A friend called me today. She wanted to know where to start when homeschooling. I am sometimes thrown by this question, because I know so much more now, than I did when I started 10 years ago! I think to myself if I give them all the info I know, it will scare them, then they might think it is too much and not want to do it. So, I try to narrow it down.

I was just wondering what is the first thing(s) you tell people, and where do you send them (internet, stores, library, etc.) to look for information?

I share this:
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/8840594/Homeschool-Primer
I put it together after several of dh's co-workers began contacting me about how to homeschool.

~Melissa~

I would send them to HSLDA website and have them click on "Getting Started". They get a free copy of a brochure called "You Can Homeschool ".

This post was edited on Nov 03, 2009 03:14 PM

told them verbatim, " there are 2 million homeschoolers is the US now and there are 2 million good ways to homeschool. Each family must do what is best fir their own family. BUT I can get you started by telling you what works for me."

I also refer everyone to Timberdoodle!!

The first thing I encourage them to do is write down why they want to homeschool. What do they hope to gain from it. Why is it important to them. If they ahve been using a publich or a private school, what did they like/dislike about it?

Yes, its a bit or work, but I think it helps to think through why they are thinking about homeschooling.

Each year I review our educational mission statement and goals/vision/dreams for our kids. It helps me stay motivated and "on task" as it were with my kids deisre to learn.

The next thing I do, if they live close, is invite them over for a day or 2 to see what and how we "do it". This gives them an idea of how it works for us and to see that my kids are actually engaged in learning. It also allows them to see how I ineract with my kids as their "teacher" and shows them that I am far from perfect!

I always send them to their library to check out books on homeschooling. You know, the ones that tell you about families that have HSed, how they did it, how their children turned out after homeschooling. There's several different ones, depending on which your library carries.

Reading these types of books when we first started helped me IMMENSELY. I realized from the get to that I did not have to try to be the same as everyone else, HS wise, or keep up with other schools and/or families...etc. I realized I did not have to replicate a school room, with a teachers' desk and student desk facing each other (I have heard a few new homeschoolers think they HAVE to have it like this) I still had alot to learn though, but this just made my path much more comfortable.

After you read a few books, come back and let's talk about different options.. that's my advice

K

I tell them about our state organization's website where they can get the legal information.
I also suggest the library for how to homeschool books.
I try to answer any specific questions the best way I can.

I refer them to "So, You're Thinking About Homeschooling" by Lisa Whelchel. Then I tell them sort of how we work our day and really play up the whole freedom to schedule as we please and work at the child's pace. Usually if someone asks me, they are frustrated b/c they feel their child is not challenged enough or just "wasting" too much time in the classroom.