Our Transition to Homeschooling: Tips for New Homeschool Families

One Letter Changed Our Life

Coming home and finding a letter saying my 17-year-old daughter had been withdrawn by her school turned my world upside down. We struggled through months of doctor’s appointments, always emailing her counselor at the school with updates, yet newly enforced laws stated she’d missed too many days. Without notice, the school removed her as a student. My initial response was that we should protest. I gathered the doctor’s notes. When I went to her neurology appointment days later for test results, I thought we could discuss school options. Instead, the doctor gave us a new perspective.

“If you homeschool your daughter, it will improve her health,” she told me. My daughter had been begging homeschool for months, so I gave in and started researching our options.

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Overwhelming Options for Curriculum

The first thing I discovered while researching curriculum options is that everyone has an opinion on what’s best. Each parent advocated for why their curriculum was THE one. Even in the online groups I joined, no one could agree on anything when it came to the best options. It was overwhelming and stressful but we’d already committed to keeping our daughter home so she could recover and heal.

Each day that passed increased my stress levels. We made no decisions. No work was being done. There was no progress as far as I could tell. In my mind, the expense added up and up and up! Even when blessed with financial help, I felt stuck because there were so many curriculum choices. As I talked to other parents new to homeschooling, I discovered how common that anxiety is when transitioning to homeschool from public school.

Steps to Ease the Stress of Transitioning

I learned a lot in the next few months, and I’m still learning. When I share my initial experience, and where we are now, seasoned homeschoolers tell me I’m a quick study. The desire to do what was best for my daughter drove me to explore options quickly and to sift through the advice to what find what worked best for us.

Here are the key things I learned:

1. Relax. One of the best things about homeschooling is that there is no right or wrong way to do it! Most states have minimal guidelines in place about what you teach, so you can adapt your child’s education for them and their interests. Most experienced homeschool parents, especially those who have transitioned their child from a public school, advise you to “deschool” for a while anyway. Deschooling gives you and your child a chance to break from the structure and culture of public schooling into the more relaxed environment of homeschooling. This looks different for each family. Because there were health issues at play with our daughter, it meant rest and time together.
2. Learn the laws in your state. Before you choose your curriculum, know if there are restrictions or guidelines in place. HSLDA is a good site for starting your research about your state’s laws.
3. Know your child’s learning style and what you consider important for their learning. If you don’t know your child’s learning style, they can take this simple test. Another great resource for determining your child’s style and what you value in their education is Cathy Duffy’s 102 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum. This resource made choosing curriculum less stressful because I could compare curriculum without buying!
4. Be flexible! A month into homeschooling, we realized the curriculum we’d chosen wasn’t a good fit. So, the hunt was on again! We eventually found something that worked for her learning style. While sometimes slow going, she now does well. Each state differs but we weren’t required to change our forms. Instead, we’ve made adjustments all year long as we found out what worked best for us.
5. Find a support group or network. The internet makes this easier than you think. Facebook alone offers tons of groups you can join depending on your circumstances. Whether it’s the curriculum you use, the level of education your child needs, or your religious preferences, you’ll find a group that fits you. Don’t forget local and state groups that meet for social activities and field trips too.

Always a Student

Even though we’ve found a place we’re comfortable with homeschooling right now, the process never ends. While we finish this year, we’re planning the next one for not one but two of our daughters!  It’s an exciting place for us! We’ll have two high school students, with two very different learning styles, finishing their education at home.

I’m always interested in learning more, and I have no doubt this next year will teach me as much as it teaches them.

So, what are your best tips for a family that has recently transitioned from public school to homeschool? Leave your suggestions in the comments!