The end of the school year is closer than you think! Spring break is right around the corner. Have you begin to think about your plans for the next school year?
Maybe you’ve been reading stories in the media about homeschooling and homeschool families. Has it captured your imagination? As you cuddle and read aloud to your little ones, do you daydream about doing this type of thing for their schooling?
If these have crossed your mind, you might drawn to homeschooling. But fears linger. It is a big decision. How can you begin to address these fears?
- Attend a homeschool convention. The Great Homeschool Conventions are my favorite, with three remaining for the year. Check them out here: GHC. There are others as well. This is a great place to catch the flavor of homeschooling. There are workshops and opportunities for beginners and veterans. I attended my first when my first two kids were two and three! I caught the vision at a homeschool convention and it solidified my decision to take the plunge.
- Talk to some homeschoolers. While you’re strolling through the vendor halls or grabbing some snacks, talk to the people who are around you. Some will be new and nervous, just like you! Some will be experienced and confident and will inspire you. When you come home from the convention, look up your local support groups and attend some meetings. You will be forging friendships for yourself as well as your children that will be both rewarding and reassuring in the years to come.
- Carefully study the available curriculum. If it’s your first convention, don’t buy anything the first time through the hall. Grab up catalogs and talk to the vendors. Then let it all sink in and discuss the possibilities with your spouse and kids.
As you learn and grow, teach and do, you will become the mentor that others seek out when they are swimming through the sometimes fretful homeschooling decision.
