Beginning your foray into homeschooling can be confusing and a bit nerve wracking. So I wanted to share some information and resources that I have found helpful. There are many different reasons to teach your kids at home. And, there are many ways to go about it. The important thing is to find what works for your family and your current situation. Be flexible and expect an interesting journey. What works today may not work next year, and what works with one child may confuse or bore another. But the beauty of homeschooling is the freedom to find the best possible solution for each of your children.
If you are considering homeschooling, or just starting out, my first advice is to join a local group or listserve for your area. You can gather a great deal of insight from veterans and find out about events happening near you. Try Yahoo Groups or AIM Groups by AOL. You many want to just lurke on a list for a few weeks and read about what others are doing. Most lists have links to helpful information about state regulations and forms, etc. Also, check out my Favorite Links for homeschooling resources, discounted curriculum and fun ideas.
There are online homeschool social networks for meeting other homeschoolers and joining discussions on hot topics and national groups such as the National Home Education Network for support and information.
You'll also want to visit a local homeschool store or book store to browse curriculum before you buy. There are many to choose from and lots of groups organize swap days or host used curriculum sales. You can find used items for less online too. There are also correspondence schools and some folks, like me, make their own curriculum by using unit studies, the library, the internet, field trips, etc. Gather all the information you can and then choose what seems most interesting to you and your child.
This in just a brief introduction to home ed, but I hope it helps you get started on the right foot. Remember, you are not alone. There is a whole homeschool community to guide you and help you. Most homeschoolers are all to happy to share their experiences with a new family and offer support. Homeschooling is an exciting family journey...enjoy the ride!
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