Where To Start

Knowing where to start for homeschooling can seem like such a daunting task. It's a lot easier than it seems if you take this process step by step. First, before you do anything you need to check the homeschooling laws for your state. States require anything from nothing to everything. A great website to check out for this is www.hslda.org. This is the home school Legal Defense Association website. They have the laws listed for every state. Once you've done this you then need to do some research online of the many different styles of homeschooling. This will give you an idea of teaching methods that go along with your personality and views. My teaching method is eclectic. I pull a little bit of other methods and create my own according to my children's needs. Once in a while I like to do some unit studies esp. with geography and science. I also like to use textbooks for social studies and science (which I'm currently using). Also, because my daughter went to a public school for Kindergarten and a few weeks of first grade she enjoys doing workbooks so we use those for the rest of the subjects. Some people refer to workbooks as "busy work", but it all depends on how you use it. The public schools tend to use workbooks to pass the time. I, on the other hand, use them to teach my daughter what is on those pages. I don't give them to her to pass time and just leave her to herself. So don't feel guilty using workbooks if that's what you prefer. Some are definitely better than others so I advise you to use amazon.com for previewing any workbooks before you buy them. Once you decide what method you will be using you can read articles and visit website and forums to get some ideas of how others use that method in their homeschooling. Then you can find books, supplies, or anything else you want to use to purchase. I recommend research, research, research. Don't just buy the first thing you see that you like esp. if it's boxed curriculum. This tends to be the most expensive option so you want to make sure you like the majority of what you'll be getting in that package. One major thing to remember is homeschooling is only as expensive as you make it. It's almost always cheaper to make your own curriculum than to buy one already made. I calculated the cost of using only ink and paper to print pages off the web, but discovered it is more than twice as expensive as buying workbooks and used textbooks. So make sure you do some cost comparison as well. You will also need to decide on a schedule. Some people like block schedules just like the schools, others like to alternate subjects every other day and still others like to do every subject every day. I like to do every subject every day otherwise I feel like I missed out on teaching her something, but that's just my preference. You can also add in vacation days, take sick days, school year round, or take summer off. I like to use the six weeks on, one week off approach as it gives me a break so I don't get burned out. Read articles on burn out since it happens a lot so you can know better how to prevent it. You also need to keep records of your schooling even if it's not required in your state. It will make your life tons easier and you can keep track of your progress. Once you feel you have gathered the information you need you can start the homeschooling process. Please don't feel that you have to know everything before you start. All you need to know are the laws for your state and what method you would like to use. If you live in a state that requires you to keep records make sure you have the proper forms and have all of your books and other materials before you begin. If you are in a more relaxed state like Arizona you can begin after taking the proper legal steps while you figure out everything else. Keep in mind that your style of homeschooling will change often as you figure out what works and what doesn't. Even when it's working for a while it will end up not working and you'll have to change styles again. This is normal, don't worry about it. The biggest things to remember out of all this are to homeschool properly according to your state laws and to research, research. I know all of this is a mouthful, but with proper preparation you'll be able to have a smooth beginning to your homeschooling adventures. Doing your research will only take a few weeks depending on how much time you spend studying. You will not be perfect and that's o.k. Life is a learning experience. Before you know it, this will all be second nature for you. Most importantly, don't forget to pray. Ask for guidance and understanding. Allow Heavenly Father to lead you in the path he would have you go. Your family will be blessed beyond measure and will be drawn closer together. There will be hard times, struggles, trials, and tears, but the blessings will be numerous. Heavenly Father will not ask something of us without providing a way. I'm thankful that I've been guided to this path and for the blessings I and my family have received because of it.