TEACH YOUR CHILD
As a homeshooling parent/guardian, your primary responsibility is to teach your children. When you choose to homeschool, you take on the primary responsibility for all aspects of your child's educational process. This includes choosing your child's course of study and the materials you will use, teaching the material, checking their work, assigning grades, etc.

PARENT YOUR CHILD
Parents are to take responsibility for their children. Guidelines have been established in order to maintain an academically, morally, and socially healthy atmosphere for your children at all Home Ed activities.

HELP WITHIN OUR GROUP
As a member of Home Ed, we also need you to help provide the best possible educational and social environment for our children. We need parents to help plan field trips, parties, activities. We are constantly looking for new ideas and approaches. Don't be hesitant about submitting your ideas or assume that someone else will do it. If you have an idea, but are unsure of how to execute it, contact us. We will be glad to help you with the process.

KNOW THESE 5 THINGS
1- Know Yourself
Often, homeschooling is more about the parent than the child. You need to evaluate yourself as a parent and a teacher. Be realistic about your teaching and discipline styes, your strengths and your weaknesses. Don't be afraid to ask for help - we've all needed advice in one area or another!

2- Know Your Child
Every child has their own unique style of learning. You need to study your children - find out what motivates them, how they best learn, what is their best and worst time of day, etc. Children change, so what works one year (or day!) may or may not work the next. Be flexible. One of the biggest benefits of homeschooling is your ability to "tailor-make" your curriculum to fit the needs of each specific child.

3- Know Homeschooling
Any new venture requires research. Familiarize yourself with current Arkansas homeschool laws, teaching methods, learning styles, homeschool terminology and curriculum. You can't know it all, but you do need a working knowledge of the process and available resources. You might start by taking a look at this web article.

4- Know the Arkansas Homeschool Cycle
If you can time your homeschooling decision well, you can take advantage of some key events - beginning in the spring.

• State Homeschool Convention (May)
  Curriculum vendors - seminars - speakers. A great way to explore homeschooling.
• Home Ed Used Book Sale (June)
  Buy books “on the cheap” and visit with other homeschoolers, too!
• Join Home Ed (anytime - but most join in the summer)
  Get plugged in! Receive our monthly newsletter. Also receive a directory and membership card.
• Home Ed Kick-Off Meeting (Mid-August)
  Join 500+ homeschool parents as we start off the school year with a fun, information-packed evening.
• Intent Form Due (August 15 or December 15-if starting second semester)
  Deadline to register as a homeschooler with the state of Arkansas.

Details on all of these events are published in our newsletter at appropriate times.

5- Don't Panic
You can do this. No homeschool parent (or child!) is perfect, so you don't have to be either! Just be diligent. Check out our FAQ page and Resources page. Join Home Ed for information, support and encouragement.