Read everything you can about home education
Choose and order your curriculum
Cover your legal bases
Join a local support group
Enjoy your children and home schooling!
Search the Word of God for your role and responsibilities as a parent, pray for wisdom and guidance. Expect he Lord to answer your sincere questions through His Word.
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all
without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Deuteronomy 4:9, 6:6-9
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget
the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long
as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress
them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you
walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as
symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the
door-frames of your houses and on your gates.
Proverbs 6:20-24, 22:6
My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
Bind them upon your heart for ever; fasten them around your neck. When you
walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when
you awake, they will speak to you. For these commands are a lamp, this teaching
is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life, keeping
you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn
from it.
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the
training and instruction of the Lord.
Many local groups hold informative meetings for new or prospective home-schooling families. Your IAHE state representative will help you find your local group.
It is wise to make your decision before May if you plan to home school the following fall. This gives you time to decide on a curriculum and place an order no later than early July. During the peak ordering season, orders can take four to six weeks to arrive. You will want most of August to acquaint yourself with your new texts and make lesson plans.
Your best source of advice will be experienced home educators. Don't be shy to ask their opinions about various programs, publishers, and texts. But do not try to copy another family's school. Every family is unique, and your school must meet the needs of your child(ren). Our resource packet contains a list of publishers. Several have toll-free numbers. All have catalogs available to help you with your curriculum search. You will also find good resource materials listed on our book list.
Have a ready answer to the usual "Where do you go to school?" This will help both you and your child(ren) to give a ready response to those interested. Since the Indiana law categorize home schools with other non-accredited non-public schools, your home school is a bonafide school. Occasionally, it is advantageous to order materials in your school name.