Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau

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Mar 21 2021

High School Planning & State Scholarship Eligibility

I’ve written previously of the importance of planning for high school, and about mapping out a list of courses and experiences needed to reach the finish line with a successful goal in mind.

If you haven’t looked at one in a while, see what a comprehensive, four-year high school plan might look like, for a traditional or college-bound student, to refresh your memory:

Now, what if scoring ‘the big state scholarship’ is also part of the plan? How should families include scholarship requirements on the high school plan, and is it reasonable to expect teens to complete any extra courses by the time they turn the tassel, too?

The answers to these questions lie in the scholarship handbooks themselves. In Florida, for instance, a new Bright Futures Scholarship Handbook comes out every year. Inside, all the requirements are shown in table format, plus any revisions to the program are clearly explained. Georgia’s HOPE scholarship program also comes out with annual web updates, as do all the other big merit scholarships offered across the United States every year.

Look up your state’s scholarships by starting with your department of education’s website, or the office of financial assistance. Chances are, there’s a big scholarship opportunity available to your homeschooled teen, and your goal is help him/her find out about it — early enough to make the right choice.

Reviewing Requirements / Making Decisions

For the best chance at earning scholarships, parents and their teens should carefully review scholarship materials, making a list of classes, test scores, volunteer hours, GPA scores, letters of recommendation, or anything that could potentially be needed upon application. Ideally, this review should take place during Freshman year, or even before, to get a jump on everything that needs to happen over the next four years.

With the requirements in hand, it’s time for important decision making, including knowing whether the student is genuinely planning to attend college (assume yes if they’re not sure), whether funding is definitely going to be necessary, and if the student is willing & able to follow [at least a semi-] traditional curriculum path that preparing to earn the scholarship might require.

Florida: A Case Study

As an example, take a peek at Florida’s 2020-2021 requirements for the Bright Futures Scholarship, keeping in mind these eligibility requirements can change from year to year:

As you can see, in some cases, the choice is clear and easy. Students already planning to attend college and already planning to complete a traditional and rigorous curriculum may find they were already going to be eligible for the scholarship anyway. Or, at least, with a few simple course substitutions or alterations, scholarship eligibility is already closely within their reach.

For students pulling together a unique or non-traditional high school experience, however, the decision may be a more difficult one. Weighing the value of doing high school one way versus the potential of meeting scholarship requirements is something to think strongly about. Or maybe the choice is already quite clear, as the student may be unwilling to cater to an institutional view of a high school education, favoring a more personal and meaningful approach for the next few years.

[The same choices are made for dual enrollment degrees, by the way, but that’s a topic for another day.]

In general, state scholarship requirements closely resemble a rigorous high school public education, or some set of courses which typically prepares graduates for entry into competitive public colleges and universities. In Florida, for instance, students must take 4 math courses, 4 English courses, several science classes, and so on. Since these programs are merit-based, scholarship committees must quantify what they’re seeking in terms of what the best high school graduates have to offer every year — forcing homeschoolers to fit into those frameworks, too.

What I Recommend

The best advice I can offer — and what I tell my own clients – is to first have a heart to heart conversation with the student, or many conversations over a period of time, going over the possibilities for homeschooling high school, and trying to ascertain to some degree what the student’s goals are for graduation. Then, armed with that information, it immediately becomes obvious whether planning for state scholarship eligibility falls easily within the high school plan the student might have followed anyway, or whether aiming for big state money requires a major change of focus and intent.

I also try to guide my clients to look at all sides of the decision making, if they can. Whereas free scholarship aid is an excellent goal and can make the difference between the student attending the college of his/her choice, or going to a less expensive local, part-time or online option, the lure of college funding can also blind us to leveraging the power of a home education during the high school years. That power, of course, includes the freedom to customize an education for our specific learners and to meet them exactly where they are, with exactly what they want to do. Why, then, would we turn our backs on this freedom and potential for a crack at winning free college later on?

It can be hard to look away from free money and set aside our desire to make high school a practical and enjoyable learning experience for the student. But, in the end, prepping for college and scholarships with a student who is interested in neither, can make high school overwhelmingly difficult and time-consuming, not to mention miserable, too.

Final Thoughts

In summary, I advise tackling these important questions early and often during the high school years. It is only by talking things out that families can determine whether state scholarship goals are necessary and realistic, or will underserve the teen’s only chance at making the most of his/her high school years. And this is a very personal decision indeed.

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Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast. Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever. A writer, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA/Tampa, H.E.R.I., HECOA, Start Homeschooling Summit, Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT, Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide. Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

Written by Marie-Claire · Categorized: Homeschool · Tagged: college, customization, florida, free, high school, planning, record keeping, scholarships

Dec 05 2020

Great Gift Ideas for Mom

[This post may contain affiliate links]

We all have moments when it’s hard to come up with gift ideas, or we’re just running dry on gifting something we haven’t already done before. Here’s a fabulous list of finds taken directly from Amazon. They’re all [currently] in stock, and all available for delivery in time for the winter holidays!

Thoughtful, well-priced and sure to make a statement when she opens the box, choose something on this list for a woman you love.

Remember what I always say about self care? How about forwarding this list to someone who’s been asking you for gift ideas, too?


Great gift list for all the women in your life ~ time saving and curated for the ones you love:

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Shoulder Bag Ensemble — 3 Piece Purse Set

There’s a reason this 3-piece tote bag set has almost 9,000 reviews — it’s incredible. Under $50 and comes in a variety of colors, this is a knockout purchase for moms who want to look stylish and put together, no matter what the day brings on. Buy it here

Scented Aromatherapy Candles Gift Set in Pretty & Portable Travel Tins

Soy wax and essential oils come together perfectly in these gorgeous scents that are both safe for burning and healthier to inhale. Presented in a beautiful gift box, each candle comes in a colorfully whimsical tin of its own. Scents include lemon, fig, lavender and springtime for a total of 75 hours of relaxation bliss. Buy it here

UGG Women’s Scuffette II Slipper

Nothing like UGGs for hanging around the house, but let’s face it, they can get pretty hot (not to mention worn) when used as slippers all day. Enter the UGG Scuffette as the perfect alternative for gliding on and off without the hassle of pulling on a pair of boots. Same UGG quality and comfort, just a slighter lower price tag. Buy it here

Two-Piece Off One Shoulder Velvet Jogging Set

Who says matching sweatsuits are out of style? Not anyone who loves the velvety feel of this sexier version of the iconic 2-piece set. Highly rated and comes in many colors, this is a favorite for daytime or could be worn as pajamas, too. Buy it here

Velvet Headband Hair Accessory

These luxurious head bands aren’t just for taming uncontrollable hair, they’re the perfect boho, vintage, or classy accessory for any occasion, casual or elegant. Great price point and they come in several classic colors. Buy several, so she can choose her daily favorite. Buy it here

Lavender Artisinal Soap Bars Imported from France

Heavenly scented soaps made with skin indulging Shea Butter and sea salt, these glorious bars also come in sage, rose, almond, and other scents, too. Well priced, and these would look especially lovely if 3-4 were arranged in a pretty box or basket. Buy it here

Surgeon’s Skin Secret Beeswax Cream in Orange Citrus

When I first tried this yummy scented orange lotion, I found it a little stiff and hard to apply. But after warming it in my hands for a few seconds, I realized the wait was worth it – silky smoothness and superior protection from the elements after just a couple of applications. I won’t be without this cream ever again, and I take it out as soon as the weather cool each year. The feel good sweet orange scent is a great pick-me-up, too. A fabulous treat for anyone, not just the women on your list. Buy it here

Homedics Relaxation Indoor Tabletop Fountain

Few people can resist the tempting sound of water to bring about an instant sense of calm during an otherwise busy day. With this tabletop fountain, users experience instant Zen just listening to its soothing sounds. This particular corded model comes with its own on/off switch. The design is especially great since it fits with any decor, from modern/industrial to eclectic and everything in between. Buy it here

Indoor Organic Herb Garden

It’s both fun and satisfying to be able to source fresh herbs right from your own garden. For those without an outside garden plot, this handy indoor garden helps her harvest up to 9 different varieties every season. Comes with everything she needs to sow and and nourish herbs like thyme, oregano, parsley, and more. Since everything is reusable, with new seeds every season, this beautiful gift can be used year after year. Buy it here

Speedy BOSH! Plant-Based Cookbook

Lots of folks are searching for plant-based recipes but not everyone has time to source complex ingredients or make difficult recipes. In this BOSH! cookbook, weeknight crowd pleasing plant-based recipes make it to the dinner table in under an hour. The photos and presentations in all of the best-selling BOSH! cookbooks make them favorites for browsing and inspiration. I think you’ll love this one, which is perfect for busy people. Buy it here

Portable Laptop/Book Stand for Reading in Bed

Whether you’re buying for an avid reader or someone who just enjoys flipping thru a magazine before bedtime, this adjustable stand is a handy thing to have around. It works as a laptop stand, too, but best to prop up for reading on a comfy chair or sitting up in bed. Inexpensive gift that could easily be paired with a book or series she hasn’t read. Works great as a breakfast tray, too! Buy it here

Gemstone Birthstone Earrings Set in 10K Yellow Gold

This classic dangle earring can be dressed up or down, and with a secure clasp, she won’t need to save them for special occasions. Available in every birthstone, choose by birth month, or simply her favorite color. This earring comes in amethyst (shown), aquamarine, emerald, and every month of the year. This perfect design is sure to become a staple in her jewelry wardrobe. Buy it here

Wishing you all the gifts of the season, tangible and intangible,

As a coach, writer, recovered over-doer and busyness addict, I understand the challenges of creating a balanced, healthy lifestyle while the mind tries to sabotage your success. In my journey to vibrant health, I created a personalized health system of nutrition and supplementation, lifestyle changes, and I retrained my mind and the energy of my body. I view my success as the formula to my happy, healthy life. I now empower other women to create their own personalized formulas, including the tools and strategies just right for them! Amazing life shifts come from our relationships. I look forward to helping you, too!

Written by Marie-Claire · Categorized: Homeschool, Women's Mind Body & Spirit

Oct 12 2020

Clever chairs combat the dangers of sitting too long

(This post may contain affiliate links)

The body is meant to move — not stare at a screen all day. Yet that’s what millions of kids are doing every day, not only in school but in their personal lives, as well.

The dangers of sitting are well known for adults, but did you know that sitting was harmful for children, too? Study after study points to significant health issues in people who are too sedentary, and these start early in children, too. I believe in interrupting these patterns early on. But, what can parents and teachers realistically do, when several hours of school is required every day?

Over the coming weeks, I’ll begin sharing tips for active learning and keeping students healthy and focused. In today’s article, I discuss several clever and affordable products that keep students’ bodies active while listening to online lectures.

Affordable products to keep virtual students active & healthy
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Ball Chair

When my children were young, we kept several of these ball chairs in our homeschool room. Bouncing and rolling around the room proved really helpful for getting wiggles out, plus they’re just really fun to use. Contrary to my initial concerns, they were impossible to pop with normal use, and adjustable to any kid’s size and preferred level of firmness. It wasn’t until my teens started online classes in high school that I had to replace them again (because they’re just so darned fun). I actually still have one of these chairs in my office today:

Click for information about this product


Under Desk Peddler

How great would it be to squeeze an exercise sesh into watching a movie or online lecture? That’s exactly what you get with this portable peddler, which you can place under a child’s desk or in front of a chair anywhere in the house. I wish I knew about these peddlers when I wrote my first book and developed body aches from sitting so long (and a bunch of extra pounds). Used mostly as a bicycle, this device can also build balance, strength and coordination in arms and hands, too:

Click to learn about this product


Wobble / Balance Board

Standing has never been more active and fun than balancing on this clever balance board. Instead of just passively watching, students stay alert and challenged the whole time. This product is a lot more tiring than it looks, but it doesn’t have to be used all day. Swapping it out for a chair throughout the day gives students periods of activity while listening to lectures or waiting for their next lesson to begin:

Click to learn more about this product


Active Swivel Chair

On this twisting, wobbly stool, younger students can rock, sit, or spin as much as they need to. Available in different sizes online, this one is designed especially for kids up to age 12. The most durable and affordable option for kids in this age group, ordering several of these to use at home or in the classroom won’t break the bank:

Click to learn about this product


Ergonomic Kneeling Chair

Adults may recognize this kneeling chair as a blast from the past, but this innovative design has withstood the test of time, because it works! By keeping knees bent and lower than the hips, the body is forced into better posture for writing or using a keyboard. Available in various price ranges and materials, this particular one is comfortable on both knees and hips:

Click to learn about this product


Feel free to tell my readers about the products you’ve used to combat a sedentary lifestyle — by leaving a COMMENT. Best wishes for staying fit and active throughout your school year!

Amazing classroom products you need now!
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Related Articles:

Pandemic homeschooling how-to…

Temporary homeschooling offers lasting benefits

Can you homeschool after public school…

Why I wasted a good education…

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast. Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever. A writer, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA/Tampa, H.E.R.I., HECOA, Start Homeschooling Summit, Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT, Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide. Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

Written by Marie-Claire · Categorized: Homeschool

Aug 27 2020

Temporary homeschooling offers lasting benefits

Parents may wonder if short-term (temporary) homeschooling is a good idea. Whether facing a long-distance move, caring for a family member, dealing with a certain trauma, or just wanting a change of pace, will up-ending a child’s education jeopardize their entire future?

These are legitimate worries, especially when decisions must be made rather quickly. Most commonly, parents wonder if there are any real benefits to homeschooling anyway, especially if only for short time. They worry it may be risky, or just plain selfish, to keep a child home when others are somehow managing in the same situation. They wonder if they’re too “soft”, overly protective, or should trust their own instincts when making such a weighty decision on their child’s behalf.

Justifiably, parent concerns include how today’s decision might impact their students in the long term, especially when students are involved in activities, accelerated programs, or nearing graduation. We’ll look at all these issues today, and more. I hope to give a perspective to anyone facing a difficult school choice at this moment, or who wants to share this article with a friend who is grappling with this decision right now.

Homeschooling temporarily offers lasting benefits
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While my professional advice won’t apply to exactly everyone, in most cases, I want you to know that temporary homeschooling can be overwhelmingly beneficial for students, and usually also for their families, too. Not only are the advantages of homeschooling enormous, but the benefits start accumulating on the very first day. Thus, even when only for a short time, say, a few weeks or a few months, the positive effects of short-term homeschooling can potentially impact students for a lifetime. There are very few reasons I can think of for postponing what can be a very positive experience for all involved.

Positive Impacts of Temporary Homeschooling

Positive impacts of temporary homeschooling
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Reconnecting as a unit

During periods of change, there is nothing greater than being surrounded by those you love and who matter the most. The solidarity of a family unit combined with the practical aspects of having everyone in the same place can be invaluable during a crisis, or any time the need for support and understanding is higher than normal. Family and friends often come together to circle its vulnerable members for protection. Tested over centuries, this is especially valuable for children, and should be considered any time a child’s well-being is at stake.

Getting to know your children as students

Too often, often through no fault of their own, parents become disconnected from their child’s experiences outside the home. By working with children not just as kids, but also as learners, parents glean valuable information about what has (and hasn’t) been successful in traditional school settings. Even when issues cannot be addressed at home, they can be brought to a school’s attention at a later date. In either case, children win by receiving needed services, remediation, or a change of environment altogether.

Opportunities to teach life skills

When life gets busy and chaotic during the school year, it leaves little time to teach the practical skills kids really need for their futures. In only short periods of time at home, kids can be taught simple things like cooking, laundry and minor household repairs. And, without a whole lot of effort (comes mainly via modeling and participation) children who spend time with their families gradually learn such valuable life skills as personal finance, health and wellness, team work, child care, and so much more.

Sparking (or fueling) new interests

Homeschooling comes with more flexibility, which usually equates to less rushing to and from meaningless activities. And when time resources are increased, children benefit by finding time to do the things they love to do. Whether it’s discovering a book series or starting a new hobby, time means igniting new passions or practicing existing skills. Extra time also gives parents an opportunity to facilitate a child’s efforts, by providing supplies or just offering praise and support. With minimal supervision, children’s lives are expanded and enhanced with the gift of time, something not always afforded during a traditional “school year”.

Filling in gaps of all kinds

It usually isn’t until we’ve spent a lot of time with someone that we notice what they’re truly like. This is exceptionally true in families who never spend more than a few hours together per week. When students are home — even for a short while – parents tend to observe what they didn’t realize was there. Mending emotional hurts, correcting simple misunderstandings, even noticing educational holes means these can be addressed before sending children off the next year. The simplest of things sometimes make the greatest impact. There is no better use of time than focusing on small problems before they snowball into larger issues later on.

Positive experiences and outlook

I’d be remiss by not listing all the other benefits of short-term homeschooling that are impossible to measure, or even define. While homeschooling doesn’t work for everyone, those who do it tend to look back with much fondness. Pointing to benefits in lots of different areas — from health and well-being, to greater access to resources, to flexibility of lifestyle, to overall contentment – homeschoolers tend to really enjoy the experience, even when it didn’t last forever.

What About The Future?

In all the examples you’ve just read, it’s easy to see how the benefits earned by homeschooling temporarily should never be lost, even when children go back to traditional school. Any possible inconveniences or schedule disruptions are usually more than outweighed by the lasting impacts of being home, even if just for a little bit. Knowing how successful homeschool graduates tend to be, there is no need to worry about doing it for a short length of time. If anything, it should be a boon to both student and family.

Regarding concerns over educational outcomes, it’s important to remember that educational content is recycled and revisited many times before students ever graduate from public schools. What that means is, there’s very little chance students won’t get to make up “lost” material before they’re through. And older students, especially those nearing graduation, are very well-practiced and capable of producing work in short periods of time, not to mention exceptionally resilient over many years of functioning within the same system under fluctuating circumstances. It’s highly unlikely a brief period in which students missed classroom lessons will make any difference at all.

Yet, time spent with a family, whether it’s shoring up relationships or mending wounds, can’t ever be replaced. All that said, if temporary homeschooling is what your family needs at this time, you have permission to do so without guilt, and without excess worry about the future.


Are there ways that homeschooling has positively impacted your family — even if you only did so temporarily? Please share a COMMENT to encourage more of my readers. And, thank you, for all you do for your children and family, no matter what form of education you choose.

Related Articles:

Pandemic homeschooling how-to…

Can you homeschool after public school…

Why I wasted a good education…

As families flock to homeschooling…

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast. Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever. A writer, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA/Tampa, H.E.R.I., HECOA, Start Homeschooling Summit, Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT, Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide. Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

Written by Marie-Claire · Categorized: Homeschool · Tagged: elementary, graduation, high school, middle school, scheduling, support

Jun 06 2020

Suddenly Homeschooling (homeschooling in a hurry, during a crisis, and/or when you have no idea what you’re doing)

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau©

I’m about to guide you on the fastest path to homeschooling. Fair warning though — this is no ordinary set of homeschooling instructions. What that mean is, if you’re a die-hard homeschooler, a purist, or someone who’s been researching home education for a long time, do yourself a favor and scroll on by. But, if you’re new to homeschooling and need a whole lot of help, this is the article you’ve been looking for. It’s about crisis homeschooling, suddenly homeschooling, temporary homeschooling, or homeschooling-for-parents-who-never-really-considered-homeschooling-before. This is different from the information you’ll find anywhere else. That’s because you’re a different kind of homeschooler.

If you’re still here, that means you made the cut. You don’t know a lot about homeschooling, and maybe you not really very interested in it. You’re different from other homeschoolers because you didn’t really plan on doing it, at least not now, and not like this. You’re either on the fence, or almost ready to pull the switch, or you’ve already committed but can’t quite wrap your head around what you’re about to do.

If I had to guess, I’d say you’re here for one of only 3 reasons: something happened with your kid or in your family; something happened in the world; or, something happened at your child’s school. And, whatever that was, it was serious enough to force you into making a school choice you hadn’t planned on making.

I’m also guessing you’re very uncertain, and probably pretty nervous. Nobody wants to ruin their kids, and nobody wants to destroy their kids’ futures (I know that crossed your mind). But, the ugly truth, is that you don’t really have a choice, or not much of a choice. Out of all the options, your gut says homeschooling. And so it shall be.

So, now that we’re clear on who you are, I want to reassure you that I understand you completely. You’re a regular person trying to do a really hard thing right now. The last thing you need is a bunch of resources and references to pore over. I’ll keep this very straightforward. I’ll spare you the homeschool philosophy, teaching pedagogy, and the different rationales for doing one thing or the other. I’ll spare you successful research about homeschooling, and all reasons the various criticisms people have about homeschooling really aren’t true. And I’m not expecting you to become some kind of super-homeschooler (although you may if you want to).

You just need information, and you need it now.

How to homeschool if you've never done it before
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Turn on your printer, or grab and pencil & paper. Here’s the basic list, right now:

The Basics

In a nutshell, here are the things you need to focus on right now:

  1. Notifying your child’s school and properly withdrawing your student
  2. Notifying friends, neighbors, or anyone who might notice your activities if your kids aren’t in school
  3. Listing the classes you think your child needs to take, and finding a way to teach them, either separately, or together (if multiple kids)
  4. Jotting down the electives or activities your child might enjoy, and finding ways to teach some of those, if you want to
  5. Locating the laws for your area, and really trying to understand them
  6. Creating some kind of record-keeping system, and starting to use it as soon as you can

There’s more, but we don’t have time for those right now. Let’s examine those 6 things in more detail first. Then, if you decide you want to know more, I’ve included some of the finer details at the end.

1. Notifying your child’s school and properly withdrawing your student

Assuming you’re coming from a public, private, parochial or charter school, it’s important to contact your child’s school and let them know your plans. Truancy is no joke, so, even if everybody’s doing it, you still want to make sure you do things correctly here. If there’s a district-wide procedure for home learning during crisis, then follow that. But, in individual situations, you’ll probably need to speak to an Assistant Principal, somebody in Guidance, or go through some kind process to make sure your child is unenrolled from school and placed into a homeschooling program. And that’s probably going to be a two-step process (the unenrolling from school, and the enrolling as a homeschooler).

Keep in mind, there may be different ways to bring your child home, so be sure to choose the right option for your situation. Asking to temporarily bring your child home, like for a medical reason, and send your child back in a couple of weeks, is completely different from permanently withdrawing the child to homeschool instead. Laws and procedures vary based on where people live. So, make sure you communicate exactly what you’re doing, so there aren’t issues later on.

By the way, if you love your child’s school and teachers, why not tell them so? It’s okay to keep in touch if you want to — no need to burn bridges. After all, your kid may end up there again some day. On the other hand, if you’re not feeling any love for what you’ve been through, ask for a copy of his or her permanent record and get out of there. No sense subjecting yourselves to any more of that.

2. Notifying friends, neighbors, or anyone who might notice your activities if your kids aren’t in school

When you first start homeschooling, it’s common for people around you start asking questions. This is an interesting phenomenon, actually. While most people are sincere and well-meaning, when a family decides to homeschool, it somehow becomes everybody else’s business. I liken this to changing to a plant-based diet or letting your hair go gray. When doing something different, suddenly everyone’s an expert, everybody has an opinion, and virtually everyone wants to share what they think about it, too.

In light of this phenomenon, in working with many families, I find it’s best to head off these questions early. In other words, tell anyone who is likely to notice that you’re homeschooling, before they get a chance to ask.

Look, in times of crisis, positively everyone will support your decision — in fact, they might even be doing it, too. But, when homeschooling for personal reasons, everybody starts asking why. That’s why I recommend a list of phrases to use on friends and neighbors who get a little nosy, or might be less than supportive. This might include grandparents, too. What’s also nice about this activity, is it forces you to identify the real reasons you’re choosing homeschooling, which is very validating. Then, armed with a few phrases, you’ll always have a reply, instead of becoming defensive, annoyed or flustered when people ask. (This trick, by the way, comes right out of the professional homeschooler’s playbook. We all do it.)

3. Listing the classes you think your child needs to take, and finding a way to teach them, either separately, or together (if multiple kids)

Choose any way that feels right to you at this time:

a. If you think your child might be going back to school in the near future, get a list of classes from your child’s school, the district web site or your state department of education. Keep in mind, when homeschooling, you don’t have to follow those recommendations, but it can be helpful and sometimes reassuring to follow district guidelines for a little while. Then, if you decide to continue homeschooling permanently, you can always change your child’s classes in a few months, or for the next school year.

For textbooks and other curriculum, think about how you want to do it. If your child is likely to go back, you’ll probably worry about them falling behind and needing to catch up when they return. If that’s your concern, I recommend teaching in a similar way to what the other students are doing at the school, in the same grade level. See if your child can use the same books or take the same virtual courses as the ones used in your district. If not, try to find something similar with the same scope & sequence (learning objectives) so your student hasn’t missed a beat when he/she goes back. If testing is required upon re-enrolling in school (find out), be sure any materials you use will adequately prepare your student for the test, too.

b. If you don’t necessarily want to teach the same things as your child’s school, but you like the idea of a structured curriculum, search for an online publisher of homeschooling curriculum. Find a product or a system that makes sense for you, including all the subjects you think you might want to teach for that particular grade (or mix and match grade levels, which is often permitted). You’ll find lots of options for ready-made curriculum whether in print form or online. You’ll usually be given the opportunity to opt out of certain classes that are included in the curriculum, so you can buy only the parts that you need for this year.

I recommend buying from homeschool publishers, only because their products usually come with a schedule, lesson plans, tests, a grading rubric, plus all the instructions to follow day by day. However, if you like the materials used in school, and want to continue with those, you can use those, too. Just be aware it can be hard to follow a classroom textbook unless you have the teacher’s guide and test kit.

By the way, as you’re browsing online, notice if the product you’re considering using is written from a religious or a secular viewpoint. This might not matter to you, but if it does, check out the worldview before buying, to make sure it matches your own (if you can’t tell, call or email the publisher).

c. If a structured curriculum isn’t entirely the way you want your child to learn, and you want to try something a little different, find an online homeschool supplier or bookstore and begin browsing all the products. By searching for different disciplines (e.g., art, math, English, science or multi-disciplinary) you’ll find lots of separate books and products that teach things in different ways. You’ll find lots of school books, certainly. But also look for early readers, novels, workbooks, kits, hands-on activities, maps, timelines, educational games, thematic units, subscriptions, learning toys, and all the other supplies available to balance any books you buy.

Using this “eclectic approach”, your child doesn’t always have to learn the same way for every subject. And, because much of the learning we do in life doesn’t come from books anyway, it’s okay to let kids learn in other ways at home. This method can also be especially helpful when teaching multiple children at the same time, since you can choose products designed for multiple age groups. It’s a great way to engage students who may have disliked certain subjects in school, too, or students who weren’t successful in a traditional classroom at all.

Finally, older children can help select the homeschool materials they use, to make sure they like it. This saves money by not scrapping materials that don’t appeal to your learners, and as a bonus, involving an otherwise unenthusiastic learner will sometimes light a spark you haven’t seen in your child in a long time.

d. If you think you might continue homeschooling for a while, and you’d like to sample the freedom of doing anything you want, think of alternative ways of meeting your classroom goals without having your child take classes at all. Look for ideas or experiences that don’t require formal coursework, but can teach your student exactly what he or she wants to learn anyway. Consider all of options already listed above in a thru c, while also looking into volunteering, internships or apprenticeship programs, using a library or local resource centers, programs at zoos and museums, college level classes online or in person, or allowing your student to submit ideas for an “independent study” to complete on their own.

There are endless ways to learn that don’t involve a classroom, such as traveling to another country, picking up a skill or a new hobby, or sitting down for a conversation with a war veteran. If this style of learning appeals to you, options are wide open to discover opportunities in unique places, while still fulfilling some of your (their) educational goals for the year.

e. If your situation has been too much, and you feel like your child/family needs a break from regular school; OR, if your child/family is going through something that will probably end in a few weeks or months; OR, or if your child really hates school, dreads the thought of homeschooling, and is refusing to try it; unless there’s a reason you cannot, I recommend taking time off from formal school. Then, after a few days or weeks, think about what your family enjoys doing together. Ask your child questions about his/her favorite activities, and find out what things he/she likes to think about when left alone to let the mind wander. Make a list of fun, relaxing, engaging or otherwise positive experiences for you all, and plan ways to start doing some of them together. Then, mark a date on your calendar in a few weeks or months when you can come back and finish completing this step at a later time.

4. Jotting down the electives or activities your child might enjoy, and finding ways to teach some of those, if you want to

This list should represent things outside of the traditional academics your child learns in school. So, for instance, whereas English, math, science and history are normally required, make a list of other things your child might like to study, too. The number of possibilities is infinite, but your list might include spiders, scuba diving, or spirituality. It might include cooking, coding, or crabbing. Your list could also include travel, trampolines or playing the trumpet. Be sure to ask your student, and prioritize them, too. Once you have a list, think how you might be able to teach a couple of those things in homeschool as well. Look for programs in your community, engage local experts, search for online resources, or speak to other parents to see if you can get something going with another group of local kids. This, of course, is all optional, but rounds out the program nicely, and children tend to enjoy having electives and specials throughout the day.

5. Locating the laws for your area, and really trying to understand them

Some areas have relatively strict homeschooling regulations, while most areas allow families to control much of the home education. Find out if there are any laws in your area that specify or limit the kinds of things homeschoolers can do. If the language is confusing, as legal-ese sometimes is, find a local homeschooler to thoroughly explain these laws to you. At minimum, learn whether you need to keep track of your student’s classes and grades, and whether you’ll need to administer a test at the end of the year. Most homeschoolers never have to do those things, but if you live in an area where they’re required, factor them in to your homeschooling plan.

6. Creating some kind of record-keeping system, and starting to use it as soon as you can

If you haven’t ever homeschooled before, you might not know what things to keep track of here. Try to put yourself in the shoes of a classroom teacher, school principal, or guidance counselor and think of what they might normally place into your child’s permanent record. Although homeschoolers don’t have to keep track of those things, it can’t hurt to save papers in a file folder or documents in the cloud (older children might be able to do this on their own). Staying organized brings peace of mind knowing everything important is all in one place. Plus, if you ever send your child back to school, you’ll never have to scramble for documents, because they’re all in one place.

The 6 most important steps for homeschooling, found here
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What’s Next?

Look, there’s more to homeschooling than what I’ve just told you, but, I’ve given you a lot to think about already. Just finding the resources to teach the classes you identified might take a couple of weeks. So, if your brain is full, feel free to stop here and get started.

However, if you want to continue, or perhaps come back to this article when you have free time, you might also want to think about this stuff, too:

  • Joining a support system in your area, to meet people and learn about the opportunities that are available where you live; or, staying in contact with other parents in case you (and they) decide to put your child back in school in the future
  • Setting up a work area for your student (and you if you like), or taking some time to organize materials all in one place
  • Allowing yourselves to interact with the whole world, not just what’s in and around your immediate area
  • Finding opportunities to do things besides just school, since learning happens most everywhere
  • Loosening the reigns to allow children to learn some things completely on their own
  • Switching up the curriculum if certain things just aren’t working out
  • Observing when, where and how your children learn best, and accommodating their preferences wherever you can
  • Addressing specific learning challenges you identify along the way; either on your own, using materials designed specifically for that, or with the help of professionals
  • Browsing homeschooling web sites and blogs to get even more ideas and inspiration for the future

Whether you end up homeschooling temporarily or decide to stick with it for the long run, following these steps will help you cover the bases until you know what comes next in your lives. Although I know it might seem overwhelming, relax and go easy on yourselves, because you’ve never done anything like this before. Praise yourselves for doing the best you know how under some very trying circumstances. And always know that time spent with your children is never lost, and will probably help you create the lasting memories they’ll remember forever.

By the way, if you want to learn more in the future, I’ll be here for you. I specialize in getting started and you’re the kind of person I work with every single day. I even wrote a book for people like you, which you can find on Amazon, to carry you through everything we didn’t have time to talk about here:

Want to read about other families who are choosing homeschooling right now, just like you? Find their stories HERE.

Follow these links to 2 of my most popular free online courses:

31 Days of Homeschooling

Homeschooling the High School Years

Let me know if you have any questions.

Crisis homeschooling - how to homeschool during a pandemic or other emergency
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Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast. Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever. A writer, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA/Tampa, H.E.R.I., HECOA, Start Homeschooling Summit, Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT, Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide. Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

Written by Marie-Claire · Categorized: Homeschool · Tagged: crisis, pandemic, quick start, Suddenly Homeschooling

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