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The Beginners Guide to Homeschooling.
Are you considering homeschooling? One of the main reasons homeschooling is important to our family is because we're able to oversee the education of our children, knowing exactly what they're being taught and how they’re processing the information and being influenced by it. We believe in our children having a biblical worldview and perspective in their education. The environment that they’re in is important to us as well.
It was 1997 and our oldest son was five years old, had just finished pre-K at a private school, and was entering kindergarten in one of our local public schools. Initially, I didn't have any major concerns as far as the school's environment goes. Instead, my concern was with the teacher, the structure of his classes, and the pace of learning.
To make a loooong story short. We finished out the school year and ultimately decided to begin homeschooling the following year.
What is homeschooling?
Generally speaking, homeschooling is to make a sound decision to accept full responsibility for the education of your child(ren). For most parents, the decision comes from having a strong conviction, albeit spiritual or educational.
Homeschooling is so much more than having "school at home" and quite frankly it can be just the opposite. The homeschooling community is made up of a variety of methods and philosophies. When you decide to homeschool your child, you are deciding EVERY aspect of what, when, how, and why they learn what they learn. You also have the opportunity to be there and guide your child when they begin to go through different stages of emotional, physical, and mental development.
When it comes to actually teaching your child(ren), you are able to tailor your choice of curriculum and structure your days based on your family’s unique style. Your child would be able to advance or slow down wherever needed in their learning journey. Also, with the freedom and flexibility of homeschooling, they can pursue their passions.
What homeschooling is not.
There can be some misconceptions concerning homeschooling, especially when it comes to the socialization of the child. Different families will weigh in differently on this issue. There are many opportunities and programs available to homeschooled kids for them to interact with their peers locally and abroad. Once you are able to plug into your local homeschool community, you will see that you won't have the time to participate in all that is offered.
If you happen to live in an area where local opportunities may be few, there's a huge online community willing to welcome you but remember...YOU ARE A HOMESCHOOLER! You can be the trailblazer and create your own local group, club, hangout, etc.
How to Get Started Schooling at Home.
Before you buy a book or maybe even withdraw your child from a public or private school, PRAY!
The next thing you'd need to do is research the laws for your state in regards to homeschooling, and the rules and requirements involved.
Tips for Successful Homeschooling:
The success of your family's homeschool journey depends on YOU. The opportunities before you are endless.
Tip #1 BREATHE! This is NOT a race! This is about your child's spiritual, mental, and emotional development. You are deciding to take control of your child's education. You are NOT deciding to bring a public school experience into your home.
Tip #2 Enjoy the journey! You will learn so much about yourself in this process, that you are able to see your children in a way you may not have before.
Tip # 3 Your child will be FINE! This is probably the number one concern of all homeschooling parents and honestly...parents in general. This is NOT a competition!
Common Questions About Beginning Homeschooling:
What should my first step be?
As mentioned before, PRAY! Be clear that this is indeed the journey you and your family are to embark on.
Find out your state's requirements. Visit the Home School Legal Defense Association to obtain information on the prerequisites and overall details in regard to the homeschool laws in your particular state.
Curriculum, Curriculum, Curriculum???
Before purchasing any supplies, do a bit of research and find out what ALL is available to you.
Ask other homeschoolers for their experiences with whatever curriculum you may have an interest in. You can also look online to read reviews as well.
Attend a nearby homeschool convention. Conventions are normally held in the spring and summer before the new school year begins. Here, you'll be able to physically look through the different curriculum choices, talk to vendors, attend mini-seminars, and possibly make a more firm decision as to what would be a good fit for your family.
What does a typical homeschool day look like?
Each family is different, and with that said, creating a "master schedule" would be helpful in order to have an overview of upcoming scheduled activities and outside commitments you have aside from homeschooling.
Create daily and weekly schedules to help you to stay on track. DO NOT feel as though schedules net to be set in stone or followed without fail. Look at your schedule as more of a guideline that you've set. Life happens and things will come up.
At the very least, you could create a daily routine and determine the times of the day you will begin your lessons and the time you will close out your formal schooling day.
Now what?
Prepare for DAY 1 and get your homeschoolin' on! You can do this!
Final Takeaways on the Beginnings of Homeschooling:
Don't be discouraged! Try your absolute best not to copy or compare you and your family to another homeschooling family. Being inspired is always great, but emulating someone else is a setup for disappointment.
YOU and your family are unique. Bring your own AMAZINGNESS into your homeschool journey.
Connect with other like minds where encouraging and uplifting one another is an important goal. Be sure to stay away from negativity and judgment. No one has time for that!
You are about to experience some of the most amazing times of your life and create some of the most amazing memories and traditions your family will ever have. I'm praying and rooting for you, my sister. Homeschool Forward!
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