Home Schooling Where To Start
Home schooling is a major undertaking. Establishing a plan to get started can be a very daunting task. This article attempts to provide an outline of what to do as you embark on your home schooling journey.
Understand Home Schooling Laws
Probably the best place to start when getting involved with home schooling is to understand the laws with regard to home schooling. Home schooling is legal in all 50 states, but the laws, regulations, and requirements vary from state to state. Some states have no requirements at all, while others require notification, curriculum review, and even visits to the home classroom. It is important that you gain an understanding of the laws and requirements in your state. The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is a great source of information on the laws of all 50 US States and US Territories.
Seek the Advice of Others
Many others are already, or have already, become involved with home schooling with success. You should seek out these people to learn from their experience. They can provide a wealth of information on what to expect, what they have found to be effective, and mistakes to avoid. There are numerous home schooling organizations where you can find such information and people who are home schooling their children. The HSLDA publishes an extensive list of such organizations by state. The National Home Education Network (NHEN) also provides similar information. There are also excellent publications on home schooling and many excellent books that can you use to further your knowledge of home schooling. Some recommended books include:
- Christian Home Educators' Curriculum Manual, by Cathy Duffy
- The Complete Home Learning Source Book : The Essential Resource Guide for Home schoolers, Parents, and Educators Covering Every Subject from Arithmetic to Zoology, by Rebecca Rupp
- Home Learning Year by Year : How to Design a Homeschool Curriculum from Preschool Through High School, by Rebecca Rupp
- The Homeschooling Book of Answers : The 101 Most Important Questions Answered by Homeschooling's Most Respected Voices, by Linda Dobson
- Mary Pride's Complete Guide to Getting Started in Homeschooling, by Mary Pride
- Homeschooling for Dummies, by Jennifer Kaufel
- The Ultimate Guide To Homeschooling: Year 2001 Edition Book & Cd, by Debra Bell
There are even home schooling conventions where you can gain information and advice, and make contacts with other home schoolers.
Select a Home Schooling Methodology
A home schooling methodology is a philosophy, or road map, of how you will structure and organize your teaching. There are numerous methodologies which are described in detail in another article in this series, including:
- Charlotte Mason
- Classical Education
- Computer-based
- Eclectic
- Montessori
- Moore Formula
- Principal Approach
- Traditional textbook, also known as school at home or the scope and sequence method
- Unschooling
- Unit Study
- Waldorf
There is a wealth of information published on the web, in books, and in home schooling magazines on each of these methods. The first thing to understand is that there is no one right method. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses, as well as proponents and detractors. The two main criteria you should use when selecting a methodology are:
- What do you feel comfortable with, since you are the individual who must implement the methodology; and
- What do you think will best fit with your child's temperament and style of learning.
It is important to realize that you do not have to use exclusively one method, and it is appropriate to change methods, especially if the one that you have chosen does not appear to be working.
Select a Home Schooling Curriculum
The home schooling curriculum is the means, or the specific tools (textbooks, workbooks, and other tools and guides), that you will use to implement a given methodology. Again, reading and seeking the advice of others can be very helpful. There are many different vendors who provide hundreds of curriculum choices. Home schooling conventions can be an excellent way to evaluate many different curriculum choices at once. They have the added advantage of potential convention discounts as well as saving you money on shipping expenses. As with methodologies, no one curriculum is right, and don't be afraid to mix and match.
