These days it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the information out there for new homeschoolers. There are whole books on it. In fact, my first book is one of them. I did a complete brain dump, everything I could think of for homeschoolers (except travel, that’s a whole book in itself) and wrote a book about it. But a lot of people don’t have time for that. What if you’ve just pulled your kid out of school and are starting homeschooling tomorrow? Not to worry, I’ve just published a Kindle Quick Start Guide especially for you!
First, take a deep breath
That’s right, you don’t have to have a fully formed lesson plan ready to go tomorrow morning. In fact, it’s probably better if you don’t. Treat the day like a Saturday. Do your usual chores, spend time together, do something fun, and read The Homeschoolers Are Not Hermits Quick Start Guide to Homeschooling. I’ll let you in on a secret. You have way, way more time to get things done than teachers at school do. There’s no rush.
Do some deschooling
I have a chapter on deschooling in my book, and there’s way more to learn about it than I could cover there. It’s taking time off to decompress, sometimes lots of time, figuring out what didn’t work about school, and then not doing that. Homeschooling looks different for every single family, and even for individual kids in each family depending on their needs. If you don’t think school is working, please don’t duplicate school at home. Pick and choose aspects that you and your kids like and let the rest go.
Bond with your kids
One of the absolute best things about homeschooling is the closeness that families achieve. You see each other at your best and worst, not just after school and work when everyone is worn out and cranky and trying to get homework done. All that time people spend helping kids with their homework? That’s homeschooling. There are lots of kinds of learning, and that’s just one method. Whatever way you choose, it won’t take eight hours of your day. Then hang out, explore your hobbies, watch movies, play games, make up stories together, go to the park, go on vacation, all the things you wish you had time for before. It’s all learning.
Work together to learn to homeschool
I don’t just mean spend time doing schoolwork and playing together, I mean collaborate on what homeschooling should look like for your family. Kids love worksheets? Bring them on! Kids hate worksheets? Draw pictures on the back instead. One kid wants to read everything and another wants to listen to explanations? Or make something physical? Do that. You can take field trips to do hands on learning, watch documentaries, find YouTube videos on any subject, or get books at the library. What is it that lights your kids up and makes them love learning? Oh yeah, learning doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, it takes a lot less time if it’s not being force-fed.
I could go on
In fact, I did. I’ve written two books on the subject now, go read them. You know, all that other stuff like getting out in the community and not being hermits. I’ve put the Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences excerpts here on the site. If you want to get my free Roadschooling info, click on the book link in the bar above or the link below. Put in your Amazon or SEA receipt number and I’ll email you the links.
Quick Start Guide – Amazon
Homeschoolers Are Not Hermits – Amazon or Secular Eclectic Academic Homeschoolers
Free Roadschooling and more resources here, put in your receipt number
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