Top 6 Homeschooling Tips for Beginners

When starting to homeschool it can make you feel overwhelmed, frustrated and a little lost. But that’s okay. That’s why I am sharing my top 6 homeschooling tips for beginners. I am still currently learning so much about homeschooling, but these tips were helpful when I first got started.

Number 1 out of Top 6 Homeschooling Tips

Looking at your state’s requirements is going to be one of the first things you do. Every state may have their own set of requirements and rules for enrolling your student in homeschool that you’ll need to comply with.

Fortunately, it’s not anything outrageous at least in the state I live in. I live in TN. Here they give you three different ways of how you can register to homeschool. Those are independent homeschool, a church-related umbrella school or category lll distance learning.

Once you choose how you want to home school  you’ll register your child and fill out the intent to homeschool form.

This form lets the state know you have decided to homeschool, who you are going to homeschool, the grade and so forth. If you can’t find a way to get directly to your state’s homeschooling information, try using a website that can point you in the direction. A great site to use is HSLDA.

HSLDA is a great website to get a lot more than just your state’s requirements. It will give you articles on how to keep records, how to grade, and so much more. Check it out by clicking the blue link above.

Number 2 out of top 6 homeschooling tips; Is there a curriculum?

There are so many questions that can come to you when thinking about the curriculum. If there’s a right one? If there’s a need for one? But honestly how you homeschool is going to be completely up to you and what you are comfortable with doing.

There are a lot of free and cheap resources out there that you can use as a “curriculum” that will work just as well or better than some of the expensive curriculums. But it really is your preference and what you feel comfortable with and if it right for teaching your kids. Below are some sites that are listed that you can get free resources.

PBS kids learning is a great resource. They give you free video lessons on a wide range of topics. Check it out Here.

Next is K-5 learning. This is great for younger students. They offer tons of free worksheets.

Next is Education.com they have free and paid resources. They offer lots of lessons to choose from, plus worksheets.

For science I love Generation genius. They offer video lesson plans along with questions for before and after the video. Plus worksheets and more! Great for kids involvement. You can also use YouTube for videos and books for experiments in text.

These are just a few. In another post I will go more in depth with the different resources for diff subjects and so forth.

Paid curriculums

If you’re like me and need an instructor guide then having a great curriculum can be helpful. I like to know that I have exactly what I need in order to meet the required standards. And plus I don’t know everything, and it’s been a minute since I was in school. So having a curriculum is a helpful at staying on the path of teaching what they need to know.

Not all curriculums are created equal though. There will be some that are great and some that you just could do without. Always do your research. Watch YouTube videos of other moms giving their opinion on what curriculums they like, go to different blogs, reach out to other homeschool parents and see what they think about certain curriculums and if it’s worth it or not.

Here’s a list of the curriculums I like best so far.

• Math with Confidence
• The Good and Beautiful
• 180 days of

These are the ones I like so far. They are easy to comprehend and give you what you need. You can find them in multiple places online.

Another reason I like a curriculum is because it helps me plan out the year. What my quarters will look like, what we are going to discuss and learn, and how to structure the schooling. Knowing what I’m teaching also gives me the ability to plan projects or other activities ahead of time.

Number 3 out Top 6 Tips homeschooling Tips; Learning style

There are 3 main learning styles. Auditory, Kinesthetic, and visual. It might take some time for you to figure out the one that suits you and your kiddo the best. Don’t worry if you can’t figure out exactly how your kid needs to learn, it will all fall into place as you continue to work with each other. Below I will discuss briefly what each learning style means. 

Visual style is when you learn best through seeing and watching. They prefer diagrams, images, and written instructions. Some examples are graphs and charts. Auditory style is when you learn best from hearing. It’s easier for them to learn through discussions, audio recordings and explanations. Kinesthetic style is when you learn through movement and doing. Experiments and hands-on activities are best for these types of learners.

Now that you know the three learning styles you can start paying attention to which way your child retains information and what they enjoy best. That will be the best way to teach them.

Number 4 out of Top 6 Homeschooling Tips; Support & Organizations

Homeschooling has gained significant traction in recent years, with more families wanting to get involved in their children’s education. For those new to this journey, like myself, the abundance of support and resources available is reassuring. There are many organizations that offer so much guidance, curriculum options, and community connections.

Many local homeschooling co-ops and online forums create a sense of community, allowing parents to exchange tips, share resources, and organize group activities. These organizations are  great for navigating through the new journey of homeschooling and can be beneficial for both you and the child.

Below are a few sites that you should check out to get information on record keeping, regulations for your state, co-ops, and so much more.

HomeSchool, NHSA, Home School Central, Groups, Mthea.

Number 5 of Top 6 Homeschooling Tips; Budget & resources

When it comes to homeschooling, managing a budget and having the right resources are crucial components to creating a successful and worthwhile learning environment. As a homeschooling mom, I’ve noticed that expenses can add up. Between curriculum materials, educational tools, extracurriculars and field trips it can seem like it’s going to take a big chunk out of your wallet.

But guess what it doesn’t have to.

Establishing a certain amount that you want to spend or a certain amount to stay under before the beginning of the school year can be helpful. Quality resources are definitely a necessity when homeschooling. You want to give your kids the best well rounded education you can, without breaking the bank.

Quality resources also don’t have to be super expensive. Quality resources can be books, online courses, support networks and more. These resources will help you tailor your child’s learning experience to their needs and interests.

Finding balance between all the factors will make starting homeschool more affordable and enrich their educational journey.

Throughout these past few years of homeschooling I’ve come across different websites that offer a great amount of free resources. I listed some earlier in the post. There are also great bargain deals on school books and workbooks, if you look into local consignment stores or book resale companies. If you live in TN a good example of this is McKay’s books.

Number 6 out of Top 6 Homeschooling Tips; Time commitment

In today’s fast paced society, with so much to do and get done, reevaluating how much time you have to commitment is super important to you and your child’s success. The state I live in requires at least 4 hours of school time every day for 180 days out of the year.

Which isn’t too bad if you think about it. It really just depends what you and your family’s lifestyle is, how and what you want your kid/s to learn, and if you are going to be patient with yourself and your kiddos. Patience is a whole other topic we can get into some other time.

I don’t want to deter you from homeschooling though because everything comes with its challenges. If you have been blessed to have the type of lifestyle and career where you can homeschool your child I would certainly consider it. You’ll get to have influence on what they learn and so much more!

Because you control the days you school and the children learn you have more flexibility with time. Yes it’s still going to take a chunk of your day but you can divide the time however you please.

Conclusion

Starting the homeschool journey can feel daunting. It’s all a learning journey. So if you feel like you have no idea what you’re doing, that’s okay. We all feel that way at some point on this journey.

As long as you continue to learn and grow, just as your kid, it will start to flow and not feel as difficult. As with everything the more time in it the easier it feels to navigate.

Nothing is perfect and expecting perfection will make your days harder not easier. Remember they are kids and they are still learning to sit still, to follow directions, and so much more. Stay patient, stay committed, and stay strong. We can do this!

Check out this post on how to become more patient in motherhood.

If you have any questions about homeschooling or if you homeschool and want to leave advice for new homeschoolers, please comment below! We’ll talk soon!

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