The choice is actually yours!
Welcome back!
I think one of the most difficult parts of this whole homeschool journey for me, was actually deciding to homeschool. We weighed out the pros and cons for daysssss, weeks, even. If there was any blessing that came out of the first year of the pandemic, it was that it forced me to think about schooling options, as I knew the remote learning journey we’d just walked through was a disaster, and I didn’t want to deal with that again. So I had to decide. My husband and I ultimately decided to step out in faith with our decision to homeschool and I’m so thankful we did.
First things first…
One of the first decisions that needed to be made was which curriculum to choose. If you have researched this at all, you know it is simply overwhelming. I hated it. I felt like I was searching for a needle in a haystack! So I made a list of “non-negotiables” when weighing out curriculum options:
I knew I didn’t want to use multiple curricula — I wanted something that would have each subject bundled together—similar to a normal, actual school day, with subjects presented as such.
I was thinking long-term—would I have to find an adjudicator or proctor for standardized testing? How would I ensure grades would meet standards, etc? If we ever decided to re-enroll our son in private or public school down the road, what would I have to “show” for the years of homeschooling? (Note: these standards vary by state!)
I wanted something structured and easy for my child to follow and navigate.
As a working mother, how would I structure my week, offer guidance, etc? In other words, how much of the curriculum would depend on me to do the actual instruction?
After that initial list of non-negotiables, I began to search out curriculum. We eventually settled on Abeka Academy, which you can read more about here. Abeka is a Christian homeschool curriculum that allows parents to choose between two options for homeschooling: parent-led or the Academy. I won’t be getting into too much of the differences here, but ultimately it is the choice between accredited homeschooling (via the Academy) or unaccredited (parent-led). We chose the Academy, and I’ll be diving into those details in a later post.
One important thing I want to note here is that there is no one-size-fits-all option for homeschooling. I have friends whose children thrive in less-structured, unaccredited, or unit-based learning approaches. And that is amazing! There is no ‘wrong’ choice when it comes to curriculum, it is a matter of recognizing how your child learns and what would benefit them most. And as a working parent, with limited time or responsibilities that may pull you away from being the sole teacher for your child, that might something to consider and weigh. Sometimes, that comes through trial and error. That’s the beauty of homeschooling!
It is vital to take time to research homeschool curriculum, read reviews, talk to other parents, and figure out your non-negotiables.
Another important thing to know once you’ve decided to make the homeschool leap is who to contact if you’re pulling your child out of public school, as well as if there are any additional state-specific requirements you need to know about or act upon. I found this site to be a wealth of information, as well as this one. If you’re on social media (a blessing AND a curse!), you’ll find homeschooling groups that can also be helpful and informative.
In my next post, I’m going to outline a few tools that made our first year of homeschool go SO.MUCH.SMOOTHER!! I can’t wait to share with you more soon. In the meantime, if you haven’t already, join me on Instagram!
You got this, mama!
-Anna