how to homeschool- questions and answers for beginners

how to homeschool (a comforting guide for beginners)

The last few years have introduced a huge number of people to homeschooling.

Whatever the reason that is encouraging you to homeschool, you probably have questions! Here is a helpful overview to answer some of the most common concerns of a new homeschooling parent!

Primarily, how do you even know where to begin?

I’ve got you! Let’s get started by answering your concerns and helping build your confidence!

As an experienced homeschool mama, I understand just how scary all the hard questions can be in the beginning. Good news, they all have answers!

I’ve got some tips that I wish someone had told me all those years ago. Ready?

Why should we homeschool?

The reasons are as varied as the options to do it. Some common reasons include:

Tailored education specific to a child’s needs
Opportunity to have lots of flex time to travel or spend time with family working challenging shifts
Dissatisfaction with the quality of the options in the community
Eagerness to include child-led learning (or unschooling) as an option
Desire to offer classical education or a rigorous curriculum to challenge their child
Fed up with government overreach
Moral/religious reasons where parents want to be the ones to decide what their children are exposed to and when
Viewing homeschooling as a wonderful adventure

How do you homeschool as a beginner?

Good news, you can start with very little! The library is your new best friend. When we started we were broke as could be but determined to provide quality education.

If your budget allows, it might feel simple to order a complete curriculum Many families do this and enjoy it, for others, every year changes as the child’s NEED changes.

Personally, during the 14 years we homeschooled, we tried all the options. Unschooling (one kid loved/ one HATED) , unit studies (great to teach multiple ages at once) ,child-led learning, Charlotte Mason (my fave) , and more formal curriculum like Sonlight, and usually involved in co-ops.

Here is the one thing you need to remember…it is okay to change your direction!

Galatians 6:9 And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.

How do I choose a homeschool curriculum?

Too many people feel overwhelmed by purchasing a curriculum that simply is not a good fit for your child’s learning style, OR your teaching style.

That is OK!!!

Sell it, share it, or donate it and move on.

I know that is easier said than done (at first) but if you don’t have resources TODAY, do an internet search for “free homeschool curriculum” or start with simple basics.

The amazing thing is that education is a lifestyle. Reading quality literature, learning through math games, exploring science? Those can all be done in a natural family atmosphere.

There is no. perfect. curriculum. for. all. children. or. parents.

Memorize that. It will be okay, I promise! All parents seek out the best. But what is optimum is what’s best for your unique family.

Since this is an overview, I won’t go into details, but make sure to read all my past posts on homeschooling here.

{If you need a super simple start, consider buying/or creating a unit study or lapbooks}

What is the best homeschool curriculum?

Can we speak frankly as friends here? People love to suggest homeschooling curriculum (including me ha-ha), but the most important thing is that it is a good fit for your family.

There is no perfect curriculum for every dynamic. If you have friends who homeschool, ask to check out their materials. Go online and do some searches.

Additionally, a great place to start? Understand your child’s learning style first.

Don’t buy something that you don’t like, don’t keep something that doesn’t align with your values, and don’t force something you all hate just because you paid for it.

That is a huge dilemma most homeschool parents face at least once! Besides, this is a journey. Enjoy it. Embrace freedom of choice!

A good place to start is reading about learning styles here and ordering a few catalogs like Rainbow Resources, Timberdoodle, Apologia, and Sonlight to give you a varied introduction to curriculum styles.

Even though the term “living books” might be new to you, it is a wonderful way to homeschool. Here is a suggestion to check out.

Can I teach homeschool math?

Since math is often the main fear, check out these companies that I’ve used and are well regarded in the homeschool community for years. You don’t need teaching experience to use them. Teaching Textbooks, Life of Fred .

Cathy Duffy has been reviewing curriculum for ages and you can find those reviews here! I can do a specific suggestion list per topic we’ve successfully used if interested.

Often, families like SOME parts of one and some of others. As your confidence grows, you might decide to do a hodgepodge mix of different programs each year.

That works just as well and is what we did too! People with opinions? Smile and consider them if you wish, but don’t be ruled by them.

Do I need a dedicated area to homeschool?

Nope! The good news is that while they are fun to have, they are not essential. Many people create elaborate rooms, they are beautiful and complete with desks and a flag in the corner!

If that is something you have space for, and enjoy doing, wonderful! If you have a kitchen table, it would also serve you well.

Many people ditch the room and find they enjoy gathering in the living room or kitchen as an extension of family life.

Don’t let a fear of not having space deter you from starting.

We lived in several types of places over the years, some nice…some, decidedly not ideal.

Nevertheless, our kids are grown now, and they have no preferential memories for either type. It didn’t affect their learning at all.

When space is limited, consider a simple basket per child, a folder for the parent, and/or a stackable set of trays for supplies.

Homemade Lovely has 5 Tips for Homeschooling without a room here.

Am I qualified to homeschool?

The short answer, absolutely.

Some states vary in requirements. You can check out (and I’d recommend joining) Homeschool Legal Defense Fund Association to find out the specifics in your state.

Oh, I wish I could give you a hug and a cup of tea just for this topic.

While some states require a state license for teaching, most don’t. You are qualified because you are most invested in their lives, which is likely why you brought them home in the first place.

It is scary to jump into this! I get it. Especially when it is unexpected, and the “world” shouts ARE YOU SURE YOU CAN DO THIS??? WHAT IF YOU RUIN YOUR CHILD???

Fear lies, and encourages others to offer input you don’t need. You can do this, you really can.

The truth is the world won’t end!

You are in good company if circumstances motivated you to jump in with both feet BEFORE you have ample time to plan. Homeschooling is a fluid process, and each year can look entirely different.

We are conditioned to think there is “the way” all children learn and that is simply not true. I’ve personally known so many people who started this way. And finished the race well!

The homeschool socialization myth

Just typing these words makes my blood pressure go up a little as I snort. You will probably hear this argument many times.

Usually by a well-meaning loved one, other times by snarky anti-homeschoolers, and still more, by people who are uninformed with strong options.

Deep breath….

Okay here is the deal, if you do an internet search, you’ll find tons of statistics and “research” supposedly proving how homeschooled children don’t receive adequate socialization.

Hmmm. SO much to say here, so little space to say it.

The truth about homeschool socialization

Let’s deal with the elephant in the room.

The truth is:

Says who? Are these studies biased? What are the actual numbers of homeschooled families they interview? Went and met? Observed the actual facts of their lifestyles? Who benefits from sharing these so-called scientific facts? Follow the information before making decisions
Whereas SOME homeschooled kids might not be getting the outside interaction that is ideal. That is a small minority. Incidentally, in EVERY people group, there are some that can be identified as not doing what everyone else does. In public school, for example, are all those kids properly socialized just because they are forced to sit at a desk all day? No, logic doesn’t support this argument. Nor do the biased statistics for “abuse” in homeschool settings. Can it? Sadly, yes. Does it happen to public school children too? Sadly, yes. That is a tragedy in all circumstances, studies trying to tie it specifically to homeschooling are misleading at best
Socialization comes in many forms. For example, my children talked to all ages, backgrounds, and circumstances by simply living a normal life. Grocery shopping, chatting with neighbors, etc. It is helpful to define what socialization is:
- Socialization-a continuing process whereby an individual acquires a personal identity and learns the norms, values, behavior, and social skills appropriate
Kids can play in a park, join a theater group, be in a church youth group, or volunteer at a senior center or museum as a junior docent. All these achieve that goal
Field trips can be as varied as trips to the capital, museums, plays, and factories
Co-ops can provide wonderful opportunities for your child to participate in a class setting for certain topics if you wish. If YOU feel that it would be helpful and fun.

Check out this article on Responsible Homeschooling about actual research on socialization and feel bold about your decisions. When we started, we too wondered about this.

But jeesh, after so many years, you realize that homeschooling more than equips them for being amazing, functional, community-supporting adults. It really isn’t something to worry about.

In fact, many parents still have to reel in the choice of TOO many opportunities

What if my family disapproves of homeschooling?

Your family might disagree with your homeschool choice, and I am so sorry if they do. That makes it much harder. I had criticism from my family and confusion from my friends. When I started, I only knew one other person who had homeschooled.

Her family dynamic intrigued me and was beautiful to watch.

You are your child’s parent. Not anyone else. You have to follow your heart. Remember they usually mean well, and love your child, and want a good education for them.

It can take time for them to understand something they don’t know about yet. Be patient and stand strong.

Here are a few inspiring resources from Our little slice of Heaven and Renee at Great Peace on tips to overcome homeschool criticism.

BTW, most everyone came around in the end. Some didn’t and that is ok too. You don’t need everyone’s approval to embrace this lifestyle.

You’ll find enough reward in it to carry on because you love it. Hopefully, people will see that and support you.

Where will I find homeschool support?

You can engage with a ton of homeschool support groups. It is a long way from a few decades ago when people still had to hide this, for fear of people calling CPS. Now there are co-ops, online forums, email support newsletters, and mentors.

Check out the HomeschoolMom for information on finding local groups in your area.

There might be haters, however, YOU are strong enough to persevere. It is so worth it mama!

What if I ruin my kids by homeschooling?

Sweet woman, you can do this. We all, just as parents, have moments when we worry we have ruined our kids from our mistakes. Homeschooling will have those days too. That is just life.

Here is what you do, keep pressing on. Accept the bad days when they come and extend yourself grace. Just like in regular life.

As far as fear of ruining their education? Even in the best school system, there are educational gaps. Gaps can always be filled later if something is missed, but character is much harder to do that.

If you teach life skills, morals and do your best with the educational stuff? Your kids will thrive. Even with a child who had learning disabilities, moving many times for work, mama having health issues the whole time, and money being limited?

Yet, our kids thrived.

Even when one year we skipped math (read that story here), did classical education one year, Charlotte Mason the next, and one fun year completely unschooled?

The kids both got accepted into all the colleges they applied to. You might even find, those goals change as you go!

Kids thrive in loving homes that present learning as a lifestyle. We make it more complicated than it is. Yet, that is normal too, most of us have to unlearn what we already knew to embrace this beautiful lifestyle of homeschooling

Blessed beyond a doubt has an interesting perspective on how she ruined her homeschool 😊.

Homeschooling is flexible for a variety of needs

You can do this, you really can. And not only marginally well, your family dynamic will also absolutely change in many ways.

Allow for a period of adjustment. Especially if the kids aren’t totally on board. It didn’t take long for us to fall in love with it, especially the freedom to be kids even more with the spare time!

It can be a learning curve for all of you, but for us? It was well worth it. It led to 14 years of an incredible journey that was the best learning experience a family could ask for.

Furthermore? Sure, homeschooling has hard days (as does parenting) sometimes, planning can take some learning on your part….but…

Homeschooling can be so much fun!!! Really, it is a joy in the big picture!

If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments and I will try to help. I would do it all again in a heartbeat, and hope my own children will consider it in their futures!