From Public School to Homeschool: 10 Things You Need to Know (Video)

Homeschooling is a journey for both you and your children, and over the years, you will discover what works best for your family and homeschool. In the beginning, however, it can be easy to fall into what you already know, and that is often the public school model of education. Before you do just that, here are 10 things you need to know.

Scroll down to watch the video and listen instead.

1. You may need to deschool.

If you and your children are used to going your separate ways for the majority of the day, then diving straight into homeschool may be quite the challenge for all of you. I'd encourage you to "deschool" for a month or two before jumping into a new school year. Deschooling means to take some time away from formal schooling. It's a time to just be and rethink priorities and expectations.

Homeschooling is an extension of your motherhood; it doesn't happen apart from it. Deschooling gives you the time to build your relationship with your child, to talk and listen, to share experiences, and build new rhythms. Take some time to reconsider what education means to you and how it can look so very different from the public school model. Take some time to establish morning and bedtime routines, and to pay attention to the unique gifts and interests of your child. Deschooling can help you both create a new vision for education, and create the homeschool lifestyle that best fits your needs.

2. It’s okay to sleep in.

Yes, it absolutely is. If you have older children, this can make such a difference in their ability to focus and work well. They NEED more sleep for brain development and overall growth. They need more sleep to function and learn.

This can also be a good benefit if you have a newborn or a child with special needs that does not sleep as well at nights. Trying to push yourself into a public school schedule can be difficult and trying and is completely unnecessary. Find a good starting time that works for all of you, and set that as a goal for your homeschool. Then, enjoy that freedom and jump into your day with ease.

3. Don’t expect your homeschool day to be as long as public school.

This was the one thing that really threw me off our first few years. I remember hearing someone at a convention tell me that a kindergartener only needed to do formal studies for about 30 minutes a day. I had no idea they were being serious.

I've come to learn that they were spot on. In public school, there's a lot of time that is wasted on bathroom breaks, classroom management, announcements, redirection, and shuffling students from one class to the next. It also takes significantly more time to teach something to 30 students as opposed to one. Here's a chart with a general overview for "formal" studies. Of course, make sure to check your state or local requirements for more information.

If you're flying through your homeschool goals, don't fret and worry and try to dump more in. Instead, enjoy that extra time for the things that matter most to you and your family. Go for walks, visit a park, cook together, bake something, play a game, sing songs, exercise, ride bikes, build something, create something, teach life skills, etc. Learning is always happening in the mind of a child. Embrace that.

4. You have the freedom to establish your own goals and objectives.

This, right here, is everything. Yes, you need to start with the general homeschool requirements for your state or area, but after that, the sky is the limit. Do you want to cover history in chronological order or start with the history of your state or country? Do you want to cover world history in one year, two years, three, or four? Do you want to study geography? Or zoology? What about chemistry or botany? There is no one way or right way to do it.

Just take a look at a few different homeschool curricula. It's easy to see that each company has its own vision of what it thinks is best. Each company has its own scope and sequence, its own idea of what it believes education to be.

Friend, I want to encourage you to determine that for you and your family first.

This is something I am SO passionate about, and it's the reason I created the Bucket Planning System (grades 1-12 coming soon!). It's easy to get so caught up with homeschool curriculum that you blindly follow everything and become just as enslaved as with the public school system. You start thinking your child is "behind" if you don't keep up with their schedule and their objectives (more on that in a bit). It doesn't have to be that way. Establish your vision and your goals, then let the curriculum work for you.

5. Learning can look so very different.

Most of us are used to believing that workbooks and worksheets equal learning. That couldn't be further from the truth. Yes, those are evidence of learning, which is necessary when you have 30+ students in a classroom, but it's not learning itself.

Learning can happen anywhere and everywhere. You can use field trips, nature walks, and trips to the zoo and museum to learn. You can watch videos on Youtube and DVD's to learn. You can use an online search engine, check out books from the library, and read chapter books to learn. You can also teach your child just by talking with them and sharing what you know about the world and history and geography.

Curriculum is a wonderful tool for inspiring learning, but you can tweak it and make it work for you. You can skip the worksheet and have your child draw a notebook entry instead. You can have them share an oral narration and use their own words to tell you what they learned. They can create a project to display their learning, or simply write a journal entry. Be open to the possibilities. Education can be so very amazing.

6. You can create your own calendar for the year.

That's right. You don't have to start in August and end in May. You can start after Labor Day or in July. You can take a vacation in November and work through June. You can block off extra vacation at Christmas and in spring when the weather is mild, and then homeschool during the hottest (or coldest) times of the year. You can finish your year in 9 months or in 12.

Enjoy that freedom, Friend. Map out the required number of days over the course of the year, or tally them up as you go, taking breaks whenever they are needed. (This works especially well if you have a child with special needs, who may need to just take a day off from time to time.) However you choose to do it, make the calendar work for you and your family.

7. You will have hard days.

If you spend a lot of time scrolling through Instagram, you may start to believe that everyone has it all together except for you. Remember this--those are the highlights. We all have hard days. We all have to deal with sibling rivalry, grumbling, complaining, and sometimes, laziness. Some of us are also dealing with special needs.

Try to see those hard days as opportunities--opportunities to pray with your children, to teach them God's word, and to help them walk out their faith. Use those hard days to take a walk, read a book, or connect in some way. This is where life learning happens. Don't fear it when it comes. Redeem it.

8. You don’t have to finish the curriculum.

Here's something you may not know. Public school teachers rarely finish the textbook or curriculum they use. Actually, I've never known anyone to finish the textbook--although I'm sure there a few out there. . . somewhere.

Between anti-bullying campaigns and pep rallies and behavioral issues, there's often a lot that gets pushed aside throughout the year. And you know what? They don't worry about it. They just pick up the following year and keep going.

You can do the same thing. If it's history you're learning, don't be afraid to dive in and learn. Explore rabbit trails. Read books. And if the learning is that good and you get to the end of the year, keep going with it until you're done.

The same thing can be done for reading, writing, math, etc. Don't equate "getting through" the workbook as learning. Don't rush and push through for the sake of checking off the boxes--only to get to the end to find that you need to repeat it all. Mastery is much more important. Depth is much more valuable. Curriculum is a tool. Use it to accomplish your goals.

9. There is no such thing as “behind.”

Except if you're in public school. In public school, they have yearly standards that are set for the average student. Some are expected to be ahead, and some behind. At the end of the year, if too many children pass the standardized test--do you know what they do? They make it more difficult. They need the bell curve for it to work.

Your child will always be behind some and ahead of others. In home education, what is most important is that your child is better than they were the day before. The important thing is that they are always learning and growing.

Do not get caught up with "grade level" math and reading and writing. Start where your child is and move forward from there. Skipping up to a level in order to be on "grade level" can lead to future gaps that may be difficult to close. Establish a strong foundation in these key areas, and teach your children how to learn. Then, they will be ready and fully prepared for whatever The Lord calls them to.

10. You will find your way.

You absolutely will, but you'll need to work on that a bit upfront. Without a vision or plan, it will be so easy to get caught up in all the latest homeschool trends and styles. It will be so easy to always think that the grass is greener on the other social media page. It will be so easy to be tossed like a wave at sea, always floundering toward the next best thing.

I've been there, and I want so much better for you. It's not a fun place to be. Please take some time to check out my free Masterclass: Nurturing Connections in Your Homeschool in "Member Freebies." That is the heart behind why I started this site and blog.

I want to encourage you to "seek ye first the kingdom of God," and let Him guide and direct your steps. His plans and ways are oh-so-good! Pray, my Friend, and walk in faith. The homeschool journey is filled with hills and valleys, but in Him, you will have the peace and joy to walk through every part of it.

Many blessings as you embark on your own journey. If you're new to it all, start here or check the blog for more encouragement and inspiration. Or reach out if you have any questions. I'm cheering you on! You can do this!

To listen instead and go a bit deeper in these 10 areas, watch the video below!

Many blessings!

What would you add to this list? Share in the comments below.