The decision to homeschool is a big decision and, for many parents, it can seem overwhelming at first. You may be interested in homeschooling because you find the idea of allowing your child to learn at his or her own pace appealing. Your child may be struggling in school and you feel that there must be a better way. Or you may wish to more closely tailor your program to your child’s interests or to your family’s values and beliefs.
Regardless of the reasons that brought you here, you will find that homeschoolers are diverse in our beliefs and backgrounds, but united in loving our children, valuing their education, and treasuring our freedom to homeschool.
VaHomeschoolers has prepared this Guide to Homeschooling Your Child to help you find answers to common questions shared by many prospective and new homeschoolers. It is our hope that by providing you information and support you will feel confident and empowered to make the leap to homeschooling. You too can Experience Life, Experience Learning —Homeschool!
Getting Started
You don’t need too much to get started. You should have an understanding of the homeschool laws in your state, a sense of enthusiasm, and a few good resources. Access to a homeschool support group can also be a big help.
Homeschooling can provide a customized, high-quality education that suits the needs, goals, and interests of your child and family. Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and all sorts of families find homeschooling is a comfortable, enjoyable way to educate their children.
- What is Homeschooling? – What is homeschooling and why some families should choose to educate their children at home.
- Legal Requirements – What are the legal requirements for homeschooling your children and where you can find information for the State in which you live.
- Turning Your Home into a Learning Environment – How to turn your home into a learning environment with or without a formal classroom.
- Choosing a Curriculum – How to choose an appropriate curriculum for your children.
- Socialization and Community – The importance of socialization and how to find other homeschool families in your area.
- Resources Outside the Home – Tips on finding resources outside the home.
- Homeschooling Children with Special Needs – Tips for homeschooling special needs children of all ages.
- Planning for Homeschooling High School – Things to consider before starting a high school homeschool curriculum.
- Homeschooling High School – Finding resources to support your high school student.
- Homeschooling with Very Young Children – How to homeschool very young children and how to survive the preschool pressure.
- Working Parents and Homeschooling – Tips for working parents so that they can also homeschool their children.
- How to Educate Yourself About Homeschooling – Ideas on educating yourself about homeschooling so you can get off to a good start.
Next
: What is Homeschooling?
About Us
The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization dedicated solely to homeschooling issues. Created in 1993, VaHomeschoolers is a state-wide, inclusive organization that provides information on homeschooling and protects and promotes homeschooling freedoms at the state and local level.
We provide a comprehensive website on homeschooling in Virginia, answer questions through our toll-free homeschool help line and email homeschool help desk, publish the bi-monthly journal Voice, as well as several electronic bulletins, and offer conferences and seminars on homeschooling throughout the year. We represent homeschooling interests in the state legislature and across the state, and help parents and school divisions resolve homeschooling issues.
Our organization has no political or religious affiliations; we focus exclusively on issues related to homeschooling. Our website does cover the specific legal aspects of homeschooling in Virginia but it is also filled with information and resources on homeschooling that apply universally. It is a great place to gather further details and support on all the topics discussed in this series.
Support VaHomeschoolers
If you have found the Guide to Homeschooling Your Child helpful, please consider supporting our efforts on behalf of homeschoolers.
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Video Bios
Leslie Nathaniel has been a member of VaHomeschoolers since she began homeschooling and is now a member of the Board of Directors. Her children began learning at home as soon as they were born, but they became official homeschoolers when her eldest reached kindergarten age in 2002. Prior to children, Leslie worked in information technology consulting. She is a homeschooling mother of two. As a volunteer for VaHomeschoolers, she answers telephone and email requests for information; writes articles for the VaHomeschoolers Voice homeschool journal; speaks at conferences and seminars on a variety of topics; and organizes homeschooling seminars around the state of Virginia.
Celeste Land is a member of the Board of Directors for VaHomeschoolers and the director of our Government Affairs department. Her two children began homeschooling in 1996, and are continuing to learn at home right through the teen years. Her daughter has recently graduated from homeschooling high school and will be attending college full time this fall. Celeste has lobbied on behalf of homeschooling interests here in Virginia and Washington, DC, for 10 years. Her articles on homeschooling have been published in the VaHomeschoolers Voice and the VaHomeschoolers website, as well as several homeschooling magazines in the USA and Canada. She also has been a speaker at many homeschool seminars and conferences.
