Getting Started Homeschooling
The last couple of years have really changed the way people view homeschooling. If you’re thinking about homeschooling here are some steps to help you get started.
1. Communication
Talk to your spouse, reach out to people who homeschool to hear their experiences (the good and bad), and don’t make the decision without talking to your children. Even though we started homeschooling from the beginning I told our kids that if they ever wanted to try public school we would, I always wanted their input. I’ve seen parents take their kids out of public school when the kids were happy and getting a good education just to jump on the homeschooling bandwagon, and it didn’t end well.
2. Know Your State’s Legal Requirements
Every state has it’s own set of rules for homeschooling and it’s important to make sure you know your specific state requirements.
Our state requires us to fill out the Notice of Intent/Home School Waiver each year.
Check with the HSLDA to see the laws for your state.
If you’re taking your kids out of public school in order to homeschool, you should talk to your district administrators about their requirements, including those for re-enrolling if homeschooling doesn’t work for you.
3. Choose Your Curriculum
There are a lot of things that go into choosing a curriculum that works for you and your children. We each have different teaching and learning styles. Some kids will love workbooks, others will be more comfortable with computers, and others will need a mixture of both. That is one of the great things about homeschooling, you can tailor your lessons to fit the child. When my kids were little we used a mix of School Zone and Abeka products plus Khan Academy for some online learning. There are so many great options for curriculum that you can mix and match to suit your needs. As I have time I will try to add links to the different websites that we have used or have heard good reviews about.
4. Make a Record Keeping System
Keeping good records is not only important to check your child’s progress, but it’s also very important for their future. If you homeschool your child through high school, you will need to make a transcript documenting your child’s completion of standard high school requirements. I made my kids report cards/attendance records for the fall and spring semesters, and just keep them in a binder. For the high school transcript you can make your own, download free templates, or use an online service to make one for you. Just make sure it looks professional and includes the following.
Student and school information
Courses taken, credits earned, and grades received
Total credits and GPA
The graduation date
A grading scale
A signature and date
These are just a few tips to help you get started in your homeschool journey. I hope they help! 😊
