How To Start Homeschool With Simplicity


I had no clue how to start homeschooling. I only heard of it in my twenties and didn’t believe it was even real at first.  Things became real for us in only a few short years once we had 4 kids ages 4 and under.  The decision of how we would educate was coming at us like a freight train. Public school? Catholic? Private? Or (please God no) homeschool?  Long story short, we chose to homeschool even though I had never seen that before, knew only one family who homeschooled, and was pregnant with baby #5.  No pressure. After I got over my pity party, I took a deep breath, put on my big girl panties and began to learn something new.

I did grow. I continue to grow in knowledge, wisdom and grace.  I’m considered an experienced homeschool mom now that I have eleven years and almost eleven children under my belt.  So when I am asked, “Hey Tara, how do you start homeschooling and keep it simple?” I am happy to share the simple approach I use to this day with my children.  Here are some tips from my heart and home to help you start homeschool with simplicity in the early years.

  1. KISS - Keep It Super Simple: I keep it super simple in the early years.  I officially and legally begin at age 6.  Ages 6 and under choose are full of free, imaginative, guided and (mostly) sibling play.  Play groups and co-ops are optional for us if they add to my joy, line up with my values and goals and work well in my weekly routine.
  1. MORNING LESSONS - We do lessons in the morning right after breakfast when everyone is freshest and the littles play better nearby with light supervision.  Reading aloud together on the couch is a lovely snuggly time with a mix of Bible, fictional chapter books, history, science, poetry etc. Each day can be different subjects or a mix of 2-3 subjects or working through one book all week. We spend about 20 minutes doing this. We take a short body break (or mom re-heating her now cold coffee break) before moving into table work.
  1. CONCEPT TO CONCRETE - Before starting an official math program I introduce the concept of counting with objects (crayons, coins, candy!) then connect that to the concrete number symbols using free printable worksheets. I give this time until they can mix up cards 0 - 9 and put them in order confidently. Then we are ready for the 3R’s.
  1. 3 R’s - Affectionately known as  reading, writing and arithmetic (only one of which actually starts with R, but I digress).  We are usually done in 20 minutes or less total. This year is well spent laying the foundations before moving into my personal favorite curriculum Sonlight. For the 3R's we have found success use Alpha Phonics or All About Reading, Handwriting Without Tears and Math-U-See. 
  1. FREE TIME - The rest of the day is made up of our rhythmic routine with meals as the main anchors. This gives us lots of time for free play and all the learning, character development, skill acquisition, and simple joy that comes from sharing life together as a family.  Cooking, cleaning, playing with baby, tidying up, making snack, finding worms, picking flowers, drawing pictures, making cards for grandma, using scissors, playing memory games, making puzzles, solving problems— life is learning 🙂

The younger years are a wonderful time to encourage the God given love of learning children are born with.  Laying simple strong foundations in the early years will prepare them well for the heavier and more time consuming lessons that will come as they mature and develop in the next few years.

This simple start was easy to build and expand on. My high school level children are confidently creating and following their own schedules all morning four days a week.  I am free to focus on my young students. I learned how to juggle the littles and middles at the same time in time with the same grace and simplicity.  Feel free to check out the short video tutorials I created in my Big Family Moms facebook group HERE.  They are nicely organized in Guide 3: Education & Discipleship.

Keep it simple momma.   Less in the early years really is more. You can learn how to homeschool from scratch one step at a time. You will find what works for you through trial and error and giving yourself and your children grace to grow. If I can do this, so can you.

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If this blog blessed you feel free to join my Big Family Moms community where I have lots more resources and encouragement for moms like you overcoming struggles and growing in grace. Here's the LINK if you like.

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