Education: Getting Started with Homeschooling
It’s summer time in the Northern Hemisphere, and you might be thinking about your educational options for the upcoming school year. If you are considering homeschooling, I hope you find this post encouraging and helpful.
You may be asking, “Can I homeschool? Am I patient enough? Will my child have friends? How do I cover everything?”
While those are valid questions, the answers lie in the fact that you are the parent and have been teaching, socializing, and guiding your child’s development since birth and just because they are now the magical “school age” doesn’t mean you no longer have that role or can’t continue.
“Whether home and ‘school’ are distinct locations for your family or combined at your dining room table, teaching is the charge of every parent. Learning happens outside the confines of formal lessons as much as within, and we all have the inherent freedom and responsibility to educate the whole child.” Amber O’Neal Johnston, A Place to Belong
After homeschooling for over 15 years, I can honestly say that if you are starting out, all you really need is a willing heart and a library card. There is no need to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on curriculum. Your style, goals, and needs will develop as you and your child learn together.
Here are some practical steps for getting started with homeschooling:
Research your state requirements. Each state is different, and you will definitely want to be in compliance with what your particular state requires. HSLDA is a great place to explore what is required in each state.
Read an overview type book to help you think about education. (Awaking Wonder, For the Children’s Sake)
Talk with your child. Ask what they are interested in learning? What excites them? Listen to their responses and consider ways to incorporate their interests. (This applies to children of all ages from your kindergarten-age child to your teen.)
Reach out to local homeschool groups in your area to see if there are park meet ups, field trips, or play times scheduled for your area and for support for you as a homeschool parent.
If that feels too unstructured, there are more guided resources that can help with each area of study.
“Wonder is the engine that drives curiosity and shapes a robust intellect. A child fashioned by a wonder-filled life will cultivate inner strength; a confidence in his own ability to think, evaluate, and know.” Sally Clarkson, Awaking Wonder
I tend to build our materials from many different sources. As my children have gotten older, and we are looking toward the university years, there are more specific areas to consider. (A more detailed homeschooling high school post is coming soon!)
Language arts-literature, writing, grammar, spelling, foreign language
Math
Science & Nature Study-biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, anatomy, botany, astronomy
Social Science-history, geography, government
Fine arts-hands on projects, artist study, composer study, personal instrument
In looking at the list above, reading aloud and discussing what you’ve read with your child can cover simply all of the areas except math. So with a library card and math resources, you are ready! Please do not think that you have to have every school year planned out from K-12. Taking it a month at a time, or a week or day at a time is okay! You and your children are going to learn and grow together. Developing a love of learning starts with focusing on relationships and rhythms of home and family.
Some of the many sites with wonderful book lists:
Heritage Mom Book Recommendations
Some of the many types/philosophies of home education:
Charlotte Mason/Nature focused- Ambleside Online, Simply Charlotte Mason, Wild + Free, Peaceful Press
Classical- Veritas Press, Memoria Press, Classical Academic Press, Well Trained Mind
Literature based- Sonlight, My Father’s World
Box Curriculum/”Traditional” school at home- Abeka, BJU Press, Calvert
Eclectic- mix/pieced together from varied sources
Unschooling- child led, interest-exploration based, minimal textbooks or curriculum