Do you want to homeschool your child and you don’t know where to start? Here are 10 questions you need to consider before making the jump to homeschooling.
1. How much of your time is devoted to homeschooling?
Homeschooling is an important commitment and will take a substantial amount of your time to ensure your child is receiving the best education. You will need to think about whether or not you have enough time to dedicate to teaching your child and if not, consider getting help from other family members.
You may need to create a weekly schedule for yourself and your child in order to maximize learning potential and ensure that everything is being covered adequately in the curriculum.
2. What curriculum will you use?
You’ll need to choose a suitable curriculum and plan out how your child will learn the topics. Many full-time homeschool families use a variety of curricula to ensure their child’s learning is spread across a variety of subjects.
You’ll need to consider what type of environment your child will learn best from, if it will be a literature-based approach or a hands-on approach. You may find that what worked for one child doesn’t work for another, so trial, error and patience may be necessary when testing out different curricula.
3. How will you assess your child’s progress?
You’ll need to measure and document your child’s progress to make sure they are mastering the material covered. This could include standardised tests, tools like checklists and portfolios, as well as keeping track of your child’s behaviour and attitude towards learning.
It’s important to remember that homeschooling doesn’t just come down to test scores–it’s also about gauging your child’s emotional and social development.
4. How will you teach key life skills?
Life skills are just as important as academic skills, so you’ll need to make sure your child is equipped with the necessary life skills such as reading, writing, math, and managing time and money. Consider if you have the financial resources to offer your child real-life experiences like volunteering, job shadowing, interning or entrepreneurship.
You may be surprised at how much life skills play into your child’s development and overall success.
5. How will you keep your child socially active?
Social interaction is essential for a well-rounded education, so you’ll need to create opportunities for your child to engage with their peers and cultivate meaningful relationships. Look into structured social activities like joining an online school, joining a local homeschool group, or participating in community events like book clubs and sports leagues.
6. What values do you want to instill in your child?
Values are an important part of a child’s education as they help guide decisions and set the tone for how they will interact with the world. Consider whether or not you want to focus on character education, such as respect, consideration, or integrity. It’s always helpful to discuss with your child at a young age what values you find important and how they can learn to develop those values in their everyday lives.
7. What resources are available to you?
There are a variety of resources available for homeschooling that can make the transition easier. Research places like your local library and educational websites for resources like textbooks and educational materials. You may also be able to connect with other homeschooling families who can provide support and advice.
8. What strategies do you have for teaching?
You’ll need to decide how you want to approach teaching the different subject material. Think about what strategies you will use to keep your child engaged, methods of tracking progress, and how you’ll use activities and projects to reinforce the learning. It’s important to keep your teaching methods accountable and rigorous.
9. Do you need to register with your school district?
Depending on where you live, you may need to register with your local school district and meet certain qualifications. Registering with a school district may involve getting approval from the board of education and following any requirements related to curriculum and instruction.
10. What are the laws regarding homeschooling in your state?
It’s important to know the laws regarding homeschooling in your state to make sure you are following all the regulations. This includes attendance, child labor laws, testing, and submitting any required records to the board of education or other authorities. Depending on where you live, the rules and regulations around homeschooling can vary greatly, so be sure to do your research.
11. How do you defund homeschooling without breaking the law?
In most states you can legally defund homeschooling by making sure that your child is registered as a homeschooler in your district, thus avoiding tuition fees and the use of public funds. Defunding homeschooling doesn’t mean that you won’t have to pay taxes, but most of the funds will go towards supporting public schools instead of being used directly to fund your homeschool.
12. What are your options for testing and evaluation?
Depending on your state, you may be required to partake in standardized testing. If this is not a requirement, you may want to explore other options for testing and evaluation such as portfolios or one-on-one assessments. You can also consider enrolling your child in classes offered by your local community college or other learning centers in order to expose them to more rigorous assessments and educational activities.
13. How will you track finances related to homeschooling?
Financial resources can be a huge component of homeschooling, and tracking finances is an important part of staying within budget. It’s important to keep track of your expenses and any materials purchased for homeschooling. You may want to consider setting up a separate account for homeschooling-related expenses and allocate portions of your budget for curriculum, materials, and activities.
14. What is the best way to stay organized?
Staying organized from day to day is essential for keeping everything running smoothly. Create a schedule that both you and your child can refer to and make sure to keep all materials, supplies, and documents neatly put away and easily accessible. You may also want to consider using a planner, calendar, or mobile app to stay organized and on top of teaching and learning goals.
15. Whom can you rely on for advice and support?
Just because you are homeschooling your child doesn’t mean you are alone–take advantage of the many tools and people who can help. There are several online communities and websites dedicated to helping homeschoolers and many public libraries offer workshops and activities.
You can also connect with other homeschoolers to ask questions and gain insight into the homeschooling experience.
Conclusion
Homeschooling is a big decision and it’s important to consider all the questions and components before making the jump. There is a lot of planning and research required to ensure your child is getting the best education possible. With the right resources, strategies, and support network, you can equip your child with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in life.