Homeschooling Ontario FAQ
People have become increasingly curious about homeschooling Ontario since the Covid-19 pandemic. If you’ve been following us at EZ-Teach or read our blog, you’ll know that homeschooling in Ontario is a legal and increasingly popular educational choice for many families. If you're considering this option, you might have several questions. Here are answers to some of the 5 most frequently asked questions:
1) Is homeschooling legal in Ontario?
2) What qualifications do I need to homeschool my children?
3) How do I start homeschooling in Ontario?
4) Can my child return to public school after being homeschooled?
5) What resources are available to support homeschooling families in Ontario?
Click on the links above or continue reading to learn more. Or, if you have further questions, please contact us at EZ-Teach. We’d be happy to chat!
See what people at TVO Today were saying about homeschooling at the start of the hype in 2020.
Understanding Homeschooling Ontario
1) Is homeschooling legal in Ontario?
Yes, homeschooling is legal in Ontario. The Ontario Education Act allows parents to educate their children at home. However, parents should inform their local school board of their intent to homeschool. We’ll talk about the steps you need to take to start homeschooling below in section #3.
If you want to learn more about homeschooling expectations across Canada, have a look at the following blog posts: Required Subjects for Homeschooling: Province by Province Part 1 and Required Subjects for Homeschooling: Province by Province Part 2. These guides will review what sort of expectations there are in each province, including Ontario. If you are a newcomer to Canada, see the Government of Canada’s post, Learn about education in Canada.
2) What qualifications do I need to homeschool my children?
While parents do not need specific qualifications to homeschool their kids, we have some advice to help you below.
Image Source: Ivan Samkov
In Ontario, there are no specific qualifications required to homeschool your children. Parents do not need to have teaching credentials. The primary requirement is that parents provide an education that is consistent with the Ontario curriculum.
That being said, as homeschooling is a rewarding but demanding responsibility, developing certain qualities can help you succeed in this unique educational journey. Here are some key qualities to cultivate if you're considering homeschooling your children:
Patience
Homeschooling often requires flexibility in approach, and things don’t always go as planned. Children may need extra time to grasp concepts, and you might encounter moments of frustration. Patience will help you handle these moments calmly and effectively.
Practice mindfulness techniques, take regular breaks, and remind yourself that progress takes time. Stay patient with both your children and yourself. Here is an article to check out: Tips for Being More Patient with Your Kids.
Organization
Effective homeschooling requires planning, scheduling, and tracking a variety of activities, lessons, and progress. Staying organized will help you manage time, resources, and materials efficiently, leading to a smoother homeschooling experience.
Create a weekly or monthly lesson plan, keep track of assignments and progress, and organize your home learning space so it’s conducive to learning. Use tools like planners or digital apps to keep things in order. Click here for a link to our free planner!
Adaptability & Flexibility
Every child learns differently, and the homeschooling environment is more flexible than traditional school settings. You may need to adapt your teaching style or adjust lessons to meet the specific needs of your children. Be open to trying new methods and materials, observe how your children respond to different approaches, and be willing to make changes when something isn’t working.
Sometimes things don’t go according to plan, and children may not always meet your academic expectations in the timeline you set. Being flexible helps you navigate those challenges without becoming overwhelmed. Stay focused on long-term goals rather than immediate perfection, and adjust your expectations based on how your children are progressing. Allow yourself to make mistakes and learn from them.
Strong Communication Skills
As a homeschooling parent, you’ll need to communicate effectively with your children, explaining lessons, giving clear instructions, and answering their questions. You’ll also need to discuss educational goals and progress with them.
Practice active listening, ask open-ended questions, and work on explaining concepts in a clear, engaging way. Regularly check in with your children to ensure they’re understanding the material.
Time Management
Homeschooling often involves balancing many tasks—teaching, planning, grading, household responsibilities, and sometimes, working outside the home. Time management is crucial for making sure everything gets done and that both your children’s and your own needs are met. Have a look at our blog, Time Management Tips for Homeschooling Parents.
Prioritize your tasks, set realistic goals for each day, and use a schedule or timer to stay on track. Make sure to build in breaks for both you and your children.
If you have started or are considering homeschooling Ontario, watch this video from ToriAnn Perkey.
Creativity
Homeschooling allows you to be creative in how you present lessons and engage your children. Bringing creativity into the learning process can help make subjects more interesting and memorable for your children.
Think outside the box when planning lessons, incorporate hands-on activities, field trips, or interactive learning experiences. Use creative resources like educational games, art projects, and technology tools.
Self-Motivation and Discipline
Homeschooling can sometimes lack the external structure of a traditional classroom. Being self-motivated and disciplined ensures you stay on track with your teaching goals and your children stay motivated to learn.
Set clear goals for each school day, keep a consistent schedule, and hold yourself accountable. Develop routines that help your children stay focused and productive.
Empathy
Homeschooling requires you to understand your children’s emotional and educational needs. Being empathetic helps you respond to their struggles with compassion and encouragement, fostering a positive learning environment.
Take time to connect with your children on a personal level, understand their challenges, and provide the emotional support they need to succeed. Always celebrate their successes and offer support during setbacks.
Research Skills
As a homeschooling parent, you’ll often need to find new materials, methods, and resources. Researching different educational strategies and subjects will help you provide the best learning experience for your children.
Become comfortable using online resources, read educational books and articles, and engage with other homeschooling parents in communities and forums for advice.
Conclusion
By developing these qualities, you'll be better equipped to create a successful and fulfilling homeschooling environment for your children. Homeschooling can be a deeply rewarding experience, and cultivating these skills will make the process smoother and more enjoyable for both you and your children.
3) How do I start homeschooling in Ontario?
The first step for homeschooling Ontario is to submit a letter of intent like this one from the the OFTP.
Image Source: Ontario Federation of Teaching Parents
While some of you may have already read our other blog post (Homeschooling Ontario - 2024 Ultimate Starters Guide) where we outlined the steps to start homeschooling, let’s look at the steps to starting up:
Notify the School Board: Submit a letter of intent to the local school board to inform them of your decision to homeschool.
Develop a Curriculum: Create a comprehensive educational plan that covers the required subjects and meets the Ontario curriculum standards.
Keep Records: Maintain a portfolio of your child's work, including lesson plans, assignments, and assessments.
Assessment: While not mandatory, some parents choose to have their child’s progress assessed through standardized tests or evaluations by certified teachers. Also, if you have a Grade 8 student, you can also access our FREE Grade 8 Assessment & Answer Key.
Homeschooling Ontario is relatively easy to start up, but you can find more detailed information from the Ontario Ministry of Education website.
4) Can my child return to public school after being homeschooled?
Homeschool students may transition back to a public school at any time, but often do for high school.
Image Source: Andy Barbour
Yes, children can transition back to public school after being homeschooled. It's advisable to contact the desired school to understand their re-admission process and any assessments that may be required.
Many parents opt to educate their children at home during the elementary years and then plan to transition their homeschoolers to a middle school or high school.
More and more parents are even homeschooling their children up until college and university, with some young people completing their studies more quickly than public students and entering post-secondary schools at younger ages.
The choice often depends on multiple factors, which may include:
A need for more extra-curricular opportunities
A discomfort teaching advanced material
A desire for more social interactions (especially if there are fewer homeschool groups with high-school aged students)
Ultimately, however, the duration of homeschooling depends on each family and the individuals involved.
5) What resources are available to support homeschooling families in Ontario?
Homeschool parents can download curriculum right from EZ-Teach and print it out for immediate use.
In Ontario, various resources for homeschooling families are available, including:
Curriculum Guides: The Ontario Ministry of Education provides curriculum documents that can serve as a framework for homeschooling.
Support Organizations: Groups like the Ontario Federation of Teaching Parents offer support, information, and networking opportunities.
Online Communities: Engage with local homeschooling communities and forums to share experiences and resources.
Online Curriculum & Courses: You can access curriculum and courses online from many websites these days, including EZ-Teach!
For more detailed information about resources, visit the Ontario Federation of Teaching Parents' website. You can also browse our resources page.
Homeschooling Ontario Made Easy With EZ-Teach
Cultivate a love of learning.
Whether you are looking for curriculum, homeschooling advice, a tutor, on online class, or something else, we’d love to help you. At EZ-Teach our aim is to make learning easy!
Contact us if you have further questions about homeschooling or if you are looking for something else.
