Homeschool FAQ

So, we are in the middle of our 

4th year homeschooling and 

every few months I have someone ask, 

"Where do I get started?"

here is what i did. 

(We have a nice big schoolhouse now, but this was all we 

started with. A calendar, coloring supplies, a cabinet, 

some maps and some desks!)

I know there are many homeschoolers out there that have taken different approaches...this was mine ;)

When I started, I had a gazillion questions:

#1. How will I pay for it all?

#246. Is there someone to help me?

#987. Where do I take them on field trips?

#5000. Will I fail my kids?

#gazillion. Is this really for us?

So I researched. 

and researched. 

THEN I researched some more.

I looked into every blog, good and bad.

I looked up pros & cons.

I looked up learning styles.

I looked up curriculum.

Then was the big one...to ask my husband.

(Insert very scared face here.)

We only knew one family that homeschooled.

And pretty much, they were a very secluded family.

Their children are more timid and quiet. They didn't

yell much and they rarely left their house unless it 

was for church or a homeschool event.

(No there is nothing wrong with that, it just wasn't our style and it was a little intimidating at first).

That would be the complete opposite of us, so

naturally my husband was like, "No. Not happening"

But I was pretty determined.

I had 2 kids that needed individual attention.

I was willing to give them that attention 

and I knew if my persuasion was good enough, he'd agree.

And he did :)

(this is my hubby with our baby. aren't they cute?)

He was still hesitant for quite a while until he

saw that we were still the same people we'd always been.

Nothing changed, just our way of learning.

Next was my own list of questions.

After doing so much research, I was left with a

yellow notepad full of unanswered questions and concerns.

I had come across 2 different Charters in my area and

decided to take the plunge...I called one of them.

Why is calling them so dramatic?

I. Don't. Know.

But nearly every mom who I know was very hesitant to make that call.

I was so nervous and I had come across so much opposition

that I thought I was gonna get someone else rude on

the phone who would finally put the nail in the coffin and

leave me in despair, ultimately leading me to quit.

But no. It was the opposite.

I told the lady, "I have no one to talk to about this, so 

if it's ok with you, I have a LOT of questions to ask?"

She answered everything and I was immediately sold.

The hardest part was transitioning out of the public school.

Here was hubby: Concerned, confused, stressed.

Here were my friends: How will you socialize your kids?
Here were the public school teachers: You should just put your kids in special classes or on medication.

Here was me: Excited, scared, worried, a little lost.

But, the worst...

Here were the kids: My teacher told me homeschool wouldn't be as fun as regular school and I'll miss my friends really bad.

So really, that gave me the biggest boost of all.

I was now full board ready to get my kids out.

I called the school and they walked me through the process

of dis-enrolling them from public school and enrolling them

in homeschool.

We met with our Educational Specialist a few weeks later.

She walked me through the rest, got all our paperwork signed and next was the exciting part for ALL homeschool moms...

ordering stuff!!

(This was one of our first science kits)

(! more recent kit we purchased with school funding was this model the kids got to build themselves. It came with a full curriculum too.)

Now let me go over a few more things.

We go through a Charter for quite a few reasons. Going through a Charter is not required. It was just my choice!

You can go through your local school district OR private.

I think it's just a personal decision but I highly recommend you research all your options!

Here are my reasons for using a charter:

1. I love having someone to talk to when I have questions. We have a specialist that comes to our house every 20 days, collects paperwork and answers all my questions. She is beyond amazing and supportive.

2. I never feel restricted in what I can and can't teach my kids. We read our bible nearly every day. We talk about historical events as the really happened, not the "version" that is taught in the public school system.

3. We homeschool in a very traditional sense. And by that I mean, we have an actual schoolhouse, 3 desks, a flag that we salute, and lots of book work...along with field trips etc. SO when I need to turn in my monthly curriculum samples for my kids' cumulative files, it's not an issue at all. 

4. This is my fave: the money.

The way I see it is this. I pay taxes that go towards my school district to educate my kids. So when I get to see that money being used directly on curriculum of my choosing...I'm ecstatic.

BUT the money doesn't get deposited in my bank account.

This isn't like college where I can get a loan and then spend the money on whatever I need for school and/or cheat 

the government if I so choose. 

(Key word IF. I know you all don't cheat the government!!)

Our money goes in a funding account that my Educational Specialist has control over. When I place an order, it goes to her, she then orders my items if they are approved. It's pretty easy-peasy.

Because of the funding we've received, I've been able to purchase a piano (and lessons), drums, science manipulatives, wall maps, calendars, writing utensils, art supplies, crafts...

Wait, did I say ART SUPPLIES? Ya. That's pretty huge in our house.

(With our funding we purchased a Live Butterfly Pavillion, raised our own butterflies and were able to touch them and examine them up close. It was really cool!)

(Using school supplies purchased through our charter, the kids made folded poster boards to drop off to the firefighters on 9/11.

The front cover had their "thank you's" written on it.)

So besides the money, the Educational Specialist and the choices to teach my kids from curriculum that I choose...

There is also:

*One on one attention

*Character building

*Bible study

*Life lessons

*Around the clock learning

( This is our schoolhouse. You can see more pictures of it on instagram using #erinschoolhouse. Like I said, we are very traditional homeschoolers. We say the pledge every morning, then prayer followed by bible study and then schoolwork)

Those are my reasons for homeschooling.

And no. It is not easy. 

And no. I don't have great patience.

And no. I don't sleep all day.

And no. I'm not worried about socializing.

(See we socialize...)

I took this job very seriously.

I literally think of it as a job.

(and by job I mean this: I won't get a paycheck but I will have amazing, educated children who will thrive in this world! And THAT will be my paycheck so I'll work really hard for it!)

This wasn't something I entered into lightly.

So if you're considering homeschooling,

really, really be honest with yourself.

You have to know in your heart that you 

WILL give it all you got, 

even on the bad days.

YES you might fail, but what if you don't!?

If you can't be honest with yourself, then maybe wait a bit longer.

Pray about it too!!

You have to be ready to submit to a level of selflessness you will never have known.

But it is SO worth it. The life lessons YOU will learn are invaluable.

Here are my 3 sweet reasons:

 .ErinTheMom.