An easy guide to getting started homeschooling your children so that you get off on the right foot with confidence.
Hello friends! I am so glad you are curious about homeschooling. This is a journey that could change not only your child’s life but also your own.
As a homeschool graduate I can say I am very glad for my homeschool background and all the doors it allowed me to open throughout my years as a student and beyond.
Why Do You Want To Homeschool?
Jumping into something new will bring challenges and you will want to be able to remind yourself why you are doing this.
Writing down your reason for homeschooling or at least talking with your family about it is important. Get detailed and personal and really dig into your reasonings.
If you’re just thinking about homeschooling, talking to other homeschoolers can help give you ideas of why it might be a good path for your family.
Homeschooling Legally
Next you will need to get familiar with your states homeschooling laws.
I know this can sound daunting but thanks to HSLDA you don’t have to fear, they will be your homeschooling legal headquarters. HSLDA is a group of lawyers that protect the rights and freedom to homeschool and have so much information on their site to get you off on the right foot.
Each state has their own regulations for homeschooling. To check your states laws head over to HSLDA.org and go to the ‘legal’ tab and then click ‘State Homeschool Laws.’ This will bring you to a page with an interactive map of the United States, pick your state and you will find all the information you need for homeschooling where you live.
Choose Your Homeschooling Method
Homeschooling can be tailored to your families specific wants and needs and this is where you start to do that. There are multiple methods you can choose or pick which parts of each method you want to incorporate and make it your own.
Some of the different methods to choose from are:
Unschooling – Living a life of natural learning through everyday life and personal interests.
Charlotte Mason – As said by Charlotte Mason “Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life.” Educate the whole child within their home and with their family values, having good habits and giving them a living education.
Traditional – Making your homeschool resemble the school system. Planned out schedules and curriculum that guides everyday schooling.
Unit Studies – Picking a theme/subject/book and using it to incorporate multiple school subjects.
Hybrid Schooling – Going to a classroom in person or virtually a few days a week and schooling at home the other days.
Gameschooling – Learning subjects through different games (board games, card games, virtual games, etc.)
Eclectic – A mixture of some/all of the other methods. Taking what you want and making it your own.
There isn’t one perfect way to homeschool so if what you are doing isn’t working for your family try a different way and embrace your freedom.
Choosing Your Homeschool Curriculum
Whether or not you choose to go with curriculum or live a life of natural learning (unschooling) your options are endless.
Now that you have your laws and method down pat you can head over to either Google or YouTube and search ‘Homeschool curriculum for ___ grade.’ Both places will bring up many different options. Also try adding in specifics such as ‘Christian homeschool curriculum’ or ‘Best Virtual homeschool curriculum.’
One great way to find curriculum is to look and see if you have any homeschool conventions or events happening near you. Conventions are a great way to physically see different curriculum options and talk to the creators/promoters of them. Plus, also meet other homeschoolers while you attend!!
Curriculum can get pricey but with a bit of creativity you can get it cheaper or even free by finding resale events. Another option is to decide what you want your child to learn and go to your local library, plan a field trip, watch videos or have a conversation with someone who is knowledgable on a particular subject.
Your Homeschool Start Date and Schedule
Now that you have all that done it’s time to choose your start date and schedule. Some homeschoolers school year round and take shorter breaks throughout the year while others go along with the traditional school systems schedule. Talk with your family about what schedule will work best for you.
As homeschoolers we spend a lot less time doing bookwork than those in public/private school. This is because we can focus on one or two students at a time instead of a classroom full of them. Planning out a general daily schedule with will give you a visual to what your day to day will look like, but be flexible and change it as needed.
Remember, homschooling = freedom so make your schedule work for your family!
Furthering Your Homeschool Knowledge and Finding a Community
Now that we have covered the basics to get started I encourage you to further your knowledge of homeschooling. Check out homeschooling/education books, podcasts and local homeschool groups.
Having a support system is always beneficial. Search Facebook and Google for local homeschool groups and meet ups, or if you are feeling ambitious, start your own!
I hope you found this guide helpful and you have a wonderful start to your homeschooling journey.
With Love, Elia
[…] Now, we don’t all play. I’m big into letting kids play, especially the younger ages. It’s so good for them and they really do learn so much. But we don’t play all day and as they get older their studies also increase depending what method you choose. This is why it’s so important to decide with method you want to do. I give a brief overview of some in this blog post. […]