by C. M. Erickson

Created on: May 16, 2008

The best advantage of homeschooling can also be its Achilles heel. Homeschooling allows you to tailor the academic curriculum to your children, which helps you spend more time where they need it, and fly ahead when they can handle the information. Yet sometimes your children's academic curriculum can become so personalized that you wonder where they stand in relationship to others their age or what areas need more attention.

You can evaluate your child in a wide variety of ways: administer a standardized test, have your children's portfolios evaluated, bring in a licensed educational evaluator, or administer Advanced Placement exams in preparation for college.

Your local governing body (in America, your state) is also greatly interested in evaluating your homeschooled children's progress, so you must always check with them to see what they require. Many states require a standardized test, or a portfolio of your children's work. Homeschooling is labor-intensive, so do not waste valuable time and effort evaluating your children without checking with the state first. Most likely you would have to do it all over again to meet their standards.

After checking to see what your state requires for evaluations, your best resource for evaluation and testing assistance is your local homeschooling group. These groups are full of people who have been homeschooling for years, and can provide sound advice and contacts with the people and organizations you will need to work with to evaluate your child.

Joining a homeschooling group provides support for you as your children's educator, widens your access to material, and in some cases can provide teachers for specialized subjects, such as science or mathematics. By joining these groups and talking to other parents, you can quickly evaluate where your children stand in relation to others academically, and will also have access to a wider curriculum and testing options.

Portfolios are often required by states for homeschoolers, but should be maintained by any homeschooling parent even without external mandate. Not only are they a great way to demonstrate your children's progress, they become excellent keepsakes and memorabilia. Since you are participating with your children on their projects, these portfolios become a walk down family memory lane. Your state will have guidance on what they expect, but try to include pictures of field trips, artwork, papers, tests, reports, and other things of similar nature. If something is too bulky

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