homeschooling in Canada Archives

All About Homeschooling in Ontario

All About Homeschooling in Ontario: Trends, Laws, and Options

How Many Children are Homeschooled in Ontario?

Can you believe that in the 2021/2022 academic school year over 85,000 students were homeschooling in Ontario? The number of families in Ontario choosing to learn at home, instead of opting for traditional schooling, is on the rise. The percent of Ontario children being homeschooled has jumped to 3.8%, raising an important question: Why has there been such a significant shift from learning at school to learning at home? Maybe it’s the opportunity for student-specific curriculum or the flexibility in location and schedule? Whatever the reason, one thing is clear: Homeschooling is gaining traction across the province. Interested in joining the thousands of families homeschooling in Ontario?

Is Homeschooling Popular in Ontario?

Yes! There has been a surge in the popularity of homeschooling in recent years. In the 2021/2022 academic school year over 85,000 students were homeschooling in Ontario. Click here to learn more about homeschooling’s popularity in Ontario.

Interested in joining the thousands of families homeschooling? Click here to learn more about Schoolio: The Homeschool Program for Ontario Families.

Is Ontario a Good Place to Homeschool?

Ontario is an excellent place to homeschool for families who value flexibility in education and want to take an active role in their child’s learning. In Ontario the legal requirements are minimal, while the online supports available for homeschooling families are vast. Platforms, such as Schoolio, provide support for families beginning or continuing their journey homeschooling. Click here to learn more about why Ontario is a good place to homeschool.

How Easy or Strict is Ontario for Homeschooling?

Homeschooling in Ontario is easy! The only requirement: provide a Notice of Intent to Homeschool to your local school board. That’s it! By removing regulations that require heaps of redundant paperwork, Ontario has enabled parents to prioritise creating exceptional and personalised educational experiences for their children.

Curriculum, Programs, and Other Learning Options

What Age Should You Start Homeschooling in Ontario?

Your child’s homeschooling journey can start at any age. Many parents begin homeschooling from Kindergarten, while others transition to homeschooling in later years. Schoolio provides the support and resources you need to begin homeschooling at any age!

How to Homeschool Without a Curriculum in Ontario?

To homeschool without a curriculum in Ontario, first submit a Notice of Intent to Homeschool to your local school board. Next, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and dive in! Click here to learn more about homeschooling without a curriculum, otherwise known as unschooling.

Homeschooling in Atlantic Canada – How to Get Started

Are you considering homeschooling? Or perhaps are new to homeschooling in Atlantic Canada? How do you get started? Where do you begin? And what’s the best route to take in order to be a successful homeschooler? Is homeschooling even legal in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland & Labrador? We are going to cover each of these provinces unique learning standards for homeschooling.

Before we dive into homeschooling in Atlantic Canada Provinces it’s important to select a curriculum that works great for your family. (If you are in Newfoundland & Labrador, please check curriculum standards before selecting curriculum – See below)

How do I pick homeschool curriculum?

There are hundreds of curriculum options available for homeschooling families now. We recommend that you purchase a Canadian based curriculum. There are so many phenomenal American Homeschooling curriculum options. However, if you are homeschooling in Atlantic Canada, you will find that you have to supplement your curriculum more often than not for Canadian concepts.

Here’s an excellent blog about how to pick the very best curriculum for your family: Choosing Homeschool Curriculum

The Basics of Homeschooling in Nova Scotia:

The first province we will cover when it comes to homeschooling in Atlantic Canada is Nova Scotia.

Let’s start with the basics.

Is Homeschooling legal in Nova Scotia?

The answer is yes! In fact, homeschooling is legal in each province of Atlantic Canada, but rules do vary. The Department of education in Nova Scotia outlines the legislation for home education. It’s always best to start there when you have questions about homeschooling in Nova Scotia.

Does your child need to be registered in Nova Scotia?

Yes! Parents and guardians in Nova Scotia are required to register their children, ages 6 to 16 in an educational program. First, you will need to register your child for Primary (Kindergarten) whether your child is 5 or 6 years old. Be sure to register them in the year that they will be 5 years old before December 31st. Secondly, you will need to provide a copy of your child’s birth certificate for their first year.

What are your responsibilities as a home schooling parent in Nova Scotia?

First, you need to advise the Department of Education (Halifax Office) of your intent to homeschool your child.

Secondly, you need to complete the registration form annually and return it to the Regional Education Office, Halifax, Nova Scotia. For a child that has not been registered in public or homeschool before, you will need to include proof of their age with your registration form.

Third, in June you will need to provide a report to the Department of Education (Halifax Office) on the progress of your homeschooled child(ren). This report should be compatible with the program of study of the child(ren).

Fourth, you as the homeschool parent need to ensure that your child is diligent in attempting to master their home education studies that had been described in the registration form.

Fifth, as the primary home education parent you must be prepared to meet with the school board officials if and when the child(ren) are to be enrolled in public school. You are required to provide evidence of your child’s education program. Because as the home-educating parent or guardian, you are responsible to provide solid evidence of your child’s education.

Where can you find the Registration form?

As the homeschooling parent you will need to fill out the registration form for each of your children at the beginning of the school year. Click here to visit the Nova Scotia Department of Education’s Website where you can find the registration form. Overall the registration letter is simply laid out, very straightforward and easy to understand. This form will ask for both you as the parent or guardian and your child’s information along with the name of the curriculum that you are planning on using for that school year.

What are the requirements for reporting and grading in Nova Scotia?

Every June, the homeschooling parent or guardian must send in another form. This form is called “The Home Schooling Student Report Form.” Click here to view these forms. The Home Schooling Student Report Form is quick, simple and easy to fill out. You can fill out the subject/course name, test marks, and the overall course grade. Then you can use the little subject boxes to fill out a little more detail and information on the subjects covered in the school year. While also including your students learned.

If you were using Schoolio curriculum and needed to fill out the Science section for Grade 5. You could simply go to the table of contents of your child’s completed Science book. Then write the key lessons that they learned for the year. ‘Forms of Energy, Conservation with Renewable Resources, Electricity, Energy Footprint, Structures’ etc..

If you are registering your child for a primary grade for the first time you simply need to:

Register with the Department of Education by filling in the form and being sure to submit it in September.
Make a report on your child’s progress within your areas of study in June each year.

If your child is attending school already and you’d like to legally withdraw them from school in Nova Scotia:

Be sure to inform the school that you will be homeschooling. Ask them to remove your child from the school register.
Complete the Nova Scotia Department of Education Homeschooling Registration Form. Being sure to submit it to the Department of Education to register your child as a homeschooler.

More information on Homeschooling in Nova Scotia can be found at The Canadian Homeschooler.

The Basics of Homeschooling in New Brunswick:

The second province we will cover when it comes to homeschooling in Atlantic Canada is New Brunswick.

Let’s start with the basics: Is Homeschooling legal in New Brunswick?

Yes! It is every parent’s right to home educate their child in New Brunswick. Moreover, you do not need to have a teacher’s certificate or be a college graduate to homeschool your children. Additionally, there is no reporting or annual testing requirements in New Brunswick.

Your first step would be to establish if homeschooling is the right choice for your family.

The Minister of Education New Brunswick suggests that you answer these 5 questions.

Adequate Time?
Do you have Adequate Finances?
Strong Parenting Skills?
Do you have Effective Time-Management Skills?
Common Vision?

Families that choose to home educate are asked by the Province of New Brunswick to complete the Annual Homeschool Application Form. Then they are required to forward it to their local school district.

Keeping in mind that in order for your homeschool to be considered effective instruction it must include these areas of learning:

Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
Technology
Social Studies
Health
Career Development
French
Music
Art
Physical Education

What is the Annual Homeschool Application Form?

The Annual Homeschool Application Form states that you as the parent or legal guardian are taking full responsibility for the education of your child. Once this application has been submitted, the district office will forward the form to the Minister of Education. Following the submission of the letter, the Minister of Education will send the family a signed letter that states they have been approved to home educate their children for the current year.

Here you will find the French and English Annual Homeschooling Application Form:

Homeschooling in New Brunswick Recap:

If your child is just starting school, or you are pulling your child out of school to homeschool, you must inform their current school that you are homeschooling.
Choose a curriculum that suits your family.
Fill out the Annual Homeschool Application Form.
Submit the Homeschooling Application form to the district office.
Await the letter from the Minister of Education for approval.

Click here for additional information on homeschooling in New Brunswick.

The Basics of Homeschooling in Prince Edward Island.

The third province that we will cover when it comes to homeschooling in Atlantic Canada is Prince Edward Island.

Is Homeschooling Legal in Prince Edward Island?

Yes! Parents are able to home educate their children in Prince Edward Island! They can do so by using a home education program or public education curriculum.

How can you legally homeschool your child in Prince Edward Island?

You will need to notify the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning that you will be homeschooling your child before the school year begins. Find the Home Education Notice of Intent here.

What curriculum are you required to use?

You can choose whichever curriculum you would like. In addition to this, there is also another option to access curriculum books with provincial curriculum when home educating your child. At this time the Provincial Curriculum costs $50 per child, and that amount will be refunded once the books have been returned after use. Also it’s important to remember that you as the homeschooling parent are responsible for your child’s curriculum, record keeping and their testing.

Homeschooling in Prince Edward Island recap:

If your child is already registered in a school, be sure to notify the school that your child will not be attending.
Fill out the Notice of Parent’s Intention to Homeschool form and notify the Department of Education.
Choose a curriculum that suits your family.

For more information on homeschooling in PEI click here.

The Basics of Homeschooling in Newfoundland & Labrador.

The fourth province that we will cover when it comes to homeschooling in Atlantic Canada is Newfoundland and Labrador.

The first question, is homeschooling legal in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Yes! Parents do have the right to homeschool their children in Newfoundland and Labrador. However, there are mandates that local school boards are to monitor the progress of the students that are residing in their district.

What are the legal requirements of homeschooling in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Parents or legal guardians need to send in an application to homeschool. Moreover, the four regions of the Newfoundland & Labrador English School District have a Homeschool Coordinator who approves applications. The Homeschool Coordinator also oversees the homeschool program. For information on how to fill out the form click the NLESD Homeschooling Application.

What curriculum will you be required to use in Newfoundland & Labrador?

You can either choose to use the provincial curriculum of Newfoundland & Labrador or you can use any other curriculum which has been previously approved by the EECD. Furthermore, if you don’t want to use an approved curriculum, you will need to provide information about the curriculum to the homeschool coordinator. Then the homeschool coordinator will assess the curriculum that you would like to use. Doing so to decide whether it meets provincial learning standards.

Homeschooling in Newfoundland & Labrador recap:

Notify the school that your child is attending.
Find out who the Homeschool Coordinator is for your region.
Fill out and send the intent to homeschool form.
Choose a curriculum. Remember, if you choose a curriculum that isn’t approved by the EECD, you will need to include this curriculum in your homeschool plan for the Homeschool Coordinator.

For more information:

Homeschooling in Atlantic Canada Recap:

We hope that this how to guide has cleared up your questions about homeschooling in Atlantic Canada. Please be sure to follow all the rules and guidelines of your province. And if you are still unsure about any of the standards and requirements for your province, please reach out to your local homeschooling group. Local homeschooling groups can connect you with other local homeschoolers. Additionally, homeschooling groups can help you learn the best route to take with homeschooling, along with the legal requirements for your province and region.

Homeschooling can be a huge transition for your family, so be sure to check out the Schoolio Blog for helpful tips on how to be successful when homeschooling. It’s our hope that you will enjoy your homeschooling journey, and that your children will benefit from this unique education opportunity.

For general information on how to get started with homeschooling in Canada click here: How Do I Homeschool?

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Back to Homeschool

There’s an office-supply company locally that uses a parody of the Christmas song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” to advertise their back-to-school sales every year. And getting ready for starting your homeschool year can be the most wonderful time of the year! To make sure it’s a great year for you and your kids, here are a few things you can do to start off right.

1. Before you start your homeschool:

Plan ahead

Before you start your homeschool year, take a moment to grab a calendar. Things will go a lot smoother this year if you do a little bit of planning, especially if you’re a family that thrives with predictability. So, on your calendar, plan out your school year dates. What day will be the “official first day” of your homeschool year? When is the “last day of school”? And when is your fall vacation break, Christmas break, spring break and any other days off? Mark them all off on your calendar.

Create space

Next, gather up all the resources — books, curriculum, paper, pencils, etc — and put them where you can find them. You don’t necessarily need a dedicated homeschool room, but a dresser, shelf or cupboard where all the supplies and resources live, will help immensely. Give your homeschool a home base, so that you can find stuff when you need it.

Get supplies

Finally, it’s time to go shopping. Just because we homeschool doesn’t mean that we can’t take advantage of all those back-to-school sales! There’s just something about freshly sharpened pencils, brand-new glue sticks and crisp, blank notebooks that excites my kids about getting started. So, take the kids and go back-to-school shopping.

2. Get ready:

Clean out

Now that you have a plan and supplies, it’s time to get ready for school. Start with cleaning out the shelves from last year, if you haven’t already. Get rid of the old worn-out pencil sharpeners, the crinkled and torn papers, and the tiny bits-and-pieces of eraser lying around. Straighten up the books, sweep out the pencil shavings, and tidy up the paints and math manipulatives. Then you can put all those fresh new supplies away, ready for that first day.

Plan ahead

Next, do yourself a favour and plan out your first month of meals, at least. Starting a new school year can be busy, because it’s not just our studies that begin again, but all the extra activities do too! So, if you’ve got kids who will be doing swimming lessons, soccer, and Spanish classes this fall, you’ll probably be busy driving on top of everything else. Who has time to figure out what’s for dinner? Plan ahead.

Stock up

And stock up on snacks for the new school year, as well. If your kids are anything like mine, they’ve been used to raiding the fridge anytime they like over the summer, while fresh fruit and veggies are in ample supply. Keep up the good habits by stocking up on healthy snacks now, so that they (and you) aren’t tempted by more convenience foods later.

Make a note

Speaking of all those extracurricular activities, pull out your calendar again, and note down when those start dates are. Do you need to get new shoes for soccer? Are fees due for Scouting or piano lessons? Make a note to yourself of the extra costs and supplies you need to get. And you’ll also want to check for potential field trips or special events you want to attend with your homeschool community.

Adjust your routines.

And finally, it’s time to start adjusting your routines to accommodate a less casual day. If you’ve slipped into later bedtimes, less frequent baths (because they’ve been out at the splash pad or pool anyway!) and meals have been more “grazing” and less “sit-down”, you may want to start those habits again with your family. If you have a “school year” routine and a “summer” routine, take the time to adjust yourself and the kids from one to the other.

3. “Not Back to School”

In many homeschool support groups and communities, homeschooling families will celebrate with a “Not Back to School” party, potluck or picnic. These are awesome ways to connect with your community and celebrate homeschooling! And because we aren’t sending our kids to school, we have the flexibility to enjoy the last days of summer at parks, playgrounds, splash pads and trails without the same crowds.

Check with your local support group for dates and locations!

4. It’s the First Day of homeschool!

Homeschooling doesn’t mean you can’t do those cute “first day” traditions that public school parents do. Make your first day just as memorable and fun! Maybe you spend the day in pajamas? Or maybe there’s a special “first day” breakfast you make? Grab a fun sign and take pictures with the kids! Create your own special traditions to mark that first day.

5. Keep going.

Maybe your first day isn’t as fun as you hoped. Or maybe those first few weeks are a little rough. Homeschooling is all about the flexibility. So, keep going with your homeschooling, even if your first few days and weeks don’t go according to plan.

Don’t rush

There’s no need to rush on getting things done. So, it’s ok to take your time, and let the kids adjust to a new routine. Whether it’s your first year, third year or 18th year of homeschooling, not everything goes well the first time you do something. That’s normal. Take a deep breath, remind yourself why you chose to homeschool, and keep going.

Stay consistent

Follow the kids’ lead here. Sometimes it’s not going well because something isn’t working. But sometimes, it’s just a transition issue! It helps if you can stick to a routine as much as possible, and keep the house rules and expectations as clear as you can. When things change, sometimes kids start testing our patience again, just to see where the boundaries are. Stay consistent, and keep going.

Play with them

Take time out for play too! Public schooled kids get recess, and our kids can have much more. Homeschooling doesn’t have to be an all-day thing. So, go outside, break out the board games, or grab the craft supplies and have fun with your kids too. If the day has been hard, maybe a snuggle and a movie will lighten the mood.

Throw it out and start again

If your first days have a few bumps along the way, that’s ok. It should smooth out soon. But what if it doesn’t?

Well… homeschooling is about flexibility! Don’t be afraid to throw it all out, regroup and try again. Reach out to your support group, or favourite blogger, and get encouraged. Keep going!

Guest Blog - Sarah Wall

Sarah Wall is a pro at teaching her older kids and homeschooling teens. She also helps homeschool mamas do the same. After leaving an abusive marriage with 5 young children, launching a successful business, and creating a support community with several hundred members, Sarah believes there’s always a way to achieve your goals. It’s just about finding the right support. So, if you’re contemplating homeschooling teens, or middle schoolers, she believes that you can accomplish it.

Click here to learn more about Sarah Wall

Curious about how to start homeschooling in Canada?

Click here to read ‘How do I start Homeschooling in Canada?’

Was this digital school year a waste for students?

Was this digital school year/virtual learning experience a waste for our students?

As much of Ontario still faces extended closures due to the third wave of the pandemic, most students are attending virtual learning. Parents and students alike are at their wit’s end trying to balance their children’s online digital struggles while maintaining their own sanity. The efforts of teachers to pivot to the online curriculum in a versatile and engaging way for students across grades does not go unnoticed.

Even so, some parents believe that online schooling/virtual learning can be “detrimental” to the youngest learners with the constant time management required. Then there’s the struggle with procrastination, too much digital screen time. And a huge lack of engagement and interaction created in the online learning environment. Reflecting on a regular school day pre-pandemic, one parent references requests from her child to pick him up late from school so he can spend a few extra minutes talking to his friends. The parent noted that children are missing out on physical and verbal connections with their friends.

Parent’s are tired.

Parents address their fatigue of working around the clock; Completing household chores and attending to their children’s virtual school crises, while also try to manage a career. Trying to deal with all of these current circumstances seems to be a giant task. The shuffle between the roles of caretaker and breadwinner, definitely takes a toll on every member of the family. Clearly the pandemic has restricted us in more than one way, our mental health being one of those. After all, it’s common knowledge that ‘humans are social’, so when you take away interpersonal relations, what’s left?

Students are also struggling with adapting to a new form of education (virtual learning/digital learning), that they’ve never experienced before. Kids are so smart, and resilient but they need support! Some parents are concerned that the recent changes in their education and lack of support, may hamper the quality of their education. And concerns of lack of co-curricular activities may affect students’ motor development and physical wellbeing.

The Pandemic isn’t just a medical challenge, it’s a social one also!

We are already realizing that the pandemic is not only a medical challenge but also a social one; it has affected individuals and society alike. Causing anxiety, stress, and high levels of frustration for everyone. According to healthcare professionals, anxiety and heavy amounts of frustration have increased among children and parents alike. Parents are concerned about their new work-from-home lifestyle, while also monitoring their children’s virtual learning. And, this has left parents feeling like they are juggling two full-time jobs. While we know this is causing a mental strain on parents, it is also causing physical problems. Aches and pains, especially in the neck and upper back are now their constant companions, along with headaches. In these circumstances, emotional outbursts are common. We already know that a parents emotional state can directly affect the state of the chid’s mental and emotional well-being. So with all this stress and uncertainty, what can parents do?

Some children are doing exceptionally well despite these challenges brought on by this new form of education, like virtual learning. So, what do we do with the ones who are struggling academically? We certainly don’t want these children blaming themselves for not being able to stay on track with their peers. How can we help both the students, and the parents during such an uncertain and emotionally straining time?

All of it can be a lot to handle for parents and students alike.

Check out these four simple tips to help your student finish off the school year on a positive note.

Finish off the digital virtual school year with positivity:

Create the best space possible for your student. Having a distraction-free space can help to keep your student focused during their online classes.
Establish Rules and Goals. Build boundaries around screen-time so that they are not always on a device.
Set up daily routines. Maintain good morning routines, starting the day off right will help to build positive momentum for the day.
Focus on the relationship with your child. Be open, listen and look for cues of your students mental and emotional health and well-being.

Children learn their very best when they are genuinely curious about what they are learning about.

Check out some of our Special Interest Units for summer learning activities for your child this summer.

Here’s another blog that might just help you, it’s about homeschooling through those tough days!

https://schoolio.io/when-homeschooling-is-hard/