If you’re getting started with homeschooling, or someone you know has started homeschooling, you probably have a lot of questions. We’ve designed this page to answer some of the most frequently asked questions people ask about homeschooling. We hope you find it helpful. If you still have questions, feel free to email your homeschooling questions to help@shbe.ca.
SHBE held a series of question and answer sessions in August and September of 2020. You can listen to the first session below.
Home Education FAQ (click here for a printable version)
How do I start Home Educating?
Will I receive funding for my home-based education program?
What is an Educational Plan?
What about my intensive-needs child?
Where do I find curriculum?
Do I need to set up a classroom?
What about socialization?
How do I answer my parents’ and friends’ questions?
Will my child be able to attend University?
Are there support groups or Facebook groups for homeschoolers in Saskatchewan?
Is it all a bed of roses?
SHBE FAQ
Who is SHBE?
How is SHBE governed?
Who are the SHBE Board of Directors?
How can I contact SHBE?
About the Journal
Who is SHBE?
Saskatchewan Home Based Educators (SHBE) is the official voice of home-based educators in Saskatchewan. We assist in creating a positive social network and a positive political environment for all those who choose home-based education. We also provide supportive, social and instructional resources for our members.
How is SHBE governed?
SHBE is governed by an elected volunteer board made up of home-based educators from all areas of Saskatchewan.
Who are the SHBE Board of Directors?
The following board members are available and eager to assist you. Please feel free to contact them using the information shown below.
Please click here to access Board of Directors contact information.
How can I contact SHBE?
Your one-stop source for information on home educating in Saskatchewan!
Please use the e-mail link above, or check the About US page for contact information to each area director.
– questions about home-based education?
– problems / disputes with local school division administrators?
– looking to network with other home-based educators in your area?
SHBE is here to help you with any and all home-based education questions. One e-mail to the SHBE HELP DESK is all that is required to put you in touch with the people and resources you need.
About the Journal
The purpose of the SHBE Journal is to:
– be the official publication of SHBE
– be a vehicle for information dissemination to home based educators in Saskatchewan
– provide resource information to members
– report on legislative, political and other issues which may affect home based education in and beyond Saskatchewan
Charity Mile – Journal Editor
SHBE Journal is financed by membership dues, subscriptions and advertising. SHBE members receive a subscription as part of their membership.
Subscriptions are $35/yr for non-members. Please visit the Journal page for more details
How do I start Home Educating?
Click here for our “Getting Started” page.
Will I receive funding for my home-based education program?
Each School Division has its own administrative procedures and levels of funding are dependent upon Division policy. The province funds each school division to act as their “Registering Authority”, but does not require or prevent school divisions providing funding to parents. Check with your School Division.
What is a Written Education Plan?
A Written Education Plan is intended to demonstrate that there is a positive and constructive approach to the education of the student. Each year you are required to submit an Educational Plan along with the Notification to Register.
The Educational Plan outlines:
a. your reason for and philosophical approach of the program,
b. broad annual goals for the subject areas that will be studied,
c. the means of assessing and recording the educational progress.
d. resources and activities
The required areas of study are mathematics, social studies, science and language arts. In addition, you may include other areas that are important to you such as religion, health, art, music, computers, or physical education. The goals can be very general in nature.
What about my intensive-needs child?
The home environment can be very conducive to success for intensive-needs (formerly called special needs) children. If you have a child with intensive needs, there may be services, and especially testing, available to you. However, these services come at the cost of increased reporting. If you have a child with intensive needs, please contact us BEFORE you notify the school division this year to discuss your options..
Where do I find curriculum?
Check out our links page for a list of curriculum resources. As you look at the various curriculum choices, it is important to keep in mind that there is neither one right curriculum nor one right way to teach your children. Curriculum is a tool and not a goal. It is how you teach the information that is important.
Saskatchewan’s best curriculum fair happens during the SHBE Convention held every year. Exhibitor’s from Saskatchewan and across Canada display their various products and are a great in-person resource. Also, the convention has a used book sale that provides another low-cost alternative. It’s also a great place to meet other home educators and talk about what works for them.
When first starting out, don’t worry too much about curriculum. Take a bit of time to investigate different options before making a final decision.
Do I need to set up a classroom?
The short answer is no! You as a parent can choose what your classroom will look like. Some parents prefer a designated area for educational purposes, others make use of a variety of places, math at the kitchen table, reading in the family room, drama in the basement, science at the kitchen counter; the choice is yours. You will, however, find it useful to set aside space for books, projects, paper, resources, craft supplies, etc. that you will utilize in your studies.
What about socialization?
Critics challenge home education on an apparent lack of socialization or isolation from the world. There is the charge that home-educated students are not learning how to live in the real world. However, a closer look at public school training shows that it is actually those children who are not living in the real world. Read more on this in Home Schooling: The Right Choice by Christopher J. Klicka.
Home Educators overcome the potential for isolation through involvement in home educational support group activities, community-based programs, church youth groups, 4H Clubs, music and art lessons, sports participation, Scouts and Girl Guides, playing in the neighbourhood, and the list is endless.
How do I answer my parents’ and friends’ questions?
When people first hear of home education, they shudder, or express curiosity and/or express doubt that a child could receive an adequate education. They want to know many answers, so it is no wonder our families and friends also have many questions. Don’t be discouraged if your families and friends don’t understand your choice right away.
Books that are helpful to you can answer some of their questions; suggest they start with some reading. Other veteran home educators can answer some of their questions.
Research studies have statistics and facts to show the benefits and outcomes for home education. The Canadian Centre for Home Education (CCHE) did one such study in 2003.
Realize it may take some time for them to understand the home education benefits. Usually everyone has the same goal in mind, doing what is best for the child/children.
Will my child be able to attend University?
The short answer is yes! Many children in Saskatchewan have been educated totally at home and have enrolled and graduated from University and Colleges. Each University or College will have different requirements but some Universities such as Harvard, Yale and Boston actively seek home-educated students.
The University of Regina has developed specific registration policies for home-educated students.
For more information on a form to present to a college which has not yet adopted a home school admissions policy, obtain a College Packet available from HSLDA at 519-913-0318 or www.hslda.ca/.
Here is a video, presented at the 2016 convention, showing the success of 12 different home educated graduates, all from Saskatchewan:
Are there support groups or Facebook groups for homeschoolers in Saskatchewan?
Yes, there are. The Links page on the SHBE website links to various support group contacts, including web pages and Facebook groups.
Is it all a bed of roses?
Often when you read books on educating at home, it all sounds so wonderful, and some days it is. But we all experience days when we question: What we are doing? Are our kids going to be okay? Is this the right decision for our family? Remember, your family is made up of real people who have good days and bad and not all at the same time. Remember to take time to rejuvenate, relax and regroup. The SHBE Convention is at the end of February for a reason. It seems to be a time when many of us question our desire/ability to home educate. The convention is a great time to reconnect with a larger community and reaffirm our motivation to do what is best for our child/children.