Finding homeschool support is essential for navigating your journey as a homeschooling mom.
Before we dive in, I want to express my respect for your decision to homeschool your kids. It’s a noble choice that creates unique opportunities for your family and children’s future. Yet, homeschooling can be challenging, and it’s expected to question whether you’re doing the best for your kids. That’s why finding homeschool support is crucial.
While I’m not a homeschool mom myself, I’ve taught in classrooms, tutored homeschooled children, and connected with many homeschooling moms. These experiences have given me insights that I hope will encourage and support you on your journey.
One common theme I’ve observed is that kids sometimes see school as a burden, simply a set of tasks to complete. Let’s work together to shift that perspective so that school becomes an adventure in learning and exploration—one that inspires a love of learning for life.
Ultimately, school’s purpose is to equip children to be lifelong learners and problem solvers. It’s about helping them understand the world around them—history, science, and economics—and develop the skills to think critically. It’s so much more than simply completing a curriculum. With the right homeschool support, you can, for the most part, create an environment where your child thrives.
I want to walk you through a few important focus areas as you homeschool. I’ll offer some reflection questions for each to help you get grounded. These questions aren’t a formula but a way for you to pray, think, and consider how they apply to your life and your family’s story.
1. Knowing Your Vision and Why
First, Clarity about your vision and why you’re homeschooling helps you stay grounded on hard days and resist the temptation of comparison.
Take some time to journal about why you are homeschooling. This is important even if you’re a seasoned homeschooler because your “why” can evolve over the years.
Why is it essential to have a vision? Your vision is your compass; it guides your family’s learning journey. It helps you sift through myriad ideas, methods, and resources to find what truly aligns with your goals. When you have clarity, you can confidently choose the right content and activities, even if it means saying, “This is great, but right now, we’re focusing on this.”
Having a vision is a crucial part of receiving homeschool support—whether through a community of other homeschool moms, educational resources, or tutors who align with your family’s goals.
Reflection Questions:
- What are your most profound reasons for choosing to homeschool?
- How has your vision evolved over time?
- How can your vision guide your daily homeschooling choices?
2. Each Child’s Unique Path
Sometimes, we may fall into the trap of thinking our kids are like machines—plug in the “best” curriculum, and they’ll get perfect results. Or maybe we’ve assigned worksheets that they complete with 100% accuracy but realize they can’t explain the concepts or make connections.
Take time to consider the unique strengths and weaknesses of each child. Encourage their curiosity and questions as a means to learn about the world. Give them choices and allow them to take ownership. As they get older, let them dive deeper into projects related to reading, writing, and history, and coach them in finding answers and exploring the right resources.
A big part of effective homeschool support is recognizing that each child learns differently and adapting your approach to meet their needs.
Reflection Questions:
- What are your child’s unique strengths and areas of struggle?
- How can you honor their individuality in your teaching approach?
- What opportunities can you create to help your child take ownership of their learning?
3. Laying a Strong Reading and Writing Foundation with Homeschool Support
Reading and writing are essential skills that enable children to navigate adulthood with ease and opportunity. Each child will progress at their own pace, and that’s okay! Rather than focusing on grade levels, consider reading and writing as developmental skills. Many parents might say grades don’t matter but express concern about their child being “behind.” Instead, think of it as reaching different levels across subdomains like phonics, comprehension, and vocabulary.
Consistently address the child’s most pressing needs while challenging them to grow—whether it’s decoding difficult words or developing their thinking skills. Even if a child works on foundational skills into high school, the goal is continuous growth. Celebrate progress based on your child’s journey, not arbitrary standards.
To build this foundation, consider seeking homeschool support through resources like reading programs, writing workshops, or tutors who can guide your child toward more vital literacy skills.
Consider a Structured Linguistic Literacy approach.
Reflection Questions:
- What are your child’s current reading and writing skills?
- How can you focus on both strengths and areas for improvement?
- What goals can you set to help them grow in reading, writing, and handwriting?
4. Holistic Homeschool Support: Remember the Whole Child
Not everyone can be the best at everything. That’s just reality. But each of our kids can grow, develop, and build the skills they need to thrive.
Even strong readers may not be bookworms who devour books. And that’s okay. The goal is to ensure your child can read, write, and think well enough to achieve their goals and live a successful life. A strong literacy foundation helps them avoid being taken advantage of and prepares them to follow whichever path they choose.
Without a doubt, balance is key. Develop literacy skills, but also encourage physical health, relationships, problem-solving, and creativity. Some brilliant readers and writers can struggle with life skills, so remember that reading and writing are vital but not the whole picture.
By focusing on the whole child, you’re giving homeschool support that prepares them for life beyond academics.
Reflection Questions:
- What are your child’s strengths beyond academics?
- How can you integrate reading and writing into their interests and skills?
- What life skills do you want to foster alongside literacy?
5. Homeschool Support to Have Fun and Foster Curiosity
If homeschooling feels burdensome, it may be a sign that the “shoulds” are taking over. You don’t need to copy a traditional school system—covering every subject every day or completing every book and question. Let life and curiosity guide your learning.
For example, you can use core standards as a flexible guide and then incorporate your children’s interests.
Additionally, sometimes we need to shift our mindset: homeschooling isn’t a daunting task to “get it all done,” but a journey of exploring, learning, and growing together. Allow books to lead discussions and give space for writing to be a practice ground for organizing thoughts and ideas. Remember, many great thinkers were self-taught through reading and questioning without relying on rigid curriculums.
You may enjoy the book “Make it Stick”. It explains the science behind how we learn. You can read my book review here.
If you’re wondering how to craft a learning journey for your family, email me at audrey@audreytutors.com to receive homeschool support in the form of a lesson plan template that will help you plan your journey and develop your child’s reading and writing skills.
Reflection Questions:
- How can you bring joy and curiosity back into your homeschool days?
- What “shoulds” can you let go of to allow more freedom in learning?
- How can you encourage deeper exploration and fun in your child’s learning?
Conclusion
Homeschooling is a journey full of learning, growth, and sometimes uncertainty. But by staying connected to your vision, honoring each child’s unique path, building a strong literacy foundation, focusing on the whole child, and fostering a sense of curiosity and joy, you’ll be able to provide your children with a rich, well-rounded education. Furthermore, embrace the process, celebrate the small wins, and know that the homeschool support you find—whether from a community, resources, or your inner circle—will empower you to make a lifelong impact on your children. You’ve got this!