Homeschooling: Getting Started

When you get started, homeschooling can sometimes seem quite overwhelming. You want to provide an education for your child at home, but your just not sure how to go about it or if you can handle it. Here are a few tips as you consider homeschooling that may help remove some stress.

One thing that you should remember as you begin this endeavor is that there is no no one size fits all. What may work for one person might not work for someone else. Different parents have different skills and life experiences that will influence how they teach and the approach that they take. It is a good idea to glean information from many different sources, but ultimately you have to find something that works for you and your child.

One of the first things that you need to do is to understand the laws and regulations pertaining to homeschooling in your state. Check with your local school district as well as your state office of education. A great resource on the legal end is the Home School Legal Defense Association. They can provide you with a wealth of information as well as assistance as far as the legal aspects are concerned.

Another thing you can do to help in the homeschooling process is to find others that are homeschooling. The internet has definitely made the world a smaller place and it is easy to find others that share your same ideas and philosophies. Use this tool to help you find other homeschool parents. Yahoo groups, Google groups and MSN groups are great places to start networking with others. On many of the social networks you can also find groups. Finding other homeschoolers that you can share curriculum, tips, support and supplies with is a valuable resource in the homeschool endeavor.

Use books and magazines to help you learn more about homeschooling and help you develop a plan and curriculum. There are many out there that are valuable resources for you. Also many of the homeschooling groups that you may find on the internet have homeschooling newsletters that you can sign up for that will contain ideas and tips.

Once you decide that you are going to homeschool, you need to develop a curriculum that will meet your students needs as well as fulfill the requirements the local school district or state has. There are many materials and resources available that can help you do this. Again, the internet is a valuable resource in helping you find these resource materials, but it can also be big and overwhelming. To help narrow your search for materials and find things that work, use others that have "been there, done that". That is where your networking discussed earlier can be such a valuable tool. Use online homeschool groups so that you can ask your questions to real people who have homeschooled. Find homeschool forums that can connect you with others that are homeschooling. Again, remember that what works for others may not necessarily work for you, but many times you can at least get a starting place from which to build a program is tailored specifically to your child.

Lastly, just try not to be overwhelmed. It's not easy and that's ok. Even teachers in public schools find it difficult at times developing curriculum and finding the best ways to educate students. Try to break it down and take one step at a time. Use all the resources available to you, including other homeschool parents, and your homeschool experience should turn out just fine.