“I Know Nothing About Homeschooling. Where do I Buy Curriculum?”

Don’t buy curriculum. Do this instead.

In the homeschooling groups on Facebook, this question or one similar to it comes up regularly, almost daily.

Given that most of us received our education in schools, it is easy to understand the focus on curriculum since it is the primary tool for teaching in the school’s toolbox. But homeschooling isn’t school at home and we have a much more comprehensive set of tools to choose from.

Let’s get started…

Learn the Regulations and Registration Requirements

Homeschooling in both Australia and the USA is regulated at the state level. It is up to us as homeschooling parents to learn the regulations and registration requirements where we live whether it is in Australia, the USA, or anywhere else in the world.

In Australia, do an internet search for “state/territory name + home education” and go to the government website. The regulations and registration requirements are written in easy-to-read and understand language.

In the USA, go to the HSLDA website, click on Legal, then click on State Homeschool Laws. The HSLDA stays up to date on any changes the states make and explains the regulation and registration requirements in easy-to-read and understand language.

Join national, state, and local homeschool groups

Seek out veteran homeschooling families who have been homeschooling for two or more years. They will be a wealth of information and support to you while you are in the beginning stages.

Searching for and finding groups to join is your first step in becoming more self-reliant and tenacious. These skills are priceless in homeschooling. Search the internet, on Facebook and whatever other social media platforms you are on.

Ask at the library, local council offices, neighbourhood houses, and anywhere else that you can think of where families might gather for social meet-ups and shared learning experiences.

When you are out during school hours and you see a group of families, approach them and ask if they are homeschoolers, especially if you are near a museum, library, or any other type of venue that might host an activity that children could be attending.

Begin your own deschooling

Deschooling is the shift of mindset that happens to homeschooling parents and children as they learn all the varied ways learning can happen once they let go of the classroom model of adult-led instruction.

For the parents, this shift won’t happen overnight and it comes through the many varied conversations we have with veteran homeschoolers, the books and blogs we read, the films and YT videos we watch, and the podcasts we listen to. It can take us years to become aware of and unpack our own indoctrination and beliefs about how learning happens.

For children, this is a time spent getting back in touch with innate curiosities and interests. It is reconnecting with innocence and joy in living. (Actually, it is good for parents to do these things too.) Our children have less to unlearn than we do.

Deschooling is a lot of learning about homeschooling in general, spending time at park days and with other members of the local homeschooling community to learn the social and cultural norms. They are different from mainstream and school playground social and cultural norms.

Start meeting playmates, acquaintances, and friends

The homeschooling community is a very social community. Parents and children need playmates, acquaintances, and friends on this journey called life.

Playmates will teach us the social skills of communication, negotiation, compromise, and reaching consensus.

Acquaintances will be familiar faces when we go to a new activity or an event. It is comforting in this new environment to see a familiar face or two.

Friendships will come when we regularly and repeatedly see a few of the same people who we share values and interests with. Making and keeping friends is a skill set that takes time and effort to learn, but it can’t be taken away once learned and will hold value for a lifetime.

Write Your Homeschooling Vision

Why are you choosing homeschooling for your children? What are you excited about? What terrifies you? How do you see it happening? What activities will fill your days, weeks, and years? How do you see it changing your relationships? How will your family dynamics and lifestyle change?

Write it all out now so that in a month, a year, or 5 years you can come back to it and see how far you have come.

It will also help to keep you on track when the going gets tough. And it will get tough.

Work with your whole family to create a living vision board. Keep it updated as interests change.

Get excited! Homeschooling is an adventure for the whole family!

Seek out resources and opportunities for your children to use

Notice I did not say, “Go buy curriculum.”

Classroom-style curricula, textbooks + workbook, is just one of the countless resources that we can use to facilitate our children’s learning.

Homeschooling is not just the school’s classroom at home. It is so much more than that.

There are many styles and philosophies of homeschooling to learn about, trial, and go with or not.

Homeschooling is outings and meet-ups, park days and excursions, bushwalks and surfing lessons, days spent at the library, and days spent watching documentaries.

It can be anything that you want it and/or need it to be.

Before you rush out to purchase a curriculum, take the time to learn about homeschooling because it isn’t what you think it is. It is much, much more.

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