If you never thought you’d homeschool, and you suddenly find yourself doing it, this is the place for you!
Homeschooling can seem like an overwhelming task. There is a lot of information out there, and many intimidating scenarios portrayed on ‘picture-perfect’ social media accounts. However, before you start overthinking things too much, I’d like you to sit down beside me and hear what I’m saying: “You are fully equipped to do this. You are capable, and here’s a little secret veteran homeschool parents know–it’s really not that hard!” Well, math is hard (for me, anyway), but there are ways I’ve been able to get around that, which I’ll also share with you.
I’ll bet everyone is vying for your ‘business,’ from curriculum companies, to Target. First and foremost, you don’t have to create the perfect homeschool room with a fully-boxed (and expensive) curriculum in order to provide an ideal learning environment for your children.
Secondly, before you spend a ton of money purchasing an entire curriculum, start off slowly. Many curriculum companies offer free trials so you can see if their program is a good fit.
Evaluate your strengths
Spend some time evaluating your children’s strengths and their interests, and try to keep them in mind when deciding on a course of study. And, don’t forget to honestly look at your strengths as well. Just because one type of curriculum works for one family, doesn’t mean it will work for you. Are you working from home? Do you have to go in to work? How much time do you want to spend sitting alongside your learners? These are just some things to think about as you begin.
Look into alternate methods
There are numerous opportunities for ‘farming out’ some subjects and including your child’s passions. Sites like Outschool offer thousands of different one-time or multi-day classes. Believe me, it is a lifesaver for me when it comes to math!
Feel free to drop me an email or leave a comment if you have questions I can help you with. I’ve been doing this homeschooling thing for 18 years, with at least 3 more years to go!
Get started with these articles for your homeschool starter kit:
- Homeschool Mom Permission Slip
- Between a Rock and a Hard Place (even if your ‘why’ is a bit different)
- 10 Things I Wish I’d Known BEFORE Buying Curriculum
- Homeschooling Outside the Curriculum Box
- Adapting Curriculum to Meet Your Needs (YOU are in charge)
- Homeschooling Multiple Ages
- Aiming for Mastery
- Braving the Rapids (when you feel like your day is out of control)
- Balancing Roles (mom & teacher)
- 5 Tips for Homeschool Encouragement
- Homeschool Balancing Act
- Year Round Homeschooling
- Planning Tools for Planner Drop Outs
- Customized Schedules for Optimum Results (flexibility)
- Homeschooling High School with College in Mind
- Exploring Nature (all ages)
- Bringing Literature to Life (middle school)
Free printables for your homeschool starter kit:




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