It is the first day of the 180 days of homeschool. You've purchased all of your supplies, created a daily or weekly curriculum and you're ready to go. Why then do you have a big lump in your throat and think that you're making a big mistake? Don't worry; you are one of the thousands that have made the decision to leave the comfort of public schools and brave the homeschool frontier. A few homeschool basics will help reinforce your commitment to see this project through. Help is never farther than a phone call to a local homeschooling chapter member or a click of your mouse. Three homeschool basics include finding the right curriculum, finding support and navigating the legal issues in your locale.
The right curriculum for your child depends on their style of learning and what you as a teacher hope to accomplish. One of the best ways to choose a curriculum is to attend a homeschool fair in your state. These fairs have lots of vendors and free catalogs, guest speakers with great advice and attending one will give you an opportunity to network with other homeschooling parents in your area. Plan to attend one of these each year you homeschool to keep you on top of the latest news as well as the most current teaching materials. Many parents will agree that you shouldn't buy something until you need it.

Many parents agree that you need support, especially if this is your first go-round with homeschooling. It is easy to get discouraged, especially if your family keeps asking you questions like 'how will your child ever get socialized if they don't go to regular school?' Stick to your guns and explain that children in regular school don't get to socialize constantly- they usually only socialize during lunch and recess. The rest of the time a child spends in school is focusing on the work at hand. Joining clubs, school sports teams or dance and gymnastics classes will help your child make friends and become 'socialized.' If you feel discouraged, contact other homeschooling parents in your area that have done it successfully for a few years and express your concerns.
Finally, contact your local school prior to the beginning of the school year to find out what the homeschool requirements are. Generally all you will have to do is fill out a few forms indicating that you are homeschooling and what your curriculum plans are. If your child wants to play on a sports team find out what the rules at your school are for homeschooled children. If you follow these three homeschooling basics you will be off to a great school year.

In looking up the words home and school in Webster's Dictionary this is what I found.Home a place of security and comfort school a place for teaching and learning; a group of persons devoted to the same principles. So now MY definition of "homeschool" A place that feels safe and comfortable where people with the same principles teach and learn together.
Great men and women have been homeschooled and were tremendously gifted and lead our country through perilous times like Thomas Edison, George Washington, Abigail Adams, Abraham Lincoln. Surely if their parents could homeschool with very little education, we have the right and ability to do an excellent job schooling our children. Let's not partake in a society that expects government to do it all for us. Look at what "samples" they are churning out of the public system lately, "gothens", killer's, rude and illiterate children. I must admit when we first began homeschooling, I was very uncertain of my ability to do the job properly. I ordered all the same material my daughter's former Christian school used, only to find it was not the right curriculum for her to learn from. We have discovered her learning style and chosen our curriculum accordingly. We have also discovered my teaching style and teach according to that as well.