Homeschool parents know the challenges of picking out the right curriculum and finding affordable homeschool books.
But how do you recognize the best curriculum for your kids?
One teacher with a degree in education who taught in public school before leaving to homeschool her own kids quickly became an expert at spotting excellent homeschool materials.
She's been impressed with the Tuttle Twins homeschool curriculum for history, which she's found to be accessible, engaging, and thought-provoking.
In fact, when she rolled out the video series that goes with the Tuttle Twins homeschool curriculum, she had never seen her kids so engaged with a non-animated video of someone talking about American history.
But picking the best homeschool curriculum and finding affordable homeschool books is only the beginning.
Here's a list to guide you as you prep for the fall.
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Six Weeks Before Homeschooling Begins
At about six weeks out, you'll want to research the laws in your state.
Every state has different requirements.
Some states require you to register with them, while others might require certain teacher qualifications, standardized testing, or a mandated curriculum.
Most states do require a notice of intent to homeschool and mandate the teaching of certain subjects.
Some require regular progress reports.
A great place to start is the HSLDA State Laws Finder website to get up to date on what you'll need to handle to homeschool in your state.
Four Weeks Before
At about four weeks before starting, it's a good idea to assess what has worked with your kids in the past, cut out what has triggered tears, and adjust your rhythm to prevent burnout.
Take some time to look at a few different curricula through the lens of what actually works for your kids.
Some kids are better visual learners, while others do better in an auditory format.
Other kids learn best through reading and writing, and still others are hands-on, kinesthetic learners who take in information best through physical activity and movement.
If your kids were in public school last year, think about why you want to homeschool and what problems you want to solve, then evaluate curricula with that in mind.
With the U.S. celebrating America 250 in July, this might be a great year to try out a liberty-based homeschool curriculum.
Four weeks out is also a great time to clear out your homeschool library of materials that haven't worked well in the past.
Two Weeks Before
It's just about time to buckle down.
Take some time to plan your days and think about how much time you realistically expect homeschooling to take, based on what you've experienced before.
If this is your first time, do some research to find out the average amount of time spent homeschooling per week in your state.
That average can range anywhere from five to 20 hours per week, depending on your child's age and how quickly they learn.
Remember Why You're Homeschooling
Once homeschooling gets underway, keep reminding yourself of why you chose this path.
Are you part of the broader movement of parents using a liberty-based homeschool curriculum?
These parents step away from the standardization tied to public schools and choose to be the authority on what their kids learn and how they learn it.
They're taking their kids' education into their own hands with the goal of teaching subjects that aren't covered much anymore, like critical thinking.
The Tuttle Twins homeschool curriculum includes history books that teach more than just what happened in the past.
The Tuttle Twins history books teach kids to think critically about history, considering alternatives that could have led to better outcomes for all.
And I think that's one of the most valuable things you can give your kids through homeschooling.
Finally, homeschooling is about creating special moments with your kids.
They'll never forget how mom or dad took time away from their day to educate them!