Homeschool Beginnings
When I began looking into homeschooling my first daughter, I was really lost as to where to start. There is so much information available to us now, with Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook, that I became overwhelmed by all of the choices. It is easy to start blindly ordering curriculum, over consuming information, and putting heavy to-do lists on yourself and children when starting out on your homeschool journey. Now I am five years into our homeschooling journey, and hindsight is 20/20 when it comes to how I would have started and where I would have put more of my focus. Here are somethings I hope are helpful to new homeschooling parents!
JOIN YOUR STATE’S HOMESCHOOL PAGE MOST RECOMMENDED BY FRIENDS
There are so many homeschool facebook groups out there! Try to find one that has all of your state’s laws, organizations, groups, trusted portfolio reviewers, NOI, and assessment information available.
JOIN HSLDA
HSLDA is an invaluable resource that every homeschool needs! From providing the laws in your state, to advocating for your freedom, HSLDA has it all!
‘With over 100,000 member families, Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is the nation’s largest, most trusted homeschool advocacy organization. We’re here to advance and protect your freedom to homeschool.”
GET TO KNOW YOUR CHILD’S STRENGTHS
I have fallen into the trap of setting unrealistic expectations on my children when it comes to homeschooling because I was comparing them to myself and not schooling them for who they are. Once I wrapped my head around schooling them based on their interests, getting everyone excited to learn for the day became a lot simpler!
EMBRACE USING TECHNOLOGY TO HOMESCHOOL
I was SO anti-screentime when it came to homeschooling in our early days. I thought that because we were limited when I was growing up when it came to screens that my children should experience the same atmosphere. I have grown to realize that technology isn’t going to slow down, and I don’t want to stunt my kids in this world they are growing up in. iPad, computers, smart devices, and AI are here to stay. So, I allow them to use technology as a learning resource. Yes, I still limit it when it comes to playtime, but it has become a useful tool that we utilize everyday.
USE THE SAME RESOURCES FOR MULTIPLE CHILDREN
In the past, I tried to tailor all major subject to each of my children’s age and level. I was doing TOO MUCH! I had little time to do anything more than homeschooling with that approach. Find a curriculum and resources that you can use with everyone to minimize one-on-one instruction.
(I preserve my one on one time for reading and math)
BE COMFORTABLE KNOWING THAT SCRAPPING YOUR PLANS WILL HAPPEN
I know. Putting tons of time, planning, and even money into a particular theme or style of lessons or curriculum takes some serious dedication and energy. But we have all been there. Sometimes it just doesn’t work. Either it doesn’t deliver what your child needs, doesn’t serve your lifestyle, or you don’t enjoy it as much as you thought you would. I’m here to let you know, its OK to scrap it and start fresh! Part of this journey is learning along the way yourself, and you have the freedom to do so! Give yourself permission to figure homeschooling out along the way!
SET REALISTIC GOALS
How do you know what your goals should be for the year when homeschooling? The first place to start is by checking what subjects are required in your state. I live in West Virginia, and here I am required to teach and show growth for my child in Reading, Language Arts, Math, History and Science once they are 6 years old before July 1.
So I start my goals there. Once I figure out how often a week we tackle each subject, I assess where I can add enrichment subjects for our family!
EXPLORE WHAT STYLE OF HOMESCHOOLONG FITS YOUR FAMILY
So what are the different style of homeschooling? Here are nine styles of homeschooling that you can explore:
Traditional
This style of homeschooling is more of a recreating school at home approach.
Classical
Classical Homeschool Curriculum | Classical ConversationsClassical Conversations
Unit Studies
Homeschool Bird Unit Study – Prairie Roots Homeschool
HOME | For The Love Of Homeschooling
Montessori
The Overwhelmed Mom’s Guide to Montessori Homeschooling
Charlotte Mason
What is the Charlotte Mason Method? – Simply Charlotte Mason
Awakening Children to Delightful Living | Alveary
Start Here with our LIfe Giving, Literature Based Homeschool Resources
Waldorf
Waldorf Education: 100+ Years of Transformative Learning | AWSNA
World Schooling
Unschooling
Eclectic
A mixture of multiple homeschooling styles.
After you define your goals, it will be so much easier to sort through the different curriculums out there. And remember, you can always go the eclectic route and pull bits and pieces from different methods and leave the rest. Just Start!
DECIDE IF YOU WILL KEEP A PORTFOLIO OR DO TESTING FOR ASSESMENT YEARS
In my state, I am required to either keep a yearly portfolio of my children’s work in each required subject or do yearly testing. I have decided to keep a portfolio. I then have the portfolio assessed and signed off on every year to prove my child is showing progress. I use Microsoft OneNote to keep track of the subjects we cover, all of our adventures through the year, and any photos I take of our schooling. Using this resource helps me keep my things al in one place and cleans up the clutter in our school room!
BUILD COMMUNITY
Finding a community of other homeschooling families is such an asset for this lifestyle. Facebook, Instagram, and community boards are awesome tools to start finding homeschool meetups and Co-Ops in your area. 20 years ago, homeschooling could have been a very isolating and lonely spot to find yourself in without the tools to help you find likeminded families to build your community with. Thank goodness for social media in this aspect, right?!
JOIN A CO-OP
You may be asking yourself, “What is a co-op?” Homeschooling co-ops are usually created by individuals and families of a homeschooled child. The goal of a co-op is to bring students together and learn different skills and enrich the classes you are teach at home. The benefits of joining a homeschool co-op are that your child might learn some skills that you might not be teaching at home, you will get to meet other parents who are going through the same journey as you, and your child will make some new friends. There are many types of co-ops, from Classical, Christian, Secular, Montessori and beyond. Once you find some local co-ops, reach out for a visit to see if it is a good fit for you and your lifestyle!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Homeschooling is a journey filled with learning, adapting, and growing—both for you and your children. While it’s easy to feel overwhelmed in the beginning, remember that you don’t have to have everything figured out all at once. Start small, focus on what works for your family, and give yourself the grace to change course when needed.
The beauty of homeschooling is the freedom it allows—you get to create an environment where your children can thrive and learn in a way that best suits them. Build a strong foundation by understanding your state’s requirements, finding a supportive community, and tailoring your approach to your child’s unique strengths.
Most importantly, enjoy the process! There will be hard days, but there will also be incredible moments of discovery, connection, and joy. Trust yourself, trust your kids, and embrace the adventure. You’ve got this!