This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support of this site!
Written by Jamie Martin of Simple Homeschool and Steady Mom
I never know exactly how to answer when someone asks me how long we’ve been homeschooling.
“Since the beginning,” goes over pretty well.
“We always have,” gets a fair response.
My holistic view of learning used to lead me to say “since birth,” but that one raised some eyebrows here and there.
But if someone, wanting a more technical response, counts the time since my oldest would have started Kindergarten, that makes this our eighth year of learning at home! No matter how you slice it, I guess I’m not a newbie anymore.
I still remember those days well, though. The insecurity, the worries, the thoughts of inadequacy. (Oh wait, that was just last night!!)
I’m crazy far from being an expert on the matter, but the past several years have taught me a few things I’d like to pass on to every new homeschooler.
I hope they bring comfort to those of you getting started.
1. It can take a year or more to find your homeschooling rhythm.
It makes me inwardly cringe a bit when I hear readers say, “We’ll try homeschooling until Christmas and then decide if we’ll continue.”
Remember when you started college, or got married, or began your first full-time job? Big life transitions take time–but by Sophomore or Junior year, you strutted around like you owned the place.
Use the principle of observation and correction. When something doesn’t work, don’t over-generalize and decide, “Homeschooling doesn’t work!”
Instead notice, pause, and try something else. In time you’ll find the rhythm that matches your family.
2. There’s no point in duplicating a struggling system.
Isn’t it ironic that often we pull our children out of traditional school because it isn’t a good fit for them, then we create the same system in our dining room and wonder why it isn’t working?!
There’s nothing enlightened, spiritual, or idyllic about the current educational system. It’s one option, and in many ways a dinosaur, a leftover relic from the Industrial Revolution.
If there’s an aspect of it you or your kids love or truly believe in, take that with you. Then read Gatto, and remind yourself that you have the permission to invent something new.
3. There’s more than one way to home educate well.
I’ve come across families who classically school, who follow the Waldorf curriculum, who unschool, who adhere to Charlotte Mason ideas, or who love the principles of Leadership Education–all of them with now-grown kids who have found a successful path in life.
It should be comforting, but sometimes we get threatened by this truth: There’s more than one way to home educate well.
Each young mind is unique. Why would we ever assume that one way of schooling would fit them all?
4. When in doubt, read-aloud.
Serious days will come your way, new homeschoolers–the kind when nothing goes to plan and everything goes wrong. When that happens, pop popcorn or make hot chocolate, and snuggle under covers with your kids and a book.
Have wigglers? Take your book out to the trampoline or the swing!
Try this one if you’re just getting started with chapter books. This one if you need a good laugh. This one for poetry lovers. Or this one to keep older, restless troops engaged.
Browse this awesome list for more showstoppers and stock up for the winter.
5. School hours don’t have to look like school hours.
Some families get up at dawn, finish lessons, and head out to work their farm. Some sleep in until 10 or 11am, then slowly begin after breakfast/lunch. Some follow traditional hours and find that works best.
We’ve never had official “school hours” in our home because one of our goals has been to blur the lines of living and learning. That’s why, when someone recently asked my Jonathan (11) what time he starts school for the day, he answered, “About 6 a.m.” (i.e. when he wakes up)
The questioner looked at me as if I must be quite the strict taskmaster!
6. Your own learning matters as much as theirs.
Teachers get in-service days, don’t they? They invest in themselves as professionals, and so should you.
Sometimes when I’m convinced that we’re all headed for ruin (you know the days), all it takes is 30 minutes with a good book to turn me around. It could be the perfect homeschooling how-to (or how NOT to!), or even just my current classic novel.
Making learning an enjoyable pursuit for yourself shows your kids how much it matters in life.
7. Guess what prepares kids for real life? Real life.
Raise your hand if you, as an adult, spend five days a week in a single building with 20-30 other adults your same age.
Anyone?
In a healthy family, real life is simply an incredible way to prepare kids for real life–making all those socialization fears beyond pointless.
8. It’s okay to take a break when you (or they) need one.
Repeat after me: Humans are not robots. We don’t have to use every minute perfectly in order to move our kids’ educations forward.
In a society overflowing with anxious “doing,” model calm “being”–patience and character are every bit as important as math and language arts.
9. Find their passion, and you’ve found the key that will unlock their love of learning.
Every child has a passion. You might have to dig a little, or it might not be what you think it should be–but it’s there. Thanks to the internet, we now have the resources to transform just about any passion into a unit study.
I have one child who loves meteorology, one who loves writing, one who loves military history. Each one has a different curriculum plan; each one still loves learning.
And an individual who loves learning, over time, begins to educate himself. Since I’m hoping to eventually work myself out of a job, I’m all for that!
10. You can’t do this alone, and you don’t have to.
You need friends and mentors on the same path–ones you can confide in, gain advice from, and lean on when things get hard. If you don’t have people like that in real life (I’ve had seasons when I didn’t), find them online.
There are blogs like this one and many fabulous others. There are Facebook groups for those who follow Leadership Education, for those who want to feed their families well, and for those who wear togas around the house. (I’m guessing about that last one, but it wouldn’t surprise me!)
Get help when you need it, outsource subjects you don’t want to teach, and don’t try to do it all. There’s no need!
Newbie homeschooler, you are concerned and worried about many things, but only one thing is needed: YOU.
You, putting your imperfect self on the line day after day on behalf of your little people. You, setting your values and priorities, moving toward them with baby steps each day. You, seeking divine help and guidance because you know there’s no way you can do this on your own.
One day soon you’ll look back and be amazed at how far you’ve all come.
Struggling to balance homemaking AND homeschooling?
If you feel as though you’re still settling in and trying to come up with routines and rhythms to balance homemaking and homeschooling, take a minute to check out the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle.
If you missed it last spring it’s back, but only as a flash sale until TONIGHT, Tuesday, November 3rd!
After 11:59pm ET, this bundle will NEVER be offered again.
What’s in the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle?
This is the homeschooling “bookshelf” of the bundle – just a small fraction of the entire bundle!
It is a complete library of carefully selected eBooks, eCourses, audios, online conferences, and printable packs designed to help you turn your house into a home…without so much overwhelm.
It includes resources that cover all the following topics:
Cleaning… create a healthy, toxin-free home
DIY/Homemade… fun and frugal ways to express your personal style
Devotionals and Faith… take a break from the daily grind to renew yourself
Finances… build a budget that works
Cooking & Meal Planning… serve easier, tastier meals in less time
Holidays & Special Events… brighten up old family traditions and create new
Homeschooling… teach your kids with grace and ease
Marriage… deepen your relationship
Motherhood… find peace, balance & joy in mothering
Organizing… conquer the clutter and simplify your life
Pregnancy & Babies… enjoy a healthy pregnancy and prepare to nurture your little one
Health & Wellness… soothe aches & pains with natural remedies
Working from Home… hone your talents, live your passions and earn money to help your family
These resources from the Holiday bookshelf of the bundle will come in handy very soon!
… a complete library of 86 eBooks and eCourses to help you nurture the beauty and productivity in your home and family relationships.
63 eBooks
6 eCourses
1 audio download
2 online conferences, and
14 printable packs
And remember there’s no pressure to read them all–think of it more like a value buffet that lets you pick and choose what you most need right now!
…86 carefully selected homemaking resources…for only $29.97. (A total value of over $913!)
If you’ve ever found ebooks or courses valuable in the past, I encourage you to just take a moment and look through the full list of resources available in this heavily discounted bundle!
Download them and you’ll have plenty of inspiration for the months ahead… all available immediately after your purchase.
A special offer for Simple Homeschool readers
When you choose to purchase the bundle through the links on this page, I get a percentage of the profits.
This is a huge blessing to our family, and I’d like to say an extra “thank you” by offering one of my additional ebooks FREE with your purchase!
My ebook The Steady Mom’s Freedom Guide: Joyful Motherhood on Your Own Terms is already included in this bundle, but if you order the bundle today you can also choose from:
Steady Days: A Journey Toward Intentional, Professional Motherhood, OR
Mindset for Moms: From Mundane to Marvelous Thinking in Just 30 Days
To claim your bonus, just order your bundle through the links on this page and forward a copy of your receipt to jamie(at)simplehomeschool(dot)net
Mention which ebook you’d like and which format: PDF, mobi for Kindle, Nook version, or iTunes. (If no format is specified, PDF version will be sent.)
Bonus ebooks will be sent out by November 17th – thanks for your patience!
00Days
16Hours
26Minutes
25Seconds
But remember, the bundle flash sale will only last through tonight, Tuesday, Nov 3rd at 11:59pm ET – don’t put it off if you’re interested!
What words of comfort would you tell a new homeschooler?
Click here to download Jamie's free e-book: Secrets of a Successful Homeschool Mom. Enjoy!
HELPFUL RESOURCES:
Great Homeschool Conventions - Set aside the 2016 dates today!
All About Reading - Take the struggle out of reading and spelling.
Oak Meadow - Discover your own inspired path to learning.
Little Passports - Monthly packages deliver the world to your child.
Home Science Tools - Gifts for science lovers.
Time4Learning - Customized online curriculum for all ages.
Green Kid Crafts - Get 25% off STEM & craft kits with code SHS.
Pin It! Maps - Use code HOME for 10% off this hands-on geography resource.
Raddish - A monthly culinary curriculum shipped to your door.
Time4Writing - It's time for writing success.
littleBits Electronics - Unleash your child's inner inventor.
Ivy Kids - Classic books plus creativity for ages 3-8.
Educents - Save up to 90% on homeschooling products.
Imagine Childhood - Toys, tools, and activities for growing minds.
Dover Books - Save 25% with code WHAY!
A Thomas Jefferson Education - FREE training for homeschoolers.
Be Naturally Curious - Science & nature mini-courses for kids.
Christopherus Homeschool Resources - Waldorf-inspired homeschooling.
Stitch Fix - Online personal styling for women.
Jamie's favorite homeschooling reads - The books I go back to again & again.
© 2010-2015 Simple Living Media, LLC | All rights reserved
The post 10 things every new homeschooler should know appeared first on Simple Homeschool.