Are you new to homeschooling, or are you thinking about homeschooling?
Maybe you have questions about homeschool curriculum homeschool schedules, or homeschool organization. If so, we will walk you through the first 5 major steps to becoming a homeschooler.
Your homeschooling journey likely begins with one question: What do I teach my child? This blog will answer that question and continue to guide you through your journey to becoming a homeschooler!
Find out your local and state laws
Depending on where you live, there may be certain guidelines or regulations that determine what you teach your child. This could include requirements for what subjects you teach, how you document grades, or other guidelines. Some areas have little to no requirements at all!
Make sure you research your area’s homeschooling requirements to help you build a foundation for your at-home curriculum.
What is your educational philosophy?
The next part of figuring out what to teach involves your own personal educational philosophy! The reason you’re deciding to homeschool is an important part in building your curriculum. This could be:
- Religious reasons
- To provide a specific learning environment for your child
- To create a specific learning experience
Whether there’s a specific reason for deciding to homeschool, or you just want to watch your child learn and grow, your motivation can help determine what you want to teach your child.
What are your child’s strengths and weaknesses?
Now that you’ve researched regional requirements and figured out what you want to teach, it’s important to consider your child’s strengths and weaknesses. Maybe they excel in science but struggle with writing. Maybe they have a hard time with math but love art!
Consider these strengths and weaknesses when choosing what to teach; you can choose how in depth you go in each subject depending on what your child needs help with.
Remember that you don’t have to teach everything at one time! There’s time to spread out subject areas so that you can really cater your curriculum to you and your child’s needs. Later in this series, we will cover homeschool schedules and organization, so stay tuned for more tips and how-to’s!
Education is a journey that is going to last your child’s whole life! Enjoy the process as you begin your homeschool journey with your child!
Learn how to choose a homeschool curriculum in step 2: How to Homeschool: Choosing a Curriculum
Learn about all five steps to get started homeschooling in the How to Homeschool video series.
Amy Michaels is a former teacher turned homeschooler. She creates fun learning activities based on popular children’s books. Connect with her at BookBrilliantKids.com.