So, you have decided to Homeschool…. Yeah!!!
Is there are a million questions running through your head? Where do I start? What curriculum to use? What subjects to focus on? How do I plan each day? Do I use books or virtual school or both? So many questions, it can be quite overwhelming but have no fear HELP is here. I started homeschooling our boys 2 years ago and it’s the best decision and most challenging thing I have ever done. I had some help and a lot of encouragement and that kept me going on those challenging days for sure. The reason for this homeschool corner is to help answer the frequently asked questions about getting started with homeschool and to share resources and knowledge that has helped my homeschool journey less stressful.
I don’t have perfect days. Some days are a hot mess and others turn out to be much better. I don’t know all the answers. I am still figuring it out. I know each day will have it’s set of challenges and triumphs and I try to embrace them both with an open heart and a positive attitude. Someday’s I lose my Jesus a little and find him all over again in a moment of surrender and trading in my strength for HIS. You will need Patience, Love, Grace, Determination and the resolve to make mistakes. Embrace every bit of your homeschool journey with your children, I hear it goes by quickly!
6 KEY QUESTIONS TO ANSWER to get Started Homeschooling
1.What homeschool style will you adopt?
There are 5 Homeschooling Styles: Traditional, Classical, Unschooling, Unit Studies and Charlotte Mason. To learn more about each style click on the link below. Here you can watch a short video on each homeschool style and take an assessment to see which style suits you and your family.
Five Homeschooling Styles — Simply Charlotte Mason
2. What is your child’s learning style?
Click the link below to learn more…
How to choose the best learning style for your kid – Kidspot
Learning Quizzes
Quiz: What’s Your Child’s Learning Style? | Parents | Scholastic.com
Learning Styles: Auditory, Visual, Kinesthetic
How to Teach an Auditory Learner: My Top Ten Resources
How to Teach a Visual Learner: My Top Resources
How to teach a Kinesthetic Learner with Hands on Help!
3. What curriculum will you use?
Books, Online, Virtual or Both? Christian-base or Non-Christian?
Click here for a list of Online Curriculum
Click here for a list of Written Curriculum
Master Homeschool Curriculum List with Links!
When it comes to curriculum, sometimes it takes trial and error. It took us three different curriculums to find out what suits our family best for now. The pursuit of finding the right curriculum is ever changing as the kids grow, change and progress. We decided to go to the Online route.
Finding the right curriculum is the vital to a thriving and enjoyable homeschool journey.
The good news is knowing your homeschool style and your child’s learning style will help you determine what curriculum best suits you.
Click the link below : Here’s a great place to purchase homeschool curriculum and classical literature (reading books for all ages). You can shop by subject, level, method or language.
Homeschool-Curriculum Resources
4. What are my states requirements and guidelines?
Each state has different requirements regarding homeschooling. Check your state, school district to see what applies. Here is a summary of the homeschooling laws in each state. Click on the link below to see what the rules are where you live.
Homeschool Laws in Your State – HSLDA
5. What subjects do I focus on?
I think the answer to the question will depend on: 1. The age of your child/children 2. What you desire them to learn? 3. What subjects are they passionate about?
For Elementary age children, the basics are a good starting point: Reading, Writing, Math and Language, in addition to Social Studies and Science.
There are also electives to consider: Foreign Language, History, Music, Art, P.E., Sports and other Extracurricular activities.
There are so many homeschool curriculums to choose from and what works great for one child or family might not work for another. Do what works for YOUR family.
6. How do I plan my days?
Ok, so you have chosen your homeschool style, curriculum and subjects, now it’s time to figure out what homeschool will look like on a daily basis for your family. Will you use a lesson plan, schedule or go with the flow? How many hours in the day will you homeschool? Will you use only the curriculum to teach or will you use chores and daily experience to integrate into the lessons and learning? How much time will be spent on each subject? How many days of the week will you homeschool? Will you do co-op or part-time? Are the days’ structured and organized, or playful, relaxed, and free-flowing, or a combination of both? These are all questions to consider and answer that will help you plan and organize your daily routine.
Get more information about Homeschool Planners, Homemaking and Organization by visiting Homeschool Curriculum Resources.
CO-OP, PART-TIME/ PARTIAL HOMESCHOOLING or UMBRELLA SCHOOL?
Click the link below to find out more about Homeschool Co-op.
Click the link below to find out more about part-time or partial homeschooling.
Part-Time Homeschooling . Education . PBS Parents | PBS
Click the link below to find out more about Umbrella School.
Umbrella school. An umbrella school is an alternative education school which serves to oversee the homeschooling of children to fulfill government educational requirements. Umbrella schools vary greatly in what they offer and cost. There are several umbrella schools to choose from so do your research if you choose to go this route. There is no universal definition for an umbrella (or cover) school because home education laws vary from state to state… (If you are in the state of Florida, I can share the names of umbrella schools fellow moms are using)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Click the link… Homeschool On
This is a phenomenal homeschool page to visit. A veteran Mom of 5 and 17 years of homeschooling experience. Tons of additional information to help you get started on your homeschool journey. Check out and soak up all her homeschool wisdom. The more knowledge, the more prepared and enjoyable the journey. “Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter”. — Izaak Walton
EMBRACE THE JOURNEY, ENJOY THE RIDE!
These are all questions to answer to promote an easy, stress-free transition to homeschooling. There is a lot of trial and error when it comes to homeschool. We have learned to embrace mistakes and use them as an opportunity to grow and learn, no need stressing over them. When it comes to homeschool, you will get plenty of opportunities to GROW AND LEARN, and these “growth moments” (that’s what we call them in our house) usually come in the form of challenges and unpleasant circumstances. Some days are challenging and others are bountiful with rewards and great satisfaction of being a major part of your child’s educational journey.
Homeschool for me has been the greatest blessing and a privileged opportunity to pour the very best of myself into our children. Enjoy homeschooling, embrace the journey, treasure the memories…it goes by quickly. Homeschooling affords you time to travel, explore and plan field trips and take on life as an adventure. A day at the park or beach can turn out to be a science lesson about nature, fossils, marine life, geography, plants and animals. You are the teacher and life is big on lessons. EXPLORE!
On this day we took a field trip adventure to pick oranges from an Orange Grove. It was a lot of fun and quite an adventure 🙂
Family Vacation and Field Trip to the Nauticus, a maritime-themed science center and museum in Norkfolk, Virginia. It features the USS Wisconsin BB-64 massive WWII era battleship. The tour was phenomenal! A great interactive and experiential history lesson.We had a blast!
A regular day of homeschooling…
The first year of Homeschooling, Jaden 1st grade using Math-u-See curriculum. Math-u-See integrates text, DVD, and manipulative to teach math in a fun, hand-out, interactive way.
I hope you find this information helpful. I am rooting for you and wish you great success on your homeschooling journey!
Our homeschool journey has been this bittersweet experience of highs and lows, challenges and triumphs. We have grown so much internally. I mean, this has been a character- building, heart shaping, seed planting, lots of coffee drinking, messy bun wearing, patience-testing adventure. This season has truly transformed us.
This past year we tried a Stem Base Charter School for the boys and that experience was an eye-opener. We have concluded our homeschooling journey this year. The memories, the lessons and the experiences of this journey, was necessary for our family to grow spiritually, emotionally, academically and socially.
Our eldest is starting middle school this school year and our second is right behind him (currently in 5th). After much prayer and a big kick in the rare from the Universe, (lol) we believe this is the right move for our family. I believe the foundation is set, the seeds have been planted and it is time for much watering until it is harvest time. We will continue to try to do whatever is suitable for our family and I hope you will do the same.
I trust that whatever homeschool journey you venture to take to educate your children, the material above will be helpful. (Update for 2019)
Would love to answer any additional questions you may have!
~Still Becoming~
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