Six Tips for Homeschooling

Starting homeschooling for your children can seem like an incredibly time-consuming and confusing task, but with my tips for homeschooling, you can easily begin the journey together, as a family, with little headache and great reward.

1. Try not to subscribe to the theory that homeschooled children are not sociable or the odd man out when put into a situation with homeschooled and non-homeschooled children.  Your child may actually thrive more with the one-on-one guidance you offer as parent and teacher.
2. With that being said, one of the more humbling tips for homeschooling is, do not compare your child to another, whether that is a sibling or a group member or a friend who goes to public school. We all learn at our own pace.
3. Find a homeschooling group in your city. They will be a plethora of tips for homeschooling, as well as more groups of children to interact with, and your shoulders to lean on.
4. Make sure you follow your state’s law for homeschooling. Many will require a 40 week curriculum, just as a public school.  Some may dictate what needs to be taught as well. Follow the rules as you would expect your child to. But remember, this is still a more flexible choice over public, where your moral, religious, or other beliefs can come into play while teaching.
5. Once you’ve established your state laws, set clear but attainable goals for you and your children. These can be done in advance or week to week, but the skeleton of your curriculum should be made for the year.
6. Remember, have patience and have some fun. Life is for living and learning. Kids will be kids and each child is their own person. Have the patience when one of them has a problem, is not moving at the rate you expected, or seems confused. One of my favorite tips for homeschooling is give praise where it is needed. Kids love knowing when they’re doing well, not just when they need critique.