As we near the middle of the school year, it is time for many parents to evaluate whether or not public school is working. If this is you this year, and you are contemplating the switch to homeschool after the holidays, I would love to share some tips that can help ease the homeschool transition.
Believe in Your Abilities
The biggest thing most new homeschoolers are afraid of is failing. They don’t believe in their ability to educate their children. Can I just encourage you today? You ARE able to homeschool your children. Homeschooling does not require a teacher’s degree. It requires love and commitment. If you are a parent you are MORE than qualified to homeschool your children.
Take Time to Deschool
When your child first begins homeschooling, there will be a time of transition. This transition period is the perfect time to “deschool” your child, and yourself. You are both used to a public school mindset, and you will both need time to learn what homeschooling is and what it looks like. Homeschooling is NOT public school at home. The environment is different, the structure is different, and the learning can be different. During this time of transition, it is important to talk to your child about your expectations, and his expectations. Explain that getting used to homeschooling will take time. Offer to meet up with his friends, take him to homeschool group meetings, and make sure that he realizes he will still be “socializing”.
DON’T Model Public School
When I first began homeschooling I lined up the text books and dug in. We had a timer, a schedule, and plans to make sure our day looked as much like school as possible. A month in we both hated homeschooling. Why? Because our home is NOT a public school, and yours isn’t either!
The biggest tip I have is to make sure your homeschool reflects YOUR family. Find a routine that works for you, find a curriculum that fits your child’s learning style, and don’t expect school to look like a traditional classroom.
Also, your school days won’t be 9-3 and they don’t have to be. Most homeschoolers are done in around 2-4 hours depending on the age of the child. There are no bathroom lines, or waiting on other children to finish. School doesn’t have to take as long, and it won’t!
As you make plans to transition into homeschooling, let me encourage you to be flexible. Homeschooling may not look like what you thought it would and that’s okay. Your first few months will be hard, but it will be worth it. Remember these tips to ease the homeschool transition, and be prepared for anything!
Author Bio: Misty Bailey and her husband have been married for over a decade and have three beautiful children. She shares her struggles with time management, becoming unglued and finding joy in the everyday moments on her blog Joy in the Journey
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