Successful homeschooling – 5 tips

When people first think about homeschooling their children, the task can seem daunting. Many moms wonder if they can really homeschool. Often the prevailing mindset in the world today tends to be that education is most appropriately provided by the “experts” within government and private schools, but this is absolutely wrong. Parents can provide an outstanding education with excellent academic standards and are usually best suited to teach their own children as they know them far better than anyone else.

For anyone contemplating homeschooling, there are several steps you need to take to prepare. Some of the benefits of homeschooling are its overall flexibility, adaptability, and personalized approach to education. However, that is not to suggest that you should jump into homeschooling without careful planning and thought about what is involved in homeschooling your children.

Commit to homeschooling

The first thing in the homeschooling path would be to commit to homeschooling. I know this seems basic, but homeschooling is not something that is just an adjunct to raising the young. It is truly a life changing decision. If you’re not sure, then there’s nothing wrong with waiting and learning more before starting. You should talk to other people who are homeschooling and get feedback from both newcomers and experienced homeschoolers. You will find that their guidance and wisdom will be helpful in making your decision. Attend local support groups or cover school group meetings to understand the necessary requirements and the many activities and resources offered. Make sure that both you and your spouse are committed to homeschooling. While homeschooling can be one of the most fulfilling experiences of your life, it also comes with challenges and difficulties, and both partners need to support each other. Like a wise planner, count the cost and make sure you believe in homeschooling before you jump in.

Be aware of the Regulations

Second, know the rules about homeschooling in your state and municipality. Yes, homeschooling is legal in every state; however, homeschooling laws differ from state to state and, in some cases, from locality to locality. Your own state might have particular homeschooling statutes, or homeschooling could possibly be addressed in compulsory education regulations. Familiarize yourself with the educational requirements. For example, there may be regulations regarding required attendance, regulations affecting the curriculum, certain teacher requirements, grades and attendance reporting, and supervision by a cover school or umbrella school. Your local homeschool support group will have information on laws and regulations. In addition, the Home Education Legal Advocacy Association (HSLDA) is an excellent source of regulatory information, including free state-by-state summaries of relevant laws and regulations.

What is your teaching style?

You will need to choose a method for homeschooling. One of the greatest rewards of homeschooling is the ability to choose your own educational philosophy and to choose a style and homeschool curriculum that is uniquely suited to your children. Those new to homeschooling may not be aware of the various strategies or approaches to homeschooling, however there are many resources available online to familiarize yourself with the variety of approaches. Examples include the conventional approach, the classical education approach, the Charlotte Mason method, the eclectic approach, and what is called “unschooling.”

Choose a homeschool curriculum

Choose the homeschool curriculum that’s right for you. Homeschooling today is not what it was in the past. You’ll find quite a few wonderful, high-quality curriculum resources on the market now that no matter what your school of thought or educational focus, there’s bound to be something right for you. Homeschool curriculum ranges from complete pre-packaged kits that include all the resources you need for both students and instructors to very topic-specific resources that can be customized to meet your student’s unique requirements. The growth of the web-based and interactive curriculum offers even more wonderful resources for homeschoolers. The wealth of high-quality curriculum, coupled with the availability of successful teaching resources, means you’ll be able to find the resources you want to effectively homeschool your children, even through high school.

Find a support group

Finally, join a local support group. You’ve heard it said that “it takes a town to raise a child.” Well, it takes a supportive community to homeschool successfully. Whether or not you should be in an alternative school, make sure you have a support group. Along with basics like arranging field trips and providing details on local events and homeschooling resources, you’ll find relationships and encouragement helpful on your homeschooling journey. It is often through local support groups that it is possible to learn about the different curricula that people are using and get useful ideas about what works for different people in different circumstances. Whatever challenge or difficulty you encounter, you’ll find others who have been there before you and can help you along the way.

If we can do!

Homeschooling is a commitment of the whole family and is not something to be taken lightly. It is a journey that will be filled with struggles in your own home and could be misunderstood by people outside your home. Still, it’s a journey that may be likely one of the most worthwhile pursuits of your life and can have a powerful impact on your family members for generations. Yes, homeschooling can seem overwhelming at first, but with many resources available today, committed parents can provide an excellent education for their children.