Homeschooling basics are the first things that you should concern yourself about when considering starting up your own homeschool. Here is our list of homeschooling basics to help you navigate the murky waters.
1. Contact your local school district to find out what the requirements are for your state. Some states require an application as well as a curriculum and lesson plan outline. Other states don't require anything. Applications usually need to be on file within 1 month prior to the beginning of the school year.
2. Don't buy anything until you need it!
3. There are 180 days of school that you will need to plan for. If you haven't purchased a curriculum you will need to come up with one of your own.
4. Attend a homeschool fair. This is a great place to find out about what products, books and curriculums are available out there. It is also a great place to meet other homeschooling parents in your area. Homeschool fairs also offer seminars to help newbies to the homeschooling game.
5. Avoid the nay-sayers. This is a very important homeschooling basics rule. If your relatives and nosy neighbors can't understand why you are homeschooling your children you'll need to come up with some answers. See our article, "What About Socialization?" for some tips on handling these situations.
6. Keep great records! Everything you do when you homeschool will be judged by either a school district or a child's college admissions office based on the records that you will keep. You should have attendance, grade, and examples of the best work that your child has done for each grade.
7. Designate a homeschool area for your home. This is the grand-daddy of all homeschooling basics. There has to be an area that you can keep all of your supplies, all of the time. Some basic items that you need are a file cabinet, bookshelf and bins to keep art supplies, books and records in. Don't get sidetracked in your lessons by not being able to find scissors or that slide of an amoeba needed for a science project.
8. Find a support group in your locale. Many parents that have been in the homeschooling game for a while state that having a support group helped them keep going when the going got rough. If you're having trouble with red-tape, this is a great resource for help.
Homeschooling can be a great learning experience for you and your children. The key to the success of this type of learning is planning and organization. Be prepared to spend a good portion of your time initially getting your program off to a great start. Don't worry- it does get easier as you become more confident in your teaching abililty. Follow these homeschooling basics and you should have a solid foundation for your child's school year!
