Getting Started in Homeschooling: Deciding to Go for It
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Are you thinking about homeschooling? Wondering if it’s the right thing for your family? Here are some thoughts to help you decide if you should go for it.
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Years ago, 2011 to be exact, Kelley wrote in, asking about homeschooling and how to get started. I thought it might be good to answer her letter here as there may be others with the same questions. In fact, I know there are, because on this survey, that was a recurring theme.
“More homeschooling posts!” shouted the people.
Today in 2016, it seems like it’s a good time to update this post and make sure all my advice is current.
Here’s Kelley’s letter from five years ago:
Dear Jessica,
I am strongly considering home schooling my five year old this fall. He is my oldest, and I am very confused about where to start. I have visited the Simple Homeschool site frequently but it seems that will be a priceless resource once I have my home school more established. I am wondering where to start??
Are there certain posts to read? Books? I realize each person’s approach is different. I am looking for the basics. Things to look at, things to consider and how to get started. If I, in fact, embark on this venture, I want to try my best to be as prepared as possible.
Many Thanks,
Kelley
You ask some great questions! While May and June are the months when school is slowing down, the mind of a homeschool mom is gearing up. Though we are tying up loose ends in our current academic year, we’re also turning our thoughts toward next year, planning and purchasing curriculum. My sister is already endlessly texting me about curriculum to borrow or buy for next year.
Getting Started in Homeschooling: Deciding to Go for It
It’s also the time for beginners to decide if they’re going to take plunge, if they haven’t already.
Rather than try to reply to all your questions at one time, my “answer” will be provided in a series of posts over the coming months. And it will be an interactive series as I hope other homeschooling families will chime in. It is not meant to be a debate over what style of education is better. [So, folks, save your breath.]
Instead, we’re talking about how to make decisions, questions to ask yourself, where to go for advice, and the like.
Should you go for it?
My husband and I first considered homeschooling long before we had our first child. The story of how that philosophy developed is a detailed one. The short story is that we felt compelled to be as hands-on as possible with our children’s education. You can read the full treatise on why we homeschool here.
There are obviously a number of ways ways to go about this. Many families choose public school; others choose private. And they are able to be involved in their kids’ lives.
We’ve taken a different approach and have chosen to educate our children at home. I am not one of those people who say that other options are void. I haven’t found it in the Bible where it says that.
We’ve simply found it to be the best choice for our family. We’ve graduated one child from our homeschool, have two in high school, one in middle school, and two in grammar school. Years ago we explored other options for our first high schooler, and opted to stick with the original plan.
I can’t tell you whether YOU should homeschool or not. You need to determine what’s best for your family.
However, I can say that homeschooling has proven to be one of the richest experiences of my life as a mom. I have had the opportunity to know my children in a way that I don’t think would be possible if we had chosen a different style of education. We’ve enjoyed books, field trips, science experiments, and other adventures together, learning about the world all along the way. I am blessed beyond measure from having had this experience.
But, you and your husband have to make the decision for you.
Some things to ask yourself:
Do you enjoy being with your kids?
I’ve never considered this to be a sacrifice. I enjoy being with my kids and frankly, can’t imagine being away from them all day long. Though there are some very, very rough days, those days push me and challenge me to tackle the obstacles.
I’m not with them 24/7. We all get breaks from one another, but we enjoy spending our days together.
Do you enjoy reading and learning?
I have a Master’s degree in Education. But, I’m continue to learn everyday with my kids — even after 15 years of homeschooling. I had no clue that there were so many gaps in my education, but there were. Slowly I’m filling them up alongside my children.
Are you a good enough teacher?
Simple Homeschool tackled this question awhile ago. Jamie’s answer is better than mine would be. (And I think if you dig around the archives over there, you’ll find a wealth of information for beginners, including this great series, Should I Homeschool or Not?)
Are you okay with raised eyebrows and potential criticism from others?
Despite what your brother-in-law’s cousin’s neighbor may say, homeschooling is not a fringe movement. In fact, the appeal of home education is reaching the mainstream, crossing lines of religion and politics. There are homeschoolers of every color, creed, and political party.
Still there will be critics no matter where you go. And you need to be okay with that. Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, thanks to the hard work of others who’ve fought to secure those rights. It is a legal, viable option — and nothing to be timid about.
These questions are certainly not exhaustive. I’m sure there’s something that I’m missing. But, they’re good food for thought as you explore the wonderful world of homeschooling.
Homeschooling parents, how did you know homeschooling was right for your family?
Next time: choosing an educational philosophy.
This post was originally published May 11, 2011.
Right up until the summer before my oldest son was to start kindergarten, we were set on sending him to public school. Then I started to see more and more how I didn’t like the freedom that would be given to my child. I didn’t think that he would do very well having to sit at a table for hours. I wanted learning to be fun and hands on. I wanted him to be able to be challenged or go slower. He’s also a home body. Having to leave every morning and be gone until 3 wasn’t going to fit for us. We are a close knit family. When we are super busy and aren’t able to see each other much, life starts to fall apart. Also, his dad photographs weddings on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. All of my children have a close connection with their dad. They would miss seeing him during the days of the week then only get to catch up with him on the Sundays he didn’t have a wedding. I didn’t know until this past year (my son is in 2nd grade and my daughter is in kindergarten) that he didn’t know if this homeschool thing was really for us, but that he’s glad I was so sure and went with it. I can’t imagine any other way of doing our life. There are super duper hard days when I wish that I didn’t have to teach and that I could get a break, but then I get past it and am SO glad that we made this decision. It’s what is best for OUR family.
I am excited to read this series. I have a long way to go before the school years start (I have a 10 month old) but I am very interested in soaking up all I can in order to make this decision and prepare for it. It’s super helpful to hear from those that have gone before me. Thanks for featuring this topic! I hope there will be info not only on starting but organizing and planning.
We decided to homeschool our children because it felt like a natural continuation of what we were already doing every day…teaching, reading, talking about things we saw, etc. That said, my 8 year old is going to give a more structured charter school a try this year, because though he is doing well in the studies he’s been doing, I really think that a little bit of educational competition would do him well, even if for a year. If not, I have no qualms about going back to what we are doing now.
Hi! I’m an American mom with 2 boys (3.5 years old and 15 months) living in a foreign country where homeschooling is not a legally-recognized option, though I’m not sure that we would go that route even if it were. However, I’m seeing that one of my highest values/desires as a mom is that we, his parents, establish the kind of nurturing and solid relationship with our kids that keeps us as the main influencers in their lives. And unless God changes our situation, we’ll be sending our boys into our country’s very secular public school system when they are 6.
So…. we’ve got these precious preschool years to invest in establishing what I hope will be a rich, full-of-trust relationship that will help them weather the intense opposition to their souls that lies ahead once they enter school.
Any advice on how to use these preschool years in such a way that impacts the years ahead?
Also, I think it would be wonderful to hear from moms/families who have chosen the public school route, but who also hold high involvement in their kids’ lives as a core value. I’d love to know how more seasoned moms on this particular journey have navigated those waters.
I very much enjoy your blog. Thanks for “stirring the pot” and encouraging us in loving our families!
God bless you in your efforts to bloom where you’re planted! I wrote about some things to do in preschool here: http://lifeasmom.com/2010/08/a-preschool-education-at-home.html And you might want to look at last summer’s series, “How We Do School” – readers provided their experiences with a variety of education choices. You can find the series here: http://lifeasmom.com/2010/06/how-we-do-school.html
So excited about this series! I have a 2.5yo and a 8mo and we are thinking about homeschooling but I have no idea where to start!
I am so excited about this series also. I never considered homeschooling until this past year. My oldest son is four so we will have another school year to go before we have to really decide but I want to take that time to research and learn all that I can to make the best decision for my child. My husband and I are praying through this decision. It is very scary. I have a lot of friends that have education degrees that homeschool their children. I have a counseling degree which comes in handy for some things but I am not sure how this will benefit me to educate my children. I want to do the best for them, but the more I pray, read, think about homeschooling the more I am leaning toward the idea that I am the best person to educate my child, at least for right now. I have two year old twins and this is another concern of mine, they have to be right in the middle of what their big brother is doing. I am concerned about the logistics of how you actually do school with little ones around that aren’t doing school.
I will be finishing my 3rd year of homeschool in a week. Our son, the oldest. was in a great school, private, until we had to move. He loved the classroom and seemed to excel with the competition of other kids his age. But, when we had to move, we were so unsure of the area and felt homeschool would be our option. The first year was good, the second a living nightmare and the this past year has bee a great one. I think there are valleys and mountains in each year. I am now in my 2nd year of teaching 2 kids-the first year my daughter did k-3 stuff which was not time consuming at all, we kept it fun. This year she added more “real” school and has learned to read small words and add small numbers at the same time my son did his lessons. Next year will be interesting as they will both be in full-time: a k-5 and a 4th grader. I go back and forth between loving and loathing it. I have heard good to great comments about our local school as it is a small community. We have endured the socialization issue and have kept them busy with sports at our YMCA, library program that caters to the homeschoolers, Cub Scouts, and other activites where they meet and talk to kids their age. Homeschooling is DEFINATELY NOT for everyone and one needs to sit and consider. One bad day does not equal doom for the year. I went to public school and survived but do recall hating it. My husband was always in private schools and would probably say it was a bit easier but still tough at times.
Thank you for starting this series! We are homeschooling our children. My oldest is 4 and we are starting his year of preschool in the fall. He is already learning to read here at home and we have so much fun learning together! Our family may not totally understand us, but they don’t bash us about it either 🙂 I am looking forward to reading the rest of your posts in this series!
I am so happy to hear you are doing this. Homeschooling is something we are seriously thinking about. We’ll make the decision in a couple years (my son is 3) but for now I’ve been looking for as much information & imput in homeschooling as possible. So thank you!
I am SOOO excited you will be featuring more on homeschooling!! I will take the plunge next year with my three kiddos!! 🙂