How to Get Started with Homeschooling?

More people are considering homeschooling as an option than ever before. If you are in this boat and would like some assistance on getting started, I have compiled the following resources for you.

Getting Started

State Requirements

- Homeschool Defense League WEBSITE - to find out your state’s homeschool requirements.

  • Most States require

    • Notification your local school system of your intent to homeschool

    • Oversight of your homeschool year - usually through an umbrella or your school system and by record keeping, checklists, or portfolio

    • Required School Age to begin school

  • Umbrellas – range from free to expensive; services vary as well (range from basic oversight and government notification to full record keeping), range of review styles (checklists, portfolios, in person interviews, etc.)

- Hours for homeschooling

 - Diplomas: How to get a high school diploma CHECKLIST

Think Through Your Homeschool Philosophy

FREEDOM & FLEXIBILITY – VERITAS (Latin for Truth)

o   Values

o   Excellence

o   Relationships

o   Interests

o   Time

o   Age Appropriateness

o   Scripture/Spiritual

 

Elementary Homeschool – Are you homeschooling a preschooler, kindergartener, or 1st grader. All you really need are books, dirt, and the question “Why?”: check out this BLOG to learn more about homeschooling in the early years.

 

Choosing a Curriculum

  • KISS – keep it simple stupid

  • Jump on the Carousel & pick something that first fits Parent’s personality and needs

  • Perfection is the enemy of Good enough

  • Don’t chase after the “perfect” curriculum.  If something is working for you – just keep going with it.  Don’t jump around seeing if you could just make it “better”.  You’ll waste time, money, and sanity.

 

Empowered to Homeschool

  • Children will have gaps, everyone does.  There is no perfect and 100% complete education.  You WILL NOT fill every gap.  Get comfortable with that idea.

  • Learning just needs to be Consistent and Thorough, you don’t need to track every minute

  • You WILL equip your child to be a life-long learner.  You will equip them with tools and delight.

  • You already are a teacher to your child (can your child dress themselves, feed themselves hello, remember potty training? - you already ARE a teacher)

  • No one wants better for your kid than you.

 

School vs. Learning: read this BLOG to learn how to “flip the script” on the purpose of school and education.

Figure Out Your Homeschool Style

A lot of us who came out of public school think that homeschool must be “school at home”. While it can be and that does work for some families, it absolutely does not have to be. So what does homeschool look like for you and your family? Watch this video to learn about the different styles of homeschooling.  What type do you lean towards? What type do you think you’d like to do?

Books for the Homeschooling Parent

I recommend getting these books to read through (at your leisure) to motivate, inspire, and reassure you in your homeschool journey. These books are great for the newbie and the veteran alike and is by no means an exhaustive list, just a starting place.

-        Read Aloud Family by Sarah MacKenzie (why’s, how-to’s, book lists for reading aloud)

-        Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakeable Peace by Sarah MacKenzie

-        Charlotte Mason Education: A Home Schooling How-To Manual by Catherine Levison

-        Know and Tell: The Art of Narration by Karen Glass

-        The Core by Leigh Bortins / The Question by Leigh Bortins

-        A Student’s Guide to U. S. History by Wilfred McKay (great for setting up history discussions with your middle or high schooler)

-        This is My Home, This is My School by Johnathan Bean (children’s picture book but it helps kids see their homeschooling environment well represented)

 

Curriculum

Curriculum Reviews - have you found a curriculum that you are curious about? Maybe you received multiple reading or math curriculum recommendations but aren’t sure which to go with. Catherine Duffy’s WEBSITE reviews almost every curriculum available. It explains the curriculum’s philosophy, layout, pros, cons, and costs. A great way to compare different curriculum or to learn about the curriculum before you buy it.

Maybe you aren’t even sure where to get started? Here is a list, organized by style of different curriculum options.

Curriculum guide.jpg

To Co-Op or Not to Co-Op

-        Benefits: social interaction, accountability, encouragement, pool resources and experiences

 

-        Cons: can be subject to government regulations regarding CO-VID (masks, size restrictions, loss of meeting in person), costs

 

-        Start Your Own – this Starter Kit helps you set up your own co-op.  It gives resources for planning, policies, philosophy, vision, pre-written lesson plans and pre-made handouts.  Just meet up with 1-4 other families, agree upon your policies and roles, and enjoy completing the activities together as a group.  Great for elementary and younger middle schoolers.  Is a perfect option to cover or supplement your art, music, world cultures, literature and science lessons.  Get your own HOMESCHOOL CO-OP STARTER KIT

Field Trips

FREE resource of a wide variety of field trip ideas HERE

Supplementary Curriculum

Fine Arts

Geography

 

Health: Sex Education: It’s Not the Stork (https://www.amazon.com/Its-Not-Stork-Families-Friends/dp/0763633313 )

 

Diversity Awareness in Homeschooling: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Diversity-in-Homeschooling-Resources-5835528

 

Women’s History in Homeschooling: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Homeschooling-to-Raise-Strong-Girls-5837771

 

Bible

  • Pre-K: Big Thoughts for Little People by Kenneth N. Taylor

  •  Early Elementary: Crossroads of Character by Katie Boyer Brown & Marilyn Boyer

  •  Elementary: The Church History ABCs by Stephen J. Nichols & Ned Bustard

  •  Older Elementary & Middle: Talking with Your Kids about Jesus by Natasha Crain

 

Preschool –

How to Build Your Own Curriculum or Unity Study

Unit Studies

  • Pick a topic/theme for certain amount of time (week/month/quarter) & Fill in resources

  • Topic/Themes

    • Science

    • History

      • Black History

      • Women’s History

      • Top people in their fields (astronomers/ inventors / athletes /etc.)

    • Character

      • Virtues: service, courage, curiosity

  • Fill in the template

  • Topic:

  • Library Books

  • Recipe:

  • Art/Craft:

  • Book of Centuries

  • Copy Work book

  • Science

  • Social Studies

 

Living Book – read books that make the subject “come alive” rather than lists or groups of informational facts. 

 

Book of Centuries – get a big picture of how all the subjects fit together by writing events in a book of centuries.  On top of each page in a notebook write the date of the century.  Every event, person, topic you learn about, place on the correct page.  For example, Beethoven’s Fur Elise was written in 1810, two years before the War of 1812. 

 

Copy Work – work on handwriting, print or cursive, by focusing on one letter at a time. Review the procedure for writing that letter.  Practice copying that letter.  Read the story, paragraph, or phrase from the book with that letter.  Copy the phrase or the main idea or the key word.

 

Coloring Page – find coloring pages related to the topic for your little ones to color while your older ones work on copy work or book of centuries. 

State Specific

I am based in the state of Maryland, so I can offer resources particular to that state. For a complete guide on Maryland state requirements, check out this FREE resource

Beth Smith