How to Start Homeschooling in a Strong & Positive Way

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Episode 2 - How to Start Homeschooling in a Strong & Positive Way

In this episode of the Positively Homeschooling Podcast, Amy dives into her personal homeschool journey and the experiences that shaped her approach. She shares the highs, lows, and lessons learned, especially the importance of keeping a relaxed, positive mindset. For moms interested in starting homeschooling or looking to refresh their approach, Amy introduces 3 core reminders to keep things simple, realistic, and relationship-centered.

She also covers 2 foundational steps for new homeschoolers: ensuring legal compliance and assessing your current situation, both key for building a successful homeschool experience. Amy’s S.L.O.W. approach (Simple, Low-Cost, Open-Minded, Wait) serves as a guide for avoiding burnout and easing into the process gradually. Get ready for encouragement, practical advice, and Amy’s refreshing take on starting homeschooling with confidence!

Episode Highlights:

3 Key Reminders for a Strong Start:

1. Ease Into It - Avoid jumping into too many things at once! Start gradually to build confidence without feeling overwhelmed.
2. Perfection Isn’t the Goal - Progress over perfection. There’s no perfect curriculum or homeschool style. Focus on what works for your family!
3. Prioritize Relationships - Homeschooling is more than academics; it’s about strengthening connections with your kids (and yourself). Keep relationships at the forefront.

Our Story:
I share how our family made the switch to homeschooling and our journey from cyber schooling to finding our own groove. Moving to our own approach allowed us to find flexibility and connection.

Essentials for a Positive Homeschool Start:

1. Legal Requirements 
2. Assess Your Current Situation 

The S.L.O.W. Start Approach

Join the Conversation:
If you have any tips for starting homeschool strong, I’d love to hear them! Email me at rockyourhomeschool@gmail.com or leave a comment on the show notes page.

Links Mentioned:

• Visit Rock Your Homeschool for Amy’s blog, resources, and free printables in the VIP Resource Library.
• Check out Amy’s About page to read more about her homeschooling story.
• HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) https://hslda.org/legal
• Get the FREE Homeschool Mom Boost Cheat Sheet!

Get a Positive and Strong Start to Homeschooling

Hey there, mama! In this second episode of the Positively Homeschooling Podcast, I’m sharing about my experiences in getting started with homeschooling (along with our story), what I learned along the way, and what I really wish I would have known going into it. 

I hope this helps if you’re interested in homeschooling, just getting started, or need a refresh. I’ve got some of this information on the Homeschooling 101 page (you can find a link in the show notes). 

If you’ve been homeschooling for a while, I would absolutely be honored if you’d share your tips and ideas for getting a strong and positive start to homeschooling! Let me know by emailing me at rockyourhomeschool@gmail.com or leaving a comment on this notes page. I’ll come back in a later episode and share!!

3 Big Reminders as You Get Started

Before I get to our story, I have 3 big things that I want to share with you when it comes to getting a strong and positive start to your homeschooling. I want you to please keep these things in mind as I share our experiences, as well as specific things that can really help you make the most of this time.

Reminder #1:  You do NOT need to do all of the things right away. In fact, I highly recommend that you ease your way in. 

Reminder #2: There is NO perfect when it comes to homeschooling. For example, if you’re searching for a “perfect” style, curriculum, planner, etc. I need you to take that idea, crumple it up like a big wad of paper, and throw it out. We’re working on thoughts that serve you and build you up - not bring you down or break you down. So, progress over perfection - got it?

Reminder 3:  Keep relationships at the forefront. That means your relationships with your kids and yourself. There is SO much more to homeschooling than academics. We’ll be getting into all of that more in this podcast but I really need you to hold onto that intention now and while we move forward.

Okay, now that we’re on the same page, I’ll get started with our story of embarking into the homeschool world…

Our Start to Homeschooling

My two older boys went to public school for a few years. I always had a few things that I wasn’t thrilled about but really didn’t know about other options (besides private schools which we couldn’t afford). Well, when my oldest was in third grade, things became increasingly difficult.

He has a congenital eye condition that leaves him with vision in only his left eye. (If you’re curious, the optic nerve in his right eye never fully attached - it’s called a morning glory disc anomaly). He was diagnosed just before he turned two so we were prepared for some challenges. A few things combined in third grade to worsen the situation: the print in books became smaller, more lessons presented on chalkboard/whiteboard, fluorescent lighting in the classroom, and a teacher who wouldn’t cooperate with our requested accommodations (even from his eye specialist). 

Well, my son started getting more and more headaches, even migraines. And getting sick in the middle of class (which would embarrass him). All of that led to increased anxiety and missed class time. The school nurse kept questioning him and me (she thought he was faking it to get out of class). At the time, I didn’t even know that something like a 504 plan existed (that’s a type of formal agreement between the school and family for accommodations to be made for a student with a disability). 

I was so upset and felt like I was failing him. During a check-up that summer with his pediatric eye specialist, I broke down crying. His kind doctor was understanding and asked if I had ever considered homeschooling. 

I remember thinking WHAT?!? Can I even do that? What does that even mean? Is that allowed where we live? I had so many questions. But, the more that I thought about it, the more it started to make sense.

At the time, I had third and first graders, a toddler, and pregnant with baby boy #4. The new school year was quickly approaching and we decided to give homeschooling a try (because once my second boy found out that big brother was going to homeschool, he wanted to as well!).

We went with a cyber school (an online option) for the first year. While it was nice to have our homeschool needs paid for, cyber school wasn’t for us. We had to use the required resources and had little flexibility for our schedule.

But, here’s the thing: I don’t regret trying the cyber school approach! We all learned so much from the experience - especially what we did and did not want our homeschool to look and feel like. I decided that we were going to do this homeschool thing on our own!

I began to research homeschooling. At first, I was pleasantly surprised at the variety of available resources. And then I got really overwhelmed with homeschool styles, approaches, curriculum - oh my stars!! It felt like so much to figure out! I was so confused and torn about what to do.

During that confusion, I ended up reverting to what I knew - traditional schooling. I went to public school (and both of my parents are teachers). And that was a big ol’ flop for our homeschool! Let’s just say that completely overplanning our day and trying to adhere to a rigid schedule while wrangling my older boys to sit for what felt like hours at a time while keeping my preschooler from climbing shelves to changing a newborn’s diaper didn’t work out so well. (And baby boy #5 wasn’t even on the scene yet!)

I remember looking at that yellow bus driving by and being tempted to put the older boys back in school. But, I knew that I could figure out a better way to make homeschooling work for us. To stop trying to force our family (and all of our little quirks) into a specific homeschool style or schedule.

I took a step back and looked at why I really wanted to homeschool - to have more time with my boys, build strong relationships, and make learning fun. That’s when I started applying the Positively Homeschooling approach (which I’ll be sharing all about here on the podcast)!

The 2 Most Important Things to Do When You Start Homeschooling

Now that I’ve shared our story (if you have any questions about it, please let me know!), I’ll get to my tips and ideas for getting a strong and positive start to homeschooling:

There are really only two things that you “need” to do when you start homeschooling: legal requirements and assess your situation.

If you focus on those 2 things, you’ll have a strong foundation and can build from there.

#1 is Legal stuff - it’s boring but absolutely necessary! You'll feel so much less stress. You won’t have to worry and keep looking over your shoulder. At least, that’s how I felt when I made sure that we were doing what’s required in our state.

I live in a state (Pennsylvania) where homeschool laws are strict. In fact, I was petrified to even attempt homeschooling here! Portfolios and evaluations had me quivering in my boots.

But, guess what? It really isn’t that bad. Actually, it’s quite manageable and so very worth it. Please remember that you are NOT alone and that help is always there! (I have some resources on my site that can help. Get my free printable homeschool portfolio checklists, hacks, and help.)

The #1 most important thing to do as a new homeschooler is to check the homeschool laws and requirements in your state, province, country, etc. You want to be legit! Legal is a must. 

I really can’t emphasize that enough. I’ve heard of rogue homeschoolers. And, to be honest, I really couldn’t stomach it. I’d be such a stressball of a mess that I’d be no good for teaching my boys. 

I send all my friends to the HSLDA site (hslda.org/legal). Use the interactive map to locate your state homeschool laws. You can also Google “homeschooling in ____” (your state).

And do a Facebook search for homeschool groups that represent your area. You may even get lucky and find one for your hometown or county. You’ll feel so much better if you’re following the requirements. It’ll put your mind at ease so you don’t stress about getting in trouble.

#2 is assess your current situation. Let's get your feet on the ground and blinders on. It’s reality time! 

Work with what's right in front of you - not where you were last week or where you will be in a few years from now. It’s so easy to get caught up in thinking about what happened before or what “might” happen in the future. But, that’s not going to help you NOW. Focus on the present.

As you embark upon your homeschool path, I believe that’s essential to take a realistic assessment of your current situation. This assessment will allow you to take a practical look at what’s happening within and outside of your family life. It will enable you to make smart decisions when it comes to how you start homeschooling.

I highly recommend that you write it down. When you see your situation in black-and-white, your eyes may open to new possibilities - and areas that need extra support.

The 5 areas that I suggest that you consider and ask yourself as part of this self-assessment are:

1. Ages and Stages:
   1. What are the ages (grade levels) of the children that I’ll be actively homeschooling? 
   2. Will there be other children present during our homeschool time? For example, younger siblings or children that you watch.
2. Tentative Start Date:  According to our family schedule, when do I believe that we can begin homeschooling? Factors to consider when picking a start date include holidays, important events (birthdays), vacations, moving, and travel.
3. Homeschool Location:  Where will we actively homeschool? Do I have a dedicated homeschool room? If so, what needs to happen to have it ready? If not, what area can we actively homeschool in - and what does that space need?
4. Budget:  How much do I realistically have to spend on homeschool supplies and resources? 
5. Supplies and Resources:  What do I already have that can be used as part of our homeschooling? What do I need to get (or borrow)?

This self-assessment is not meant to be difficult or time-consuming. It’s an exercise to help you be fully aware of what you’re currently dealing with and what could possibly influence you and your kids when getting a strong start to homeschooling.

A Relaxed Approach to Your Homeschool Start

Now that I’ve covered those 2 basics (legal and assessing where you are now), I want to share my relaxed approach to getting a positive and strong start to homeschooling.

What does S.L.O.W. mean? It's an acronym to help you remember: Simple  Low-Cost  Open-Minded  Wait

SIMPLE → Stick with the basics then build based on what you learn from that.

You can simply start by going to your local library and checking books for core subjects, like reading, math, science, and history. Paired with a spiral notebook, your kids will have plenty to work with!

Some families find it helpful to have workbooks to cover the basics.

LOW-COST → You do NOT have to spend a lot of money to provide your kids with a quality education. If you feel pressured to do so, let me reassure you that it will be perfectly fine to temporarily (or permanently) use free and low-cost. 

Use those samples that you find from homeschool curriculum providers. Get a feel for how content is presented and covered. 

Another idea is to search “free _____ printables” (or worksheets) for a particular subject area. I share freebies (currently there are over 550) for my email subscribers in our Rock Your Homeschool VIP Resouce Library - check to see if I have what you’re looking for. And let me know if I’m missing something and I’ll be happy to add A.S.A.P.!

Other ideas to keep costs down while you’re figuring out what homeschool curriculum works for you is to try free options, like Easy Peasy All-In-One Curriculum (online Christian) or Khan Academy.

OPEN-MINDED → Be willing to give new or different resources a try. You may have an idea in your head of what will work for your family. 

Please remember:  There isn’t only one way to homeschool. What you find to work for your homeschool may be completely different than what works for a friend. 

And it may even look different from child to child! I encourage you to go with your gut - and then check in with your kids for their feedback. Give your kids space to openly talk about the resources - what they like and don’t like. See if there’s anything you can tweak to make it work.

WAIT → Before you switch curriculum or resources, wait for a bit. At least 2 weeks (ideally a month).

If you start to experience a struggle or resistance, it’s easy to point at the curriculum and blame it. 

Well, the truth is that the curriculum is probably NOT the issue. You or your kids might be tired, cranky, not feeling well, hungry, etc. Or you just haven’t had enough time to settle in and find your groove with it.

Maybe you need to tweak your approach? OR you can just wait altogether before even using a curriculum!

If you have a decent home library, you may be able to find appropriate resources to start with. Also, use your public library. You may be surprised at what you can find there. Even if your local library is small, the interlibrary system can help you find books and other resources in other branches. 

Before I buy anything for our homeschool, I always check my local library and buy/used/sell Facebook groups. Homeschool curriculum costs can quickly add up, especially if you're homeschooling multiple kids. There are many helpful frugal homeschooling websites and Facebook groups with expert tips and tricks for keeping costs down.

As far as supplies, you only need the basics! Please don’t rush out and buy a laminator or coil-binding machine. Paper, pencils, and personal-size whiteboards with dry-erase markers can take you a long way. Binders, folders, and other ways to organize your work are also helpful. 

Oh! I have a simple homeschool supplies checklist that can help you see what you might need (I encourage you to tweak it to best meet the needs of your family)

When you’re busy trying to put together your homeschool, it can feel like you have no time. You’re working so hard to “get this right”, researching options and figuring out what needs to get done. 

I give you permission to slow down and enjoy the ride. Take a break and play a game with your kids. Go outside for a walk or chat about the clouds. Bake some cookies and relax with a good book. It’s the perfect time to weave in fun and interest-led activities.

All of this homeschool researching and planning will be there after you’ve taken time for your kids and yourself. You’ll feel refreshed with better focus and ability to make smart decisions. And most importantly, a bit of fun will help you remember WHY you’re doing all of this - to cultivate a successful and positive learning experience at home.

Keep that fun going as you start homeschooling. Fun activities and events help you relax and let off steam. 

In addition to fun, I strongly suggest self-care. I know what you’re thinking - “Girl! I don’t even have time to get a haircut!” Hear me out…

Self-care does not have to mean a spa day (although that sounds marvelous!). It doesn’t have to be hours long and cost a fortune. And your idea of self-care can look different from your friends!

Here's my free printable list of self-care ideas. Please look at it and highlight a few that you can enjoy (even if for only a few minutes) with your current life situation. And, remember, that self-care doesn’t have to be when you’re alone. You may find that you need (or want) to enjoy self-care when your kids are with you. As long as you can relax a bit and feel like yourself (and not a homeschool teacher), go for it!

Another key component of getting a strong start to homeschooling is your mindset - and how it affects, well, pretty much everything! It’s such a big deal that I’ll be going much more into it in the next episode!

I know that was probably a lot of information to take in. And the last thing that I want to do is overwhelm you.

Come back and listen to the podcast (or go through the show notes) in bits and pieces. Take what you need now - it will be here for you when you’re ready for more.

As you get started, hold onto the reminders that I shared at the beginning:

#1 You do NOT need to do all of the things right away. 

#2 There is NO perfect when it comes to homeschooling. 

#3  Keep relationships at the forefront. 

Then, stick to those 2 basics - legal and assessing your current situation.

Then, go S.L.O.W. (simple, low-cost, open-minded, wait).

Girl, you totally got this! Reach out with questions. And know that I’m here for you and cheering you on. Until next time, friend!

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