by Julie Helms

Created on: November 20, 2009   Last Updated: January 21, 2010

Learning to homeschool is easily done through talking with fellow homeschoolers, attending homeschool support group meetings or reading any of a myriad of books on the topic. This will give you the confidence that just regular moms (and dads) can homeschool successfully, while also giving you an overview of what is required in terms of record keeping, curriculum selection and being in compliance with the laws of your state.

*Legal Considerations

Before beginning, obtain a copy of the homeschool laws for your state from Home School Legal Defense Association at www.HSLDA.org. HSLDA is a homeschool advocacy group that lists the minimum requirements without the padding that often comes with the local school district's interpretation of the law.

*Curriculum Selection

It is important to treat your children as individuals; they have different learning styles so one curriculum will most likely not be a good fit for all of your children. It is crucial to research the choices available. As homeschooling has gained in popularity the curricular choices have increased also. Find out from homeschool friends what they use and why they like it, what has and has not worked in the past. Talk to more than one person to get a variety of perspectives: no two homeschools look alike! Research on the Internet. An excellent resource is Cathy Duffy's "100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum."

Educational material can be borrowed from friends, purchased used on-line at sites like Amazon and eBay, or bought directly from the publishers. Local homeschool stores allow you to look through the curriculum thoroughly before purchasing.

Know ahead of time that, regardless of what you choose, future adjustments will be necessary. If the curriculum is not working then set it aside- do not drag yourself and your child down by using something that is frustrating. Always remember to make the curriculum work for you, do not become a slave to it. The beauty of homeschooling is that you can adjust your teaching to your child's needs exactly.

*Support

Involve as much of your family as possible in your homeschool to add variety and to stave off burnout. Mom may be the primary educator but have Dad, or even grandparents, be in charge of a subject that they enjoy. Older siblings can help younger siblings with some of their lessons- both learn this way. This gives mom some much appreciated help and teaches the child to attend to a variety of instructors.

It is important to get involved with a support group. This can be a small group from church or a large county-wide group. Some groups have active field trip programs and lists of extra-curricular activities with which you can supplement your homeschool. These groups may sponsor book fairs, lending libraries, co-operative classes, even graduation ceremonies. You can have concerns and questions answered through your group.

The greatest benefit of homeschooling is the strong relationship developed with your children. The family learns to work together with closer bonds in addition to the personalized teaching.

Learn more about this author, Julie Helms.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.