If you are new to homeschooling then welcome, welcome, welcome! You are in for the time of your life😊
I have been homeschooling for the last 18 years. For me, it’s the best decision and commitment I ever made. There’s literally nothing I love more than spending time with my kids, watching them learn and grow every day! I am so thankful I said yes to this journey many years ago.
For starters, don’t let things like choosing a curriculum weigh you down. This one thing seems to be a hang-up for many beginners, and for some, it even causes them to delay their decision to homeschool. For most of us homeschoolers, it’s honestly just a matter of experimenting with different textbooks and other learning material like visual and audio programs. You may have several children who each learn best in completely different ways. Some are visual, some are audio and still others understand best when they use a hands-on approach. There is no right or wrong here- only what works best for each individual child. And keep in mind that learning styles can change over time as your students mature. The main thing is to always take time to observe and assess each child’s learning style in the beginning of every school year. But for now, just relax and take a deep breath- whew!
Learning made flexible…
One of the absolute best things about homeschooling is how flexible it really is! Do not feel that you need to re-create the school in your home. It’s all about what works best within your own family unit. You may find that working at the kitchen counter or in the living room is best, or you may discover that a desk would be a great investment for your homeschool. Over the years, I have actually done all three at different times😊!
While we are on the subject of flexibility, remember your calendar year and daily schedule is typically not required to mirror the public school. (However, you do need to be very familiar with your specific state’s homeschool law- this is critical as some states are much stricter than others, and have different documentation policies and testing rules that must be followed exactly.) So once you familiarize yourself with your state’s particular homeschool laws and requirements, you are free to schedule your new school any way that works best for your family as long as it meets your state’s homeschool laws.
Homeschool activities and sports
Early on, it’s well worth your time to do a quick online search to find homeschool groups in your area. Typically, these groups get together on some type of schedule- maybe even weekly. Oftentimes, they offer co-ops too. Co-ops are where more than one family participates with the objective being that their kids learn together during that time. Sometimes it centers around one subject, other times it may involve more than one subject.
Generally speaking, sports have a well-established place in homeschool communities these days. For example, in my area of North Carolina we have full contact competitive football teams, flag football, basketball, soccer, baseball, swimming and track. We also have bands, choruses and proms just for homeschoolers, although in many cases other students can also participate.
More to come later…
But for now, relax! You’ve got this.
And to help you get started on the curriculum end you can check out websites for Apologia, Bob Jones, Saxon Math, Math-U-See, Easy Grammar and Abeka😊.
‘Til next time,
Jenn💕