Thread: Howdy from San Francisco!

I'm not homeschooling (yet), as it's just too expensive in this area, but I'm trying to learn more about homeschooling to see if it's a possibility for us. I'm looking forward to chatting with folks and learning what learning resources work best for you!

Best,
Joel

Welcome! *I* think youre homeschooling in thebest possible state for it. Public Charter homeschools! You get resources, guidance, field trips, peer interaction including optional classes, official public school transcripts, AND the independence of doing it your way. You can join a charter in either your county, or any county adjacent, and it behooves you to shop around! Not all charters are the same, they run from horrible like k12 which gives you school-at-home with no real interaction, to interest specific magnets. Im sure you could find one that matches your vision of how homeschooling could be. (The one we use gives us free reign over curriculum (as long as its secular), enrichment classes (art, music, etc), 3rd party lessons (my youngest is taking voice), and supports my son’s IEP with speech and Occupational therapy. Many charters have hybrid class schedules, where you may attend classes 1-4 days a week, with varying amounts of independence for the other days. In exchange for all this, I fill out a monthly attendance form (Sept-June), and meet once a month. This monthly meeting with an “official, real” teacher has quelled any family criticism that my kids werent learning stuff. (Whatever, authoritarian-obeying relatives!) And the Guide knows my kid, knows curriculum, knows what is typically taught at what age... makes my life a lot easier.
Or, if you dont want that stuff, its pretty easy to legally homeschool. Just fill out a slip of paper each year. Like the Turpins, yanno! Not exactly a lot of oversight, youre free to do as you wish.

As far as what curriculum to use, that pretty much depends on you and your kid. There is no “good curriculum” for everyone. General advice is to pick curriculum for each subject - no boxed, Grade-X packages!
And, its not that hard to homeschool your kid if you like him/her/them.