Homeschooling from a Catholic Perspective
Have you felt drawn to homeschooling? As a Catholic parent, you’ve likely already prayed about it and listened for divine guidance. Traditions and faith-based values are keystones in Catholic families, so it’s only natural to want your children’s educational experience to reflect those. Whether you’re looking for a traditional Catholic homeschool curriculum or classical Catholic homeschool programs, options abound for your family.
Getting Started with Catholic Homeschooling
One of the number one struggles for new homeschoolers is the overwhelming process of getting started homeschooling. There’s an incredible number of homeschooling blogs and sites, each with its own idea about what you need as a homeschooling family. However, these tips can create exponentially more confusion. As a result, before you get into choosing a Catholic homeschool curriculum or determining homeschooling methods, try starting with these three steps.
- Solidify your reason to start homeschooling — Make sure your motivational reasons are clear-cut and written down. We all have challenging days that might just make us question why we’re homeschooling to begin with. These are times when you’ll need to remind yourself of your initial reasons for switching.
- Make a list of pros and cons — As with every decision in life, there are benefits and drawbacks. If there’s a positive, there’s an associated negative. Honesty is vital here. Even though the excitement of homeschooling can filter out the cons with rose-colored glasses, you need to be aware of the good and the not-so-good to reduce stress later on.
- As a family, write a list of goals — Start with big goals – determine what you want to see academically and spiritually this year. Then move on to semester and monthly/weekly goals. Either way, your goals can help with deciding on a homeschool curriculum, such as a Catholic classical homeschool curriculum or a Catholic online homeschool. Additionally, these goals can provide insight into the ideal homeschooling method for your family. Examples of these methods could include traditional homeschooling or the Charlotte Mason method, just to name a few.
Take That First Step
Getting started with the nitty-gritty details of Catholic homeschooling is relatively the same for all new homeschooling families. We understand, homeschooling already sounds overwhelming. This is why Homeschool.com is here with support, advice, and encouragement. Once you’ve read through these articles, it’ll feel less overwhelming. Our best suggestion: take it slow, in small sections, and think it over before moving on.
- Check your state’s requirements
- Research your child’s learning style
- Look into your ideal method
- Select a curriculum
- Start homeschool planning
- Remember: keep records
This hub of information is intended to spark inspiration for your homeschooling preferences. Here are examples of how to use these pages:
- Formality — Learn which homeschooling option is best suited to your family. For instance, accredited Catholic homeschool programs may be ideal for your family.
- Style — Discover which learning style would be the best fit for your children. An example of this could be aligning with traditional Catholic homeschool.
- Content — What kind of learning content would be most helpful? These resources can provide a better idea of what your family needs from Catholic homeschool programs.
Looking For More Catholic Homeschooling Resources?
Sometimes, you just need to connect with like-minded people! Everyone needs a support group regardless of the circles they run in. For Catholic homeschoolers, connecting with other Catholic homeschooling families can recharge your batteries. Here are a few sites for finding other Catholic homeschoolers as well as general Catholic resources.
- Catholic Homeschooling Moms
- Homeschool Connections
- The Keeping It Catholic Facebook Page
- Saint Anne’s Helper
- Keeping It Catholic
As a Catholic homeschooling family, would you prefer a curriculum based in the faith? Catholic homeschool programs can range between traditional, classical, Charlotte Mason, and more. You may find Catholic online programs or accredited academies. There’s an option for everyone! Here’s a solid list for getting started homeschooling.
