The First 3 Steps to A Simpler Homeschool

School at home has become a hot topic of conversation the past several months. With school shutdowns this past spring, families were forced to figure out how to teach kids at home. Fall is approaching fast and families are waiting to hear what the new normal school routine will look like. It could mean a lot of different things for public and private school learning. It could also mean deciding to keep kids home for a year.

The First 3 Steps

Whatever becomes your new norm, I want to share the first three steps for those of you considering school at home. They will help you make a decision for your family and lay out the initial steps to school at home this coming year. Our family has walked through this process the past few years and I hope it will helpful for those of you considering school at home.

Step 1: Decide

Deciding whether to homeschool or not can be overwhelming and seem like a mountain of a decision. Although it is a big decision, it is one you can make confidently by intentionally asking some good questions.

Why do I want to homeschool?

Maybe it’s related to the current culture, COVID, or some other time sensitive reason. Maybe you have decided you want to give it a try to be more involved with what your kids are learning. Or maybe you want more time with your kids. Whatever the reason, get clear on it now. This reason will motivate you throughout the school year as well as help you navigate questions from friends and family.

Do I have support from family and friends?

Although homeschooling can be done without family support, it’s a lot easier and more successful with everyone on board. There will be times throughout the school year when things get hard and you want the support system in place. It’s also good to seek out others who are homeschooling to find community, especially if the family support isn’t in place.

Am I up for a challenge?

Homeschooling is one of the most rewarding and challenging things I have chosen to do in my life. Are you in a headspace mentally to be up for the challenge? Things don’t have to be perfect (and won’t be), but being motivated and committed to the task of homeschooling goes a long way come January.

A side note to this: If your kids have been in public school prior to homeschooling, there is a good chance you will get some push back. Although I have not been in this position, I have had my kids ask about going to school. Remember: You are the parent and like everything else in their life, you are the captain of the ship. It’s important to have a discussion with your kids and ask for input, but ultimately, you make the call. Give yourself and your kids grace as you make this decision.

Asking yourself these three questions can help you navigate your thoughts and feelings about the decision to homeschool and guide your next steps.

Step 2: State Requirements

You’ve answered some questions and decided to move forward. Now what? Depending on where you live, it’s time to file the paperwork for homeschooling in your state.

Each state is different when it comes to homeschooling. We live in Iowa, which has multiple different options for homeschooling. Our neighboring state, Nebraska, has one option. Both require different forms and notification to school districts. This Homeschool Laws by State website addresses each state and gives an overview on what the requirements are to homeschool and even links to forms needed. It might seem overwhelming at first, but it is possible and necessary if you want to take the steps for school at home.

After checking out the Homeschool Laws by State website to get an overview, be sure to check out your state’s Department of Ed website as well. You can find Iowa’s homeschool rules here: Homeschooling in Iowa and Nebraska’s homeschool rules here: Homeschooling in Nebraska. If you’re confused, email the contact listed on the state homeschooling site. The Iowa homeschool contact emailed me right back and answered my specific questions quickly.

Step 3: Curriculum

While registering with your specific state for homeschooling, it’s time to start thinking about curriculum. There is a difference between what to teach and how to teach it. What you teach are the skills, strategies, and standards appropriate for each age or grade level. How you teach are the lessons you use to teach those skills, strategies, and standards.

It’s time to decide if you want to purchase a curriculum or create your own. Purchasing a curriculum gives you both what to teach and how to teach it. It will allow you to use your time and energy to teach your kids and not think through how to do it. By using a purchased curriculum, there is not much guesswork, as the company has done the research for you and planned the lessons.

Creating your own curriculum gives you complete control over what your kids will learn and how they will learn it. Although it will take a lot of work on your part, you are able to create the exact learning experience you want for your kids. If this is the route you want to take, you can find a Scope and Sequence for all grade levels at Schoolhouse Teachers. If you are a family planning to homeschool for only a year and your state has adopted the Common Core standards (Iowa has, Nebraska hasn’t), the Common Core standards are a good place to start.

There is no ‘right’ way.

There is not a ‘right’ way to homeschool or choose curriculum. Each family is different and possesses varying resources including time, energy, and financial means. Don’t let guilt play into this decision. Make a decision based on what you believe is best for your family.

As I said in this post, I taught first grade in public school five years pre-kids, have been homeschooling for the past few years, and have my Masters in Curriculum and Instruction. I have never created my own curriculum for homeschool. My main reason for not creating curriculum has been time and energy. I want to spend my time and energy teaching my kids and not spending time creating the next lesson plan. I still get my feet wet with fun projects or holiday lessons because that lights me up, but I leave the core lesson planning to my curriculum.

If you have decided to purchase a curriculum it’s time to move onto choosing it. In the next post I will be addressing the process we have used in the past to choose the best curriculum for our family.

The first 3 steps are big ones, but each step forward paves the way to a positive and simpler homeschool year.