Homeschooling Your Child- How To Do It?

By Peter Johnson

Once you have decided that homeschooling is the way to educate your child, get ready for the up’s and down’s – the path ahead is unknown, but you need to be prepared none the less. Producing a well-adjusted and well-rounded personality is not a walk in the park.

Firstly , it is important to check out your state laws on homeschooling. Some states need an affidavit filed with the State's education department. There are essentially 3 categories for homeschooling laws. These are: private school laws, home education laws and equivalency laws. Find your state laws. You may also need to maintain a portfolio that records the child's educational

progress- this is a great idea in itself and is recommended. It is also important to look into the legal requirements before you start your child’s homeschooling program. Some States also demand a minimum educational qualification for the parent or teacher.

It is advised to find a support group- essentially other parents practicing homeschooling. If you live in a friendly or curious neighbourhood, well-meaning friends will try to change your mind. At the very least, they may raise a lot of questions about homeschooling. A support group that consists of like-minded people will insulate you from the criticism, pressures and questions of regular school-goers. Many groups organize fun events like visits to the museum, zoo, shops etc. This provides your children with the opportunity to form lasting friendship bonds, which is important due to the insular nature of homeschooling. These groups provide an important avenue for socialization, which is an often overlooked aspect of homeschooling.

It is now time to decide on the curriculum. Research is key to finding a curriculum, and there is no better place than the internet, to begin this research process.It is important to get a broad overview of the materials available so you can make an educated decision on the approach to home schooling you wish to take.

You should set some fundamental ground rules. Homeschooling requires a lot of Hard work and self-discipline. Here is a comprehensive list of the

things you may need:

1) Hard work and effort

2) Discipline

3) Time and patience

4) Eagerness to learn

5) Enthusiasm

6) Flexibility

Don’t be put off by this, anything that is worthwhile in life usually take all of the above qualities. You need to decide why you are going to choose homeschooling as your method. The reasons and motives behind this are incredibly important and relative to your child’s potential learning. You also need to ask your child what they feel about homeschooling, and see how they respond before making you decision.

Decide on the curriculum which is tailored to your child’s interest and needs specifically. Keep various records on different aspects of your child’s progress, so you can look back and see whether progress is being made. Devise a schedule and stick to it- it can be very easy to make it up as you go, but to have it written down on paper, will ensure you stick to the goals. You do not need to stick to the normal school hours- you may find your child has better concentration in the morning, and late afternoon- hence you might wish to take the middle part of the day off. Flexibility and fun are the Fundamentals of homeschooling. Focus on a core list of skills per semester- don’t be too broad or generic Prepare a skill list, and don’t rush your child.

Careful and educated parenting is the secret to a successful homeschooling environment. Your child will make notable advances, and it will benefit your relationship in the long run. When taught correctly, a home schooled child can turn out more well-balanced and educated that a regular school going child.