8 Steps to Homeschooling
Educating your child at home means making dozens of decisions, large and small. Here’s where to start.
You've decided that you have the time, temperament, resources, and passion to homeschool your child. Now what? With so many decisions to make (What to do? When? How? What are the rules and regulations?), the notion can seem overwhelming. Rest assured, says Linda Dobson, author of The Homeschooling Book of Answers: The 101 Most Important Questions Answered by Homeschooling's Most Respected Voices. "Nothing is so stringent that you need all your ducks in a row before you start."
Countdown to Day One
Take a deep breath and review this step-by-step timeline. It covers everything you need to know and do before taking charge of your child's education.
Three Months Before You Start
1. Research your options
2. Investigate your state's requirements
Two Months Before
3. Join a local homeschooling group
4. Decide on curriculum
One Month Before
5. Create your space
6. Set goals
Three Weeks Before
7. Define a schedule
After You Begin
8. Watch out for common pitfalls
1. Research Your Options
Begin anytime, no matter whether your child is a toddler or already has several years of elementary school under her belt. Some parents find the end of one school year is a good time to start their research because it gives them enough time to investigate the details and get started by autumn.
Subscribe to magazines such as Homeschooling Today, visit the library, read books, and talk to people who homeschool — contact or join a local organization. Educating yourself about the various routes you can take is the best way to define why you are making this decision and what you hope homeschooling will accomplish for your family. Just don't get frustrated if you don't understand everything you read or hear. "Homeschooling is something that needs to be experienced because it is so different from sending your children to school," says Dobson.
2. Investigate Your State's Requirements
Homeschooling rules and regulations vary widely from state to state. In New York, for example, parents must file an annual declaration of intent with the local superintendent by July 1 or 14 days before starting to homeschool, as well as an individualized home instruction plan. New York parents must also maintain attendance records, submit quarterly reports, and conduct standardized tests. In Texas, on the other hand, there are no forms to file, no records to keep, and no mandated tests. You can find detailed information on your state's laws at You Can Home School or the National Home Education Network.
3. Join a Local Homeschooling Group
Meeting homeschoolers in your area will net you valuable information. Here you'll find other families who can answer questions, let you review their at-home teaching habits, and show you how homeschooling works for them. You can learn about age-appropriate activities your children may want to participate in, such as sports, tutoring, or small clubs that suit your child's interests. During weekly meetings, parents may opt to teach a subject such as a foreign language or a science lab to a group of students.
Support groups are also a good place to borrow, swap or purchase second-hand materials. And they can help you decipher your state's law, as well as additional policies in your school district or region, says Yvonne Bunn, executive director of the Home Educators Association of Virginia.
To find a group, ask around in your community and do some searches online — www.nhen.org and About.com both have extensive, searchable listings. Or try a web search of your state or city's name + "homeschool support."
4. Decide on Curriculum
Curricula can be purchased through mail order catalogues or at online stores, including Scholastic's Teacher Store (you'll need to register in order to buy). They vary from traditional textbooks and workbooks that cover reading, writing and arithmetic to more individualized approaches that are guided by a child's own interests. State conventions and curriculum fairs, held several times each year, also showcase a variety of homeschooling publications and products. (Find out about state conventions online or through your local homeschooling association.)
If you're not ready to commit to one particular curriculum, don't hesitate to create your own. Dobson tells first-time homeschooling parents to start by borrowing books on the topics you want to cover from your local library. In time, you may decide to mix and match elements of several curricula to best suit your child's needs — or continue crafting your own lessons and resources without using any packaged curriculum.
5. Create Your Space
Will you be conducting classes at the kitchen table? Do you need a blackboard or a desk? How about empty wall space to post schedules, calendars, and completed work? Is there a computer nearby that's connected to the Internet? Get organized by purchasing storage cabinets and bookshelves for holding textbooks and workbooks. Baskets are also useful for keeping loose supplies under control.
6. Set Specific Goals
Since homeschoolers proceed at their own pace, it's important, especially in the first year, to consider what you want to accomplish. Academics are important when you set short- and long-term goals, but they are not the only component of a child's education, says Bunn. For example, how will your child get physical activity? When will she socialize with other children? Consider the importance of extracurricular activities such as music classes or Girl Scouts. Network with other parents — homeschooling and not — to find the best activities; also check local community centers, houses of worship, and newspaper advertisements and listings.
You'll also want to try other forms of learning that teach a new skill in a group setting. These might include classes offered at local museums, programs presented by your homeschooling association, or even distance-learning opportunities that allow kids to connect online. The state of Wisconsin, for example, offers a virtual charter school in which students participate via computer; older kids may be ready for the many online offerings of both virtual and brick-and-mortar universities.
7. Define a Schedule
Create a plan to meet the goals you've outlined. While a schedule makes some people feel hemmed in, it helps, especially in the beginning, to be organized and have a mission, says Dobson. Purchase a plan book and consider how you want to break up your child's academic schedule and each subject you want to work on. "Decide how you want to divide it up, in half or in quarters," suggests Bunn, so that by a certain date, you've finished a pre-determined amount of work in a textbook. Consider how you want to break up your learning week by week, too. Make time for field trips and visits to the library. And remember, flexibility is one of the key appeals of homeschooling. You can always adapt your schedule to your child's changing needs.
8. Watch Out for Common Pitfalls
Homeschoolers say there are three issues that often stymie beginners. First: Feeling isolated. Make sure you've followed the advice in step 3 and joined a support group. It's not just for the kids, although socialization is critical for them. Homeschooling parents need to connect with likeminded adults, too.
Another potential problem is committing to a curriculum too early. Linda Dobson notes that some new homeschoolers purchase an expensive packaged curriculum right away, only to find that it doesn't suit their child's learning style. Experiment for a while before you plunk down a lot of cash.
Finally, know that you'll need to learn as you go. Adjusting to the freedom and flexibility of homeschooling is a challenge. There are so many ways to approach your task. Remember that you'll be defining — and constantly redefining — yourself as you go.
