If you’re considering homeschooling this fall, here are 10 things to do before you start, to prepare and make the transition easier for you and your kids.
This fall, a lot of families are going to be struggling with a decision on how to proceed with their children’s educations in the face of a global pandemic. In person learning, distance learning, hybrid models, homeschooling, and pandemic pods/”zutoring” are some of the many options.
I know a lot of homeschooling advocates are excited for the chance to introduce more parents to the homeschooling and unschooling lifestyle. There are workshops and webinars and plenty of information out there.
But I thought that I would share the 10 things I wish I’d known to do before I started homeschooling. Because once you make the decision to do it, there is this void where you’re not sure what the next step is between deciding and actually starting.
So, while some of these I knew, many on this list were pieces of advice that were tossed out into that void by other homeschooling parents who have been on the journey longer. And I so very much appreciate all they did, including my own mother who has been homeschooling my youngest sister for 20+ years.
Hopefully these tips will make your next steps as homeschoolers a little easier and more sure as you prepare yourselves and your family for a new way of life. It’s not always easy, but I’ve found that it is always worth it.
10 Things to do Before you Start Homeschooling
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Check your state laws
If you live in the US, then you’ll find that the homeschool laws vary from state to state. There are about 4 levels as far as requirements go, with some states requiring nothing at all, and others needing curriculum plans and attendance records.
We live in Nevada, which only requires a notice of intent. I love this because it saves me a lot of time, but I advise still having records of attendance and goals met should you ever need them.
Check your state laws to find out what is required for you to legally withdraw your child from school and begin homeschooling. There are a number of places where you can get information on regulations, including here.
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Look for an advocate
If you feel you need help navigating the school system, or if you have a child with special needs and you want to know how to handle IEPs and such as a homeschooler, then look for an advocacy group in your area.
We honestly didn’t need one for a couple of years, but when one of our sons began homeschooling, I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss anything or somehow drop the ball with his services. So, I contacted Nevada PEP and was so appreciative of the helpful advocate that was assigned to walk me through it, free of charge.
Spend some time on Google looking for advocates in your area, or ask other parents who might have recommendations. If you have questions, this can be a really helpful step before homeschooling starts.
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Join a homeschooling Facebook group near you
I will admit that I rarely participate in the Facebook groups I belong to, but they are invaluable for two things: what’s happening in my area and setting up meet-ups.
Sometimes questions pop up about what meets a certain education requirement, or you want to put together a bowling league with other homeschoolers, or you wonder if there’s a discount for homeschoolers at a museum. All these questions can be answered in your group.
Check Facebook for groups that seem like a good fit for your family and then just peruse the posts. We’ve enjoyed some fun meet-ups with kids the same age as my own (pre-pandemic) and it’s great to have a supportive place to go, especially if you don’t have any close friends who are homeschooling.
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Research what kind of homeschooling you want to do
Homeschooling is nothing if not flexible and varied. There are unschoolers and those who use curriculums. There are the Montessori followers, and like us, whole book learners (similar to Charlotte Mason).
Spend some time figuring out what’s out there, the pros and cons, and how you think your kids will do with each (and you, too!). The best part of homeschooling is that if you pick one curriculum and find it’s not working for you, you have the ability to change direction.
This is all about what works for your family, and no one else’s. I don’t know anyone else who lesson plans or schools like I do, and that’s fine because it works for us. Find what will work for you.
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Choose your curriculum
After you’ve done your research, it’s time to actually choose your curriculum. Now, I don’t mean you actually have to buy a curriculum, though you definitely can – and many do. But you will need to make a decision on how you’re going to run your homeschool.
Did your kids chafe under the constraints of school classrooms? Maybe you’ll want to unschool. Do your children love reading? Whole book learning might be the best choice. Do they love structure in their lessons? You might want to choose a prepared curriculum.
At the bottom of this post, I’m going to share some books that helped me make my decision. But keep an open mind, choose what you think is best for your kids, and remember that you can always change your mind.
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Find out about grade level requirements
Depending on your plans, you may one day want to reintegrate into the school system (or your children will want to). In which case, it’s good to have an idea of the grade level requirements so that you can keep them on a similar track to their peers.
Here are a few reasons why I don’t stick too closely to the requirements:
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- I like teaching history in chronological order, rather than in disjointed periods like schools do
- I teach multiple grades so sometimes we teach a science topic from third grade in fifth and vise versa according to our family’s needs
- If I get a chance for a cool field trip, but it’s on a topic for next year, I’m not going to miss the opportunity
Another reason to get your grade level requirements is because some states require you to send a learning plan. In my state, a simple printout of requirements is enough. These sites will offer some common core and non-common core grade level requirements.
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Make goals before you start
Whether your goals are educational, social, behavioral, or faith-based, it’s a great idea to make some to help guide both your teaching and your child’s learning.
They don’t have to be long or intense, just put together a few things you’d like to accomplish each year, or even each month or season.
Before you start your homeschooling year, sit down with each of your children and decide what a reasonable goal or two would look like for them. I like to have meetings throughout the year to talk about progress and what we need to change.
Setting goals is a great way to teach your kids an important life skill that they can use now and into adulthood. It also gives you both a focus throughout the year that can be touched upon with your studies.
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Buy supplies
We decided to convert a bedroom of our house into a classroom, but you can homeschool on your couch or at the kitchen table. Buying supplies is one of the best parts of the school year (in my opinion) and I love going to the local dollar store for the things we’ll need, as well as cute things that will make the kids smile.
Make a list of what you think you’ll need and spend some time at back-to-school sales and at discount stores in your area. Check out this post for useful tips.
I like to have separate supplies for each of my kids, which they are responsible for. They have their own desks, but even a backpack or cubby works for holding their stuff.
Also, I buy teacher supplies, like tons of dry erase markers and my favorite pens. And I like to buy books that are not available at the library, but that I think will be a great addition to our learning.
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Plan loosely
I’ll say it again, homeschooling is about flexibility and fitting the needs of your family. When you create a lesson plan or a schedule, do so with that in mind – trust me, you’ll be calmer if you do.
Because even when you have an awesome plan in place, there will inevitably be something that messes with it. Sickness, bad attitudes, surprise life events – you name it, they happen.
You’ll also have times when your kids struggle with a concept, or they get it so fast that you’re moving onto the next day’s work early. Just be ready to adapt as things happen, and enjoy the freedom to do so.
Plan some time to plan. I spend each Saturday morning lesson planning. Whether I’m locked in the classroom or at Starbucks, it’s the perfect time for me to nail down a plan without interruption.
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Make a schedule
This is pretty much the last step before you start homeschooling. Making a schedule for how and when you plan to teach your kids.
Some people prefer to just fly by the seat of their pants… I am not one of them. I love a schedule, and so I create one that works for the kids and the adults. We start early because that’s when we’re all at our best. But some families prefer afternoon instruction.
You can make time for lessons or sports as you need, and have set times or subjects. Feel free to tweak this with the season or if it’s just not working for someone. But having a schedule usually makes kids feel more confident since they know what’s coming and when. They like the routine, so long as it’s not set in stone.
Side note:
In the beginning, you may want to avoid anything formal for the first month or so, especially if your child has been in school for the last few years. Consider it a sort of detox, allowing them to explore learning without pressure or expectations for the first time. Then, when you feel the time is right, you can begin on the lessons you’ve planned. Or change those lessons as you see your children blossom in the face of their own natural curiosity and creativity!
Books that helped me find my way in homeschooling:
Educating the WholeHearted Child by Clay & Sally Clarkson
Homeschool Bravely by Jamie Erickson
Give Your Child the World by Jamie C. Martin
Home Learning Year by Year by Rebecca Rupp
The Core Knowledge series by E.D. Hirsch
More posts on homeschooling that can help:
Why Raising Kids Different Shouldn’t Be Bad
20 Books that Kids at Home Will Love (& Learn from!)
How to Inspire Curiosity, Creativity, and a Love of Reading in Your Children
20 Best Book Series for 2nd Grade Boys & Girls
[Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission, at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own and I never recommend anything I haven’t used myself and loved.]
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