The reason for the curriculum is to make sure the homeschoolers keep up with their public school counter-parts. Other areas are more flexible and homeschool teachers can be mothers with a high school degree. The woman I interviewed said she read a lot of books on homeschooling before she decided to take her children out of public school. She belongs to a church group which has a home school support group and a web site. Mothers who teach at home need to know what is expected of their children, particularly if they are going to traditional high school after years of elementary homeschooling.
Help is available through national organizations and web sites.
Mothers can also attend homeschool conventions and conferences. This is very important to keep up on the latest educational materials, to share knowledge and experiences with others, and know what is required of their children. It is important to match the curriculum to the needs of the child while not neglecting the basics. Many homeschool moms have taken their children out of public school for religious reasons. They include instruction in their particular religious beliefs along with the academics.