Because of COVID-19, homeschooling is becoming a rising trend in K-12 education. Parents are opting to educate their children at home instead of sending their kids to public or private schools to potentially be exposed to a deadly virus. However, since most parents don’t have a background in teaching, they find themselves needing a lot of support to get started.
The Edvocate is one of the best resources for information about all things homeschooling. To help you get started on your homeschooling journey, we decided to write an article detailing the 8 steps to homeschool success.
- Find Out All the Homeschool Options
You can look up the options for homeschooling when your kids are just toddlers or even after they have studied in an elementary school for a few years. Some parents prefer to do their homeschooling research when the school year comes to an end. This gives them sufficient time to get all the information and start homeschooling by autumn. You can subscribe to journals and magazines like Homeschooling Today, read books, visit libraries, and interact with other parents who homeschool their children. You must make an effort to know about all the routes that can be taken and the things that can be accomplished through homeschooling.
- Gather Information About the Homeschooling Requirements
There are different rules for homeschooling in various states. For instance, in New York, parents have to submit a yearly declaration of intent and an individualized home instruction plan to the superintendent of the area 14 days before starting homeschool or by July 1. Parents who homeschool their children in New York are expected to maintain a record of attendance, make sure they appear for standardized tests and provide quarterly reports. To know all the laws regarding homeschooling in your state, check out our series entitled, How to Start Homeschooling.
- Become a Member of a Homeschooling Group in your Locality
You can get valuable information from the other homeschoolers in your area. Your kids can get a chance to take part in sports and other activities that are appropriate for their age. Cooperatives may be organized, where parents can show scientific experiments or teach foreign languages to several kids.
- Decide Your Homeschool Curriculum
You can buy the curricula from online stores such as Scholastic’s Teacher Store or get it through the mail. They may include textbooks as well as workbooks for arithmetic, reading, and writing. Curriculum fairs and state conventions also showcase different homeschooling products and publications.
- Create a Space for Homeschooling
Decide the room or place where you will be conducting the classes. Think about the things you will need, such as a blackboard, desk, computer with an internet connection, bookshelves, storage cabinets, baskets for keeping the loose stationery items, and maybe some space on the wall to post calendars, completed work, or schedules.
- Set Your Homeschooling Goals
Homeschooling proceeds at an independent pace, so it is necessary to set clear goals. Academic advancement is important. At the same time, the child should also get some exercise and socialize with others. Connect with other homeschooling parents, look at the newspaper advertisements, find out about the local community events, and give your kids a chance to participate in extracurricular activities.
- Plan Your Homeschool Schedule
Buy a plan book and make a clear plan for each lesson you will teach in every subject. Have a plan for each week. Allot some time for going to the libraries or on field trips.
- Avoid Common Homeschooling Mistakes
- Do not isolate yourself. Connect with other homeschoolers and let your kids socialize.
- Do not decide the curriculum in haste. Take your time and choose the most suitable curriculum for your child.
- Do not be rigid. Learn to adapt your approach as you proceed.
