Skip to main content

What Your Homeschool Should Look Like


Five years ago, when I was just starting out on our homeschool journey, I was searching, longing, begging for knowledge of what homeschooling should look like.

How should I plan our day?
What curriculum should I use?
What age should I start my child learning to read?
What age should I start my child learning handwriting?
What time should I start our day?
How many hours should I teach?
Should I make them all sit in desks?

All these questions just to find out what my homeschool should look like.

So. Many. Questions!

Five years later and I finally have the answer.

Your homeschool should reflect your family. 

It should look like you.
It should look like your children.
It should be an environment that you are comfortable teaching.
It should be an environment where your children desire learning.

There is no cookie-cutter style of homeschooling.

What it shouldn't look like.....

It should not look like other homeschool homes in your neighborhood.
It should not look like other homeschool homes in your co-op.
It should not look like your best friend's homeschool.
It should not look like other homeschool homes in your state.
It should not look like other homeschool homes you find on Pinterest or on blogs.

In order for your homeschool to be successful, it has to be specific to your family.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love me some Pinterest!  I get several ideas from Pinterest and I am so grateful for all the homeschool moms who offer free printables that I can use to help my children learn.

I am not saying you should not talk with other homeschool mom's to see what works for them. I am not saying that you should avoid blogs and Pinterest. I am saying that you should not compare your homeschool to another.

When overwhelmed moms ask me how to start homeschooling, I simply tell them to spend some time getting to know their children. Learn their children's interests. Learn how your children learn best.

READ BOOKS. Lots and lots of books!

Once you create an environment that encourages and inspires them to learn, they will. This does not mean they will all learn the same thing at the same time.

Every child is different and learns differently. This is key! What works for one may not work for another.

Before buying curriculum, go to a homeschool conference or a curriculum fair. Get your hands on the books, look through them before purchasing them. Find other homeschooling moms (in your area, or on blogs/Pinterest) who have reviewed curriculum and read about it before buying.

A good site for reviews is http://cathyduffyreviews.com/. Cathy gives through reviews. I have used her site several times. She will tell you if curriculum is Common Core aligned, if it is Biblically based, etc.

Once you begin your homeschool journey, if you find something is not working, STOP. This was a struggle I had. I thought that I was doing something wrong and that is why my children were not enjoying learning. I was wrong. They just weren't enjoying the curriculum I chose.

I want to encourage you. You can do this! You know your children better than anyone. You may even find that by homeschooling, you also start to love learning again. I know I have. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Educational Resources from Educents

Educents is the trusted resource for every child's education. If your child is interested in Minecraft, butterflies, space, architecture, traveling.. you name it.. the hundreds of Sellers on Educents probably offer a way to turn your child's interests into a fun lesson. Keep scrolling to check out what's new, what's popular, and shop Educents deals by grade . Don't miss Educents' new freebie at the bottom of this post! What's new? 3D Animation Course - Kids will learn key 3D character animation concepts in this year-long online course as they create animated movies using their favorite Minecraft characters. Kids will learn all the necessary skills to create fun animated shorts, laying the foundation for a future career in animation, or simply giving kids a productive outlet for their love of Minecraft! Recommended for ages 8 to 14. Beginning Architecture Course - Frank Lloyd Wright never had it this good! This three-part series of Be

Vintage Christmas Wonderland - Review

When I was contacted a few weeks ago and asked if I would review a newly released Christmas album, I couldn't type fast enough to respond and say YES! Christmas is, by far, my favorite time of year.  When I received the Cds, they were wrapped in beautiful burlap and ribbon and decorated with a sparkly snowflake. Along with the Cds, there was a personal handwritten note. It was so sweet and just made the entire experience of this review scream vintage. Vintage Christmas Wonderland by David Ian has a smooth jazzy sound that takes you back to the days when life was less complicated. When I was contacted to review the album, it was described to me as " It's reminiscent of the Charlie Brown Christmas album and meant to bring warmth to the season!".  I can tell you, that is a perfect description. While listening to Vintage Christmas Wonderland, I felt like putting up my Christmas tree just so I could plug in the lights and watch them glow. I felt like starting a

Wild Brothers Tiger Trail PLUS New Adventures DVD set 1-4

The newest Wild Brother adventure is about to be released! Our kids get so excited when they see that a new Wild Brothers adventure is being released. They enjoy watching the Wild Brothers adventures in the remote jungle, where their family are missionaries. In their newest adventure,  The Wild Brothers, A Tigers Trail , the Wild Brothers hike remote trails in search of the legendary Tasmanian tiger. They are determined to uncover the truth while deepening their relationships with the people of their mountain. Get your family together to fully enjoy an adventure you will never forget! You can pre-order The Wild Brothers, Tiger Trail , now. The DVD will be released in April. As with their other adventure DVDs, there is a discussion and activity guide included free with the DVD. The Wild Brothers adventures are also being released in a DVD set. You can pre-order The Wild Brother adventure set, DVDs 1-4 , which will also be released in April. (This post contains