Getting Started Homeschooling

By Becki Biberdorf

Considering homeschooling but not quite sure what to do first? It is normal to be overwhelmed by the wealth of information and the abundance of resources available to today’s homeschooler. Knowing the basics of getting started is helpful in settling some of the jitters many of us feel in the early days.

While some jump head first into homeschooling and still enjoy the experience, I highly recommend you spend time in prayer and conversation with your spouse before committing to this endeavor. It is not at all uncommon for spouses to approach the idea of homeschooling from different philosophies and viewpoints. It is important to consider each other’s thoughts and find common ground as you start out. Decide together what the important issues are in your family and your homeschool. You may even find writing out a philosophy of education to be helpful. You do have one, you know. Getting it down on paper will give you confidence in the days ahead when you wonder if you’re doing enough, or when you’ve been asked for the umpteenth time why you’re doing this? This philosophy may change over the years as your family changes, but if you take the time to write it out and refer back to it, it will serve as a stabilizing component of your homeschool.

You will need to research curriculum choices and methods of homeschooling. It’s overwhelming to be sure, but this is also an exciting phase – it’s actually a phase you’ll be in for the duration, but it does become a little less intimidating with time. Don’t attempt to copy another family’s curriculum choices or style, but glean from others why some things work and why other things aren’t effective. Knowing why a certain curriculum does or doesn’t work for a particular family may actually be more important than their opinion of it. It may not work for them because they don’t use it as intended. Or it may work great for someone else, but you may have no desire to use a particular curriculum the way it is laid out. We’ve all made purchases that look great (that are great), but then end up sitting on the shelf because of some resistance we have toward some part of it. Figuring this out early may help you not make large mistakes down the road, but know going into this that you will make some mistakes in choosing curriculum. Just plan now to forgive yourself and know that you can usually resell materials to someone who will love to use what you can’t.

Keep in mind, depending on the time of year you make your decision, you may have to wait for delivery of items you order through the mail or on-line. The busy season for book sellers is typically mid-late summer. If you’ve waited until it’s time to start school to place your order, you will need a plan for what you will do until your materials arrive. You can either wait to start your schooling, or you can come up with some creative learning experiences and begin your schooling as soon as you like. Once you decide when your school year will start, you need to keep attendance for 180 days. I suggest keeping the task of recording attendance as simple as possible - checking days off on a calendar works fine.

Figure out where you will actually do your “schooling.” Some families have the luxury of particular space dedicated to schooling, but most of us use our entire house. Either way, some system of organization will make learning easier. If you have a place to put everything, your children will be more likely to cooperate in keeping a peaceful, productive learning environment.

It’s also a good idea to have some kind of schedule, but realize that a workable schedule will fluctuate with your family’s needs. It may fluctuate from season to season or from day to day. For many of us the homeschooling lifestyle is a constant flexing between structure and freedom. Too much structure can be stifling to some families and too much freedom can prove unproductive for others. Do what works for you and your children, and periodically assess where your children are on the road of learning and developing. Looking at the big picture is helpful too, when you question your day-to-day progress. Homeschooling isn’t a sprint. It is a marathon that can appear in the early years to stretch on forever, but be assured, it will pass all too quickly.

It is important to have fellowship on this journey and many seasoned homeschoolers recommended that you hook up with a support group of some sort, both for the social benefit, and for the sharing of resources and information. You will learn much from other homeschoolers. You also have much to share. Veteran homeschoolers sometimes benefit from the fresh excitement and creative ideas new homeschooling moms often exude. There are 16 IAHE Regional Representative couples throughout the state of Indiana who can offer some assistance in locating a support group or may know of several groups from which to choose. You may also find some on-line communities that can help you sort through questions and find solutions to problems. There is no reason for anyone to feel isolated these days as a homeschooler. The problem is more likely to be choosing between so many activities that are available to you and your children.

Be sure you know what the law says about homeschooling. In fact, http://www.inhomeeducators.org/laws is a good place to start. In a nutshell - once you begin homeschooling, you are considered a private school in the state of Indiana. You are required to keep a record of attendance for 180 days. You are required to provide an education in the English language and an education that is equivalent to the public schools , but an equivalent education is not defined or quantified. While that may make some nervous, it also means there is great freedom in how you choose to educate your children in the state of Indiana. There is no such thing as a cookie-cutter education for Hoosier homeschoolers! If you’re interested, you can visit the Indiana Department of Education’s Website and find the standards that are used for the state’s public schools. Keep in mind that the language used in these standards can be intimidating to read as a whole, but when translated into what they actually mean, many are very simple concepts that you are quite capable of providing to your children. Also keep in mind these standards are simply tools. As Christians our standards are often very different than what the state has laid down. Seek God’s standards and His guidance foremost in your homeschool.

If your children are enrolled in a public or private school, you need to notify the school that you are transferring your child’s enrollment to your homeschool. It is recommended that this notification be sent to the school by certified mail and that you use this opportunity to request a copy of your child’s permanent record which will include transcripts. Provide a mailing address for this purpose. If the State Superintendent of Public Instruction requests that you report enrollment of your children, you must do so. In all likelihood, this will not be requested unless you have previously made contact with the IDOE, or there has been a problem in the school from which your child is being withdrawn. Schools are not required (nor are likely) to inform the IDOE of your homeschool status. They simply report their current enrollment each year. After your child is withdrawn, he or she will not be included in the school’s headcount anymore.

Once you know the law and have your materials, enjoy the experience, enjoy your children, and enjoy yourself. This is a wonderful adventure. Savor it. Soon you'll realize you are learning as much as your children, and that’s when it really gets fun! Get ready for the ride of your life!



Copyright 2003 Becki Biberdorf
Reprint by permission only

If you find this article helpful, you may like some other articles you'll find at the IAHE website. Click here: http://www.inhomeeducators.org/articles/article.cfm?id=66 and you'll be able to peruse the other articles of interest to homeschooling families.