Homeschooling has become part of a new normal in a post-pandemic world, with more Australian students than ever now learning under a homeschooling model of one type or another.
If you are considering homeschooling but are still sitting on the fence, this article is for you. Below we will look at how you can best prepare to adopt a homeschooling education model, what to expect from a homeschooling lifestyle, and why Lions Education is leading the way for homeschooling in NSW and Australia-wide.
Perform extensive research
Many different methods and models exist within the world of homeschooling. Therefore, familiarising yourself with these main systems is important before starting your child or student on the homeschooling path.
Examples of some of the most common homeschooling systems include:
- Classical and traditional homeschooling
- Unit-based curriculums
- Road and world schooling
- Charlotte Mason homeschooling
- Waldorf homeschooling systems
- Montessori homeschooling
- Unschooling
- Eclectic homeschooling
- and more
All this can be daunting for newcomers; however, it is vital to qualify which approach is best for your child or student’s learning style to ensure they thrive in the homeschooling environment.
Get familiar with your State or Territories homeschooling requirements
Different states and Territories may have varied criteria that need to be met for your child to be legally homeschooled. Therefore, before beginning your homeschooling, you must familiarise yourself with these regulations and specifications to avoid disruption and potential stress.
These bylaws and regulations can be tricky to navigate, and homeschooling organisations like our Lions Education network can help you understand the parameters needed in your region to begin homeschooling.
Join a homeschooling social group
Homeschooling social groups, whether in the community or on social media, is a great way to gain real-world experience from the perspective of parents, educators and students. So jump online, or check your council notice boards to find a group that can provide you with essential homeschooling information and advice.
Creating a dedicated homeschooling space
While the lounge or bedroom may have been a necessary classroom compromise during pandemic lockdowns, this isn’t an ideal situation for a long-term homeschooling solution.
It is advised to create a dedicated home classroom wherever possible so home school and family life can be separated. This has been shown to yield the best results with homeschooled student performance, so it is well worth considering and planning for before your homeschool opens up.
What are the costs of homeschooling?
Just like a traditional schooling model, knowing how much it will cost is important. However, unlike sending a student to a school, there will be many other up-front costs that are normally accounted for within the school fees.
On top of curriculum and educational support costs, you will also need to fund and supply the following:
- Stationary and books
- Chalkboards or whiteboards
- Funds for excursions
- Technologies like laptops and tablets
- Internet access
- and more
While homeschooling may not be more expensive than a traditional school, you will need to be more in control of educational finances, so this is important to consider when planning to adopt a homeschooling model.
Creating routines and schedules
It is important to have a firm understanding of a typical homeschooling day before you start. How a typical homeschool day runs will heavily depend on what type of schooling model you have chosen; at least begin with. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t do some research and start to mentally experiment and rehearse before homeschooling begins.
This is an area where joining a homeschooling social group and asking a wide range of questions is a smart idea; most experienced homeschoolers are more than happy to answer questions and offer advice.
What to expect when you begin homeschooling
When you begin a homeschool journey, the early stages may likely be chaotic and a little stressful while you adjust to a new education model and lifestyle with your children or students.
This should be expected, and you should never get stuck on the idea that homeschooling is not for you or your child because things aren’t flowing early on.
Even people trained in pedagogy need time to find their feet, so you shouldn’t expect too much from your home class early on—believe in the process, experiment, and you’ll soon find your footing.
Lions Education: Dedicated to excellence in homeschooling in NSW and Australia wide
Our team of experienced education specialists at Lions Education are dedicated to providing world-class support home schooling in NSW and Australia-wide, offering a variety of traditional and contemporary science-based approaches to homeschooling.
Our mission is to help everyone in the homeschooling chain, including students, parents and educators, to provide optimised, effective homeschooling strategies and curriculum to help each student excel in their education through effective curriculum, tailored, adaptable learning models, and reliable support.
To register your interest in Lions Education for your child or student, head to our online registration form, and one of our representatives will respond promptly to qualify and take the first steps on the homeschooling journey.