Have you been considering homeschooling as a viable educational option for your family? If so, take the time to consider these nine questions.
Do You Know Your State’s Homeschool Requirements?
Each state in the U.S. has a different set of laws concerning homeschooling. Be sure that you familiarize yourself with your state and local homeschool regulations to avoid any legal issues.
Do You Have a Support System?
Having people who are supportive of your decision to homeschool will make the process go a bit more smoothly. I highly recommend that you seek out and connect with your local homeschool community. Not only will they provide you with support, they can also be a wealth of information and resources. It always helps to surround yourself with people who have similar goals and have gone through the same things you go through.
Are You Prepared for the Challenges?
Although homeschooling your child can be very rewarding, it can also be very challenging. You might come up against some roadblocks. You may also have to make some sacrifices. However, if you know this up front, it can be easier to move forward. Again, having a support system of fellow homeschoolers in place can help tremendously.
Do You Have a Budget?
Although the costs of home education vary greatly, it is a good idea to decide how much money you can allocate to it each semester or year.
Do You Know Which Method(s) You Want to Use?
There are a variety of homeschooling methods that you can choose from. Some prefer Montessori, Charlotte Mason, Waldorf, or Unschooling. Others might have a more eclectic approach. Do your research on the various homeschool methods/philosophies to determine which one would be the best fit for your family.
Do You Know Which Resources You Want to Use?
Are you partial to workbooks and textbooks? Intrigued by the concept of lapbooks? Prefer printables or curricula that you find online? Perhaps you’d like to try a bit of each. The options are limitless.
Why Do You Want to Homeschool?
What is your motivation for homeschooling? There are many reasons that people opt for home education. However, it is important to know why you want to do it. Be 100% sure that you are doing it with your child’s best interests in mind.
Can You Be Flexible?
Although some people prefer to have rigid curricula and schedules, I believe it is important to be flexible. You might think that a certain method, curriculum, or schedule will be perfect only to realize that it is not very effective. It’s okay to experiment with things until you find the “magic” combination. After all, flexibility is one of the great advantages of homeschooling.
Are You Easily Offended?
Let’s face it – you might face some criticism for choosing to homeschool your children. Although it is growing in popularity, not everyone is on board with home education. You may face some people who question (or downright disagree with) your choice to homeschool. Be confident in your choice and your ability to be an awesome home educator.
These are just a few of the basic questions to consider as you think about homeschooling. Try not to let this big decision overwhelm you. Just take one step at a time and you can do this!
Author Bio: Sara is a homeschooling mom to three girls. She enjoys encouraging other homeschool moms and sharing practical tips on her blog, Heart and Soul Homeschooling (www.heartandsoulhomeschooling.com)
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