You think you want to homeschool......

You either remember your own school days, watched a friends child get sucked into the slush called "school", or you have children that are either in the system and you want them out. Either way you most likely have a child "in need" of education. I say in need because all of us, deep down inside, think we our children "need schooling" in the traditional sense. I am here to say, from experience,  they don't. The children need experiences, someone to talk to, a life to live. Learning comes naturally for the most part. There are times when you need to discuss and work through certain areas, but much of what children learn is from doing. Did you learn your color with a chart. No you heard mom say, "Look at these green peas, they are so yummy." Even if you hated peas you knew that was green. You heard, "My shoes are under the bed. Go get them." You did not need a worksheet to teach you under and over. Yet schools all across the country think this is how you learn under, over, colors, size, etc... What three year old doesn't know the difference between a fat man and a skinny woman? A wise older lady once told me, "They don't go to college wearing diapers, RELAX!" She was right. Does it matter when they learn a skill? Doctors and teachers like to scare you into thinking they do, they have to be on the chart, any where off the chart is BAD. (did you hear the big booming dooming drums?)  At this point you have either agreed enough to go on, or you are thinking I am looney and are laughing through the ride, either way you are wondering when I am getting to my point.....

The first thing you want to do is to join several, and I mean several, homeschool groups online. No matter the age of your child, do this first. You can get a feel for what kind of people are in these groups and what matches your style. There are unschooling Nazi types, Earth Wind Fire types, loving relaxed Christians, Nazi strict Christians, snobby groups, secular, cranky, happy, hippie, yuppie, and everything in between. Some groups are so clique-ish that no matter how nice you are they will not let you in without some discomfort. Others are warm and friendly and welcome all. Take time to visit the playgroups and weed through the groups until you find one you really like and the moms you really love! Check Gmail, Yahoo, and other social groups for homeschool groups in your area.

Next you need to ask every question that pops into your head to the moms in these groups. Ask about EVERYTHING. Someone knows something. Want to know about bugs? Diapers? Chickens? Fruit? Math? Curriculum? Ask. Learn from our mistakes.

After you have found a groups to talk to and you have asked questions, you will now have a list of curriculum and books recommended by the homeschooling moms and dads. Start your research. What style are you? Waldorf/Steiner? Charlotte Mason? Montessori? Traditional (public school model)? Classical? Unschool? Christian? Catholic? Jewish? Secular? Eclectic? Workbooks? Hands-on? Teach with unit learning? Block learning? The reading approach? Sonlight and others offer this approach. Virtual learning? as in K-12, Time4Learning, etc...

You can easily spend hundreds of dollars on worthless material. Take your time. Also, don't be afraid to throw out something if it's not working. Sell it or donate it, but do not use it if it brings on tears!

After you have done all this you will need to think about other things as well. Field Trips, at-home activites, music lessons, dance, co-op classes, social gatherings, etc...

Most homeschoolers do not meet on Saturday and Sunday. These are family times. Monday through Friday are homeschooler times. This does not mean that YOU have to abide by any rules here. If you find some families that want to meet on the weekends, do it. If you want to use the weekend to educate, then do it. The true joy about homeschooling is there is not a check-in and check-out board. Education and learning is always "on-call." I have heard countless stories about mom's looking up elephants on the internet at 10pm. Never ever forget that EVERYTHING is a teachable moment.

The last thing you need to do before you begin is telling the state, family, and school (if you are taking them out., not if they have never started). If you are in Ks, this is easy. Contact the Topeka Board of Education and fill out their form. Print it before submitting if you are pulling your child out of school. Family? I cannot tell you how they will react. Some are OK, and some are not. Some families help, and some will turn you in to the state. If you have the second kind, keep records! And remember, everything is a teachable moment. Washing dishes is "home economics" as with grocery shopping, and cooking.
Document the children on field trips, social gatherings, and reading a book with pictures. This way you have proof for those not so nice family members.

If you are homeschooling in Ks you are considered a private school. You will need to pick a principal! Choose a school name and fill out the rest of the document. It's that easy. No one will call you. No one will check up on you.

As for pulling out of school, I have heard nightmares, mine being one of them, and I have heard of easy withdrawals where the teachers were even considerate. This is another variable issue and best to cover your self with a printed paper showing you have signed with the school board and are legit.

If you are in another state, look into the rules for that state. Some require testing and other bogus paperwork.

I hope this helps. Remember to breathe and reflect on the sage advice from your elders once more, "They don't go to college with diapers on, RELAX!"