A Beginners Guide to Homeschooling
Homeschooling can be overwhelming when you are starting.That is why a beginners guide to homeschooling is more important now than ever. There are so many things to do, read, and remember – you will need to research curriculum options. Decide on the best plan for you and your child. And of course, make these decisions knowing the best learning methods your little ones are most comfortable with.
As a homeschooling family, you’re required to understand what is allowed and not allowed under your state’s education laws.
However, while you may feel overwhelmed with all the things that need your attention initially, remembering why you opted to homeschool your kids can give you the perspective to keep going.
This beginners guide to homeschooling is filled with routines, tips, and resources that will make your homeschooling journey easier.
First, understand your state’s education laws
Homeschooling is legal throughout the United States. Since education is legislated at the state level, many states have different requirements and regulations for homeschooling.
States like Tennessee, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Georgia, Washington, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and South Carolina require parents to have specialized qualifications before they can homeschool. Others are not so strict. Though, parents are expected to have, at least, high school education.
If you are not sure what steps to take to homeschool your kids legally, you may want to consider contacting your local homeschool group for guidance. Also, check out the Home School Legal Defense Association site to learn more about your state laws.
Explore different homeschooling learning options
Homeschooling your child puts you in control to determine the direction and learning method that works best for you and your little one.
Thankfully, there are several learning options to explore – School at home, Eclectic education, Charlotte Mason, Classical, Unit studies, and Unschooling are all learning methods you can explore. The choice of a learning method should be driven by the child’s personality and how best they learn.
Do your kids remember everything they hear? Do they like workbooks? Or are they more hands-on? Keep in mind though, there is no right or wrong method, what’s important is finding the best solution that works for your family.
Stay open-minded and flexible to switch things when they are not working; after all, that’s one perk of homeschooling.
Drive-test different curriculum
Very important in the beginning stages of homeschooling. Choosing a curriculum is probably going to be one of the toughest decisions you make as you transition to homeschooling. The challenge is, there are a ton of curriculum available today.
While having options are great, they are likely going to overwhelm you. The first rule of thumb to remember is, no curriculum is better than the others.
The second rule of thumb, be OK with testing, tweaking, and changing curriculum until you have the one that works best for you and your kid.
While it is normal to wonder whether your kid is learning everything they need to know, remember what the ultimate goal is: to nurture a well-rounded, productive member of society.
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