The first year of homeschooling is completely overwhelming.
Millions of thoughts race through the mind. Doubts and questions about curriculum choices, methodologies, and technology swirl around, causing mild anxiety and no shortage of stress.
When I first became a homeschooling mom, the one question that flashed in my brain in neon lights was, “Am I really equipped to teach my kids well?”
This upcoming school year will be my fourth consecutive year homeschooling. My children are entering 9th grade, 7th grade, 5th grade, and 2nd grade. I have to admit that, while I still have a few doubts (pre-Algebra is terrifying), I am eons more confident than I was at the beginning.
I pulled my children from the public school system because I wanted more freedom in their academics, giving them space to move at their own pace. I also wanted to have more control in the curriculum we use to teach our children. Simultaneously, none of us are morning people and running around with loud screaming and shoe-finding before 7 a.m. was not cutting it.
Now, we sleep until 8 a.m. and don’t even think about school starting until 10 in the morning. And, it is completely acceptable to come to class in pjs every once in a while. My oldest is now in her third year of Latin, my sons have obliterated their summer reading lists, and my youngest daughter still enjoys the leisurely pace of learning through play.
If you, like me, are wanting to design your child’s education experience in the military community with a modicum of control or consistency, you may be asking yourself where to start.
The first step is to identify what kind of homeschooling approach you want to take. There are many varying philosophies around home education: Traditional (much like a public education in a home setting), Unschooling, Montessori, Charlotte Mason, or a Classical approach. Finding which approach fits your family and your needs is where you should begin.
Next, begin assembling your core curriculum. Your core curriculum may vary depending on your state laws, so make sure to research your state’s home-schooling requirements. Our family’s core subjects include math, history, science, geography, English, Latin, and a ton of reading. Curriculum has come leaps and bounds from where it was even 10 years ago.
Lastly, take a deep breath and give yourself a break. You know more about what your child needs than you think and you are totally capable of teaching them. After all, you have been teaching them every day of their lives.
A wise homeschooling mother shared a piece of information with me that I hope will encourage you too. She said, “In homeschooling, there are no educational emergencies.”
There is something beautiful about stepping into a space where you and your child can relax a few expectations, rise to the challenge together, and leave the rest of it behind. Be encouraged, friend. We all start somewhere. Eventually, you will find that you are more than enough and your willingness to lead your child in this way has a great return on investment.
