Starting Out?

Welcome to the wonderful and sometimes bewildering world of home learning!

If you are just starting out, it may be for any number of reasons:

  • you'll miss your kids too much if they go to school (and vice versa)
  • you're concerned that school will squash your child's curiosity and innate enthusiasm for learning
  • your child is active (pensive, talkative, creative, etc.) and will find the constraints of a classroom difficult to manage
  • you don't like the provincial curriculum and/or how it's delivered in a classroom setting
  • your child has already been to school and is not happy or adequately supported in that environment
  • your child doesn't have time to go to school as they are deeply involved in pursuing their own interests
  • and so on...

You are in great company: in 2010-2011, over 10,000 children in BC were learning in their own homes on a full-time basis. That's a lot of kids (equivalent to about 35 average-sized elementary schools).

You may have a lot of questions or you may be unsure if you are really making the right choice for your family. There are many articles and links on (and off!) this site that can provide information that you may find helpful and valuable.

Feel free to browse the site and follow the links.

And remember, there is no right or wrong way to do this. Enjoy your kids and your time together, and you'll be well on your way to living a satisfying home learning experience.

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Getting Started in Victoria

Looking for homeschooling-related activities for your family? There is now an easy-to-navigate, online repository of local homeschooling information. Greater Victoria Homeschooling Information

Browse through the site to see what's currently going on for homeschoolers who live on South Vancouver Island. If you have something to add (or a correction or suggestion), please email us.
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Legal Responsibilities

So you've decided to homeschool your kids... what next? It may seem a bit confusing at first, but check out this information about your choices in BC and you'll be well on your way to sorting out what to do next.

Your Legal Options: Register or Enroll?

Home Education in BC: A historical perspective

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What about Socialization?

It's not really that big of a deal. These articles will help you out.

Finding Your Homeschooling Tribe
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Have We Made the Right Choice?

You may have days when you're not sure. We all do! Here are a couple of excellent, encouraging, and reassuring articles by experienced homeschoolers.

Marty Layne's Article: Homeschooling 101

What I Wish Someone Would Have Told Me During My First Year of Homeschooling by Linda Dobson
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What Do I Do Now?

There are a number of styles and approaches to homeschooling. Take it slow and you'll eventually find the best mesh for your family. Here are some great off-site links that can help you figure it out.

Wondering what deschooling is? Home Education Magazine has a collection of articles about it!

Trying to figure out your best-fit approach? Considering Methods and Styles of Homeschooling by Lillian Jones of www.besthomeschooling.org and A to Z Home's Cool's list of methods and styles are good places to start.

Thinking about Unschooling? Sandra Dodd has some ideas...

Classical Education your cup of tea? Check out The Well-Trained Mind site...

Interested in Charlotte Mason? Check out the Ambleside Site for online copies of Mason's original books.

Curious about Waldorf-at-home? Walk In the Woods blog has some suggested links to explore.

Wondering what A Thomas Jefferson Education is? Check out the official TJED website.

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Another Great Link

The National Home Education Network (American) has a great "New to Homeschooling" section that has lots of helpful information.