How to Switch from Public School to Homeschool

Switching from public schools to homeschooling often feels like a step in the wrong direction. Maybe you feel like you aren’t qualified enough to be in charge of your child’s education. Or maybe you think your child fits better into a conventional classroom. The truth is all these fears are valid. Previously, the school system may have done everything for you but when it comes to homeschooling, there’s only one soldier standing at the frontline – you.

Whatever your fears are, there are ways to make this transition easy for everyone involved. Thanks to the advent of edtech, you can get all the homeschooling help you need from Brighterly and other online learning resources.

So, without further ado, let’s explore the ultimate step-by-step guide on switching from public schools to homeschooling.

Check the legal requirements for homeschooling

Starting homeschooling is great but you certainly don’t want to get into any legal trouble as a result of it. Therefore, you should check out your state’s legal requirements before withdrawing your child from school. Some states such as Illinois don’t require any notice at all, while other states like Winsconsin will require you to notify the state or local officials of your intent to homeschool. Some states go a step further and need some periodic assessment of your child’s knowledge. These requirements vary and it’s important to be in the know. This way, you can get off on the right foot without getting into any trouble.

Draw up an appropriate budget

Homeschooling might seem like a cheaper optionб but in reality, you’ll need to spend a fair bit of money. For instance, you will be responsible for all school supplies, books, and any other materials kids may need. In the same vein, if you need to hire an elementary math tutor for your child at home, you need to pay for their services.

A great way to prepare for these expenses is by drawing up a budget. Create a list of all the expenses you will make (including a section for miscellaneous expenses). Once you’ve done this, incorporate them into your family’s financial planning. If you already have the necessary amount, set it aside in a separate bank account to avoid accidentally dipping into it. 

Notify your child’s school and tutors

Although this might not necessarily be a legal requirement, you don’t want to burn the bridges you’ve spent ages building. It’s always a good idea to leave with courtesy. Thus, before making a final call, it’s advisable to have an honest, in-depth chat with your child’s educators.

Discuss the reasons for leaving and any concerns you may have. This way, you can get all the advice and support you need.

It’s also important to ask for your child’s academic records. They contain all the information you need regarding a kid’s learning needs and behavior. For instance, you’d be able to find out if a child is proficient at math or if they require extra math classes.

Deschooling

For a new homeschooling parent, it may be tempting to hop right into teaching so your child doesn’t miss out on anything. However, you need to pause. You need time. More importantly, your child needs time to process everything before being thrust into a whole new world as they may be feeling anxious or nervous about the switch.

Therefore, try your best to mentally prepare a kid for homeschooling. You can do this by organizing an extended summer break before classes start. This whole process of preparing your child for homeschooling is often referred to as deschooling.

Deschooling is an essential part of transition to homeschooling because it gives your child sufficient room and time to breathe before entering a new phase of their life. This way, a kid will be in a better frame of mind and be more receptive towards homeschooling. 

Avail Home Tuition

Home tuition allows for one-on-one interaction between the tutor and the student, this is also known as private tutoring, which refers to the provision of academic support and guidance to students in the comfort of their own homes. It involves a qualified tutor or educator providing personalized instruction tailored to the specific needs and learning style of the student. Some best example of agencies is Familytutor home tuition, this can be an effective way to supplement regular virtual or one on one learning, address individual challenges, and enhance academic performance.

Explore all the homeschooling options

There’s no unique method of homeschooling. Learning is quite dynamic and diverse, and you have a wide range of homeschooling options at your fingertips. For instance, you may choose a traditional textbook-based curriculum for homeschooling. On the other hand, you may decide to create a personalized curriculum and adapt it to meet your child’s specific learning needs. It all depends on what you and your child want.

Some parents often decide to try out online homeschools. While these programs may cost you a pretty penny, they take the burden of content preparation off your shoulders and give you more time to focus on other essential activities.

Create a daily schedule

Despite homeschooling’s numerous perks, it’s quite easy to veer off track or get distracted. Thus, you need to create a daily schedule and stick to it. But how do you do this? First, find out the hours of the day when your child is the most active. If they are more active in the mornings, you might want to schedule most (if not all) of their lessons before noon. Or afternoon may be a better time to schedule a math lesson or any other course if your child prefers such schedule.

Create space for recreation

All work and no play certainly affects your child in more ways than you can tell. Public schools tend to set aside a block of time for recess to allow children rest and recharge. This recreational time is quite vital and thus shouldn’t be missing from your schedule. You can decide to set aside one hour each day for recreation. Besides, you can split it into several chunks or let your child take their one-hour break as a whole.

You’ll also want to make sure that things like arts and sports are included too. Whether you class this as the curriculum or recreation is up to you. But while schools tend to have good art supplies, a pitching net, and music equipment, you may find that you can either add some to your home or borrow some. You could even take your kids to sports classes too.

Final Thoughts

Switching from public school to homeschooling can take a toll on any parent or child. With the steps outlined above, you can easily make this switch. Remember: it may take a while before your child eventually adjusts to this change. Be patient and offer them as much support as you can.

We hope this helps. Good luck!