July 2020
Thinking about homeschooling your child but don’t know where to start? We’re here to help! There are lots of things to consider when deciding to go from traditional education to at home education but in the current state of affairs it may be a smoother transition
What You Need to Know about Homeschooling
You are already your child’s most important teacher. It’s okay that you didn’t study biology or chemistry in college. From our children’s first steps to potty training, they are used to their parents and caregivers being their natural teachers. Don’t freak out. Educate yourself as much as you can on the topics and lessons they need to learn but don’t stress out about hitting all the marks their teachers would. You will get there, they will learn what they need to. Model being a world learner for your child and they will learn about the world.
Don’t get bogged down by curriculum. You don’t have to study every subject every day. And you don’t need to check any boxes. Your main goals are that your child can read and write. Once they’ve managed those skills they will be able to work independently and learn math, science and history. But not all knowledge needs to come from books. Get out in the world and discover as much education as you can.
You are not alone, your child will have plenty of opportunities to socialize. Connect with local homeschool parents in your town, county or district on Facebook, Meetup or within the program you choose. Homeschool groups plan trips and outings as well as sports, activities and clubs. Just because you’re homeschooling doesn’t mean your child won’t have the opportunity to socialize.
How to Get Started Homeschooling
Contact your district and let them know you intend to homeschool. They may need you to fill out paperwork or go through certain protocols. And they can also provide you with resources to get started.
Review New York State Homeschool Laws
Visit this website to learn about New York State Homeschool Laws and make sure you understand everything you need to know and the steps you need to take to legally homeschool your child.
Choose Your Homeschool Program
Your child’s program can be catered and set up based on their needs and learning styles. This will be the hardest but most rewarding step. Finding a program that works for your individual child or children is the best part of independent education because if your child isn’t a traditional learner, they will have less frustration and more success.
Find a Parent Support Group in Your Area
Get involved with homeschool groups near you. Ask questions and find a support team. You’ll need to lean on other parents during this transition. And this will be a quick and easy way to find resources.
Homeschooling Resources and Guides
Normally making the decision to homeschool comes with a difficult transition but because we’ve already been working with virtual learning for the last few months you may find that transition is easy to make for your family. You only need to give your district 30 days’ notice when you decide to homeschool so start your research now. Get informed, arm yourself with all the information you may need and start building a sample schedule for your family. Keep calm and remember that after all this, there isn’t much you can’t handle. Here are some links to help:
