Homeschooling on the Road
What if my kids have special needs ?
The spectrum of special needs is vast and one child ’ s needs will not look like another . That is why working with your school district , or those in charge of delivering services will be imperative in creating a well-developed plan from kids that learn differently to disabilities that require daily consideration while being homeschooled .
The key to remember : Services follow paperwork .
Every state has a Parent Training and Information Center that can help parents understand what services are available to them . There are two things to remember in this pursuit . First : there are many people in this career path who want to help and are amazing . Second : sometimes you will have to search for them because you are your child ’ s best advocate . If you are not getting the answers you need , keep searching . When you find them be sure to help other families along the way !
What are the benefits of homeschooling ?
There are many benefits to homeschooling but one of the greatest is being able to tailor your child ’ s education . One of the greatest strengths of homeschooling is knowing we don ’ t all develop at the same rate or have our strengths in the same areas so we can adjust and develop missing pieces and accelerate in others .
Oh and … did we mention the flexibility to travel and center our lives around what we want to do instead of abiding by a schedule that was created for us .
Here is an insightful article on using the great outdoors as your classroom .
Testing : Will my kids get into college ?
There are many questions about testing and homeschooling . State standard testing vs . PSAT , SAT ACT are the most common tests that are of concern to potential homeschoolers . State standard testing will be dependent on the curriculum you choose . The K-12 program has the full spectrum of services a traditional school would have but they were also held to the same standards . That means they require their students to return in the spring for testing . This may be okay for you , but could become inconvenient in the following years causing you to change up the program .
PSAT , SAT and ACT Testing can be done around the country and doesn ’ t need to be at your local school . You will need to go to the correct website to find the testing dates and have your school code ready for the enrollment process . Pay the fees and it ’ s as easy as that !
What about sports , drama , music ?
There is a great site called Coalition for Responsible Homeschooling . They have a breakdown of states allowing participation from homeschooled kids in public school sports and activities . If it is available in your state , it will come down to proving that your student is completing their academic tasks ( consistent to the standard for the public schooler ). There are other requirements , depending on the state , asking you to prove that they are not overtraining to protect the opposing teams ; that you are not training hulks on the side by “ homeschooling ” them but really just training them like pro athletes to tip the scales .
Grab some bandwidth and get creative combining the standard curriculum with all the advantages of travel , the outdoors and the freedom to roam .
Do you have something to share ?
If you have a story , experience or photo you ’ d like to share with the community , contact us support @ e3CAMPING . com and we will try and include it in future issues .
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