starting 11-year-old son in home school

Question:
I'm in the US Air Force and have been assigned to Misawa Air Base, to report this fall. We'd like to home school our 11-year-old son while we're there, but are a little dizzy from trying to figure out how to start. How does one select a curriculum? Must we have one while we're posted overseas? How do we test our son and to whom do we post the results? If there's a FAQ out there that starts with the bare essentials, I'd appreciate it if anyone could point us in that direction, and we'd be grateful for any help.

Answer:
There are so many options as far as curriculum go....its mind boggling. Do you have any opportunity by any chance to attend a Homeschool Curriculum Fair in your state before you go? Do you want Christian based, or not? Easy to follow? Something that is laid out for you until you feel more comfortable with picking and choosing between the stuff available? Here are a few sites:

http://www.sonlight.com/forums/index.html Sonlight curriculum

Homeschool by American School http://adincl.go2net.com/adpopup?site=HM&shape=noshape&border=1&area=... DU.K12&sizerepopup=1&hname=UNKNOWN Those guys you have to get the phone number and wait on the line forever to give them your address to send you the stuff but I hear its good also....

http://www.worldbook.com/ptrc/html/curr.htm Resources for Parents - Typical Course of Study

From there hit all the links you can and get on all the mailing lists of homeschool curriculum/book suppliers you can. For what its worth, we have used the School of Tomorrow curriculum (www.schoolortomorrow.com) for 2 years, for my 11 yr old now almost 13 yr old daughter. We are now beginning to supplement with outside sources for math, writing, art, english etc. Of course, we are also getting much more comfortable with our teaching/learning styles too. You may be able to find a tutor over there to help you..don't discount the wealth of cultural material that will be at your fingertips! A new language! New lifestyles! cool!

YOu can also sign up to what is known as an "Umbrella"school, one that will advise you on the curriculum based on evaluations of your kid. They can provide many services I guess, but I haven't ever used one. Record keeping has been my bugaboo. Keep your computer tuned up cause there are millions and I mean MILLIONS of resources online! We even did a writing course online and that worked out fabulously!