If you’ve never homeschooled before, your questions are probably pretty basic. It can be impossible to move forward until you’ve located the answers to your fundamental questions first, right?
Here, you’ll find answers to some of your most common beginner questions. Stay tuned for more questions like this answered in the future, too.
How do I know what I’m supposed to teach?
Homeschoolers all do things a little differently. But, depending on the approach you choose, you can find suggestions about what to teach in several different places. This information can be found in books that offer curriculum suggestions by grade or online by age/grade level. It can sometimes be found on the web sites of the publishers of curriculum materials or on the web sites of some of the larger state or national homeschool groups. Some families take curriculum suggestions from school districts. Others follow the recommendations of those who practice particular homeschooling methods or individuals who have published books or articles about teaching in a certain way. Note that a list of topics to teach can be developed entirely by the parent, too, should they decide to create homeschool lessons and courses on their own. Also remember that recommendations are merely suggestions – it is up to parents to decide what they feel will work best.
Where do I get the books?
Homeschoolers get books from many places. Bookstores, homeschool suppliers, used curriculum sales, and online retailers are some of the most common. Homeschoolers also buy books at conventions and homeschool events, they buy new or used books online, they find used books at the library, they borrow books from friends, they pick up free books at depositories in their district, and their students read materials that are published online. Remember, not all homeschoolers use solely books, but those that rely primarily on books have many options when it comes to finding them.
What if I don’t know a subject well enough to teach it?
Few people are good at everything, so it’s safe to assume there are going to be topics you simply cannot teach. The good news is that there are many ways to handle this scenario. First, decide along with your student if the course is truly needed, or desired. If so, simply find another way for your student to learn it. A common alternative is buying a comprehensive curriculum product that includes all of the necessary components – instruction your student will understand without frustration, assessment tools to track mastery and progress (tests and quizzes), plus a full answer key. If the product offers homework help as part of the purchase price, better still. Other options include having the student take the class somewhere else – at a school, tutoring center, homeschooling cooperative, continuing education program, via private lessons, online, or any other method available to you. Some families also ask older siblings to help younger children with course material, or enlist the help of friends, neighbors and grandparents, too.
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