If you find yourself spontaneously homeschooling your children mid-school year, you may be wondering what to do and where to begin. First of all, take a deep breath! No matter the age of your child (or children), no matter the reason you chose homeschooling, you have time to take a deep breath and research your options. Time is on your side.

While You Adjust to Homeschooling

Now that you have your children at home during the day, get out. Go to the park, go to museums, visit with other homeschooling families, go to the library. Go and enjoy this time together simply absorbing the world around you as you begin your family’s new lifestyle. You will be surprised by the educational opportunities that will seemingly fall into your lap, and it will do your family good to spend this time getting reacquainted.

Read Together

Go to the library and pick up a few books to read aloud to your children, and have them pick out a few books to read on their own. If you’re not sure where to begin, the text of many children’s picture books are written at high school or adult leveled reading. Choose several from various genres and with a spectrum of illustration techniques. You can spend time admiring the artwork, you can ask for predictions as to what may happen next, have your older children read to your younger children, act out the story, make up alternate endings. The sky is the limit on what you can do with just one children’s picture book.

Find a Local Homeschool Group

In our high-tech age, you may already be a member of one or more online homeschool forums. They are a fabulous resource for ideas and support, but they are not a replacement for “in real life” human interaction with like-minded people. Though this may be much easier to do in more diverse and large communities, if you live in an area with very few homeschoolers, even just one other homeschooling family can provide the support and human contact you and your children need.

Before You Buy Curriculum

If you have not already researched some of the possible instructional methods and educational philosophies, now is great time, but don’t feel obligated to research them all at once. You have plenty of time for researching. Right now, focus on the basics. What are the laws in your state, county, school district? What is your child’s learning style? Why did you choose to homeschool? Does your child have any special needs? How do you want to approach your family’s daily learning? With the answers to these questions, you will be well on your way to successfully homeschooling your children.

Suggested Resources

A to Z Home’s Cool
Leaping from the Box
The First Year of Homeschooling Your Child : Your Complete Guide to Getting off to the Right Start by Linda Dobson
Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt
Honey for a Teen’s Heart by Gladys Hunt