Most of you know that I am an accidental homeschooler. It’s true. So when I got into this wild, crazy homeschooling adventure, I honestly had no idea what I was doing. No. Idea. I knew I could do it, I’d seen it done. I just didn’t know what it meant for me.
That was 1999. I’ve learned a few things since then. Most of them the hard way. (Hard to believe? Believe it.) I noticed early on that even though we were new to homeschooling, people still wanted to know what we were doing for our homeschool. My answer: “I’m learning as I go.” Even now, I usually hesitate to tell folks what we do, because frankly, what works for my family may not work for your family.
However—I also keenly remember how I felt when I began our homeschool journey. I devoured every “how to” book I could find on the subject. I would have given just about anything to follow a seasoned homeschool mom around and spy on her just to see how she did it. Trouble was, no one would let me spy on them. Even when I asked! And I did ask. This mom who lived in Mount Vernon, WA and had homeschooled in the “dinosaur age” of homeschooling. I asked her. She looked at me like I had just decided to write an expose on her style of homeschooling. Things got awkward fast. Maybe back in 2000, it was just a creepy request? I don’t know. In any case, I’ve changed my mind about sharing how we “do” school; mostly because of that memory in particular.
In the next few days, you’ll read some (not all) of “how” we do it; because one very important thing I’ve learned is this: You start each year with the same building blocks: but it can, and will, look very different from year to year. Don’t let yourself be taken hostage by someone else’s idea of what your homeschool should look like, either. Make it your own.
Here’s part one of a three part series I’m writing on “How We Homeschool.” I hope it encourages you, because if I can do it, you can too.
5 Essentials to Getting Started in Homeschooling {in short}
So let’s talk about each one of these for just a moment.
1. Think like a teacher.I get a little bit of criticism for this, but I believe it’s essential that I take off my “mom” hat for a few moments and put on my “teacher” hat. And yes, homeschool moms need to be able to wear both “hats” at the same time. It just helps me think better when I can separate the two. Here’s how I do it:
Keep in mind that I change things up every year. This is my schedule from a few years ago. Since then I have changed math programs and added some things that have helped us stay on course in light of our travel schedule.
Truth be told, every homeschooling family should be choosing what works best for them. Since our family travels quite a bit for work, we incorporate a lot of of that into our schooling.
2. Write the core subjects under each child’s name. I’ve put the grade in place of the name for the sake of our kids, but normally, you’d see the name of the student next to the grade at the top.
3. Decide on Curriculum.
This is the part that really frustrates many parents. I ask myself three questions when choosing curriculum:
a. Does it overwhelm me? If my first response is to feel like I’ll never measure up; I’ll usually pass to the next option.
b. Does it fit MY learning style as the teacher? If it doesn’t resonate with me as the teacher, I’ve learned that I will have a hard time using it to teach our children. Not sure of your learning style? Find out. There are many books out there on the subject. “The Way They Learn” by Cynthia Tobias is my fave. You can even take online quizzes!
c. Am I choosing it out of fear? I’ve been surprised at how a sales pitch can make me feel like I’m doing a disservice to my children by not choosing a particular program. After 14 years of homeschooling, I usually decide to go with my instinct. If I like it, and if it feels do-able, I’ll try it. Fancy-schmancy sales pitches don’t impress me much.
4. Come up with a schedule. I wrote about this at length in my book, “The Busy Homeschool Mom’s Guide to Daylight.” I’m a huge fan of scheduling—to a point. When it rules your life, it’s not good for you. The Bible teaches us about moderation and the power of not being “mastered” by anything. Including a schedule. Here’s our schedule from a few years ago. Read the post for more information:
5. Organize your school space. You don’t need a “school room” to homeschool. All you need is a shelf. It’s true! I’ve done it every which way—some years we’ve had more space than others; so I’m here to bust the myth that you can’t homeschool without a schoolroom. Right now, we have a schoolroom; and it’s great. I store our books up there. We use it for study and teaching space. But more often than not, it’s the room that gets all the junk we don’t want to deal with. True story. Use what you have and be happy. It’s enough.
TRY THIS:
Get clear containers for things like scissors and crayons. Label them. (I LOVE these.) Your storage containers don’t always need lids. In fact, I like it better without lids these days. Easier. We just keep them on a shelf for easy access.
Create a space for each child on your bookshelf. It doesn’t have to be the whole shelf! A part of a shelf will do. Be creative. Less, as it turns out, really is more.
CHEAP WHITEBOARD IDEA:
Shower board. Ask your husband to take you on a date and pick out some white shower board. Home Depot, etc. They all have it. Easy cleanup, and you can use whiteboard markers with it. We have used shower boards for years instead of expensive, “official” whiteboards.
Have you read my post about scheduling?
Next time: Notebooking
You can do this!
Shop Heidi’s Amazon Store for Homeschool resources, recommendations, and more!
I’m always so encouraged here. And I usually laugh, too. These are both really good things. I shared this post with a few friends who are contemplating the journey. One thing: the link to how you felt at the beginning of your homeschooling takes us to the post about accidentally homeschooling, which I love, but already read. It would be sweet if that could get fixed. 🙂
Even though I have already started the school year, I am very encouraged by this! Thank you for sharing your daily life with all of us! You make us feel like we’re your friends in your living room showing us what you do; teaching us, not at us. I so appreciate everything you share! Can’t wait for the next one!
The web address you entered could not be found
not working for me either
Can you provide another link/route?
Me too!
Yup, not working 🙁
Same here.
Kristin VanNoty Katy Bolls
Nicole Gastonguay Ritchie – do you follow her? She’s got 7 kids!
Still not loading when I open another tab and type the address in the browser. Must be a server problem?
I keep getting an error message.
Yea I couldn’t open it either.
me too- server problems… 🙁 will check back. Very interested in what you’re sharing!
me too
Cant open. Please repost with correct link
Glad to know I’m not the only one who has had some weird conversations and stares when I’ve asked to see how a particular family home schools! It’s in the details! As my family has grown, I don’t want as much experimenting with organizing my time with each grade; I want to know what has worked for larger families consistently!
🙂 Exactly! Love to relate!
Not working
Worked for me!
seems to be working now.
I love reading your blog. You are so transparent and real and I believe people can relate when people are authentic. Thanks for that. Also, I’m in a place where I’m praying and contemplating the possibility of homeschooling my son. I’ve been overwhelmed at times when talking to homeschool moms and when I ask what they do I usually get the same kind of vague answers. I’ve often thought exactly what you said about seeing how it is that they do what they do and how does it all work. I’m so thrilled that you are sharing all this because maybe, just maybe, I won’t feel like it is something I could never do.
Loved this blog post! This will be my first year home schooling, and it helped me tie up loose ends in every thing I was organizing/preparing for the year.
I’m glad Madison! Stay tuned for the next one!
Tifni Sutton for your friend u were talking about
#lifedoesnotlooklikepintrest should be a hashtag, great point! homeschooling is MESSY, I have this gorgeous school room, but we usually end up on the couch by the end of the day…well laid (and useful) plans don’t always pan out as perfectly as we think!
Joy Noel Evans Hurst thinking of you. Ready to chat any time. Xxoo
THANK YOU!!! I was a teacher for 10 years before I had my twin girls in Dec 2009. Then came my boy in July 2012. I’m PETRIFIED of homeschooling, but I KNOW in my heart this IS the right thing to do with my 3 blessings!! THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting this!!
Thank you, Heidi. I spoke to you a few months ago at a conference and I remember your reluctance to share how you “did” homeschooling. I am so thankful you have reconsidered. I am one of the beginners in this journey and want to soak up anything I can from the veterans. 🙂 I love that you talked about your school room usually becoming the catch all room. That is totally my school room. It’s so frustrating. GRRRR….So, I appreciate the permission to move my school to wherever. 🙂 I love having a space for school, but also find it’s so nice to mix it up a little and move from room to room at times. Thanks again! Looking forward the upcoming posts. Our homeschool moms’ support group is reading through your “Daylight” book together this fall. I am really looking forward to it!
Hi Andrea! I’m so glad I seemed “reluctant!” 🙂 Because I am! I hope your mom’s group is blessed by “Daylight’ … let me know how it goes! Blessings! heidi
Such a good website. Very encouraged. I started my homeschooling journey last year with my kindergartener and the first thing I did was pick up a copy of “Idiot’s guide to homeschooling” lol. This website was WAY more helpful than anything I read in that book. I love homeschooling my kids and seeing them grow in the Lord. I joined a Firmly Planted co-op last year and have met some of the most wonderful people. I will be teaching the 4’s class this year after helping in it last year. I am so blessed to be able to be a part of it!
Hi Krystine! That’s great! What co-op are you part of?
Hi! Thanks for the schedule sheet provided. I’m homeschooling two years now, but I’m in Class homeschool program and my kids are in 10th and 6th grade, any advice can you give me about this program or any other that you might know. Thanks a lot!
Wow! I had not thought about those early days in a long time. For us, we started back in 2005. I myself was not an accidental homeschooler, but none the less, I still was lost when I first began. Of course, we all figure it out, don’t we. Anyways, I think your Blog is Great! I hope you will come stop by mine too 🙂
http://homeschoolmom82.blogspot.com/
Hi Keri! Welcome 🙂 I’ll hop over and take a peek at your blog—thanks for the encouragement!
I’m dismayed and amused by how easily I’m ‘sold’ on any and everything (curriculums, online programs, co op classes) others tell me they’re using. Everything looks so well rounded, so tempting….. I don’t buy or sign up for everything, I just question if it’d be better than what I’ve selected. But this is where faith in my decision making must kick in. I visited a Classical Conversations program yesterday and by the time I left I had wished I could turn back the clock so my kids wouldn’t of missed a single CC Cycle. Then, knowing how I am, I stepped back to ponder and pray. Veteran HS moms have graduated successful college bound kids by sticking to the basics & foundations of learning. Thank you for encouraging moms to do the same, here.