The Beginners Guide to Homeschooling
Families decide to homeschool for all kinds of reasons. Through my time homeschooling, I’ve met parents who were homeschooling for their special needs kids, their highly intelligent kids bored by the school system, their athletes who spend many hours of each day at practice, their free-spirits where were getting crushed by schools, and almost any other situation you can imagine. Your own reasons for homeschool might help guide you to the type of home education that will suit you and your children best.
Where to begin
The moment I heard that homeschooling was an option, I started planning it for my 1-year-old. I never liked school and had been dreading going through it with my daughter. I had plenty of time to figure out exactly what homeschool is all about and to figure out what might work for us.
I changed style and curriculum may times over the following 18 or so years. It was really helpful to know people who were a little ahead of me on the journey that I could turn to for advice. But remember, your family is unique and only you can judge what works best for your kids.
How to get started with homeschooling- 10 Steps
1. The Legal Stuff
The first step is to research homeschooling laws in your state. Every state has different laws regarding homeschooling, so it’s important to understand what requirements you’ll need to meet. A great place to start is the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, found at HSLDA.org. It’s a non-profit organization with resources for homeschoolers in all the US states.
2. Homeschool Styles
What kind of education do you envision for your child or children? Ummm….
It would be difficult to answer that question if you have never homeschooled before. This is why it’s a great idea research homeschool styles and methods. There are many different methods, ranging from Unschooling to Charlotte Mason to Unit Studies to Classical to School-at-Home. Look at the various styles to see what fits your child’s learning style and your teaching style. This will give you a starting point for picking out curriculum. While some people will pick one style and stick with it throughout their homeschool journey, most of us pick pieces from different styles to create an eclectic mix tailored to our family. Check out our free resource – Is Homeschooling Right For Your Family?
There’s no need to worry if you can’t find a single teaching style that you love. You’ll have plenty of time to learn about all the different methods and figure out what works best for you and your children. Everyone’s teaching style evolves over time, so don’t feel like you have to be an expert from the start. Just try to gain as much knowledge as you can and narrow down your curriculum options.
3. Homeschool Curriculum
In most states, it’s not strictly necessary to follow one curriculum. You might find a math program that works for one child and is a disaster for the other. It’s easy to get swept away by the rosy promises of all the different curriculum you find on-line, but please please please don’t drop thousands of dollars on one before you are sure it works for both your teaching style and your child’s learning style. Things that look fantastic at a curriculum fair in the August sunshine might turn nightmarish by a dark, chilly December morning when everyone is cranky.
4. Hands-On
Do your best to look at a curriculum before buying.
- Friends/acquaintances– If you don’t yet know anyone who homeschools in your area, check FaceBook for local groups. Park meet-up are a great time to ask the other parents if you can pick their brain about homeschooling. Most homeschool moms love to talk curriculum and will be happy to help.
- Homeschool Conventions- If you don’t know anyone who homeschools, see if there is a homeschool convention near you. Before going make sure to check the vendor list (no point in going if the curriculum you are searching for won’t be there). Also, write down the vendor booths you want to visit so that you are sure to visit them and are not completely overwhelmed.
- Print Samples- Print off samples of the curriculum you are considering. Spend time reading through them and comparing the samples. You could even get some of the books from the library and give the plans a test run.
- Local Homeschool Store – we are lucky enough to have a fantastic homeschool store nearby that operates on a consignment system. It’s a great place for looking at curriculum that other families have finished with and are ready to sell. Be sure to check your area for something similar – or a used book store that might have some options.
5. Eclectic or Boxed Curriculum
One way to homeschool is to choose many different subjects from different vendors. Another way is to use a boxed curriculum that comes with all the subjects you need and lesson plans. A boxed curriculum can be helpful for new homeschoolers because it gives them a framework and a plan. Once they are more comfortable, they can try the eclectic route if they want.
If you can’t afford to buy a boxed curriculum, try picking 2-3 subjects that interest you and your kids, and start learning them together. Once you’ve got those down, you can add in other subjects. This way, you can figure out your child’s learning style and your teaching style before investing in more curriculum. And remember, no set curriculum is always an option, too.
6. Find Your People
It is important for you and your children to have a social group. Look into homeschool, sports and other groups in your area that focus on activities that your children are interested in. The number of groups available will depend on the size of the town or city you live in. There are plenty of opportunities available if you look hard enough. A quick Google search should help you get started. Don’t just limit yourself to groups of other homeschoolers! There are usually plenty of after-school activities your kids can get involved with, depending upon their interests, even in the smallest towns.
7. Lighten up on yourself!
Some of the choices you make in your curriculum are not going to work out, and that is okay. Give yourself a break and make some and wiggle room in your budget for these choices. If you can tweak it to make it work for your family and get through the year, great. If not, move onto a different option and call it a lesson learned. It will take time for you to find what works for you as the teacher and for your child as the student. If you don’t like teaching the curriculum, it will just sit on your shelf and never get done. Having a little extra in your budget for these choices will allow you to find something else without causing undue financial distress.
8. Set learning goals together
Homeschooling your child gives them the opportunity to direct and customize their education. Having goals is an important part of that process. Having a vision and a plan for where you want your child’s education to go makes it more likely that you will achieve those learning outcomes and properly align your day-to-day curriculum.
Find out what topics or subjects they are most interested in, what kind of materials or books they like to use, and what style of learning (hands-on, visual, etc.) works best for them. As the parent/teacher, it is important to outline some key learning objectives for your child ahead of time. These objectives will be based on state or national requirements, your personal educational philosophy, as well as your child’s age and abilities. Once you have some broad objectives and benchmarks, sit down with your child and get their input. Find out what topics or subjects they are most interested in, what kind of materials or books they like to use, and what style of learning (hands-on, visual, etc.) works best for them. This information will help you tailor the learning experience to your child’s needs and interests.
9. Make learning a family activity
Find a subject or activity that everyone in the family enjoys and share your excitement for learning about it with your kids.
For example, you could:
- Read together.
- Explore a new hobby or have a family member teach a skill.
- Make crafts.
- Be a tourist in your own town.
- Go geocaching.
- Take a family hike.
- Visit a museum.
There are many ways to make learning fun for the whole family. You could take a trip to the zoo to learn about animals and ecology, or practice home economics skills by cooking together. You could also use apps like Duolingo to gamify learning a new language. See who can rack up the most points!
10. Collaborate with other homeschoolers
You’re not alone in homeschooling your child just because you’re in charge of their education. There are rich and diverse homeschool communities all around the world.
It’s a good idea to connect with other homeschoolers in your area or online so that you can share resources and ideas. This can make homeschooling easier for you and also help your child to learn more and have more opportunities for socializing and learning.
The Last Thing You Need to Know about Homeschooling
There is no curriculum that is perfect for everyone. You have to find what works best for your family and then make adjustments as necessary. Depending on what stage of life your family is in, what works for you may change.
Homeschooling is all about giving your children a great education whilst also forming strong bonds with them. You can start by doing things, discussing things and learning with your kids. This will help you to guide your homeschool decisions. And don’t forget to be gracious – show kindness to yourself and your kids. This will be a big change to your lifestyle and you will all need some time to adjust.
Leave a Reply