I’ve decided to homeschool – What Now?

Deciding to homeschool was the easy part when you compare it to actually following through. It comes with SO many questions and concerns. Where do I start? How does it all work? What curriculum do I choose? Online classes, virtual school or textbooks? Charlotte Mason or Unschooling? It can go on and on.

While I can’t answer all of those questions for you, I can guide you through your first steps to getting started. When it comes to the rest, homeschooling is not a one size fits all. It opens the door for endless possibilities, flexibility and unique learning experiences. There’s so much about it that simply has to be your own. And so often it changes from year to year as your kids grow.

But the very first thing to do, is make it official! You want to begin by withdrawing your kids from school and notifying the school board of your intent to homeschool. This process can vary from state to state, which is why it’s important to familiarize yourself with your state’s homeschool laws, as well as the laws and requirements of your local county. A great place to find this information is the HSLDA and/or your local school board website. Some states require a certain number of hours logged for learning, attendance tracking, specific testing, and/or other requirements; so, you want to make sure you’re following those guidelines to ensure you’re doing everything by the book. Another thing to keep in mind is that requirements after each completed school year – such as annual evaluations – can vary from state to state, so you want to prepare for those as well.

Once your paperwork is approved by the school board, then comes the time to start preparing for your first homeschool year. There are several things you may want to consider at that time, such as preparing for that transition and adjusting to this new way in which you will be learning. This will be quite an adjustment for everyone, be patient with yourself and one another during this time. No matter what grade level you begin homeschooling, it will take time to transition into a new routine. It doesn’t always go smoothly right away. Creating a new learning environment, figuring out what kind of learning style fits your child best and what homeschooling method aligns with your family values. There are several ways to figure these things out. To figure out which homeschooling methods fits your family best, here’s more information on the different types. You can also take a learning style quiz if you need some guidance on what kind of learning style best fits your child.

Another thing you may want to look into is joining a homeschool community. This can be in the form of an in-person co-op, some of which plan playdates, teach classes and/or go on field trips. This is a great way to make friends and be around like-minded people that can help you on this journey. Another option is to join Homeschool Groups via social media. There is a TON out there, but you can gain a lot of insight, resources and support in these environments. I run a couple of these groups myself if you’re interested in checking them out.

Lead Learn Love Homeschool Group and Lead Learn Love Homeschool Finds Group. Feel free to join in the conversations!

Now that you’re getting acclimated in the homeschool world, you can start planning your first homeschool year!! Let the fun begin! The first thing I do each year, when I’m planning for an upcoming school year is to make a list of subjects and/or topics we will be covering that year. Keep in mind anything that is required by your county and/or that they would be tested on. I always start with the core subjects first and then think about any extra subjects or topics we will add in. Having an outline can help you fill in all the blanks later as you get into which curriculum you choose.

Speaking of choosing curriculum, this is probably the most time-consuming part. I highly suggest doing your own research when it comes which curriculum is best suited for your child(ren). Don’t just choose what everyone else is using, you want to choose something that will give your child the best opportunity to learn the material. Sometimes, what you choose at the beginning of the year, may not be what you end up using by the end of the year. Each year will come with its share of changes and things to improve on. But thankfully, these days, the options for homeschool curriculum is seemingly endless, depending on what you are looking for. You have access to textbooks, virtual school, online courses and so much more. There are all-in-one curriculums, or you can pick and choose from various sources to build an exceptional academic school year for your child. This is where you can be creative and make your homeschool experience your own. Include your children, find out things they are interested in learning as well!

Side note – I will have an entire blog post on some of our favorite curriculum options that we have tried and used over the years in an upcoming post. Stay Tuned!

When I am choosing curriculum, I am looking for something that will both challenge my children and also build on things they are already learning. Refer back to the list of subjects and topics that we talked about before and research which curriculum will best fit those guidelines. I will go subject by subject and do this, making my list until I’ve covered our entire years’ worth of material. Another thing to note on, is that homeschooling curriculum doesn’t have to be expensive. There are so many resources out there that are free or close to it, without sacrificing quality. This is where your research will come into play, finding something both affordable to you and that will fit your child’s needs. More on curriculum in later posts.

I also want to clarify, I’m not here to tell anyone which curriculum to use or not use, what their schedule should look like, how long their school day should take or even that homeschooling is the answer for every family. My goal is to simply share what works for our family, how I choose to run our homeschool and hopefully in some way it can inspire you to find what works for you and your student(s). Every child is different, so what works for one child, may not work with another, even within your own home. I believe that homeschooling our children has given me that opportunity to have a greater understanding about how each of my children learn, versus simply hearing feedback from their teachers. I am able to see first hand where they struggle and where they thrive. So we can start where they are in either of those situations and grow from there. Like anything we do in life, the goal is to make the next day better than the last.

The biggest advice I can offer when starting your homeschooling journey is to remember who you are doing this for. Keep them at the forefront when making any decisions and you will be successful. As parents, we have always and will always be our children’s best teachers.