You may have thought that only professional teachers can teach children, but you, the parent, are capable of teaching your own children in your own home. The resources homeschoolers have developed over the last 40 years or so are bountiful, such that whatever it is that you want to teach, you will be able to find something to help you do that.
There are no required records to be kept in Texas; however, you may want to keep track of materials you purchase (and whether you actually used and liked them or not); some parents keep samples of their children’s work; and at the high school level, you’ll want to keep grades for each subject so you can make a transcript for your child.
What about it? The myth of socialization has haunted homeschoolers, when there’s actually no reason to worry about it at all. Interactions with the family is plenty of socializing; playing with the neighborhood children, Sunday school, scouting groups, organized sports…all of these provide more than enough “socialization.” But even more than that, you should understand that children do not learn to behave well by spending mass amounts of time with other children their own age. All that happens is that children pool their ignorance. The socialization that has value is the kind where there are children of all ages, as well as adults, especially adults. Younger children have older children and adults as role models, instead of equally immature children. Also, there’s significant evidence that extensive time spent with age peers at a young age increases peer dependence, which is less than desirable.
Before children are compulsory school age, anything that we do with them is parenting, not homeschooling. And all the things that we do as parents is valuable for their future education: teaching them colors and shapes, doing activities that build fine motor skills and hand-to-eye coordination, matching/group objects, learning language by being read to, and more. Be the best parent you can be with your little children; don’t worry about “homeschooling” preschool.
Transcripts, graduation requirements (hint: there are none in Texas), helping your young person decide on a career path…so many things that are part of helping your child launch into the adult world! Many parents have gone before you, and there are many resources to help you.
There are many conventions and conferences and events in Texas. Connect to your local support group, our Facebook group, and HSLDA to find out where and when they are, and try to attend one or more. You will appreciate the larger events, which have many workshops and an exhibit hall full of shiny books and stuff for you to look at and buy. The smaller events will also provide opportunities to interact with other homeschoolers, and support groups and co-ops may grow out of those interactions. Try to attend at least one event a year, even if you have to travel for it.
