1) Learn the Laws. The most important step if you're looking into homeschooling is to learn your state's laws. The best resource for this is the Home School Legal Defense Association. This organization provides legal representation to homeschoolers across the US and around the world. Their site has all the necessary information to make sure you are obeying the law for your child's education.
2) Read up. There are many different educational philosophies that can influence how you teach your children. A few of the most popular schools of thought are: Classical, Charlotte Mason, Unit Studies, Traditional, Montessori, and Eclectic. Homeschooling can be done in countless ways and each family can choose what's right for them.
My educational philosophy has morphed and changed each year and that's totally okay. Do not be afraid to keep learning. Some favorite books from when I was first learning about homeschooling were: Educating the Whole Hearted Child, The Well-Trained Mind, Charlotte Mason Companion, and For the Children's Sake.
3) Discuss with your husband. After you've done your research about the laws and possible methods that might work for your family, share your thoughts with your husband. It's absolutely paramount that your husband be on board if you decided to homeschool. It's wonderful and amazing, but it is hard work. If your husband does not want your family to homeschool, you must submit to your husband and his leading of your family. If your husband is on board, move forward with researching and picking a curriculum. The Lord is sovereign over all, including the hearts of our husbands. If homeschooling is right for your family, the Lord will make that clear also to your husband.
4) Pick a curriculum. If your children are under 5, you really don't need a formal preschool curriculum. Work on reading books aloud, learning the letters, shapes, colors, numbers, crafts, and doing lots of imaginative play. If you have a Kindergartner or older child, you will likely need some sort of curriculum. There are many ways to go about picking what to use. You can purchase an all inclusive curriculum package or piece together the subjects you will teach yourself. I have done it both ways.
Right now with a toddler and baby running around, I find it so much easier to use a complete pre-planned curriculum package for my oldest daughter. We use My Father's World and absolutely LOVE it! This is our third year using their curriculum. Other popular choices for complete Christian curriculum packages are: Sonlight, Memoria Press, and Heart of Dakota.
If you'd like to piece subjects together yourself, ChristianBook.com is one of the best places to shop online. You can see samples of almost anything you are interested in buying. Also Cathy Duffy Reviews is a great resource to learn more about the many different options.
5) Talk to other Homeschool Moms. Learn from other homeschool moms about what has or hasn't worked for their family. When I was just starting out a dear friend and mother of nine children helped me get going. It was such a blessing to have an older more experienced mom to answer questions and help me keep the big picture in mind.
6) Celebrate your first day of school. Once the curriculum have arrived and you have gotten a bit organized, pick your first day of school. Make it exciting and special for everyone involved. Our family celebrates the first day of school each year by having chocolate cake for breakfast! My kiddos love it and it's an amusing way to kick off the year. Whatever you decide, celebrate together! The freedom to teach your children at home is a blessing and one to be celebrated if you decided to go that route.
Hope this helps make the process a little be easier for those of you considering homeschooling your kiddos. Praying for you seminary moms!
By Lexi Zuo
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