For Those Contemplating Homeschooling

Welcome to the wild, wonderful and wacky world of homeschooling. I think it's a great choice to consider. I've had several friends and relatives asking me about starting homeschooling lately, and this is some of what I've been thinking about their questions.

One of the books that I frequently suggest is Lisa Welchel's So You're Thinking About Homeschooling. It has several chapters that profile a range of different homeschooling styles. There are so many different ways of thinking about and going about homeschooling, that it can be overwhelming to try to figure out what even looks good for future research. I think this book can give you some major subheadings to think about. Even if it convinces you that a couple approaches aren't to your liking, then that is something that you won't have to keep thinking about.

My bent is toward classical, literature heavy, academically rigorous homeschooling. But that doesn't mean that I expect kindergarteners to be writing essays or figuring out algebra problems. One of the main things you can accomplish in the early years is to develop a culture and habit of learning. That means that you and your kids are curious. You check books out from the library and read them together. You look at the nature around you. You spend time in museums looking and wondering about what you see.

But small digestable bits. Even if you have rigorous long range plans, it is better (in my opinion) to build a solid foundation gently and one day at a time. So let the books about science be picture books that you can read in one sitting. Let the nature outings be short and interspersed with playing. Don't feel like you have to enjoy every exhibit in the museum or every animal in the zoo in one visit.

It is great to look around at some of the cool high level stuff that homeschoolers are doing with older kids. But don't get too wrapped around the axle about it. It is hard to know with a kindergartener where their talents and strengths will be at 10 or 17. And the options you will have for school in 5-10 years will be totally different. (I could start naming major curriculum that weren't around when we started homeschooling back in 2003 and probably get to 20 before I had to pause and think. For that matter, there are some major providers who are no longer around.) Concentrate on basic skills like reading, counting, days of the week, seasons, etc. And on habits like sitting for 10 minute lessons with frequent breaks for playing.

My most recommended links for new homeschoolers are blogs. I think they are more dynamic than some of the big advertiser supported sites.

Guilt Free Homeschooling (Her kids are now graduated, but her articles are collected into nice topical groups.)

Handbook of Nature Study (Outdoor Challenges that can be used by anyone from preschool to high school.)

Harmony Art Mom (Same blogger as Handbook of Nature Study, but with challenges on art and music.)

I tend to use a lot of material from Susan Wise Bauer. She has some video Q&A sessions that I thought were nice. Some are about her oldest son, who is now in college, but there are also nice bits relative to younger kids (I loved the one about the mandatory quiet time for everyone in the afternoon.)

Paula's Archives has some good ideas about what to do with younger kids while you are trying to do school with the older ones.

The forums at The Well Trained Mind can be a good resource, with a couple caveats. There are thousands of board members with hundreds online at any one time. That means that you will find someone with a glowing and a glowering opinion on just about anything you can think of. So take any comments with a grain of salt. I think it is also human nature to rave about what you've picked up that is new. Sometimes these glowing reports don't outlast the season. It can be a great source of information and support, but like any big group, it can also be a source of discontent and irritation. Remember that you are the person who best knows your own kids and your own talents and limitations. (I also like the Curriculum boards a little better than the General board.)

Hope this is helpful. It's a wild ride, but I think it's well worth it. Don't think that you have to have the next 13 years planned out before you start. (I wish I had the carefully laid out plan I wrote years ago that detailed how I'd get the kids through calculus by 11th grade. There are days when I need the laugh.)