How Do I Start Homeschooling My Child

After making the decision to begin homeschooling, most parents still face the question, "How do I start homeschooling my child?" There are a few steps all parents should take before beginning to teach their children at home.

Explore some common homeschooling myths before starting on your own homeschooling path.

Homeschool laws vary from state to state. For instance, some areas require parents to submit a homeschool instruction plan to ensure that their children are receiving a suitable education. The state may give you free reign to decide the best course of study for your child or they may set some required classes. To help you better understand the regulations behind how do I start homeschooling my child, Home School Legal Defense Association provides summaries of state homeschooling laws. After you have become familiar with regulations in your state, contact your local school district to find out what information they require. Initiate the process as early as possible for a smooth transition.

There are various methods of homeschooling, based on different educational philosophies and preferences.

Some parents choose to mirror a traditional school curriculum at home. The home environment simply allows a student to work at her own pace. Other curricula stem from differing learning philosophies. For instance, the Waldorf method emphasizes educating the mind, body and spirit, while the Moore Formula encourages a mix of study, work and community service.

A classical education focuses on three stages of learning. First children store knowledge, primarily through memorization. They then analyze what they have learned to develop their reasoning skills. Finally, students work on expressing their knowledge.

Parents provide less direction with distance learning programs. Instead, they guide their children as they complete classes under the guidance of an off-site instructor. Distance learning can be especially helpful for high school students taking advanced classes.

Homeschool unit studies take a cross-curricular approach to learning by focusing the teaching of all subjects around a single topic. For instance, a rainforest thematic unit would ask children to read and write about the rainforest to develop language arts skills, study the flora and fauna of the rainforest in science lessons, learn about the countries that contain rainforest areas and the people who live in them for social studies, and so on. These units lend themselves to in-depth study and culminating projects.

Unschooling is based on student exploration and discovery. Instead of following a set curriculum, parents allow children to dictate the direction of their own learning.

Some families find it best to incorporate a mixture of homeschooling methods in their everyday instruction. They will purchase textbooks but let a child's interests dictate when to spend more time on a particular subject. They may choose Montessori teaching methods but incorporate the Moore Formula's guidelines for service to the community. The important thing is to find a method in line with your beliefs about education that will help your child learn and develop as an individual.

If you're thinking, "How do I start homeschooling my child?", one thing you should know is that you don't have to do it alone. Let the local community become an extension of your classroom. A museum can take your children back in time. Nature centers bring science to life. Local businesses may offer tours. Visit the local chamber of commerce or visitor's bureau to explore your options.

The library is another invaluable help. Building a collection of books at home can be an expensive proposition, but the local library has fiction for all ages, non-fiction books on every subject imaginable, educational videos, news magazines, art books, and hundreds of other resources that could be used to enhance learning. Homeschoolers can also take advantage of special programs, such as author visits and story times.

Go online to find everything from a printable worksheet to help your child work on a specific skill to extensive unit plans. There are hundreds of websites and forums with tips and lesson plans you can incorporate in your daily teaching.

When looking for resources, don't forget the most valuable resource available – other homeschooling families. A common homeschooling myth is that children will miss out on opportunities to develop valuable social skills if they do not attend public school. Although this is typically untrue, networking with other homeschoolers does provide extra opportunities to spend time with their peers. Groups plan outings and special events, such as homeschool prom. A parent with the necessary background might hold a weekly lesson in art, Spanish or dance, or parents might pool their money to hire an outside teacher for special classes. Regardless of the activities a particular group may plan, the chance to share your experiences and exchange ideas is one of the most important things you can gain from finding a homeschool support group.

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