Homeschooling is a general term for learning at home. Under the umbrella of homeschooling, there are countless methods, styles, and curriculum you can use. No two families are going to homeschool in the same way. Homeschooling is more than just choosing a curriculum and teaching your kids to read and write. Homeschooling is a lifestyle of learning together as a family, in the way that works best for YOUR family.

When I started homeschooling, it was because my oldest child already knew how to read and write. Rather than put him in a kindergarten classroom that would be teaching him a lot of academics he already knew, I decided to let him learn at his own pace.

The longer we’ve homeschooled, though, the more it’s become our way of life. It’s not about the curriculum, but about teaching our kids to be lifelong learners. It’s about letting our kids follow their interests and learn in the way that’s best for them. It’s about being together as a family and having the freedom to spend time outside, not give up playtime, and learn about what WE want to learn.

Wisconsin laws make it really easy to homeschool your child. The basic gist of it is this: fill out the PI-1206 form (if your child is six years old by September 1). This must be completed for every child six or older every year, and needs to be finished by October 15.

By completing this form, you agree that you will provide 875 hours of instruction to your child throughout the year. This does NOT mean that your child needs to sit at a desk or do book work for 875 hours. You also agree to provide a “sequentially progressive curriculum of fundamental instruction in reading, language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and health.

*If you are withdrawing your child from public school, however, this should be done by the beginning of the school year. You should also notify your school that your child will not be returning. You are not required to give them a copy of your PI-1206 form.

This website goes into great detail about getting started with homeschooling, including all the legal requirements and more detailed explanations:: homeschooling-wpa.org

No – if your child is enrolled in a public or private virtual school, they are not technically homeschooling. You would NOT fill out the PI-1206 (because they are enrolled in a school already). You are required to follow whatever guidelines your virtual school has in place.

(See the legal requirements for details on how to report to the state that you are homeschooling)

If your child has not been enrolled in a public school, all you need to do is start learning together! You don’t need to choose a curriculum or buy anything special to begin. These tools can be helpful, but they aren’t necessary, especially at a young age. Read lots of books, write and draw together, play math games, and get outside! As your child shows readiness, add in a curriculum that’s appropriate for your child’s ability.

If your child has been enrolled in a public school, many families find it helpful to “deschool” for awhile. This means putting aside any curriculum and creating new routines and rhythms together. This is a time for “life schooling” – reading books, taking field trips, learning about birds while you’re hiking or measurements through baking, etc. You do not need to rush to find the “perfect” curriculum before the school year begins. When your child is ready and you have had time to see how your child learns best, add in a curriculum or learning resources that fit your lifestyle as well as your child’s learning style ability.

State funds do not assist traditional homeschooling families. If your child is enrolled in a virtual public school, there may be funds available for curriculum or programs.

Homeschooling can cost as little or as much as you want it to. There are countless free resources and curriculum available online. You can get books from the library or borrow from friends. You don’t need to buy a lot of supplies!

Most families do not just adhere to one specific homeschooling approach or style. This website has an overview of different homeschooling styles: https://www.time4learning.com/homeschooling-styles/

Don’t get caught up in choosing the “right” one. Just start learning together, and as time goes on, you’ll figure it out. If a curriculum doesn’t seem like a good fit – toss it and try something different. Your child(ren) will continue to learn, no matter what you’re using.

Here is a great link talking about learning styles: https://thsc.org/learning-styles/

Here’s a homeschooling secret: the curriculum you choose is actually not the most important choice! So much learning happens outside of a curriculum, so don’t get stuck on this. You can begin learning without a formal curriculum by reading books, creating art, going on field trips, etc. You are NOT required to have a formal curriculum to homeschool your child.

Some questions to ask when choosing a formal curriculum:

• Is it too expensive? Don’t make a huge financial investment in a curriculum if you aren’t sure it’s a good fit. Ask in local homeschool groups if you can see it in person, find reviews online, or look for online samples on the curriculum website.
• Do you need a curriculum for this subject? Many topics can be learned without a formal curriculum. For example, science can be learned while exploring nature or doing experiments you find on YouTube. Reading a book together about a topic and drawing a picture/writing about it doesn’t require a curriculum.
• Does the curriculum fit your family’s lifestyle/values? If your family values spending time outside, but the curriculum requires you to spend hours in front of a computer, it may not be a good fit.
• Do you want a curriculum that is open and go (no prep involved), or do you like to piece things together and create your own curriculum?
• Are you teaching multiple ages together? Look for a curriculum that is designed to teach a variety of levels together. This will save you money and time.
• Can I find reviews or examples of this curriculum? Do I know anyone who uses this curriculum, and can I see it in person? Cathy Duffy has reviewed several homeschool curriculum programs. Consider her book 102 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum or visit her website.

You will never cover everything. 🙂 Even when your child is enrolled in a public school, there is no way they will cover everything. The most important guideline to follow is making sure that your child is progressing.

If you are only homeschooling temporarily, you may want to consider following the state standards to know that your child is “on track” to return to public school. If you are in it for the long haul and planning to homeschool for a number of years, you have a long time to “fill in the gaps” that naturally occur in any learning environment. If you’re planning to homeschool long term, view your child’s education as a marathon, not a sprint. There’s no need to cover every subject or every topic.

There are tons of options out there to ensure that your homeschooling curriculum is inclusive and focuses on underrepresented voices. Here’s just a few resources to get parents started:

• Woke Homeschooling
• Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi
• An African American and LatinX History of the United States by Paul Ortiz
• TONS of great resources at the Afrocentric Homeschooling in Black Families – Websites, online support groups, curriculums, books and more!
• African-centered curriculum from Brown Mamas
• A Comprehensive Resource Guide for Black Homeschooling Families from The Mom Trotter

In our house, we don’t follow a strict daily schedule. Each day could look a little different and the amount of time we sit down and “do school” could be different day to day. Remember, learning doesn’t just come from books. So while Wisconsin requires 875 hours per year, think outside the box for things that “count” toward your hours.

No!! I actually AM a licensed teacher, but think it hindered more than helped me. Learning at home looks MUCH different than it does in a classroom, and I had to unlearn a lot of ideologies that work for the classroom, but not at home.

We’re so fortunate to live in a time when we have information literally at our fingertips. We can find resources, curriculum, or virtual lessons for every single topic. But the ultimate goal of homeschooling isn’t about learning specific topics, it’s about raising kids who love learning and teaching them how to learn. So learning together as a family is encouraged! I don’t have to be the one with all the answers – we discover them together.

No! While it can be helpful to have a spot in your house to contain any homeschooling books or supplies, many families homeschool without a designated room. Remember, you’re not recreating school at home, so if you do create a space to do school at home, you don’t need to make it feel like school. In our home, we have a room that has tables for doing projects and art, bookshelves that house our many books, and a desk with a computer. But we don’t do all of our learning there – we sit on the couch, at the kitchen table, on the deck, in the park, in the car… basically wherever we are is our classroom!

The way you set up your learning environment will also depend on what your child needs. If he or she is easily distracted, setting up a desk in a quiet corner could be helpful. If you have a large family, learning together at a large table could be a better fit.

In our house, we typically homeschool year round. But because of the extremes of Wisconsin weather, we do more book work in the winter and less in the summer. During the warmer months, we do a lot more outdoor learning – nature science, outdoor field trips, etc. We take our read-a-louds to the park or bring math books in the car on a road trip. In the colder months, we can spend more time doing science experiments, baking, watching YouTube videos, doing poetry studies, etc. Year round school doesn’t’ have to look the same all year!

If you are following a curriculum, many will have placement tests online to determine your child’s level (especially for math or language arts). For many topics, you can follow your child’s lead – does it hold their interest? Is it challenging but not frustrating?

In many ways, teaching children at different grades/levels is easier! Learning can be social, and older kids can help younger kids or model what younger kids are supposed to do. If you have a large family with multiple children learning at different levels.

No, Wisconsin does not require standardized tests for homeschoolers (remember, the rules may be different if you are virtual schooling, as this is NOT considered homeschooling). If your child is planning to attend college, they may wish to take the ACT or SAT as they approach the appropriate time.

Keeping records or determining grades isn’t necessary in Wisconsin, until high school. Keeping records or examples of completed work in the elementary/middle grades is a great way to show progress for your own personal reflection, but isn’t necessary. The great thing about homeschooling is, you don’t need a letter or percentage grade to determine whether or not your child has grasped a concept. If your child needs more work, simply go back and do it again (and maybe try learning it in a different way!). Many homeschoolers rely on non-traditional assessments such as observation or listening to their child talk about a subject to determine their understanding. There’s no need to compare your child to any other child, so grades aren’t necessary!

This website gives you all the information you’d need to know about the technicalities of homeschooling for high school. I also recommend connecting with other local homeschool families (especially ones who are already doing high school) to get their best tips.

In general, homeschooling does not negatively impact college applications and admissions. Again, I recommend connecting with other local families who have been through the process – they are more than happy to share their wisdom!

I’ve never felt nervous or afraid of homeschooling, but I think all homeschooling parents have feelings of doubt or inadequacy. It’s easy to compare your child to others or see an idyllic scene on Instagram and wonder why your homeschool doesn’t look like that. Whenever I feel like that, I ask myself: are my kids learning? Is homeschool still working for our family? And then I usually find a podcast to encourage me or another homeschool mom to talk with. Community with other homeschooling parents is so important! If we feel alone in this or try to do it all perfectly, we will quickly burn out or give up.

Unless you’re intentionally trying to keep your kids isolated, there will be plenty of opportunities for socialization! Re-frame your thinking of what socialization looks like. The time kids are in public school is the only time in their life they are only socializing with kids just their age. As an adult, you don’t spend time with only adults exactly your age. Homeschoolers are used to spending their days with kids of all ages!

Join a co-op, be part of a hiking club, go to church, sign up for zoo classes, go on field trips, play at the park, hang out with neighbor kids when they’re home from school, sign up for park and rec sports… These are all great ways to socialize! There is no shortage of groups to join or ways to socialize as a homeschooler.

The end goal of homeschool isn’t just to make kids learn specific subjects. It’s to teach kids to love learning, to solve problems, and to learn HOW to learn. So if you keep this goal in mind, as with all parenting, you have to choose your battles. Is it necessary to push your child to complete an activity on a timeline? Are there emotional or physical needs that need to be met – are they hungry, sleepy, do they need a hug or some connection?

We all need a change of scenery from time to time. Sometimes learning from the park instead of the kitchen table can change a child’s attitude. Try asking your child if they have a different way they’d like to complete their work. Or what would the harm be in calling it a day and coming back with fresh eyes in the morning? This is the freedom of homeschooling – you get to set your schedule!

If your family/support network is unfamiliar with homeschooling, they may not immediately be on board. However, as time goes on, and they see homeschooling in action, they will likely change their mind! If not, the homeschooling community is a great support network. You need to do what’s best for YOU and YOUR FAMILY.