Homeschool Tips for New Parents - Lessons from My Journey

My Homeschool Journey

When my wife assigned me as our son’s math teacher, I wasn’t a trained educator. I was just a parent who wanted the best for his child. If you’re new to homeschooling, you might feel the same uncertainty I felt. Let me share what I’ve learned.

Setting Up for Success

Create a Dedicated Learning Space

You don’t need a fancy classroom, but you do need:

A quiet area with minimal distractions
Good lighting (natural light is best)
Organized supplies within easy reach
A comfortable workspace appropriate for your child’s size
Display area for completed work and achievements

Establish a Consistent Routine

Children thrive on routine. Our typical day includes:

Morning review (15 minutes)
New concept introduction (20-30 minutes)
Practice time with worksheets (15-20 minutes)
Break (10 minutes)
Review and games (15 minutes)

The key is consistency, not perfection. Some days go better than others, and that’s okay.

Finding the Right Resources

Start with Free Resources

When I started, I wasted money on expensive curricula we never used. Start with free resources like:

AfterSchool worksheets (of course!)
Khan Academy for video lessons
Public library for books and materials
Free online resources for your child’s grade level

Invest in paid resources only after you know what works for your child.

Quality Over Quantity

I learned this the hard way: having 50 PDF worksheets doesn’t help if they’re all sitting unused in a folder. Better to have:

A few excellent resources you use regularly
Materials you can customize for your child’s needs
Activities your child actually enjoys
Tools that save you time (like randomizable worksheets!)

Teaching Strategies That Work

1. Know Your Child’s Learning Style

Does your child learn best through:

Visual aids (pictures, diagrams, videos)
Hands-on activities (manipulatives, building)
Auditory learning (discussion, songs, read-alouds)
Reading and writing (books, worksheets, journaling)

My son is a visual learner, so I use lots of pictures and diagrams in our math lessons.

2. The “I Do, We Do, You Do” Method

This teaching framework works incredibly well:

I Do: Demonstrate the concept yourself
We Do: Work through examples together
You Do: Child practices independently with worksheets

This gradual release of responsibility builds confidence.

3. Make It Relevant

Connect lessons to real life:

Math: Counting money, measuring ingredients, telling time
Reading: Restaurant menus, road signs, game instructions
Science: Cooking, gardening, weather observation
Writing: Thank you notes, shopping lists, stories

When children see why they’re learning something, engagement skyrockets.

Dealing with Common Challenges

“My Child Won’t Focus”

Try these strategies:

Shorter sessions with frequent breaks
Movement breaks between activities
Timer challenges (“Can you finish before the timer?“)
Choice in activities (“Math worksheet or math game first?“)
Morning energy (schedule hard subjects when they’re fresh)

“I Don’t Know How to Teach This”

You don’t need to know everything:

Learn alongside your child (it’s okay to say “I don’t know, let’s find out!“)
Use video resources to teach concepts
Join homeschool groups for support and ideas
Ask for help from other homeschool parents
Remember: You know your child best

“Are They Learning Enough?”

This worry kept me up at night. Here’s what helps:

Keep a simple portfolio of work
Note progress, not perfection
Compare your child to themselves, not others
Trust the process (learning isn’t always visible immediately)
Use standardized resources occasionally to gauge progress

Building a Sustainable Schedule

Don’t Try to Replicate School

Homeschool’s biggest advantage is flexibility. You don’t need:

6 hours of instruction daily
Classes for every subject every day
Rigid schedules that ignore your family’s needs
Perfection (seriously, let this one go)

Do Focus On:

Core subjects daily (reading, math)
Other subjects 2-3 times weekly
Real-world learning throughout the day
Following your child’s interests
Family time and life skills

The Role of Worksheets

Worksheets get a bad rap, but they’re valuable for:

Independent practice (giving you time for other tasks)
Skill reinforcement (building automaticity)
Progress tracking (seeing improvement over time)
Confidence building (completing something tangible)

The key is using quality worksheets that you can customize—which is exactly why I built AfterSchool.

Taking Care of Yourself

Homeschooling is demanding. Remember to:

Take breaks when you need them
Connect with other homeschool parents (online or in-person)
Celebrate small wins (yours and your child’s)
Adjust expectations (some days are just survival mode)
Remember why you started homeschooling

Your First Steps

If you’re just starting out:

Assess your child’s current level in core subjects
Create a simple routine (start with 1-2 hours daily)
Gather basic resources (don’t overspend yet!)
Try different approaches to see what works
Give yourself grace during the adjustment period

Resources to Get Started

AfterSchool Worksheets - Free customizable worksheets
Khan Academy - Excellent video lessons and practice
Your local library - Free books, programs, and resources
Homeschool groups - Search Facebook for local groups
YouTube - Educational channels for every subject

Final Thoughts

Homeschooling isn’t about being the perfect teacher. It’s about being present, persistent, and patient. You’ll make mistakes (I certainly have), but your child will still learn and thrive.

The fact that you’re reading this article shows you care about doing this well. That caring is the most important qualification for homeschooling.

Ready to start? Grab some free worksheets and begin your journey. You’ve got this!

Questions? Feel free to reach out—I’m always happy to help fellow homeschool parents.