Are instructors required to have a teaching degree? Is a regimented schedule necessary? How does a parent know what to teach? Where does one start? If a friend calls for lunch, can I go or will I feel guilty? My questions could fill a book. So many how's, where's and why's.

Knowing practically nothing about how this daily commitment fits into the lives of busy families, I was pleased to meet a few moms with plenty of homeschooling experience. A recent call about a workshop planned by South Hills Home Educators seriously caught my attention.

The 23rd annual Greater Pittsburgh Homeschooling Workshop and Curriculum Fair is set for 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 29 at South Hills Bible Chapel in McMurray.

Men and women from as far as Erie, central Pennsylvania and West Virginia as well as the South Hills have gathered each year. Some want to share how homeschooling benefits their families. Others hope to pick up hints from more experienced parents.

"It's been more than 24 years since I became involved in the homeschooling movement," said Sue Means, founding organizer of this workshop opportunity. "My interest piqued after meeting a mother of eight children who was lobbying in Harrisburg for a homeschooling law."

Sue's son Jim was ready to enter third grade. He was a good student in most subjects, but reading slowed him down. Friends with homeschooling experience offered help with schedules, books and lesson planning.

"The next year I planned a seminar," added Sue. "About 35 moms and dads came to learn more about this alternative to conventional teaching."

Families have various reasons and several ways to homeschool.

Rhonda Skiles has found a computer program that works well for her five children. Brenda Krayzel, also a mother of five, began teaching at home when she realized a son had special needs.

"My son Joey was in second grade when he began talking about wanting to be homeschooled because a few of his friends were schooled at home," said Sue Colosimo of Canonsburg. "My husband and I talked with friends about how they planned their schedules around this commitment. Since I had a teaching degree, we decided to give it a try."

Sue's husband helps with history and geography lessons and Joey takes art classes and plays basketball at Central Christian Academy. He also takes piano lessons.

"Teaching at home has not been as overwhelming as I thought," continued Sue.

Homeschooling support groups meet locally. Family Instructors of South Hills boasts an 80-family membership and Special Needs Homeschoolers of Western Pennsylvania has 90 families.

Education is the foundation of the future and home education is becoming an accepted choice nationwide.