So you’ve decided to take the plunge and start homeschooling. For most of us, that is a big decision that a lot of time, effort, and research goes into. Now that the decision is made, new questions arise. How do I begin? If you want to learn how to homeschool then you’ve come to the right place.
I have been doing this homeschool thing for quite some now, but I was once in the same place you are today. I did have the advantage of being a second generation homeschooler, but I was still left questioning how to start homeschooling. Here are some tips that will help you get started on the right track.
How to Homeschool: Know Your State Laws
This is the most important information you will need as you begin to homeschool. It may surprise you how many people skip this step, but it often leads to confusion and not a smooth transition, so don’t skip this step. You can do a ton of research and planning, but it will be all for nothing if your plans don’t comply with your local homeschool laws. Here is a great resource to learn about homeschool laws.
Homeschool laws are state specific. Some states have very low regulation and some have very high regulation (here’s looking at you, New York). Since homeschool regulations vary by state, you can’t ask your cousin in Idaho how to comply with homeschool laws if you’re in Florida. It just doesn’t work that way. Read the homeschool laws for yourself and check homeschool organizations in your area to see what these regulations actually look like when applied in a real setting.
Homeschool Styles and Learning Styles
The next things to consider before you start homeschooling are the
different homeschool styles. Homeschool styles are sort of the different “flavors” of homeschooling. This is something you don’t need to over think and your style will probably evolve over time, but choose a style now that seems like a good fit as it will help you pick a direction with curriculum.
Homeschool Styles and Curriculum Choices – My Homeschool with a View
You also need to consider your child’s learning style. If they hate reading then you probably wouldn’t want to pick a literature based curriculum. One of the awesome benefits of homeschooling is customizing the education to fit our students’ unique needs, so definitely get an idea of how your child learns before you start to homeschool.
The Four Main Learning Styles – My Homeschool with a View
Choose Your Curriculum
Curriculum shopping is my favorite part of the homeschool process. It’s always fun to get shiny new books. Start with the basics by learning about the different publishers’ styles and see if one stands out to you or makes you more excited than others. Then you will want to prioritize skills subjects, or the three Rs as some call it. Then you will add your content subjects (history and science), and dessert subjects (enrichment).
Homeschooling is an adventure and you will find things along the way that work and don’t work. The biggest piece of advice I can give you is take all of this advice into consideration, but don’t over think it. You don’t have to do things perfectly to have a great homeschool experience. Enjoy this great adventure!
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