How To Start Homeschooling Right Now
If you’ve landed here, I assume that you want to learn how start to homeschooling! Well, the good news is that setting your child up for homeschooling can be done relatively quickly.
I’ve had the opportunity to talk with and help many people who found themselves embarking on the homeschool journey. Through these interactions, my own experience and the gift of hindsight, I’ve distilled my advice into what I believe to be the fundamental and essential steps for starting homeschooling successfully.
All four of my children were homeschooled. They have graduated from university and are now working. Some of the information you’ll read here took me 20 years of homeschooling to discover.
Don’t expect to absorb all this information on how to homeschool in one sitting. Why not bookmark this page for your future reference?
Step 1. Investigate the Legal Requirements
- Research your local homeschooling laws.
- Complete any necessary paperwork or registration with your state or local education authority.
Homeschooling is legal in many countries but they all different requirements when it comes to homeschooling. Check out the links below to learn more about your country requirements.
Step 2: Set Clear Educational Goals
- Discover your personal philosophy about home education.
- Identify your child’s learning needs, interests, and strengths.
- Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound educational goals.
Step 3: Decide on a Homeschool Method
- Explore various homeschooling methods (e.g., Charlotte Mason, Montessori, Unit Studies, Classical, Unschooling).
- Select a method that aligns with your child’s learning style and your educational goals.
- Get to know how you like to teach and how your child learns. This will help you choose a curriculum in the future.
Step 4: Select and Organise Your Curriculum
One of the hurdles all new homeschooling parents have, whether it’s short, or long term homeschooling, is knowing what is appropriate for their child. So, make a simple start. You will learn as you go.
- Research and choose a curriculum that meets your state’s educational standards and your child’s needs (e.g., Australian Curriculum or NSW Curriculum).
- Plan your academic year, including subjects, lesson plans, and schedules.
- Consider is whether or not you need to follow a specific curriculum like
- Decide of you want to make your own curriculum or follow a homeschool program.
- Designate a dedicated learning space in your home. This doesn’t have to be a room, it could be a kitchen table or workboxes. You just need a place to store necessary educational materials and resources.
Get free trials or samples when possible. Resist the temptation to purchase your curriculum from the regular bookstore or supermarket because they are often inferior to what you could use. Look for knowledge rich curriculum.
Step 5: Set Aside Time to Homeschool
- Work out how much time you can devote to homeschooling.
- Make your schedule realistic. Most families have academic lessons in the morning and leave afternoons free.
- Establish good homeschool habits from the start.
Step 6: Incorporate Extracurricular Activities and Natural Learning
- Include activities outside academics, such as sports, arts, and social groups.
- Encourage social interaction with other homeschoolers and community groups.
- Foster an atmosphere of learning into the activities of daily living.
Homeschooling uses natural learning. This teaching method allows your children to discover and learn according to their own natural interests. Of course, this is within reason (they might decide they want to go to the moon next week). Free time can be used to pursue hobbies, read books, go outside and explore, try out new bike tricks, or teach the dog a new trick. Conversation learning is BIG in homeschooling. And it is often the way we help our children understand many things. Getting in the habit of explaining ideas and encouraging them to ask questions are all on the spot lessons that don’t take preparation. And you’ll be surprised how much your child retains if they actually want to know the answer. Natural learning is not to be confused with unschooling, that’s a different philosophy.
Step 7: Implement Effective Teaching Strategies
- Keep learning about how to home school and educational theory.
- Adapt teaching methods to suit your child’s learning pace and style.
Step 8: Record Keeping, Assessment and Reporting
- Regularly observe your child’s progress.
- Work out a method of assessment. Here is an idea for homeschool friendly exams.
- Keep detailed records of your child’s academic progress and extracurricular activities.
- Prepare annual progress reports if required by your state’s homeschooling laws.
- Keep a homeschool planner and diary.
Step 9: Nourish Yourself as a Teacher
- Making connections with other homeschool families. Join local or online homeschooling communities for support and resources.
- Attend homeschooling workshops or conferences to stay updated on educational strategies and resources.
- Take steps to avoid homeschool burn-out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can I homeschool my child without a teaching degree?
Yes, you do not need a teaching degree to homeschool your child, but understanding your state’s legal requirements is essential.
Q2: How do I ensure my homeschooled child gets enough social interaction?
Lack of socialisation for homeschool children is a myth. There are many opportunities for children to get involved in extracurricular activities, local homeschooling groups, and community events to promote social development.
Q3: Can homeschooled children go to university?
Yes, homeschooled children can attend university. Many colleges, TAFEs and universities accept homeschooled students, and some even actively recruit them.
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