Valerie Fowler Writes

While we’ve tried several “simple” science experiments over the years that resulted in epic fails, the following actually worked. For each one I’ve included supplies, directions, what {should} happen, and the basic explanation of the scientific principle it illustrates.

Children believe some religious stories to be true and others to be false because we convince them of such when they are young and trust us implicitly. What a different world we would live in if instead we exposed future generations to myriad mythologies and encouraged young people to draw their own conclusions about their similarities, incompatibilities, and logic.

This post will cover the basics of what you need to do to start homeschooling with confidence. These initial steps will get you on your way to homeschooling successfully {and legally}.

When I first considered homeschooling my oldest, I stressed about so many aspects of the process. I could not stop myself from researching it to death, following every rabbit hole, reading every blog, dissecting every detail. As a result I created a slew of worry that did not need to be there. 

Homeschooling very young children does not really look different from parenting young children. I hesitate to even use the term homeschooling in this context, because it can deceive people into thinking that means they need to be actively doing something.

When you first considered homeschooling, you may have approached the idea from an academic standpoint: How will I teach them? What materials will we use? How will we structure our days? However, most homeschoolers eventually learn the many “surprising” benefits of homeschooling.

Do not let the thought that you need to be “teaching” all the time stop you from simply wandering around the zoo, watching a documentary just for fun, or choosing random selections from the library because the pictures look amazing. When your students are ready for more concentrated study, they will let you know.

The idea of year-round homeschooling may seem odd if you {like most of us} grew up with the notion of summer “freedom” being an essential part of the school experience. But it works for us. And it might work for you, too.

When you plan your homeschool within a framework of child-led learning, it does not mean you necessarily need to hand over full rein to your students. Instead, it establishes a sense of cooperation from the beginning and encourages discussion before making any set plans.

Wondering how to create a realistic routine for homeschooling? Worrying your kids might not be doing enough academic work? Looking for reassurance that you will find your groove and it won’t always be this hard?