I'm speaking at a homeschool conference on Saturday and my topic is Intro to Homeschooling.  All my notes and hand outs are done and I thought I would blog a "short version" for those that are thinking of or have decided to homeschool. 

My topic is divided into 3 parts: 5 Simple Steps to Get Started (including resources); Top 10 Myths and an Interactive Question and Answer Period.

I'm going to start with getting the Myths out of the way.  I'm not going to list them all in this blog entry but I bet you can guess what my # 1 Myth is on my list. 

YES the always popular SOCIALIZATION!!

Since this is the most common concern we come across - not just when we start out but we even encounter THAT concern throughout our homeschooling journey I thought I would share how I handle it.

The first thing I do is ask the question back to them "What Do You Mean by Socialization?"  Something that I have found is it means different things to different people.  For some it means the kids won't end up making it in the "real world" or for some it means the kids will be "isolated" and for others it means they won't learn how to deal with things like "bullies".  However they answer I "customize" my answer for their concern.  I find that by knowing how to answer their concerns it eases both their minds and yours because you are not caught "off guard" or you don't have an answer for them.  How do you find the answers? Well you speak from your own experience of course or if you don't have experiences to draw on yet I recommend that you put yourself on a good reading program that includes several general homeschooling books.  These books will have the answers you seek, or ask other homeschoolers how they answer to those concerns.

The 5 simple steps in getting started include:

1) Research = Read, read, read and read some more.

Read what?  Anything you can get your hands on about homeschooling.  General homeschooling books (check the library and homeschooling catalogues), books on different homeschooling philosophies, homeschooling magazines, homeschooling catalogues, go to conferences and fairs and pick up as much free stuff as you can, facts and statistics (just make sure they are facts and statistics and not someones opinion) and Frequently Asked Questions on homeschooling websites and blogs.

2) Contact several support groups - both in your physical area as well as "virtual" groups - Yahoo groups is an amazing support group tool.

3) Register with a school board - which is where A LOT OF US get bogged down as we think it is the most important step - it is not - it is just one step that we have to do by September 30 in order to get funding and keep "legal" within the province of Alberta. 

What do you need to ask a board:  What is your mission statement (and do you agree with it).  What funding do they provide and what policies do they have that are tied to the funding, and who will be your facilitator and can you and your kids meet her/him before registering. 

Remember if you make a "wrong" decision in choosing a board it's the easiest to fix - if you are unhappy with your facilitator simply ask to switch to another facilitator - if you are still unhappy simply go to another board.  There are boards that "rescue" families mid year - unfortunately your funding doesn't go with you but sometimes it's worth switching if it reduces your stress and you find a board that works for you.  And remember each year you have the option of choosing a new board if your philosophy or circumstances change.

4) Seek out curriculum, field trips and other educational resources - AGAIN another area people get bogged down.

I recommend you don't buy ANY curriculum until you know a) your familiy's "style", b) your teaching style and c) your children's learning style.  If you feel you really MUST buy curriculum start with Math and try out several programs to find one that "fits".  This will give you a good indication of the style of curriculum to look for in other subject areas.

What do you do if you haven't bought any curriculum?  I suggest you go to the library and let your child choose books (both fiction and non fiction) on topics that they are interested in.  After they read those books (or you read aloud with them) ask them to tell you or to write something up about what the book was about or an interesting thing they learned.  Go on field trips either on your own or with other homeschoolers and use educational resources such as toys, games, computer cd's and the internet.  By going this route you will save vasts amounts of time, money and stress then if you buy a bunch of stuff that you don't know whether it will work or not.  By taking time to read first and getting to know how homeschooling will "fit" into your families lifestyle and just spending time with your child reading and doing things, you will "know" what to look for when you are ready to dive into the "curriculum" pool.

Lastly step 5 is meet other homeschoolers and enjoy your new lifestyle!  THIS IS the most important step - find other homeschoolers that you can relate to, learn from, be friend with, your kids can be friends with their kids, and you can do things and travel on this journey together.  NO not everyone you meet you will like but you will be able to find someone that can give you a hug when you need it and whom you can enjoy the wonderful world of homeschooling together.

I'll be ending my session with an interactive question and answer time so if you have any questions about starting to homeschool or homeschooling in general or specifically please feel free to leave a comment and I'll happily answer it as best I can.

I LOVE homeschooling with all my heart and I LOVE sharing my journey and experiences with others.  I believe I was given a lot of great information, resources and people when I started out and I just want to pass that along to others who may be just beginning their journey.  I hope this helps.

Happy Homeschooling!

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