If you have never tried homeschooling, you may be wondering how to get started. Perhaps you are not sure that you can do it, or maybe you are worried that you will not have the right materials or enough time. Let's try an experiment. Take a fresh piece of paper and write down all the goals that you can think of for your student. If you have more than one student, make a list for each one. As you write, you will probably notice that your list includes general goals such as "character development," and specific goals such as "learn to write neatly." With these goals in front of you, prepare a few materials for your "experiment." You will need a Bible or Bible story book, a good children's book that you would enjoy reading to your child, handwriting paper, and a math activity. Homeschool Tools has a list of children's books, which you can print and use at the library. Handwriting paper can be printed from Homeschool Tools, as well. For the math activity, check out the Math Section. A spectrum of activities is provided. Choose one that is appropriate for your student's abilities.
Now you are ready for your homeschool experiment. Tell your child that you are going to begin school tomorrow. Start your lessons when your child is fresh. The kitchen table is a good location. If you have toddlers or preschoolers, help them to get occupied with a quiet project. They may like to join you at the kitchen table for coloring or you may try your "experiment" during naptime. Begin with a prayer for your school, then read from your Bible or Bible storybook. Ask a few simple questions from your reading to give your student an opportunity to discuss the Bible lesson.
Next, give your child his handwriting paper and a pencil. If he has never learned to write, begin teaching the first letter of his name. If he can write his name, teach him the lower case letters of the alphabet. For older students assign something appropriate such as copying a Bible verse or writing the complete alphabet in cursive. Use this exercise to determine areas for teaching or improvement. Allow about three to ten minutes for handwriting depending on the age and attention span of your student.
Math follows handwriting. Again, allow about three to ten minutes for your math activity and use it to gauge the maturity and understanding of your child. Can he count to ten? Can he count to 100? Does he understand adding numbers to ten? Has he memorized addition and subtraction facts? Has he memorized multiplication and division facts? Homeschool Tools has flashcards, manipulatives and several other drills that can help a child progress.
Finally, bring out your reading book. Read for at least fifteen minutes. If your child is at the picture book stage you will probably read several books during this time. Don't hesitate to read chapter books with your kindergartener. Many chapter books are so well written that they hold the interest of very young children. Be adventurous and try a book like The House at Pooh Corner or Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle! When you are done reading, close school for the day and tell your child that you will have school again tomorrow.
After school, look at your goal sheet again. What did your child learn today? Which goals were addressed? Are there other goals that are a priority? Were there certain subjects that you would like to add? You may feel that your experimental day was too short. With your goals and first day's experience as a guide, determine what you would like to add to your second day of homeschool. If you are teaching a kindergartner, allow about five minutes for each activity. An average kindergartner can learn all that he needs to learn for kindergarten (and probably find himself ahead of his grade level) with only 45 minutes of school each day. That includes time for Bible study, phonics, reading, writing, and arithmetic! If your child is older, he should be able to do some assignments on his own, such as reading good books, studying spelling words, and writing compositions. An older student will have a longer school day, but may not require as much of the teacher's time as a younger student. Continue your homeschooling experiment for the rest of the week, and then evaluate. Are there teaching materials or text books that you will need? Are there areas you need to research? You will find a list of useful resources in Homeschool Tools. A good education is made up of many small lessons, but one lesson you will have learned is that you can homeschool.
Where do you take this experiment from here? Homeschool Tools contains materials for dozens of subjects from history to Latin. There are many possibilities for learning, but resist the temptation to add several things at once. Choose one area, such as phonics, and teach it well for a few weeks before adding another subject. Keep your page of goals ever before you, and build your school with sturdy foundations.