What's the best way to get started?

[1stTimeMummytoLore]

I'm considering homeschooling, but I need to learn more. Waldorf-inspired homeschooling really appeals to me. Where did some of you start to build a curriculum, leanr how to do it, find out what your state's requirements are, etc?

Thanks in advance

[S. Carnes]

Good questions...it does take a lot of research to know if homeschooling is right for you. It took me a long time to make a decision, in fact at one point I was sure I was going to send my kids to school...but the more I read about it, the more I wanted to homeschool. To learn about the laws in your state I'd go to the Homeschool Legal Defense Agency website, from there you can find out the laws in your state, the address is www.hslda.org

Also I think a great book to just learn more reasons to homeschool I'd read John Holt's book "Teach Your Own", this book is just awesome, I couldn't put it down when I got it. John Holt was a teacher who tried to reform the education system, but decided that children were better of learning at home.

There are a lot of different education styles out there, I'm leaning toward unschooling right now. A good book to read about homeschooling in general is the Homeschooling Handbook and Homeschooling the Early Years. Good luck in your decision!

[lilyka]

First I would join a local homeschool group. Even if you aren't fond of the people stick with it for a while, unless it absolutely horrible. It will give you a feel for homeshcooling in your area.

Learn the requirements in your state.

read a couple of general books to give you direction on your journey. You mentioned you are already inspired bywaldorf stuff. Great., next step, read about that. Is there some way you could start right away? Start easing into the routien? transition from more than just hanging out together?

I don't know much about how they do it but just for an example lets say you were going to do a basic school at home, approach (which I don't nor do recommend it but this will help you get what I am talking about). Your first step would be getting up in the morning at the same time every day, getting drerssed and starting your day, be it with breakfast, cleaning, prayers whatever. but don't start schooly stuff until you have that part of your new routien down.. do that for a week and then pick up somehitng simple. Perhaps she will need to sit at the table for 30 minutes coloring or reading books. then after she has got that part of the routien down add math, and then another and then another until you are homeshcooling full steam ahead.

I have seen people plan for months about what thier cirriculum will be and what thier schedule will be and then just out of the blue spring it on thier poor kid. I htink this is a bad approach and perhaps a waste of money. If you just go a littla at a time you may relize early on that this is not the plan for you. Test the waters a little before jumping on the boat y/k.

good luck, have fun, let your dd do the exploring with you and see what she likes and what she is intrested in.