Homeschool Resources for You

If you’re investigating the idea of homeschooling, you may have some serious doubts or concerns. One may be about the homeschool resources available to you or your child.

Are there enough? What are they? How do I get my hands on these resources?

That’s what today’s post is all about!

Want to start homeschooling now? Be sure to start by reading my post, Yes, You CAN Homeschool!

Also check out our Homeschooling Resources & Tips.

Homeschool Resources for You

I think the thing you’re going to find when looking for homeschool resources is that there SO MANY, it can be completely overwhelming at times! Here are just a few of my faves…

1. Use Free Printables

Of course, you can find THOUSANDS of free printables on my blog! While these are mainly for reading, phonics, writing, and spelling, I do share freebies for math, science, history and social studies, too!

Here are even more AWESOME freebies we’ve used over the years of homeschooling. Links to their free printables pages are shared below, but I encourage you to check out more of their sites!

• The Measured Mom
• Math Geek Mama
• You’ve Got This Math
• 1+1+1=1
• Homeschool Creations
• Confessions of a Homeschooler
• 123 Homeschool 4 Me
• Real Life at Home

2. Find Homeschool Blogs

This is by no means an exhaustive list. You can find even more homeschool blogs and websites by searching on the internet. These listed below are some that I’ve used over the years.  And most of these have free printables, too.

• I Can Teach My Child
• Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls {If you have a LEGO lover, you’ll love Sarah’s site!!}
• Hip Homeschool Moms
• Special Needs Homeschooling
• This Little Home of Mine
• Raising Lifelong Learners
• Homegrown Learners
• Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers {Gotta LOVE the name!}
• The Unlikely Homeschooler
• Free Homeschool Deals
• iHomeschool Network
• Hide the Chocolate
• Hifalutin Homeschooler {Love her humor!}
• Little By Little Homeschool

3. Use the Internet to Search 

Are you worried that you won’t know what to teach in a particular subject? That’s where I think your state’s or district’s learning objectives can be a good springboard. You can usually find them by searching online for something like: “Virginia course of study objectives.”

No, I am not saying you need to follow them exactly. But it may help to see what your state/area expects your child to know in a certain grade level.

You can also search for things like, “Classic Books for Ninth Graders.” I know that I’ve found some really great books this way. Of course, you’ll want to do your research on the books you’re choosing before you ask your children to read them, but the internet can be a great starting point.

4. Learn about the Homeschool Methods & Styles

There are several homeschool teaching styles. Honestly, my favorite is a mixture of nearly all of them.

And your methods may even change from child to child, depending on what they need. I suggest you first and foremost think about your likes/dislikes as well as your kids’ likes/dislikes to help you pick  This will help you narrow down what you’re looking for.

5. Find your Curricula Choices

If you think there are lots of homeschooling styles, just wait until you see all the curriculum choices! Honestly, it can make your head spin!

Again, think about your goals and needs of your child before you get lost in all the choices. My post, Homeschool Curriculum Choices by Subject Area, gives you a quick overview of the curricula choices out there.

If you have a struggling learner, be sure to also check out my post, Best Homeschool Curricula for Struggling Learners.

6. Attend a Homeschool Conference

You may find that your state/area has a homeschool conference near you. I know in the state I’m in, the annual homeschool conference is just thirty minutes away from me {although I’ve never been to it…shame on me!}

At the conference, you can take different classes and even go to the vendor hall to see curricula up-close and personal. This also gives you the opportunity to talk to those who created and/or work for the companies that make the curriculum.

The only conferences I’ve been to are ones from Teach Them Diligently, but I have good homeschooling friends who really enjoy Great Homeschool Conventions. Your state or area might also have a local conference.

7. Help for Homeschooling in the High School Years – Yikes!

Honestly, this is where it gets really scary, right? Actually, when I pulled my oldest out of private school to homeschool him in high school, I thought it would be.

But do you want to know something? It hasn’t been scary at all!

My biggest help was talking to some friends who teach and/or did teach high school and…

The HomeScholar, especially her free webinars on creating a high school transcript. {I think she offers these a couple of times a year.} Oh my goodness, that free webinar REALLY helped me see that I could homeschool in the high school years!

Enjoy homeschooling!
~Becky

More Posts in This Series…