Many parents make the decision to homeschool their children for a variety of good reasons, but starting off homeschooling might not be smooth-sailing for everyone. That’s why I’ve written this Beginner’s Guide to Homeschooling – just for you!
Homeschooling allows you to tailor an education to your child’s individual needs, something often lacking in public or private school systems.
Homeschooling also creates a valuable learning experience for both parent and child, and strengthens family bonds. In fact, many homeschool parents mention that through homeschooling they have “redeemed” their own failed education and grown closer to their children! (But that’s a topic for another post!)
Table of Contents: A Beginner’s Guide to Homeschooling:
Go to the section you want. At the end of each section, you can keep reading OR click back to the top!
- What do you need to know to homeschool?
- What are the benefits of homeschooling?
- What are the drawbacks to homeschooling?
- What about socialization?
- How can both mom and dad prepare to homeschool?
- What practical ways can I plan and prepare for homeschooling my child?
- How do I create a homeschool schedule?
- Where can I find materials for my homeschool?
- What are the homeschool models? How do I select the right curriculum?
- How do I keep records and graduate my student?
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What homeschooling is: Every homeschool is different
The first thing to know about homeschooling, is that every single homeschool is different. Why? Because every family, and every child is different. No two families operate the same exact way, therefore, no two homeschools will be quite the same.
You don’t need to “design a homeschool exactly like so-and-so.” Take that burden off yourself. You will create a homeschool that fits your home and your family life!
What homeschooling isn’t: doing “school” at home
Don’t try to replicate the school system inside the walls of your home. In fact, you don’t even need STAY in your home to homeschool. Fantastic learning opportunities abound on the road, at the park, volunteering, homesteading, exploring, or at the store!
You’re not locked into a daily schedule or 180-day school year; you set the pacing and length of your school year (within legal bounds).
The choices of what to study are as endless as your child’s imagination. Libraries, tutors, and online learning resources open up a huge array of skills to master and topics to explore!
What do you need to know to homeschool?
There is one great truth I want to share with you in this beginner’s guide to homeschooling: Parents, you don’t need to know everything to be successful in your homeschool!
Homeschooling is about knowing your child well, not knowing every subject perfectly. Here’s what you should know though:
- Find out your child’s learning style
Children learn in three basic ways:
- Auditory – they learn by hearing
- Visual – they learn by seeing
- Kinesthetic – they learn by doing
Some children learn through a combination of the above. If you’re not sure, you can use an online quiz to figure it out; older children can take this quiz on their own while younger children can go through it with you.
Once you’ve figured out what your child’s learning style is, you are already ten steps ahead because your child will learn in the way BEST suited to them!
- Learn their interests – pay attention to what they pay attention to.
- Develop their discipline and accountability – this is a lifelong process but worth attending to.
- Figure out how they are motivated – intrinsically or extrinsically? Learning is hard work. What will they need to support continuing learning?
- BONUS: I recommend listening to this podcast: Motivation and the Four Forms of Relevancy by Andrew Pudewa of the Institute for Excellence in Writing.
–Go back to the top of The Beginner’s Guide to Homeschooling–
What are the benefits of homeschooling?
In a nutshell, homeschooling offers a more personalized education for your child. Here are SIX benefits of homeschooling (but there are so many more!).
1. You move at your child’s pace
Maybe you need to move quickly through easy subjects so you can spend additional time on the tough ones. Or maybe your child needs to take difficult subjects in small doses.
Homeschooling allows you to adjust the pace of lessons to fit your child’s attention span, stamina, and learning needs. There is no rushing to keep up with schedules created by a municipal system that doesn’t know your child. And you don’t have to hold your child back because the rest of the class hasn’t caught up yet.
2. Your child will experience real-life learning
In homeschool, parents enjoy the opportunity to teach their children through real-life learning, or “learning by doing.” A friend of mine runs a goat farm; her child participates in 4H, showing her goats. She’s learning animal husbandry and food preparation as she cares for the kids (the baby goats, not other children!).
No need to own a micro farm though. Simply take a nature walk or go to the ocean. Observe and draw the creatures you discover. Ask good questions. Talk to experts in the field. All of these help your child learn.
3. You can create a positive learning environment.
Whether private or public, traditional schools do not give parents input and control over his or her child’s learning space. Often classrooms are noisy and disruptive, which is difficult for children who require quiet learning spaces. Some kids need to move about to learn, but in a school setting, they have to remain seated at an ill-fitting desk several hours a day.
A homeschool can provide the right atmosphere for learning. You’ll also be avoiding bullying, wasted time, and other distractions present in most traditional schools.
4. Homeschooling can provide a higher quality of education
With a caveat: you have to put the time and effort in to provide your child a quality education. It doesn’t happen simply because you keep them home. However, since the homeschool parent is in charge of what their child will learn, how they’ll learn it, and what values they’ll pick up along the way– I’d say there’s a real opportunity to give your child a higher quality education than can be obtained in most public schools. Here’s how to make that happen:
->Pick a quality curriculum
The best hallmark of a quality curriculum is that it is easy for the parent to follow. A good curriculum will support your family goals and values. Look for a curriculum that allows you to adjust pacing and scope to fit your child. Ask friends and get trusted recommendations.
->Find support in your teaching
Don’t homeschool alone! Gather your “human resources!” Maybe your husband is a chemistry teacher, lawyer, or other professional. They can help you teach a subject part-time! Do you have grandparents who were teachers, or who have particular skills? Let the kids take a weekend class with them!
Utilize online learning to fill in the gaps in your own education and expertise, or find local classes taught by people who are passionate about their craft!
->Use strategies that motivate your student
Does your child like to sing their learning? Maybe they prefer to give a speech instead of writing a paper (both require thinking and organizing). You will soon find out if your child loves unit studies or workbooks! Each option listed is simply a method of learning and assessing growth.
5. Homeschooling can cost less than private schools
Every year tuition fees get higher, and parents may find that they can no longer afford the private school options.
Homeschool costs can range from $200-2,000 per child annually, depending on curriculum, supplies, field trips, and any groups or co-ops you join. You can adjust what you buy according to your budget.
6. Finally, homeschooling bonds the parent and child
Teaching your own child comes with challenges, but a huge benefit can be all the time you get to spend with your own kids! This kind of bonding time is simply not reproducible in a school setting, no matter how many hours you volunteer as room mom.
I fondly recall teaching both my boys to read. Snuggled on the couch every day, I observed with growing amazement as my children’s brains absorbed all the sounds letters can make, and learned to decipher the abstract code we call “the alphabet.” We celebrated every win, hugged and cried through every difficult math problem, and created countless memories.
Children need never feel neglected, abandoned, bullied, or “behind” in homeschool.
But, with the positive, any beginner’s guide to anything should also look at the potential for negative aspects of homeschooling, too.
What are some drawbacks to homeschooling?
Potential for complacency
As a parent, you have to be disciplined to ensure your child receives the education they deserve. You’ll need to spend some time in the summer preparing and organizing. There will be tests to grade, papers to mark, and you will still find yourself going to the store for poster board and the random red sock for a Latin group project at 8 PM at night.
You’ll be the one holding the line on good handwriting, finishing assignments, and quality work.
Make a schedule for your child (let them help you if they are older) to keep everyone on track and aware of expectations.
As a wise homeschool mom friend of mine always says, “Inspect what you expect.” Avoid complacency by being accountable yourself, and by teaching your children the important character trait of accountability.
Homeschooling doesn’t make us immune from bad days. If you do slide, just pick yourself up and continue. Take one day at a time.
Potential for isolation
It is true that your child could often be learning alone or with a few siblings. Extroverted children may find this isolating. It is important to find a core group of friends for your child to interact with. You will soon find your “people” at co-ops, sports, local meet-ups, or by connecting with like-minded families via a local Facebook group. There are many ways to provide social learning opportunities to avoid isolation.
–Go back to the top of The Beginner’s Guide to Homeschooling–
But what about “socialization”?
Oh, the socialization question! First, we must define our terms. If by socialization you mean “playing and learning with other kids their age,” then yes, you will have to provide friend-time for your child. But, if by socializing you mean “learning to be a kind, confident, and competent adult,” then rest assured, they will learn that better from you than from their equally as unsocialized peers.
Education is more than just book-learning. Part of becoming a successful adult is learning social skills needed to move confidently into adult life. Peers cannot really teach this, but a loving adult (parent!) certainly can!
Homeschooling does not mean your child has to be lonely.
Sure, they will not be in an institutional building with hundreds-to-thousands of other children daily. (How is this a bad thing, again?). However, you do not have to homeschool alone (see, you’re here with me, right now!).
For in-person social time, join a local co-op (a group of homeschool parents who meet to enjoy social time, classes, and more), have your children join sports, clubs, and societies. If there isn’t anything like this in your area, create one! Trust me, if you are looking for something, others are looking too.
Today, large numbers of parents choose to homeschool, and the growth of resources and services for homeschoolers has exploded! Today’s homeschool child has more opportunities to learn social skills than their peers because they are engaged in real-life situations more frequently.
Homeschooling children are also more aware of the purpose of their learning.
Have frequent open discussions about why you are having your child complete certain coursework or materials. As your child grows, you can get feedback from them and include them in planning their year. When your student helps plan their own education, they will become invested and aware of the purpose of the work.
Homeschoolers are shielded from negative influences.
Notice I did not say “sheltered” from the world but “shielded” from influences that would harm their growth and development. Public and private school students, on the other hand, often do not have any mature adult filtering what they see, hear, and discuss among their peer group. With the prevalence of technology and smartphones, school children could be exposed to literally anything while at school.
In my opinion, homeschooled children are often better prepared to enter adult life.
The removal of negative influence plus the positive influence and presence of a loving parent to guide them encourages homeschool kids to become more versatile and well-rounded individuals.
–Go back to the top of The Beginner’s Guide to Homeschooling–
How can both mom and dad prepare for the homeschooling journey?
First and foremost, recognize that in homes with married parents, there are technically TWO teachers for your child. Although often it is the mother who stays home to care for the children, dads can and should be as involved as possible in the homeschool.
Remember that you are the parent and the teacher. Children become who they are largely by modeling the life they learned at home, from you and your actions.
Learning is not just about books and worksheets; it’s about you showing your children how small gestures make a large difference in your corner of the world.
For me, there are three essentials to being a prepared homeschool parent.
1. The best preparation is prayer.
Pray that God gives you the strength to accomplish this task of educating your children. “God doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called.” He will give you the strength and wisdom for each day.
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
I Thessalonians 5:24
2. Gather support from family and friends.
Explain to them what you’re doing and how they can support you. If they already homeschool, ask their advice and listen to their experiences. If you don’t have family and friends to support you, join a local co-op or group, and/or a Facebook group so you can ask questions and get a glimpse into the variety of ways homeschooling looks for different families.
3. Find your planning style
Whether you like to run your homeschool strictly according to a schedule, or have a general theme and wing it, some level of planning is necessary. Your planning time should leave you feeling confident. It should also work when you implement it. If you’re constantly floundering trying to find materials every day, you might need to do more planning. If you never finish the plan you make, remember: there is such a thing as over-planning!
I used to fill up my planner with hundreds of books to read; it was unrealistic. At the end of the month/year I would feel like a “failure.” Once I realized how unrealistic my plan was, I prioritized a handful of “must-read” books/activities, and put the others on a “supplemental” list. Having a realistic view of time helped me feel successful in my homeschool!
4. Establish roles and boundaries for your child(ren).
Your kids may not initially view you as the “teacher” when you first start to homeschool. Remember you are doing a new thing and children need to adjust. Explain the changes you are making as their parent, and discuss how they should behave while lessons are happening. Set boundaries so children know exactly what is expected from them, and what they can and cannot do during lesson time (ie, no screens, show work, write neatly, date your work, etc).
Because you’ll all be home the majority of the day, it’s important to set up simple daily “events” to mark time, like lunchtime or enjoying dinner together every night.
What practical ways can I plan and prepare for homeschooling my child?
As a beginner homeschooler, one of the most important aspects of homeschooling your child is coming up with a clear plan and set of goals. What makes homeschooling great is the flexibility you have to tailor the learning to each child.
When you’re starting out, this can be completely overwhelming.
Goal Setting for Homeschool
- Why you want to homeschool your children?
- What you want them to get out of the experience?
- What do you want YOUR child’s education to look like?
Write down your answers. Discuss them with your spouse or a friend to get clarity.
Consider how each subject will help you meet the goals for your child. Does a sports team help your child learn to work as a team member? Your literature choices could be selected to instill values and character, or to expand your child’s worldview.
When your child is old or mature enough, invite him to help set annual goals with you. Ultimately, he will set his own goals, making you his advisor.
Making a yearly list of objectives stemming from the goals you have for your child is the most effective starting point in planning your year.
Planners by the dozen
You can use a variety of options to keep track of your homeschool plan. I typically enjoy just a simple spreadsheet. Other parents love pretty planning books. Or you might use specialized homeschool software that allow you to assign and grade your children electronically.
We tried Myschoolyear.com when my oldest was younger. It made me feel like I could tackle the homeschooling day/ week/ month like a beast! (albeit, a sweet and kind beast). However, I did eventually go back to my simple spreadsheet because that is my comfort zone.
Workspaces (and the living room floor you’ll actually use)
A lot of new homeschooling parents stress out because they think they need to create a classroom, mimicking the setup they have in regular school. (Remember, you’re not trying to create “school at home!”).
Should you create a dedicated workspace? The answer depends on what your stated homeschool goals are, and what your budget and space offers.
If you have an extra room, remember you’re not trying to recreate “school” but rather create a dedicated learning space. Here your children can focus, and you can store learning tools and equipment so the house doesn’t become cluttered.
Think of the brilliant things you can fill this room with:
- bookshelves,
- maps (here’s my favorite for younger kids!),
- motivational messages,
- mount a projector for documentaries and YouTube videos during learning time, and movies for relaxing time,
- brighten the atmosphere with a reading rug,
- or a reading corner with cushions,
- and a table for the computer.
No spare room? Maybe you have backyard or garden space–you could build a “she shed” to use as a learning center. Take the seasons into consideration in case you may need to add a fan, air-conditioner, or heater.
As fun as a “she shed” or homeschool room might be, the reality is, most families end up working all over the house. You do what works for you.If you don’t have an extra room, try to get a cabinet or storage bins that work for you.
For example, our morning time is spent on the couch, math is at the kitchen table, birdwatching at the window. A desk is not the only place to learn. For some people, that is not the best place at all.
If you have a dedicated space, it is certainly helpful for storage and some mental clarity. But it isn’t essential. You can homeschool anywhere! Including outside your house. Think: museums, the park, science centers, galleries, even shopping centers. Learning happens everywhere. People are doing road-schooling and world-schooling by traveling as they learn.
Supplies and Learning Equipment
If you’re a beginner homeschooler, let me guide you by sharing my “must-haves” for homeschool gear.
Once I’ve planned my curriculum, I know what I’ll need for the year. Don’t waste a ton of money on buying things “just in case” you might need it! Be sure it’ll actually serve you that year.
->Paper and Printing Needs
With an “out of the box” curriculum, you might not need much by way of printing supplies. However if you’re eclectic like me, you’ll want to have a good setup for printing and creating materials.
For instance, for my morning time printables, I purchase quality white paper, brightly colored paper, and cardstock for printing a variety of resources and games.
Page protectors or laminating sheets are handy for creating checklists, projects, and keeping important pages clean and organized. Some of these packs have lasted me 2-3 years!
Consider investing in an economical printer to use at home; a good one will last many years. We use an HP Color Laserjet Pro model. Although a laser printer is more expensive, the quality of print far surpasses inkjet. Also, and most importantly, toner does not dry out, whereas inkjet cartridges dry out if you go too long between printing. Since I tend to have seasons of heavy vs light printing through the year, it was more expensive to use the inkjet because I was always replacing mostly unused, dried-out cartridges.
->Science materials
When we do science-intensive years, I order the lab kits that come with the program; they truly are sanity savers and worth every penny. Having other tools like a microscope also keeps science interesting, as does a telescope for when you’re studying space.
If your curriculum is going to include bird-watching, invest in a decent pair of binoculars and other resources.
->Other handy homeschool gear:
- Laminating machine
- Paper shredder
- Heavy duty pencil sharpener
- iPad for online lessons, keyboarding skills, and typing papers (if you are able to splurge!)
Your children can keep quality educational tools long after they graduate. Imagine him or her saying to their own children one day, “I spotted my first Bald Eagle with this pair of binoculars when I was just your age.” How awesome would that be?
Don’t feel you have to purchase all these items your first year. Essentially, your curriculum choices will drive your supply purchases. You’ll also grow your supplies over time.
How do I create a homeschool schedule?
1. Break up the year into bite-size chunks
There are so many schedules you could follow. Many homeschooling parents do not follow traditional semesters, but rather group topics into quarters or even unit studies.
- Your spouse’s work schedule
- Your homeschool co-op schedule
- Year-round schooling schedule
- Trimester schedule
- 6/1 schedule (6 weeks on, 1 week off)
No matter which schedule you follow, it’s still helpful to break the year into chunks like quarters, semesters, or even seasons or themes. This way you can plan a chunk at a time.
2. Get a planner that works for you.
When I am planning our year, I use a spreadsheet calendar. First, I enter all the holidays and fixed events for the year (co-op days or piano lessons). Then I enter basic assignments or lesson units across days or weeks (“Math Lesson 82,” “Science Moon Unit”).
As we homeschool through the year, I print out one week at a time and check off what gets done. I then adjust the calendar weekly or monthly, depending on how much we accomplish. If we’re ahead, I might give a little time off, work on a special project, or do a field trip. If we fall behind, I tailor the workload so we can catch up, or we might work on a Saturday morning.
Evaluate your schedule every year. Because you’ll want to add in extras like piano or art lessons, be sure to make adjustments for those educational opportunities.
It is very easy to overschedule, thinking you will have enough time for so many exciting endeavors. As Sarah Mackenzie says in her iconic homeschooling book, we should “teach from rest,” not from stress!
3. Determine what subjects you’ll cover each day/week
As with most aspects of beginning to homeschool, your days and weeks will depend on your goals. Here’s an example of what we might cover in one week:
Since we participate in a full-day co-op (which covers academic subjects, science experiments, public speaking, fine arts, writing, and grammar), we have a 4-day home week.
At home, we study the following on a daily basis:
- Bible
- Math
- Writing (in this strand we cover research and literature)
- Grammar (either English or Latin)
Subjects like science, Spanish, geography, spelling, handwriting, and extra projects are “looped” in every other day or once a week.
Math and writing take up at least an hour a day. The other subjects can be 20-30 minutes each.
4. Finally, figure out your daily schedule
When my children were under 5, 30-90 minutes was sufficient. We would “do school” 3-4 days a week. Once in elementary school, the time increased gradually.
Currently, my sons just finished 5th and 7th grade, and it takes around 4-6 hours to accomplish all subjects for the day.
Some of our day is spent reading together on the couch for our morning time. The rest of the day is generally spent on their individual assignments. Some days we’ll have a break– perhaps to catch up on chores, or enjoy a poetry tea time! It’s not all bookwork!
How much work is enough for one day?
Getting into a daily rhythm or routine comes with time and practice.
As a parent, you will grow to understand when each child tends to hit their “wall.” (And when you, as a parent do as well! Mine is about noon).
“Enough” work is subjective. When children are making progress towards goals, without being discouraged or fatigued, that is the sweet spot. Yet, it’s often best to stop BEFORE that sweet spot runs out. We don’t want to work kids to the point of exhaustion.
I like to stop working when kids are on a high note and still excited about learning. Then they end their lesson on a positive note and feel excited to return the next day.
I also keep a pulse on our progress through the yearly plan. Are we keeping up with what I scheduled, or do we fall short every day? If we continually fall behind my planned schedule, then I know I overplanned (underplanning never seems to happen!) and need to adjust the year.
Where can I find materials for homeschooling?
Another big question new homeschoolers have is: where do I buy teaching resources? And how do I use them successfully? Although there’s a LOT to cover on this topic, this beginner’s guide to homeschooling will get you started!
Based on your goals for each child, deciding which homeschooling materials you’ll need will be much easier. Buying materials that align with your goals ensure they will be put into productive use.
Most homeschooling materials can be purchased online:
- Amazon
- Etsy (check out my homeschool printable shop!)
- Rainbow Resource
- ChristianBook.com
- Or Facebook marketplace!
Search online and you’ll find homeschooling educational software, lesson plans, curriculums, programs, educational games, and activities abound!
Once you have your materials, spend some time browsing the teacher guides and student books. Getting an overview of the curriculum will help you understand the purpose of each resource and plan in an orderly manner.
Most professionally produced curriculum should have a “Scope and Sequence” chart at the beginning. This will map out the general concepts for the year, and might tell you how long each unit should take.
Use these questions to help you understand each subject’s materials:
- How are these materials intended to be taught? (video, workbook, parent instruction, etc).
- What is the expected time frame for each student session?
- What is my child expected to complete daily?
- Do I have all the supplemental materials needed, such as a teacher’s guide or student workbooks? If not, get them before the school year starts.
- Do supplemental materials, (answer key, teacher’s guide, lab materials, workbooks) add value to what I have purchased?
- Do the materials actually match your expectations? Sometimes when ordering online, the resources are not what you had expected. Return and replace the materials with what suits your needs.
Suggestions for organizing your homeschool materials:
- Group the materials for the whole school year by topic.
- Sort out teaching materials that will be used by you from the materials that will be used by your child.
- Place your child’s materials in an accessible spot, like a bin, basket, or bookshelf near their workspace. Some parents use “workboxes,” which are drawers or bins for each subject.
- When organizing educational materials for each subject, keep the primary alongside the supplemental materials. Make certain that extra materials, like additional readings and tools, are readily available.
- Make a list of the educational materials you have collected. This is useful when teaching two or more children, to track and organize your materials through the years.
–Go back to the top of The Beginner’s Guide to Homeschooling–
What are homeschool models? And how do I pick a curriculum?
How many types of curriculums are out there? That’s kind of like saying, how many sweets are in a sweet shop.
There are SO many!
Some parents enjoy homeschooling and picking curriculum because they can tailor it to a child’s interests, incorporate their family faith, and foster a real love for learning.
Now before you run out and buy a packaged, or boxed, curriculum, know that there are different homeschooling approaches, or models, that might affect your purchases.
Here are the basic educational models:
- Classical approach
- Charlotte Mason
- Waldorf
- Montessori
- Unit studies (which may use one of the above models)
- Unschooling
- Traditional (boxed curriculums usually follow this model)
Once you pick your model, it will be easier to select curriculum materials that fit that philosophy. Many parents start with a packaged/boxed curriculum, then realize there is a subject or two that wasn’t a good fit, so they shift to become more eclectic homeschoolers, building their program from multiple resources.
One curriculum option we tried in our home is Schoolhouseteachers.com. They offer a collection of courses and lesson plans arranged by grade level and subject. Because they offer so many courses at various grade levels, it can be a great resource for many of the homeschool models. It is worth the small investment you will make. I did write an in-depth review that I’m pretty sure you will find helpful.
The Pros of a Packaged Curriculum
->Done for you Lesson Plans
One of the benefits of a packaged (boxed) curriculum is that you are provided with a lesson plan. Everything is laid out for you on a daily, weekly, monthly schedule. This option is great for parents working from home who don’t have much time to devote to hours of planning and prepping their homeschool. Parents who are concerned that they aren’t ‘teachers,’ also love the security of a boxed curriculum, as does the new homeschooler who has no idea what they’re doing! (we’ve all been there!).
Boxed curriculums are not just for newbies! Plenty of families continue to use boxed curriculum for their children’s entire education because they can be reliable and user-friendly. Many boxed curriculum companies have been around for decades and provide generous support to families.
->Books and Supplies are on deck immediately
A packaged curriculum provides you with all of the books and supplies that you need, including teacher guides, study sheets, books, activities and more. You don’t have to hunt online and get frustrated when things you need are impossible to find. In addition, if you are going to use this curriculum for another child, you can just buy the replaceable items, such as the worksheets, which can save you a lot of money.
->Unit Studies come built in
Much of the coursework is interrelated with other subjects. For example, if you learn about Ancient Egypt in History, the theme will carry through into English, Geography, and possibly art and music. Inter-disciplinary learning helps kids make connections and is a valuable done-for-you feature of a packaged curriculum.
The Cons of a Packaged Curriculum
->Cost is a major downside
Packaged curriculums can be expensive. You can end up buying items you decide not to use. The flip side is that it does save you time and energy in terms of searching, shopping, printing and so on. You can sell boxed curriculum when you are finished; however, sometimes due to updates and the nature of curriculum going digital, you might find your edition is obsolete.
->Grade-level specific curriculum lacks flexibility
These curriculums are grade specific, and not all programs allow you to scale up or down in just one subject for the advanced or struggling student (although digital resources may be changing this ability!). You will need a separate “box” of materials for each child, and it will prove difficult to teach your children together.
The Pros of an Eclectic Curriculum
->Follows your Child’s interests
The great thing about eclectic homeschooling is how you can tailor the subjects your child learns completely around their interests! If your child is interested in pirates, complete a unit study on pirates, create a scene with pirate-themed Lego bricks that shows understanding of the topic, or get in the kitchen and cook up a pirate storm!
For example, if your child is interested in everything weather-related, traditional schooling only covers the basics, pre-determined by the government or Common Core. These topics get touched on for a limited period of time. In homeschool, you don’t have to end where the books do. Instead, you can expand on your child’s interest. Visit a weather station, look on Pinterest for projects, purchase weather kits online (AFF LINK), and watch relevant movies together.
->Can be cost-effective
Because you are designing your own curriculum, you can lean heavily on library resources or used curriculum from a variety of brands. I’ve saved so much money by receiving hand-me-down curriculum or borrowing books from friends.
The Cons of an Eclectic Curriculum
->Putting together a program is time-intensive
When you are a new homeschooler, putting together a year-long program for each child is quite a daunting task. Fear becomes a huge culprit because you might be concerned about not teaching too much or too little. How much is enough teaching?
->Not always ideal for a working parent
Homeschooling eclectically may require you to be more hands-on, especially at the beginning. You’ll have less time for work which might mean a dip in your income. The good news is: once you get a rhythm set up, and as your children get older, you may reclaim some of that time.
How do I keep records and graduate my homeschooled child?
Homeschooling is legal in all fifty states. Each state has provided laws (or statutes) for homeschool regulation. Every state operates differently however, so it is important to find out the requirements for each state. Many states require you to show records either quarterly or annually.
Because it would take far too long to detail each state’s laws (and they change over time) in this beginner’s guide to homeschooling, the best resource I have found is this homeschool laws by state list on the HSLDA website (a great legal resource for homeschool parents!).
No matter what your state laws say, you might find other institutions, like colleges, may want to see some records of your child’s learning.
Here are some basic record keeping tips:
1. Daily Lesson Plans and Curriculum
Daily lesson plans show how you have covered each subject. They show the way your children’s lessons progress (from basic to intermediate to advanced). My basic spreadsheet schedule is enough of a plan in my state; I don’t document every little spelling list or handwriting assignment.
Make a list of each curriculum resource you use for each child, and how much you accomplished from each. I like to make lists of books read, field trips, and other high points of the year.
2. Time Spent in Homeschool
Some states do require more detailed documentation. You might track how many days you taught math, history, or English. You might also learn something about where your homeschool plan is lacking if you track your time.
3. Daily / Weekly Diaries and Journals
Regular diary and journal entries of your children’s achievements (or failures) can be a good record of your homeschooling. You can keep track of what your children have already studied to monitor their progress. You will also see where they need more assistance or when you can give them more independence.
4. Tracking Grades
Track grades on a spreadsheet or a simple chart. Some curriculum provide a tracking sheet for this purpose. Keep copies of tests and assignments from the beginning, middle, and end of the year to track progress. Grades are concrete proof of your children’s learning progress.
Remember that tests aren’t the only form of assessment. When your child completes a project, gives a speech, creates a poster, or writes a short story, you can use those to assess their skills.
While my opinion is that grades can often be subjective and arbitrary, the reality is that colleges will often want tangible and concrete assessment of your student’s progress. So be sure to begin keeping grade records around 7th – 8th grade.
5. Portfolios of work samples
Portfolios are a collection of your children’s work. They might include exercise pages, tests, reports, and projects.
For younger children, include the first time they write a letter or the whole alphabet, drawings, and photos of projects. Perhaps record videos of them performing or reciting their work.
For older children, include pictures from field trips to museums and other historical trips, or a picture of your children’s science projects.
6. Standardized Tests
A standardized test performed by an authorized test proctor (this can be yourself if you get certification) could be a good way to record learning and growth. Some states and countries require this by law so be sure to check your state homeschool laws. Standardized tests will show what subjects your children have mastered, and how they are tracking with the national average of other students at their same grade.
Be encouraged: Results from standardized tests should not be a gauge of the success of your homeschooling. The scores reflect your child’s performance on one day, but you have observed your children their whole life. You can see a holistic view of your child’s progress. That’s why I recommend using a variety of documentation to track your student.
7. Create Transcripts
To “graduate” your homeschool child, you first want to follow your state requirements. Once you are sure you have completed these, then simply print off a transcript and call them graduated! Celebrate!
Of course, when you come to the end of homeschooling your child, you’ll want to create a high school transcript. Students will need this transcript to apply to colleges. You can create your own typed transcript yourself, or you can use a transcript service.
Transcript services will help you “translate” all the work your child has completed during the high school years into grade and credit equivalents. Perhaps they participated in an internship, or completed several hours of Debate Camp. These can become high school credits, in some instances. Here’s where all those records you’ve been keeping will come in handy!
–Go back to the top of The Beginner’s Guide to Homeschooling–
What is your next step on your journey as a homeschooler?
Homeschooling can be a great option for parents who want to create a quality, personalized education experience for their children. If you’re considering homeschooling your children, I hope this beginner’s guide to homeschooling has gotten you off to a great start. You may feel nervous at the outset, but rest assured, you can teach your kids, and with some planning, prep, and support, it is easier than you think.
To follow along on our homeschool journey, please like our Facebook page or Instagram account.
Want more resources to get your homeschool year started?
Check out these additional homeschool resources right here on my site:
- How to homeschool your hobby
- Homeschooling when you are sick
- What to do with toddlers while you homeschool
- How to juggle homeschooling multiple kids
- Avoid the overwhelm in your homeschool
- Homeschool curriculum review index (it’s a work in progress!)
Have a question, just leave a comment or email me! I am happy to point you in the right direction!
