolers can do this more easily in the variety of educational experiences available to them.

Where can I get help?

There are a number of organizations, both formal and informal, that you can join to get some support in your homeschooling journey.

The Home School Legal Defence Association of Canada is a great starting point. They are a membership based organization that offer a lot of benefits and resources.

You will also be able to find homeschool associations for your province. The Ontario Federation of Teaching Parents in just one example.

Another great resource is social media. You can find groups on Facebook that are based in your city. The group members are often quite supportive and will share advice readily and quickly. You can even arrange to join in on field trips and group activities.

Several homeschoolers are also on YouTube and share tips, curriculum reviews, and much more.

Feel free to contact us with any questions you might have. Our certified and experienced teachers are here to help.

Still have a question?

Please do not hesitate to contact me. I’d love to hear from you and get started on making your event a success. I am active on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also click on the icons to send me an email or a text message.