Homeschool
Education Your Way
Find out what you need to know about Homeschool. Maybe you haven't decided whether or not Homeschool is right for your family, maybe you need to learn a little more, or maybe you have already decided and you're ready for the next steps. Where ever you are in your homeschool journey its cool because we are here for you! So don't stress, don't doubt yourself, don't worry about missing any crucial standards, it's all here! So let's get started!
*Disclaimer: All education plans and curriculums follow the national educational standards. During the formation of the curriculum outlines, in addition to using the national standards, we also used some of the countries top state standards to build a curriculum that exceeds all traditional state educational standards. In addition, we have educational plans and intent to homeschool forms for the states of Nevada and Ohio. Please contact me with your state of residence and I can compile information for your specific state’s homeschool guidelines at: itscoolmom@gmail.com
STEP 1
The most important thing that you need to do first is find out what documentation your state requires to be submitted in order to homeschool your children.
Some states require a simple Intent to Homeschool form and Education Plan once like Nevada, and some states require an Intent to Homeschool Form, an Education Plan, and assessments that need to be completed each year like Ohio.
To learn more about the homeschool laws and requirements read this article!
If you are unsure of what your state requirements are you can send an email to itscoolmom@gmail.com with your residing state and we can track down that information for you.
To learn more about homeschooling in the states of Nevada or Ohio, scroll to the end of this page under the heading FORMS.
STEP 2
There are many things to consider when building out your homeschool experience. The good news is, you’re in control and you can build it as you go!
Here are just a few of the many things to consider:
How will you set up your school calendar (when do you want to start and how much time do you have to prepare?)
What curriculum will you use? (Will you buy one or build your own?)
Will you have elective courses or just general courses? (And if you do electives, what will they be and how will you teach them?)
What administration and organizational tools will you use?
What tasks should you complete throughout the year?
STEP 3
When you get enough experience in anything, you find tips and tricks to help make things run a lot smoother. Here are some important things I have learned over the years of our homeschool journey.
Create a schedule that works for you and stick with it
Work in short blocks and take lots of breaks
Consider the amount of time you spend homeschooling (less is more when you are working one on one)
Get creative – use everyday life as part of the learning experience (homeschool doesn’t have to be taught within 4 walls)
Add your own spin – what additional skills do you want to teach your kids?
To read more and check out some of the resources I suggest, read the whole article HERE!
STEP 4
I found that if you re-evaluate your plan each month it helps keep you on track to reaching your homeschool goals. You can continue with the things you like and tweak or get rid of the things not working.
I like to take notes throughout the month.
What skills are my kids just smashing and what skills do we need to focus more time on?
What new resources or learning tools did we try?
What were their favorite things to learn this month?
What was something new we tried?
These are some of the questions I ask myself and then based on those answers I adjust the upcoming month accordingly.
STEP 5
When finishing out the school year it may seem like once lessons are done you are done but that’s not the case. Closing out the school year requires making sure all of your documentations are in order and complete. If you have documented throughout the school year, closing out will be a breeze!
Some documentation to consider would be:
Final grades, remarks, comments (however you plan on showing proof of growth)
Assignments and projects completed that show proof of work
A summarization of the school year
Having the right organization and administrative tools will help make this process seamless.
Some of the most important items that you will need include:
a grade card to add to their portfolio for each year
a weekly schedule
a weekly and daily lesson planner
Keep in mind, some states do not require documentation or submission of documentation but there are a few reasons to do it anyway. One being in case you plan on putting your child back in school at some point and it is always a safe bet to protect yourself in case laws or standards change.
Check out our Homeschool Starter Kit! It has all of the necessary administrative papers plus several bonus sheets (12 pages in all!)
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STATES
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News
Media Buzz
Homeschool Laws & Requirements
August 15, 2020
There are 7 standards to consider when preparing or considering homeschool as an option for your family. Familiarize yourself with the 7 standards and then find out what those laws and requirements are for your state.
Tips for Doing School at Home
March 15, 2020
Have you recently found yourself at home with your kids for an extended amount of time? Are you now responsible for solely teaching your kids while they are out of school? This can seem very overwhelming for most parents but I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be!
Homeschool Ohio
August 2, 2020
Are you looking for homeschool information for the state of Ohio? Then you are in the right place. Here is a breakdown of all the important information that you need to know to get started with your homeschool journey!