Congrats – You’ve decided to homeschool your child!
You’ve thought about it. You’ve researched. You’ve prepared.
And yes, you are ready. In fact, you’re going to crush it!
But wait, before you start, can I give you just a little homeschooling advice – to help you succeed? This is advice that I wish I’d been given:
First and Foremost, Trust Yourself
- All homeschooling parents worry, and ask themselves, from time to time, “Can I do this? Am I good enough?”
- The short answer is YES.
- You were your child’s first teacher, and you know your child better than anyone else. This gives you an advantage that professional teachers just don’t have.
- When you come upon a subject that you don’t know a lot about, you can turn to homeschool resources, the internet, enroll your child in a class, hire a tutor, ask a relative to help out, search for a mentor, etc.
- We never stop learning. This means you’ll learn alongside your child – and you will learn how to be a great homeschool teacher.
All children learn differently, even siblings
- When it comes to learning, there are four types of learners – visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic learners.
- You need to determine your kids’ different learning styles (your kids will learn better, faster, and will enjoy it more if you teach to their learning styles).
- Once you know their styles, you can search for lessons that teach to their learning styles. Nowadays, finding resources isn’t an issue.
- Also worth noting, just because one of your children excels in one area, or is a specific type of learner, doesn’t mean your other children will follow suit. Chances are, your children will learn differently (don’t worry, this isn’t as intimidating as it sounds).
There’s no “perfect curriculum”
Gosh, I wish a perfect curriculum existed. But it just doesn’t.
- Nobody learns everything, and no matter what curriculum you choose, there will be gaps.
- It’s best to establish a core curriculum, and then supplement it along the way with special resources you think will be of benefit.
Socialization isn’t an issue
- There are plenty of opportunities for your kids to explore the world. As a new homeschooler, you might be afraid that your children are missing out socially. Don’t worry about this – because it just isn’t true. Between play dates, field trips, outside classes, organized sports, etc. homeschool kids have MORE opportunities to explore the world than their public school counterparts. Really! Studies have proven it!
- Also, there are plenty of amazing resources out there to help children explore the world from the comfort of their own home.
There are going to be times when it’s hard
This is a given. Anything worthwhile can be difficult. But stick with it. Because at the end of the day (or year), it will be worth it.
Although homeschooling is GREAT, you’re so much more than a homeschooler
Don’t forget, you’re also a parent, a spouse, and about a million other things. Switch modes. Don’t ruminate on what you didn’t do, or what you didn’t accomplish.
Remember, tomorrow is a new opportunity.
And you will crush it!
