Homeschooling: Do You Have Any Idea Where To Begin?

"So what's your homeschool philosophy?" Are you Charlotte Mason or Classical? Do you believe in unschooling? Many new homeschoolers have found themselves staring blankly at the well meaning person who just asked them one of these questions.

How bad is it to really have no idea what in the world they are talking about? Breathe easier.
It is not bad at all.
Being new to homeschooling is like the new reality series One Car Too Far.

Having a house full of boys dictates that we have watched this show a few times so far.

The point is that a survival expert and an off road enthusiast are dropped in the middle of nowhere.

They then have to locate their abandoned Jeep by GPS signal and figure out how to drive it back to civilization. It can be an amusing adventure, especially if one of the wheels falls off the vehicle or the temperature drops to below freezing.

Jumping into homeschooling for the first time is very much like this adventure.
You purposefully jump out of the normal that civilization has to offer and travel deep into unknown territory.

You then have to rely on your instincts and hopefully some expert advice to help you navigate back into the "real world" while doing so on your own terms.

The boys trying to get their Jeep out of the South American Jungle honestly do not car what kind of roads someone else is traveling at that moment.
They simply have to concentrate on navigating their own way.

As a homeschooler, you will need to recognize that you may feel like you are on your own for a while.

You may even feel a bit stranded. It doesn't matter what your personal teaching style is called by others.

What matters is that you are teaching your children.

Embrace the adventure.
Do not compare you or your children to any other homeschooler.

Find a "homeschooling survival coach".
You'll recognize her because she is still smiling after a decade of teaching her own children and will not think you are crazy to want to teach your own children.
You may not know the way to travel just yet (like the guys in the jungle) but you can pick a direction and work your way through it.
Focus on your basics.
Math, Language (which includes reading, writing, spelling, and grammar), History, and Science.

Famililarize your self with your local library.

Do you need to know if you are Charlotte Mason or Classical style? No. You simply need to really want to teach your children.
Approach homeschooling with passion and purpose and you will find yourself out of the jungle!