If you’re new to homeschooling, these new homeschooler mistakes can add unnecessary stress to your first year. There is probably a blog post for every homeschool parent. I started homeschooling about eight years ago when my daughter was about to begin first grade. Spending more time with her was important to me, but beyond that, I had no clue what I was doing. Like many new homeschool parents, I simply jumped in and figured things out along the way. Here are five mistakes that I hope you can avoid if you’re just jumping onto the homeschool train.
1. Copying a Regular School Setting
Unless it brings you joy. I tried recreating a regular school setting for the first few years of homeschooling, and it stressed me out. I was trying to recreate everything, right down to the schedule. I’m all for a good scheduled routine, but one that works well for our entire family, at least for the most part. So choose a homeschool schedule that, above all, brings you peace. When it comes to the setup of your “classroom,” have fun with it, romanticize it, and let it be an area that works for everyone.
2. Not Simplyfing School Curriculum Choices
Oh my goodness! This was a big one for me. I was enamored with so many beautiful curriculum choices that I would end up with more than we could handle. It’s great to have so many choices now, and so many cute ones at that. But I ended up accumulating more curriculum than we needed. I actually still struggle a bit with this. The elementary years have the cutest choices, in my humble opinion. My main curriculum choice lately has been Without Doors, though that might change down the road. I love its simple, minimalist, vintage aesthetic and compact design. It has made homeschooling so simple and enjoyable for us. As my kids get older, I may add other resources or make a switch, but for now, our current approach is working beautifully.
3. Forcing a Rigid Schedule
Create a learning time that organically fits into your family’s routine. Don’t stress over having your kids complete a certain subject by a certain time. Every kid learns in different ways and at a different pace. So allow them time to explore, observe, and learn without hurrying. I used to stress so much about making sure things were on schedule and done. I eventually let that go. As a Catholic, I’d love to incorporate more of a liturgical calendar learning style. Allowing Advent, Lent, feast days, and the saints to shape our school year more than any institutional bell schedule ever could.
4. Neglecting to Read Aloud
Reading aloud is probably the most beneficial thing you can do as a homeschooler. Most kids will learn to read on their own, solve math problems, and so on. But not every child gets to hear a wonderful story from their father’s or mother’s lips. Reading aloud forms the heart, not just the mind. We have so much great literature out there, and it’s so easy to obtain nowadays. I love reading aloud to my kids right before bed or during some type of crafting time during the day. There are certain books that we prefer to listen to on audio, because it’s so much easier to understand. There is a podcast called Read Aloud Revival that I love that encourages reading aloud.
5. Homeschooling in Isolation
As a homeschool mom, I need three things: community, encouragement, and support. Isolation is not a virtue; it’s a vulnerability. If we don’t seek these things out, we risk burnout. And burnout is not just a mom problem; it affects everyone in the household and threatens the homeschool. So seek out a co-op, or just any healthy activity that gives you what you need to keep going on your homeschool journey. For me, it’s a Bible study group, anything nature, exploring different cafes, thrifting, and honestly, a whole bunch of other things. Doing something for yourself that helps support your homeschool journey is crucial.
Remember, homeschooling isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It is about creating space for your children to thrive and as a Christian to love God in the ordinary moments of their lives. I hope this was helpful, and thank you so much for being here. This is my first post, and I’m very excited about the many other things I plan to share.
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