I get this question so often that I have decided to put together some information on a web page for those who have made the decision to homeschool and are asking "What now?"

First, make sure that you are determined and dedicated to this endeavor. It will require time, patience, flexibility, and organization. If these are lacking in your life (as they are in mine), begin to pray for the Lord to work them into the fabric of your being. The Lord does not call us to a task without equipping us for it. Homeschooling requires a conviction in your heart that this is what you are to be doing.

The reasons for homeschooling are many. You may believe that your local school is unacceptable. You may not be able to afford a private school. Your child may have special needs that are not being met in a classroom of 25-30 students. Your child may be so advanced as to be bored with their grade level in a typical classroom setting. You may be concerned with your child's safety at school. You may be in a place where schools are not accessible (such as in a foreign country). You may be concerned with the influence of your child's peer group at school. Or you may simply feel that you can do a better job educating and preparing your child for life than a school can. For us it is a combination of all of these, but it is mainly a character issue. We feel that we are the best ones to instill values, teach communication skills, build self esteem, and create a love for learning. As a result of these convictions, we personally believe that we are to homeschool until the Lord directs otherwise.

Now, assuming that you have made the decision, the question still remains……."Now what?" Here are a few basic suggestions that I have for you:

1. Find a support group in your area.

Most states have 1 or 2 statewide organizations, and many smaller groups. Check out the lists of the statewide organizations at Homeschool World or Teaching Home Association. For smaller groups, the best way to find them is to call some of your local area churches. Your state organization probably has a list as well. The reason for joining the state organization is to get help with the legal requirements as they pertain to your individual state (the laws vary state to state), and to learn of possible resources that are available. Many state organizations also host curriculum fairs, which allow you to see and compare the products of many vendors at one time.

2. Know the law

Laws pertaining homeschooling vary greatly state to state. If you can not get that information from a support group (as mentioned above), then call your state department of education. Most laws deal with reporting, testing, schedules, and subject requirements.

3. Begin looking at curriculum

Look at this list of vendors. Start with the ones that have web pages or toll free phone numbers. Call and request some catalogs. Also take a look at web pages where available. Some sites have samples for you to download or view online. One catalog that I suggest that you get is from the Elijah Company. It has a lot of good "extra information" that is very valuable for the new homeschooler.

Some things to keep in mind when choosing a curriculum:

Cost

Types of curriculum available

1. All-in-one curriculums

   These provide all you need for a particular grade level. They may use standard textbooks, workbooks, or a combination of both.

   Examples would be A Bekka, Bob Jones, Sonlight, and Alpha Omega.

   
   
2. Compartmentalized curriculums

   These provide materials for one subject area. You pick and choose what you want for each subject area. Again, these may be textbooks, workbooks, both, or neither.

   Examples would be Winston Grammar, Saxon Math, Konos, and Memlock.

   
   
3. Correspondence schools

   These generally provide your materials, plus their services in record-keeping, testing, etc.

   Examples would be Christian Liberty Academy, Calvert School, and A Bekka.

   
   
4. "Wing-it" curriculums

   This is my name for those products, packages, and kits that are educational in nature, but require the parent (teacher) to come up with their own plan of implementation.

   Examples would be Lego Dactas, Backyard Scientist books, library books, science kits, etc.

Your child's learning style

For example, my oldest son is very global and needed color in his math workbook to hold his attention, so I threw out the black and white one I had bought and got one with more color and variety, and had much greater success. I have another child who is very structured and analytical, and does much better when materials are scheduled and laid out in a no-nonsense way, so that he knows exactly what is expected of him.

Your teaching style

Some teachers (and children, too!) prefer a daily schedule with exactly what has to be done each day. Other teachers feel that this is too confining, and prefer a much less structured approach. If you are of the more "laid back" variety, and you have a child who is like my analytical child (as mentioned above), you will drive him crazy if you don't provide at least some structure to his day.

Your child's learning modality

If your child is an auditory learner, sitting on the couch reading a good book about the American Revolution would be wonderful, but for the kinesthetic learner it would be torture! (On a side note, my kinesthetic learner is more attentive during reading times if allowed to do something with his hands while listening, such as building with Legos or doing a jigsaw puzzle.) A visual learner will do well with lots of color and pictures, and also favors the computer.

Note: For an excellent book on learning styles and modalities, check out Cythia Tobias' book called "The Way They Learn" from Focus on the Family Publishing.

The ages and number of children

Some curriculums lend themselves well to being used with multiple ages (examples would be Weaver, Konos, Sonlight). Others do not.

Amount of parental involvement

Some curriculums are self-paced and self-instructing. Others require a great deal of parental involvement. (Note: Kindergarten and 1st grade will need a lot of parental involvement regardless of which curriculum you choose. There is more flexibility as they become independent readers.)

Consumable vs. reusable

Some curriculums are workbooks that are consumable. Some use textbooks and other non-consumable materials. Some use a combination of each. This is largely a matter of cost. Non-consumables are reusable.

4. Request a scope and sequence from your school district

This will tell you what is taught in your district and in which grade level. If you think you may return to the public school at some time, this would help you stay in line with your local district. If not, use it as a guide, but do not become a slave to it. Remember, it is the end product that we are interested in. How much American History do you remember from 3rd grade? General scope and sequences are also available from some curriculum providers and also possibly from your state homeschooling organization.

5. Sketch out a daily schedule

Most homeschoolers do the majority of their work in the morning, with assignments worked on in the afternoons, if necessary. My advice to those beginning with Kindergarten is to relax and not over-do it. The average kindergartener receives less than 2 minutes per day of individual attention in a typical classroom setting. A good rule of thumb is 30 minutes per day for kindergarten, 1 hour for 1st grade, and 1 ½ hours for 2nd grade. After that it will vary.

Here is a typical schedule for our house:

Note: Dad and the kids do art journals one night a week (usually when Mom is out).

Another note: Ideally, the best time for school is in the morning, but when you have babies and/or toddlers, you may have to wait until naptime in the afternoon to do the bulk of the instruction. That was really hard for me to do, but it was definitely the least stressful and most peaceful way to do it.

(There are other home management tips on my Helpful Homeschool Hints page.)

6. Keep Records

Certain records are required by the state you live in. (Check with your state Department of Education.) Beyond these I would urge you to have as many written records as possible. Keep written records of curriculum used, schedules, field trips, money spent on educational materials and activities, extra curricular activities, progress reports, standardized tests, samples of their work, and anything else related to your child's education.

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