How to Homeschool: Answering Your Top 10 Common Questions

Deciding to homeschool can bring on a fair number of questions. I’m hoping to help answer 10 common questions that might come up when you’re getting started. Of course, if you’re like me, you will have way more than just ten. But let’s start here, for now. I’m also no “expert” by any means, but I’m hoping this information brings you value and insight to what homeschooling can look like for you.

1. What requirements does my state and/or county have for homeschoolers?

Answer – The best place to find out the information regarding your state and more specifically, your county requirements is your county school board. Checking their website is a great resource to find most of the information you need when it comes to the specific requirements that you will need to follow. You can also reach out to the school board directly with anything you can’t find on their website, or with any additional questions you might have. Be sure to also find out what is required at the end of each school year so you can prepare ahead of time. Another great resource to have handy for this kind of information is the HSLDA.

2. Do I have to follow specific scheduling guidelines, or can we make up our own schedule?

Answer – Part of this question could be answered when you check with your school boards requirements, but if you live somewhere like we do, that doesn’t require a certain number of hours of teaching time per day, you are free to create a schedule that works best for you and your family. I still suggest creating a daily schedule/routine to make your day run a little smoother. It also provides good structure for our kids to know what is expected each day. Keep in mind, these things can change over the years.

3. How long of a school day should we plan for?

Answer – This is going to depend on several things. Such as how many children you are homeschooling, how many subjects you plan to teach each day and what grades you are teaching. Younger children will likely have a shorter day then those in higher grades. Many families can effectively teach their kids in as little as 2-3 hours per day. Remember, when our kids are in school, there is a lot of time during their day spent cleaning up in between lessons, walking to and from lunch, recess and/or other classes and even waiting for their peers to complete their assignments. That time is significantly reduced when we are teaching at home, being that we don’t have such a large class.

4. Will my kids learn everything they would have in public/private school?

Answer – The great thing about homeschooling is there is no limit to what our children can learn. A home education can be just as effective, if not more so, as a traditional education. It’s also not uncommon for homeschoolers to jump ahead of their peers. The sky is the limit!

5. Am I capable of teaching them on my own?

Answer – Of course you are! I believe our children learn from their parents and guardians more than anyone else. Just think about all the things we teach them from early on, how to walk, talk, read, play, etc. There’s absolutely no reason that you can’t give them a good, even a great education. Believe in yourself as much as we believe in our children.

6. What curriculum do I choose?

Answer – Choosing a curriculum can be one of the most challenging parts of homeschooling. There are so many options to choose from. So, instead of me telling you what curriculum I think is best, I’d like to invite you to take a few things into consideration on your own while you are deciding. I believe curriculum choices are incredibly personal, because every child is different and every homeschool will be different. I think the most important step in choosing a curriculum is to do your research! You can find reviews online of course, but another great way to find out what may or may not work for you, is to look for reviews on YouTube. I’ve watched a ton of reviews on YouTube, where you can see a flip through of the material and get a more in depth look at the resources. Picking the right curriculum can come with a bit of trial and error. If you start with something and it doesn’t work out for your student, don’t spend too much time trying to force it. It’s okay to move on to something else. Our first-year homeschooling, I decided to try a few different curriculum choices to see what worked best for us. Over the years, I’ve found some really great options that work well with my children and our schedule.

Another thing to consider is how much planning you will want to do on your own. Some curriculum options are more of a workbook, with no lesson plans or any kind of schedule to go with it, so you will need to break them down to fit your day-to-day schedule. But you can also find great options that have everything planned out for you. These are great because they involve minimal to no planning on your part whatsoever. I typically choose this type of curriculum for our Math and Language Art subjects for my children. It makes planning our year much simpler and I can focus my creativity on other subjects.

7. How will I know what to teach each day?

Answer – This of course will depend on your curriculum choices and how many lessons you plan to do each day. For example, in our homeschool. We do our main subjects everyday, Math, Language Arts, Bible, Vocabulary, Read Aloud, and Writing. Recently we have also included a Health course into our daily routine. But for subjects like Science, History/Geography, Typing and Spanish, we do only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. My rule is to make sure we get the basics done every day. Once you have picked your subjects and curriculum, that will make your daily lesson plan much easier to figure out, especially if you have chosen a curriculum that includes lesson plans already. Also, don’t be afraid to try out different schedules and find what works best for you.

8. How do I grade their assignments?

Answer – Grading assignments was challenging for me at first, especially because when I started out, I picked curriculum that didn’t include an answer key! (Lesson learned!) But currently, we use Master Books and The Good and the Beautiful, which includes an answer key and grading tips. I’m able to track when an assignment was completed, what percentage they received, as well as track what areas they need to work on. When it comes to grading assignments, this may also depend on what requirements your particular state has in this area. Some may require you to submit assignments or test scores, where as our state only requires a portfolio evaluation at the end of each school year.

9. What can I do if my child is struggling with a specific subject or concept?

Answer – When our children are struggling with a specific subject or concept, it can be a difficult challenge to overcome. Depending on what they are struggling with, there are educational apps you can use to give your child some extra practice on the subject. Our usual go to is Khan Academy.

Math has been a struggle that we have personally dealt with, with my own daughter. It’s not her favorite subject, at all. So, we’ve tried a variety of things to help, including videos, math manipulatives, educational apps and sometimes just giving her a break and picking back up the next day can shift her confidence in a big way. Those days are the hardest for sure, but once you work through those struggles and see the progress, it’s worth it all. There are also tutors available to homeschoolers that could also be a great resource to have handy.

10. What are the challenges of homeschooling, and how can I overcome them?

Answer – The challenges of homeschooling will come in different forms and at different times for everyone. But I would say some common challenges are ensuring a well-rounded education, maintaining motivation for you and your children, time management, and socialization. Some ways to overcome these situations would be to not only make sure the curriculum you are choosing is right for your child, but also that they are enjoying learning from it. If the material isn’t keeping them engaged, they aren’t going to stay motivated to learn. Another way to ensure a well-rounded education and maintaining motivation is to incorporate new topics and/or subjects into your arsenal of curriculum. Having a functional routine for everyone is going to help with time management. I’m a big plan ahead kind of person, so I like to set things up the night before to help the next day run smoother. I plan our schedule for weeks ahead of time. Meal planning is another way to manage your time well and give you more time to spend learning. When it comes to socialization, there are plenty of ways to provide your children with opportunity to interact with other children. Join a co-op, church group, summer camps, vacation bible schools, sports, drama or art. The list goes on. Homeschooling gives us more freedom with our time & more opportunity for extracurricular activities. The bottom line is you will encounter challenges of all kinds in your homeschool, but just like most things, we can overcome them, learn from them & adapt. You can do this!

Final Thoughts –

I’m sure that any parent on this journey with homeschooling will ask these questions and then some. The biggest resource starting out, when your trying to understand the requirements based on your state, is HSLDA. And then as more questions arise, a great resource these days is social media. Chances are, you will be able to find Facebook groups in your local area of other homeschoolers that are incredibly helpful in answering questions. This is also a great way to learn about your local co-op. Joining a co-op can be extremely beneficial to homeschoolers. Groups can get together for field trips, classes, sports etc. It’s also just a great way for us homeschool moms to get some support. I also find a lot of great inspiration from homeschool mom youtubers and/or on Instagram and Podcasts. Finding a good group of homeschool mamas to have in your corner can be such a blessing.

Lastly, I’m in your corner! <3 Connect with me here!