![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.allaboutlearningpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/homeschooling-chalkboard.jpg\")
\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
3 THINGS ROBIN WISHES SHE HAD KNOWN WHEN SHE STARTED HOMESCHOOLING<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\tConsistency is the key to success.<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t
When I was first starting to homeschool my kindergartener and preschooler, I was so focused on the right curriculum, the right educational philosophy, and the right routine. Although all those things are important, I wish I\u2019d understood in those early years that none of them would have a positive impact on my children unless I applied them consistently.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t
I could have had the best curriculum available, but if I had used it only occasionally, it would have been worthless. Progress is made, not in perfect lessons done sporadically, but in good lessons done consistently. It took me a while to learn how essential it was to make school a priority at least four days a week.<\/p><\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t
It\u2019s vital to take care of yourself.<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.allaboutlearningpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/take-care-of-yourself2.jpg\")
\r\n\t\t\t
As parents, we can get so focused on what is best for our children that we can forget what is best for ourselves. I wish I had understood the importance of developing healthy habits, such as regular exercise, eating well, and getting enough sleep. I struggled to carve out time to care for myself when I had two children in elementary school, as well as a preschooler, a toddler, and an infant. However, looking back, I know I could have made more effort.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t
Research shows that even small improvements in diet, exercise, and sleep increase energy and boost the immune response. They also reduce stress and even improve mental health. And, of course, we know that they promote long-term health by reducing the risk of many chronic diseases.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t
All this benefits our children, too. Who wouldn\u2019t want a parent that is energetic, healthy, and well-rested? I know I\u2019m a kinder, better teacher when I take care of myself.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t
Fostering the love of learning is as valuable as the learning itself.<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t
Most will agree that children need to learn to read, spell, write, figure, and be well educated. However, after reviewing the letter L for the hundredth time in a week, I grew frustrated and short with my kids. With my frustration, I showed them that learning is a negative experience and something to be disliked. And you probably know how unpleasant it can be to get children to do something they dislike!<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t
Learning to enjoy the process of learning has a long-reaching impact, as well. Children who dislike their school day won\u2019t spend any of their free time reading about local lizard species or computer programming. They will complain about a trip to a museum or leave the room when a documentary comes on. Children who dislike learning will lose out on so much.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t
However, it\u2019s not hard to foster a love of learning. End lessons before your child grows tired or frustrated. Make learning multisensory, appealing, and as fun as possible. Be the teacher your child needs<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\t\t<\/ol>\r\n\t\t\r\n3 THINGS I WISH I HAD KNOWN WHEN I STARTED HOMESCHOOLING<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\tHomeschooling isn\u2019t simply \u201cschool at home.\u201d<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.allaboutlearningpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/learning-programming.jpg\")
\r\n\t\t\t
When I first started preschool at home with my oldest son, I had only been out of the public school classroom for a few months. All I really knew was the public school world, with its standards, expectations, and resources. So I did what I knew how to do. I printed off my state\u2019s standards, bought resources I was familiar with, and started teaching my son the alphabet with enthusiasm. It didn\u2019t take long for me to realize that he was still pretty young and maybe not quite ready for the curriculum I had chosen. <\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t
Soon after, a good friend of mine (who had been homeschooled growing up and was several years ahead of me in homeschooling her own kids) handed me the book, For the Children\u2019s Sake. In it, I encountered an entirely new approach to education, which started me on a journey of unlearning what I had been taught as a public educator and relearning an entirely new philosophy of education.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t
I discovered that home education could be beautiful, rich, wide, and varied and include subjects I\u2019d never even heard of (Swedish Drill was brand new to my vocabulary)! It was during my son\u2019s Kindergarten year when I heard someone say that home education is as much about your home life as it is about the education your kids are getting.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t
And they were right!<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t
Slowly, our home life began to reflect the values and philosophy we\u2019d begun to develop for our homeschool. We chose good books, listened to classical music as the soundtrack to our days, and set the table for tea time. It has slowly evolved over the years, and now, home education hardly resembles the traditional school model in which I was trained. I wish I had known how deeply transformative homeschooling would be for our entire family because I think that would have squashed any doubts I might have had about starting in the first place.<\/p><\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t
Each child will progress at his or her own pace.<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t
As a former special education teacher, I knew this. Each child is unique and has different strengths, weaknesses, and interests, so it\u2019s only natural that no two children will progress at the exact same pace. But still, I held onto a false notion that my kiddos would learn things in more or less the same way and at the same rate. <\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t
Discovering that my oldest has dyslexia radically changed this idea for me, though, and I realized that even though I knew that each child learns at his or her own pace, I was still holding onto arbitrary expectations. It took me a while to readjust those expectations and become comfortable with the fact that learning to read and spell would take longer for my son. He needed to move at his own pace.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t
Even without learning differences in the mix, each child needs the time, space, and encouragement to learn at his or her own pace, even if it looks completely different than what we had initially expected!<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t
There\u2019s a quote from Anna Gillingham that says, \u201cGo as fast as you can, but as slow as you must\u201d (https:\/\/www.orton-gillingham.com\/orton-gillingham\/<\/a>). And that, to me, sums up the best way to evaluate a child\u2019s pace and progress. Let each child set their own pace. It\u2019s okay to encourage them and push them to do their best work, but realize that some skills are going to take some students longer to master. And that\u2019s okay!<\/p><\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\tIn homeschooling my children, I\u2019m getting a whole new education, too!<\/h2>\r\n\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.allaboutlearningpress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/learing-spelling-rules.jpg\")
\r\n\t\t\t
In talking to many other homeschool parents, doubt is something that frequently pops up. We wonder if we\u2019re good enough, smart enough, patient enough, or know enough to homeschool our kids. The truth is, though, no one knows everything!<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t
Homeschooling has changed my perspective. Instead of feeling like I need to know everything so I can impart it to my children, I realize that I get to learn alongside them. There are holes and gaps in the education I received growing up, but instead of those gaps making me feel insecure, I\u2019ve realized that homeschooling gives me the chance to not only fill in those gaps but to explore and learn about topics that were never even covered in school. Homeschooling is not only a feast of ideas for my children, but it\u2019s a rich buffet for me, too!<\/p><\/li>\r\n\t\t<\/ol>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n
As you start out homeschooling, it\u2019s natural to doubt yourself or wonder if it\u2019s the right choice. However, I hope you feel encouraged that you can do this, too. We\u2019re all learning as we go and sharing as we learn, and the homeschooling community is full of parents who are ready to cheer you on!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
We\u2019d love to hear from you in the comments! If you\u2019re a new homeschooling parent, what\u2019s your biggest question or concern? If you\u2019re an experienced homeschooling parent, what would you add to this list of things you wish you\u2019d known when you started homeschooling?<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Need more support?<\/h3>\r\n
We want to equip you for your homeschooling years as best we can. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve created this extensive collection of resources for teaching at home<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n Also, check out our All About Reading<\/cite> & All About Spelling<\/cite> Support Group<\/a> on Facebook, or contact us<\/a>, and we\u2019ll be happy to help you with any questions you may have about your homeschool journey!<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Consistency is the key to success.<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t
When I was first starting to homeschool my kindergartener and preschooler, I was so focused on the right curriculum, the right educational philosophy, and the right routine. Although all those things are important, I wish I\u2019d understood in those early years that none of them would have a positive impact on my children unless I applied them consistently.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t
I could have had the best curriculum available, but if I had used it only occasionally, it would have been worthless. Progress is made, not in perfect lessons done sporadically, but in good lessons done consistently. It took me a while to learn how essential it was to make school a priority at least four days a week.<\/p><\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t
It\u2019s vital to take care of yourself.<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t
As parents, we can get so focused on what is best for our children that we can forget what is best for ourselves. I wish I had understood the importance of developing healthy habits, such as regular exercise, eating well, and getting enough sleep. I struggled to carve out time to care for myself when I had two children in elementary school, as well as a preschooler, a toddler, and an infant. However, looking back, I know I could have made more effort.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t
Research shows that even small improvements in diet, exercise, and sleep increase energy and boost the immune response. They also reduce stress and even improve mental health. And, of course, we know that they promote long-term health by reducing the risk of many chronic diseases.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t
All this benefits our children, too. Who wouldn\u2019t want a parent that is energetic, healthy, and well-rested? I know I\u2019m a kinder, better teacher when I take care of myself.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t
Fostering the love of learning is as valuable as the learning itself.<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t
Most will agree that children need to learn to read, spell, write, figure, and be well educated. However, after reviewing the letter L for the hundredth time in a week, I grew frustrated and short with my kids. With my frustration, I showed them that learning is a negative experience and something to be disliked. And you probably know how unpleasant it can be to get children to do something they dislike!<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t
Learning to enjoy the process of learning has a long-reaching impact, as well. Children who dislike their school day won\u2019t spend any of their free time reading about local lizard species or computer programming. They will complain about a trip to a museum or leave the room when a documentary comes on. Children who dislike learning will lose out on so much.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t
However, it\u2019s not hard to foster a love of learning. End lessons before your child grows tired or frustrated. Make learning multisensory, appealing, and as fun as possible. Be the teacher your child needs<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\t\t<\/ol>\r\n\t\t\r\n When I first started preschool at home with my oldest son, I had only been out of the public school classroom for a few months. All I really knew was the public school world, with its standards, expectations, and resources. So I did what I knew how to do. I printed off my state\u2019s standards, bought resources I was familiar with, and started teaching my son the alphabet with enthusiasm. It didn\u2019t take long for me to realize that he was still pretty young and maybe not quite ready for the curriculum I had chosen. <\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Soon after, a good friend of mine (who had been homeschooled growing up and was several years ahead of me in homeschooling her own kids) handed me the book, For the Children\u2019s Sake. In it, I encountered an entirely new approach to education, which started me on a journey of unlearning what I had been taught as a public educator and relearning an entirely new philosophy of education.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t I discovered that home education could be beautiful, rich, wide, and varied and include subjects I\u2019d never even heard of (Swedish Drill was brand new to my vocabulary)! It was during my son\u2019s Kindergarten year when I heard someone say that home education is as much about your home life as it is about the education your kids are getting.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t And they were right!<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Slowly, our home life began to reflect the values and philosophy we\u2019d begun to develop for our homeschool. We chose good books, listened to classical music as the soundtrack to our days, and set the table for tea time. It has slowly evolved over the years, and now, home education hardly resembles the traditional school model in which I was trained. I wish I had known how deeply transformative homeschooling would be for our entire family because I think that would have squashed any doubts I might have had about starting in the first place.<\/p><\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t As a former special education teacher, I knew this. Each child is unique and has different strengths, weaknesses, and interests, so it\u2019s only natural that no two children will progress at the exact same pace. But still, I held onto a false notion that my kiddos would learn things in more or less the same way and at the same rate. <\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Discovering that my oldest has dyslexia radically changed this idea for me, though, and I realized that even though I knew that each child learns at his or her own pace, I was still holding onto arbitrary expectations. It took me a while to readjust those expectations and become comfortable with the fact that learning to read and spell would take longer for my son. He needed to move at his own pace.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Even without learning differences in the mix, each child needs the time, space, and encouragement to learn at his or her own pace, even if it looks completely different than what we had initially expected!<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t There\u2019s a quote from Anna Gillingham that says, \u201cGo as fast as you can, but as slow as you must\u201d (https:\/\/www.orton-gillingham.com\/orton-gillingham\/<\/a>). And that, to me, sums up the best way to evaluate a child\u2019s pace and progress. Let each child set their own pace. It\u2019s okay to encourage them and push them to do their best work, but realize that some skills are going to take some students longer to master. And that\u2019s okay!<\/p><\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t In talking to many other homeschool parents, doubt is something that frequently pops up. We wonder if we\u2019re good enough, smart enough, patient enough, or know enough to homeschool our kids. The truth is, though, no one knows everything!<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t Homeschooling has changed my perspective. Instead of feeling like I need to know everything so I can impart it to my children, I realize that I get to learn alongside them. There are holes and gaps in the education I received growing up, but instead of those gaps making me feel insecure, I\u2019ve realized that homeschooling gives me the chance to not only fill in those gaps but to explore and learn about topics that were never even covered in school. Homeschooling is not only a feast of ideas for my children, but it\u2019s a rich buffet for me, too!<\/p><\/li>\r\n\t\t<\/ol>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n As you start out homeschooling, it\u2019s natural to doubt yourself or wonder if it\u2019s the right choice. However, I hope you feel encouraged that you can do this, too. We\u2019re all learning as we go and sharing as we learn, and the homeschooling community is full of parents who are ready to cheer you on!<\/p>\r\n\r\n We\u2019d love to hear from you in the comments! If you\u2019re a new homeschooling parent, what\u2019s your biggest question or concern? If you\u2019re an experienced homeschooling parent, what would you add to this list of things you wish you\u2019d known when you started homeschooling?<\/p>\r\n\r\n We want to equip you for your homeschooling years as best we can. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve created this extensive collection of resources for teaching at home<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n Also, check out our All About Reading<\/cite> & All About Spelling<\/cite> Support Group<\/a> on Facebook, or contact us<\/a>, and we\u2019ll be happy to help you with any questions you may have about your homeschool journey!<\/p>\r\n\r\n3 THINGS I WISH I HAD KNOWN WHEN I STARTED HOMESCHOOLING<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\t
\r\n\t\t
Homeschooling isn\u2019t simply \u201cschool at home.\u201d<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\tEach child will progress at his or her own pace.<\/h2>\r\n\t\t\t
In homeschooling my children, I\u2019m getting a whole new education, too!<\/h2>\r\n\t\t
\r\n\t\t\tNeed more support?<\/h3>\r\n