10 Things You Should Know About Homeschooling

"The biggest challenge I have faced is the opinion of those who do not support homeschooling. We live in a state that is very easy to homeschool [in], but most people around me would never consider it. Sometimes those who are not in support have negative, hurtful things to say. I tried not to dwell on their negativity and lack of social grace and let my children's intelligence show them homeschooling does work. If you are homeschooling for the right reasons, there is no reason to defend yourself — your hard work will prove even the toughest the critics wrong!" — Samantha K. of Sam's Noggin

"My middle daughter was not excited about homeschooling. She is very social and enjoyed time with her friends. This was very difficult for both of us. I knew homeschooling was the right thing for our family, but I also saw her need to be with other kids.

My daughter was respectful at the time, but we knew it was difficult for her. To be honest, this took a while to overcome. It wasn't a lack of social interaction, but different interaction.

What could we do to help her?

The first year we homeschooled, I organized a Girls Club. During our first meeting, the girls chose a topic they wanted to study. Each week, we met at a different girl's home. That girl and her mom planned a hands-on activity. One semester we studied Greece. If I remember correctly (about 13 years ago), the girls made sandals, had Olympics, learned some Greek and did other activities.

I also made sure we had friends over to play each week and participated in sports. Over the years, we also joined a variety of co-ops and classes." — Kerry of How to Homeschool My Child

"None of us feel like we know what we are doing when we start. Over time, however, you gain insight and an instinct for what will work for each of your children. (Each one is a different puzzle to solve!) You also realize that a solution exists for whatever issue you are having if you look far enough and are willing to change your thinking if necessary." — Annie P. of Learn at Every Turn

"I would suggest [a mom considering homeschooling] do some research about homeschooling in her state/county to learn about the legal side of homeschooling, find out about any homeschool groups in her area, begin following some blogs or websites that feature curriculum or ideas for children the age she would be homeschooling, and help her find a list of curriculum objectives which her child would need to know by a certain age/grade to use as a guide for the year." — Genny of In Lieu of Preschool

"Learn about the different [types of] curriculum out there (Waldorf, unschooling, classical, Montessori, etc) to determine which is best for their family and situation and to remind them that they can always change their mind. Also, I encourage those considering homeschooling to follow some different homeschooling blogs so that they can actually see how some of these curriculums look in practice." — Katie S. of Brighton Park

". . . don't try to do it alone. Seek companionship and encouragement from others, and walk together. I had a homeschool friend with boys slightly older than mine. We stuck together like glue, and offered each other support when it seemed like the whole universe was aligned against us. I'm telling you, it made all the difference in the world!

Looking back, my friend and I provided each other with four critical ingredients for homeschool success: a willing ear to listen, a gentle voice to correct, a wise word to encourage, and a warm heart to accept. With these critical elements in place, I believe even the most challenging homeschooling experience can succeed through high school graduation. I've seen it — in my life and the lives of others." — Lee B. of The HomeScholar Helper

"The other thing that really got me through my very difficult first year, was networking online and finding moms I could relate to. My circle of friends online has been such a huge support to me through the years." — Carisa of 1+1+1=1

"You don't have to be perfect. If you're trying to follow your child's needs and interests and adapt your homeschool for your unique family, you'll do great. I don't think I fully understood that until my children graduated from college with straight As. Then I truly realized I didn't need to worry so much about my inadequacies with planning and record keeping as well as my lack of time or energy to do all the activities I wanted. In the end, my imperfections really didn't matter." — Deb C. of Living Montessori Now

"My biggest challenges involved calculus, physics, and foreign language. I researched the problem, and found a surprising solution. I did not have to learn the subjects myself, and I didn't have to teach the subjects to my children. All I had to do was make sure my children learned the subject. Older teens need to learn how to teach themselves. If they go to college, they will be expected to learn all the textbook material by themselves. College lectures are most often supplemental to the textbook — not the same. If perhaps they don't go to college, they will certainly still need to teach themselves some computer skills, or perhaps online banking, or how to buy a car — whatever.

Once I realized I didn't have to learn calculus myself, I was able to take a deep breath. I didn’t need an advanced degree. I simply needed a quality homeschool curriculum that assumed teacher and student did not know the material.

My kids taught themselves pre-calculus and calculus. They taught themselves physics, French, and Latin. I know they understood the material because they passed the tests. They studied on their own, referring to the answer key frequently. Each week, when I went to the grocery store, I gave them the test and took the answer key with me. When I returned, I compared their answers to the key. I didn't know what the calculus symbols meant, but my children gave answers that matched the answers on the key. I could have taught them biology and chemistry (I'm an RN and I love that stuff) but they actually taught themselves those subjects as well. It just worked out better for us when they were teaching themselves, while I simply checked up on them now and again." — Lee B. of The HomeScholar Helper 

"We have faced many challenges, but one is definitely dealing with our children and their 'issues' daily with no break. I was a public school teacher and always had the idea that I would send my kids to public school. With that mindset, a mom figures a bit of a 'break' into her day. With no break, it gets draining to find time to refresh and calm down sometimes. My husband has really helped me with this, allowing me some time each day to just get away from the children to refresh and regroup. Working together has been key for us." — Carisa of 1+1+1=1

"Everyone thinks homeschooling is difficult. Set aside your fears, because it does not have to be. You know your child better than anyone else, and you can make great choices for their education. There are plenty of books and blogs to help you along, and there are so many choices of how to teach. Whether you want to teach yourself, or utilize one of the many curriculum choices that are not parent led, you can have the power over your child's education and future." — Anneleise H. of Aptitude Ability