New to Homeschooling?

If you are concerned about the quality of education your child is receiving and the values they are being taught, or the peer pressure and social agendas your child is being exposed to; if you want a stronger family unit and to have a positive influence on your children's lives, Home Education may be for you!

Regardless of the reason, millions of families throughout the country have chosen to educate their children at home. It isn't easy, and it requires much sacrifice, but the rewards of watching a child learn and develop in character are incredible. As a child grows and blossoms into a well-grounded young adult, parents come to realize the sacrifice was worth every penny and moment spent.

Helping you answer vital questions

If you're contemplating home schooling, undoubtedly the biggest question on your mind is "How in the world do you do it?" Hopefully, this web site and its links will help you answer some of those questions.

As a non-profit organization, SEICHE (formerly CPHE) has existed since 1983 and is made up entirely of volunteers who organize activities, provide answers to questions, and offer support to families.

Checklist: How to Start Homeschooling

Taking charge of your children's education is a big responsibility. Parents like to know exactly what homeschooling entails before they jump in with both feet. The following information is a checklist to help you get started, it is not necessary to accomplish each of these suggestions before beginning your home school.

Research Homeschooling

Read books about homeschooling. (Suggested reading list)
Talk to other homeschooling families about their experiences (curriculum choices, daily activities, successes and failures, etc.)
Attend homeschool conventions, workshops, and how-to classes.
Join SEICHE and receive access to all our community offers.

Investigate the Legalities

This is not to be construed as legal advice

Each state has its own rules and regulations that affect homeschools. Fortunately, for Missourians, the state has favorable homeschooling laws. It is essential that homeschooling families determine exactly what their state requires.

Read the summary of Missouri State Law. It is important to obtain and understand Missouri's laws.
Consider joining HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association). SEICHE offers a discount code to its members.

If you choose to homeschool a child who is currently enrolled in a public school, the following sample withdrawal letter may be helpful to you. Please be aware that you are not required by Missouri law to submit a withdrawal letter to your public school system.

Please note that in 1990, the law was modified to require parents who wish to remove five and six-year-old children from a public school setting to do so in writing. This is merely a notification, not a request of permission or to be construed as a registration.

Evaluate Your Family's Needs

Homeschooling allows the opportunity for the school to accommodate the family, rather than the family accommodating the school. To do this, families must take time to identify and analyze their specific characteristics and needs. Consider the following:

Are the educating parents willing and able to spent the time necessary to take on the responsibility to educate the child?
Will there be more than one student and grade level?
What are the student's learning styles?
What are the students' strengths and weaknesses?
What resources are available?
What is the family's budget for educational materials?

Select a Curriculum

Once your family's needs have been identified and analyzed, use them to guide you as you acquire curriculum. For example, families desiring a strong measure of structure should consider curricula offering pre-planned lessons and a well-defined course of study. Such families might even consider enrolling in a satellite school offering ongoing counseling and oversight.

On the other hand, families desiring less structure might consider a unit study program or perhaps even developing their own curriculum from resources available at home and in the community.

Consult curriculum and educational materials catalogs and homeschool curriculum guides (e.g., Mary Pride's Big Book of Home Learning, Cathy Duffy's Christian Home Educator's Curriculum Manual, The Elijah Co. Catalogue).
Attend curriculum fairs and homeschool seminars.
Most importantly, talk to homeschooling families using a particular curriculum for a first-hand evaluation.

Plan the Paperwork

Once your curriculum decision has been made, the next step is to put that curriculum into action.

Obtain or create a workable plan book and log to keep track of student hours.
Set goals for completion of school work.
Keep current on records so you don't become bogged down or overwhelmed by having to update records.
Missouri law requires a record of 1,000 hours, a lesson plan, and a portfolio of each student's progress.
Understand that schedules, journals and lesson plans are tools, not masters. If your schedule isn't working out, change it. If an opportunity for a terrific field trip comes up which isn't in the lesson plan, find an eraser and fix the lesson plan. Make your schedule work for you.

Get Organized

Now that your homeschool program is ready, create and environment conducive to learning.

Prepare a place in your home to homeschool, with good lighting, seating, ventilation, storage space, etc.
Gather the necessary supplies to implement your homeschool program (paper, pencils, notebooks, art supplies, etc.)
Realign your family's priorities. To be successful, homeschool must come first! (Curb phone calls, reduce other daytime activities, etc.)
Allocate chores and other family responsibilities so that everyone pitches in.
Maintain discipline for both parents and students.
Establish a daily routine.
Think about how you will allow free time to be spent.

Outside Activities

In the hubbub over curriculum and lesson plans, take care not to lose sight of the social element. Get out of the house!

Consider teaming up with other homeschoolers in your area, for co-op classes, team teaching, group activities, field trips, etc.
Take care not to over-commit to extracurricular activities.
Don't isolate yourself from other homeschoolers. You'll need them, and they'll need you.

Points to Remember

Be flexible. Don't get locked into doing things only one way, especially since that one way might not work out. If something is not working, don't be afraid to change it.
As you go, you will find that each child learns in his or her own way. Gear your program towards them.
Your family is unique, so your homeschool will also be unique. Don't worry if your homeschool doesn't look exactly like some other family's homeschool. Your family will need to make its own decisions and find its own solutions. In particular, don't feel as if your homeschool has to look like the local public school.
Homeschooling is at least equivalent to a part-time job, and perhaps even a full-time position. So be prepared to sacrifice other activities on your schedule in order to have the time necessary to fulfill your homeschooling responsibilities.
Homeschooling is not always easy. Firmly establish why you want to homeschool. That will help you get through the more difficult times. Being angry with a former teacher won't give you a good enough reason to succeed.
Homeschooling provides a great opportunity for family members to spend quality time together. Take advantage of these times to strengthen your family ties.

How do I learn more about SEICHE?

Stewarding Excellence in Christian Home Education (SEICHE) is a group of about 50 families in the Kansas City Northland who have chosen to educate their children at home. We exist to provide community and academic opportunities to homeschooling families in an effort to assist them in their God-given responsibility to direct the education and training of their children, to the glory of God.

If you are interested in attending an informational meeting or just have a specific question, please email [email protected].

SEICHE by-laws require that its membership (except for alumni) consist of homeschool families. SEICHE defines a Missouri homeschool as one that is in full compliance with Missouri homeschool law for ages 7-16. Students outside this age group must receive at least 50% of their education at home, exclusive of enrichment programs and/or college courses.

Updated 11/9/24

New to Homeschooling?

Helping you answer vital questions

If you're contemplating home schooling, undoubtedly the biggest question on your mind is "How in the world do you do it?" Hopefully, this web site and its links will help you answer some of those questions.

As a non-profit organization, SEICHE (formerly CPHE) has existed since 1983 and is made up entirely of volunteers who organize activities, provide answers to questions, and offer support to families.

Checklist: How to Start Homeschooling

Research Homeschooling

Read books about homeschooling. (Suggested reading list)

Talk to other homeschooling families about their experiences (curriculum choices, daily activities, successes and failures, etc.)

Attend homeschool conventions, workshops, and how-to classes.

Join SEICHE and receive access to all our community offers.

Investigate the Legalities

This is not to be construed as legal advice

Each state has its own rules and regulations that affect homeschools. Fortunately, for Missourians, the state has favorable homeschooling laws. It is essential that homeschooling families determine exactly what their state requires.

Read the summary of Missouri State Law. It is important to obtain and understand Missouri's laws.

Consider joining HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association). SEICHE offers a discount code to its members.

If you choose to homeschool a child who is currently enrolled in a public school, the following sample withdrawal letter may be helpful to you. Please be aware that you are not required by Missouri law to submit a withdrawal letter to your public school system.

Please note that in 1990, the law was modified to require parents who wish to remove five and six-year-old children from a public school setting to do so in writing. This is merely a notification, not a request of permission or to be construed as a registration.

Evaluate Your Family's Needs

Homeschooling allows the opportunity for the school to accommodate the family, rather than the family accommodating the school. To do this, families must take time to identify and analyze their specific characteristics and needs. Consider the following:

Are the educating parents willing and able to spent the time necessary to take on the responsibility to educate the child?

Will there be more than one student and grade level?

What are the student's learning styles?

What are the students' strengths and weaknesses?

What resources are available?

What is the family's budget for educational materials?

Select a Curriculum

On the other hand, families desiring less structure might consider a unit study program or perhaps even developing their own curriculum from resources available at home and in the community.

Consult curriculum and educational materials catalogs and homeschool curriculum guides (e.g., Mary Pride's Big Book of Home Learning, Cathy Duffy's Christian Home Educator's Curriculum Manual, The Elijah Co. Catalogue).

Attend curriculum fairs and homeschool seminars.

Most importantly, talk to homeschooling families using a particular curriculum for a first-hand evaluation.

Plan the Paperwork

Once your curriculum decision has been made, the next step is to put that curriculum into action.

Obtain or create a workable plan book and log to keep track of student hours.

Set goals for completion of school work.

Keep current on records so you don't become bogged down or overwhelmed by having to update records.

Missouri law requires a record of 1,000 hours, a lesson plan, and a portfolio of each student's progress.

Understand that schedules, journals and lesson plans are tools, not masters. If your schedule isn't working out, change it. If an opportunity for a terrific field trip comes up which isn't in the lesson plan, find an eraser and fix the lesson plan. Make your schedule work for you.

Get Organized

Now that your homeschool program is ready, create and environment conducive to learning.

Prepare a place in your home to homeschool, with good lighting, seating, ventilation, storage space, etc.

Gather the necessary supplies to implement your homeschool program (paper, pencils, notebooks, art supplies, etc.)

Realign your family's priorities. To be successful, homeschool must come first! (Curb phone calls, reduce other daytime activities, etc.)

Allocate chores and other family responsibilities so that everyone pitches in.

Maintain discipline for both parents and students.

Establish a daily routine.

Think about how you will allow free time to be spent.

Outside Activities

In the hubbub over curriculum and lesson plans, take care not to lose sight of the social element. Get out of the house!

Consider teaming up with other homeschoolers in your area, for co-op classes, team teaching, group activities, field trips, etc.

Take care not to over-commit to extracurricular activities.

Don't isolate yourself from other homeschoolers. You'll need them, and they'll need you.

Points to Remember

Be flexible. Don't get locked into doing things only one way, especially since that one way might not work out. If something is not working, don't be afraid to change it.

As you go, you will find that each child learns in his or her own way. Gear your program towards them.

Homeschooling is at least equivalent to a part-time job, and perhaps even a full-time position. So be prepared to sacrifice other activities on your schedule in order to have the time necessary to fulfill your homeschooling responsibilities.

Homeschooling is not always easy. Firmly establish why you want to homeschool. That will help you get through the more difficult times. Being angry with a former teacher won't give you a good enough reason to succeed.

Homeschooling provides a great opportunity for family members to spend quality time together. Take advantage of these times to strengthen your family ties.

How do I learn more about SEICHE?

If you are interested in attending an informational meeting or just have a specific question, please email [email protected].