This question is asked so often. Out of fear we think we are going to ruin our child if we choose to homeschool. Thoughts of not being good enough, not being patient enough, not knowing enough run through our minds.
Have you ever asked yourself the question; will I ruin my child if I homeschool?
There’s one simple answer. No!
if you asked yourself that question, I already know you’re going to be a fabulous homeschooling mom. Just by asking alone says two things about you. One that you care, and two you won’t let that happen!
Unfortunately, we have been made to feel that we’re not worthy enough to teach our own children our lifetime of knowledge. Yet someone who has merely finished a college education is more suited for the job. I am not devaluing teachers, please don’t take that wrong. I’m simply saying teaching from home can be done successfully.
We know our children, how they think, how they learn, what gives them joy. Thoose details help shape there learning environment. As you become a more seasoned homeschooler, you will use those trates to your advantage. This comes naturally.
Wheather you have a degree or not, you are enough and you are capable of teaching your children.
Today, homeschooling is easier than ever. More and more people have decided to make the move. That’s great news for you because the path has been paved and the ample opportunities for learning out of school are endless. We don’t have to physically teach our children if we don’t understand something. Let’s say math! We can lean on curriculum or YouTube or another homeschool family.
Recognize that you have your strengths and use those strengths. Similarly, pay attention to your weaknesses and outsource those areas.
There are many ways one can outsource. Some curriculums have video courses. Kumon has tutors and in-person classes. Youtube has an amazing amount of learning Channels. We do art on youtube through Art hub. We learned basic French from Duolingo. the list goes on and on. I have brought in youtube for some scientific facts. It has been extremely helpful. Other people are so talented and we get to benefit from their gifts.
I even have friends that were public school teachers and are now taking on small groups of homeschooled children for specific subjects. So the opportunities for our children are endless.
Are you worried about socialization?
Do you not take your children shopping, to the grocery store, the park, the local Jump Place, or to birthday parties? Are they on local sports teams?
Opportunities for socialization are all around us we just don’t see them. We are led to believe that sitting behind a desk listening to the teacher for hours while waiting for that 15 minutes at recess is socialization.
When my child has a question about how their friend is acting, we can look at the possibilities and see their side. That 15 minutes at recess would not allow you to grow, learn and understand somebody else’s feelings. To me that is socialization, learning how to get along with others instead of letting them figure it out on their own.
Is curriculum overwhelming?
Yes! so is anything else new. The first year, as with anything is always the hardest year. Just like starting a new job, or learning a new hobby. A curriculum is merely a tool, if it’s not working, change it. The beauty of homeschooling is that you will not ruin them. Once you can see the freedom, the joy-filled possibilities are endless.
The first year is about you!
It’s about adjusting to your child’s learning style and trial and error. It’s about learning what routine works for your family. Picking your no matter what’s. Finding your community! And you will need a community.
Is it hard to be around your child All-day-Long!
At first, if you are coming from a public school or private school where they are away from you for hours, it may feel overwhelming to have them home. But after a few weeks, you will start to see that the more you are around them the easier it is. Some say, absence makes the heart grow fonder but I have seen the reverse and many moms I know feel the same.
Once you find your routine, it becomes smoother. They become more responsible, They develop a more creative heart. It’s not like when they are home from school for summer and are BOARD!
I fought homeschooling tooth and nail. I did not want to do it! I had no faith in my ability to teach my kids. I can not spell, reading was never my passion, math was challenging and I am dyslexic. Not to mention I have no patience.
Yet life is full of surprises and twists and turns. Enjoy it and try not to stress yourself out. Be open to the possibility of greatness. You are enough and your kids adore you.
Out of laziness, I became a worksheet mom. I had this grand idea that if I gave my kiddo a worksheet I would be able to clean up the house play with the toddler, read a book, basically everything but teach Math! But… my kid who once loved math absolutely hates worksheets.
I started a curriculum over the summer thinking it’s not a fully functional curriculum… meaning I didnt think it was solid enough for the entire year.
I have a tendency to make an opinion without giving things an actual try. My son loved these math books but again I thought there was no way he was learning.
Five months into the school year and I could see his boredom. As much as I tried to ignore it out of pride and stubbornness, I finally surrendered.
I ditched the boring workbooks and Committed to my summer program “Life of Fred.”
Have you ever heard of these books? They’re great for moms who know learning can be done anywhere and want their children to fall in love with learning.
These books are full of fun stories about Fred and his friends. A truly clever approach to math! After each story, your child is asked to answer questions about the story. For example, one question may be arithmetic-related, time-related, or money-related.
I have an elementary student so we play math games and do our math facts in addition to Life of Fred. I am super happy to hear him ask to complete another math story.
We have literally gone from crying and I can do this while staring at work sheets to let’s do math first.
I get pulled from my old habits of teaching him the way I learned to what is best for him, learning to love learning. This is often to my detriment. I should have possibly unschooled myself!
Either way, we all learn and adjust. No curriculum is perfect forever and there is so much growth that comes from homeschooling. If you’re sick of battling with your Elementary student, try Life of Fred. I now love this clever math book!
Homeschooling is a journey I thought I would never be on! It’s one of many things I said I would never do! Low and behold, here I am and though I have good days and bad days, over all I truly do enjoy it. However, it didn’t start out that way. I didn’t see the beauty in it that first year and if that is where you are, keep reading and I promise you, you may find your joy too!
Lets get to it!
1. Don’t be so serious
Kids learn far more when having fun! I used to think we had to be at a table doing worksheets to feel like we were actually schooling. But that simply is not the case. Today we do our math on the trampoline and Science in the bathroom. We learned cursive by drawing in salt and numbers through chalk landscapes outside.
Often, my friends were nervous about art in the house and simply just didn’t do it. But art adds so many benefits in learning such as motor skills and language development, boosts brainpower by teaching creativity, visual learning, and life skills. When studying art, one must learn to follow directions. Not to mention, it’s fun.
We do art at the park, the beach, backyard, garage, and sometimes when I’m feeling brave, the dining room table.
Seriously, finding ways to make learning fun is great for you and your scholar. I promise homeschooling is sometimes for you more than for them.
2. You are not married to your curriculum
This one is huge! I used to think, once I picked a specific curriculum, I had to stick with it. What pressure that was. Honestly, that is the beauty of homeschooling. You can take out what’s not working and keep what is. There is an amazing homeschool mom that opened my eyes to this reality and I must say, it was so freeing. Her name is Sarah Mackenzie from www.readaloudrevival.com and I also read her book Teaching from rest. I highly recommend it especially if you are a stressed-out mamma.
3. Patience is key to success
I don’t know how many times I taught a principle one day and fully expected my students to get it the very next day. Patience was never my strong suit and waiting to see the fruits of my labor is still a work in progress for me. But then I take a deep breath and remind myself that learning and growing is a journey and if I am consistent, the fruit will grow and be nurtured.
I often have to remind myself I am still learning and super thankful when I receive grace when I don’t get it.
4. Laughter and music are great medicine
Many days start with great music playing while I cook breakfast. It starts our day off well and discourages any TV time. Just by playing their favorite toons preps them for a successful day. Being a homeschool mom has really allowed me to let loose and have fun. I am no longer embarrassed to dance in the kitchen or sing an off note tune to my boys.
When frustration strikes, we tell a joke or listen to music. This past year, we have integrated the Charlotte Mason methodology. (Something I never thought I would be into) In doing so, I will often play music from our composer study during math and I kid you not, our grumpy factor has diminished a few knots. It’s quite magical.
5. Although I often feel inadequate, I am enough
Inadequacy is a lie we all tell ourselves. The words “I am enough” are true for all of us. God gave us these sweet babies because he knew we were the perfect person for the job. I may be dyslexic and a terrible speller, but my children are not and they will learn compassion for those who are. I am a far cry from the sweet kindergarten teacher, but I love my kids more than anyone else ever will and my home is a safe place for frustrations, sadness, creativity, love, and relationships.
If you are new to homeschooling, the best advice I can offer you is, The first year is a hard year so try not to be too hard on yourself or your student. Be willing to throw out what doesn’t work.
Hey, mamma so you’re in a pickle and need to figure out what the best solution is for schooling your kids. Maybe you have decided to teach at home through the public system did not work for your child and you’re scouring the internet to see how these homeschoolers do it. Confused about charter schools and whether you need to file private affidavits?
Ok! First, take a deep breath.
There is so much information out there and sometimes finding what your looking for is challenging. This post is about the 3 ways in which you can homeschool your child.
3 ways to legally homeschool!
1) Sign up with a charter! This would be a school that is funded through the local district. You would be assigned a teacher that you report to monthly. You show her your child’s work samples and hours of study.
She takes notes and gives feedback if you want it and reports your child’s work to the state. If you choose this route, your child will be given a funds bank. An amount of money to be spent on school supplies and classes. This money is not your child’s it is the schools. So if you purchase books or anything that is not consumable, they must be returned to the school once you’re done with them.
In California, a law was recently passed limiting the amount if students in a charter. So, unfortunately, There are currently waiting lists to get in in this state.
However, there are 2 other options.
2) Become your own private school!
To accomplish this, simply fill out the affidavit on your government’s site and apply to be your own Private School. The pros of doing this are… you do not answer to a teacher and are your own boss. You have the freedom to teach as you please. Meaning religious content is acceptable.
Unfortunately, you do not get government funds to help offset costs but there are many ways to teach for free or inexpensive. Ambleside Online offers to compete for curriculum for free! Once you get over how overwhelming the site is, it’s a great free resource.
Being your own Private school is not as scary as it sounds. In fact, you have way more freedom.
3) Going through a PSP. ( PRIVATE SCHOOL SATELLITE) This is when you go through an online school that does all the reporting and test-taking for you. It’s super helpful when you have high schoolers and the need to take tests for College Applications.
Sometimes this can be the easiest route because the kids do most of the work on there own, and on the computer. However, it can be boring for Elementary kiddos.
Here is a list of PSP’s in California super helpful.
On the flip side, you are ultimately the teacher so if you want to mix it up you can! For example, when I did online classes for my kindergarten student. I would spend time practising writing with chalk outside after a Lesson online.
Teaching at home doesn’t have to be scary or difficult. I know I sure made it more difficult than it needed to be in the beginning
I want to make this clear. I never thought in a million years I would be homeschooling my kids. I actually thought people who homeschooled were strange introverts who didn’t like being around others. My husband thought of the idea and I seriously took a year fighting it. I did not want to give up my freedom of personal time that I waited 5 years for and I also did not want to ruin my kids.
All this confusion and contemplation led me to saying ok, I’ll homeschool for one year and see how it goes.
Not gonna lie, the first year was a mess! I had no clue what to do and was really selfish that first year. Ultimately looking back, I did a ton of growing that year.
There were a lot of reasons we wanted to homeschool like, my first kept having troubles in pre-schools. The rumors of what was being taught were awful. The class size, the lack of values in our education system. The list goes on.
But in all honesty, I felt God was nudging me to do it.
We did traditional schooling for one year.
We enrolled our kiddo in a pre-school so I had an idea of how he would do in a traditional school setting. That info led me closer to the idea of giving homeschooling for pre-K a try.
Much to my embarrassment… I did hide the fact that I homeschooled the first year to close friends and outsiders because of the backlash I received from many of them. The lack of support and emotional comments did not make it any easier that’s for sure.
However, I grew as a mom and an influencer to my babies and I can honestly say it has been super rewarding. To think I almost let others judgment kill this beautiful thing we have created. I’m so glad I decided to not care what others think.
We continue to homeschool because we have grown as a family and community.
As I said in the beginning I did not want to homeschool and for the same reasons, I didn’t want to, ended up being the reasons I love homeschooling today.
First, I was afraid I would lose my “me time”
This is a funny one because I actually never had me time anyway I was looking forward to having “me time.” Homeschooling taught me that I’m in control and we all have to set time for ourselves. We have learned to respect each other and our interest as well as personal time. We don’t just sit around all day. We have a routine that we developed organically. Trust me I tried to copy other mammas routines and that does not work!
Second, discipline… I was concerned my kids would not develop the discipline of sitting still and paying attention if I homeschooled.
Literally, I imagined them running amuck all over the house and me yelling constantly. My invision was your worst day every day. But what happened was we developed a discipline far greater. We are respectful and talk to each other when we have a problem we deal with it and instead of getting angry for misbehaviour, I am learning to coach.
Of course we still deal with the behavior and I still do get angry.
Third, I often wondered, if I homeschool will my kids ever have any real close friends?
When you are first starting out it is a lonely road for sure. And you can be isolated… if you want to be. Well, that’s not me, so I joined homeschool groups until I found the right fit. There were many that we did not mesh with because let’s face it, I’m not that earthy and I do let my kids have sugar on occasion.
Two years in and we have developed so many close friends in our community that I adore. Also, when there are issues we work them out together so there are no bullying or sour feelings for the most part.
If you are still looking for community reach out to others. You have to take charge in this area and if you are invited somewhere GO! Our first year was a really hard year because all our friends were in school and we had finished early.
Fourth, I thought, I will never be able to actually teach my kiddos!
Ok, seriously I believed this lie for such a long time. In fact, I put them in classes and cherry-picked what I wanted someone else to teach them. It wasn’t until I was actually forced to teach my babies that I realized I can do it and they prefer it.
I was convinced that outsourcing the basics like reading and math would be the only way to go. However, I was holding them back by doing this when they were ready to move ahead. When I started teaching we covered so much more. I love that the only pressure is the pressure I put on myself. So I have control over that.
Fith, will I have to quit my job and can we afford to teach at home?
I felt that giving up my job to teach was giving up another piece of myself. When in reality I ended up gaining another piece of myself. I was spread thin and barely hanging on because there were so many things pulling for my attention. I did not completely quit and that was fear for sure. I eventually cut back because I wanted to give my kids more of a quality mom. I ended up working from home and that became another amazing surprise.
The only way this was all possible was, I truly surrendered to God and what he has in store for my family and I. All things that are not easy to do but have made my journey so beautiful.
Something that was once a never will I do that became… I’m so glad I’m homeschooling.
If your thinking about homeschooling and are fearful. Try not to be judgmental, you have no idea how great you will be until you try. It’s like anything with kids. It’s never the same for everyone.
I don’t want to tell you all the nitty-gritty benefits of homeschooling because you can get that anywhere. But I will tell you anything you choose will be hard. There is no easy choice. However, if it has been put on your heart to try, give it a chance and you may be very surprised.
That feeling of overwhelm has just entered your body. You can’t breathe and in the midst of yelling at your already frustrated kid over spelling or phonograms you realise, I can’t do this! You think, how on earth am I going to work from home, take care of the house as well as the other kiddos and teach my children from home?
Take a deep breath!
You got this mamma, here is a list of amazing resources I used when I first started homeschooling. This world is extremely overwhelming so I limited it to 5. There is no reason to stress yourself out any more than you already are.
Grab a cup of coffee and start bookmarking these pages. They will be your go-to when you don’t have time to plan a lesson.
Just a few resources for you to boost your confidence!
Time 4 learning– Great for grade level online work where you can let them work independently. Fun games kids love it. Another program similar to time for learning is ABC Mouse. We used this for pre k and kindergarten. It was amazing at getting the kiddos ahead.
Education.com – A great resource for printables by grade and subject.
Teachers pay Teachers I love this site its awesome for filling in the holes with printable worksheets. I have found science projects, math games, copy work, full lesson plans, you name it. I love this resource.
Ambleside Online Free resource. This one takes time to navigate but it’s free with a ton of info if you are in this for the long haul. This is great for the mom who wants to follow the Charlet Mason Theology. Or just pick out poems and ideas.
Epic books an amazing array of books for your kiddos. there are audiobooks and read aloud, educational videos for science and tons more. A great option if you don’t want to purchase a ton of books. And believe me, finding what you want at the library takes some serious skills.
My biggest tip for you is to break the day up in segments.
We do 20 to 30 min lessons with dance parties in-between. The dance party is for you by the way and the kids just benefit. It’s my way of keeping schooling light and not so heavy. Your day will get heated its guaranteed so do what you can to keep a good standing relationship with your kiddo. That’s what really matters!
Good Luck mamma!
Stephanie
Hello Beauty!
Awesome! You found me! I’m so glad you’re here. I created this place for you to gain internal strength in the most simple way. When our life is ever changing, our parenting, health and faith should be strong and consistent. On most days you can find me teaching Pilates, Homeschooling, or dabbling with one if my businesses.
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