Any Help -- New to Homeschooling

[erincon23]

My DS14 has had a really bad couple of years, schoolwise -- he's a smart kid, but he's had anxiety issues, and this year a mystery back problem that's kept him out of school almost all year. Long story short, we've decided that in the interest of making sure he gets a decent education, we're going to homeschool him for the remainder of the school year. He's in 8th grade, adn we were at the point where the school was starting to talk about holding him back next year, which wouldn't really have been an option. I talked with the principal today, who was very supportive of the idea (I'm a substitute teacher, so I am reasonably comfortable with the idea). He's letting me keep all of DS' school books until June, so I can work out of them -- easier and cheaper than trying to find new ones that match the curriculum, and has offered any help we need. My older DS is still good friends with his 8th grade science teacher, who is from this same school (retired now), and thinks we can ask him for ideas for science experiments and demos.

Can anyone who has experience homeschooling 8th grade recommend any good websites, books with discussion info, etc? I want to make sure he has the same quality of instruction with me that he's had in the classroom, not just sitting and doing worksheets and teaching himself. Any ideas on structure? I'd appreciate any help you can offer!

- Erin

 

[bellebud]

Erin, on the family board there's a homeschool thread - come over there.

 

[bumbershoot]

Here is the homeschool thread!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

He's in 8th grade, adn we were at the point where the school was starting to talk about holding him back next year, which wouldn't really have been an option.

I'm trying to understand why it's not an option to repeat a grade?