Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Beginning Homeschooling

I often field questions regarding how to begin homeschooling.

Some are asking just for information's sake.

Others are asking because they really want to know--either because they ARE going to homeschool or they are really seriously considering it.

This post (and some others I have in the wings) is for the latter group.

My advice to anyone considering home education is this:
READ, READ, READ.
THEN READ SOME MORE.
 KEEP READING.

That means you, Mom.
And Dad, too, if he will.

This is a big adventure on which you are about to embark and you need to be prepared.

More than just "how to homeschool" books...you need some "why we homeschool" books.
My personal recommendations:

These books, among others, will help you to understand the reasons why many Christian and non-Christian families have chosen to educate their children at home.

Optimally, you would have read these books from the time your children are small and you'd be ready to jump right in once they hit--I cringe to even say it--"school age."  (me jumping up on my soapbox: as IF there were such a thing!) 
I would venture to guess that the number of people who know they're going to homeschool from the time of their children's birth is relatively small.
Many more parents arrive at the decision to homeschool later on.

Like we did, for example.  You can read all about that here and here.

As the parent, you have some choices to make.  You need to arrive at your own reasons for why you homeschool.
You also need to decide how you will teach your child at home.
You will need to decide on what curriculum you will use and you arrive at that decision my studying curriculum options.

Would you like to know what I did?
I surfed the web and ordered every free catalog from homeschool curriculum companies that I could.

I have pored over more catalog pages than you could shake a stick at.  It has helped me to become familiar with what other families use as well since I've read about so many.

My personal favorites, tried and true at our house:

Most important of all, you need to cover the process in prayer and then step out in obedience to God's plan for your family.

4 comments:

  1. Melissa,
    Thank you for this! Any advice on pulling a child from public school? ;)
    Nicki

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  2. Other than "just do it"?
    Are you looking for the logistics? Not much to it--you need only to file a Non-Public Compulsory Report Form with your district and then keep him at home at your own school. The form can be downloaded at www.mache.org. (I'll e-mail you, too.)

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  3. Thanks for the post Melissa! :) Chris and I are currently trying to figure out what we will do with the girls. Lots of prayer and research on our part! :)

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  4. Why, why, why is this such a HUGE deal for me? AHHHH! FYI: Our Allison threw up all over herself on the bus home from a field trip today. She was humiliated and all I can think is that if I weren't so chicken.....she would have been at home when she got sick! Push me off this cliff and into homeschooling......PLEASE! ;)

    ReplyDelete

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