You have probably stumbled onto this page looking for something great to help you get started. I hope you will find this helpful, informative and more importantly a good shot in the arm of "I think I can!" medicine.

If you live in the state of Washington please see the Private Education page published by the State of Washington Superintendent of Public Education. This link is to the official homeschooling organization (WHO) in the State of Washington and will help you sift through the legal mumble jumble. OR in simple layman's terms there are five things that you must do as a parent to homeschooing in Washington State:

Qualify
Fill out a Declaration of Intent
Teach 11 subjects
Evaluate or test annually
Keep records

This may seem like a lot, but it is very easy. Let's take them one at a time. (For more information please see WHO's page.)

To Qualify you must either:

have 45 college credits
take a qualifying course (may I suggest this one)
work with certified teacher
deemed qualified by local school district

Declaration of Intent

Visit your local school district office and ask for the Declaration of Intent to Homeschool form, fill it out and you are done. There is much talk about what is required on the form. Please see this page for the law.

The 11 Subjects

This seems so very scary. Eleven is such a big number. But in truth it isn't that scary at all. I actually refer back to this list about three times a year just to make sure I don't forget anything. You may click on each subject to see how we deal with each one.

Art & Music Appreciation Health History Language Math

Occupational Education Reading Science Social Studies Spelling Writing

It is very easy to cover more than one subject in one lesson. When you are learning about art and music aren't you also learning about history? When you are writing are you not also learning about spelling and grammar? It is very easy to cover all these subjects plus extra when you homeschool. Don't fret if at the beginning this seems like a lot. At the end of the "term" sit down and recall all you and your children learned. You will be surprised at what you covered.

Evaluate and Testing

Most all those who come to Washington State and hear that testing is required to homeschool throw a fuss. Don't fuss any longer. It is very simple (at least for the time being) to test your children and move on. Guess what, we don't have to show anyone the test results. I know, then why test at all. I do it for these three simple reasons.

It's the law
My children will someday have a "fill in the bubble" test that "counts" and what a better place to learn how to take a test than at the kitchen table with a loving parent to help you through
It shows me where I fell down on the job of educating my children

Since I have had never had my children evaluated in the "professional" terms I can not speak to the process. Please see this web page for articles and other testing evaluation web pages.

Keeping Records

I'm not really sure what the State of Washington wants, so I have a plastic tub with each child's name on it where I keep all the test results, their shot records, locks of hair, their best penmanship paper of the year, a great painting they did....I think you understand...it is a box of keep sakes.

Now that you have the "legal" stuff, let's get to the nitty gritty.....

Last updated: November, 2006

Disclaimer: Though WALDSFE, Helaman's Academy and/or Doreen Blanding does its best to thoroughly screen every product, company, website and individual listed on these pages, please note that WALDSFE, Helaman's Academy and/or Doreen Blanding does not endorse any product, company, website or individual listed. If you have a problem with a page, find broken links, or companies that no longer support homeschooling please send email .