Learn to Homeschool Like a Veteran

November 30, 2017
Written by:
Jamie Gaddy

Learn to Homeschool Like a Veteran

This post is by Kerry, a homeschooling mother of two, and is from our contributing sponsor Time4Learning.

Long-Time Homeschoolers Teach You How to Homeschool Like a Pro

What if you could get your hands on a book that gave you the inside scoop on homeschooling? What if, instead of floundering around wondering if you’re doing anything right, you could approach this new adventure with confidence? What if you had access to advice from parents who have been at this homeschool thing for years now?

I’m guessing that, if you’re new to homeschooling, you wouldn’t turn down that opportunity! That’s why I, and several other long-time home educators, created an ebook just for parents new to embarking on the journey of teaching their own children. At the end of this post, I’ll even share with you how you can grab the full ebook for yourself. But first, let’s look at some of the highlights from the book so you can immediately get a handle on some of the things you’re probably most worried about.

Accidental Homeschoolers Can Become On-Purpose Homeschoolers

Sure, you may have begun researching homeschool because you felt like you were running out of other options. Or, you might have landed in the homeschooling category because of a crisis or healthcare issue. Homeschooling may have not even been on your radar until now. That doesn’t mean that you won’t soon discover that this educational choice has many benefits.

Homeschooling parents are often surprised to find:

  • how much fun they have learning alongside their children.
  • that they now have family flexibility they never had before.
  • that learning a concept doesn’t have to be confined to fifty-minute increments.
  • that without all the trappings of a mass-education system, students can often finish their schoolwork in far less than 8 hours a day.
  • that the zoo is so much less crowded in the middle of a weekday!

Many parents who began homeschooling only because they had no other choice have, over time,  become its most enthusiastic supporters. Instead of worrying about what could go wrong, start pondering all of the advantages it could have for your child(ren) and your family.

Overwhelmed Homeschoolers Can Become Organized Homeschoolers

If you feel like you have way more questions than answers about how to homeschool, you aren’t alone. Almost every new homeschooler deals with anxiety and uncertainty. However, veteran homeschoolers have discovered the magic formula for addressing these fears. A successful homeschool experience is usually deeply rooted in planning.

I don’t mean that you have to have every detail of your homeschool year mapped out. Rather, I mean that you can start out your homeschool on firmer ground if you have a few things nailed down:

  1. The overall goal you hope to accomplish for this homeschool year.
  2. A general idea of how you plan to reach that goal.
  3. A general idea of how you want your homeschool days to go.

Knowing those three things will immediately help you narrow down the type of curriculum you want to use, the amount of time you want to devote to homeschooling, and even your general homeschooling style. The other important thing to remember is that your plan can change at any time. Plans do help you get organized, but they should never restrict you from finding new and better ways to meet your child’s learning needs.

Rigid Homeschoolers Can Become Relaxed Homeschoolers

I’ve known hundreds and hundreds of homeschoolers through the years, and there has been a common thread with many families who are in their first months of the experience. Many times, especially for parents and children whose only school-related experience was in a classroom, homeschool looks a lot like traditional school. Families often schedule their homeschool days much the way a public school would, with defined times for specific subjects, a dedicated school room with desks, and even a “recess” period.

It’s natural for families to start with this approach, and it can be comforting to have a pattern to follow when you’re beginning something so daunting. However, it’s important to remember that most of the techniques that teachers use to keep 20+ students on track are wholly unnecessary when learning at home.

Families who’ve been homeschooling for a while soon discover that it’s not only okay to “follow a rabbit trail” of a child’s curiosity once in awhile, but that it actually enhances the homeschool experience and creates a lifelong passion for learning. They also find that learning is hardly ever restricted to the dedicated “math” and “science” periods. Instead, you’ll soon relax into a whole new way of approaching education as you realize that it has become a 24/7 lifestyle!

Welcome to Homeschooling

As you’ve probably noticed, the advice that long-time homeschoolers have to share with you can immediately make you feel calmer about this momentous decision you’ve made. If you’d like to explore even more of the pointers that can ease you into the first months of your homeschool journey, then you may want to download the full ebook from Time4Learning.com. This free guide will be a source of information and support as you begin this grand adventure. I wish you a successful homeschool year!

Jamie Gaddy

Jamie Gaddy, B.S., M.Ed., Ed.D. has been a college education professor for over 17 years. Education has been a part of her life in both the classroom and as a principal. Six children later found her dissatisfied with traditional school and homeschool became the better fit. She is also a pastor’s wife, editor, and entrepreneur who now homeschools four of her six children in Georgia. Jamie loves to share about her homeschool experience to help other homeschoolers find success. Connect with her at [email protected].