Homeschooling 101: What you need to know to get started homeschooling
- Ashley Maxim
- Dec 15, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 14
As a mom of three and a former public school teacher, educating children comes natural, but I have to admit when I decided to begin the homeschool journey I did not know where to begin (Why I Quit My Teaching Job to Homeschool my Kids). Being a person who thrives on structure and order, beginning the homeschool journey felt overwhelming and chaotic. There were so many factors to consider: what curriculum would I choose, what do my kids need to know, how do I make sure my kids are on par with state standards, how do I structure my day, do I need to let my school district know that I’m homeschooling, what is the financial burden of homeschooling, will my kids be able to get into college as a homeschooler? The list of questions goes on. I did over a year's worth of research and I am going to share with you four points you need to consider when deciding to homeschool.
Why are you making this decision? Homeschooling is not for the weak! This is not going to be a walk in the park. It will not always be sunshines and rainbows. So you really need to think through and write down your reasons. Create a philosophy on why homeschooling your children is best for your family. This will guide you and keep you on track when the road gets cloudy and the days are hard. I can help you create your philosophy if you need guidance on this step. Maybe you aren’t sure as to why you want to homeschool, but you know that this is the path you want to explore. Here are some common reasons why families homeschool:
Religious reasons
Emphasize the unschool method
Have full autonomy over the educational journey
Teach practical life skills
Build a homestead lifestyle
Customized learning
Focus on family bonding
Provide special curriculum for children who may learning disabilities
The list goes on and I discuss my personal reasons in the blog (Why I Quit my Job to Homeschool my Kids). Do not skip this step. Once you develop your Why, share it with your children and any person in your community that will be on this road with you.
Check the homeschool laws in your state. Make sure that your state allows you to homeschool. You may be wondering if the curriculum you choose needs to be accredited or not. The state will answer that for you. Do you need to submit a waiver? The state should be able to answer that for you. Some states refer to it as independent based learning. If you live in the state of California, this is what you need to read to be sure you are within your parameters as a homeschool parent (CA Department of Education). This will also show you the state standards schools are abiding by. This way you know what your child needs to be learning in a specific subject area (CA State Standards). If you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to submit a contact form.
Decide on your method. Finally, here comes the fun part! You have done all the research and technical parts, now you get to be creative. You have chosen to homeschool, which means that the way you teach can be totally unconventional or conventional. It can be structured or unstructured. You can have school everyday or every other day. This part is up to you. There are so many techniques of homeschooling, here are a few of the common styles of homeschooling.
Charter School: being affiliated with a charter school is a great option for those who would like structure and a no cost option. When you are homeschooling through a charter school, your student is enrolled in that school/school district through the independent based learning program. This is a great option for those just starting out and needing a little guidance while still having flexibility and some autonomy. Here are a few points to consider with this option:
All curriculum and supplies are provided for you.
Extracurricular options are provided and funded for your student.
Parents and students will be assigned an educational facilitator who will provide support throughout the school year. They are equivalent to a school counselor. The parent and student will meet with the educational facilitator once a month to review your student’s work, receive more curriculum and ask any questions, if needed.
With this option, transcripts are kept by the school and can be easily transferred to an in person school, if needed.
Normally, your schedule is still your own. You still can teach the curriculum how you see fit and move at the pace of your child.
Online Curriculum/Virtual Academies: If you have done any research on homeschool curriculum, you know that the options are endless. This option of homeschooling can be more expensive, but worth the money if what they offer fits the goals of your family. Here are a few programs that I have personally researched. I am not sponsored or have a bias toward any of these programs. This is just a list to get you started on the journey:
Free Resources: Homeschooling does not have to be expensive especially as you educate your elementary age students. If you choose to purchase worksheets, remember to laminate them or put them in sheet protectors to use them for your other children or to use them multiple times. There are many low cost or free homeschool resources. Here are a few ways to minimize cost for curriculum:
Create your own worksheets through Canva.
Shop for workbooks at your local dollar store.
Search Pinterest for free printable worksheets.
Visit teacherspayteachers for low cost curriculum
Todtl.org has free faith based worksheets
Etsy worksheets
Make it Your Own. Last but certainly not least, make homeschooling your own. Every learning period (semester, quarter, year) can look different. You can choose to change curricula if it's not working for your child. You can add a curriculum to supplement a specific area. This is the blessing of homeschooling, every part of it can be catered to the learning style of your child.
Conclusion: Mamas, as always you’ve got this! If you need further coaching in any area, please do not hesitate to submit a contact form. We can set up a time for consulting and walking deeper into this process if needed.
Comentarios