Thinking about starting to homeschool can be daunting. Take some of the stress out of your plans with this list of action items.
Starting to Homeschool
When it comes to starting to homeschool, it can be a bit overwhelming.
Making sure that you have all of your T’s crossed, and your I’s dotted before agreeing to homeschool will help you make your homeschool journey go a bit smoother.
We have pulled together a list of items to help you decide if homeschooling will be the right fit for your family.
You don’t need to know everything– or stick to everything you originally decide on. Flexibility is key!
Keep reading to find out some things you need to know before starting to homeschool.
A Few Things You Need to Know Before Starting to Homeschool
1. Research the Laws and Regulations in Your State
Knowing what is required before fully committing to homeschooling is essential.
The laws and regulations change from state to state. Keep in mind that each school district is unique and may ask you for specific things.
Things like the number of days of school, quarterly reports, and end-of-year assessments may vary from district to district and state to state.
Some states and districts are much more lenient than others.
Local homeschooling groups on Facebook may be an excellent place to search for how your district handles certain things. (More on this later).
You can also check out the list to all of the state homeschool laws in this article to get started!
2. Consider What Kind of Curriculum You Want to Use— Traditional or Unconventional
There are many different methods of educating your little ones.
From textbooks based, to unit studies, to literature based, to unschooling, to interest-led.
All these various homeschooling types change what kind of curriculum is used.
See if there are resources available that match your vision of homeschooling.
For example, want to read books together and use them as a spine for your studies? Look into literature-based curriculums.
Prefer an open-and-go style like is taught in a classroom? Look into traditional curriculums.
3. Develop an Educational Plan and Schedule What Works Best for You and Your Family
The beauty of homeschooling is that it gives you and your family flexibility. With this being said, you will want a plan for what classes will be covered and when.
Once the classes are decided, come up with an assessment plan for when and how your students will be assessed throughout the year.
4. Decide Who Will be Responsible for the Day-to-Day Instruction
Will you be the only teacher, or will you hire a tutor? You can have a combination of both, too.
5. Get Organized
Prepare the necessary materials like textbooks, notebooks, art supplies, manipulatives etc., before starting to homeschool.
This will save you many headaches when it comes to finding specific material for a lesson.
6. Take Advantage of Online Learning Opportunities
Use virtual classes and discussion groups to supplement your homeschool programs.
There are many free or inexpensive classes that your students can be a part of.
Virtual field trips are readily available, too.
7. Make Sure to Stay Flexible as You Go
Some days may require more attention than others, so don’t hesitate to adjust or modify your plans if needed.
Choosing your own schedule is a perk of homeschooling.
8. Connect with Other Homeschool Families in Order to Gain Support From Those in Similar Situations
As mentioned before, if you search Facebook, you should be able to find local homeschool groups.
There are usually some for the major city, for your state, and for your county.
This is a great place to see homeschooling events that are coming up, ask questions about curriculum, and gather insight into how your school district handles things (as long as there are others in the group who are also in your school district).
There are also many homeschooling families that utilize Instagram.
This is another great place to look for support and ideas when you are starting to homeschool.
Starting to Homeschool
Make starting to homeschool a bit easier with these tips. Having a list to guide you through the beginning steps of homeschooling is a game changer.
Hopefully, you found this list helpful. Best of luck on your homeschooling journey!