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It can be an absolute minefield trying to decide which resources to use when you start out homeschooling. There’s so much out there and there are lots of voices saying what you should and shouldn't do, what you need and don’t need. As a homeschooling mum of three with kids in primary and high school, currently in our fourth year of home education, here is what I’ve learned so far:
It’s important to take time to get to know learning styles. How do your kids learn best? Do they like hands-on activities? Are they visual learners? Would they enjoy online learning or paper based tasks? Do they enjoy books? Do they prefer typing or writing? Watch them and see what they do when they are free to choose. Talk to them about what works for them and what doesn’t. There's no point choosing a resource that doesn’t suit them as it will be an uphill struggle for everyone. Find out their learning styles first then research resources.
Try before you buy. Check out and try samples to see if you and your kids like them. For paid resources, do a trial or short subscription and give your family the chance to check out new resources rather than committing to a long membership to begin with. There are a range of paid and free resources out there to try out and see what is a fit.
If a resource isn’t working, ditch it. If you’ve given it a good go and it doesn’t suit your kids and is causing more problems than supporting them, it’s time to set it aside. Reflect on what didn’t work and take some time to research alternative resources that will suit better. It’s frustrating- especially if it’s been costly and you thought this resource was going to be brilliant- but pushing through when it’s really not working won’t benefit anyone in the long run.
What may work for one child, may not suit the next. It takes trial and error to find out what suits each child and that means that the same resources might not work for everyone. The beauty of homeschooling is that it doesn’t have to. You can tailor things to suit your kids’ individual needs.
There is something out there for everyone- there are resources to suit every learning style and every budget. What is important is to find the resources that suit your family and your budget.
Over the years, we have used a wide range of resources, both free and paid. Each year, we have figured out a little better what works and what doesn’t. You don’t need to have it all worked out at the start. Start with your kids-how they learn and what they are interested in. Build the curriculum around that and you’re halfway there.
This year, I have partnered with Kylie Rayner at Homeschool Resource Finder and I highly recommend joining this fb group to help you to find quality resources that suit your family. It’s a friendly, online community and a great place to post if you have questions about homeschooling resources and also to share about quality resources that have been useful for your family.
Whilst it can seem like a minefield to begin with, choosing resources is also an exciting part of the homeschooling journey. So get your kids involved, have fun exploring new resources and find the ones that best support your homeschooling family.
Check out the Homeschool Resource Finder group here:
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