Getting Started with Homeschooling

Getting started with homeschooling can be overwhelming. The first question I found myself asking is “Can I really homeschool my children?” I was full of anxiety. Will I have the patience for it? Am I intelligent enough to teach my children? Where do I even begin!?!? The answer is yes you can homeschool your child! It can be a wonderful fulfilling experience for you both- not to say there won't be bad days.

When I began I started very slowly. I began researching the laws regarding homeschooling for our state. I learned what was required of us and at what age. A simple Google search of “state homeschooling laws" will usually turn up the right information or you can try this link.

Next its a good idea to look at different types of homeschooling. There are several styles of homeschooling. These styles include: Classical, Charlotte Mason, Computer Based or Online Schooling, Eclectic, Unschooling, Self Learning and Unit Studies. I won't dive into describing all the different styles because I'm sure your already feeling a little overwhelmed. I think sometimes information overload causes us to run. Take your time and research the different styles. There are different assessment tools available to guide you in a general direction. I suggest taking your time and doing your research so you are able to gauge what you think would work best for your family. We are an eclectic family, a little of this style, a little of that.

Something else to consider is your childrens’ learning style. My Boober is a kinesthetic style student (typical of students his age). He learns using his senses, and his body. He prefers physical learning. In other words if we are learning about plants, we are getting down and dirty in the garden, instead of watching a video about plant growth. There are several styles of learning: Logical, Social, Solitary, Spatial, Aural, Linguistic, and Kinesthetic. There are short tests that allow you to find your child’s learning style if you aren't sure.  

One of my favorite places for resources is Mardel.com (I am not being sponsored by Mardel for this post). Here is a link to their Learning Style Assessment. Here is a link for their Teaching Style Assessment. Take both assessments and explore the site. I use this site quite extensively. Mardel is a Christian education store. One of my favorite features includes their Online Lesson Planner. I also love the bargain section for great deals on supplies.

My final tip is to get in touch with the local homeschooling community. You can find them via facebook, meetup.com, HSLDA.com, local churches and libraries.

Good Luck!