Thinking about homeschooling this year? How to Transition into Homeschooling After Your Kids Attended Traditional School? You're not alone—the coronavirus has parents across the country considering keeping their kids out of classrooms this fall.
First things first: investigate the homeschooling laws in your state. This will ensure that you're following the right process for a) unenrolling your child from their current school and b) assuming responsibility for your child's education at home.
Every state has different homeschooling regulations, some stricter than others. In California, for example, homeschooling parents must file a Private School Affidavit (PSA) that essentially establishes their home as a small private school. In Connecticut, on the other hand, there are virtually no legal requirements.
Whatever state you're in, it's important to officially withdraw your child from their current school to avoid falling out of compliance with mandatory attendance laws. If you don't, you could be charged with truancy.
"Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states," says California-based homeschool consultant Jamie Heston. "As long as you're complying with whatever you need to for your state, be confident [in your choice]."
Depending on where you live, you may be able to enroll your child in a homeschool charter school, which is like an independent study program you can do at home with a packaged curriculum and virtual assistance from licensed teachers. Heston recommends it for parents who are using homeschool as a temporary "stop gap" measure, since it can keep you on track for easy reentry into the public school system in the future.
You may also choose to join (or form!) a homeschool cooperative with other families in your area. Many coops offer a variety of classes to choose from and some even assign "academic credits," while others are more flexible and focused on non-academic instruction.
You can purchase one comprehensive homeschooling curriculum that covers all academic subjects for the grade level(s) you need; there are many to choose from, so make sure you research the instruction methods of each as well as the materials they require or provide for the cost. Popular curriculums among homeschoolers include Time4Learning, Oak Meadow, Abeka, and Alpha Omega.
Some parents love the structure of having a preset curriculum, but many families buy smaller, subject-oriented curriculums (like only for math or language arts), and then take a more hands-on approach with other subjects. Many even choose to put together an entire customized curriculum, studying what they want, when and how they want.
Think there's just one way to homeschool? Think again! There's traditional, classical, Montessori ... even unschooling. Whatever your life is like, there's a style to suit your needs, so it's a good idea to review the different varieties of homeschooling to see which one feels like the most natural fit for how your child learns.
That's really the key, says Tonya Abari, a Nashville-based writer and homeschooling parent. "Most parents aren't aware that there are many different ways to deliver instruction; I advise exploring your child's learning style and researching the best ways your child can learn at home."
This might mean more typing and less handwriting, more video instruction and less textbook reading, more oral presentations and less persuasive essays. Try not to box yourself in right from the beginning; be flexible and open to change, leaving yourself room to find your own unique approach within a specific style.
