Homeschool Info

Welcome!

So, you’re wrestling with the thought of homeschooling, huh? Oh, how I remember the overwhelming bundle of pure emotions, like it was just last week!

I pray that I can ease your mind, if only a bit, when I say, “Friend, you are NOT alone!” In fact, there have been so many others reaching out, feeling exactly how you are right now. That is what inspired me to write this! It’s been difficult to keep track of each question and it is important to me that I always give each friend the sincere response that they deserve! I fully understand the weight of this decision and the uncertainty that feels like an endless rabbit hole of research. It’s a lot.

While I truly enjoy sharing my favorite resources with anyone that asks, I believe that the info you find here will provide a great starting point for you, as you dig in on your own and learn all about what homeschool is and what it isn’t. (& what your unique style looks like!) It is not my intention to recreate the info that many of these resources have already shared, so please be sure to follow the links & do some reading while you check out each one! I highly recommend getting a notebook and a pen to jot down your questions as you go!

First off, let me be completely honest with you…I am not an expert and will never claim to be! We are still finding our way and it continues to change every single year! I am simply sharing about OUR unique experience in hopes that anyone who is searching for trusted resources may find something useful and encouraging. I am also never going to suggest that homeschooling is the absolute “best choice” for every child, because it’s just not. What I will say with confidence, though…is that not a single person knows or loves your children like you do! Choosing to homeschool inevitably comes with some backlash, some subtle and some…well, not so subtle! Haha! Which is why it is so imperative that you feel confident and informed regarding your decision and that you stay focused on your “WHY”.

Here are a few of the key things that I have picked up along the way:

#1 – Homeschool is NOT “school at home.” Don’t try to mimic a classroom or try to cram all the subjects into one day! They are going to absolutely hate it & you will want to pull your hair out! You can easily sneak in math, science, reading, spelling, and history into literally anything! Get creative with it! Play to their strengths & encourage them to focus a little time on the not-so-easy parts. Reading was always a struggle for us, so I let mine choose something they found interesting & we dove in to learn all we could about that thing! For example: Horses. We brainstormed fun questions we had about them and wrote them all down. We discussed ways we thought we could get answers to those questions & we explored them together! I modeled how we can use reading, writing, math & other skills to find our answers & began to realize rather quickly that they genuinely WANTED to use those things in order to unlock “secrets” pertaining to the subject at hand. We visited the library to checkout books to read aloud. We laid on the couch watching YouTube videos & having rich conversations about what we saw. We visited the zoo & friends with horses. We measured them, rode them, smelled them, tracked them, timed them running, and then we put together a “report” to share with the family, describing all we had learned & what we found most interesting! They still talk about the things they learned & eagerly share fun facts with anyone who will listen! Haha!

#2 – You’re not “behind”. Behind whom? Who says? Focus on the specific needs of YOUR child & provide them the space, pace and grace that they need to learn in the way that works best for them, without crushing them with deadlines and unrealistic expectations. We are all born curious. We are designed to learn. We show interest in the things we enjoy & the info we take from that becomes personal & applicable. Let them explore & ask questions. They’re going to figure it out! You are their guide…make suggestions. Ask thought provoking questions that require them to search for answers. LEARN TOGETHER! Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know, but let’s figure it out together!” Like I said in point #1, let their interests lead the way & the other stuff will follow naturally! (Obviously, there are some things that may require a little extra attention, like Dyslexia for example. My daughter was 11 before she began reading & I was so afraid that she would never get it. That she would be made fun of. We sought out intervention, therapies, you name it! But you know what, one day, she just “GOT IT” & it was like she never missed a beat! You’d never know she didn’t pick it up naturally in Kindergarten like her brother did! Just be patient & focus on their other strengths!)

#3 – Curriculum is not necessary! I bet I spent well over $1000 on stuff we NEVER USED because I thought we needed ALL. THE. THINGS. We did not. Haha! Sure, there ARE some pretty amazing boxed curriculum options out there, and many friends absolutely swear by some of them, but they are not required and you can provide a rich education without them, I promise! Don’t go into debt hoping to feel more prepared. Never underestimate used book sales, Goodwill, yard sales, Mardel, & the Library! There are also SO many FREE online & printable resources available! Spoiler alert! No amount of curriculum is going to make you feel “prepared”. But, you are. Again, see point #1.

#4 – “Socialization” does not look like 20+ kids with assigned seats in a classroom based on age & the proximity of their home to the school. True socialization looks like organic conversations, rooted in shared interests, regardless of age, race, location, etc. My kids enjoy making friends with literally anyone! They have friends that are babies, teens, and even grandparents! Haha! Now, obviously…it’s my job as their parent to ensure that friendships are appropriate & safe, but aside from that, they lead the way! I am so thankful for the opportunity to celebrate diversity & I love that they see the value in choosing friends that reach so much further than just age! Don’t fall for the lie that your kids are “missing out”. Quite the contrary. Don’t believe me? Plan a playdate with a homeschool family & observe how the homeschoolers interact. Now do the same with traditional schoolers. The difference is clear. No, I am not bashing anyone that chooses traditional school!! I’m simply stating that the assumption that homeschoolers are unsocialized, is absolutely inaccurate.

Repeat after me: “I AM CAPABLE. I AM THEIR PARENT ON PURPOSE. I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS.”

Now breathe. You’ve got this!

So let’s dig into that research, shall we?! If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I may not have all the answers, but the homeschool community has been such a blessing to me & so many are eager to help in whatever way possible!

Here we go!!!

Resource List:

http://www.ArkansasHomeschool.org

http://www.HomeEdOnline.com

http://www.HSLDA.org

http://www.time4learning.com/signup/step1.aspx?rid=WrCfaAGA8Y7C3oGVTE+DRw==

http://www.TheHomeschoolMom.com

http://www.homeschool.com/resources/

http://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/homeschooling-resources/

http://www.thehomeschoolresourceroom.com/2021/05/03/free-homeschool-resources/

http://www.allinonehomeschool.com/

http://www.freedomhomeschooling.com/