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new homeschool year

Day 14 Homeschool Supplies List And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

September 14, 2022 | 6 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Day 14 is about a homeschool supplies list for the free 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers. 

Homeschool hoarders of supplies are a common and growing group.

This is one area where I feel it takes some finesse to find exactly what will work for you, but it is common to have overflowing supplies at first.

Day 14 Homeschool Supplies List And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Day 14: A Homeschooler's Not Back To School List. {31 Day Boot Camp For New Homeschoolers on My Blog}

Look at my chart below as I divided up supplies into two categories.

A New Homeschoolers Back to School List 2 @ Tina Dynamic Homeschool PLus

New to Homeschooling Start with the Basics

Days 1 – 7 of the 31 day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

  • 1 Learn The Lingo (& free glossary)
  • 2: Homeschool Roots Matter
  • 3 What is NOT Homeschooling
  • 4: Confronting Relatives & Naysayers
  • 5: The Wheels on the Bus Go ‘Round & ‘Round
  • 6: Homeschool Hangouts & Socialization Situations
  • 7: Tied Up with Homeschool Testing?

How to Organize When You’re New to Homeschooling

Days 8-12 of the 31 day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

  • 8: Organize Your Home – Then School
  • 9: Carpe Diem: Homeschool Schedule by The Day, Month, & Year
  • 10 Grocery Shopping Cooking Laundry
  • 11: Swoonworthy Learning Spaces & Homeschool Rooms
  • 12: Creative Storage Solutions for Homeschool
  • 13: Streamlined Record Keeping

Have you started on your back to school list? What do you have so far?

Day 14 Homeschool Supplies List And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
Day 14: A Homeschooler's Not Back To School List. {31 Day Boot Camp For New Homeschoolers on My Blog}

6 CommentsFiled Under: 31 Day Blog Bootcamp for New Homeschoolers Tagged With: fearless homeschooling, homeschool, homeschool room, new homeschool year, new homeschooler, new homeschooler homeschool room, newbeehomeschooler, newhomeschoolyear

How to Plan Your First Homeschool Year When You Don’t Know How To Start

July 22, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I’m sharing 4 tried and true ways how to plan your first homeschool year when you don’t know how to start. And having the right homeschool planner for your first-year matters.

You’ve left traditional school and your planning should now reflect your new homeschool life you’ve adopted.

However, your first year of homeschooling can be daunting for many reasons.

At the top of the list of concerns are how to find curriculum and how to plan.

How to Plan Your First Homeschool Year When You Don't Know How To Start

Also, knowing what is important now to plan your new homeschool year and what can wait matters.

In addition, you’ll want to make changes throughout your first year.

Why? Now that you’re 1:1 tutoring you will have an excellent grasp on what your children truly know and don’t know.

Homeschool Planning

First, this is the BEST piece of advice although some do not want to hear it.

How to Plan Your First Homeschool Year When You Don't Know How To Start

Do not buy curriculum – yet.

Not only do I want you to have an incredible start, but want to help you save hundreds if not thousands of dollars too.

So before you can choose curriculum, you need to understand where to find it and how to choose it.

The point I’m making is that it’s just as important to know what not to do.

So, don’t let doubts, fears, and misconceptions keep you from making your first homeschool year memorable for the right reasons.

Too, it will take time to not only learn where homeschoolers hang out at, but to understand the new lingo.

CLICK HERE TO GRAB THE FREE GLOSSARY OF HOMESCHOOL LINGO
BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE WAY AHEAD AND NOT STRUGGLE

After you grab the lingo to understand terms in the homeschool world, look at these 4 best ways to begin your year.

4 BEST Ways to Plan Your First Homeschool Year

First, know your local law, but also know how to meet it.

It’s one thing to read it but quite another thing to homeschool with the nuts and bolts of it each day.

Too, some homeschool laws are very relaxed and a first-time homeschooler may want more details.

However, know that with relaxed laws comes much homeschool freedom.

1. Know Your Local Law AND How to Meet It.

On the other hand, some states have very strict laws. Again, be familiar first with your local state law.

You can find out your state law in two ways;

  1. Find your state’s laws on this page with HSLDA and/or
  2. ask me right here or email me at tinahomeschools at gmail dot com. I’ve helped HUNDREDS get on the road to homeschooling and stay on it. I can help you too.

Next, it won’t take long to understand what is deschooling.

I know you’re eager to get started, but taking just a few days to make your foundation strong will benefit you your whole journey.

How to Plan Your First Homeschool Year When You Don't Know How To Start

Not only do I have a wonderful video for you, but I have this post

2. Don’t Set Up Your Home Like a Public School Classroom. Deschool Next.

Taking your kids out of public school one day and begin homeschooling the next day is a common rookie mistake.

At this point, take time to change to a relaxed mindset and clearly understand how a homeschool method is VERY different from a traditional public school approach.

If you don’t want to repeat the same mistakes at home that weren’t working in public school, you need to know how to deschool.

Thereafter, you want to move quickly to understand how homeschool curriculum is organized.

3. Save yourself HUNDREDS of dollars by knowing how curriculum is organized in the homeschool world.

Having a basic grasp of the top 5 approaches, new homeschoolers can conquer overwhelm and tame the curriculum beast.

And my post Top 5 Homeschool Approaches New Homeschoolers Need to Know will help you get started.

Also, look at my online self-paced course Teaching the Stages of Homeschool. You’ll learn From PreK to High School, Learn at a Bird’s-Eye View of What Subjects to Teach & When to Teach Them

Finally, the best way to begin with choosing curriculum is to begin with free to inexpensive curriculum.

4. Begin teaching your children with inexpensive curriculum until you know how your children learn best.

As I mentioned the outset, you’ll have a better pulse on how your children learn best, but until you tutor you don’t know their strengths and weaknesses.

Also, I have my first time homeschooler kickstarter course.

Moreover, here are more posts t0 help you.

  • 5 Ideas to Kick-Start Your New Homeschool Year By Including Others
  • BEST Free Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum With A Gentle Approach (List)
  • It’s a New Homeschool Year and My Child Wants to Go Back to Public School
  • Get Organized – Rev Up for the New Homeschool Year
  • Free Middle School Science Curriculum and Magazine,
  • and Free Middle and High School Homeschool Language Arts.
How to Plan Your First Homeschool Year When You Don't Know How To Start
CLICK HERE TO GRAB THE FREE GLOSSARY OF HOMESCHOOL LINGO
BECAUSE YOU WANT TO BE WAY AHEAD AND NOT STRUGGLE

Resources in How to Plan Your First Homeschool Year

  • Top 10 Tips To Getting a New Homeschool Year Rolling
  • When You Don’t Know Where to Begin in Homeschooling. The 3 R’s for New Homeschoolers. Part 2
  • The Ultimate Guide for New Homeschoolers – An Easy Beginning!

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Homeschool Planner, Homeschooling, Lesson Plan, New Homeschooler Help, Schedule/Balance Home & School Tagged With: curriculum pages, curriculum planner, homeschool curriculum planner, homeschoolplanner, homeschoolplanning, lesson planner, lessonplanning, new homeschool year, new homeschooler, new homeschooler homeschool organization, newbeehomeschooler, planner, planning

A 20+ Year Homeschool Mom’s 5 TOP Tips for First Time Homeschoolers

April 25, 2022 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Nothing compares to being equally excited and equally needing encouragement than beginning to homeschool. In my 5 top tips for first-time homeschoolers, you’ll get my BEST tips in my 25 years of homeschooling.

Oh sure, I have way more to tell you, but this is about the TOP tips’ you don’t get weighed down with too much information.

Too, in conducting in person workshops with new homeschoolers for 10 years, my set of tips will look different than many you read. Why? They work.

And it’s hard to get all your concerns answered for the next year in one or two conversations with a seasoned veteran.

Don’t miss opportunities to discuss with others, but take time to educate yourself as well.

See, what happens is that first-time homeschoolers can overcomplicate the beginning. How? You can bring rigid standards on you and your kids which are not implemented by your local law.

A 20+ Year Homeschool Mom's 5 TOP Tips for First Time Homeschoolers

First Time Homeschooler

Over scheduling, over buying, over planning can be avoided by know exactly how to meet your state law. After that, it’s freedom to set up your day like you choose. Do NOT begin by buying curriculum just yet but by being familiar with your local law.

Look at my 5 top tips for first-time homeschoolers.

1. Knowing your local law is not enough as many veterans tout.
You need to know how to meet it EASILY.

For example, if you live in a state with less laws and not much record keeping required, you can choose what is best for your children. If you live in a state with more stringent record keeping, then you can easily meet that law by using laid out curriculum.

See, other seasoned veterans may say you don’t need curriculum at all. Eventually, that could be your goal.

However, for your first year when you have so many things to adjust to, it can be less stressful to follow a laid our plain and tweak it to suit you.

HSLD which has a clickable map to explain your local homeschool law is a good place to start.
Too, you can comment here, and I WILL reply and help you understand that part first.

Next, homeschooling is a completely different approach than public school.

You’ll love my video What You REALLY Need to Know When You Begin Homeschooling where I take you through more steps.

2. Do not recreate public school at home and bring unneeded stress on your family.

I made this mistake when I started homeschooling. Although my children were all very young, I tried to run my homeschool like a public school. Remember there is NOTHING you have to prove to anybody.

It will take time to adjust to the freedom you get with homeschooling. There is a line between relaxed and rigid. Relaxed is not lazy.

I failed in learning that and sent my Kindergarten son to public school. A year didn’t even go by before I pulled him out and had to train myself to relax and trust the process.

New Homeschooler Tips

Then, over buying curriculum is the next top mistake to avoid.

3. Do buy JUST a framework of homeschool curriculum like math and language arts or use free online curriculum.

Most new homeschoolers feel more comfortable with laid out curriculum. Buying curriculum can wait until you have time to research it.

I have some ways to help you understand first how to choose curriculum.

My video How To Easily Choose and Distinguish between Homeschool Educational Approaches will help you to narrow down how to homeschool.

My point is do NOT buy a lot of curriculum in the beginning until you have time to get to know your children. Save some of your budget to buy the fun things or do classes your children are interested in taken.

Overbuying curriculum almost seems a rite of passage, but avoid overbuying.

New to Homeschool

Math and language arts are essential subjects needed all the way to high school. However, there are many ways to meet each of the needs of your children. Below I have some posts which will help to give you a starting point.

  • How to Build Elementary Homeschool Curriculum Directly From Amazon
  • How to Build Middle School Curriculum Directly From Amazon
  • How to Build High School Curriculum Directly From Amazon

In addition, you can use free online curriculum until you decide if you want to purchase curriculum. Easy Peasy all in one by Lee Giles was created years ago. It’s a great way to start.

A 20+ Year Homeschool Mom's 5 TOP Tips for First Time Homeschoolers

Another one of my TOP tips for first-time homeschoolers is understanding how to deschool.

4. You ABSOLUTELY have to deschool.

It’s hard to deschool when you don’t what it is or why. Even families whose kids will never go to public school need to deschool. Definitions will vary; here is mine.

It’s the time to unlearn what you think education should be as taught from a public-school mindset and to be open to new, natural, and creative ways to teach your kids.

It’s realizing that taking your kids out of school one day and doing the exact thing at home the next day which wasn’t working in public-school is the definition of insanity (ouch).

It’s letting go and letting in something new in your life; it’s accepting the homeschool lifestyle which is opposite of the public-school lifestyle.

Girl, I want to learn from a homeschool expert instead of taking years to learn the in/out of homeschooling.

In short, deschooling is a tool both for the first-time homeschooler and long-term homeschooler. When you first begin to homeschool, you need to rethink your view of education. As you homeschool longer, you are subject to burn out and need to return to your deschooling habits.

As I mentioned even if your children will never go to public school, you still need to adopt your view of what is homeschooling. That takes time. The amount of time each family deschools will be different.

How to Deschool – Are You Doomed If You’ve Never Deschooled is another video I have for you.

If your kids have been in public school, you need to take time to educate yourself to what is available in the homeschooling world.

Sure, you can research, but through my many years of teaching new homeschoolers in person I created a course focused just on the unique needs of first-time homeschoolers.

If you don’t want to wait on the ins/outs of how to homeschool, look at my online self-paced KickStarter course. You’ll be in the KNOW NOW.

What Is Included in the Homeschool Kickstarter Course for
First-Time Homeschoolers

MODULE 1

 What I DIDN’T Learn From My Homeschooling Mother, But Should Have
(1 workshop & Printables)

Support is important and you should trust your ability to teach. You’ll walk away from this workshop knowing you’re capable of teaching your kids and why you’re capable. The nuggets in this workshop are golden for the beginner.MODULE 3

How to Choose Curriculum (Wisely)
(9 workshops & printables)

The BIGGEST mistake new homeschoolers make is buying curriculum without knowing how to buy it other than the looks good method. Avoid stress two or three months into your journey by knowing EXACTLY what to choose for your children.MODULE 5

How to Organize it ALL 
( 5 workshops & printables)

Finding balance with all the new hats you’ll be wearing and time management are not easy. Using the AWESOME sample schedules in this module and the step by step plan, I walk you through creating a routine or schedule UNIQUE to your family. Beginning homeschooling by stuffing it into an already busy life is not the way to begin. Did I mention as an organized person I have many tidbits of organization help sprinkled throughout the workshops?MODULE 2

Diving In (Leave Your Public School Mindset Here)
(3 workshops & printables)

If you’re struggling with your public school mindset or that there is one right way to succeed you’ll understand what it means to homeschool and why it’s not public school at home. Homeschooling is a superior approach for a reason.MODULE 4

Teaching the Stages of Homeschool 
(8 workshops & printables)

Jammed packed with great information on understanding the transitions children go through from PreK to High School prepares you to homeschool for the long run. Each learning stage is broken down for you so that you gain the best tips for how to teach and what to teach.MODULE 6

Facing Your BIGGEST Fears Not If But WHEN They Happen 
(1 workshop & printables)

There is a GREAT BIG list of wrong things you’re focusing on in your first or second year which will suck the life out of your homeschool journey.
Begin your journey with the wisdom of the past which has worked successfully for thousands of homeschool families who have gone before you.

Girl, I want to learn from a homeschool expert instead of taking years to learn the in/out of homeschooling.

Lastly, my fifth top tip for new homeschoolers is learning when to say yes and when to say no.

5. When to say NO and when to say YES is a must learn quickly your first year.

And it’s not easy to know when to say yes and when to say no. So, here a few tips to help you use your time wisely and focus on what is important.

  • When completely curriculum suddenly becomes the focus instead of your child’s needs, it’s time to say no.
  • Trying to right all the wrongs of public school by putting your children in every enrichment activity available is a huge no. You will have time to understand the homeschool world, but you need time with your children to heal. Especially if your child was bullied, has anxiety, or is flat out exhausted, your healing time should come first.
  • Say yes to seizing unplanned moments in your year to learn like packing up the books and heading to the park for a beautiful day outside.
  • Another yes is when your significant other has off from work, savor that time because it’s family time.
  • Taking time to educate YOURSELF is another huge yes. It’s easier and smoother your first year when you know how to schedule more efficiently, learn how to choose curriculum, and know how to teach to your children’s learning style. There is no need to take years doing that. If you want the fasttrack, I am here to help you through my Kickstarter program for first-time homeschoolers.

IF you have any questions email me at tinahomeschools at gmail dot com. I am here for you!

Look at these other tips you’ll love:

  • How To Start Homeschooling the Easy No Stress Way (Maybe)
  • Dear New Homeschooler – Are You Making this BIG Mistake? (I Was)
  • New Homeschooler – Mustering the Courage to Face THE 4 Homeschool Biggies – Part 1.
  • Top 10 Tips For New Homeschoolers – Curriculum, curriculum, curriculum – Isn’t that how to begin homeschooling? Part 1
  • When You Don’t Know Where to Begin in Homeschooling. The 3 R’s for New Homeschoolers. Part 2

Hugs and love ya,

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Begin Homeschooling, Choose Curriculum, Homeschool Simply, How To - - -, New Homeschooler Help Tagged With: homeschool, new homeschool year, new homeschooler, new homeschooler homeschool room, newbeehomeschooler, newhomeschoolyear

The NOT To Do List: 32 Things New Homeschoolers Should Avoid

December 13, 2020 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Asking a group of seasoned homeschool moms is the best way to find out 32 things new homeschoolers should avoid.Also, look at more tips on my pages The Dynamics of How to Homeschool Easily and Smarter.

I’m reminded of what my homeschooling mother used to say. You learn new things one of two ways. One is by example and other is by experience.

The NOT To Do List: 32 Things New Homeschoolers Should Avoid

Instead of learning the homeschooling ropes the hard way by having to experiment on your kids, learn how to homeschool from those who’ve gone ahead of you or from their example.

Besides, nobody wants to experiment on their kids, but it happens.

Hoping to lessen your stress of beginning new to homeschool, look at these 32 things new homeschoolers should avoid.

Mistakes New Homeschoolers Should Avoid

  • 1. Remember your WHY or what brought you to homeschooling. Write it down somewhere so you don’t forget when times are tough.

  • 2. Do not worry if the shiny new curriculum is not working. You can change anytime, even mid-year. Look at my posts How to Build Elementary Homeschool Curriculum Directly From Amazon, How to Build Middle School Curriculum Directly From Amazon and You’ve Pitched the Homeschool Curriculum – Now What?.

  • 3. Do not recreate public school at home.

  • 4. Do not overbuy curriculum. Use inexpensive or free curriculum until you know how your children learn best. Look at my posts Free Middle School Science Curriculum and Magazine, Free Middle and High School Homeschool Language Arts, and BEST Digital Homeschool Curriculum – Big Ol’ List.

  • 5. Comparing your children, your home, and your spouse to other homeschooling families is a huge joy sucking trap. Your family is unique and homeschooling needs to fit your family’s needs.

Beginning to homeschool with unrealistic expectations is joy zapping and it’s huge among things new homeschoolers should avoid.

Homeschooling Mistakes

  • 6. You don’t have to run your homeschool day like other homeschool moms although they may tout only one way works.

  • 7. Keep pushing curriculum which isn’t working is another big do not do.

  • 8. Thinking your kids will all learn the same way is another hurdle. It’s okay to use various programs to meet each child’s needs.

  • 9. Curriculum is a tool, not the boss. You are the boss.

  • 10. Do not jump into a rigid schedule. Give yourself AND your kids time to adjust to homeschooling. Look at my post The Sticking Power of a Solid Homeschool Schedule.

Mistakes to Avoid When Homeschooling for the First Time

  • 12. Thinking your school needs to look like public school with tons of worksheets and textbooks is another mistake. Your school doesn’t have to look like public school. Look at my post The Great Homeschool Hoax – Public School At Home.

  • 13. Don’t stress over the small stuff. Learning doesn’t just happen with a book in a kid’s face. Learning happens through everyday interaction and meaningful conversations. Take time to deschool and understand what it means for your family.

  • 14. Do not think you have to cram everything a child needs to learn in a day. Take it one day at a time.

  • 15. You’re not a one act entertaining committee. Sometimes learning is not always fun, it’s just learning. Constantly feeling like everyday has to be over the top fun is exhausting and can zap the joy out of the day.

  • 16. Don’t forget to ask your kids what they want to learn. It’s their education. When you have a willing participant in homeschooling, kids work harder and retain what they’re learning. That makes your job easier.

Homeschooling Potholes to Avoid

  • 17. Do not skip field trips. They are essential to bringing learning to life. Kids learn by being out in the world.

The NOT To Do List: 32 Things New Homeschoolers Should Avoid
  • 18. Don’t underestimate the value of play. Playing is the first introduction to self-education.

  • 19. Assuming homeschooling will be expensive is another mistake. You can spend as little or as much as you want depending on your needs.

  • 20. Know the difference between homeschooling and public school at home. Don’t assume you have to purchase a government based online public school. Look at my post Transitioning from a Public School Mindset to a Relaxed Homeschooling Lifestyle.

  • 21. Using curriculum because somebody else uses it is a costly mistake.

What NOT to Do When You Begin Homeschooling

Also, why do we focus only our kids’ needs when beginning to homeschool? When you focus on your education which doesn’t have to take long you truly can help each child meet his potential.

  • 22. Forcing socialization is another mistake to avoid. Over worrying how to socialize your kids is consuming. It’s like saying after kids graduate they’ll never make friends. Kids make friends through their whole journey and on into adulthood. Look at my posts Is Homeschooling Right for Your Family? Hear From the Kids and Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination.

  • 23. Don’t be a perfectionist. You’ll mess up, your kids will mess up. Tomorrow starts a new and fresh day.

  • 24. Homeschooled kids don’t need to be in class the same amount of time as public schooled kids. We simply do not have the same distractions.

  • 25. You don’t have to follow state educational standards. Knowing your state homeschool laws is the first place to start.

  • 26. Don’t give up in February because the winter slump is real. Spring will come soon. Hang in there. Look at my post 10 Biggest Homeschool Burnout Triggers (and how to cope).

New to Homeschooling

  • 27. Instead of jumping to buy curriculum, take time to know how your child learns best. Look at my post How to Choose the BEST Homeschool Curriculum to Fit a Child’s Natural Abilities.

  • 28. Don’t rush. Get outdoors and go to the library. Nothing has to be timed.

  • 29 Don’t be put off when it takes you longer than a year for you or your child to adjust to homeschooling.

Mistakes New Homeschoolers Should Avoid

  • 30. There is no need to rush out and buy curriculum. Do your research and if you can try your friend’s curriculum before you buy. Look at my post BEST Curriculum by Homeschoolers for Homeschoolers.

  • 31. Do not think it’s not okay to step away and take a break.
  • 32. Don’t write your lesson plans in pen. The first sick day and you’re feeling behind. Plan just a few weeks out.

And finally, do NOT think you can’t do this. You absolutely one hundred percent can.

You’ll love my book, Homeschooling 31 Day Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers: When You Don’t Know Where to Begin.

You’ll experience one or two mistakes, but they can be minimized.

There seems to only be two mindsets when new homeschoolers start.

There seems to only be two mindsets when new homeschoolers start.
There are over achievers who are looking to right all the wrongs in a few months or under achievers who feel a rich learning environment just happens with no intentional effort of the parent. Avoid these two mindsets!

Neither mindset works, but it can set you for failure. Achieving balance is absolutely key in your first year of homeschooling.

Do you find you’re making some of these mistakes already?

You’ll love some more tips below about how to start homeschooling:

  • Transitioning from Public School to Homeschool For a Relaxed Lifestyle
  • When Homeschooling is Sucking the Life Out of You
  • Why My Homeschooled Kids Are Not Given the Choice to Go to Public School
  • 26 of the BIGGEST Gripes about the Homeschooling Lifestyle!
  • The NOT To Do List: 32 Things New Homeschoolers Should Avoid
  • Homeschool Confession – My Homeschool Mistakes
  • When Homeschooling is a Mistake
  • 5 Top Mistakes of New or Struggling Homeschoolers
  • Socialization – A Homeschool Hallucination?
  • How To Start Homeschooling the Easy No Stress Way (Maybe)
  • First Time Homeschool Mom: Am I Doing This Right?
  • Is Homeschooling Right for Your Family? Hear From the Kids!
  • What to Expect When You Expect to Homeschool (25 Silliest Questions Ever)
  • Homeschool Critics: How Do You Know You’re on Track?
  • 100 Ways to Silence the Homeschool Naysayers (Maybe!)
  • 12 Easy Ways Homeschooled Teens and Tweens Socialize
  • Deschooling: Step One for the New Homeschooler (the Definitions, the Dangers, and the Delight)

Hugs and love ya,

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Begin Homeschooling, Homeschool Simply, Kick Off Your Homeschool Year, New Homeschooler Help Tagged With: homeschool challenges, homeschool joy, homeschool joys, homeschoolchallenges, homeschoolplanning, new homeschool year, new homeschooler, new homeschooler homeschool organization, newbeehomeschooler, newhomeschoolyear

First Time Homeschool Mom: Am I Doing This Right?

September 7, 2020 | Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

To the first time homeschool mom, gaining confidence to take control and learning how to shape your journey are priority.

Quickly, I’m going to show you the most valuable how-tos, but there are a few important things I need you to know about me first.

This IS about you, but it’s important for you to know where this tried and true advice is coming from so your foundation is stable, solid, and works for the long-term.

Don’t set up your homeschool course on wild guesses, but on what works.

Although you get the benefit of my numerous years of homeschooling (well past 22+ years) and successfully graduating three homeschooled teens, I have also successfully mentored new homeschoolers.

First Time Homeschool Mom

For ten years, I conducted workshops in person with new homeschoolers.

That experience is priceless in knowing exactly what you need now and what can wait until later. Right now, everything may seem important, but organizing your priorities is how to successfully make it through your first year and beyond.

Look at these SOLID 5 steps for new homeschool moms which you may or may not know.

Step 1.
Know What IS and What IS NOT Homeschooling

(don’t buy curriculum yet)

Wait! Don’t buy curriculum.

Also, be sure to watch my videos on my YouTube channel. Look at What You REALLY Need to Know When You Begin Homeschooling.

I want to save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars by you knowing what is and what is not homeschooling.

Many first time homeschool parents have a very narrow view of what is education and to many it looks a lot like public school.

Although, I’m not telling you to throw caution to the wind, I’m saying you need to know if you’re truly homeschooling or just following the public school model at home.

With Covid present now, new homeschoolers are getting a clearer picture of what is public school at home. However, many are not sure what is homeschooling.

Look at this quick list of 4 ways to identify the homeschool lifestyle; you want to fully benefit from the voluminous information about homeschooling.

Tips for First Time Homeschoolers

  • The BIGGEST difference from knowing if you’re just changing the geography of where your child learn is who is in CONTROL. Yes, YOU want to be in control of your time, your curriculum, your approach, and your schedule. This doesn’t mean you can’t get all the help you need from curriculum with daily lesson plans. However you decide what is best for your family instead of an online public school official deciding for your kids. For a more in-depth explanation, read The Great Homeschool Hoax – Public School At Home.
  • Homeschooling means that you can use ANY means available to you to teach your child and not just workbooks. Look at 45 Ways to Define Homeschool Curriculum – Is Your Definition Holding You Back to expand your definition. Use the resources you already have available.
  • Homeschooling or learning takes place many times outside four walls and not in front of a computer always. Again, you decide based on your family’s need.
  • Homeschooling means that curriculum doesn’t teach anything, but that YOU do. It’s not as scary as it sounds. The scary part is choosing which laid out curriculum to use. You have lots of excellent curriculum choices which take you by the hand and are great for new beginners. Here is a Big Ol’ List of All-In-One Homeschool Curriculum (a.k.a Boxed) which has subjects laid out day by day.

After getting a pulse for what is truly homeschooling so you benefit from the freedom, you need to know your homeschool state laws.

Step 2. Not Just Know Your State Law, But Know How to Meet It.

(don’t buy curriculum yet)

It’s quite easy for me to tell you to go look up your law, but that does you no good when you’re not sure how it works day to day.

I have a list of different state laws I created on my Facebook Group. It not only has homeschoolers from each state explain the homeschool law, but they also give you practical how -tos on how to meet it.

Too, you can find the homeschool laws on HSLDA by clicking on the map for your state.

IF you don’t have facebook or need more help to know how to meet your state law, email me, PM me, or comment here and I will help you to understand it.

Step 3. Learn that Homeschool Curriculum is Organized by Homeschool Approach.

(don’t buy curriculum yet)

Next, this step is the most overlooked of ALL the steps and it’s the one that is the most sanity-saving tip for the first time homeschool mom.

Conquer the overwhelm of choices in the homeschool world by knowing that curriculum is organized by homeschool approach will save you tons of grief, time, stress, AND dollars. Believe me, take a bit of time to read them and know them.

I know you’re eager to get started homeschooling, but the worst mistake you can make is to use a resource which brings you daily stress.

Homeschooling for Beginners

Learning which approach suits your family gives you time to cut the curriculum hunt to manageable.

For example, if you know the workbook approach did not work for your wiggly learner, but that a Charlotte Mason or Unit Study approach may, then you’ve narrowed your curriculum choices.

Increasing your success the first year comes from knowing which homeschool approach aligns closer to your child’s needs.

Although there are many approaches in the homeschool world, not all are equally popular for various reasons.

Here are the most popular Top 5 Approaches New Homeschoolers Need to Know which will get you off to a much better start.

Another step to ensure that you’re doing this right is to assume that you’re child is in the current grade level.

Step 4. Don’t Assume Your Child Is In the Next Grade Level Just Because He Was in that Grade Level In Public School. (BIG Mistake)

(don’t buy expensive curriculum yet, but do use easy or free curriculum in the beginning)

I know countless new homeschool families I’ve helped which feel that reviewing lower grade levels is a waste of time. It is not.

I’ve now brought my New Homeschooler Boot Camp online to help many more new homeschoolers. You will benefit from learning the detailed how-tos.

How to Start Homeschooling

Look at these superior reasons why beginning your homeschool journey by reviewing lower grade levels or easy concepts solidifies a strong start;

  • Kids become masters of material by reviewing concepts they may or may not have mastered. I’m not saying do this for the whole year. Take it easy in the beginning so you know exactly what your child knows and doesn’t know;
  • When kids can quickly master concepts, it builds their confidence for starting something new;
  • Many homeschool teachers are surprised by what their child does not know. Using inexpensive or cheap curriculum gives you time to explore and delve into what your child knows and doesn’t know;
  • Using cheap or inexpensive curriculum allows you a longer period of assessment which does not include testing. Tests are one way, but they don’t give you a larger picture; and
  • When you use inexpensive curriculum in the beginning as you learn the weaknesses and strengths of each of your children, you’ll spend your hard-earned dollars wisely.

Practical Advice For First Time Homeschoolers

Last, but not the least important reason to use inexpensive or free curriculum is that you get your teaching feet wet without wasting valuable resources.

Learning which subjects your child’s need to review and which subjects he may be one or even two grades ahead in makes for a successful start. That is how you know you’re doing it right!

Look at this list of inexpensive or free curriculum to help you gauge the true progress of each child, get your teaching feet wet, and understand the big picture of what your child knows and doesn’t know.

Inexpensive Resources for New Homeschoolers

  • Discovery K12
  • Ambleside Online
  • Easy Peasy All-in-One
  • Easy Peasy High School
  • Khan Academy
  • Starfall
  • Old Fashioned Education

Although any inexpensive workbook will give you a place to start while not spending a lot of money, some homeschool families prefer the ones I have listed below.

Don’t forget too that the Dollar Store, Sam’s, and Wal-mart are great places for finding inexpensive worktexts to start guiding you on what your child knows and doesn’t know.

Another one i love to recommend is like a Summer series which most public school parents would use during the summer to keep their kids’ skills sharpened.

The summer bridge series is great to use to kick off your year because they have a bit of each subjects area in the book. You get a better pulse of what your child struggles with.

Too, I find the series give parents an idea of what their child wants to learn or piques his interest.

Also, Evan-Moor , Spectrum, and Brain Quest cover a wide range of subjects and concepts. Some homeschoolers end up keeping a few books for review, to round out other subjects a child may be struggling in, or to use stand alone in a subject.

Brand New Homeschooler

Lastly, the most important step of all while you’re doing this is to deschool.

Step 5. Deschool.

(buy SOME curriculum NOW)

Take the kids out of public school one day, begin homeschooling the next day; it’s a common rookie mistake. And it seems almost impossible to change to a relaxed mindset when you jump from one stressful situation into another one. Deschooling is the first step for any new homeschool family.

Watch my video How to Deschool – Are You Doomed If You’ve Never Deschooled. Ins/Outs of How to Deschool! Are you doomed if you never have deschooled.

Also, my post Deschooling: Step One for the New Homeschooler (the Definitions, the Dangers, and the Delight) gives you the reasons why deschooling is important.

I would love to mentor you through my online self-paced New Homeschooler Boot Camp as I’ve had for numerous new homeschoolers who a decade later are still on the road homeschooling.

There is definitely a right and wrong way to begin your homeschool journey and you’re already taking the road less well traveled. Don’t make it harder than it has to be by adding stress and jumping into it.

Taking time to educate yourself first will save you tons of stress and money down the road.

I am here for you if you need my help. What is your current struggle right now?

Also, look at these other super practical, tried and true tips!

  • How To Start Homeschooling the Easy No Stress Way (Maybe)
  • The Ultimate Guide for New Homeschoolers – An Easy Beginning!
  • How to Mesh Your Personality With Homeschooling When They Collide
  • Homeschool Critics: How Do You Know You’re on Track?
  • 100 Reasons Why Homeschooling is a SUPERIOR Education
  • What to Expect When You Expect to Homeschool (25 Silliest Questions Ever)
  • Why Buying Curriculum Won’t Make You a Homeschooler (But What Will)
  • Is Homeschooling Making the Grade? It’s in and the Grade is ALL Fs!
  • 10 Biggest Homeschool Burnout Triggers (and how to cope)

Hugs and love ya,

Leave a CommentFiled Under: Begin Homeschooling, New Homeschooler Help Tagged With: homeschool, homeschool challenges, homeschool joy, homeschool joys, homeschoolchallenges, homeschoolplanning, new homeschool year, new homeschooler, new homeschooler homeschool curriculum, new homeschooler homeschool organization, newbeehomeschooler, newhomeschoolyear

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