The Beginner’s Guide to Homeschool for the Busy Mom of Littles

The Beginner’s Guide to Homeschool

• I remember when I was toying with the notion of pulling our oldest out of school in order to homeschool him. I was a little apprehensive. I didn’t want to ruin my child’s education. I want him to be successful. And even though I have a couple teaching degrees, I was nervous about it. Really nervous.
• How do I do this? What if it’s miserable? Where do I go for information? What kind of curriculum will work for him? These questions and more swirled around in my head night after night. Meanwhile, my son came home and melted after school, crying and miserable as we attempted to complete homework after he was gone for eight hours. He was miserable, and that is what pushed me to grab the wheel and turn this minivan around.
• Fact: Homeschooling is more popular than ever before. Homeschool is popping up as a valid option for more and more families because (among other things) they are working modern, flexible jobs. In addition to flexible lifestyles, there are a zillion resources for parents who are willing and able to learn about homeschooling. No need to run to the library for books; we have the internet now! Resources are readily available making it possible for virtually any parent to homeschool.

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What is Homeschool?

• So what is homeschool, exactly? “I don’t know how to homeschool. Do I have to teach gym? I don’t remember anything about algebra. ” These are common questions parents have as they begin to investigate homeschool for their children.
• Homeschool is providing an education to your children on your terms. It can be done without the agenda of the school or state being interjected. What this means is that you can teach your values and beliefs while being the primary teacher in your child’s learning process.
• Homeschool is not a traditional school at home. You are free to pursue topics and courses that your child finds interesting. This is one way to spark joy for learning and to create lifelong learners. You’re not creating students who are simply “getting through” their education.
• Some parents worry that homeschooling their children will somehow stunt them socially. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Homeschool students have many opportunities to connect with others outside the home. There are classes, lessons, sports, and co-ops to provide interaction with peers. Socializing is a common concern that people hear from well-meaning family and friends. It’s a far smaller concern than most people realize.

How to get started with Homeschooling

• Making the decision to homeschool is huge and life-changing for your family. It will take time, money, and patience to do it. When you make the decision, you are already on your way! That was half the battle for me! Once you and your partner (if you have one) are on the same page, you can head on over to HSLDA to find out what the laws are in your state.
• You can find the first four steps to getting started at my post here. I go over the first four things you need to do in order to homeschool!

Tips for Successful Homeschooling

1. I know what you must be thinking : Can I even do this?
2. Anyone who has patience and commitment to their children can succeed as a homeschooling family. Your mindset is going to play a huge role in your success.
3. Three quick tips for success include:
4. 1. Set realistic expectations for your children and for yourself. Sometimes less is more (especially when you’re just beginning your homeschool lifestyle). Unless we’re talking about laundry. Then more is always more.
5. 2. Commit to giving yourself a period of time to decide whether it’s working for your family. Homeschooling is a lifestyle change. It takes time to adjust when you begin. I would suggest a full school year before you make any formal decisions. Unless you hate it. It’s okay if you do, but taking corrective action needs to happen sooner. If momma ain’t happy, ain’t no one happy!
6. 3. Plug into the homeschool community. There are Facebook groups, co-ops, community classes, library programs, online classes, etc. I joined a few FB groups and was able to learn a lot from other homeschool moms just by reading their posts and comments.

Common Questions About Homeschooling

• What about socialization?

  • There are a zillion ways for your children to connect with people outside of your home. In fact, homeschool kids are used to dealing with other children and adults of all ages. My homeschoolers make friends wherever we go because they’re able to talk to people of all ages. Being around people the exact same age as them is less important than being around people who are kind, considerate, and engaging. Additionally, there are lots of great homeschool events in most areas of the U.S. Depending on your location, there will certainly be opportunities to get together with friends and other families who homeschool, as long as you are willing to venture out and meet people.

• I’m not a teacher. Can I still homeschool?

  • Yes! Believe it or not, all parents have some teaching experience. If you’ve been teaching your children how to perform daily tasks, enjoy spending time exploring together, love to snuggle up with a good book, and are genuinely invested in your children’s success, then you can do it! There are lots of curated curriculums that are open and go and other terrific resources to point you in the right direction. Mindset is everything!

• I don’t have a lot of money to spend on the curriculum. Can I find resources?

  • Definitely! There are free and inexpensive resources available online. There are also a multitude of buy/sell/trade curriculum groups on Facebook. Even with a tiny budget, a creative and resourceful parent can homeschool.

The Last Thing You Need to Know About Homeschool

• There are few things more important in your decision to homeschool than your determination to do it. If you have the time, patience, and desire to homeschool your children, then you can definitely do it.
• There are resources for everything you need to know about homeschooling because of the internet.
• You’ve got this.
• Once you make your decision to homeschool, be proud of taking control of your family’s education.
• Don’t forget to pin this post on Pinterest to share with your friends and drop a comment below if you have questions I can help you with!