Aah, the homeschool life…

Following a quiet cup of hot coffee, I go to wake my children. A gentle knock on each door is met with “good morning, mom!” as they jump out of bed- smiling, eager, and ready to learn. After a healthy, home-cooked breakfast, we begin. The children listen with rapt attention to my every word. Completed assignments are turned in, placed in neat piles on my organized desk. The day runs smoothly. Every item on my carefully planned schedule is checked off and our school day is complete.

Sounds good, right? Well, this may be a bit of an exaggeration, but was my idea of homeschooling… before we lived it! In reality, I have teens who want to sleep in, then fight each other for the shower. Adorable kittens who think every pen and pencil is a toy. The kids eat snacks…endless snacks, take unreasonably frequent bathroom breaks, and we endure agonizingly slow, buffering videos. My desk, well… let’s just say it needs work. Welcome to homeschool life! Yes, it’s a bit different than I imagined, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

Like many families, we began our homeschool journey in the fall of 2020. I had been contemplating homeschooling our kids for several years but for many reasons had not yet started. The global pandemic and political climate gave me the gentle nudge -ok, swift kick in the rear – that I needed to finally begin.

Taking this step was scary and at times overwhelming. Our first year was not perfect. We had setbacks, struggles, and frustrations but I don’t regret our decision for one single minute. In fact, I wish we had embarked on this adventure years ago. If you are still on the fence about homeschooling, I want to reassure you, you CAN do this! It is not always easy- in fact, sometimes it’s downright difficult, but the rewards are amazing.

In this post, I’d like to share what we’ve discovered about homeschool so far, and our experiences transitioning from traditional school to educating at home.

1. You do not have to replicate public school at home …but you can if you want to.

As both my children were previously in the public school system, we were comfortable with the structure that environment provided. I set up our school area with table and chairs and created a detailed schedule. The plan was to start at 8:30 am and be done by lunch. Each subject was carefully plotted out and included required readings, videos, worksheets, and quizzes. We settled into a routine that appeared to work. The kids were learning, and we enjoyed the additional time together. I assumed homeschool was similar to public school, just in the comfort and safety of our home. I soon discovered my notion was wrong. Homeschool could be so much more.

After a few weeks, the novelty wore off. The kids were sleeping in, reluctant to get up and start the day. Our routine was effective, but boring- the same thing day in and day out. Many of the videos I had selected were not enthralling or engaging- in fact, some were pretty cringy. Circumstances- illness, a prolonged power failure- caused us to fall behind schedule. I was forced to step back and re-examine my plan.

Thankfully, by this time I had joined some homeschool groups on social media. As I read the posts, I was intrigued. I realized homeschool did not have to replicate public school. We could adopt a relaxed, less regimented environment and still thrive. More importantly, I realized I had placed an emphasis on head knowledge rather than relationship. This awareness led to a brainstorming session in which the kids and I discussed fun and creative ways to learn. We incorporated new activities into our day such as games and friendly competitions. I purchased dry-erase paddle boards and large foam dice and we created our own learning games. We laughed and enjoyed our educational time. We snuggled together in front of the fireplace, took turns reading aloud from our English literature selections, and engaged in heartfelt discussions about various topics.

THIS is what we had been missing.

I discovered homeschooling is more than providing a solid education, it is a lifestyle choice. Teaching and learning occur throughout the day, and sometimes through unconventional means. You establish the environment, the approach, and the routine for your child’s education.

Some families use educational resources which allow them to be unrestricted by schedules or grades. Other families choose curriculum which requires a regimented school day. Usually associated with a brick and mortar school, these programs basically recreate a classroom scenario at home. With an option to be accredited, some parents consider this curriculum to be ‘top notch’. Though some in the homeschool community believe these strict ‘school at home’ courses do not provide an authentic homeschool experience, the beauty of home education is the freedom to choose which path to follow, to do what is right for YOUR family.

Luka (right) and Leia

2. Don’t be overwhelmed by the terminology.

Homeschoolers have a language unique to their community. Newcomers may find it difficult to follow conversations or understand social media posts without knowing the lingo. Terms such as umbrella, portfolio review, and lapbooks may be foreign to you now but will soon become household words. To familiarize you with this jargon, I have created an alphabetical list of homeschool-related terms and definitions which can be accessed here.

3. Keep accurate records.

Homeschooling parents are obligated to comply with state laws. Most states require evidence that regular education has occurred. This is the most important reason to keep a record of your child’s schoolwork.

During an appointment- referred to as a review (or portfolio review), a representative of the school district or a member of your umbrella school will examine the documentation you provide for each student. This documentation should provide examples of your child’s work, field trips, and non-book subjects such as P.E., art, or music. An idea to document fieldtrips may be to have your student complete a Field Trip Response worksheet, for an example of what this may be, please click here.

Review requirements and frequency vary by state. Some states desire reviews 2-4 times per year, while others require it just once. Please visit your state or school district’s website for specific information. Failure to comply with set educational standards may result in a fine, truancy charges, or other disciplinary actions. The portfolio review appointment can be stressful, but take a deep breath – the vast majority are completed without incident.

Other reasons to keep detailed records include:

• In case of a custody dispute where one parent does not wish to continue home education.
• If there is a possibility your child might return to public school. Though some public high schools require homeschooled students to repeat classes, you may be able to prevent this by providing excellent documentation of information covered.
• For future college and career aspirations.

In light of this, I created a detailed syllabus for most of our classes adding dates, curricula used, videos watched, hours completed, and grades (marks) obtained. For subjects such as Art and Phys Ed I created a simple tracker page to document when and what type of activity took place. (You can purchase the P.E. Tracker here). I add several photos, completed projects, course certificates, and awards to each child’s portfolio file.

4. It is okay to make changes to your curriculum.

As I mentioned earlier, we made a ‘last-minute’ decision to homeschool (though now I know there is no such thing). Despite the (presumed) time crunch and, being a research nerd, I carefully investigated each subject and discussed with my children our plans and goals for the upcoming year. Based on these discussions I chose curriculum from various sources. We were excited to begin, and I felt confident that I had selected the best options to serve their learning needs.

About six weeks into our studies I noticed both kids were frustrated with their math programs. It was a popular online curriculum which came highly recommended. Though I had my doubts, (I did not care for the multiple choice answer format) the kids were interested, so we had decided to give it a try. Soon after they began, they ran into challenges. After deciding online math was not meeting their needs, we determined to try a different approach. I ordered workbook-based math curricula for my daughter and switched up both the content and approach for my son. What a difference this made. Now we could look at the work together to more easily determine if the issues were the new concepts being taught, or just a simple calculation error. My son was happier with his ‘real-world’ math, learning practical concepts he could apply to his new business venture.

If you find your child’s curriculum is not working- your child is struggling, frustrated, the work is boring or takes too long – switch it up. While it can be expensive to change a curriculum completely- especially if you are using a full ‘box set’, consider adding additional resources or eliminating some of the busy work or videos to make your school time more enjoyable and manageable.

5. Be flexible! It’s okay if schedules change. Embrace the unknown.

My kids are not the only ones who have grown this past year. I too have benefited from our new lifestyle. One thing I’ve learned is leniency -to relax and let the day unfold. I still set goals and have a general plan for what needs to be done but am less concerned about when it gets accomplished. This may not seem difficult to many, but I have always been a planner. I thrive on lists and schedules, hence my more traditional approach. I soon realized that though strict time schedules worked well for me, the kids needed more flexibility. This required a change in my mindset.

I chose to let go of the frustration I felt when things didn’t go as planned and instead focused on enjoying our time together. Rather than sticking to a rigid schedule, we modified our day as new interests, experiences, and the weather permitted. I was pleasantly surprised, that despite the deviation from my plan our day often turned out much better than I had anticipated. By the end of the year we had achieved most of our goals. Anything we did not cover I will include in next year’s material, and that is okay!

6. Limit your purchases whenever possible.

There are so many incredible resources for homeschooling, it can be tough to decide which to buy.

Last year I purchased books and printed several worksheets that we simply did not use. This year I am making a conscious effort to reduce our expenses and paper waste by limiting what I buy or print to the bare essentials. I’m taking a ‘less is more’ mentality, as we do not need all the ‘things’. In fact, I’ve found having too many option can be distracting and counterproductive. My advice is to try to stick to one or two useful resources and add more only if necessary.

Of course, some purchases are necessary- both practically and time-wise. In addition to the usual school supplies- pens, paper, and notebooks, homeschooling requires the use of curricula and other materials. Though some curricula, unit studies, and worksheets can be found for free, most must be purchased. Other items such as a printer, laminator, and dry erase board are not necessary but make school life easier. Additional items such as file folders, planners, and trackers are necessary to remain organized unless you are able to document everything online. I had some experience with book and journal design, so I created my own planning materials and printed them at home. Over the year I added tracker logs and templates for many topics- bible memory work, musician and scientist bios, notebooking pages, reading logs, book reports, and more. Please visit the Wildrose Media store to see these products.

7. Have fun!

We’ve all heard the saying- ‘enjoy your children, they grow up too fast’. As my children approach high school, I realize how true this really is- another reason I am so thankful to be homeschooling. I view educating at home as an incredible gift- unlimited time creating memories with the people I love the most!

Learning can occur at any time, in many ways. Think outside the box. Explore unfamiliar cities, tour factories, visit museums or historical sites. Involve your kids in planning these trips, they can learn mapping, finances, calculate gas mileage, and so much more. Be willing to get involved in what interests them, even learn a new sport, skill, or hobby together. If you are stuck for ideas, my upcoming blog (scheduled for September 13,2022) with a list of field trip ideas can be found here. In the meantime, a fun scavenger hunt activity can be found here. 

8. It is tougher than it seems! Burnout is real!

As wonderful and rewarding as it is, homeschooling is not easy. There will be days when nothing seems to go right. Motivation will wane. Sometimes a short break or change of scenery- heading outdoors for instance, makes a significant difference. If that is not possible and you cannot continue, give yourself permission to call it quits for the day. Pushing through may seem like a good idea, but often the end result is anger, frustration, or tears.

We started the school year strong but come mid-February we hit a wall. All three of us lost motivation to do the work. So, we took a few days off. The short break helped, and we were able to get back on track. Interestingly, I noticed we were not alone. Other parents, even veteran homeschoolers shared similar experiences on social media. It seems burnout is a common phenomenon in the early spring. This year I have planned a few extra ‘mental health’ days into our February and March schedule, in hopes we can avoid a repeat of last year. As you plan your year, be aware this burnout a possibility and should it occur, give yourself grace.

9. Make time for yourself.

I love my kids and enjoy spending time with them, I really do. But one of the biggest challenges for me is that they are always around! I have no ‘off’ time. As an introvert who recharges by spending time alone, this was quite stressful. I reworked my schedule to accommodate my writing and my desire for solo time. I now go to bed early and get up two or three hours before my kids do. This gives me ample time for my devotions, to walk, and to write a bit before the responsibilities of the day begin.

Brainstorm ways you can find quiet moments or time for yourself every day. Some moms take advantage of lunch break and engross themselves in a good book. If your children are younger (heck, even if they are older!) try adding family quiet time to your afternoon schedule. Be gentle with yourself. Get proper rest and eat healthy foods. Whenever possible find someone to watch the kids while you do something that make you happy – such as crafts, sports, shopping, or visiting with a friend.

10. Resist the urge to compare your family with others.

Social media is a wonderful venue for sharing ideas and advice, but it can also foster feelings of discontentment and jealousy. Don’t allow yourself to become discouraged or disheartened if you don’t have what other families do. Remember every family is unique with different values, goals, and resources.

This is YOUR journey. Comparing yourself to others is pointless and counterproductive. Focus on your family, your goals and priorities to make your homeschool experience the best it can be. Enjoy your kids and have fun!