How to start Homeschooling [Top 12 Tips to Get Started]
- Shifa Ali |
- August 30, 2024
Updated By
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Thinking about how to start homeschooling your kid and unsure where to begin? This article guides you through the essential steps you need to take to lay a solid foundation for your child’s education from the comfort of your home. From exploring your state’s Homeschool Laws to devising a curriculum for your child the blog addresses all the techniques needed to navigate this educational path.
What is Homeschooling?
The concept of educating school-age children at home is known as homeschooling. Before the establishment of mandatory school attendance regulations in the United States in 1852, the majority of early education was completed by families at home in a natural, integrated manner. The modern homeschool movement was started in the 1970s by educational theorist John Holt.
“Fit the curriculum to the child’s interests, rather than fit the child to the curriculum,” John Holt felt that children should be homeschooled till the age of eight or nine to build a solid moral and psychological foundation.
Due to the lack of emphasis placed by educational institutions on moral and ethical behavior, homeschooling has become more and more popular in recent years. For the past few years, the number of homeschoolers has been increasing at an estimated rate of 2% to 8% annually.
3-4% of children of school age were homeschooled in 2019, with an estimated 2.5 million youngsters in this situation. Homeschooling is more affordable—the typical annual cost is between $600-$900. In the 2000s celebrities who have chosen to homeschool their children include Tom Cruise, Jennifer Lopez, and Angelina Jolie in the 2000s.
To know more about What is Homeschooling check out our blog!
Looking for private tutors for homeschooling? Book a Free Trial Lesson with Wiingy today and match with expert tutors to achieve your academic goals!
How to Start Homeschooling: 12 Steps to Get Started
Homeschooling provides a safe learning environment for kids and tailors your child’s education to your specific needs. To help you get started with your homeschooling journey, we have outlined 12 steps to help you navigate through it with ease. Explore homeschooling steps that are practical and straightforward and will help you create a nurturing learning environment.
1. Investigate your state’s homeschooling laws
It is essential to know the requirements of your state to avoid potential legal issues or penalties. Different states in the US have different requirements that need to be incorporated into the curriculum. Every state has a standard and the parent needs to devise the curriculum to meet the requirements to avoid problems in the future. Some states also offer resources and funding for home-schooled children, knowing about your state laws can help you reap the benefit. Certain states have specific procedures for withdrawing a child from school when transitioning to homeschooling. The child’s education must be recognized and accepted.
2. Discover your homeschooling style
Decide whether you can commit to your child’s timetable or whether you would need the assistance of a tutor. Time Commitment by parents is one of the major challenges in Homeschooling and the concept of hiring tutors is how it can be tackled. Learn about each homeschooling style through blogs, and homeschooling communities. Mix and match activities and figure out what works best for your child. Pay attention to what interests your child and incorporate the activities that excite them.
3. Why do you wish to opt for homeschooling?
Families often choose homeschooling so that the education provided to children in the growing stages caters to family values and circumstances. If you are a parent who has to often change their location due to work commitments, homeschooling will help you accommodate your travel allowing for a more stressful lifestyle. Dissatisfaction with the standards of the schools is often a reason for parents opting for homeschooling. Parents prefer homeschooling for their children so they learn in a safe and secure environment, free from bullying, peer pressure, and other negative influences. Homeschooling will help you groom your child under your religious beliefs. If your child is specially disabled homeschooling might be a more suitable option as that environment at home would be more accommodating for the child.
4. Define learning goals
Once you have reviewed your state’s homeschooling laws, set long-term goals, the subjects, and standards that need to be met by the end of the year or month. This will help you give direction to your child’s learning process. Break down your long-term goals into short, manageable goals. Short-term goals keep the learning process focused and organized. Involve your child in the goal-setting process so they have a clear understanding of what is expected from them and in what time frame. Setting goals will help you provide a clearer picture of your child’s progress and achieve their potential.
5. Incorporate extracurricular activities
For a well-rounded education, it is essential to ensure that the child is involved in extracurricular activities. Incorporating extracurricular activities into the curriculum gives children the opportunity to explore their interests and talents.
Parents can enroll children in sports leagues offered by communities. This would help them maintain their fitness, and teach discipline and teamwork.
Local community centers offer art, music, language, and craft lessons for children to express themselves and be culturally aware. Kids can be part of Volunteer organizations which would help them gain practical knowledge and confidence.
6. Decide on curriculum
In homeschooling, the parent is solely responsible for devising the curriculum. Typically, the work is done by school administrators but homeschooling gives parents the authority to decide what to incorporate in their child’s learning plan. By law, the curriculum must be in visual form, such as workbooks, textbooks, or a computer screen. The three widely recognized types of homeschooling based on curriculum are:
Classic Syllabus
This includes basic arithmetic, grammar, literature, sciences, and electives based on the child’s interest. This traditional approach to curriculum brings schools to homes.
Third-party Homeschooling Curriculum
Third-party Homeschooling programs have set forth guidelines to help you stay organized, and save time while maximizing efficiency. The programs incorporate living books, avoid formal teaching methods, and emphasize the independence of the child.
Self-designed homeschooling experience
This homeschooling method gives parents the liberty to create customized educational plans helping in the child’s holistic development.
7. Set up a learning environment
Since the child is missing out on the traditional classroom setting, creating a conducive environment for schooling is essential. The study space should be quiet, with good lighting, a desk and chair, and minimal distractions. Keeping children focused at home can be challenging. However, with the right approach, parents can minimize the distractions to upgrade their child’s learning experience.
For a comprehensive guide on setting up the perfect study space, be sure to check out our blog post: “Parent’s Guide to Creating an Ideal Study Environment!”
8. Chalk out a daily schedule
Creating a schedule will help establish a routine and ensure that the learning goals defined are achieved. A daily schedule will help keep track of your child’s progress and maintain a balance between extracurricular activities and academics. Sketch out a morning routine that can incorporate subjects that require more focus, post-lunch, the child can be engaged in creative and physical activities. Map out time for self-directed learning and reading. Involve your child in drafting the schedule so they can encompass their interests and inculcate a sense of ownership and responsibility.
9. Connect with a homeschooling tutor
Lack of subject-matter competence and time commitment are two of the biggest obstacles faced by parents who homeschool their children. However, the concept of hiring tutors for homeschooling has helped parents overcome this problem. Tutors offer flexibility in class schedules. Working parents must consider tutoring for homeschooling their children. For homeschooling, Wiingy tutors have proved to be remarkably beneficial. They are all experts in their respective subjects and have been trained to teach students according to the US education system. Wiingy Tutors help build crucial concepts and help prepare for standardized tests such as the Advanced Placement Exams, SAT, and ACT. Wiingy’s personalized homeschool tutoring services are designed to offer a supportive learning space where students gain clarity and confidence in their studies.
10. Connect with other homeschoolers
Connecting with fellow homeschooling families is crucial for navigating through this learning path. Parents can share curriculums, teaching methods, and study resources. Homeschooling parents can benefit from each other’s experience. Connecting with homeschooling families helps overcome the challenge of isolation that homeschooled children face. Homeschooling allows flexibility for frequent field trips, playdates, and informal gatherings that can help children interact with their peers and develop friendships.
11. Involve family in learning
Involving family in the child’s learning will bring a fresh perspective to your table. Different people bring different skills enriching the child’s learning experience. The child is exposed to diverse cultural backgrounds and traditions enhancing their understanding of the world and making them more accepting of others. The responsibilities can be evenly distributed among the family members to make the process more manageable. Involving family in learning will help foster relations. In the transition from a family dynamic to a teacher-student relationship, the child tends to develop stronger emotional attachments with them.
12. Watch out for pitfalls
Watching out for pitfalls in homeschooling helps you be vigilant to avoid potential challenges that can hinder your progress. To tackle isolation actively seek out opportunities to socialize through homeschooling families or getting your child involved in extracurriculars. Single parents can experience burnout due to multiple responsibilities. To avoid this situation it is important to prioritize self-care, for external assistance, parents can take the assistance of homeschooling tutors. Keep yourself updated with your state’s legal requirement for homeschooling which might be updated over time. Do not set unrealistic expectations in completing the curriculum. Progress with your child’s pace and maintain consistency.
How Wiingy helps students and parents achieve their Goals in homeschooling
Wiingy offers personalized learning tailored to your individual needs and achieve your academic goals. Learn from top homeschooling tutors at affordable prices starting at just $28/hr. Unlike tutor marketplaces, each tutor at Wiingy is vetted individually through an extensive assessment process including interviews, mock lessons, and coding tests. Less than 3% of applicants qualify to be a tutor on the Wiingy platform. Tutors are assessed based on their years of experience in teaching, several students taught, and their qualifications in the relevant discipline. With Wiingy, finding the perfect homeschooling tutor is effortless. Our algorithm understands your specific learning needs and matches you with the ideal tutor. If your tutor match isn’t perfect, our Perfect Match Guarantee program promises a replacement tutor at no additional cost. Choose Wiingy for a tutoring experience that’s unmatched in quality, flexibility, and value. Book a free trial lesson to start your journey to success.
Other Resources
- What is Homeschooling? [Types, Advantages of Homeschooling]
- Why Homeschooling? [Pros and Cons of Homeschooling in 2024]
- Online Tutoring for Homeschooling: Benefits and Strategies
Looking for private tutors for homeschooling? Book a Free Trial Lesson with Wiingy today and match with expert tutors to achieve your academic goals!
FAQs on how to start homeschooling
What is the best age to start homeschooling?
You can start homeschooling your child at any age. However, parents who wish to create a strong foundation start homeschooling their kids at a young age. About 5.4% of students between the ages of 5 and 18 in the U.S. are homeschooled. Elementary school is a crucial step in a child’s educational journey so parents often enroll their children in preschools and later switch to homeschooling for elementary education. As children reach middle school and high school more parents opt for homeschooling as it gives children the flexibility to pursue their passions in greater depth and advanced learning. In 2019, 22% of students between grades 9 and 12 were being homeschooled, and 29% between grades 6 and 8.
How fast can you switch to homeschooling?
Typically, post-transition families can start homeschooling within a few days to a few weeks. The process of switching to homeschooling depends upon your location and the legal requirements. The process requires research. Research if schools in your region require prior notification and complete the necessary withdrawal paperwork. You can then start by devising a curriculum that meets your child’s needs and complies, chalking out a schedule, and setting up a learning environment. Post this, the parents and the child are ready for the gradual transition.
How do you know it’s time to change your child’s learning method?
If your student is experiencing any of these reasons, it might be time to consider a different learning environment :
1. Your child believes that the homework is too easy, it is possible that the curriculum might not be challenging enough for them.
2. Your child avoids school, which might be for several reasons like the child being overwhelmed by the pressure, facing mental issues, or being bullied.
3. Your child is struggling academically and needs additional support. Parents might suspect a learning disability in which the child needs more guidance and intense scrutiny.
4. Your child’s current school lacks flexibility. If your child’s timetable cannot accommodate extracurricular activities it might be time for you to make a switch.
How do you know you need a Homeschooling tutor?
If your child exhibits at least one of the signs below, it might be time for you to take the tutor’s assistance :
1. Your child constantly underperforms in tests. Your child’s potential and their grades do not match.
2. Your child is disorganized with their schoolwork. This is an indication that the student is experiencing academic difficulties.
3. Your child has low self-esteem. They feel they are bad at a “subject”. This feeling often arises when the child is not confident in the subject and needs individual attention.
4. Your child has lost interest in school and has to double their efforts to make do. They need more assistance than usual and have lost focus.
