“We are doing it! We’re going to homeschool.” I press send on my social media announcing our decision to homeschool. I’m filled with excitement and anticipation, but nerves are creeping in. Stepping into this new world with a unique culture feels overwhelming and confusing. I mean, what is a morning basket anyway? There are so many things I wish I’d known in my first year homeschooling.
I felt lost during my first year homeschooling, and I didn’t know where to find answers to seemingly basic questions. You might feel the same way. Well, friend, I got you. I am sharing everything I wish I had known during my first year of homeschooling.
The Homeschool Lingo
As you enter homeschool culture, you will hear some repeated terms. I call this homeschool lingo. In my hyperfocus research phase, I was desperate for someone to please answer the question, “What is a morning basket?”. But don’t worry; I am here to define these words and phrases for you.
- Morning Basket – an actual basket that holds all the materials you use to begin your homeschooling day. This can include read-aloud books, devotions, song lyrics, calendars, recitations, and/or literally anything you want.
- Spines – books that will be used repeatedly throughout the entire year for a curriculum. For example, a world atlas would be a spine for social studies.
- Open and Go – style of curriculum that requires little to no prep work on behalf of the parent. You can just turn to a new lesson and teach without needing to look ahead and prepare. This style is really nice when you have multiple kids.
- Mastery Method – a teaching method where the student completely masters a concept before moving on to something new.
- Spiral Method – a teaching method where new material is introduced with every lesson, but student work continually circles back to past concepts for practice and review.
- Co-Op – an organized gathering of homeschool students that meets and learns together regularly. Co-ops typically provide enrichment to your homeschool and are not the main focus of instruction. Sometimes they are drop-off programs, while other times they require some sort of active parent involvement.
- Secular – in a homeschooling context, it describes curriculums and materials that are completely non-religious.
- HSLDA – Homeschool Legal Defense Association advocates for homeschooling interests in the courts and other government areas.
- Cottage School – when multiple families come together and all learn together.
- Online Public School – a school done completely online that a certified teacher teaches. Most are state accredited.
- Hybrid School – students are taught all subjects by a teacher 2-3 days a week in a classroom setting, and parents assist with school-provided assignments at home the rest of the week.
Choosing Your First Curriculum
Choosing a curriculum is one of the most overwhelming decisions for new homeschoolers. New homeschooling parents often ask questions like, “What curriculum do you recommend?”. And it seems like such a simple and straightforward question. But, new homeschoolers don’t realize this is difficult to answer. There are so many different approaches to homeschooling, and your unique approach will play a huge role in which curriculum you need.
So, first, I recommend determining what style of homeschooler you are. There are many different methods to homeschool and teach, whether it’s unit studies, eclectic style, classical, traditional, forest school, and on and on.
I highly recommend watching some YouTube videos to get acquainted and to better understand the various homeschooling styles. I really like this one.
Knowing your homeschool style will eliminate lots of curriculums from your search. If you are a Charlotte Mason girlie, then you don’t need to spend time researching traditional curriculums. I am an eclectic homeschooler. I pretty much use a different curriculum for each subject and sometimes for each kid.
Below is a list of curriculums I have used along the way to better get you started in your search.
- The Good and the Beautiful
- Torchlight
- History Quest
- Logic of English
- Curiosity Chronicles
- Math-U-See
- Spelling-U-See
- Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW)
- Christian Light Education Math
- Lexercise
- BrainQuest
- Not Consumed
- Blossom and Root
- Lifeprint
- Outschool
What About Socialization While Homeschooling?
Socialization. The elephant in the room, and the one thing everyone worries about. Here are my thoughts. Basic socialization is easy. Going to the park, museums, and library story times is easy. The challenge is getting your kids around a consistent group of kids, so they can develop authentic friendships.
It’s not impossible by any means, but it does take some intentionality. My favorite resources are Facebook groups. I know that might sound lame, but Facebook groups are the only reason I still have an account. The saying, “It takes a village,” is very much true. But the way our tribes look is very different from generations past.
I can almost guarantee there is a group dedicated to homeschooling in your area (and if not, head on over to the local mom group). These groups are full of other homeschooling moms seeking and giving advice and recommendations.
These online spaces are the best starting point, in my opinion. Here you can ask about homeschool meet-ups, field trips, co-ops, sports, and clubs. When we were in our first year of homeschooling, I found a weekly park meet-up group for homeschoolers. My kids found friendships here because it was the same group meeting consistently.
Additionally, at these park playdates, I asked specific questions and learned from more experienced moms about what opportunities for socializing were available. We have had great success with joining a weekly co-op and putting my girls in Girl Scouts. We even found a troop just for homeschoolers!
Take the Leap
These are things I wondered and stressed over our first year homeschooling. I hope this list gives you some peace of mind with practical advice and starting points.
But the best advice I can give is to take the leap! You always have the option to change the plan when homeschooling. If a curriculum isn’t working, switch to something else. If your kids didn’t enjoy that field trip? Take the initiative and plan one yourself. You can absolutely do this if you feel like homeschooling is the best option for your children.