Homeschooling Help

As a homeschool mom, you will learn so much more than you did when you yourself were in school.  History that may have bored you will come alive; math skills that eluded you will come together (especially if you start with a young student and are teaching the basics first); grammar will finally make sense; and science will intrigue you.

But your learning will go so much deeper than the academics. 

You will gain so much more insight into your own kids–their passions, their struggles, their amazing abilities, their personalities. 

You will more than likely begin to see yourself more clearly as well.  Are you a highly motivated person? Are you organized?  Are you able to be silly and upbeat? Do you have a quiet spirit? Does chaos inspire or discourage you? Where are you most creative?

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I remember my favorite teacher.

Miss McCullough was my fifth grade teacher and she was amazing! She loved to pour herself into us. She was funny; she was loving; she was willing to steer away from the curriculum and delve into some rabbit trail we started down with our many questions; she would have us pile onto the classroom couch after lunch every day and listen as she read exciting books . . . She was everything I wanted to be as a first-time homeschool mom. In fact, you could say she was my inspiration.

When you begin your own homeschool journey, start with a goal in mind. But rather than set a goal that is simply based on what you want to accomplish, define the kind of teacher you want to be. And keep that goal in mind as you meet the challenges of the day-to-day.

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You are well on your way! You have selected your homeschool program; you have researched your state homeschool laws; you have found the right approach for your child; you are ready to begin!

What next?

My next piece of advice is essential for an organized and relaxed homeschool program:

Be sure to set aside a specific area in your home for homeschooling.

This does not mean that all learning and teaching must take place in that room or area; however, it does mean that each child has their own area to store books, to keep their school supplies, and to go to for more information.

This area could be:

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One of the best moves we made as a homeschool family was to establish a homeschool support group. At the onset, we were simply a group of families who planned field trips, met for “physical education” classes, shared ideas and supported one another through the rewards and the struggles. As the years passed, we began to work together to provide specialty courses for our kids:

• Science labs
• A study of Shakespeare (my passion; therefore my course)
• Writing and Research
• Public Speaking
• Art
• Book Clubs
• Sports teams

The list could go on and on. We worked together using our various specialties to provide ample opportunities for our kids.

But it benefited more than just the kids.

By scheduling regular times to meet-sometimes formal, sometimes not-we parents were able to network with one another. We shared ideas, discussed our frustrations, held each other accountable and became close friends.

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Does your child love to get dirty and explore the world around him?
Is she a child who loves to sit down and listen as you read a story?
Is he an analytical thinker, who tends to question what is happening around him?
Is she one who can connect events and experiences to lessons in life?
Does he seem to thrive when able to create with his hands?
Does she naturally “get it” the first time she hears it?

These kinds of questions can help to define the best kind of learning approach for your child. A hands-on learner will not be content to sit and fill out worksheets or listen to you explain concepts. A student who has strong auditory skills will thrive with a curriculum that uses interesting stories to teach about history, science or literature.

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Before you embark on the incredibly rewarding homeschool journey, you need to examine yourself.

What kind of teaching role in the home do you want to take?

Do you enjoy pulling out all the stops and making a mess while you dig into learning with projects and experiments?
OR
Do you prefer an orderly home with a set schedule where you can plan out any such experiments and ensure that you have just the right materials before you begin?Are you a creative individual who loves to find new ways to explore?
OR
Are you an individual who can take someone else’s creative ideas and tailor them to your kids?

Are you an individual who needs structure?
OR
Are you one who prefers to “wing it” and see where the day takes you?

These questions are important to explore before beginning your search for just the right curriculum.

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When individuals begin to consider homeschooling, they are often filled with uncertainty and a little bit of fear. How do I do it? What should I know? What if I don’t do a good job? . . .

However, a great place to start is to get to know your state homeschool law.

In some states, there are more detailed guidelines and concrete standards such as Pennslyvania Homeschool Laws and California homeschooling laws, in others, parents don’t need to do much to comply. However, knowing where your state stands up front, before you begin to explore your options, will help to define what and where you begin to research homeschool options.

Once you have those under your belt, the possibilities are endless!

For a quick link to the laws in your state, click State Laws in the United States then select your state.

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Commit to Consistency

1. Be sure to commit to a full year-one year at a time. For many first time homeschoolers, the thought of years of running a homeschool can be daunting-in some cases, so much so that they have trouble making the decision. And although we believe that you will continue for years to come, your level of commitment should be one year at a time–one full year.
2. Be sure to commit to a schedule. Many homeschool Moms love to be spontaneous and to enjoy the freedom they have in homeschooling. However, this can sometimes go too far. If you are tired of hearing, “Can we do . . .today?” or “What are we doing today?,” you need structure. Kids like to know-to be informed. In fact, I guarantee that your kids will thrive on organization and a specific schedule. Better yet, you will hear far fewer questions on what to expect each day.

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The question, “But does this homeschool program line up with what they do in the public schools?” is one of my biggest pet peeves. Why? Because what they are doing in the public schools is failing! Kids are dropping out every day; others are pushed through a system that is not providing them with even the fundamentals; and still others struggle through a program that places them in a mold that just does not fit them.

The beauty of homeschooling is that you don’t have to fit into that public school mold. You can choose to find ways to teach your child that work! You can opt out of using slanted textbooks to teach history and science and instead explore the world in an engaging and upbeat way.

Stop comparing your homeschool program to what they are doing in the public school. Instead, prepare your child for his or her future by focusing your efforts on effective teaching that works and that inspires a love for learning!

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It is estimated that 50% of all students who graduate from public high schools, graduate feeling “dumb.” 

That number is even greater for young students who, in their formative years, constantly hit a brick wall when trying to learn. 

Do you remember your first years in school?  How excited you were when you grabbed your cartoon lunchbox for the first time and headed off to school?  For some of us, it was the beginning of an adventure; for others, the beginning of a nightmare.

If you did not fit the mold of the perfect student, you knew it very quickly.  A well-meaning teacher set up fun bulletin boards where students could put their name when they met specific goals.  I remember one of my bulletin boards–a bare tree.  When a student achieved 100% on a spelling test, he or she put her name on a leaf and posted it on the tree.  Can you imagine how those students felt week after week when they could not add their leaf to the tree?

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