I Think I Want to Homeschool but I Don’t Know Where to Start

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Growing up, I spent my lower elementary years being homeschooled. I don’t remember these years vividly, but I do remember that they inspired in me a love of reading (and didn’t help at all with my love of math). I remember sitting at a desk alongside my brother who was two years older than me, and I distinctly remember being done with school every day by noon.

Fast forward to now as somehow my darling little newborn baby is preparing to enter the world of formal schooling. My husband and I have long discussed our philosophy of educating our children and it all comes down to this:

“We will do what is best for them in the current season that they/our family are in.”

As we prepare for Preschool this year and Kindergarten next year, we have realized that our family dynamic will work best if we begin to pursue the ins and outs of schooling at home. Honestly, the most overwhelming part of this decision is just knowing where to start and what steps I need to take to get there. If you are a mother like me who has decided to take the homeschooling route, but aren’t sure HOW to begin this journey, read on! I’ve laid out the steps in an easy and concise way that allows you to choose this option for your family, too!

  1. First, choose your curriculum. This is an important first step because it guides how you will be homeschooling your children. I highly recommend choosing your curriculum by first choosing your desired teaching style: traditional, classical, co-op, online, unit studies, charlotte mason, Montessori, or eclectic. Once you know the teaching style of your family, you can narrow it down to pick a curriculum that fits within that style. Remember, you can always change this as you go along!
  2. Next, make it official. Starting when your child is age 6 (Kindergarten), a letter of intent must be submitted to your local school board to indicate that your child will not be enrolled in a formal school. You need to make sure that you have the required qualifications (a high school diploma or a GED) and that you are able to teach the required subjects and understand how the yearly assessments work. For more information on this process, you can visit https://hslda.org/content/hs101/OH.aspx.
  3. Gather your materials. This is the FUN part!!! I would suggest starting with a budget and moving on from there. There are many fantastic curriculum kits (traditional homeschooling) that give EVERYTHING you need for around $200-$1500. However, for some this price tag is high and they would prefer to gather their own materials. Teacher Stores like F&S School Supply in Kettering are wonderful resources for finding textbooks, teaching manuals and every type of hands-on school supply you could possibly need!
  4. Set up a Homeschool area. It is important when homeschooling children to have an area that works for designated schooling. It might be the kitchen countertop, it might be the kitchen table, it might be an entire room (check out Pinterest for some AMAZING homeschool rooms!), or it might just be a desk in a secluded corner. Either way, it will be helpful to have designated space set aside for schooling.
  5. Join Homeschool groups and don’t forget to GET OUT! One of the beauties of homeschooling is building your own schedule. Locally, there are many Mamas who homeschool and there are several Facebook groups built just for them. There are co-ops and community resources like library days and YMCA discounts that aren’t offered to non-homeschooling families. Don’t forget to sign your kids up for an extracurricular activity if they really want to get out of the house, and remember that some school districts even let local homeschooling children join their sports teams and other events. 
  6. Finally, HAVE FUN. Homeschooling can be really stressful. It can mean spending a lot of time with our children, and it can mean butting heads with them sometimes. It can mean wondering if we really are doing a good job or if we might be missing some solid educational chunks. Don’t worry, Mama. If you have decided to go through this whole process and you have made it to your first day of homeschooling, you are going to rock this. Your kids might miss a chunk of information here and there, but I can promise you that they will turn out just fine. Plus, if you are really doubting your decision, you can always ask yourself this question: 
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Suzanne Hines
Hi, I'm Suzanne! I am a Christian, wife to Theo, Mom to Tera Evelynne (18 months) and foster Mom to some of the most precious foster kiddos placed in our home. I grew up far, far away from Dayton as a missionary kid in West Africa. After graduating from my international high school, I attended Cedarville University. A few months into my freshman year, I met an incredible man named Theo. Although I had sworn off dating, there I was...dating him! We were married by my junior year and the rest is history! We stuck around the area and I am now proud to call the Dayton area home. Theo works for the Dayton Fire Department and I am a stay at home Mom. Most of my day consists of chasing children, feeding children, cleaning up after children and driving them all around to their various appointments (foster care makes for A LOT of driving!!). In my spare time (har har har), I love to cook, run, browse Pinterest and Instagram and read books and maintain my blog (www.suzannehines.org). My family loves to explore outside, to attend festivals and events and to find frugal ways to live in the Dayton area. My favorite thing about motherhood is watching my children develop their own little personality! How did I create this walking, talking, living, breathing, giggling, kissing human being?!? What a miracle!

2 COMMENTS

  1. Can you let me know how or where i can get discounts for my homeschoolers for extra curricular programs? I called WTRC, KRC and YMCA and they all told me no discounts.

    • Hi Stephanie! As a new homeschooler in the Dayton area, I’m still figuring this out, too! It’s unfortunate that the local YMCA doesn’t do a discount!! I am working on doing some research on your question and will get back to you as soon as I have some more information!

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