Product Description

An all-inclusive guide for the parents of the 1.5 million homeschooled children

Homeschooling, once an alternative to conventional education, is experiencing a boom all across America and has become a highly valued option for more and more mainstream parents. The McGraw-Hill Homeschooling Companion provides parents with a complete, authoritative, truly balanced guide to every aspect of homeschooling, from the primary years through high school.

This all-in-one manual covers the different approaches to homeschooling as well as the specific methods for setting up the home learning environment, including legal requirements, supplies, and lesson plans. Individual chapters examine the stages of homeschooling: what curriculum planning involves, the indispensable tools for the home classroom, computer use, and tips and techniques on teaching all the core curriculum requirements. Special features include comprehensive treatment of standardized testing, state by state; practical counsel on integrating homeschooling and living in the outside world; 10 favorite homeschool suppliers; websites; and homeschooling laws for all 50 states.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #716703 in Books
• Published on: 2002-06-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

From the Back Cover
More and more parents around the country are embracing the commitment to homeschool their children. Some want to give their children a wider range of experiences than a conventional classroom can provide, while others like the idea of the benefits of one-on-one instruction. Others simply want to enjoy a more meaningful relationship with their children. The reasons are as numerous as the parents involved.

Whether you're in the early stages of researching homeschooling, or you're ready to start your own classroom, The McGraw-Hill Homeschooling Companion is the essential resource for you. This comprehensive guide contains vital information, from whether it's the best alternative for you, to covering the important details on particular subjects for all grade levels. Inside, you'll find:

• Making the decision: Whether this exciting educational alternative is possible for you
• How to get started: Your approach, schedules, and costs
• Information on state legal requirements, including attendance records and lesson plans
• Core subject chapters (mathematics, language arts, science, and social studies) as well as phys ed, art, foreign language, and music
• Practical advice on balancing in-home education with life in the outside world
• "What will the neighbors say?"­­staying confident in the face of criticism
• Required standardized testing and an appendix of colleges that accept homeschooled students
• Current websites and other resources to help you provide the best education possible

Homeschooling can be a daring commitment. But with the right tools and techniques, it is also incredibly rewarding for both you and your children. The McGraw-Hill Homeschooling Companion is a reference you can turn to throughout your new educational journey, and will give you the hints on making the most of this exciting experience!

About the Author

Laura Saba is a former public school teacher, and has been successfully homeschooling her children for six years.

Julie Gattis is a registered nurse and occasional lecturer. She has seven years of homeschooling experience.

Customer Reviews

Best Homeschooling Book I've Seen
Being a new homeschooler I've read just about every book out there. This book was a GREAT surprise. It gave me more information than any other books I've seen and it answered questions I hadn't even thought to ask -- but now I know I should've. Every resource you could think of is in there yet the authors don't try to sell you on one particular kind of approach. Instead, they explain all the approaches and help you decide which one is best for your family. Then they tell you how to do just that. It even explains how to teach each subject! If you buy only one homeschooling book, make it this one -- you'll save a lot of money in the long run. I can't say enough about this book!...

It has a scope and sequence!
Hi everyone! I don't know about you but I'm always wondering what I should be teaching and when, and this book has a scope and sequence of what should be taught in each grade PLUS a list of state laws, state support groups, and so many ideas on how to teach the different subjects it is unbelievable! I have read a lot of homeschooling books, and a many of them are helpful but this one has more info, and is written more clearly, than any book I've seen yet. Enjoy, and happy homeschooling.

If you want to home school your kids, this is a great book
My wife and I were seriously considering pulling our daughter out of public school last year because of various problematic situations in the school, but we didn't quite have the nerve to do it.It's not easy to announce to your in-laws that you're going to teach your kids at home, when they are teachers themselves! My wife read this book, and got me to read it, and it really gave us the information and encouragement we needed to take this (for us) courageous step. I highly recommend it.