Homeschooling is becoming an increasingly popular choice among parents today. After the choice to homeschool is made, however, a parent may feel overwhelmed or not exactly sure where to begin.
The first step in homeschooling is to find out what your state requirements are. I live in New Jersey, one of the most liberal homeschooling states. Our only requirements are to school for 180 days, and to teach the history of New Jersey. A quick search on the Internet will reveal what the requirements are for your state.
The second step is to choose a curriculum for your child. The library will have a list of subjects you should be teaching your child at each grade level. I search many curriculums and once I find the one I am interested in I visit Ebay, Half.com, or Amazon. Most times you can get a brand new curriculum cheaper there.
As you begin homeschooling you will see what works with your child and what doesn’t. For instance, my daughter hated Math and threw a tantrum whenever it was time to do that subject. So I did a little research and found a curriculum that was based on an animal and his friend. Along with an excellent teachers manual this did the trick. You see, my daughter loves animals so this Math book caught her interest. Now my daughter will tell you her favorite subject is Math and she is currently getting an A.
The Third and optional step is record keeping. I love organization, but it doesn’t work for all parents. I purchased a homeschool planner, which was full of forms. These forms included: attendance records, textbook records, field trip forms, a grade book, weekly assignment record, etc. I was able to plan my daughter’s school year ahead of time and since I copied those pages I have the planner to use again year after year.
Fourth, you need to take advantage of the Internet. It is loaded with printouts on any subject you can imagine. I use Enchanted Learning almost once a week. The Internet also contains numerous homeschool forums and groups you can join to get more info and ask questions.
Fifth: don’t forget to use all your daily activities as learning experiences. My daughter has learned to save, tithe, and spend money. She takes her bankbook, fills it out, and hands it to the teller herself and she is only 6. Turn your grocery trip into a learning experience. Calculate savings, practice a budget, and add the prices up. Use the self-check out to allow your child to become the cashier. Putting into practice what you are learning in everyday life will make the learning experience so much more rewarding.
Finally, don’t forget extra-cariculer activities. This is where your children will interact with other children. My daughter is actively involved in the townships sports programs (my substitute for gym class). She goes to Kids College in the summer as well as vacation Bible School. In the winter there are several book clubs and a program at our church called winter J.A.M. Most communities have a homeschool group you can join which gets together once per week and for field trips.
Now you have the steps you need to begin homeschooling your child. Best Wishes for success with your child’s education.
