Homeschool

Are you considering starting your homeschooling journey? Has the overwhelm set in? Likely you’re realizing there are a lot of choices out there when it comes to homeschooling. Homeschooling and the resources that come with it have exploded over the last several years. If you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed about making a decision, I will break things down so you will know if homeschooling is right for you and your family.

Check Your States Laws To Know If Homeschooling Within Those Guidelines Are Possible For You

All 50 of the United States have homeschool laws that may impact your decision to homeschool. These laws and regulations vary from strict to lax. In a previous post, I listed all the states, organized them into the category that they fall into, and made an easily clickable link for more information. Alternatively, you can visit HSLDA.org for more information on homeschooling laws where you live.

Don’t stress if you live in a highly regulated state. Talk with others who homeschool within your state (via Facebook groups or close friends) to see how they do things. You may find that it’s not as hard as it seems to be in compliance. (I live in a very low/no regulation state, so I can’t say I know a whole lot about the higher regulated states.)

How Much Time Do You Have To Dedicate To Homeschooling?

There is a misconception that homeschooling needs to be modeled after public schools. Let me just tell you, homeschooling is not a public school at home. Once you realize that you do not need to copy public schools in your homeschool, this will melt away half of the stress! Trust me! When I finally stopped worrying about what the kids in public school were doing, how they were being taught, and trying to model my style after them, we finally found our groove and enjoyed learning so much more!

You Do not need to homeschool for many hours a day

Many parents work full-time jobs and are still able to homeschool their children. However, is it an added stress that you can handle? If you do work full-time or have other full-time obligations, will your child’s education fall by the wayside when things get hard?

That being said, do not imagine that you need to be stuck in a “classroom” or wherever you plan to educate, for 8+ hours a day. Depending on the ages of your children it could be anywhere from 30 minutes a day (for much smaller children) to 2-3 hours a day. Of course, your child’s learning style, attention span, and ability to work alone will need to be factored in.

I have a kindergartener and a third grader. My kindergartener has a much wider attention span than most kids his age. He is more independent than his older brother when it comes to working on his own. Think about your children, you may learn more about their abilities when it comes time to sit down with them. The great thing about homeschooling is that you can adjust as needed.

What is your motivation when it comes to homeschooling?

Your children will likely not be eagerly waiting for you, books open, pencils in hand, beaming up at you, ready to start the learning process for the day. (If they are, send them my way and we can trade!) While you may find that you fall into a natural groove from day to day, you will be the one who needs to encourage your children to start the day. So ask yourself, what is my motivation level here?

Everyone works on different schedules. I have even read of parents who educate in the middle of the night due to parents’ work/sleep schedules. Hey, whatever works for you. Maybe you need to get up super early before you start your work day, get school done and out of the way. This is also totally possible. Work around your family’s natural schedules. Are you and your children up at 5 am with some time to spare? By all means, work that into your schedule for school. Do you find you have a lull before or after dinner? Work it in there! The possibilities are endless, but the point is, you have to be motivated as a parent. Your children will likely not be encouraging you in this process. If you’re not naturally self-motivated, this is something to think about.

How To Know If Homeschooling is Right For You: Do You Need A Higher Education To Qualify?

You may feel unqualified because you do not have a teaching degree. Guess what? You don’t need it. You’re the expert on your child. You know their likes, dislikes, interests, abilities and so much more. You know how they learn best, and what is right for them.

(Step into my office….er pantry. Ignore the stash of candy and chocolates in that tampon box, and let me tell you a secret…I was always bad at math in school. I have been re-learning a lot of math concepts by teaching my third-grader from kindergarten…There I said it.)

Thankfully for me, both of my sons are good at math. The concepts just seem to make sense to them, so that has taken a lot of stress out of it for me.

If this is a concern for you, I assure you, there are so many curriculums that are set up so that all you have to do is read and follow along in the book. We use The Good and the Beautiful curriculum, which is so simple to teach. Find a curriculum like this, that is open and go.

how to know if homeschooling is right for you: What if my kids fall behind?

This is a common worry for anxious homeschooling moms. “What if little Johnny doesn’t understand the orders of operation, and algebra by the time he turns three?” (Totally kidding, but some of the concerns that I see about small children falling behind seem crazy.) Here’s how I have come to see it, you can take it or leave it. So what if your child hasn’t learned all of their multiplication facts by the end of third grade? Does this mean that they will never learn their multiplication facts? No. It means that learning is a process and it takes time. Do you know all your multiplication facts perfectly? Now, ask yourself “But did you die?”

Ok, sorry, but in all seriousness, when do they really need to know these things? I am using this example because my son does not know his multiplication facts perfectly. I’m not worried about it, because every day he is using them, and getting better at them. I also know that he will continue to use multiplication in fourth grade, fifth grade, sixth grade…and on until graduation. So when does he really need to master these?

There is a saying with homeschool parents, that there is no falling behind in homeschooling.

How Much Money Do You Need to Invest in Homeschooling?

Depending on the age of your child, and your dedication to finding the right tools, organization, and preparation, you can spend very little. Many programs offered by the government are totally free.

But let’s be honest, when you’re starting out, and before you have found your groove, you may want to explore a lot of options. So the cost of homeschooling can vary depending on several factors. Consider the following:

• Which curriculum do you have your eye on? Is it budget-friendly? I have written a few articles on how to keep the costs down. Find out how to make your own simple history curriculum for free. You might also enjoy my articles on making science study enjoyable, especially when you do not enjoy experiments. And also how to study nature for little ones. Don’t forget my post about a very cost-effective, family-friendly curriculum, The Good and the Beautiful as well as Hooked on Phonics.
• What other resources do you plan to use? Take your children into consideration. Do they work best with hands-on, and if so, will you be purchasing manipulatives to help them?
• Other expenses can include additional textbooks, workbooks, online learning programs, art supplies, field trips, and so on. Of course, with homeschooling these things can all be controlled by you.

What Resources Are Available for Homeschooling?

The cost of homeschooling ultimately depends on your family and their needs. But please, do not feel like you have to do all the things. There will be time for everything you want to do if you prioritize your needs. There are many low-cost, budget-friendly resources such as:

• The library. Some libraries offer extra programs for teachers, and homeschool families, be sure to ask what your local library offers.
• Online educational websites. I have enjoyed using math-aids.com, code.org, typing.com and so many more that you probably use yourself.
• Local bookstores, yard sales, or finding books at Goodwill.

You Should Know Homeschooling Isn’t For Everyone

You should know that homeschooling isn’t right for everyone. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you find that homeschooling just isn’t a good fit for your family. Homeschooling takes a lot of time, patience, organization, and love. Sometimes we just don’t have enough time, patience, or organization to make it work. The main thing is that you have a love for your child, and that will ensure that whether you choose to homeschool or not, your child will get the education that they deserve!

As this school year winds down many of us are looking forward to the next year. Some of us are even holding ourselves back from throwing our current curriculum out the window. Trying to convince our children to start a new year as soon as that 180-day chart is filled out…(or is that just me?) Really, though I am just kidding. This year has been our best year homeschooling so far. In part, I owe that to my homeschool planning. However, I have had no urges to throw out the curriculum and move on, and in fact, I find myself wanting time to slow down! It feels like we just started this year, and I am not ready to move my kindergartner on to a new grade, especially since he is my youngest.

*This post may contain affiliate links. This means I could make a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you purchase from one of these links.*

This year we tested out the year-round schedule. We have loved it, though I do find us wrapping things up a bit earlier than I originally planned. We are falling a bit short of being a true year-round, but as I said, we were testing out the waters. Read the highlighted post to find out how I did a year-round schedule.

Homeschool Planning: Is a Perfect Year Possible?

Is this really possible? Have I found some sort of secret sauce that has never been shared with the world? (I have found out that adding a bit of mayo to your homemade honey mustard takes it to another level, but that is neither here nor there.) To be honest, a truly perfect homeschool year is just not possible. We are learning every day, week, month, and year how to better our homeschool experience. Every family is going to be different. I can say, however, that I have found contentment with our schedule, planning, and style. This took us about 3 years to do. (Trust me, I know this isn’t what a new homeschooling parent wants to hear.)

I talk a lot here about finding your groove and allowing yourself to grow through that process. But it is just that, a process. To expect you will hit your stride right away and that it will be the stride that you stick with for the rest of your homeschooling journey, is just not realistic. I say this to not only warn you but also to encourage you. If you feel like you should be there and you just aren’t yet, it’s okay. So how do you go about the process of finding your groove? Every step counts, so here is tip number one, and in no certain order.

Homeschool Planning Tip # 1

Homeschooling IS NOT Public School At Home

When I started out I was under the impression that I needed to follow closely with what the public school was doing. Part of this was because homeschooling was not in my plans prior to Covid. I was wanting to keep my son in line with the school in case he went back. However, after we decided we were going to keep homeschooling, I was still trying to replicate public school in our home. This is counterproductive and unnecessary.

So what does this mean to you? Do not worry about what other children who are in public school are learning. Stop thinking your child is behind, or even ahead for that matter. Yes, your child needs to know how to read, write, add and subtract, and all that jazz. But, do they need to learn it at the exact same pace as another child in their age group? Think of it this way, grade levels in public schools are designed for the teacher to easily assess a group of children, but not as easily an individual child.

So start to wrap your mind around the fact that your child’s homeschool experience, will very likely be more powerful than if they were in a public school. I have also heard it say that there is no behind in homeschooling. When I started to understand this, that is when I started making improvements toward who I wanted to be as a homeschool mom.

Homeschool Planning Tip #2

Consider Banishing Grades and Grade Levels When Planning Your Homeschool

Hear me out here. Just because you have a child who would be in 3rd grade in public school, does not mean they need to be in third-grade levels in homeschooling. And unless your state requires it, consider banishing grades as a way to see progress. I live in a state that has very low requirements for homeschooling. I’ve said before that I could teach my kids to pick their nose and call it school…Maybe not that lax, but you get the picture. I am not aware of what other states require as far as testing or if grading is required anywhere. However, if you have the freedom to get rid of that idea, then, by all means, do so.

If your child excels in reading or math, consider putting them at a higher level with reading or math. Be sure they are not missing any fundamentals, but you know your child the best. You can follow state or standardized guidelines as to what a child should be learning, but don’t view these as strict or rigid. Homeschooling allows a lot of individual expression, that’s what makes it so fun!

How I Started This Process

*For instance, I have a third grader who is in a level 2 in language arts. And I will have a first grader that I am likely going to put through a level K language arts. I have my own reasons for doing this, and it is not because either of them is “behind” in language arts. It is simply because of the curriculum I switched over to. When we started homeschooling I bought the curriculum the school was using. (Not knowing if I was going to send him back, I wanted him to be familiar with the curriculum.) However, in mid-third grade, I switched him over to The Good and the Beautiful language arts. (We had already been doing their math for third grade.) I decided to take him down a level in language arts, to level 2.

This was not because he was struggling, but because I knew that when it came time to move him into the fourth-grade level, he would be overwhelmed. Their fourth grade language arts had a writing workshop, and I knew my son would struggle with this, as I have a hard time getting him to write anything in a story form.

As for my kindergartner, we were also using the public school systems curriculum for reading. Because this is not set up for homeschooling, I want to make sure I didn’t miss any fundamentals. Though he is just fine and is a good reader, and isn’t struggling, I felt The Good and the Beautiful’s language arts K level will be perfect even for a “first grader”. Both of my boys will be “on level” with their math…*

No More Grade Levels

Take these factors into consideration when doing your homeschool planning. Your third grader may love a book that is above or below their reading level. Take time to feel out your child’s individual learning styles before making the jump, but know that it is absolutely fine to get them away from their grade level!

Find the Right Curriculum

This can be easier said than done. There are so many more choices today than there were ten to twenty years ago! To say it’s overwhelming is an understatement, and not only for new homeschoolers. For some homeschool planning revolves around curriculum. Be assured your homeschool curriculum may change from year to year, or even mid-year…There is a learning curve, no pun intended. Some of what we have used include:

• Reading Street *not a homeschool curriculum, but what public schools around here use*
• Evan-Moor
• Hooked on Phonics
• Memoria Press
• The Good and the Beautiful

As you can see it took me a few years to find the right curriculum for us. All of these curriculums served their purpose for us, and at times we mixed and matched. Slowly, but surely, I am switching us over completely to The Good and the Beautiful.

It Can Take Time and Patience

Is there a certain curriculum that excites you? Does it seem to fit into the style you are seeking for your homeschooling? If so, try it out! There is no harm in trying something, and if it doesn’t work out, then you know to move on next year.

I am not a sponsor for The Good and the Beautiful, I genuinely love their approach to learning. Prior to switching to their LA program, my third grader was doing 6 or more books just to cover subjects like geography, spelling, reading, and writing. When I realized TGB (short for The Good and the Beautiful) had a comprehensive LA program I was thrilled. All these subjects plus more, like art appreciation, are covered. We had already been using their math for this whole year, so mid-year or later I switched my older son over to LA 2 with TGB.

I love their math as well. It includes nature, social studies, geography, and more in the math units and lessons. I am excited to switch my five-year-old over to language arts. We will approach history and science as a unit study next year as well.

Less Is More

Over the years I have realized that having a curriculum that is comprehensive is best. As much as I love filling my shelves with books, and dreaming about what the next year will bring, I also have to be realistic. Will we really read every single book on our shelf? Instead, try keeping the books that will relate directly to your teaching style, or curriculum. I tend to get nostalgic about books, however, I have realized we cannot read all the books, so we need to be selective about what we do have. Once you have enjoyed a book, consider letting it go.

Learn to Relax

As I stated before, not worrying about what level your child is at compared to others will greatly decrease stress. This will allow you to relax. I have not always been the most relaxed person when it came to our homeschool schedule. This last year has been a great change in how I do things, but all for the better. I have also moved from a more rigid daily schedule to a more relaxed one.

Choose Your Schedule

There are many schedule types to choose from when homeschool planning. Know that it is ok to change your style, combine styles or use different styles at different times. There is no right or wrong way to do it. When we started I was more strict. Naturally, I have gravitated towards a reverse schedule. My planner for the day actually starts blank, and I add things in as we go. I find more things to write down this way, and our learning becomes more relaxed and child-led. This has contributed to our happiness in our homeschooling.

Planning Your Perfect Homeschool

While planning THE perfect homeschool may not be possible, planning YOUR perfect homeschool is possible…Time, patience, planning, and creativity are all you need! Enjoy the journey! Remember to relax, keep things simple and have fun!