Seamless Switch: Start Homeschooling Mid-Year with Confidence
Can you switch to homeschooling mid-year? Absolutely! Need some ideas on how to make it happen? This post has you covered.
Are you considering homeschooling, but aren’t sure when or how to start? Does your child’s current school situation require a change right now, rather than waiting? It’s more than acceptable to start homeschooling mid-year!
The hardest part of the transition may be not knowing where to begin and feeling unprepared. Transitioning from a public or private school to homeschooling does take a little work. The good news is that as a family, you can and will rock this whole switch to homeschooling mid-year.
How To Switch to Homeschooling in the Middle of the School Year
Give yourself some breathing room
It can be easy to feel overwhelmed if you’re transitioning to homeschooling when it wasn’t your original plan. You may feel a little lost and in need of a road map. You may feel behind before you even start. Take a deep breath. I promise it will be okay in the end. You and your child(ren) need a little time to breathe before jumping right in. Consider it your “deschooling” time and keep it low key. You will gain more from taking some time to adjust than you would by pushing too hard at the start. Your kids may be coming out of a difficult situation in public school and they need time to decompress. Use this time to your advantage by building your relationship with your kids, rather than jumping into the role of teacher too suddenly.
Don’t overdo it on the expectations at first!
When it comes to expectations, don’t have too many. If the whole family is new to
homeschooling, you need to go easy on what you expect of everyone. At first it may be stressful because no one knows what to do with the time and how to structure it. Ease into it and set your expectations according to how things go. Be prepared to be flexible.
Read More: What’s the Big Deal about Homeschooling Methods?
Put a plan in place
Whether you’re going to go with unschooling or a more structured classical approach, have a plan in mind. Even though I recommend staying flexible with those plans, it’s wise to think through your strategy. Just thinking through your goals can help with your confidence level. For instance, some homeschooling families use online resources to homeschool and others purchase curriculum, while many do a combination of those things. Do some research. Deciding what you will do now will help you navigate the rest of the school year.
Read More: How to Plan a Year Round Homeschooling Schedule in One Day
Involve your children
Even though this whole homeschooling thing is new, you should still hold your kids accountable for their school work and talk over your goals together. Much of this depends on their age and ability as well. Coming directly from a classroom-like setting, homeschooling can be confusing. Let them know what the rules are and what you expect them to do. It’s best to lay this all out when you first transition to homeschooling.
Don’t be afraid to make the move
Homeschooling during the middle of the year is no different than the start of the year. My advice is to go for it. This can always be a trial period. Check out all the options you have in your community, homeschooling-wise. Spend some time checking out the local homeschool co-ops. Visit the local libraries to see how they can help benefit your homeschooling journey. Use this time to figure out how your children learn best. There will be a lot of trial and error when it comes to homeschooling, especially mid-year.
Get support from other homeschool parents
Some of the best advice you can receive is from current homeschool families. Ask them questions and get support. Meet up with local homeschool families that are willing to mentor you.
Whatever the reason for starting to homeschool mid-year, just know you’re not alone. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and follow your instincts. Homeschooling at anytime is a magical journey, but mid-year is a perfect time to switch.
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