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Homeschooling is education that is directed by parents at home – or wherever you choose to be – rather than a public or private school education. Choice, flexibility and freedom of education are the biggest reasons why people homeschool, and a big reason why we started the Homeschooling Network – to make it easier to have both in your child’s education.
What are some of the other reasons people homeschool?
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states throughout the US, yay!
However, homeschooling laws vary by state, with each state having its own requirements and regulations. Depending on the state you are in, you may have no requirements, or you may have to comply with state laws including:
We recommend doing plenty of research on your state’s requirements and laws before getting started. Great places to find this information include your state’s (or state’s department of education) official government website or a trustworthy homeschooling organization in your state.
Here is another great resource that offers detailed information about individual states homeschooling laws, provided by the Home School Legal Defense Association: HSLDA Homeschool Laws By State
The best style of homeschooling for you will depend on your learning preferences, goals, and schedule. One of the best parts about homeschooling is that you can personally design the education around what will allow you and your children to thrive!
The Homeschooling Network provides a unique opportunity for parents to truly customize their homeschool, by offering a one-stop-shop for a la carte individual courses, free resources, links to all-in-one curriculum programs, books, and the ability to search for co-ops and homeschool events near you. And better yet, if you end up designing your own course or other resources for your students, you can sell them or offer them for free to other homeschoolers right through the Homeschooling Network!
Popular styles of homeschooling include:
Create a plan for your first year or semester. Don’t worry, you can always adjust or change things as you go, most people do! Getting a physical or digital homeschool planner is often helpful to organize your plan and what resources you will need for the year.
Browse Homeschool Planners in the Bookstore
It’s also recommended to decide where you will be homeschooling and how you will be physically storing your family’s learning materials to keep them organized. Your homeschool space can be wherever fits your family best- from your dining room table, to a dedicated homeschooling room, to the back of your RV, or a blanket in the park! The possibilities are endless and the freedom to homeschool wherever fits your family best is just another perk.
There are many socialization opportunities for homeschool kids/families including homeschool co-ops, sports teams, in person classes, community groups, online communities, volunteering opportunities, and attending local events or meet-ups. It can also be helpful to parents to meet other likeminded parents through these groups to get support and guidance.
Finally, if you feel additional support is needed for any of your students, there are many resources out there to find online and local tutoring resources.
You can maintain records by purchasing or creating a homeschool planner, binder or digital folder to store lesson plans, samples of your child’s work, attendance records, standardized test results, and any other relevant documentation. It’s also helpful to keep a log of educational activities, field trips, and extracurriculars to showcase your child’s overall learning experience. Organizing these records systematically will not only assist in monitoring your child’s development but also prepare you for any required evaluations or assessments depending on your state.
Keep in mind that while you may go into your homeschooling journey with a plan, things may change. You may discover more about how your children learn and adjust your homeschooling methods or styles to fit their needs better.
A common pitfall to look out for is committing a full expensive curriculum too early, as it may not meet your or your child’s needs. This is why it is often recommended to purchase individual courses and/or try out some different curriculum styles before committing to an expensive all-in-one option.